This week saw the St Andrew’s day celebration roll around once more, celebrating all that is superbly Scottish. The filming industry in Scotland has been catching up to London in recent years. However, currently, it is proving to be the must-visit location for great film and TV productions.
“Scotland is on par with London to host, produce and accommodate any scale production.”
Jill Gilogley, Head of Scotland and the North at Mad Dog 2020 Casting
Scotland on TV
Outlander, Downton Abbey and The Crown have all famously filmed scenes in Scotland, creating some of the most binge-worthy series of all time. Screen Scotland recently announced The Rig will film exclusively in Scotland – an exciting prospect for sure. The Amazon thriller is set to be a 6-part series, moving to Edinburgh’s studios and will create new jobs in the city very soon.
Last year’s Guilt was the first series to be commissioned by BBC Scotland, a brand-new channel launched in 2019. The series cemented Scottish talent and creatives as being able to compete with powerhouse studios in London. Guilt earned 6 BAFTA Scotland nominations this year. Gavin Smith, Commissioning Executive, Scripted for BBC Scotland, said: “To be filming our first original drama locally for the new channel, and have Mark and Jamie starring, with Robbie directing, highlights our commitment to Scottish talent.”
Mark Bonnar on set of Guilt Series 2 – Image: BBC Press Office
Filming has already begun on the anticipated second series of Guilt, with the BBC Press Office taking to Twitter to confirm all cast and crew are bubbling and being covid tested twice a week.
Scotland on Film
From the picturesque highlands to spectacular city architecture, Scotland has played home to many a large feature film. The likes of James Bond, Harry Potter and the DC and Marvel series’ have all filmed fantastical scenes in the a Scottish setting.
In 2015, industry producers spend a record £45.2m shooting on location in Scotland, rising to over £100m in the period 2018 – 2019. From music videos to long-running series, Mad Dog 2020 Casting have supplied Supporting Artists for some epic productions to come from Scotland. BBC’s The Nest, and the new Netflix hit The Princess Switch: Switched Again were both recently filmed in Glasgow, one of the country’s most popular filming locations.
Sophie Rundle, Mirren Mack and Martin Compton in The Nest – Image: BBC
Lights, Camera, Action!
Above all, Glasgow, in particular, is seeing productions set up home for the big and small screen, rivalling London and Cardiff in producing top TV and film. While London remains a huge hub for screen productions, Glasgow and neighbour Edinburgh are both catching up.
The Scottish Government encourage more productions to move to Scotland and in turn aim to make it more profitable for them. Dedicating £1 million in funding for development and training in the industry, the government’s aim is to increase production activity. With more film studios and productions moving further north, it’s clear the Scottish screen industry will only continue to bloom and grow.
“The Scottish industry continues to boom with fantastic productions commencing now and in the new year. With the arrival of our new studio in Edinburgh – FirstStage Studios – the possibilities are endless. I am proud to be Scottish and work alongside wonderful home-grown talent and crew. It’s exciting to be a part of putting the Scottish filming industry on the map.”
Jill Gilogley, Head of Scotland and the North at Mad Dog 2020 Casting
If your production is seeking Supporting Artists in Scotland, Contact us today to discuss your brief.