Like the plot of a good thriller movie, there’s been plenty of shocking twists and turns in the Scottish cinema industry over the past few years.
Film production in Scotland has been a big focus for the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland. They’ve pumped cash into raising awareness of what Scotland can offer film producers in terms of talent and locations. Its well known now that the Scottish Highlands make the ideal backdrop to a fantasy or medieval epic. The impressive architecture of Scottish cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh has become synonymous with superhero shenanigans like Batman.
A recent report from Creative Scotland revealed that movie making contributed a fantastic £568m to the nation’s economy. The city of Glasgow, which recently provided the backdrop to the fifth instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise, brought in £214 million. It’s expected that film production revenues could double by 2030 at over £1billion. The growth in the sector provided 10,280 full-time equivalent jobs too for Scottish behind-the-scenes freelance talent, from location managers to camera assistants, hair and makeup artists and more.
However, despite the fantastic work in Scotland to create memorable movie moments, the month so far has proven that we can make as many films as we wish, but our creative institutions are far from safe.
Earlier this month, trustees of Centre for the Moving Image (CMI), the parent charity behind the Edinburgh International Film Festival, called in the administrators. CMI describe the current trading conditions in Scotland as a ‘perfect storm’. They say some of the issues facing the company include an increase in energy and payroll costs, a decrease in public funding and a drop in cinema audiences post-pandemic.
This has put the future of the famous Edinburgh International Film Festival into doubt. The screen spectacular recently celebrated 75 years of screenings in August and welcomed over 70,000 film goers in it’s landmark birthday year. Alas, it sounds like the curtain has fallen on this stalwart of the Scottish cinema scene unless a drastic solution is found fast.
Unfortunately, the festival wasn’t the only casualty as part of this announcement. Both the Filmhouse Cinema in Edinburgh and Aberdeen’s Belmont Filmhouse have also been forced to close with immediate effect. There has since been an outpouring of support for both venues. At the time of writing, an online petition had reached 15,000 signatures. This has resulted in the loss of 102 jobs at the famous arthouse venues which were cornerstones of the Scottish independent cinema scene.
Concern over the impact these closures will have on jobs and the economy has taken a leading role in discussions at the Scottish Parliament with the Scottish Government alongside their allies at Holyrood, the Scottish Greens, saying that MSPs would immediately look at what options are available to support both the festival, the cinemas and the workers.
The credits aren’t rolling just yet on the Scottish cinema industry. Larger chains are pumping more investment into Scottish venues. Last year Glasgow welcomed a state-of-the-art Vue cinema as part of large scale £40 million investment in leisure and hospitality at the St Enoch Centre. The new Vue site is complete with luxury recliner seating. Showcase Cinemas also fully revamped their Scottish sites with recliner seating, offering film fans in Scotland an opportunity to watch movies in maximum comfort.
In order to continue the cultural and economic growth seen over the past few years in our film-making sector in Scotland, we need to ensure that support for cinema-going and film venues, of all shapes and size across Scotland, also receives the same amount of attention.
A trip to the pictures is a classic family day out for folk across the country but it’s clearly not immune from the ongoing cost of living crisis. Some cinemas have had to diversify how they get bums on seats. As well as showing the usual blockbusters we’ve seen cinemas showcasing other live events from theatre performances to concerts. It’s that sort of out the box thinking that businesses need to apply in order to try and figure out how they are going to ride out this storm.
Glasgow club harnesses dancers’ energy to heat the venue
Using alternative power sources like solar and wind is growing in popularity but who knew that body heat could also play a part?
I was fascinated to hear about a Glasgow music venue which is set to use revolutionary technology to harness body heat from dancers in an effort to be more sustainable.
SWG3 launched a new thermal heating and cooling system, aptly dubbed Bodyheat, at a special event last week, harnessing the energy generated by the entertainment venue’s customers.
The owners expect the new system to enable them to completely disconnect the outdated gas boilers and reduce carbon emissions by about 70 tonnes of CO2 a year.
The new system, which has been in the works for three years, will harness energy from dancers attending events which will then be stored across 12 underground boreholes, before being used to heat or cool the venue later. Bodyheat is active across three separate spaces in the venue comprising two event spaces, with total capacity for 2250 people and the main foyer entrance.
The heat pumps can also provide simultaneous heating and cooling, meaning body heat can be captured from partygoers during a live event in one area and delivered to the foyer where it can be used to maintain a desired temperature. How amazing is that?
SWG3 says the electricity used to run the Bodyheat system comes from 100 per cent renewable sources – meaning all of the heating and cooling provided has net-zero carbon emissions.
Despite the high costs to install, the owners claim the savings on bills could make the investment recoverable in about five years. They’ll be dancing with joy at their creative solution if energy prices stick at current rates.
This is a fantastic example of a business harnessing innovation and overhauling the traditional approach – a positive step in the right direction to Scotland becoming net-zero.
It Made Me Laugh
Any manager employing students would do well to remember that their part-time worker could end up being their boss in the future.
That’s what happened to entrepreneur Iain McClune who recently purchased Edinburgh-based whisky merchant Royal Mile Whiskies (RMW) after working there as a sales assistant in 2006 while studying at university.
Things came full circle this year when the whisky-minded businessman bought RMW’s parent company The Dormant Distillery Company, which includes two other businesses – Drinkmonger and The Cigar Box.
Interestingly, Mr McClune becomes the second former employee of Royal Mile Whiskies to return as owner of the business. Dormant Distillery Company founder Keir Sword purchased the shop RMW operates from in 1997, having worked there for several summers in his student days in the mid-1990s. I love to see young entrepreneurial talent blossom so spectacularly.
It Made Me Weep
Party-goers are feeling the pinch this year and organisers are opting for more cost effective options for the annual Crimbo get together.
Spiralling energy costs have prompted a severe lack of demand in the hospitality sector for Christmas parties with some folk forgoing the annual shindig altogether.
The festive season is a crucial trading period for Scotland’s bars and restaurants, but the latest news could see businesses facing a third consecutive festive wipeout after Covid lockdown rules prevented gatherings in 2020 and 2021.
There is a real danger that this could be the final blow for many, who are also facing increased operating costs. The government needs to get a grip on the cost of living crisis before the lights go out for many businesses.
