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merchantcityglasgow · 12 years

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John McKay Talks “Not Another Happy Ending”

John McKay says that he’s “always wanted to make an indie movie in Scotland”, and it looks like that aspiration is coming true: set in Glasgow, starring Doctor Who star Karen Gillan, and funded through contributions from fans, Not Another Happy Ending begins shooting in the middle of next month and sounds very promising. We spoke to McKay on the phone earlier today to find out what you can expect from the indie rom-com.

“It’s about a young, quirky novelist – Jane, who’s played by Karen Gillan – who has a kind of love-hate relationship with her publisher, a guy named Tom, who is very newly being played by a hot French actor called Stanley Weber,” he explains. The script was first sent to him by producer Claire Mundell and writer David Solomons two years ago, and it caught his eye because “it just seemed like a very untypical subject and tone for a Scottish film”.

“Glasgow is a really beautiful, really surprising city […] When you walk along the street, you have to look out and look at the rooftops to see the secret, baroque beauty of Glasgow, or you have to duck up a side alley to find the most fantastic bar, library, or theatre ever. In the movie, I think what we want to do is hang out in one or two of Glasgow’s secret places.”

I prompt him to share his favourite, and he tells me “I really love the back alleys around Merchant City, where we’re going to be shooting. Around about Ingram Street and Candleriggs, there are just the most amazing bits of old and new Glasgow; old Glasgow falling down and new Glasgow being chucked up. It’s got the most amazing energetic vibe.”

John McKay’s favourite Scottish film is Local Hero, a popular choice amongst locals and outsiders alike, and he attributes that to writer-director Bill Forsyth’s ability to make “these really charming, smart movies that Scots people like, but other people could really get behind as well”, which might explains his enthusiasm for Not Another Happy Ending, which he described as “[feeling] much more like the kind of film I like coming out of America or France”.

It’s not his first foray with Karen Gillan either; while she might be better known for her role as Amy Pond in aforementioned sci-fi Doctor Who, for which she finished shooting her final episodes earlier this year, she also played Jean Shrimpton in McKay’s fashion biopic, We’ll Take Manhattan. The film premièred on BBC Two earlier this year, and it’s their experience that led to her casting in Not Another Happy Ending.

“I had a blast with Karen on We’ll Take Manhattan,” he says. “She played Shrimpton very well, but Shrimpton, in the way I portrayed her, is quite a quiet, intense, introverted person, and when I got to know Karen, I got to know that’s not really her at all: she was acting that. Actually, Karen is a very bubbly, vibrant, energetic, funny, slightly clumsy person, and I realised that the script I had for Not Another Happy Ending was a great fit for her.”

Karen’s been a big supporter of the project ever since: we spoke to her briefly at Doctor Who Convention earlier this year and heard her express optimism towards a Scottish film that “isn’t about drug use or fighting the English”, and McKay tells us that last week’s rehearsals between Karen and the recently cast Stanley were “fantastic”: “they were really funny and charming together; they were hot stuff.”

Between now and the start of shooting in mid-July, though, the production team have a lot to do: they’re still looking for financial contributions from fans through crowdfunding website Indiegogo, on which they’re rapidly approaching the deadline of their campaign; and they’re looking for “new, fresh, unsigned bands” from Scotland to send over demos to be considered for the film’s soundtrack. If you can help with either, you should check out their campaign page here.

#merchant city #merchant city glasgow #merchantcity #merchantcityglasgow #film #karen gillan #doctorwho #scotland #scottish #glasgow

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merchantcityglasgow · 12 years

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Mongolian Feast

Lucky for us our weekend started early last night with the treat of a full all-you-can-eat Mongolian Feast at Khublai Khan's on Candleriggs. And boy, did we eat.

For those of you who have never ventured into this food haven the Mongolian Feast menu option consists of: a starter, unlimited main courses from the barbeque and (if you haven’t stuffed yourself too much already) a dessert. Before the feast could commence we settled at a table, perused the menu and sipped at some drinks (not very adventurously on our part, a pint of Kronenbourg and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignons house wine).

Fear not though - we soon got into the Mongolian swing of things with our starters: Chi Sin (Kangaroo Haggis) and Khoor Shoor (Cumin flavoured Wild Boar in pastry parcels); with a Cumin and Coriander Flatbread on the side. The Chi Sin came in a pretty stack of tatties, neeps and kangaroo haggis topped with a gorgeous burnt whiskey cream sauce. Meanwhile, the Khoor Shoor possessed a gentle warm spice of cumin complete with rich minced meat, lovely thick pastry and a delicious hot and sour sauce. The addition of the flatbread was a suggestion from our lovely waiter Matthew which was ideal. Tasty all on its own, the flatbread was also great for enjoying any extra sauce from the starters.

Now, the real fun came - it was barbeque time! We’re not talking bashed disposable barbeques on some windy beach. Here, it’s done in style with tons of fresh ingredients laid out: rice, noodles, vegetables, herbs, spices, sauces and (the main appeal if we’re honest) a massive selection of exotic meats. There are still plenty of safe bets for apprehensive diners such as chicken, prawns and mussels. However, beside these you’ll discover wildebeest, ostrich, zebra, wild boar, venison, squid and baby octopus. This really is a meat lover’s paradise.

The atmosphere is relaxed as you follow the spread along and pop whatever takes your fancy into a bowl. When it comes to sauces you can experiment and create your own or follow a suggested one that’s written up on the wall above the many herbs and spices. If you’re still in doubt, the friendly chef is always on hand to offer some advice. Not sure which meat to go for? Zebra and ostrich are usually tenderer. Not sure how much sauce is too much? Aim for one and a half ladles and adjust accordingly on your next trip.

Then your dish is cooked on a massive barbeque hot plate (where you can stand and watch if you like) before being brought out to your table. Both of us taste-testers wolfed down two main courses each and between us tried ostrich, wildebeest, zebra and springbok. Despite desperately wanting to manage another full trip to the barbeque to try the baby octopus, it just wasn’t happening.

After admitting defeat to our waiter Matthew he kindly made us one up each, seasoned with a little salt, pepper, sesame seed oil and turmeric. If you can get over the tiny little tentacles (and we’re sure that you could…) we would highly recommend it.

Finally, the feast was nicely rounded off with a cappuccino and Luk Fu (Mocha and Cinnamon Ice Cream), which was beautifully flavoured and the perfect portion size. With our appetites well and truly satisfied we left with promises to return soon (and we would like to stress that as their placemats promise ‘No-one has ever had to stop off for a poke of chips on the way home’).

Look out for our new monthly recipe blog coming soon. The first dish will be Khublai Khan's Khoor Shoor (Wild Boar in pastry parcels).

#scotland #merchant city #merchant city glasgow #merchantcity #merchantcityglasgow #glasgow #food #review #feast #drink

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