SCOTTISH actor Lorn Macdonald admits himself he hasn’t played many parts like the one audiences are about to be treated to at Glasgow Film Festival.
The rising star has already featured in an acclaimed production of Trainspotting, hit Netflix series Bridgerton and Scottish drama Beats.
This weekend will see the world premiere of his latest film Tummy Monster, which sees the Scot star as a self-centred tattoo artist who becomes embroiled in a dangerous game with a famous client.
READ MORE: Inside the iconic Glasgow Film Theatre as festival gets underway
Directed by fellow Scot Ciaran Lyons, both Macdonald and his director spoke with The National about the release of the new film.
Getting inspiration
Lyons’s new film Tummy Monster focuses on a tattoo artist Tales (Macdonald). When an international popstar (Orlando Norman) turn up on his doorstep late at night, he sees it as an opportunity to prove himself.
But when a request for a selfie doesn’t quite go as planned, things take a bizarre and dangerous turn.
Asked where the idea came from, Lyons said: “It was a story I heard round about the time I was hungry for an idea. Someone told me this story about a tattoo artist who had a very famous person come to their shop but refuse to give an autograph.
“When this person was telling me, the whole point for them was what an arse this person had been but I thought well why did they say no, try and step into their shoes and then create a story around that.
“Inspiration is kind of a funny thing though because I’m constantly trying to come up with stories so everything you hear you feed in and then when you think something is happening, your life starts to mobilise.”
The first screening will take place on March 2 and will be followed by a Q&A session with Lyons and Macdonald as well as one of the film’s other stars Michael Akinsilure.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased HERE.
Having been based in Glasgow for some time, the director is looking forward to the screening at the Glasgow Film Theatre although admits some people might notice him for different reasons.
“There’s a lot of folk I feel might just happen to be there that recognise me from working in bars in Glasgow,” he said.
“Maybe they’ll ask you for a drink, who knows,” Macdonald added.
Getting into character
Kirkcaldy-born Macdonald admits that this is both one of the most enjoyable and intense roles he’s had the chance to play.
He explains he was drawn to the project because of its “riskiness,” acknowledging it had the potential to “fall on its face” if it wasn’t done properly.
The actor (above) jokes that he does not want to sound “pretentious” but that he did feel that he started to “become” the character, particularly given shooting took place in the space of just five days.
“It always helps me as a performer to look in the mirror and not really see yourself and where that character’s skin outside of that,” he says.
“With a character like this his life revolves around his profession, the walls around him represent so much, the aesthetic.
“I was able to walk around the streets of Glasgow with these tattoos, the piercings and the clothes. I found it really interesting how people interacted with me.”
Macdonald adds he even made a playlist of songs he thought the character might listen to and says that he felt he was performing in the character on camera as much as off given the quick nature of the shoot.
“I don’t want to sound pretentious but it was weird, I felt I couldn’t really shake the character when we were filming because there was a real intensity to it. I was even dreaming about him.”
Next steps
Lyons has to remain understandably quiet about his next project, which he says is already written but has yet to be funded.
In the meantime though, he’s looking just to enjoy Tummy Monster’s moment after a quick turnaround.
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“I would love to work like this again and find a way of making that a part of what I do. Making films fast and regularly,” he says.
“If I manage to sell this, I’ll make another film soon. Otherwise I’ll get in line behind everyone else.”
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