SIR Sean Connery and the Scottish animation company behind his comeback film are in talks to raise a further £3m to turn the project into a full-length feature.
Connery, who has turned down offers from major studios to do voiceovers for feature-length cartoons, heads a star-studded cast in the children's film which has been in development for three years.
He provides the voice for the main character in t
he provisionally-titled Sir Billi, the creation of Sascha and Tessa Hartmann, joint owners of production company Glasgow Animation.
The Hartmanns have already raised £3m for the project and are negotiating with venture capitalists, private investors and banks to raise a similar sum that should see the film completed within the next year.
The story is set in the Highlands and a trailer was premiered during Tartan Week in New York. It was intended to be made into a short film, but the Hartmanns and Connery say that international interest, together with the strength of the cast, has persuaded them to make a feature-length movie. It has yet to be decided whether to aim for cinema distribution or go straight to DVD.
Despite worldwide enthusiasm for the project and the signing of big Hollywood stars, Tessa Hartmann revealed that when the project was in its infancy Scottish Screen was unwilling to provide support.
"We approached Scottish Screen some time ago when we were raising finance," she said. "They loved the concept, script, quality. We got excited, filled in the applications, then went out to cast it, thinking that with the cast we had it would be a done deal.
"However, to our astonishment, they advised us that it became 'too commercial a project' and that we could easily raise the finance we required on our own. Can you believe it? God forbid that they might back a profitable film, with the cream of Scottish talent and can reinvest profits back into the Scottish film industry."
Scottish Screen did not reply to calls.
Glasgow Animation is best-known as the creator of virtual pop star T-Babe, later licensed to Hollywood producer Gale Anne Hurd, who was behind Hulk and The Terminator.
The Hartmanns persuaded Connery to come out of retirement - this is his first acting role for two years - and have formed Billi Productions with the former James Bond star to take ownership of the brand. He said: "It was so original. I must say that Sascha, Tessa and their team have really done a marvellous job. It is not by accident that Shrek and Ice Age are so successful, because they have a way of telling a story that I think makes it easier and this one [Sir Billi] is good for three-year-olds to any age."
Connery, who has waived his normal £8m fee, said he had turned down previous offers to provide voiceovers for animated films, but wanted to support the Scottish film industry and was attracted to working with a small Scots firm.
"I was asked to do one a number of years ago, for Disney actually, and they offered me what was a pittance, and I said why? They said because it was for the kids, and I said, 'Yeah, but the profits are still the same!'
"The difference with Glasgow Animation is this was not some big major studio."
The film will feature an A-list cast including Tony Award winner Alan Cumming, Richard Briers, Miriam Margoyles and Ruby Wax.
Others actors involved include Scots comedian Ford Kiernan and River City actor Barbara Rafferty. The score is by Oscar-nominated Scots composer Patrick Doyle, a Golden Globe winner, who wrote the music for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Co-creator and director Sascha Hartmann, who is determined to keep the film's production in Scotland, said: "We have been working on the short film for some time, ensuring that our technology and animated output is as good as the rest of them. Having received interest from some major book publishers, music publishers and other areas of revenue, it really made sense to progress to full-length feature."
While Disney and Pixar have led the way in computer-generated animation, the Hartmanns and Connery believe that a small, independent company can compete against the big studios. More accessible technology has enabled Blue Yonder Films to produce Hoodwinked, a full-length feature, for $6m (£3.2m). It took $71m (£38m) at the box office.
Sascha Hartmann said signing Connery has given the project a big chance of success. "We have the most recognised voice in the world, an original and exciting Highland adventure, competitive technology and a great cast and we are convinced that we can take a small but respectable slice of the family feature market. DVD sales were worth over $5bn in gross consumer spending alone last year."
Tessa Hartmann, who also runs the firm's PR business, has been responsible for the project's international profile. She said: "Of course, it helps when you have an asset like Sir Sean Connery who has been involved in the project's publicity. And the merchandising opportunities with this project are immense."
