North writers get their five minutes of fame
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
LIGHTS, camera, action! Film crews travelled the length and breadth of Caithness as six short movies written by local writers were filmed over the weekend.
Creative writing students from North Highland College (NHC) UHI sat in the director’s chair as they watched their written pieces being brought to life in front of their eyes.
The Seven Roads to the Far North project is designed to give talented storytellers based in Caithness the opportunity to create their own five minute film.
As well as giving students the chance to make their own movie, it also aims to promote the area as a viable location to make films.
Course lecturer George Gunn (57) said this is the first time his class has received funding to allow the filming to take place.
As well as giving his students the chance to see their work on the big screen, he also hopes the talent and resources on tap in Caithness will come to the attention of the film industry.
"It is a great opportunity for the students," said Mr Gunn.
"But what we want out of it is seven short films which show different aspects of Caithness life.
"These are aimed to be used as a selling tool, so Caithness can become a place where films can be made, not just as a location but a place where they can be written and acted out by talent here.
"We’re lucky to have a stock of good community actors and a company which wants to make films in the area.
"All the components are here, so we need to make the next step of selling our creativity to the film industry, because the area is unknown."
North Highland film company Big Box Network shot two movies each day between Friday and Sunday, with a seventh planned to be filmed next month.
Producer Alistair Murray and director Charlie Wilson worked alongside Mr Gunn and his students to facilitate the development of short scripts before filming and will edit the final products in time for the viewing.
Catherine Byrne (66), from Wick, who already has two published books to her name, Follow the Dove and Broken Horizon, was the first student to see her film being produced at Wick railway station.
"It was a lot easier than I thought it would be," she said.
"George challenged us to create a 5000 word script and a poem about our main character, then we had to cut it right down for it to be adapted into a short play.
"I never thought we’d get a story done in five minutes, but it is amazing how we are able to fit it all in.
Margaret Mackay (74), from Wick, whose film was shot at the Nethercliffe Hotel, said it was a dream to see her script being turned into an actual short film.
"It is exciting to see your work being acted out in front of a camera," she said.
"I was involved in a similar project last year when our work was translated to a theatre piece which was acted out on stage.
"When you are writing it on paper it is only words, but to see quality actors performing your own work it is special."
As well as Wick, films were also shot in Thurso and Reay.
The project has been funded by NHC to the tune of £5000 and it is planned all seven short films will be screened at Thurso Cinema in June.
