Latest news with #PaulBlack
Scotsman
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Govan Fair Queen: Elaine C Smith stars in new Paul Black short film
Harper Blue Hamilton and Elaine C. Smith star in Paul Black's Govan Fair Queen. | BBC Scotland / Shakehaus Written and directed by Paul Black, Govan Fair Queen stars Elaine C Smith and Harper Blue Hamilton with Julie Wilson Nimmo also set to appear. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A 'heartfelt and hilarious' new short film starring Scottish icon Elaine C Smith, will soon be released on BBC Scotland. Titled Govan Fair Queen, the short comes from rising Glasgow filmmaker and comedian Paul Black who said the project was based 'roughly' on his childhood. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It follows 9-year-old Abigail as she is reluctantly roped into entering the annual Govan Fair competition by her gran Linda. With a dream holiday to Florida at stake, tensions rise and a long-standing rivalry is reignited. Harper Blue Hamilton will make her onscreen debut as Abigail, with Smith playing her larger-than-life grandmother. Balamory and Scot Squad actress Julie Wilson Nimmo will also appear as one of the judges. Described as 'a celebration of working-class pride, local legacy, and intergenerational love set in the heart of Govan', crews were spotted filming in Glasgow earlier this year with The Govan Fair committee even loaning the production the authentic Govan Fair Queen crown. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Govan Fair Queen highlights 'the joy in working class communities' Black, a two-time Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award nominee, said it was a 'joy' to make the short. He said: 'It was a joy to work with such a talented cast and crew on a wee story (roughly) based on my childhood, The Govan Fair holds a special place in the community's heart, and I loved bringing it to life on screen. 'It celebrates the humour and tenacity of the women I grew up around, highlighting the joy in working class communities that is often overlooked in stories about us.' The film is executive produced by Margarita Veberaite for Shakehaus and produced by Lauren Lamarr, with editorial input, accessibility support, and local engagement support from The Portal Studios. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Three judges for the Govan Fair Queen contest seated in a row in a town hall. The head judge, played by Julie Wilson Nimmo, sits in the middle | BBC Scotland / Shakehaus Moya Crowley, the creative director of The Portal Studios, said they were proud to support a film which celebrates 'authentic local storytelling'. She added: 'Paul's voice shines throughout this story, capturing the spirit, humour and strength of the community.' How to watch Govan Fair Queen? Govan Fair Queen will be released on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday, July 14. It will also be broadcast on BBC Scotland at 9.30pm on the same day.
Glasgow Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Paul Black's film Govan Fair Queen comes to BBC Scotland
Govan Fair Queen is a new comedy short by the Scottish breakout star, who started his career on social media. It follows nine-year-old Abigail, who is reluctantly pushed into entering the annual Govan Fair Queen competition by her larger-than-life gran Linda. The story is a celebration of working-class pride, local legacy and intergenerational love, set in the heart of Govan, in the city's Southside. It will star local acting legend Elaine C Smith, joined by Harper Blue Hamilton in her screen debut. Paul Black's film Govan Fair Queen comes to BBC Scotland (Source: Sonja Blietschau) (Image: Sourced) READ NEXT: Iconic Glasgow actress spotted filming 'new Paul Black film' Paul Black said: 'It was a joy to work with such a talented cast and crew on a wee story (roughly) based on my childhood. "The Govan Fair holds a special place in the community's heart, and I loved bringing it to life on screen. "It celebrates the humour and tenacity of the women I grew up around, highlighting the joy in working-class communities that is often overlooked in stories about us." Govan Fair Queen will air as part of BBC Scotland's Comedy Shorts initiative at 9:30pm on Monday, July 14. And again on BBC Three at 11pm on Thursday, July 17. It will also be available on iPlayer.
Glasgow Times
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Iconic Glasgow actress spotted filming 'new Paul Black film'
Elaine C. Smith, known for her role in Two Doors Down and for playing Mary Doll in Rab C. Nesbitt, was seen being filmed in the Southside. Locals have hinted that the actress is in a new short film written and directed by Glasgow comedian Paul Black. They also say that the film will be centred around the historic Govan Fair Queen. Govan Fair is a centuries-old tradition, held on the first Friday of June, where parades take to the streets. Iconic Glasgow actress spotted filming 'new Paul Black film' (Image: Facebook/acumfaegovan) Paul, who shot to fame after filming funny sketches on TikTok, will be crowning the fair's Queen this year. Excited locals snapped the pictures and shared their joy at the filming. READ MORE: The Govan Fair returns to Glasgow's Southside this weekend They said in a social media post: "Spotted them filming Elaine C. Smith and a little girl dressed as Govan Fair Queen outside Fairfield Heritage a few weeks ago. "Just found out that it is a BBC and Screen Scotland short film named Govan Fair Queen - written and directed by Paul Black and coming to BBC iPlayer this summer. "Very fitting that comedian, writer, and director Paul will be crowning this year's Queen. "Thanks to The Old Govan Fair for the information." A group of young children at the Govan fair in 1960 (Image: Archive) Other locals flocked to the comments on the post to share the excitement. One said: "We lived in Govan in our early childhood. I still remember the Govan Fair Parade. Happy memories." Another said: "Govan Fair parade this Friday. There is always a good crowd. I hope it stays dry." The Fair announced Paul as the person who will crown the Queen this year and gushed over his new project - they described it as the comedian's "love letter to the Govan Fair." READ MORE: Memories: Govan Fair in 1958 The Glasgow Times reported on the 2022 Govan Fair, which was the first to take place since the Covid lockdown thwarted previous years. Honorary chairperson, Dorothy Courtney, spoke then and said: "I've been on the committee for almost 33 years now and chairperson for around 31. 'It's a real passion for me. 'I'll probably cry on the night. READ NEXT: Stranger saved my life by noticing deadly cancer growing in my neck, says mum 'It's been two years since we've been able to hold the event fully because of Covid. "This year feels like the first time that everything has been allowed to open back up properly. 'It's a great thing for the people of Govan.'
CBC
19-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Parents keeping up pressure against contentious OCDSB shakeup
Maria Garrett chose to live where she does because her home is only about 600 metres from Knoxdale Public School and she enjoys the bonding experience of walking her kids to class. "We meet other families along the way, we speak to the crossing guards," she told CBC by email. "Not only is this a routine and [it builds] a sense of community ... it also decreases the traffic in the area [because we don't] drive." However, under a controversial restructuring plan proposed by Ottawa's largest English school board, Garrett's children would be moved to Manordale Public School, 2.2 kilometres east of Knoxdale. The switch would mean a new 20-minute walk — probably longer for the kids. It could require the family to take up wheels and "turn a once pleasant routine into another gridlock situation," she said. Garrett's concern about the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) elementary program review also touches on school capacity. Under the plan, which is being billed in part as an effort to offer French immersion and English at almost every school in the district, Manordale would become over-capacity at 105 per cent, while Knoxdale and the other school in the area, Briargreen, would go down to 61 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively. As another parent in the area, Paul Black, put it in a prepared submission to the board, "Why force kids to change schools and put Manordale over-capacity while leaving other schools sitting 1/3 empty?" Calls to delay vote The OCDSB will be facing a lot of similar questions on Wednesday night. That's when the financially troubled education board will be holding the second of two special meetings to hear from concerned parents and teachers about the plan. The meeting will follow a rally held by parents outside the board office. But unlike the first delegation session held in late February, Wednesday's meeting is taking place after the board made its proposed boundary changes public. No surprise, then, that, while still reflecting concerns about the board's decision to eliminate some programs, the stacked speaker's list also features many people concerned about the boundary shuffle. Like Black, Kristin Philippi is also slated to address the board on Wednesday. She too lives in the Craig Henry area and is worried about reduced walkability for her children, and leaving schools underutilized. While she understands the board is in what she called a "precarious" financial position — staring down its fifth straight deficit and now talking about cutting 150 full-time jobs — Philippi wants the vote delayed and the board to consider reducing senior executives' salaries. "We've invested hours into this fight, after our day jobs and our second shifts as parents, reading reports and searching for legal precedents into the wee hours of the morning," she said in a prepared submission about the gathering storm of opposition. "I've never seen such unity in a community before," echoed Garrett in an interview with CBC. 'This is rushed' For Kayla Fernet, who is also poised to speak on Wednesday, the board's plan is a one-size-fits-all solution that doesn't address the realities of living in rural parts of the district. It will also cause her family some logistical headaches, she said. Fernet's son is in Grade 1 at Kars on the Rideau Public School, about 10 kilometres south of Manotick. Under the board's plan, that school will only offer Grade 4 to Grade 8 starting in 2026, so Fernet's son will have to move next year to North Gower/Marlborough Public School, seven kilometres west of Kars on the Rideau. Then, when he starts Grade 4, he will go back to Kars on the Rideau once again. "In some of our youngest learners, we're seeing multiple transitions," Fernet said. To add another wrinkle: when Fernet's son goes back to Kars on the Rideau, her daughter, who is two years younger, will remain at North Gower/Marlborough. "So now I [will] have two different bell times, two different buses," she said. And even though the family lives close to North Gower/Marlborough, her son would need to be bused because there are no sidewalks from their house to the school. "It just seems that, in terms of a process, this is rushed," she said. Trustees are expected to vote on the plan next month. Earlier this week, Pino Buffone, the board's director of education, said he's a parent himself and he understands what others are bringing forward. The board has already said it's reconsidering some parts of the plan. "We are trying to balance what we hear [and sort] through what is a wish versus something that's a real strong need," he said on Monday.
