Highland Legends

A Crane is not just a bird

2011-05-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

Progress at Highland Legends has been minimal this last few weeks on the filming front,only now do I realise fully how much I rely on the team rather than an individual to progress. We have acquired a jib from America, with this we hope to bring really creative film shots, to the un initiated it is basically a crane that lifts the camera up to 14 feet of the ground with full control of the camera from the tripod and a small 7inch screen to view, I scrimped to get it and after seeing the first results I am so glad we got it. Filming begins in earnest in the next two weeks, I hope the weather is good as we cannot afford to get any further behind what with holidays coming up. The bottom line is we must progress without compromise on quality, the script has been amended yet again to make some more stories fit in and give a generally better picture, no pun intended. Hope also this week to view the 90 min aerial footage that Andy shot a few weeks back to see what we can use, the weather initially was good but soon turned bumpy in the air, I hope the investment will be worth it, a result would be 2 min footage,yes that small.

All quiet on the Western Front

2011-04-14T05:35:00.000-07:00

Taking stock of progress here at West of the Moon we find that we are already one month behind with our schedule of filming. It is easy for time to fly right out the window, where did we lose the month? Wish I knew March just came and went. This weekend I will get out and start some more filming with location shots, firstly down the Spey Valley and hopefully some more journeys up the Pictish Trail, note to self remember to phone to see if they have taken the covering off the stone!!!
Work has to be done on the soundtrack, not with the music but all the bits and pieces that everyone is blissfully unaware of, until it is not there.
I have to arrange some studio time with John Burgess at Badwulf Studio in Alness http://www.badwulfstudio.com/ Kirsteen Menzies in to do more soundtrack vocal work, I can't wait to hear her sing the song that we have lined up for her, the last song she sung is brilliant and will be available on the forthcoming soundtrack.
Looking forward to the weekend.
Victor

A beginning

2011-04-10T04:37:00.000-07:00

The start off point in the film Folklore Myths and Legends is here, Gask near Inverness, you will see from the photograph Gask is a very impressive stone circle.The journey with Emit Flesti begins here as he takes you through many of the forgotten Myths and legends of the Highlands

Things to come

2011-04-08T04:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend we hope to increase our location shots for the Folklore Myths and Legends DVD.Also next week we have a production meeting on Monday to go forward with our animation and actor filming.We have settled on 2 actresses for the parts of Deirdre will be played by Dyan Berry from Evanton and Christina Ferguson will be played by Iona Campbell from Tain. I hope to post pictures on the website www.highlandlegends.co m shortly. More actors will be announced in the coming weeks.
We also hope to film a teaser /taster as well to give you a flavour of things to come.

Chasing the Shadow

2011-04-03T03:24:00.000-07:00

April is a critical month for West of the Moon Productions, it sees us enter the phase of filming with actors. Now I hear you ask what is there to be phased about? Simple it takes 3 times as long to film at least with actors and time is the enemy if we are to keep to our shooting schedule.
Today I am working on a graphic for the reproduction of the Chisholm Clan Banner that was carried at Culloden, long job but it will be worth it in the end.
Also this week we will be announcing two of the female actress's that will be playing Deirdre and Christina Ferguson both stories are fabulous and all within spitting distance of Inverness.
Onward

Make up Artist

2011-03-25T02:01:00.000-07:00

Filming begins very shortly for Folklore Myths and Legends, this is actor parts not the landscapes and establishment shots that we have been filming.We are looking for a makeup artist, established or not, we are trying to create something special here, someone with vision,Wings of Desire, Nosferatu,Sleepy Hollow Blade Runner if this is your vision and you can see ours then get in touch:
vic@highlandlegends.com
This is a real chance for you to express yourself and get yourself out there.

Emit Flesti The fact and the fiction

2011-03-20T06:27:00.000-07:00

Emit Flesti, the fact, he is a fictional character used in the Film Folklore Myths and Legends.The Fact is he is the narrator of all the stories within this film, the possessor of the mystical blue stone once inthe possession of Kenneth Mackenzie, the Brahan Seer.The stone he found on his way to meet the Prince and then onwards to Culloden, but what happened? Is the stone his possessor? or does he possess the stone? You will have to watch or buy the DVD to see the result, capable of visiting the past, seeing the past and the future, but always at the discretion of the mystical blue stone.
The fact also that all the stories on this DVD are sourced locally from around the Highlands
Emit is played by Matthew Donnachie who is well placed to play this part as he is Commodore of the once secret Jacobite Circle of Gentlemen, visit their site www.circleofgentlemen.info and see what they are doing now and how you can become a part of it.
More soon as filming begins later this month of the opening piece of this new film.#
Here is Emit Flesti

If music be the Food of Love,be prepared for Indigestion

2011-03-08T03:59:00.000-08:00

An ominous title to the blog, from a rather ominous album of the 60's from the ominous Dave Dee,Dozy,Beaky,Mick and Tich, but the title Rather appropriate for the progression of the music for Folklore Myths and Legends. News is that Kirsteen Menzies from Dingwall has agreed to join the team and vocal another track for the film. The previous track Mo Run Gealog, was described to me by an American visitor as "Voice of an Angel" I cannot argue with that .Point your browser at http://filesocial.com/czkcgw6 and listen to an extract from that. The track we are going to do for the film is Cullodens Harvest and we hope to have a taster up fro that in the very near future. At the moment we are starting to collect together actors from the Inverness based Florian's to play some of the parts in the film again more of that later.
This weekend will see a return to location shot filming through part of the Pictish Trail in Ross-shire, this time I will find out before I leave if the winter covering has been taken of the Pictish Stone in the Churchyard at Edderton, a long journey for nothing last weekend. Be prepared.

Music Continues

2011-03-02T06:45:00.000-08:00

John Burgess at Badwulf Studio in Alness link
is doing most of the music on the Folklore Myths and Legends DVD, today he is working on a very special track, the lament for the Little Supper. It is the story of Rait Castle and the dispute between the Comyns and the MacKintoshes and it's eventual outcome.
Rait Castle is near Nairn and is still standing, a very special place,log onto:
www.highlandlegends.com and see a picture on the page, better still email us and go onto our list for information on the release date of this dvd.

Weekend Work

2011-02-25T04:55:00.000-08:00

The weekend will kick of with some filming work way up on the Ross-shire Pictish Trail at Edderton.
This is for inclusion on the DVD Folklore Myths and Legends,due for release later this year. Details and the story can be found at www.highlandlegends.com.
We are also hoping to do some soundtrack work for backgrounds of the film, remember that sound is half the picture.
Will post some stills here sometime over the weekend showing locations.

Filming at The Fairy Glen

2011-02-24T07:42:00.000-08:00

Filming on Wed at the Fairy Glen, superb day with what Andy described as diffused light, it kinda summed up the whole thing really as the piece we are filming is about Fairies, from the dark side.