The Scotsman have published a great article about Martin Smith and his upcoming feature Shows. The feature is based on Martin Smith’s short Seagulls, which was produced through DigiCult and Hopscotch’s Scottish Shorts initiative and had its world premiere at Berlin Film Festival last month.

Shows tells the story of a teenage showman and his dream of escaping life on the road. DigiCult’s Paul Welsh is producing the feature through sister company Edge City Films. In the Scotsman article, Smith highlights the issues faced by showmen and his reasons for making a short and feature on the same subject and characters.

To read the article in full, please visit The Scotsman’s website

Following two months of hard graft on their story, script and project ideas, Eva Riley and Tom Chick have been commissioned  by DigiCult and Creative Scotland to produce their first funded shorts with the company.

Eva’s naturalistic piece ‘Sweetheart’ tells the story of two sisters struggling with their inter-dependency and competing sexuality. And Tom’s lyrical re-telling of the traditional tale ‘Death In A Nut’ draws inspiration from the films of Bill Douglas, deftly exploring a son’s struggle with a stranger who comes to visit his ailing mother.

Congratulations to both these film-makers and commiserations to the remainder of the short film talent pool. Everyone worked hard throughout the development process: Ryan Adams, Antonia Bain, Hugh Farrell, Sam Firth, Neil Hepburn and Mark Rossi. DigiCult wishes you every success with your future film projects.

Alongside Zack Copping’s ‘Foxy and Marina‘ (in post production), ‘Sweetheart’ and ‘Death in A Nut’ complete DigiCult’s short film slate for 2011.

Foxy and Marina wrapped last Thursday night and the vibes were good. VJ Emlyn Firth mashed-up our production stills to the Latin sounds provided by Doctor Belle. Food was eaten and a few drinks were drunk. We’ll take a few weeks too recover our wits then push on with the edit. Well done to Writer/Director Zack Copping – he matured as the days intensified – and thank you to the cast and crew of the film. It’s going to be special.

DigiCult’s Foxy And Marina (Writer/Director Zach Copping) shoots this week. Here’s a sneak preview of the action and a glimpse of the set in Glasgow’s West End.

A lyrical romance set in the not-so-romantic world of heroin addiction, this original story follows a young boy from Skye as he flirts with the idea of giving-up and returning home to the islands. Killing time on his last day in the city, Foxy (Lorne MacFadyen) visits his dealer where he meets Marina (Pollyanna McIntosh) and falls in love …

Running at 25 minutes, Foxy and Marina is Zach’s second short film. His HoD’s include David Liddell (DoP), Stephen Carney (1st AD), Natalie Astridge (Designer), Layla Mall (Costume) and Tahira Herold (Make-Up). Zach’s first short Cotopaxi – a GMAC DigiCult production in 2005 – was BAFTA Scotland nominated for Best Short and competed for the Silver Bear at Berlinale. You can watch the film on BBC Film Network.

All Stills by Chris Baron

Funded by Creative Scotland and UK Film Council, Zak Copping’s long short ‘Foxy and Marina’ shoots this weekend in Glasgow (Saturday 2nd April, 6 days). A lyrical romance set in the not-so-romantic world of heroin addiction, this original story follows a young boy from Skye as he flirts with the idea of giving-up and returning home to the islands. Killing time on his last day in the city, Foxy (Lorne MacFadyen) visits his dealer where he meets Marina (Pollyanna McIntosh) and falls in love …

Lorne MacFadyen (Foxy, ‘Foxy and Marina’)

Pollyanna McIntosh (Marina, ‘Foxy and Marina’)

‘Foxy and Marina’ was originally developed as one of UK Film Council’s Digital Nation shorts in 2o1o.

The film is being produced by Paul Welsh and Pip Farnese for DigiCult.

A big thank you to the exceptionally talented people behind ‘Fixing Luka’, DigiCult’s most recent stop-frame animation (Scottish Digital Shorts 2010). Two nominations for BAFTA in Scotland’s New Talent Awards (March 2011) secured one great win for the team – Pete MacDonald for Best Original Score – and many great tributes from the floor for Jessica Ashman (writer-director-animator) and Anna Odell (producer) after the film was nominated for Best Animation. DigiCult also wants to congratulate all the nominees and prize-winners recognised by BAFTA in Scotland this month. Well done one and all.

What is INCUBATOR?

• Training in Storytelling for the Screen
• Screenwriting Shorts & Features
• Short Film Production

Applications are now open for INCUBATOR, a comprehensive drama development and production programme aimed at Scotland’s finest new and emerging writers and writer/directors.

With investment from Creative Scotland, INCUBATOR aims to foster the next wave of world-class writers and directors in Scotland, on occasion partnering with other UK nations and regions to maximize the resources available for talent nationally.

Following an open call for applications (deadline @ 12 noon 29th April 2011), INCUBATOR will select and develop a talent pool of 12 filmmakers working on short and feature length projects.

Over 10 months (May 2011 – Feb 2012), we will develop and produce three short films and develop six feature length projects (including a minimum of three feature script commissions).

For more information on this project, please download the INCUBATOR guidelines and electronic application form on THIS PAGE (left hand side). We look forward to reading your submission.

‘Creative Scotland looks forward to working in partnership with DigiCult to provide opportunities for Scotland’s emerging screen talent. Programmes such as ‘Incubator’ are crucial in providing the first key steps in the careers of our talented writers, directors and producers. This is a fantastic opportunity for the participants who will develop and produce short films that will later be showcased to international audiences and a chance for them to develop a feature screenplay.’

Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development, Creative Scotland.

INCUBATOR’s supporters include Virgin Media Shorts, Glasgow Film Festival, Screen Hi with individual project support from UK Film Council. INCUBATOR is open to Scottish based talent only. The programme is not open to part or fill time students.