The Bulletin: Arts & Culture Roundup | 11 October

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO BAIL OUT FILM INDUSTRY
"We have suggested to Creative Scotland that film is taken out of its remit. We don’t think it has the resources, funding or personnel that the film industry needs." Fighting talk from producer Gillian Berrie, who was quoted in The Scotsman this week in the wake of an ongoing stramash between some of Scotland's leading filmmakers, and representatives of beleagured funding organisation Creative Scotland.

Berrie's comments reflect the frustration many Scottish filmmakers feel at the loss of Scottish Screen, the dedicated film funding organisation which was folded into Creative Scotland in 2010. "Ultimately, it was the Scottish Government that took away Scottish Screen and its 35 staff who worked with the industry," Berrie continues. "The buck stops at their door... The Scottish Government needs to put immediate funding into the film industry, which is in bits at the moment.” Berrie's complaints reflect growing frustration from filmmakers that just £3 million of Creative Scotland's £97.5 million budget is spent on film-related projects.

These issues were examined in our recent feature on the Scottish film industry, where Berrie commented: "We're still, I think, really way behind where we should be – even ten years agio, when there was a more joined-up approach to the film industry in Scotland.... We're just capable of so much more, that's the thing... I just want to make a big cautionary note to the government: don't take this for granted." 

Berrie was part of a group who approached Creative Scotland with their concerns earlier this week. Creative Scotland's new chief executive Janet Archer responded – The Scotsman quoted her as saying: "I had a positive and constructive discussion with the producers’ group and this afforded me the opportunity to listen to their concerns and their ideas. We agreed to work together, collaboratively with the Scottish Government and other partners, to find a positive way forward. We are limited in terms of what we can do immediately, but finding the right level of support for film production in Scotland will be a key part in the development of our plans into 2014 and beyond."

The long-mooted project to build a Scottish studio and soundstage, currently estimated at a cost of £15 million, is also spiralling in cost and scale, according to the Scotsman. We spoke to producer Claire Mundell back in August for our Paradigm Shift feature on the future of film, and she commented on the necessity of the studio to achieve growth in the Scottish film industry: "We have to dispense with the kind of default Scottish scarcity theory,” Mundell commented. “There's such a fear that if we don't get it right, we'll never get another one. Why can't we think the other way? We get that one to start with, we make it a success, we prove that there's a demand, and then we build from there.” 

 The Scotsman reports that the Scottish Government has now earmarked £2 million to further the plans for a Scottish studio, with a site mooted in Govan in Glasgow. Whether funding priorities will change in the coming years, or whether the rebellion against Creative Scotland brewing amongst Scottish filmmakers will escalate remains to be seen. What do you think about the current state of Scottish film? Let us know in the comments below.

RARE NIRVANA INTERVIEW AUDIO SURFACES
As fans enjoy the recently-released deluxe 20th anniversary In Utero boxset, some rare audio of Nirvana in interview with journalist James Sherry of Metal Hammer has surfaced online for the first time, hosted on the site Caught In The Crossfire. Recorded in 1990, 91 and 92, the candid interviews reveal Kurt Cobain and his bandmates in their early days, reflecting on fame, musical influences and the stratospheric success of Nevermind. Listen in full below, and read Sherry's accompanying piece here. 

DAVID BYRNE: INEQUALITY IN NYC IS STRANGLING CREATIVITY
Writing for The Guardian, David Byrne (who we recently had a natter with) has hit out at those he perceives as "the 1%" of New Yorkers who control the majority of the city's wealth, leading to a decline in New York's creative culture.

He continues: "Many parts of Brooklyn are virtual walled communities, pleasure domes for the rich (which, full disclosure, includes me), and aside from those of us who managed years ago to find our niche and some means of income, there is no room for fresh creative types. Middle-class people can barely afford to live here anymore, so forget about emerging artists, musicians, actors, dancers, writers, journalists and small business people. Bit by bit, the resources that keep the city vibrant are being eliminated."

He closes the article by promising to leave if things continue in this way: "If young, emerging talent of all types can't find a foothold in this city, then it will be a city closer to Hong Kong or Abu Dhabi than to the rich fertile place it has historically been. Those places might have museums, but they don't have culture. Ugh. If New York goes there – more than it already has – I'm leaving."

Read the article in full at The Guardian site.

NEW VIDEOS: TYLER THE CREATOR, GARY NUMAN, MANIC STREET PREACHERS, CUT COPY
Like cats? And unconventional trampolines? Of course you do. Who doesn't, right? What's not to like? That being the case, you're going to love the new video for Tamale by Tyler, The Creator.  

Gary Numan's new album Splinter: Songs From A Broken Mind is another collaboration with producer Ade Fenton, taking Numan even further into the territory where industrial music meets synth-pop. Here's the video for first single Love Hurt Bleed. The album is out 14 October. Numan plays Manchester Academy on 14 November, and the o2 ABC in Glasgow on 13 November.

The Manic Street Preachers returned this week with a new video, taken from their latest album Rewind The Film (reviewed here). Speaking to The Quietus, the video's director Kieran Evans describes the miner's strike of the 80s, which inspired the film, as "a modern British civil war."

Cut Copy's new video stars True Blood hottie Alexander Skarsgård. It's taken from Free Your Mind, the duo's forthcoming EP, due out 5 November. 

REISSUES: THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN, SOULS OF MISCHIEF
A quick run-down of two most excellent boxsets coming your way in the next few months - first up, there's this epic 11-disc vinyl boxset from The Jesus And Mary Chain, out on 2 December, and featuring all six of their studio LPs, along with b-sides, rarities and live sessions. 

Oakland hip-hop legends Souls of Mischief are also planning a bumper 20th anniversary edition of their seminal classic '93 til Infinity. A release date is yet to be confirmed, but the deluxe reissue will feature an additional disc of rare and exclusive material. When the release is officially announced, you'll be able to pre-order from Get On Down Records.

NEW MUSIC: MELVINS, GIORGIO MORODER, LAURYN HILL, LOS CAMPESINOS!, DIPLO, AUTECHRE
A quick roundup of new music available to stream - punk legends Melvins follow up covers album Everybody Loves Sausages on 4 November with a new album, Tres Cabrones. The first track to be revealed is City Dump. Here's our recent interview with founding Melvin, Buzz Osborne, talking to Mudhoney's Mark Arm. 

Synth legend Giorgio Moroder this week unveiled his take on Munich synth-pop band Claire's track Broken Promise Land. 

Fresh out the tin pail, Lauryn Hill unveiled her astounding new single Consumerism, featuring crazy pan pipe samples, and customarily direct and anti-establishment lyrics. 

Los Campesinos! have a new track out this week - Avocado Baby is taken from their new album No Blues, out 29 October. They play Gorilla in Manchester on 8 December.

Diplo's new EP, featuring guest spots from RIFF RAFF, Action Bronson, Mr Muthafuckin' eXquire and a host of others, is out now. Stream it in full below.

And finally – a very weird stream from Autechre, available for just 24 hours – so get on it quickly. Their new EP L/Event is out on 29 October. To listen to exclusive snippets, type their website address into your browser as follows: 

http://p.autechre.ws/proxy?lnk=http%3A%2F%2F 

Then add in the address of any site you wish, so the link looks like this:

http://p.autechre.ws/proxy?lnk=http%3A%2F%2Ftheskinny.co.uk 

... then watch and listen. If you'd rather just click through, and see how it works, click here. Warning: this will melt your brain.

CAMPAIGN TO ERECT A STATUE OF WILEY IN BOW, LONDON
And finally - a campaign to erect a statue of grime originator Wiley in his home of Bow, London is gaining traction, with coverage from everyone from the NME to The Quietus attracting over 2,300 signatures to an online petition. "As we journey through our day-to-day lives as commuters, as cyclists, as pedestrians and road users it's refreshing to be reminded of uplifting and entertaining role models, especially ones who were born and nurtured on the same streets as us," reads the petition's supporting statement. "Richard Cowie (aka Wiley) has undoubtedly inspired an entire generation. A man who has put his heart and soul into what he believes in and consistently shows passion and perseverance." Get involved here!