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Title: BLUE CHRISTMAS

Reference number: 7579

Date: 1994

Director: d. Ewan Morrison

Sponsor: Scottish Film Council and Scottish Television

Production company: Percussion Pictures

Sound: sound

Original format: 16mm

Colour: col

Fiction: fiction

Running time: 12.00 minsc

Description: On Christmas Eve, a Glasgow grandmother tells her grandchildren the story of how she met Elvis Presley in March 1960 when he stopped off at Prestwick Airport on his way back from Germany to America. She goes on to announce to the children that the King is their grandad.
[synopsis from BFI SIFT database at http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/520070, last accessed 3/2/2010]

First Reels - a joint short film initiative from Scottish Screen (and its predecessor body the Scottish Film Council) and Scottish Television. First Reels was launched during 1991 by Scottish Film Council in response to a perceived need for small grants to help young and first time film-makers to make or complete their first film or video project. Scottish Television came in as co-sponsor at an early stage and as well as contributing to half the funds they have given the scheme a tremendous public relations boost by running three half hour documentaries showing excerpts from the First Reels. Applicants were invited to submit projects in any format and on any subject they chose. All entries were considered by a jury and thirty five projects were given grants varying from £50 to £2000. On show at the GFT are a representative selection of the best of the films and videos supported by the scheme. [Editorial from Scottish Film Council held in paper archives]

Credits: Granny Eileen McCallum
Andy Ian Angus Wilkie
Marie Jill Riddiford
Tam Barry Molloy
Gerry Rikki Harte
Dusty Winston
Introducing Marcus Scott-Barrett
Uncle Horace Chris Broomfield
Marie's mother Anne Thompson
Marie's father Tom Fabling
Elvis Fans Victoria Johnston, Anna-Carina Hill, Samantha Stewart, Diane Hogg, Sheen Griffon, Emma Grey, Kate O'Brian, Granny as a girl Clair Wheeldon

p. designer Dave Arrowsmith
art d. Doulglas Chatham
ass. d. Liz Ingram, Brian Kirk
continuity Lucy Enfield
focus puller Ruth Clark
clapper loaders Steven Lawson, Steven Cassidy
sd. rec. Cal Williams, Dorothey le Grove
boom operators David Naughton, William Deans
dubbing ed. Mikle MacKinnon
sd. ed. Lorraine Keiller
p. ass. Shona McCubbin
electricians Aldo Palumbo, Flur Wollford
key grip Lucien Grieve
costume designer Darren Finch
make-up designer Mairi Morrison
make-up artist Christine Maxwell
catering Caroline Toye
chapperone Yvonne Harte
driver Bill MacRae
Winston trained by Anne Lyon
rostrum camera Bert Ross
titles by Paperdart
title music written and performed by Andy Scott, David Dix, Rod Stewart

We would like to thank the following companies for their support and co-operation in the making of this film. Arnold Clark Hire Drive, Miller, Moat House International, The Museum of Flight East Firtune Airfield, Frasers (Glasgow) Ltd., Steven Mabbott Associates, The Tron Theatre, John Brown Catering Services, Hands On Production Services, Lloyds Bank, GHS Motion Picture Services, Michael Samuelsons Lighting, Uniforms supplied by Angels and Bermans, 50s clothes supplied by Saratoga Trunk

Special thanks to Stuart Bruce, Jo Masson, Jon Love, Dennis McKay

processing by Colour Film Services
originated on Eastman Colour Film from Kodak
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Scottish Film Council and Scottish Television

m. Andy Scott
film ed. Douglas McDougall, Lorraine Keiller
lighting camerwoman Kathleen Friend
w. and p. Carl Masson

© Percussion Pictures Limited 1994