T H E C O V E N A N T E R
Skelding to prepare a special Cameronian the Battalions sojourn on the peninsula,
film about 7th and 8th Battalions at presumably taken by a member of the
Gallipoli for the forthcoming opening of Scottish Rifles, that portray the extreme
the Museum. conditions under which they soldiered.
The first step was to consult the Local There was no difficulty in obtaining
Authority through the responsible officer - contemporary photographs of the areas from
at that time Bob Clark. The Museum had no which the men of 7th and 8th Battalions
moving footage available for display, and were recruited. These were copied onto
subject to cost, he embraced the possibility studio rostrum camera.
with enthusiasm. That issue naturally took The script was drawn on the basis of
prime place on the agenda. It is not generally several identifiable potentially suitable sites
appreciated in documentary film making for filming at Gallipoli, with presenter at
how vital is the expense factor. Allowances times in vision. The duration of the film
must be made for administration, proper being only about eight minutes, the script
preparation and research, for hire of camera also had to be written as a synopsis in which
crews, scripting, as well as the hire of only the salient facts could be included.
editing suites, sound dubbing and voice Filming at the selected points, of necessity,
recording studios. Most important of all had to take place subject to incorporating
is correct budgeting for on-site filming, the work into the main schedule for the
bearing in mind that in a foreign location main programme. Sometimes it is not
there can be no question of a return to appreciated that sequences are not shot
retake unsatisfactory footage. in the order in which they appear in the
Several meetings took place at Hamilton completed film. One of the main purposes
with Bob Clark and other Council of a recce is to establish not just where,
representatives, Colonel Hugh, Ed Skelding but when it would be best to film at a
and myself to discuss the financial particular location. The probable weather,
implications, the optimum running time the position of the sun at certain times of
for the proposed video and its content day and the shadows that would be cast by
and presentation. It was agreed that the it, surrounding noise from machines, and
background from which the two Battalions accessibility for the camera crews all must
were drawn, their training and heritage be considered. A strict timetable must be
would be part and parcel of the film. compiled. Once it falls behind schedule
It would then lead up to the Gallipoli it can prove very hard to remedy. It is
Campaign. The requirements of a film quite normal for several shots of the same
designed to be shown live as a permanent sequence to be taken, sometimes because of
exhibit are different to that for a film made presenter or camera crew error. Allowance
for more lengthy TV programmes or for must also be made for the fact that technical
historical research. Live viewing in the problems could occur, or that the presenter
body of a museum requires - expense apart might forget lines or use a form of inflection
- strict limitations on viewing time. The that is unsatisfactory to the producer. At
average visitor to a museum does not wish times, it becomes necessary to alter the
to be overloaded with facts, or to be fixed camera position to suit changing light,
to one exhibit for an inordinate length of and should the schedule fall into arrears,
time. Viewing time therefore was settled to abandon some shots altogether. Often
at about eight minutes. maximum. It was it is impossible to proceed in an orderly
intended that an explanatory display fixed progression from one site to the next;
to the surrounding boarding beside the in order to capture the right conditions.
video screen, together with a composite Frequently it is necessary to crisscross the
photograph of the battle site, would guide a countryside in an apparently time wasting
viewer interested in further research to the and arbitrary manner.
Museum’s archives. 7/8th Scottish Rifles spent from mid June
Ed Skelding had considered it feasible 1915 until January 1916 in the Cape Helles
in addition to the schedule for the main Sector, during which the climate changed
programme, to fit some extra filming at from summer temperatures of at times 110
Gallipoli appropriate to the Museum’s degrees Fahrenheit to the depths of winter
requirements. After careful consideration, sometimes at 20 degrees below freezing.
the project was approved. There is available Torrential rain caused flash flooding. One
at the Regimental Museum an excellent visit only to Gallipoli for filming was
series of contemporary photographs of possible, so that black and white archive

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