Bobby Robertson is an actor and writer. He wrote a film called Wild Is The North which I’m filming in March. The film is being filmed in Glencoe and is set in events before The Battle Of Hastings. It’s set in 1030 AD when the Vikings ruled England and Viking King Cnut sends a messenger to Scotland to meet the King of Scotland seeking an Allie from an impending invasion from France. He plays King Malcolm II of Scotland. It also stars Hollywood actor Kamil Lemie, who has been in Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur, Rogue One, American Assassin and the new Jurassic World 2: The Lost Kingdom.
We had the pleasure of speaking with Bobby about the film. Check it out below.
Bobby! You are doing some pretty amazing things! We’re excited to speak with you about Wild Is The North. It’s releasing in March. The film was shot in Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands. This is a period film set in 1030 AD and it is before the famous Battle of Hastings, when the Vikings ruled England. Where many actors turned filmmakers focus on the present, you dived into the past. What inspired the film?
My friend Kamil Lemieszewski who has worked with Guy Ritchie on King Arthur and met Steven Spielberg on Jurassic World 2: The Lost Kingdom met during coffee in Edinburgh and we were talking about films and then went on to talk about friends, family, Edinburgh and went back to talking about actors and back to films and we spoke about the prospect of working together on a film something like a short and we were bringing up ideas from stuff like horror to comedy and then Kamil at the time was giving me a wee lesson on King Cnut (pronounced Kinoot) who was a Viking Leader of the 11th Century and then we decided there and then to do a story based on him and the events before the Battle Of Hastings and we wanted to give it from a perspective from Scotland when this was all happening. We start filming this on March 2nd-4th.
You followed your passion and it’s paying off. You’re playing King Malcolm II of Scotland. Was it a challenge to act in a film you created?
To be playing the 11th Century Scottish King is going to be something a wee bit different to what I usually play. I’ve researched the character from records of what he looked like in pictures although the record of what his personality was like is vague. Even pictures of Kings and Queens back in the day I feel are more glorified for instance the sharp and perfect looks. How do we know they never had a couple of big moles or warts on their face or a pot belly? My character for King Malcolm II is in my head and what you’ll see is a rugged Wildman of a King not frightened to get his hands dirty.
This may be a short film, but it packs a feature-length punch! You secured known Hollywood actor, Kamil Lemie! Impressive! Also, you took advantage of the latest technology. Tell us about your experience using a drone to shoot certain scenes.
To be honest with you, I cannot wait to get the drone scenes done because the aerial shots are going to be sensational especially with it being shot in Glencoe and also the action shots which will be sensational. I feel blessed to know some really talented people especially the crew of my film that I regard as my friends too. The excitement is with us all involved in this film, most of us including the crew and especially my Director Hayley McInline have worked with me before on horror feature Bridal Fever which will be released this year and also worked with my other cinematographer Barry Gunning on Anderson.
We’re also impressed to learn that the short film had a full crew. This is rare! You had a drone pilot for aerial shots. You had a producer, director, a sound engineer, and a makeup artist. This is incredible. Your film will have a cinematic look and feel. Why did you decide to use a full crew?
I feel that with respect to my friends in the film industry and I know a lot of talented actors and crew I’ve worked with and some that I know because of their great work I want to up the ante with this film meaning by developing a great story, a great script with great acting and not your usual clang clanging of swords every second of the film. For a short film, I am wanting to draw the audience in and compel them with the characters of Jaromir and Malcolm as they meet each other in a Wild Scotland. I have chosen each individual of this crew because I have seen first hand how brilliant each person is in what they do individually and Collectively they are the best team I have worked with.
It is said that its a good film starts with the script, then an amazing cast. What are your thoughts on this?
I do believe each person that watches films have different tastes and I think personally that has something to account for. A great script is important because again you don’t want to bore the audience to death and also a good Director with a good vision and Cinematographers with a great eye counts for something too. You don’t have to have an AMAZING cast but decent actors that link with the Director/DOP unit and are good at being instructed would do.
What should the audience expect to see?
The audience should expect to see a beautifully shot, well Directed, well-acted film with nice moments. Some funny, some informative to how things were in a Wild 11th Century Scotland, some moving scenes too. Like I said this won’t be your average Scottish film.
How were you able to stay true to the period 1030 AD? How did you obtain the costumes?
The lucky part about making a historic film set in Scotland is that you can still get Clansmen and Clansmen from reenactors especially that want to offer you costumes for a film and yes for the 11th Century, so we’re kind of blessed to be given a choice of what costumes to use but once the filming is done and dusted the Film poster is going to look sensational!
What else can you tell us about the film?
Going back to the crew I would like to also mention the involvement of my Producer Lauren Downie who is an award-winning Theatre Director in her own right winning an award in the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe for her show ‘Glasgow Central’ and another talented cog in our crew. ‘Wild Is The North’ WILL be submitted to the Edinburgh Film Festival amongst other Festivals too so I am very excited at how it is received.
Do you have any upcoming projects that we haven’t mentioned?
I will be in horror feature Bridal Fever which Will be released at the end of the year, I just finished my scenes in the noir film Bloods A Rover which will also be released this year and FLUX which may be released next year. I have also worked with ‘Game Of Thrones’ Actor Michael Yare in ‘The Gurney’ as well as appearing in other short films Solicitude, Prodigirl, and Present.
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would do
A Bigfoot Hunt in California or Oregon to walk in the forest, do calls, hit trees with Sticks and hope to capture the ‘Big Guy’ on video.
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