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November 11, 2002
Daily Mail
Scott gives Hollywood the bum's rush for film
by Brian Pendreigh

HE may have made his name in Hollywood opposite Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible II, but Dougray Scott is heading back home for his next movie.

The Fife- born actor will start filming The Bum's Rush in the Highlands later this month.

Not only is he appearing in front of the cameras, he is also executive producer of the GBP 2.3million black comedy. The script has prompted comparisons with Shallow Grave, the film that kick-started the Scottish-film industry almost a decade ago.

In Shallow Grave, three young Edinburgh professionals inherit a suitcase full of dodgy money when their new flatmate dies suddenly.

The Bum's Rush centres on three friends who find a gold nugget on the corpse of an old man. No sooner are they congratulating themselves on their luck than they get mixed up with a local Mr Big, who also happens to be chairman of the neighbourhood curling club.

The main roles are played by three of Scotland's leading young actors. Kevin McKidd has been a regular on television and in films since playing Tommy in Trainspotting; Iain Robertson starred in Small Faces and The Debt Collector; and Jamie Sives is getting his big-screen break after appearing in the TV series Glasgow Kiss and Rockface.

Scott, who missed out on the chance to appear in Trainspotting because he was committed to Soldier, Soldier, plays the supporting role of Frankie the Fence.

Scott's producer partner Anne Batz introduced him to writerdirector Stewart Svaasand two years ago. They spent their first half-hour together arguing about football Svaasand is a Hearts fan, while Scott is a regular at Easter Road before deciding to put aside their differences and team up.

Scott starred in the World War II thriller Enigma, which was mainly shot in England, although the climax was filmed around Oban which whetted his appetite to film in Scotland.

Scott said: 'It's only natural to want to tell a story from one's own country.

Stewart is a great writer, so I ' m really proud to be involved in this project.' Scottish Screen has invested GBP 500,000 of lottery money in the film, which begins a five-week shoot on November 18 in the Tomintoul area, before moving to Glasgow.

The Bum' s Rush should be in cinemas next year.