Film maker Matt Hulse will be reading extracts from Duthie’s journal and will share exclusive sneak previews of the edit-in-progress. He will talk about his unusual decade-long journey to complete the film, a journey rich with creative offshoots, including a soundtrack album, live cinema events, an artist’s book, knitwear, a deaf film festival and the much sought after ‘Dummy Jam’ (‘a terrible pun, an excellent preserve’).

Joining Hulse on stage will be Aaron Moore (‘Volcano The Bear’), seen here suspended by his ankles.

Aaron will be performing an improvised set live to images from Dummy Jim’s own 16mm home movie footage, material that only came to light recently, discovered in an attic in the Scottish fishing village St Combs.

For more information about the event, and UnionDocs, please click.

Filmmakers Matt Hulse & Elizabeth Lawrence are taking to the road with their films during September 2011, screening sneaky previews of Hulse’s epic maverick film project Dummy Jim & Lawrence’s full-length feature film ‘Roll Out, Cowboy – a documentary’.

The Orkney dates will feature musical accompaniment from Duncan Maclean and the Driftwood Cowboys and there’ll be Q&A’s with Hulse and Lawrence throughout the tour.

Tickets available online from each venue, with the exception of Orkney and Fraserburgh – just turn up.

This free event is hosted by artist film maker Matt Hulse, including musical performances from The One Ensemble and Sarah Kenchington.

The evening will include exclusive previews from the film-in-progress ‘Dummy Jim’, readings from the book that started it all - James Duthie’s journal ‘I Cycled Into The Arctic Circle’ (1951) – and offer insights into Matt’s forthcoming artist’s book project, supported by Creative Scotland.

Actor Samuel Dore – who plays the role of Dummy Jim – will talk about his experience working on the film, along with other folk involved in the elaborate project.

History in the making!

Where and when? Spiegeltent, Charlotte Square Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotland, Friday 19th August (9-11pm).

For more information on James ‘Dummy Jim’ Duthie, the man who inspired so much activity >
http://www.dummyjim.com/cycle

L-R: James Buchan, Melvin Bryce, Graeme Noble & Samuel Dore

Based in Cairnbulg and Inverallochy (Aberdeenshire), the shoot culminated with a busy coffee morning at Invercairn Community Hall, featuring the Inverallochy School Flute Band, The One Ensemble & Sarah Kenchington followed by a busy street scene shot in driving rain.

Thank you to all those who have supported the production.

Editing of the film begins in June and completion is expected by early 2012.

Samuel Dore

A final fund-raising push in underway, with Geoff Huggins running the Edinburgh Marathon on May 22nd, raising money equally for Dummy Jim and RNLI Fraserburgh.

More trees will follow, creating – over time – shade, fresh air and picnic spots.

Watch the tree planting!

The performance will take place after midnight on Friday 30th July 2010 and will include Super 8mm film projections shot on location along the route of James Duthie’s original cycling trip to the Arctic Circle in 1951.

Rumour has it that Olly & Alex (pictured) – recently returned from their epic mission by bike to Nordkapp – will make a guest appearance.

The festival have promised a share of profits to Dummy Jim.

Get your tickets here.

Prepare yourselves! Get the Dummy Jim album here.

Olly & Alex with a copy of Duthie's journal 'I Cycled Into The Arctic Circle'

Inspired by profoundly deaf cyclist James Duthie’s solo trip made back in 1951, the pair will retrace key stretches of Duthie’s original route, travelling from Gothenburg on the west coast of Sweden, crossing into the Arctic Circle just north of Overtorneå on the Swedish/Finnish border.

Pushing on further north, way up into the land of reindeer and the Midnight Sun, they will eventually reach the northernmost tip of mainland Europe, the North Cape (Nordkapp).

Duthie was prohibited from reaching this northerly pinnacle by poor quality roads. Olly & Alex plan to complete this final stretch of the trip on his behalf, and in his honour. The journey of 1500 miles is expected to last around 5 weeks.

They are raising money for the film Dummy Jim and the National Deaf Children’s Society.

CLICK TO READ MORE & SPONSOR OLLY & ALEX

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Film-makers are determined to complete the low-budget production by next summer, which will mark the 60th anniversary of Cairnbulg man James Duthie’s epic journey.

Armed with only a few jumpers, a simple tent and £12 in cash, the factory worker – who was deaf and could not speak – cycled from his home on the Aberdeenshire coast through Scandinavia and into the frozen north.

Mr Duthie died in a road accident in the mid-1960s.

Award-winning Edinburgh-based film-maker Matt Hulse has been working on bringing the story to the big screen since 2007.

His script for Dummy Jim – the nickname by which Mr Duthie was affectionally known – is based on the journal that the cyclist kept during his trip and which he went on to sell door-to-door around Fraserburgh.

Mr Hulse said enough money had been raised to begin shooting the first scenes. The crew is planning to film for three days in a “mountainous region”, although the exact location is being kept a secret.

Money was raised through donations, as well as sales of Dummy Jim badges, postcards and the film’s soundtrack by The One Ensemble and Sarah Kenchington.

Fundraising will continue with an ambitious cycle.

Next month, Glasgow-based musicians Olly Rundell and Alex South will retrace key stretches of Mr Duthie’s original route, from Gothenburg on the west coast of Sweden and crossing into the Arctic Circle, just north of Overtornea on the Swedish-Finnish border. They will then pedal on to the North Cape, the northernmost point of mainland Europe.

Mr Hulse said: “The Arctic Cycle 2010 project represents our final big fundraising push.

“We are aiming to raise £5,000.”

He said the money would be equally split between the film and the National Deaf Children’s Society, which will put the cash towards drama workshops.

Specially made tea towels are also being sold to finance the movie. Mr Hulse said: “I recently learned that Mr Duthie sold his wee book door-to-door around the Broch to raise money for future trips.

“Our approach to funding our film is similar.”

Sam Dore, who recently appeared in BBC2’s drama Switch, has been confirmed for the title role.

The film-makers are also trying to achieve a tiny carbon footprint by using clockwork cameras and cycle-powered generators where possible.

For more details on the film, visit Dummy Jim’s website and, to help fund next month’s cycle challenge, go to ollyandalex.com.

(Jamie Buchan 2010)