The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Short film shot in Angus shown at DCA
FEATURE: Praise for people of Tayside who offered support and appeared as extras
A pair of Angus film-makers showed off their latest short film featuring a Scottish Game of Thrones star at Dundee Contemporary Arts at the weekend.
Natalie was filmed in Carnoustie, St Vigeans Church in Arbroath and in Auchmithie’s old school house and village hall in March last year.
It stars Kate Dickie, who has previously appeared in Red Road, Prometheus and as Lysa Arryn in Game of Thrones. She plays a person who has undergone a sex change who returns to her home town for her father’s funeral.
The 15-minute film is directed by Mikey Murray and produced by Lisa Nicoll who both grew up in Kingennie, and will now be entered into film festivals across the world.
Many extras from Tayside appeared in the film after an appeal in the pages of The Courier.
Lisa said: “We were overwhelmed at the support from the Angus community who ultimately made their film possible.
“After a call out in The Courier, over 70 people applied to be extras with 30 being chosen to take part in filming over two days. The extras range from 19 years old to 83.
“There has been an incredible enthusiasm from locals of all ages to be involved in the film and we cannot thank the community enough for making the film possible.”
Lisa and Mikey both attended Newbigging Primary School and Carnoustie High School and have remained friends and have supported each other’s careers through the years.
Lisa is an associate producer at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow. Mikey, meanwhile, is the recipient of a New Bafta Talent Award for his short film Breaking.
Mikey, who also wrote the film, added: “I’m delighted with how the performances, pace and visual style all complement each other in the final piece.
“I very much hope that our audience can experience the tension that Natalie feels through the wonderful performance from Kate Dickie.”
The film was funded through the BFI’s NET.WORK scheme and around 80 Kickstarter backers.
The film also features Sean Scanlan, Robin Laing, Rosie McPherson, Stephen McCole and Anne Downie.