GLASGOW, Scotland, April 5,
2012 -- Producers of Sir Billi, the first
full length animated feature to be produced entirely in Scotland, have announced
that the British singing legend Dame Shirley Bassey will join the red carpet
when the film gets it's first international screening at the 15th annual Sonoma
International Film Festival in San Francisco on April 13th 2012.
Dame Shirley Bassey performs the
title track 'Guardian of the Highlands', in the forthcoming animated movie
starring the voice of Sir Sean Connery. Indeed this project was the first time
Sir Sean and Dame Shirley collaborated since the Bond era!
Sascha Hartmann is directing 'Sir
Billi' from a screenplay written by his wife Tessa Hartmann, from an original
story they developed together. John Fraser is producer, with Sir Sean Connery
serving as executive producer.
Expanded to a feature length CGI
film from a 2006 short concept, this is a roller coaster adventure about the
race to save the last beaver in Scotland, led by Sir Billi and voiced by Academy
Award(R) winner Sir Sean Connery, in his first ever voice over role. Sir Billi
is a vet by profession, skateboarder by passion and grandfather by love. He is
joined by Tony Award(R) winner Alan Cumming (The Good Wife) who voices Gordon, a
goat and Sir Billi's confidante.
Sir Sean Connery, who has been
heavily involved in the making of the film since its inception, said: "It's a
tremendous plus to have someone of Dame Shirley's stature join the project and
with a great song and her incredible performance, she will simply launch Sir
Billi's story, which is fantastic!"
Director Sascha Hartmann, who also
composed the original song, said: "The Dame has been an incredible supporter of
this project since day one. I believe her performance in 'Guardian of the
Highlands' is one of her best ever. During the recording she was a consummate
professional, utterly passionate about the song and true to her legendary
status. Apart from anything else, she's great fun and we are all thrilled she'll
be joining us in San Francisco. She stole the show wearing our 'Sir Billi'
tartan gown last year at the Scottish Fashion Awards and I have no doubt she'll
do the same in San Francisco!"
The song was recorded in the UK
and Dame Shirley is thrilled with the outcome. When asked how the producers
persuaded her to join the project, Dame Shirley said:
"There was no persuading needed
here, I liked the song from the moment I heard it. Sascha and Tessa made the
process incredibly fun and easy for me and we got a great result."
Academy Award(R) nominated
Scottish composer Patrick Doyle, ("Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", "Thor",
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"), created the film's music score and has also
been a huge supporter of the project.
"The fresh look of 'Sir Billi' and
its original storyline gave me all the inspiration needed to create some of the
best composition work I feel I've done," said Doyle.
There is no doubt that the entire
project took relentless determination and perseverance from the husband and wife
team during the last 7 years. Alan Cumming said: "I think it is amazing that
they have persevered so long and hard to get this project made in Scotland, when
there was absolutely no precedent for anything like this there. Their enthusiasm
was so great and I'm very predisposed to doing Scottish things. Though neither
[Sir Sean nor I] live in our home country we feel very connected to it."
So if the enthusiasm from the
cast, legendary voices and talent attached is anything to go by, perhaps the
Hartmann's are indeed in for a big adventure!
SOURCE Hartmann Media
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