Outlander star signs up for Kirkcaldy animator's film

Fraser Murdoch (26) has landed actor Scott Kyle, best known for playing Ross in Outlander, for the lead role in his animated film Bab: The Man Who Took Too Much.

The pair met on the set of the show, where Fraser worked on the VFX team. It’s a partnership that has developed from there.

He said: “I had flyers for my crowdfunding campaign and I took my chance and popped into the green room. Scott Kyle was sat there with Gregor Firth (who is also starring in the film) and I pitched the film to them.

“Scott piped up and we started talking about the film.”

Scott, who has also starred in Kilo Two Bravo and in the Ken Loach film The Angels’ Share, had originally joined the film as a producer. However, Fraser felt he would be the best person to fill the role of Bab Cunningham, the well-off owner of a scrap yard.

“Scott is probably the most qualified person for the job,” Fraser admits. “He knows the stuff about the character and he understands it. He’s played similar characters and knows similar people. Scott brings a real understanding to Bab and gets him more than anyone.”

The next stage of the project will come in January. The four-man cast will meet for a workshop in January where the actors will develop the characters and give Fraser the references he needs for the animation process.

Fraser admits he’s getting more excited as the project progresses.

“It’s often said that an animator is the actor you don’t see on screen,” Fraser said. “It’s getting more exciting the closer the workshop gets. The more we talk the more the creative juices start flowing. It’s progressing every time we meet.”

While it’s an exciting time for Fraser, it’s one that has been a long time coming.

“It’s almost a year since I put the idea to Scott and Gregor but the idea goes back to when I was at school,” he said.

“I then used it an university. I think it proves that some ideas are worth staying with.”

When the film is eventually released, residents of the Lang Toun might recognise some familiar sights.

“Kirkcaldy was one of the places that I looked at for the development of the scenes,” Fraser revealed.

“I went and looked around Randolph industrial estate and I developed some of the scenes out of that visit.”

Those who are looking forward to the film will have to be patient, however.

Although it is hoped the filming will be done in January, creating the 3D characters, the animation process and rendering mean it could be late 2017 before the film is completed.