Press release -
Scotland the film set is out of this world
Scotland hit cinema screens up and down the country last weekend, with the premiere of Under the Skin, starring Hollywood megastar Scarlett Johansson.
The science fiction thriller, directed by Jonathan Glazer and based on the novel by Michel Faber, has already been widely acclaimed by critics. It stars Johansson as an alien in human form who preys on hitchhikers.
It was shot almost entirely on location in Scotland, including scenes in Glasgow, the Highlands, Fife and East Lothian, and it is hoped fans of the film will be encouraged to come and visit its real-life locations.
Under the Skin joins a long-list of high-profile movies to be filmed in Scotland in recent years, including Skyfall, The Dark Knight Rises, World War Z, Prometheus and the Oscar-winning Disney-Pixar animation Brave.
Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said: “It’s always great to see Scotland on the silver screen, especially in a film that stars one of the world’s most iconic actresses.
“I am sure that it will generate added interest in a country that already has so much to offer visitors. “The release of Under the Skin is yet another exciting addition to the events of 2014: The Glasgow Commonwealth Games, The Ryder Cup and Homecoming. It really is the year that Scotland welcomes the world or, given that Under the Skin is about aliens, it should perhaps be the year that Scotland welcomes the worlds.”
Speaking of her time spent filming in Scotland, Scarlett Johansson said: “Scotland’s so incredibly special. I’d never been there before. It’s so pristine and gorgeous.”
According to VisitScotland research, a fifth of all visitors to Scotland are influenced to come to this country after seeing it on film or television.
ENDS
Under the Skin – Scotland filming locations:
Glasgow:
Port Glasgow
Buchanan Galleries
Parkhead
Clyde Bridge Rutherglen
The Shed nightclub
North Lanarkshire:
Dumbreck Marsh Kilsyth
East Lothian:
Tantallon
West Lothian:
Livingston
East Ayrshire:
New Cumnock
Angus:
Auchmithie
Highlands:
A9 Glencoe
Fife:
Culross
Dumfries and Galloway:
Wanlockhead
North Lanarkshire:
Newmains
Argyll and Bute:
Loch Eck
Lochgoilhead
ENDS
For further information contact:
Tom Maxwell
Corporate Press Officer
Tel: 0131 472 2409
tom.maxwell@visitscotland.com
Out of hours media enquiries: 07699 766986
Topics
- Cinema, Film, Photo
Categories
- corporate communications
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors:
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation has three key roles:
- To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
- To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
- To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to exceed customer expectations
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- 2014 is the year Scotland welcomes the world, when it hosts the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and more than 800 Homecoming events throughout the country.For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2014, go to www.visitscotland.com
- The VisitScotland Information Centre network is a unique face-to-face channel engaging with around five million visitors and locals each year. Everyone who uses a VisitScotland Information Centre goes on to spend an additional £5.35, generating over £24 million for Scotland’s economy.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the industry contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
- For more information on VisitScotland’s annual review please go to www.visitscotland.org/about_us/our_focus/annual_report.aspx
