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About 3 years ago, I was invited to run a session at Scottish Screen (now ) on a film I had just produced. Amongst the attendees there was one guy who caught my eye. He looked shy and a little out of place. After the session we chatted for a little while where he talked about his background and his ambition to get into the film industry. His name was Garry Fraser, a 'street-wise' lad whose great desire was to make films. We decided to keep in touch with each other. Some time after this encounter Garry did a bit of voluntary work on a project on which I was working.

In June 2011, I met Garry again on a train heading to the Sheffield Documentary Film Festival. He had just completed a short drama and he told me of his idea to make a documentary about ‘the real truth behind Trainspotting’. I had recently formed and was on the lookout for stories with a human/social element that might appeal to an international audience. The ball to get “My Lives and Times’ onto the screen had started rolling. Ewan Angus, (ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Scotland) commissioning editor, had expressed an interest in Garry and his story. Garry was in need of some support in order to articulate and shape his ideas so we got Lorna Hutcheon on board, a talented local writer who was interested in working with Aconite. Lorna’s input was significant in shaping the story and getting the commission.

However, the idea was not just to produce a film for television but also to make a feature-length film for international cinema distribution. We approached Creative Scotland for further funding and they agreed to support our ambitions.

Garry had previously produced short films, however, this would be his first time working with a production company, having a decent budget and working with a team of professionals. This proved to be very challenging at the beginning. Nevertheless, we kept our focus, allowed ‘our baby’ to grow and develop, despite the odds, and managed to get the film completed. I was extremely fortunate to have the talent and unconditional support of key members of the production team prepared to go extra mile to make this film possible: Lee Archer (Editor), Garry Torrance(DOP), Stuart Jackson (composer), John Cobban (sound designer), Richard Findlay (lawyer), Su Bainbridge (Production Manager) and Lorna Hutcheon (writer).

We are all very proud to have been able to bring this important project together.

We hope this film gives audiences the opportunity to enter Garry’s life and see for themselves the difficulties that young people, living in disadvantaged poor areas, have to confront in the UK. We hope also that the film becomes a window for reflection and helps better understand the issues raised in the story.