Hollywood comes to the Highlands
Hollywood came to the Highlands yesterday for the Highland premiere of new Disney Pixar animation Brave.
Elgin-born Grey’s Anatomy and Rome star Kevin McKidd was amongst those hitting the special green carpet.
Guests at the Eden Court premiere – including Scotland’s Minister for Tourism Fergus Ewing and his four-year-old daughter Natasha – were treated to special performances from vocal stars of the movie.
Two songs from the soundtrack were performed by Dingwall traditional singer Julie Fowlis just before Brave was screened.
And earlier 10-year-old Peigi Barker from Arpafeelie, near Inverness, sang Noble Maiden from the movie as well as a traditional Gaelic song with her brother Donald.
Just before the film screened, director Mark Andrews and producer Katherine Sarafian revealed how it had been a first recce visit to Scotland six years ago that Pixar film-makers first drew up detailed plans to focus Brave on the Highlands.
VisitScotland Chief Executive Malcolm Roughead paid tribute to the partnership with Disney Pixar.
On the back of the film’s release, a massive global marketing campaign from the tourist authority is set to reach millions of potential visitors to Scotland.
He revealed that the TV and cinema campaign will reach around 80 million people in the UK and abroad and is expected to boost the Scottish economy by around £140 million.
The movie was America’s number one last weekend – Pixar’s lucky 13th in a row, has already made $66.7 million and is pleasing critics and cinemagoers alike.
The movie’s official release is on August 3.
The 3D screening in Inverness drew laughs, the odd tear – and gasps with a 3D movie actually making great use of the effects.
For more on the premiere and a review of the film see this Thursday’s Strathy.