What Goes Round ...

Did you realize that the Dummy Jim website is 100% wind-powered?

The Dummy Jim website is powered by Green Hosting, run by ethical web design company Make Hay.

To celebrate James Duthie’s birthday last year (May 8th), Make Hay kindly offered to provide a year’s hosting free of charge.

As a result we have been able to put more resources directly into the production of the film. This year, out of the blue, they offered to repeat the favour.

Thank you, Make Hay! More wind in our tyres and air in our sails, or something along those lines. In any case, brilliant.

Click to read more about why Make Hay’s services are green.

What Goes Round ...

The Dummy Jim website is powered by Green Hosting, run by ethical web design company Make Hay.

To celebrate James Duthie’s birthday (May 8th), Make Hay kindly offered to provide a year’s hosting free of charge.

As a result we are able to put more resources directly into the production of the film.

Thank you, Make Hay!

Click to read more about why Make Hay’s services are green.

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)

The journal tells a story of a profoundly deaf James Duthie, known as ‘Dummy Jim’, who travelled 3000 miles on his bike in 1951, from his village in Scotland via France to the Arctic Circle.

The movie maker is raising funds to complete the project through the sale of special Dummy Jim merchandise and a percentage of these sales will go towards NDCS drama workshops for deaf children and young people.

The film director is appealing to people who believe in unique, innovative and independent films to support the project.

Dummy Jim has already attracted support from Jerwood Charitable Foundation. Well-known BBC ‘Switch’ actor Samuel Dore had been cast in the lead role.

Matt Hulse explains: “James ‘Dummy Jim’ Duthie had a real affinity with children, both deaf and hearing. He was concerned with their welfare, both in the UK and overseas, and shared with children a genuine, open-hearted curiosity about the world around him. It’s particularly appropriate therefore that the partnership is with a charity who shares the same interest in the welfare of children. “

“This partnership is of immense value to us. The public support of a well-established and respected charity sends out a clear message of validation and good will towards Dummy Jim. We look forward to developing the relationship with NDCS and helping raise money to support both the charity’s work and the making of our film.”

Ruth Couthino, NDCS Development Manager, adds: “We are pleased to have become a charity partner for the ‘Dummy Jim’ movie and are grateful to the team for supporting our arts projects for deaf children and young people.”

“Access to the arts is extremely important for deaf children. The opportunity to express themselves through a variety of creative forms can help deaf children develop their self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and conceptual understanding.”

An interactive website has been created in advance of a feature film to give visitors a chance to explore some of the highlights of Duthie’s journey.

Wedged tightly with Scots banknotes, the bottle was handed to director Matt Hulse on the occasion of his 40th birthday, along with a book on how to play the ukulele (properly).

The £25 donation secured the enterprising pair a set of limited edition Dummy Jim badges.

‘We want to see this film get made’ insisted Donnelly’s companion. ‘We’re putting our money where our mouths are.’

‘And besides’ added Donnelly ‘the badges are cool’.

‘Individual donations like this are really empowering’ said Hulse. ‘It’s simple really. £25 buys us over three minutes of Super 8 film – process paid!’

Reaching for his ukulele, he added ‘These guys were brave enough to be first in with the cash & we’ll not forget it’.

Limited edition badges, postcards, the Dummy Jim CD album and Special Edition DVD can be ordered easily online using the secure service Pay Pal – please head along to the shop.

‘Jerwood has a track record of finding exceptional artists & helping them do the things that they really want to do.’

‘Our grants are given to support excellence & enable talented artists to make outstanding work.’

‘We like to think of ourselves as pioneering. This is exactly the sort of project that helps us to continue to take creative risks.’

In response to Matt’s aim to reduce the film’s carbon footprint to zero, Dods remarked:

‘We would like our grant of £5k to contribute specifically towards the process of making the film as carbon neutral as possible.’

Matt Hulse expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Dummy Jim team, adding ‘it’s immensely empowering to be recognised by Jerwood, particularly for innovation & risk-taking.’

Click here for more about Jerwood’s inspiring work.