A critically acclaimed film based and shot in Dundee will go on general release in UK cinemas on April 24 next year.
Schemers tells the real-life story of the rapid rise of music promoter Dave McLean and his friends who put on concerts in Dundee in the 1970s and ’80s.
Video showing behind the scenes of filming at the city’s Caird Hall is above this article.
The film stars Conor Berry, Sean Connor and Grant Robert Keelan, and has received widespread praise after appearing at a number of international festivals.
Mr McLean, who is the director, now lives in Bangkok with his wife and two daughters but hopes the film will be well received by locals in the City of Discovery.
He said: “It’s great to get a theatrical release in the UK and many more countries. My main hope is that the people of Dundee like it and that we have represented them and the city well.
“Every festival we have played in the USA, Russia, Mexico, Japan, the Raindance festival in London, the humour seems to translate, so that’s very encouraging. You can only do your best and see what happens.”
Schemers tells the story of how the group of friends organised a Caird Hall appearance by heavy metal icons Iron Maiden, at a time when they were one of the most hotly-tipped rock acts in the world.
The gig became the stuff of local legend and the group launched their careers on the back of the concert’s success.
Schemers was filmed throughout the city and premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June this year, picking up a prize voted for by cinema-goers attending public screenings.
It was also recently nominated for the Best UK Feature at the Raindance Film Festival in London and is now set to be shown in theatres across the country.
Mr McLean, who went on to have a successful career in the music business, working with the likes of Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Roxy Music, Pearl Jam and Oasis, previously revealed a sequel and TV series could also be on the cards.
“We have the money for the sequel so it’s just about finalising everything. It will all be filmed in London this time,” he said.
“The TV spin-off will be filmed in Dundee and places nearby like Forfar and it’s just a case of landing a channel to show it before it goes ahead.”
