Tobermory: Moments from a year

About the film

The film is a quirky, personal, quite affectionate portrait of a year in Tobermory. It starts before sun rise with the fishing boats going out and finishes with the streets being swept after the new years celebrations. It is a celebration of life in this west highland community, done, I hope, with a light touch. It shows various events and places around the town but also try's to capture something of the flavour of life in this community. It is not intended to be a fact filled tourist guide, more of a playful and surprising portrait of life now. My hope is that in years to come and it will act as a vivid reminded of many small details of life.

It features the music. Robert Ghillies, Rob Reid Gillies, Ronnie Leckie, Charles Maclean and the group Moishe's Bagel.

The Film Premier

Update 17 June 09:

Feedback

I briefly met Francis Hanly when he was in Tobermory filming for the Channel 4 Big Art Project, shown during May 2009. He went off with a copy of the film and emailed me. "I thought the dvd was wonderful - beautifully shot and wonderfully paced. I enjoyed the film enormously." ( This is a fantastic comment to get from a really creative program maker. Francis Hanly did some of the Jonathan Meades - Magnetic North, Abroad Again, Meades Eats series as well as Howard Goodall's 20th Century Greats ). Chuffed.

The film has been popular with teachers. A dozen or so have said they have been using it in class work to show the life of an island community.

A lot of orders have come from people who have Mull connections.

August 09

I have been doing a few test screenings of the film in the Screen Machine and at the art centre to see what the footage looks like on the bit screen rather than on my 38 inch computer monitor. Good news - it looks great. My worry was that my second camera footage would not match ( yes I lashed out on a second camera to point and run from a tripod while I moved about with the other camera ) .

10th October 2009

I produced 2000 DVD's. I got to about 1500 sales quickly then it stopped. Having talked to various other film makers, I am told that I should think of this as a remarkable success. For me it hasn't been a success. It became clear last year that virtually all of the sales have been to local people. I really appreciate this support but I had hoped it would be of interest to visitor as well.

This is a real problem because if I want to keep making films I need to have some money coming in. There seemed little point in leaving the film as it was - it needed fixing.

So the question was - what do I add to this film to make it more interesting especially to visitors? What thing is remarkable enough to make people reach into their pockets and pay for a film? Enter the Tobermory Otter.

The first time I saw the otter was in the back garden of my studio in upper Tobermory. It was looking at me through the back door. I tried to follow it but it disappeared. It left me with a sense of confusion - how was it that this creature was living amongst us, wandering about the back gardens of Tobermory yet managed to be so secretive?

I would not describe myself as being " otter obsessed wildlife expert ", just a film maker who having watched this creature in action, finds it interesting and expects that there may be other people who will think so too. What I didn't realise was I had chosen a really opportune moment, just as the otter was becoming bolder, change from being a very shy and reclusive creature into a star attraction around the harbour. I think I have now got a remarkable portrait of an otters life in a town.

Generally it is unphased by the crowds of people who line up along the railings to watch it. Most assume its so confident with people because it has been released from a sanctuary but this cant be true because it has become less timid over time. Its far from being tame - it is still skittish at times. It has worked out how to live in the town during the day and can escape most things very quickly if it wants. It sees people as potential suppliers of fish because of the food it finds on fishing boats. The main threat to it comes from cars, dogs and lobster creels.

Last year I was pleased to get any otter footage in Tobermory - it was that difficult. I think people quickly get used to seeing the otter and take its appearances for granted but after my experiences I am well aware how lucky we are here. I think I have become a bit of a joke around town because I am out filming so often. People suggest that I must have enough footage by now. My answer is no - it keeps surprising me. Its relatively easy to get some otter footage but its the odd details that make it worth putting in the time. It also takes time to work out what is going on in its life and be in the right place to film it. Its a case of new rules apply when it comes to seeing how an "urban otter" lives. Even when I have got sequences filmed I find I replace footage with better footage when I get it. This and a feeling that it could all stop at any time makes me keep filming.

With this change of direction in the film it seemed right to rename it :"Tobermory and the otter" because that really is what the film is about. Its about Tobermory, the fishermen, community and visitors and their tolerance and protectiveness of this creature.

Any hope of getting it done ready for Christmas 2009 has gone. I wanted to earn some money from sales but that's not going to happen this year. Its a bonkers project, it costs a lot to do in both time and money and in truth is very unlikely to break-even for many years.

6th January 2010

I originally thought that I would have my remake done a year ago yet I am still a long way off. Its been a 3 year marathon project. I believe I have made a unique film - a film which would be impossible to remake. The footage is so unusual. I think there will be a place in the world for my little effort.

3rd June 2010

On the 9th June there was a test screening of the film at An Tobar, a special event for wildlife week. The idea was to get feedback from the gathered wildlife enthusiasts. I however, was still in Switzerland due to the volcano. Never mind, everyone seems to have had a good time and a few helpful comments were made. So then, back to work.

The main change has been the addition of a narrative. This is something well outside of my confort zone. The good news is its almost done, but there are a few gaps which need work. Interviews with people with otter tails to tell.

When will it be on sale - who knows. I have made predictions before and failed to meet them. All I can say is I am keen to get this project done. Its been too long a haul but when its done I hope the results speak for themselves.

Enough, back to work.

6th July 2010

I think the film is done. Its about 50 mins long. A few tweaks here and there, bit of colour correction, few bit of sound to sort. Then its design the cover, build the dvd, etc etc, I am not sure I am going to do this selling part with as much enthusiasm as the film making bit. Having lived from selling my paintings I always assume that if you make something good its going to sell itself - but you can see a painting. You cant see a film in a box.

Ordering copies of " Tobermory: moments from a year" DVD

If your interested in buying a copy of the original film before it runs out you can order by credit card from my studio : £10 plus £1 p+p. I can only do credit card sales to U.K. addresses. Call 01688 302024 for sales or the studio 01688 302781

You can also get copies at my studio - gallery situated in the "arts district" of upper Tobermory. My studio is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays 9.30am to 5.30 pm.....or at other times if I am not out painting. Phone prior to visiting if you wish: 01688 302781

The Breadalbane Street Studio Gallery, 5 Breadalbane Street, Tobermory

Isle of Mull, PA756PE, Gallery web site www.mullart.com

www.mullart.com My web site showing my paintings and prints of Mull. 

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