Lights, camera, action - Scotland’s booming film and TV sector has opportunities for everyone

The Odyssey used the country’s rugged scenery to conjure up spectacular images in the retelling of Homer’s epic, from the 800-year-old coastal ruin of Findlater Castle near Cullen to the massive pine trees of Culbin Forest, while Brand New Day became the latest blockbuster to transform Glasgow city centre into the street of New York.

The excitement generated by these productions, alongside other recent big-budget shoots for blockbuster franchises such as Batman, Indiana Jones, Avengers and Fast and Furious, has reaffirmed Scotland as a world-class location for filming.

What is perhaps less obvious is the thriving Scottish film and TV industry that is growing behind it, and generating new opportunities for youngsters to get into an industry that can often seem out of reach.

The latest report by Screen Scotland, the body responsible for driving development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and TV industry, estimated the industry could be worth £1bn to the Scottish economy by 2030.

Yet the same report shows that while 53% of school-leavers are interested in pursuing a career in the industry, only 18% believe it is realistic for them, and 71% perceive the sector as too difficult to enter without personal connections.

Speak to those in the industry however and you will find that while many have the academic training and qualifications being offered at places like Edinburgh College of Art, the University of West Scotland, Glasgow Clyde College, Edinburgh College and more, others took a very different route into their current roles.

A perfect example is Stephen Little, Head of Production at Screen Scotland, who graduated from the University of Strathclyde with an honours degree in physics and gained a Private Pilot’s Licence before he found himself drawn into the world of film through working on a Red Bull documentary which involved crossing the Alps.

He would go on to work on projects as diverse as the Scottish soap River City and the acclaimed Scarlett Johansson sci-fi horror Under The Skin, and said his route showed how open the industry really is.

“If you choose to go to college or university and study a film course, that will stand you in good stead, but the array of trades needed in the film industry, from electricians, joiners and painters to accountancy and law - whatever you are passionate about there is a career for you in the industry.”

For anyone unsure about what the industry has to offer, a good place to look for advice is the National Film and Television School (NFTS) Scotland.

Set up in 2018 with support from the Scottish Government as part of a move to widen access to the NFTS, they offer ‘behind the camera’ training, which covers a huge array of skills - including camera, screenwriting, producing, art departments post production, editing, script development, location and one of the only diplomas in production accounting in the world.

Alison Goring, head of NFTS Scotland says: “The extraordinary thing about the film industry is that there are so many more roles than people imagine - construction, painters, data managers, production office administrators - so whatever you’re interested in there may well be a role for you.”

Stephen also agrees that there are more opportunities in Scotland now than ever before.

“There are more companies in Scotland now, and more that are well established,” he says.

“There is also a huge range of work being made. A turning point I think was An t-Eilean (The Island) - when I came in Gaelic drama wouldn’t even have been considered, and now you have The Island selling internationally, which shows the changing demand.

“Returning dramas are a huge boost - Outlander has an extraordinary training programme, and Dept. Q has taken that mantle on. The big productions from Netflix and Amazon as well, they understand the importance of leaving a legacy.”

One of the biggest - literally - signs of how the industry is growing is Edinburgh’s first full-time professional film studio.

Based in Leith, FirstStage Studios was set up in 2018 and the 8.9 acres site has 115,000sq ft of stage space and has hosted huge productions including The Outrun, Dept. Q for Netflix and Amazon’s hit drama The Rig.

First Stage CEO Bob Last admits they set up the studio as they predicted the boom in streamer-driven content and the demand for studio space it would create.

“At the time it was a guess,” he cheerfully admits, “but it was right so we can say we predicted it.”

“It was a disused site and we built it very much to engage with what is going on now. We’ve had two seasons of The Rig with Amazon studios, we’ve got a very big Sony production for Netflix in at the moment, so it's not quite the world of plenty but there are opportunities here.”

The importance of having a major film studio in Scotland cannot be overstated, as it means youngsters keen on the industry have a chance to see first-hand what actually goes into a major production.

And the team at FirstStage Studios are ensuring they help develop local talent and open up the industry.

As well as working with Edinburgh College to provide opportunities to students, they have had pupils from Leith Academy come in and see what goes into making a film, as well as giving career advisors and teachers a look behind the scenes.

And Last - was also responsible for helping to bring one of the most beautiful depictions of Edinburgh ever put on the big screen as a producer of Slyvian Chomet’s 2010 animated film The Illusionist - believes encouraging the next generation is vital to ensuring the future of the Scottish film and TV industry.

“Global demand for high end streaming content isn’t going to go away any time soon and we’ve established ourselves on that map.

“They [returning TV series] provide great opportunities, as series after series the productions are able to hire more people locally at the studio, and that is something we want to see continuing.”

As to the benefits of the big blockbusters, opinions vary, with many pointing to the fact that they tend to bring in their own crews, while the short filming time means less chance to build up relationships with the Scottish industry, but most agree they are to be welcomed.

“I think there is a huge benefit to these big blockbuster productions,” says Alex Nevill, lecturer at Edinburgh College of Art and programme director for undergraduate BA Film and TV degree and MFA Film Art. “Yes, the big roles of heads of departments and the senior crew are coming in from London or Los Angeles or elsewhere, but there are entry positions, trainee positions - the opportunities are there. There is a big difference between studying film, working on a small independent film and working on this big industry conveyor belt of a movie, and this is how you learn about that.

“So I think it’s great that these kinds of productions are happening. Ultimately it drives interest and drives homegrown talent and that boosts independent productions.”

“I never thought I would end up plastering for film and TV sets”

One of the biggest success stories in the Scottish Film and TV industry of recent years has been the hit TV series Outlander.

As well as drawing in a huge global audience who have kept the series, based on the best-selling books by Diana Gabaldon going for 8 seasons, Outlander has made a superstar of Sam Heughan and created its own tourism boom as fans flock to see the stunning Scottish scenery featured in the show.

It has also been helping to train up a new generation of talent behind the camera however. The Outlander Training Programme was set up to provide an opportunity for new entrants to the screen industry to work on the largest long-running production currently

Since starting in 2014, the training programme has allowed entry-level talent in Scotland to receive intensive on-the-job training in specific skills while working on the drama series – many of whom had never set foot on a film set before.

Raymond Stirling was a plastering apprentice for a number of years before finding out about the opportunity to work on Outlander as a plastering trainee.

“I never thought I would end up plastering for film and TV sets,” he admits. “When the opportunity came along, I was very excited to get involved and join the team.”

While on the scheme, Raymond was able to hone his skills as a plasterer for the film and TV industry.

“My training involved improving and tweaking skills I had already learned through work and college. I also gained confidence to do a lot of new jobs comfortably on my own.”

Since finishing his training placement on Outlander, Raymond has subsequently gone on to set up his own plastering company principally focused on film and TV productions.

“The training scheme prepared me well both mentally and physically to competently work on other film and TV sets after Outlander. I've worked on another three productions that wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for my time spent on the scheme.”

Raymond is continuing to find work within Scotland’s thriving screen sector having recently worked in the plastering department on Batgirl which shot in Glasgow earlier this year. And he is currently working on Outlander season 7.

Jodi Webster, a draughting trainee on season 6 of Outlander, has also praised the scheme for providing her with the skills needed to forge a career within the screen sector and has seen many doors open for her since completing her traineeship.

After her time on Outlander, Jodi went on to work as an art department assistant on Good Omens Series 2 from Amazon Studios which shot in Scotland’s Pyramid Studios last year. Since then, Jodi has had no shortage of job opportunities to work in Scotland’s screen sector.

“Thanks to how busy it is up here, I was lucky enough to be offered 3 jobs which I was surprised by.”

“My traineeship definitely prepared me for life outside of Outlander through the constant support from the training manager and the courses but also just engaging and listening to the people around me that have had long careers in this industry”

The programme has now run across 7 successive series and has trained a total of 170 people between 2014 and 2023 through intensive ‘on the job’ training, working alongside some of the most experienced technicians in the industry.

Outlander Season 7 Line Producer Steven Moore commented that “Season 7 is our most ambitious yet, offering training support to 33 trainees. We received over 1300 applications and interviewed 145 candidates.”

For Raymond, working in the Scottish screen sector has had a hugely positive impact on his life and he encourages others wishing to enter the industry to take part in entry-level training schemes.

“Getting involved with film and TV genuinely changed my working life for the better and I urge anyone to get involved if they get the chance.”