Comment posted on £7 million public money for Brave film – and a map that takes Argyll and the Isles out of Scotland by Nick
Id’ never thought of it like that, im going to put forward the Chuckle Brothers for us next year then, I sadly quite enjoyed Eurovision this year, Graham Nortons cutting remarks makes it bearable. 
Nick also commented
- I think that any opportunity to promote Scotland to identified target audiences is a great idea, although Visit Scotland has missed the boat yet again. The film, whilst family viewing, is largely aimed at children. Perhaps with foresight Visit Scotland would enter into a clear contract that offers real benefits, but the spendng of £7 million isnt the key factor, the problem is that there has been no support schedule, no additional value to this package.
Machrihanish Air Force base and numerous other areas are ‘desperate’ for investment and opportunity, this would have been the ideal opportunity to capitalise on Disneys investment in the Scottish family film but creating a visitor centre / theme park. Even reducing investment releasing £3million to create a rural visitor attraction would have had a substantial impact on creating new opportunity and something long lasting, we have to remember now that films, music and digital media and the consumer relationships with these last a lifetime, once again i cant help but think that Scotland has been removed of opportunity once again in what i imagine would have been a poor ROI, we could have probably made two films to better market Scotland for the same money.
Lastly, OMG @ Eurovision, with Susan Boyle one of the most loved artists at present, why, oh why, oh why didnt the UK use her and a decent song?? Shes not my cup of tea, but certainly has a huge following throughout the world.
We only get one chance to make appropriate and successful decisions, i cant help think that more and more decisions are made without due care, due passion or due consideration, can someone please write something positive that we can all agree on!
Recent comments by Nick
- Emergence of Kintyre and Gigha Marketing Group completes Argyll and the Isles jigsaw
Im just amazed at the allegations made regarding two people posting from separate computers are on and the same, why on earth would someone suggest such an act unless it was already abundant with the creators of For Argyll, simple reverse psychology would bring us to this very conclusion. Im sure we are all familiar with the ‘he who smelt it dealt it’ playground chant.I can appreciate that there will be opinions good and bad regarding For Argyll, it clearly operates a bullyish nature with regard to contribution, in my opinion no-one has operated in a professional way and i think Argyll would be For the better if this amateur delivery was no more.
This is my final post and final use of For Argyll, a place where only a few are welome, and even fewer independent or different viewpoints are accepted, seems Argylls Euro even had immigration control in place already.
Cheerio. Will be in touch regarding the privacy issue ( we are both still waiting for a copy of For Argylls Privacy Policy – if one exists?)….
- Emergence of Kintyre and Gigha Marketing Group completes Argyll and the Isles jigsaw
I wonder how many of these posts are by the owners and content contributors of For Argyll afraid to come out of the ‘closet’. Its a little cowardly dont you think?Also the connections between the group responsible for For Argyll seems to be heavily connected with AISTP and organisations that seem to be acting and would i dare say profiting from social connections, conflict of interest, the same old story guys its not what you know its who you know that matters.
Its amazing what you can find out about the For Argyll team when you ask the rght people, such a shame after the weekends unfortunate privacy issues thats its unprofessional delivery perhaps along with the sustainable future of the AISTP may be shortlived.
Please confirm that this article has been provided by AISTP and that the For Argyll team has not created th article, its rather a derogatory article, slightly amateurish, have a wonderful holiday monday…
- Emergence of Kintyre and Gigha Marketing Group completes Argyll and the Isles jigsaw
Im disappointed that i wasnt the first to post, although im pleased that im such a catch, should i be honoured or scared? - Emergence of Kintyre and Gigha Marketing Group completes Argyll and the Isles jigsaw
At last, thank you for encouragement and taking a step to consider what I have written (hoping it is genuine of course).The frustrating thing about the AISTP is that they are around 10 years behind the natural progression and requirements of marketing focusing on items that do not provide the necessary strategy to deliver prosperity to Argyll, as Alan Sugar stated this evening “you need to take good businesses to the USA as they are good at venture capitalism”, and I agree, there is no enterprise support structure in Argyll and nothing that considers and supports existing growth businesses, nothing of any discernable value anyway.
The funding mechanism is also wrong, not to mention that the AISTP have chosen to get alot of their work paid for out of Argyll, as have Tarbert Harbour and Tarbert & Skipness Trust, millions of pounds if all lumped together with no jobs, no apprenticeships and no immediate impact in tourism.
I can’t begin to go over the intricacies of modern marketing, business ethics, economics and growth strategies within rural environments, but what i can say is that there is an eggs and basket scenario that is unhealthy.
I would love to know why AISTP operates anti-competitively, why arent they using local businesses, why are some businesses excluded, why do they attract funding for flawed marketing yet anyone else in the industry of any form is left out to dry that has a better (and more sustainable product)?
Im unlikely to get any answers but in the last four or five years all I have heard is there is no money, no money, yet there has not been one large home grown export business that is sustainable and can support exponential growth of product manufacture, export, delivery and jobs. Loch Fyne Oyster bar which was the areas flagship even had huge debts and had to be sold to a Chinese company to stay trading I am to understand.
Its this information that does not give me confidence in what is being delivered, and Argyll continually overlooks normal everyday people who have great ideas, great products and most of all there is a plagiouristic operation which removes all credit from people who create and develop ideas.
Im afraid to say that there are some disappointing comparisions in Argyll, do you think its ok for the Cairnbaan Hotel to be involved in Heart of Argyll which is a conflict of interest, im sure if the hotel was in Oban they wouldnt be involved, yet I am not allowed the same opportunity to promote and provide a successful business.
Life isn’t fair we know that, Argyll life verges on the comical based on social connections rather than an acceptance that sometimes someone else or someone elses strategy or product is better than the one that exists.
Probably not much help but covers some points.
- Emergence of Kintyre and Gigha Marketing Group completes Argyll and the Isles jigsaw
Not sure i understand, you’ll probably find alot of people dont like me, but alot of people dont like people who speak their mind in an open and honest fashion, i cant abide liars, gamesplayers or con artists, there are plenty of them around thats for sure.
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I bet there are no wind turbines in it either!
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Newsroom: You have definitely been on the grouchy pills of late: perhaps it is the heat?
You may have a point about the map but as most Americans have little idea of the geography of their own country can we expect much from them with regard to ours?
I have seen the trailers for the film and I liked it. It will be a great, feel-good, animated film for all the family that will do well at the box office (which is what it is designed to be rather than a piece of great art destined immediately to be seen only at high art venues and straight to DVD – We have Peter Mullan to do that sort of thing for us)
I think Visit Scotland have taken an imaginative punt here and it will be interesting to see how it pans out. If nothing else, it will give us lots of amusement trying to spot which bits of Scotland are represented in the film.
For Lowry: In the clips I have seen there are indeed no wind turbines and I don’t know if they based any of the scenery on areas where there are turbines visible but I think I saw a stylistic Kilchurn Castle with no pylons in the picture either.
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I hope you’re right and that the box office tells a success story. Nothing is more subjective than responses to art and entertainment. Another part of the fun is hearing other people’s reasons for their own responses.
Regardless of any other category a creative piece can be placed in, the big trip is whether it is so good you forget about everything except enjoying or being held by whatever it is.
In Brave, I found Merida – the feisty redheaded princess voiced by Kelly MacDonald, genuinely compelling. The other characters and the plot were so inconsistent I kept losing contact with the thread I responded to.
While the creative arts is a major area of expertise of mine – and expertise can get in the way – I can be as playful as anyone, if the work transports me.
Whether it’s comedy, music theatre, dance, visual arts, installation art or panto – success is about the ability to transport.
With the Brave trailers, I stayed where I was, eyes wide open.
But maybe the full film will be different. I’ll certainly see it. And if its impact is different, I’ll say so up front and right away – with pleasure.
Lynda
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Concerning the map: it’s not even an easy straight-ish line across. King James (VI and I) will be turning in his grave; at least he didn’t try to move the boundary between his “North Britain” and “South Britain”.
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For goodness sake – this is the world according to Disney we are talking about here. Fairy flippin princesses and talking animals that spontaneously burst into song and dance numbers.
Americans know nothing about geography anyway, unless its a country they plan to
invadeunleash democracy on, so yer all getting yer knickers twisted over nothing.£7 million invested? Well at least we know where they’ve spent it instead of a wee bit here and there which ultimately leads to nothing.
If it does bring more tourists, then great. I don’t give a hoot how accurate their map is.
What concerns me more is the current trend of slamming movies that have had something to do with Disney. If this movie is nothing less than spectacular, it will sink without trace at the mercy of critics desperate for their headlines and go the way of John Carter. I sincerely hope for all concerned this proves not to be the case, but having seen the trailers, I am not confident.
Incidentally, I liked John Carter
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It never got past the SNP censors with script such as “are you prepared to pay the price your freedom will cost”. Was it a gaffe with the map? It’s a fairy story so I’d not be surprised if the border fitted the plot.
I think your point is well made. What is wrong with Scotland as she is rather than this fantasy (as a means of selling Scotland)?
For the Scottish Government’s Tourism experts to pour scorn over Trump’s knowledge of tourism and then splash £7m on this, which isn’t quite what one would have in mind to attract visitors to Scotland, is odd.
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What film has ever portrayed Scotland accurately and what exactly were you expecting from Disney?
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It’s a PIXAR film! Is it right or wrong to use public (and is VisitScotland’s money public?) to promote it, I don’t know.
But you can expect excellent animation, a real story, and a sudden uptick in interest in Scotland, just as Finding Nemo almost did for the clownfish.
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Actually, given that the ancestors of the present Duke, the Campbells of Inveraray/Argyll, not only fought on the side of the English (and freely massacred any ‘ rebellious Scots’) they also regarded themselves as part of England – and thus in historical (and PIXAR) terms the map is probably pretty accurate.
Do they still ban Campbells and tinkers from yon pub in Glencoe?
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I understand the tinkers are allowed in
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If we are getting pernickety here, Disney owns Pixar, its their animation branch and one wee look at the movie’s website and its clear which name comes first:
http://www.disney.co.uk/brave/
And again, this is Hollywood’s version of Scotland. They still think that Gene Kelly is wandering the hills here singing “Roamin in the Gloamin”.
Campbells are barred from pubs all over Scotland, you need to be more specific!!!
Guess what I am? lol
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Has Salmond got the replacement for the British Board of Film Classification sorted out? We should be told.
Is this film a touchy-feely Braveheart?
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Greetings from Adelaide, South Australia!
Just to let you know that we are having a Champagne Premiere of Brave here on 21 June and we are all looking forward to seeing it.
Here’s tae Scotland –
Rosemary
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Crazy – I googled it – it’s the The Clachaig Inn.
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Had a wee look at their website. Looks like a nice wee cosy place. Perhaps I shall wear a disguise if I visit
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The Clachaig Inn had a great sign outside afew weeks ago during the panic over the oil tanker drivers possibly going on strike. It read: “Beer shortage predicted. Please panic buy”.
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A great pub and lots of fun when I was last there. I once spent the evening in it with the Kurgan from Highlander. Nice, soft spoken, gentle bloke actually and almost twice my height;-) The film was historically bizarre as it was placed in a very vague century and place, but used authentic weapons and dress.
The same was true of Braveheart which was mostly filmed in Ireland, opened with shots of mountains Ayrshire doesn’t have, and created a romantic interest with a princess who was just ten when Wallace was murdered. The original script was rescued somewhat by the input of the Scottish actors who refused to tolerate a dialogue that could only have been rooted in an American diner. The original version was further subverted by a bunch of guys from Glasgow who had a passion for face paint and baring their bums.
I do think the least visit scotland could have done is phoned to point out the error and wonder how the artist managed to get the shape right without copying the million accurate maps that abound on the internet. I don’t however think it’s useful to waste time correcting the film industry. There will no doubt be a reason why “poor little Scotland” was a good starting point and no amount of money would swerve them from their “creative” aims.
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I once (a long time ago) spent a winter’s evening in the Clachaig Inn with a young lady who asked for ice in her whisky – long silence, serious faux pas.
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Oh deary me, if this is the best you can do newsroom then it’s a sad day for journalisits across the world. Having a pop at VisitScotland for a map which is produced by Disney for a Disney tour of Scotland is laughable, why would someone in VisitScotland sign off a disney project? Another scoop for you to run with Mel Gibson isn’t from Stirling at all he’s….wait for it.. an Australian,
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I think that any opportunity to promote Scotland to identified target audiences is a great idea, although Visit Scotland has missed the boat yet again. The film, whilst family viewing, is largely aimed at children. Perhaps with foresight Visit Scotland would enter into a clear contract that offers real benefits, but the spendng of £7 million isnt the key factor, the problem is that there has been no support schedule, no additional value to this package.
Machrihanish Air Force base and numerous other areas are ‘desperate’ for investment and opportunity, this would have been the ideal opportunity to capitalise on Disneys investment in the Scottish family film but creating a visitor centre / theme park. Even reducing investment releasing £3million to create a rural visitor attraction would have had a substantial impact on creating new opportunity and something long lasting, we have to remember now that films, music and digital media and the consumer relationships with these last a lifetime, once again i cant help but think that Scotland has been removed of opportunity once again in what i imagine would have been a poor ROI, we could have probably made two films to better market Scotland for the same money.
Lastly, OMG @ Eurovision, with Susan Boyle one of the most loved artists at present, why, oh why, oh why didnt the UK use her and a decent song?? Shes not my cup of tea, but certainly has a huge following throughout the world.
We only get one chance to make appropriate and successful decisions, i cant help think that more and more decisions are made without due care, due passion or due consideration, can someone please write something positive that we can all agree on!
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re: Eurovision
Do we REALLY want to win? That means we need to host the blimin thing the following year and it costs a fortune to put it on. Thats why Ireland keep sending Jedward.
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Id’ never thought of it like that, im going to put forward the Chuckle Brothers for us next year then, I sadly quite enjoyed Eurovision this year, Graham Nortons cutting remarks makes it bearable.
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