“Brave” Scottish film saves the day?

In recent years the Edinburgh International Film Festival has been struggling slightly with securing finance, and last year in 2011 it was described as a “flop” despite its long and prestigious history. But fortunately for the festival the new animated Disney-Pixar film “Brave” could save the day! Set in the Scottish Highlands and due to be released later this year, the film festival has managed to secure the European premier of the movie for their finale. And the film’s world premier is expected to go to Hollywood. Staring the (voices of) Scottish actor Billy Connolly with Kelly Macdonald playing the lead role of Merida.

Trailer:

Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister, was lucky enough to experience an exclusive screening of clips from the film, which is expected to boost Scotland’s tourism, and he seemed suitably impressed. The plot revolves around the character of Princess Merida who is determined to take control of her own life and gain independence from her parents; a slightly more modest ambition than Salmond’s aim for an independent Scotland.

A word on the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2012:

Running from the 20^th of June till the 1^st of July there’s still plenty of time to get involved or even work at this year’s festival with a link to their website.

Kelly Macdonald:

The Scottish actress is known for playing Diane in the independent film “Trainspotting” (1996) as well as her more recent mainstream roles including Evangeline in “Nanny McPhee” (2005) and Helena Ravenclaw also known as “The Grey Lady” in the finally Harry Potter movie (2011).

Macdonald was also mentioned in one of the previous blog posts as she stars in “The Decoy Bride” with David Tennant.

As Billy Connolly also features in "Brave" playing the role of King Fergus, here is a link to the blog about his part in movie adaptation of "The Hobbit."

Butler to star in “Brilliant”

Paisley born, Gerard Butler has managed to land his first film role since leaving rehab for his drug addiction. 

Butler recently emerged after his three-week stint in rehab but before then had successfully managed to keep his dependency on drugs private. Unlike other celebrities in the public eye, such as: Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears, whose issues were plastered all over the fronts of tabloids and magazines. He was described as “looking fresh and happy,” by perezhilton.com after the treatment for his abuse of prescription painkillers came to a conclusion. He was also reported to be back to business just one day after his departure from the clinic.

Butler will play a minor criminal working with a female thief and the pair are to attempt the largest ever diamond robbery in history. He will play the lead in “Brilliant” taking over from Eric Bana, who bailed out of the project. The film, which isn’t to be released until 2013, will be directed by Robert Luketic, with Gillian Gorfil as the screenplay writer. But is it wise to hire Butler so soon after his emergence from rehab, with the possibility of a relapse which could threaten to derail the whole project? It's certainly a risk, which the producers will be praying pays off!

Scotland’s Gerard Butler is known worldwide and here are just a few projects he has been involved with:

• Butler was recognised for his portrayal of the character: King Leonidas in 300 (2006), where he and a 300 strong army fought the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 B.C.
• In “P.S. I Love You” (2007) he played a charming Irish man: Gerry, who left his wife (played by Hilary Swank) 10 messages to help her through the grieving process and ease her pain after his premature death.
• In 2010 he starred alongside Jennifer Aniston in “The Bounty Hunter.” When doing his job hunting down criminals he discovers that his ex-wife is the next target in the action filled romantic comedy.