From the Big Friendly Giant to murder in Shetland, the Highlands have become a hotbed for film-making once again.
The Highland Council’s film unit got its 200th application of the year showing the growing appeal to filmmakers of all genres.
The news of a record number of inquiries to shoot films, TV shows and commercials in the north were met with fresh calls yesterday to invest in the local film industry.
The number is up 19% on the previous financial year even before what has traditionally been the busiest production month of March.
Now filmmakers and educators want to see the region’s growing appeal capitalised on with investment in both talent and training.
Rick Wood from the Aberdeen-based TVP Film and Multimedia Ltd said: “Scotland should look at it seriously.
“Scotland could have established itself 10 to 15 years ago – we are not proactive enough. I think we need our own film commission.
“I would like to see investment in a place to train young people in areas like key lighting, special effects, CGI, and motion control.”
“The tourism aspect is huge as with Outlander – if you build it they will come.”
Stewart Nicol, chief executive of the Inverness Chamber of Commerce agreed, branding it “the Outlander effect”.
He said: “It is a very positive trend that is significant not just for the city but the wider Highland economy that brings considerable added revenues.
“It has a significant cumulative effect whether it is people coming up for the NC500 or filmmakers using Scotland as the back drop or setting for a big Hollywood film.”
Programme leader of Contemporary Film Making at the University of the Highlands and Islands, Charlie Wilson, believes it has “massive potential” but getting funding hampers local productions.
He said: “Support from the public sector is almost non-existent, it is practically a dead end because it is so prohibitively difficult.
“I think they have to look at Scandinavia and Ireland where there is more support for people through taxation.”
But there are signs that is beginning to change according to Creative Scotland which claimed that by April investment in Scotland’s screen sector will reach an all-time high.
An additional £10million in 2018-19 will bring screen development, production and growth funding to £20 million in 2018.
The Scottish Government will also support a new base for the National Film and Television School with £475,000.
In the last year alone The Party’s Just Beginning, The Outlaw King, The Crown and Mary Queen of Scots were all filmed in the Highlands.
