Dunfermline Regeneration Trust has a script for a media city

While there's interest in our different sites and venues for the big and small screen, a focus on using vacant buildings to develop a 'behind the scenes' support industry could create a real feelgood story and sustain good quality jobs on this side of the Forth.

Dunfermline Regeneration Trust have come up with a script that explains what we need to do to establish a "media city" and turning empty premises into useful spaces for film and TV companies.

Their report said: "Dunfermline has several clusters of vacant, or soon to be vacant, buildings which may be suitable, such as the Kinema, Erskine Church, the Debenhams unit in the Kingsgate, Woodmill / St Columba's high school sites and the current Fife College campus."

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The old post office is also empty while other prominent properties, such as the Nationwide offices at Pitreavie, 1703 at Bruce Street and Fife Council's former flagship building at New City House, have recently become vacant.

Dunfermline Central SNP councillor Derek Glen, a member of DRT, said TV and film companies are looking to increase activity in Scotland and seeking different, more cost-effective alternatives to filming in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

From "early discussions with TV production companies", a need for premises for production, sound stages and storage of equipment and sets has been identified.

He said Dunfermline has a number of empty buildings to fit the brief and skilled locals could fill key support roles in digital visual effects, set and costume design, as electricians, joiners, hair and make-up artists, and in concierge services.

The DRT pinpointed five areas for the local community, the city and external investors to focus on: a production campus; education and skills; a community studio network; venues to screen output; and executive assistant services.

SNP councillor for Dunfermline Central, Derek Glen. (Image: Fife Council)

The campus would be a space to produce and edit filmed content, accommodate cast, crew and staff, as well as store equipment and sets.

Apprenticeship, training and job opportunities for students would be made available in a variety of film and media skills.

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On education, Fife College already offers courses on digital animation, TV screen production and sound production, electrical, carpentry and metalwork skills, hair, make-up and fashion design as well as acting and performance.

This could open the door to collaboration with universities like Abertay, for digital skills, virtual reality and gaming specialisms, and Queen Margaret for acting, costume and film and media.

All going to plan, the city's conveyor belt of trainees would need a community studio network, small studio and post-production spaces, to learn and practice their skills.

Fife College's current site will soon become vacant with a new £100m campus to open at Halbeath next year. Could it be used for film and TV purposes? (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Glen added: "The seeds of this already exist, there are spaces and groups across the city which might become part of this including at East End Park (Pars TV), Heart and Sound, the Yes in the City studio, studio space at the Dunfermline Learning Campus and the council-funded video equipment team run by the PSYV (Police Scotland youth volunteers)."

The next step would be to showcase that work to an audience.

The DRT said: "Dunfermline has a wealth of locations - both conventional and more unusual - which can be used to premiere and screen output.

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"These include cinemas (Odeon and Fire Station Creative), theatres at Carnegie Hall and the Alhambra, the Carnegie Conference Centre, The Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries and Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, open air spaces such as Pittencrieff Park and Public Park, community-use schools, as well as planned innovations like the glass atrium under the Glen Bridge which is imagined as part of the Tower Burn Trail project.

"This is in addition to the DRT's plan to regenerate empty buildings in the city centre, with potential uses including community showcase venues."

Finally, executive assistant services will be needed to help incoming production companies with cast and crew needing accommodation, transport and advice on local finance, laws and potentially schooling and jobs if accompanied by family.

Cllr Glen wants a "bold and inspiring" vision for the country's newest city and concluded: "If the community in Dunfermline can pull together and take advantage of this growing interest in Scotland as a media production destination, what a fantastic opportunity it could be for the city."