River City’s great fun. But a horror movie? That’s a real scream
Actor turned director lands big break in America
IT’S THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES FOR SHIELDINCH’S FORMER BAD COP.. AND HE’S LOVING EVERY MINUTE
Faced with a career change after years of working in the same place, many people decide it’s time to follow their dreams.
But River City actor Scott Vickers followed his nightmares. After three years in Shieldinch, the 41-year- old wrote and directed a horror film. The movie, Matriarch, has been signed up by a major Hollywood studio while he has signed his own deal with top American agents. Scott, who played policeman Will Cooper in the BBC soap, is looking forward to the film being given its premiere screening at the upcoming Glasgow Horror Fest. He said: “It’s just amazing. We’re pinching ourselves, we really are. The film was snapped up by a major LA sales agent called Covert Media earlier this year and they then landed the deal with the studio. “We’re not allowed to say who just yet but it is a big Hollywood studio, a household name. “They saw the film, wanted it and have the rights for North America. “It’s all signed and sealed but they won’t announce it until they have a release date. It’s a massive deal. “On the back of it, I have been signed to American firm 3 Arts Entertainment, who have some incredible talent including Chris Evans, Kevin Hart, Matt LeBlanc, Robert Pattinson and have produced films such as Edge Of Tomorrow and I Am Legend. “So I now have a manager in New York and a manager in LA. What the hell’s going on? I was in River City three years ago.” Scott remains grateful for his time in Shieldinch. The actor, from Cheshire, came to Scotland for the role of gay cop Wi l l , whose struggles with his sexuality saw him beat up husband Robbie. The role, which was meant to last a year, turned into four, during which he teamed up with producer Steven Little to form p ro duc t ion company New Light Films and met his wife Nicola. He said: “If I hadn’t made
Matriarch, then the guys in America wouldn’t have noticed me. And a big part of the reason I got Matriarch made was because I had a name from River City. It’s all stepping stones – and River City was a big stepping stone.
“When I came up for the role, I was based in London and they said I would probably come in for a year to really muck things up, become a hate figure and then leave.
“But the Scottish public really ended up liking me. They love a baddie. It was one of the most amazing times of my life. I was totally welcomed by Glasgow and Scotland and I’ll always remember that.
“The writers just loved writing for him and I found myself in more and more storylines. It was something different – a violent gay cop f r om England.
“I t wa s great, I had the time of my life. When I met my wife, who is from Edinburgh, she didn’t really understand how well known you become in River City. “On our first date, we were driving to Ayrshire and she told me a friend of hers had said River City was really popular. She asked, ‘ Do people recognise you?’ We were a bit lost in the middle of nowhere and there was this guy walking. I stopped, wound down the window and he said, ‘Are you that guy from River City?’” Scott and Nicola have since become pa rent s to son Hudson, who has just turned one. His birth, and N ic ol a ’ s pregnancy, coincided with the writing and making of Matriarch, which stars Charlie Blackwood and Julie Hannan.
It follows a pregnant young couple on a quiet drive through the Scottish countryside. A car crash leads to them being trapped in a remote farmhouse inhabited by an evil and sinister family, who want their baby.
Scott, who also plays a supporting role, said: “My wife has seen it and absolutely loves it.”
Although things have worked out even better than Scott hoped for, it has not been easy.
The movie was made on a “micro-budget” of just £45,000 and saw everyone involved pitching in. One of the producers is farmer Alan Cuthbert, who provided the filming location in Balfron, Stirling, while Scott sold his house in London to make it.
He said: “A lot of people say we are so lucky but we had to put the work in. We took a big risk to make it. We cut corners, all the main guys have
worked on it for nothing. I sold my house in London to put money into the film. I’ve lived off that and my wife works but I’ve not earned any money for three years.
“We took a huge risk and we had a baby during it. But it’s been worth it.
“Once we completed the film, a couple of contacts of mine sent the film to some sales agents in America and, as soon as it went out there, the phone just rang off the hook. They loved it in America.
“They loved the fact it was Scottish, loved the Scottish countryside, loved that it was an exciting movie and so, in the end, we made a deal with a top sales agent and a distributor.”
As well as Hollywood, Matriarch has found a celebrity fan in TV host Lorraine Kelly, who said: “Be prepared to be scared by this haunting movie. You will be on the edge of your seat. An absolute must-see”.
As well as the Glasgow Horror Fest, which takes place over the weekend of October 27 and 28 at the Classic Grand and will also feature a Q&A with cast and crew, Matriarch will be screened at Cineworld Glasgow from November 2.
For Scott, who is already hard at work on his next feature about a family living through a nuclear apocalypse which is again set in Scotland, the Glasgow screening will mean a huge amount to all who worked on the film.
He sa i d : “The American studio are aiming for the second quarter of 2019 to release it in America but they have allowed us to screen it in Glasgow, which is incredible because it will be the first time anybody in the world is able to see it.
“That means a lot because I spent f ive years in Glasgow and most of the cast and crew who made the film are from Glasgow.
“Cineworld saw it and loved it and said they would put it on for three weeks. It’s just amazing.”