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A symbol of a giant handshake over the home of Scottish rugby has heralded the arrival of 2021 at the end of a short film underscoring Edinburgh’s claim to be ‘the home of Hogmanay’.
A swarm of drones was deployed to create the effect on Murrayfield Stadium for the specially commissioned film that is expected to be seen by millions of people around the world by New Year’s Day.
The film features spectacular visuals created to accompany a new three-part poem, Fare Well, by Scotsman Makar Jackie Kay, the final part of which declares “goodbye to the last torn page of this rugged year.”
More than 1.2 million people were said to have watched the first two parts of the film around the world before the latest installment was released, which also featured drone effects created over Edinburgh Castle, Calton Hill and Portobello Beach. .
The three parts are expected to be posted together on Edinburgh’s Hogmanay official website on New Years Day.
The special effects, which also saw the symbols of a deer, an eagle, and even a newborn baby appear in the context of some of Edinburgh’s most iconic sights, were created in the Highlands.
Kay can be heard reading excerpts from her own poem in the film, with actors David Tennant, Siobhan Redmond, and Lorne MacFadyen, among the other Scots making contributions.
The final lines of the three-part poem, which was accompanied by a soundtrack created by Skye-based electronic music band Niteworks, are read while creating drone effects over the Forth Bridges.
They affirm: “We share the air of the planet. What’s yours is mine
“There are seeds in the air that will be trees.
“Choreography on the air, danced by bees.
“There is a licht made by a billion stars.”
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The producers of the Hogmanay Underbelly festival revealed that they had been planning to hold live drone displays in the sky over Edinburgh, but were forced to rethink their plans due to increased coronavirus restrictions imposed on the city since the plans were first drawn up. time six months ago.
Public funding for the project from the Scottish council and government has not been disclosed, but is understood to exceed half a million pounds.
Director Charlie Wood said: “I am really satisfied with the final film, which is beautiful, creative, imaginative and innovative, and it tells a great story from Scotland, for Scotland.
“I would rather have been on the streets of Edinburgh, but after the disaster that has been 2020, I think we have produced something really extraordinary and exceptional with all the creatives and artists who have been involved in the project.
“Our original idea about six months ago was to do a live drone show. We had very long, but good discussions with the Scottish council and government, which resulted in the decision not to do anything live and to film the drones remotely. in the Highlands.
“We have been telling the council and government throughout 2020 how important it was for Edinburgh and Scotland to maintain their position as the home of Hogmanay.
“Our challenge was to produce an event that would keep Edinburgh and Scotland at the forefront of global attention. I think we did it and put artists at the forefront of extraordinary creative achievement.”
