ReelScotland update 🎬 Winter 2024/25
Fully booked until 2025
Welcome to the ReelScotland round-up, a look at what’s happening in Scottish film and TV. If you work in the Scottish screen sector or enjoy films and TV with a Scottish connection, this is for you.
I’ve scored out the usual introduction as this month’s newsletter isn’t very newsy...
I’ve decided to pause the newsletter for a few months, partly because there’s less to report as we approach Christmas, and partly because I’m currently putting the final touches to my new book on BBC Scotland’s Hamish Macbeth, due for publication in March 2025… which also coincides with ReelScotland’s 15th anniversary.
Why Now?
ReelScotland covered a broader range of topics in its early years, with more interviews, previews, reviews and news from around the country.
As my career has taken various turns - from writing newspaper columns to recording features for BBC Radio Scotland, from publishing books to development research for radio and TV, and more recently studying for an MA in Screenwriting and working in screen training - I’ve seen the industry from different angles, which inspired me to launch the current format in October 2023.
Since then I’ve been heartened to see a consistent 60% email open rate, which suggests these updates are providing some value. However, I’m not 100% sure which parts readers find most useful among the news items.
That’s why I'll be sending out a short survey in early 2025. Your feedback will help shape ReelScotland’s next chapter - what would make this newsletter more valuable to you?
Thanks for your continued interest in ReelScotland. I look forward to sharing both the Hamish Macbeth book and the evolved newsletter with you in 2025.
Jonathan Melville
P.S. If you're still looking for Christmas presents... my books on Highlander and Local Hero are available from all good bookshops!
P.P.S. You can watch most episodes of Hamish Macbeth on BBC iPlayer, except for the one that’s never been repeated (more of which in the book…).
Share/Get in touch
If you’ve found this newsletter useful and want to share it then feel free to pass it on. You can also get in touch with any comments, suggestions or news items.
Thanks for reading!