The production

The script began forming around 2012, but quickly established itself as a project with significant scale and challenges.

An Gordonach sidelined the film to instead make a less ambitious but still challenging Superterranean (2020) and Sair Ane (2021).

Resurrecting the script ideas, pre-production began in 2020 with work concentrating on location scouting and building creatures and props.

Filming commenced in September 2022 and, over the course of four years, production moved around a catalogue of rich interior and exterior locations required to make this magical epic journey come to life.

Filmed on anamorphic lenses at a 2.39:1 ratio, The Gudeman puts some of Scotland's most stunning landscapes straight into the story as a defining character in the plot.

During breaks in filming, the team operated in a workshop in Fife to breath life into the magical creatures that form the majority cast. Legendary Warhammer artist Adrian Smith designed the Gudeman creature and worked extensively on the build for the practical suit. Jeannie Ford, a freelance artist working in Elstree Studios, created the incredible faeries that guide The Factor on his journey. Meanwhile, Ian Gordon built the animatronic goblin creature and many miniatures and props for the visual effects.

The Gudeman is a film crafted using old and new techniques with an emphasis on real locations, practical creatures and human artistry. The film contains no generative AI, no CGI characters or locations, no sound stages or studios and minimal use of greenscreen filming.

THE LOCATIONS

Filmed in remote regions, with locations likely to be new to any audience: the crew hiked to the top of mountains in Torridon and Assynt, the deep forests of the Trossachs and the dramatic rocky spires of the Isle of Skye

Working with heritage organisations, the film was able to use authentic locations from the period. While some locations such as Bracklinn falls or the summit of Ben A'an will be familiar to many, the flat sandstone summit of Beinn A'Chearcaill or the dramatic "Table" in Skye's The Quiraing are too hard to reach for most walkers or crews.

The crew of The Gudeman had to think creatively about the logistics of filming in such remote places. This saw Ian Gordon hiking to each location in full costume and the crew carrying light weight replica props. Conscious of our impact in these fragile wilderness environments, the team remained tiny for the wilderness shoots. Using no fixed equipment or all terrain transport, the Gudeman crew shared one car, parked and hiked responsibly.

Leave no trace.

Look Book/h4>