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A Symphony in Stone

A 60 min documentary which celebrates Glasgow’s stunning cityscape and architecture.Examining how the city expanded into suburbs and neighbourhoods it offers many lessons for todays city planners and urbanists. It explains how the city’s phenomenal growth and the creation of wealth during the industrial revolution bought about innovation in planning, architecture and design, making Glasgow the second city of the British Empire. Interviews with key experts, aerial photography and archive footage are used to explore the work of well-known architects such as Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, Charles Wilson and Charles Rennie Mackintosh in the construction of Victorian and Edwardian Glasgow. The film makes excellent use of Glasgow talent: the work of a young, innovative company, Production Attic; Bill Paterson provides the linking narrative; the music was specially composed by Liam Paterson, Scottish Opera’s composer in residence and is performed by members of the Opera’s orchestra. Gavin Stamp, the renowned architectural historian and journalist, makes his final contribution in the film. Whilst acknowledging slavery and the tobacco and sugar trades as a prime source of Glasgow’s wealth, the film is in essence a celebration of the city’s unique townscape and architecture, as well as its significant influence as part of a design revolution across Europe. There is a three minute introduction available by actor Bill Paterson

  • Matthew Cowan
    Director
    Matthew Cowan is known for his work on 30 Seconds Apart (2012), Crime (2016) and The Lord of the Fly (2017).
  • Emily Benita
    Writer
    Lobster Tuesday (Short) 2016, Southcliffe (TV MIni Series) 2013
  • Anthony Burton
    Producer
  • Bill Paterson (Narrator)
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
    Urban Myths (TV Series) 2018, Outlander (TV Series) 2014-2017, Fleabag (TV Series) 2016, Churchill's Secret (TV Movie) 2016
  • Gavin Stamp
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
    Dan Cruikshank and the Family that Built Gothic Britain (TV Movie - Documentary)
  • Professor John Hume
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Fiona Sinclair
    Key Cast
    "Herself"
  • Niall Murphy
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Ruairidh Moir
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Andrew Robertson
    Editor
    The Lord of the Fly (Short) 2017, Lobster Tuesday (Short) 2016, Pangaea (Short) 2014
  • Lliam Paterson
    Music
    The 8th Door (Opera) 2017, Bambino O (Children's Opera) 2017
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    60 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    July 27, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    61,250 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.9:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Atlanta Award-Qualifying Film Festival

    United States
    August 17, 2020
    North America Premier
    Best UK Documentary
  • Malta Film Festival
    Valletta
    Malta
    August 17, 2020
    Best Documentary Feature
  • Kylv Film Festival (Ukraine) 2020
    Kiev
    Ukraine
    June 26, 2020
    Best British Feature
  • Stockholm City Film Festival
    Stockholm
    Sweden
  • Architecture Design Art Film Festival
    Palm Springs
    United States
  • Austria International Film Festival
    Vienna
    Austria
  • Beyond Earth Film Festival
    Kolkata
    India
  • Better Cities Film Festival
    Detroit
    United States
  • Suburbinale
    Vienna
    Austria
Distribution Information
  • Concord Media Ltd
    Sales Agent
    Country: United Kingdom
    Rights: Video on Demand, Video / Disc
Director Biography - Matthew Cowan

Matthew Cowan is known for his work on 30 Seconds Apart (2012), Crime (2016) and The Lord of the Fly (2017) and A Symphony in Stone (2019). For the past 10 years Matt has had the privilege to serve as Creative Director of Production Attic specialising in documentary and factual branded content. Matt has a love of animation so has also worked with Axis Studios producing high end CG game trailers. Most recently as the Producer of short ties for the Walking Dead and Magic The Gathering honing his skill in storytelling.

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Director Statement

Production Attic were thrilled to collaborate on this project with the Planning Exchange Foundation to provide an insight into a previously unseen Glasgow.
A Symphony in Stone covers the development of 19th and early 20th century Glasgow, detailing how Glasgow became the first city of the Empire. We filmed using a number of techniques including car mounted, handheld and static but it was a particular highlight to gain aerial access via a helicopter. Being able to capture Glasgow from the sky enabled us to illustrate many of the key points of the film, including the road/community structures and their place within the city, in addition to obtaining beautifully scenic shots of some of Glasgow's most famous landmarks.
A Symphony in Stone is a thoughtful, artistic and informative look at one of the UK's most innovative cities. Combining an original Scottish Opera soundtrack with narration by Bill Patterson and commentary from some of the UK's leading names in architecture, we believe that this film deserves to be seen and appreciated worldwide.