The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Hollywood comes to Scotland

15/10/2003

A $32 million Hollywood movie is to be shot in Scotland, Culture Minister Frank McAveety announced today.

The Jacket will be directed by John Maybury and is to be produced by international star George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh's Section Eight production company, with Peter Gruber's Mandalay Pictures in association with German production company VIP Medienfonds.

It will star Adrian Brody (The Pianist) and Keira Knightley (Bend it Like Beckham, Pirates of the Caribbean).

Shooting will beginearly in the new year and it is estimated that it will generate around $10 million forScotland's economy and will employ a large film crew, mostly locally recruited.

At Scottish Screen Headquarters inGlasgow, Mr McAveety said:

"This news is simply fantastic forScotland, fantastic for those involved in the film industry inScotland, and fantastic for filmgoers.

"Scottish Screen and the Glasgow Film Office must be congratulated in their roles in convincing the film's American and German producers thatScotlandhas everything to offer production companies who are looking for locations to shoot their films.

"There are many spin-offs associated with this film - a large crew recruited inScotlandwill be employed for this production, hotels in shoot locations will feel the benefits, and so too will local shops and restaurants.

"But most of all the prestige in providing the backdrop for aHollywoodblockbuster with famousHollywoodstars coming toScotland, will attract other film companies and convince them thatScotlandis a great place come and use our rich and varied film locations."

Steve McIntyre, Chief Executive of Scottish Screen, said:

"We are delighted that Scottish Screen along with the Glasgow Film Office have been able to attract this most important film to shoot inScotland. We look forward to working closely with the producers and the Scottish crew over the next few months."

Councillor Charlie Gordon of Glasgow City Council added:

"I'm delighted with the important role the Glasgow Film Office has played in bringing this movie toScotland.

"Since its inception in 1997, the Film Office and Glasgow City Council have provided invaluable logistical and financial support to many feature films and TV dramas.

"Now we're going to have a little bit ofHollywoodcome to our shores, and we can show the most important market in the film industry just how good we are at this kind of work."

Peter McAleese, theUKco-producer, said:

"I am truly delighted to be able to bring this project to my adopted home city ofGlasgow. I'm looking forward to working closely with both the Glasgow Film Office and Scottish Screen to ensure large numbers of the internationally respected Scottish crew members resident here, along with some of the world's best off-screen support services located in and around the city, are used to best advantage on this fantastic project.

"If we do our job well I hope this film will lead a charge of productions back into ScotlandfromHollywood."

The film is about a first Gulf War veteran Starks who is unjustly accused of murder he doesn't remember committing. He is sent to an asylum for the criminally insane. While there he is put under the care of Dr Becker who uses a torture device known as "The Jacket".

Negotiations are underway for scenes from the film to be shot at a psychiatric hospital near Broxburn in West Lothian. A number of other locations are currently being identified around Scotland by a location scout. These will be announced in due course.