The Bulletin: Arts & Culture News | 26 November

BOOK WEEK SCOTLAND: HIGHLIGHTS
Book Week Scotland begins today, celebrating Scotland's publishing industry, its authors and its literary life. There are a range of events across bookshops, libraries and public space between now and 2 Dec, and details can be found on the Scottish Book Trust website. Highlights include a Pop-up Festival at the Mitchell Library, with readings from Liz Lochhead and Aidan Moffat, panel discussions with Iain M. Banks and Ken Macleod, and a Literary Death Match. Check your local library for details of the 100 Authors in 100 Libraries events near you – you could be lucky enough to catch a reading from the likes of Val McDermid or Janice Galloway. And on Thursday, Authors Live: Poetry sees three very different poets, Elspeth Murray, Paul Lyalls and Dizraeli taking part in a showcase slam!  

KEANU REEVES EXAMINES DIGITAL CINEMA IN NEW DOCUMENTARY
Keanu Reeves has made his first forays into directing and producing, with two films coming soon from the actor – the first a documentary about the effect the switch to digital equipment and production has had on the film industry. The documentary, Side by Side,was produced by Reeves and includes interviews with David Fincher, David Lynch and Christopher Nolan. "People lost their jobs. Industries have fallen because of this transition," Reeves told Screendaily. “But jobs are also being created. It is nature and it can be brutal sometimes. And it can be beautiful.” Reeves' directorial debut, Man of Tai Chi, a Chinese-language martial arts film, is due for release in 2012. Watch the preview for Side by Side below.

Side by Side Official Trailer (2012) from Company Films on Vimeo.

16DAYS: RECLAIM THE NIGHT MARCH
Yesterday, 16Days began a programme of events, which runs until 10 Dec, highlighting the issue of violence against women. Full details can be found on their site. At 6pm tonight, there is a march starting at the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow, finishing at the Scottish Trade Unions Congress building on Woodlands Road, where music will be provided by Still We Rise, and Jan Macleod of the Womens' Support Project will speak about the recent Criminilisation of the Purchase of Sex Act (Scotland). Our former Deviance editor Nine recently blogged about this topic, and it has become a controversial topic among Scotland's feminist movement. Men, women and children are all welcome on the march.

EWAN MORRISON'S SWUNG TO BE ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN
Ewan Morrison's Tales from the Mall is one of this year's most talked-about books, and now it has been confirmed that his breakthrough novel, Swung, is to be made into a film. Helmed by first-time director Colin Kennedy, and with support from Creative Scotland, the film will tell the tale of David and Alice, who are drawn into the shady world of Glasgow's swinger scene. The Scotsman reports that Elena Anaya, star of Pedro Almodovar's The Skin I Live In, will play the role of Alice. Swung will be produced by Sigma films, who recently made Ewan McGregor vehicle Perfect Sense. 

BIG NOISE ORCHESTRA COMES TO GOVANHILL
The Big Noise music project is an initiative run by charity body Sistema Scotland which aims to help children from under-privileged backgrounds get involved with music. Children receive music tuition and guidance, working towards performing as part of a full orchestra. The experience helps them to gain confidence, learn about team-work, and try their hand at different musical instruments. Having successfully run a Big Noise Orchestra in Raploch, near Stirling, Sistema have just confirmed funding for a new project in Glasgow's Govanhill. Here's a video of the project in action:

GFT TO UNDERGO £1.6M RE-FIT
The Glasgow Film Theatre is the beating heart of Glasgow's cinema community, and the hub around which the city's Film Festival, starting in February, revolves. The cinema, whose history dates back to 1939, is to get a £1.6m overhaul, co-funded by Glasgow City Council, Creative Scotland and the GFT itself. The plans would see the creation of a new screen, improved disabled access, and a host of other additions including education suites and refurbished offices. Glasgow City Council's Gordon Matheson was quoted in the Herald, saying: "We have to ensure we continue to support and give a platform to new talent coming into Scotland's film and television industry. This is a vital part of the work of the GFT, which is one of the UK's most successful cinemas."  

FREE TRACK & NEW SINGLE FROM NINJA TUNE'S SLUGABED
Hotly-tipped Ninja Tune signing Slugabed, whose debut album Time Team came out in May, has a new single out today, featuring vocals from singer Sjerdene. Available on limited edition 7", it's an achingly beautiful blend of soulful R&B, hypercolour synths and post-dubstep beats. Slugabed also put up a track on his Soundcloud for free download today – grab a copy of Quantum Leap VIP below.