Next steps for our Sma’ Shot movie
We are making a movie. Yes, a movie.
It all came about when we were about to put the final phase of a musical stage play together ... and then we went into lockdown.
Initially, I was annoyed it stopped our plans and we were totally bored with nothing to do.
Last summer, my son Jamie started to record some of the tunes that were to feature in the stage musical as backing tracks just in case we needed them.
The songs are mainly Scottish traditional folk favourites that have been around for hundreds of years.
We set out to give them a more modern feel, but when the arrangements started to take shape we realised that the songs were beginning to sound amazing.
So much so that we felt the tracks shouldn’t be backing tracks, they should be part of something bigger.
And then we thought, ‘how about we use them as a soundtrack for a movie?’
The next step was to figure out how to pivot the stage play into a full length feature film.
That’s when it got kind of difficult. It was time to build a team of local Buddies who wanted to be part of an exciting project that would promote our town.
Cue my friend Alan McEwan, who runs Brick Lane Media, for advice on what we would need and what we could and couldn’t do as far as the technical side was concerned.
We also turned to Karen Herbison, of H-Arts, for putting together a group of experienced actors.
Karen was already involved helping to develop the script and knew the stories and the potential of turning one of Paisley’s best known historical tales into the big screen.
Duncan McDonald, a director for BeesNees a Glasgow based Production Company, well known for his work in documentaries, dramas and live music, has kept us in line and set us on the right path.
We have appointed Paisley man Craig McKirdy as our head of photography with a view to help in direction.
The script has been helped greatly by Kate Burton, who is a professional writer and director, to make the story adapt to film.
Local film maker Martin Heron has also helped with good, sound advice, giving us a insight to what we are likely to encounter.
So what we have ended up with is an amazing soundtrack, a gripping screenplay, great actors and singers and a professional film crew.
The project still needs some help. First of all, we need over 100 extras to recreate the Sma’ Shot Parade of 1856.
Participants need to hire a costume, which costs £25, but you’ll get your name in the credits and be in the movie.
If you want to be part of this oneoff event, all you need to do is send a message to us on The Sma’ Shot Movie Facebook page.
You could also really give the project a boost by buying a ticket to the premiere of the movie at www. crowdfunder.co.uk/the-sma-shotstrike
Be the first to see the film online and get an exclusive preview before it gets released to the public.