Film Franchise Could Boost Highland Economy

2nd June 2013

Oscar-winning film-producer Barrie Osborne last week outlined his plans for developing a movie franchise based on the novel ‘The Heartstone Odyssey’. If funding can be found, the third movie will be filmed in the Highlands and could bring hundreds of jobs and a significant legacy to the area through the creation of state-of-the-art post-production facilities.

Mr Osborne – co-producer of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and executive producer of The Matrix – presented his proposals for the film franchise at a civic reception in the Inverness Town House on Tuesday (28th May). The event was hosted by The Highland Council and the Highland Indian Association, with attendees including the Minister for Culture from the Indian High Commission, the Provost of Inverness, Lord Lieutenant of Moray, and the Leader of The Highland Council.

The Heartstone Odyssey – written by Avran Kumar, the pen name of Kiltarlity-based photographer Nick Sidle – is a fantasy adventure that will appeal to both children and adults. It tells the story of a precious gemstone entrusted to a counterculture of mice for safekeeping, and links to wider themes of putting aside prejudices and caring for the natural world.

The tale spans 250 years and takes place in the Highlands, London and India. The third film, and finale of the story, would take place in the Highlands and could be released by summer 2017.

Mr Osborne’s proposal focused on the potential value of the film for the Highland region, drawing on his experiences of the impact of The Lord of the Rings had on New Zealand. Benefits include:

● Increasing tourism
● Increasing employment – particularly amongst the military and youths
● Investment in technology and infrastructure
● Fostering international trade bridges between Scotland, India, New Zealand, and America
● Boosting heritage, literacy and education
● Fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
● Creating a world class post-production centre and visual effects facility in the Highlands.

He also outlined the timescales for operations, measures taken to minimise risks for local investors, and the opportune timing in relation to the significant growth of the Indian market.

Mr Osborne has been working closely with Mr Sidle and his partner Sitakumari, a director of the ‘Heartstone’ non-profit organisation based in Dingwall. The organisation works with schools and communities to address issues around prejudice and environmental degradation using storytelling, dance and art.

The Highland Council have played a significant role in helping to develop the project. Council funding has helped Heartstone to hold events and exhibitions showcasing the messages and characters of the novel. Recent financial assistance also enabled Heartstone dancers to perform at the Nehru Centre in London earlier this year, from which the possibility to turn the Heartstone trilogy into a film was developed.
Sitakumari said “We are where we are at today because of the assistance of The Highland Council. We’re now at the start of an exciting path and we hope the Council will continue to support us in the next stages which will be of benefit to so many people across the Highlands.”

Cllr Drew Hendry, Leader of the Highland Council, said “Heartstone is a brilliant project and a marvellous opportunity for the Highland region. Both the themes of the book – working together, embracing diversity, and caring for the environment – and the potential benefits of the film for boosting the economy, employment, infrastructure, arts and culture resonate with the Council’s own commitments to the Highlands. If the film is produced, the Council will endeavour to support the project and ensure that it has a positive, sustainable impact on our region.”

Since arriving in Inverness direct from Cannes Film Festival, Mr Osborne has been travelling around the Highlands to explore potential filming locations and to visit sites related to the story spanning from the Bone Caves near Inchnadamph to the Black Watch at Fort George.

He is encouraged by what he has seen: “filming in the Highlands region will be a challenge but also a great opportunity, particularly to develop innovative techniques and approaches to filming, and you can’t fail to be inspired by the area”.

The Highlands and Islands Film Commission, a unit within the Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service, have been offering practical assistance to Mr Osborne and the Heartstone team by advising about filming locations, assisting site-visits, and setting up contacts with local investors and the Scottish film industry.

Mr Osborne said “The Highland Council have been really supportive and helped to organise all of this. I am greatly appreciative to them for their generosity.”

When asked about the direct impact on the Highlands, Mr Osborne clarified that: “Some people and services would of course have to be imported, but we would try to develop a local crew using as many people from Highland communities as possible.”

“I cannot say for certain where production would be based in Scotland, but just as Peter Jackson was the creative force behind Lord of the Rings and this determined our decision to base production in New Zealand; Sitakumari and Nick are the creative centre of Heartstone and they are based in Highland, which cements our commitment to the region.”

Mr Osborne and The Highland Council are not alone in backing the Heartstone film project. First Minister Alex Salmond and Lord Mayor of London Boris Johnson have expressed their interest and Heartstone are also able to list Universal Studios, Film London, Indian Star A. R. Rahman and the Indian High Commission as associates of the project

For more information about the Heartstone Film Project, contact Sitakumari[AT]heartstone.co.uk