Quiz time :)

Right lets test your British movie knowledge :) AND NO CHEATING! :P

Part 1

1. Who directed Trainspotting?

2. Kevin Macdonald directed which film - Last King of Scotland or The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button?

3. The Eagle premiered at which British festival?

4. Which British director filmed Sweet Sixteen?

5. Mike Leigh directed which feel good film starring Sally Hawkins?

How do you think you did? Suprisingly most people won't have done to well on their own knowledge and would have to look things up on IMDb, or Wikipedia. Now try Part two :)

Part 2

6. Cillian Murphy starred in 28 Days Later and Sunshine by which director?

7.Which British actor starred in Hannibal?

8. Well known in the movie industry this British actor has starred in films ranging from Thunderbirds and Sherlock Holmes to Schindler's List and Oliver Twist. Who is he?

9. The Star Wars Saga, and The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy are massive franchises, which British actor has had the luck of starring on both?

10. Again, Harry Potter is a massive franchise, along with Sweeny Todd and Planet of the Apes being well received films, which British actress managed to get a part in all of these?

I can guess that the actor questions were a lot easier to answer of the top of your head than the director ones. It's not that I expect everyone in Britain to be well up on their knowledge of directors, but without them we wouldn't have the amazing films that we have today. They deserve some credit at least. So next time you watch a movie, take a minute to glance at who took their time to make it for you, it will only take a second :)

Answers up next time

Kevin MacDonald Bio

Name - Kevin MacDonald

Age - 44

Occupation - Director/Writer/Producer.

Directed - The Eagle, The Last King Of Scotland, Touching The Void, State of Play

Produced - Kindertransport, My Enemy's Enemy, Senna, Shoot Out in Swansea: The Making Of 'Twin Town'

Wrote - My Enemy's Enemy, Chaplin's Goliath, The Making of an Englishman

Did you know?

He is the grandson of legendary filmmaker Emeric Pressburger, who, with partner Michael Powell, wrote, produced and directed such films as Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes, A Matter of Life and Death and 'I Know Where I'm Going!'

You learn something new everyday :)

The Glasgow Film Festival

Well there is certainly a lot of buzz going around about this festival. Movie fans everywhere, well within the local area at least, will be ready for the annual film event in Glasgow.

Glasgow may not be known for a lot of things but this film festival is certainly one of them. With directing and acting talent from all around, the movies screened are due to bring the crowds. Unlike the Edinburgh festival, the Glasgow one focuses more on the directing talents of the British population, keeping with heritage and giving local directors the honour of having their film screened.

One such director is Kevin MacDonald. Most renown for his directing talents in films such as The Last King Of Scotland and Touching The Void, he is also the director of the film The Eagle. Now you may not recognise it but you should. Not only is it an incredibly film with award winning actors such as Channing Tatum, it was also the opening film to the Glasgow Film Festival. Now the Glasgow Film Festival, not only has a wide variety of films, but the opening film to kick it all off was directed by Kevin MacDonald who is also from Glasgow. (Take a look at my previous blog on this director)

And if for some reason you decide to come to the festival and  don't want to watch a film then the festival gladly provides lots of extras such as workshops, question and answer times with directors, meetings about certain films. And they are open for all people of all ages. Whether you want to see an action, romance, horror or just turn up to a meeting with one of the directors of a film to ask questions, the festival provides entertainment for all tastes, so go and have fun.

How well do we know our home grown movie talent?

If I stepped outside this room, went down to the street and grabbed the first randomer that I saw, their reaction would be, of course, surprise. If I then asked them to name me a big popular movie nine times out of ten I would get an answer like Avatar or Inception.

The answer is due to be some big shot Hollywood film that made millions and everyone loves. If I then asked the same person to name me a film done by a British director then they would be stumped. Anyone that blurted out Braveheart would in fact be wrong, considering it was directed by Mel Gibson who is in fact American. It is understandable that Hollywood has managed to take over the film world, spewing out films left, right and centre. But we must not forget about our own home grown British talent in the movie industry.

 
British director's such as Danny Boyle (Sunshine and Trainspotting) and Kevin MacDonald (Last King of Scotland and Eagle) can produce a movie to rival any that is produced from Hollywood. These directors prove that you don't need a big budget or fancy famous stars to make a great movie.

If I then asked the person one last question, to name a director from Glasgow, what would they say? The known nationality of directors and their work is scarce, we know where actors are from, but not directors. This person would most likely  think I was bonkers but it raises a crucial point. Directors like Kevin MacDonald and Peter Mullan (NEDS and Co director of Trainspotting) are less well known in the film world but that in no way means they are any less talented. Glasgow is capable of spilling out amazing talent, whether it's in the form of Directors or Producers, something I will be exploring in more detail.