True Stories

Cast And Crew Quotes

The Rocket Post

"People think of Great Britain as one big overcrowded concrete jungle but then you come to somewhere like this and see that it is almost a wilderness. This place is unique because the sense of isolation is so special. It also has an austere beauty; it combines Mediterranean seas with Highland scenery. That doesn't exist anywhere else in the world".
Mark Shorrock - Producer (The Scotsman 17.06.01)

"This is fantastic! You just have to look around to see how much everyone is enjoying themselves. I had heard of this island (Taransay) but I could never have imagined it would be this beautiful. You could almost get drunk on the air, it's that pure. The folk up here are all lovely!"
Gary Lewis - Actor (The Stornoway Gazette - 31.05.01)

"It does something to you... you come to work through such beautiful and untouched landscape that everything else just seems minor. Being here gives you a good sense of perspective. You can get very uptight on a film set, but the landscape here is so awesome that it just humbles you. It helps you see what really matters in life and stops you being obsessed with trivia like whether or not you have got a double chin."
Kevin Mckidd - Actor (The Scotsman 17.06.01)

"I love filming here, its been really challenging but the weather has been magnificent. The locals have been excellent and its nice to hear their accents coming across in the movie"
Shauna Macdonald - Actor (The Stornoway Gazette 31.05.01)

"The first day we were here (Taransay) the producers brought the islanders over from Harris and Lewis and the old locals were arguing that these houses had been on Taransay for ages"
Gary Lewis - Actor (The Scotsman 17.06.01)

"The scenery is quite astonishing...this place is marvellous, beautiful. Its my first time in Scotland and I think its great"
Ullrich Thomsen. Actor (The Stornoway Gazette 22/03/01)

"There is a Hebridean silence..it is a total, peaceful serenity broken only by birdsong or the lapping of the waves..this film is Romeo and Juliet set on a Scottish Island"
Mark Shorrock - Producer (The Scotsman 17.06.01)

"The sea sparkles here like it does in Greece. Its like someone has thrown a handful of diamonds onto the surface"
Alison Riva - Production Designer (The Scotsman 17.06.01)

"In my 15 years working in film, only Ecuador beats the Hebrides for the most beautiful, and my favourite location, that I have been to and filmed in."
Steve Carter - Art Director

This is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world...its absolutely stunning and I think most of the cast think that"
Jimmy Yuill - Actor (Stornoway Gazette 31.05.01)

"This is the most spectacular, beautiful place you could ever hope to make a film. Where the only distractions is the amazing wildlife. We became castaways ourselves for those two weeks on Taransay"
George Trevis - Sound Assistant

Crowdie and Cream (Gruth is Uachdar)

"I'm the director of Gruth is Uachdar and spent many enjoyable weeks in Harris last summer shooting the series. Sometimes, though, I wondered what passer-bys made of us. I remember the looks on some tourists' faces when we were filming Maggie's funeral (episode 4). In this scene the villagers have turned out to pay their final respects to Hector's cantakerous sister, Maggie. The solemnity of the event is shattered, however, when an RAF plane flies overhead. Most of the funeral goers are much more interested in the plane than in Maggie and they rush off to watch it land... We had a beautiful morning to shoot the scene. Unfortunately, we didn't have the plane as it was still on its way down from Stornoway. One of our actors is a fantastic melodeon player and to while away the minutes he took his box out and started to play some jigs and reels. The rest of the cast took the cue and began to dance. As all this was taking place two tourists wandered by. The look on the their faces was priceless. They must have thought they'd stumbled across some extraordinary pagan custom. There, in front of their eyes, was a man perched happily on a coffin, playing lively tunes while black-clad funeral goers danced around an open grave..."
Bill Macleod - Director (BBC Talk Scotland Message Board)

"I was fortunate enough to work as one of the Production Runners with Gruth is Uachdar, during the filming of the series in Harris and elsewhere, last summer. The experience was one of the most memorable of my life. I had only fleetingly passed through the island beforehand and this gave me a better opportunity to get to know the place. Harris is the most incredibly beautiful island. If there are finer beaches than those in south-west Harris anywhere in the world than they must be something very special indeed! The people of Harris were warm, friendly and considerate. As a Gaelic learner, their patience and guidance helped my own language skills to develop greatly, over the six weeks which we stayed there. I made many friends during the shoot and look forward to returning there this July. If anyone reading this has never been to Harris, then my advice is to go and go soon!"
Paul Macdonald - Runner (BBC talk Scotland Message Board)

"It was essential that we film in Harris, because the sense of place is so vital to the drama. The impact the scenery had on me was amazing and that is what we want to bring to the audience"
Bill Macleod - Director (Stornoway Gazette)

Whisky Galore

"To the people of Barra we owe grateful thanks. They took us into their homes, showed us every kindness during our stay there and gave us invaluable help with the film."
M Danichewsky, Associate Producer

Castaway 2000

"Wednesday was one of those rare and still sparkling Taransay days. Stillness here is very powerful and with sunshine as well there is a glistening sheen over all the lines and curves of the land and sea".
Roger - Castaway ("Castaway" Mark McCrum, 2000)

"Time means nothing here. At home our lives are regimented by time"
Colin Corrigan - Castaway ("Castaway"-Mark McCrum, 2000)

Miscellaneous

"My cooking is largely inspired by the magnificent fresh ingredients to be found on the Isle of Harris. I went there to cook for the season and loved it so much that now I seem likely never to leave this enchanted place. The fish in particular is the best I have ever found and the sweet lamb and lean venison from the hill would make any cook leap at the chance to do her very best with them."
Rosemary Shrager - Star of Channel 5's "Castle Cook

"It is the sea, the endless Atlantic ocean stretching beyond comprehension to the west that dominates. You see it from the top of every hill whose contours it has formed. You hear it in the dark winter nights and you smell it on the warm summer breezes even in the deepest glens."
Jonathan Bulmer - Owner of Amhuinsuidhe Castle where 'Castle Cook' is filmed.