Film production led by BAFTA-winning director, featuring Gemma Arterton, relocates shooting from Scotland, following the rejection of financial support from the nation's arts institution.
Here's a new take on the article with a more informal, engaging tone and a few enrichment insights woven in:
Title: Scottish Film "Storm Witch" Packing a Star-Studded Cast Misses Out on Funding, Heads Elsewhere
Subtitle: Featuring Gemma Arterton, Kate Dickie, and Kevin McKidd, this BAFTA-winning director's movie faces unexpected twists and turns.
You'd think a film with big names like Gemma Arterton, Kate Dickie from Game of Thrones, and Kevin McKidd of Grey's Anatomy fame would have an easy ride. But that's not always the case. Take the dreaded £5.5 million production, "Storm Witch", for example.
Set in 17th century Scotland, the film follows a remote coastal community ensnared in superstition, fear, and religious fervor. The initially suspected witch, Morag (played by Arterton), seems oddly connected to nature, pushing the villagers to their survival limits and lighting the fuse on a dangerous love triangle.
Scottish director David Blair aimed to bring this tale of small-town terror to the heart of Scotland. However, a lack of support from Screen Scotland left Blair and producer Alice de Sousa crushed. Despite spending a year pursuing funding, they never even received initial development funding.
With frustration brewing, de Sousa expressed her hopes for more transparency and feedback on funding decisions. "It's taxpayers' money, after all," she stated.
Scriptwriter Tristan de Vere Cole had spent a considerable amount of time crafting an authentically Scottish narrative, with filming planned to bring a substantial economic boost to the country.
Going forward, de Sousa plans to attend the Cannes Film Festival to secure the remaining funds for the movie, which has already garnered backing from a Canadian investor.
This isn't the first time Screen Scotland has faced controversy. In 2020, the public arts body faced severe criticisms for awarding £85,000 to a project facilitating extreme sexual acts. But, in the case of "Storm Witch", the project simply missed the mark, leaving the team to re-group and seek new opportunities.
According to Blair, "For me, it's important to know if a project isn't moving forward because there's ambiguity in the feedback provided. A three or four-page response should be mandatory."
Despite the setbacks, Blair remains hopeful, commenting that "the themes of 'Storm Witch' resonate emotionally and lyrically, laying down a haunting message for today's society."
- In the world of entertainment, even movies with stars like Gemma Arterton, Kate Dickie, and Kevin McKidd can face funding issues, as demonstrated by the Scottish Film "Storm Witch."
- It was unfortunate for BAFTA-winning director David Blair when his film "Storm Witch," featuring Gemma Arterton and Kevin McKidd, didn't receive funding from Screen Scotland despite a year-long pursuit.
- The scriptwriter, Tristan de Vere Cole, had spent significant time crafting an authentically Scottish narrative for the movie "Storm Witch," hoping to bring a substantial economic boost to the country.
- Despite the setback, the producer, Alice de Sousa, plans to attend the Cannes Film Festival to secure the remaining funds for "Storm Witch," which has already gained backing from a Canadian investor.
- In the realm of politics and general news, Screen Scotland has faced criticisms in the past, such as the controversy surrounding the allocation of £85,000 for a project promoting extreme sexual acts in 2020. However, the case of "Storm Witch" appears to be more about missed opportunities rather than questionable decisions.
