Film-makers working on a screen adaptation of Stephen Greenhorn's stage musical Sunshine on Leith have been out and about in the capital this month.
Featuring songs by the Proclaimers, it stars Peter Mullen, Jane Horrocks, George McKay, Kevin Guthrie, Antonia Thomas and Freya Mavor.
Director Dexter Fletcher, speaking at the start of filming, said 'We really have something special which will put smiles on the most hardened faces. Great songs, a wonderful cast and a lot of heart will create our sunshine world'. He thus unaccountably omitted the role of sunshine, of which – fortunately – there was a timely abundance.
Low helicopter passes over the Balmoral Hotel, Broughton and then north were witnessed in brilliantly clear weather on 10 November. Actors standing on North Bridge were filmed from the air during this sequence, whilst pedestrians and traffic nearby carried on blithely unaware.
Parts of the 6-week shoot also took place in the Grassmarket on Monday, and on Calton Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
Yesterday saw a scene shot in Constitution Street with soldiers singing 'I'm on My Way' outside the newly green-painted Port o' Leith. Proclaimers Craig and Charlie Reid put in cameo appearances leaving nearby Nobles Bar.
Filming for Sunshine on Leith, the Proclaimers musical, is underway right outside the TT offices! Exciting! pic.twitter.com/PdRE7BFc
The film adaptation of Sunshine on Leith is being filmed near our office today! Yes, our office is very close to Port of Leith #weloveleith
Watching the filming of #SunshineOnLeith from @PwCoffee & glorious to see that the sun has in fact made an appearance.#LongMayItLast
linsey young @linsey_e_young
At one stage, a camera also shot scenes from the centre of Bernard Street outside the old Leith Bank.
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Just 'sunshine on leith' getting filmed across the street from our flat, basically living in hollywood @rachelfoot_x pic.twitter.com/A5r2HxR9
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As dusk fell, a full moon rose miraculously on cue behind the bridge between Commercial Street and The Shore. Cast and crew recorded separate versions of 'Letter from America' here, the latter, we imagine, to accompany the movie's closing credits. A cameraman caught the scene from a crane swung right out over the river.
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Richard @rwarburton74
Dexter Fletcher directing cast of new #sunshineonleith film in... Leith.pic.twitter.com/WCzh3Inj
Filming #SunshineOnLeith right outside the office at the moment...all together "My heart is Broken, My heart is broken,,,,
Filming of #sunshineonleith down The Shore #Edinburgh tonight...pic.twitter.com/rgy1j6KG
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DNA Film, one of the producing partners behind the project, has been involved with two previous north Edinburgh films: Shallow Grave and Trainspotting.
We wish this new venture every success, although the timing has rather kyboshed Spurtle's own plans for a foot-tapping, heart-warming project provisionally titled Light Drizzle on Broughton – Water of Leith Floods Again. This morning we papped Craig Reid (below) of the Proclaimers in Gayfield Square, requesting an interview. He declined to comment.
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