Irvine Welsh gives fans a chance to be in new novel

By Cara Sulieman

HIS previous characters became immortal with the names Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie still famous the world over.

Now Scots author Irvine Welsh is preparing to give fans the chance to join them by naming one of his new characters from his forthcoming prequel to hit novel Trainspotting after them.

The original book, which one critic said “deserves to sell more copies than the Bible”, helped launch the careers of actors Robert Carlyle, Ewan McGregor, Kelly MacDonald and Johnny Lee Miller when the film adaptation came out.

Skagboys is due to hit shelves in April 2012 and goes back into the past of the now-famous heroin addicts in Leith.

Study could improve automated booking phonelines

By Cara Sulieman

THEY ARE supposed to make our lives easier, but end up trying to book us in to see a film at a cinema miles away.

Now scientists at Edinburgh University are hoping they can improve automatic phone booking lines after pinpointing the most common errors made by the computers.

Companies use the systems to cut out a call centre – using computers that can understand what customers are saying to book cinema tickets and taxis.

But it doesn’t always work, and can lead to a frustrating conversation with a computer.

Gerry Boyle blasts reality television

Gerry Boyle on the steps of the Dominion Theatre in Edinburgh

By CARA SULIEMAN

THE BROTHER of Scots singing sensation Susan Boyle today (wed) blasted the type of show that helped make his sister famous – as he held his own talent hunt in Edinburgh.

Gerry Boyle, who was holding auditions for his own music label, said TV talent shows helped artists lose their credibility.

He said: “No disrespect to my sister but when an artist goes to shows like the X Factor, I don’t know if the public wants to buy their album, because they lose their credibility.

“With Instant Music we have identified a gap in the music market and we’re looking for people who fit that.”

Iconic Trainspotting station has to go to rehab

By Michael MacLeod

THE desolate Scots train station made famous in cult film Trainspotting is getting a £400,000 facelift – because it is so popular with tourists.

Corrour station, the highest in the UK at 1,300 feet above sea level, features in Irvine Welsh’s tale of a gang of drug-peddling lowlife pals romping through Edinburgh.

One of the flick’s more sedate scenes shows Renton, played by Scots star Ewan McGregor, enjoying a boozed-up day in the countryside with junkie pals Sick Boy and Spud after getting off a train at Corrour.

And with so many film-lovers following in their footsteps on the West Highland Way, Network Rail decided to completely revamp the station.

Film fans being spied on by night vision goggles

By Alexander Lawrie

Bosses at a Scots cinema have ordered staff to spy on customers using night vision goggles in an audacious bid to clamp down on movie pirates.

Staff at the Vue cinema in Edinburgh are sent in at least three times during a film’s performance to scan the audience for illegal recording.

Advances in technology have meant pirates are far harder to detect, but the new £350-a-pair goggles can locate anyone in the auditorium using a hidden camera or mobile phone.

The move to crack down on film piracy has been backed by industry experts, but some customers have voiced their concerns about the high tech device.

Kids banned from seeing new Harry Potter movie

By Michael MacLeod

CHILDREN have been banned from watching the long-awaited new Harry Potter film at a Scots cinema – quicker than you can say expelliarmus.

Special adult-only screenings of the Half-Blood Prince blockbuster – which has a 12A certificate – begin today (Friday) after film fans complained that kids were too noisy.

They said younger fans could ruin the magic of the silver screen by talking to their friends or forgetting to turn their mobile phones off.

Now all under-18s will be turned away if they want to join adults at the Vue cinema in Edinburgh’s Ocean Terminal.

Cinema boss Mark de Quervain defended the idea saying he was confident it would prove popular with fans.

Edinburgh Playhouse could be put up for sale

By CARA SULIEMAN

ONE of Scotland’s most famous theatres is up for sale after its owners decided to sell all their venues in the UK.

The Edinburgh Playhouse is owned by a US company, Live Nation, who are looking to offload their 17 properties across the country.

But the future still looks bright for the iconic venue at the top of Leith around 20 theatre operators are interested in the building.

Edinburgh International Film Festival programme launched

By Oliver Farrimond

A STAR-STUDDED programme for the Edinburgh International Film Festival was officially unveiled yesterday at the Capital’s Filmhouse cinema.

Festival patrons Tilda Swinton, Seamus McGarvey and Sir Sean Connery will also return for the event, which runs from 17-28 June.

No fewer than 23 films will have their world premieres at the renowned festival, which will include a special showcase on the work of celebrated Scottish film-makers Peter MacDougall and John Mackenzie.

Scots audiences can look forward to a number of Scottish feature films being screened, including a new film from “Hallam Foe” director David Mackenzie, titled “Spread”.