Scots Oscar Hopeful Wooed By Studios

Scots Oscar hopeful Sharon Colman has already come a long way from Balloch, but tonight she'll be mixing with moguls and stars. her seven minute debut animation, Badgered, has already opened doors for her and she has had meetings with the co-founder of Pixar Entertainment.

Astonishingly, 27-year old Colman had to find her own resources to get to Los Angeles, relying on friends, family and sponsors to get her plane tickets and to help her buy a suitable gown to walk the red carpet in, es[pecially if she happens to win the best short animation category.

Meetings she has attended so far include one with John Lassater, founder of Pixar, but she has also screened her film to Dreamworks, Disney and Sony and fielded questions in a Q&A session with film execs.

"There is a lot of great feedback for the film," revealed Colman. "It's amazing shaking hands with someone like John Lassater. The Oscar nomination is opening a lot of doors. These are people I would never have access to and they say they love the film."

The excitementy her film is generating inthe States is in complete contrast to virtual indifference at home, where she has funding worries.

Colman says: "Someone asked me if I would 'keep it British' like Nick Park. My answer is yes, if Britain will allow me to. "My home is Scotland but I have chosen London [to work in] because Scotland's not the easiest place to make films. I would like to make another two short films if someone will fund them. Everyone is struggling, even established film makers."

Colman says she has not ruled out moving to the US as a result of the interest in her work and better chances of getting money to make movies.

Badgered, about a badger who wants the world to let him sleep, was inspired by a nuclear base in Scotland where weapons are stored under the hills. The former student of Glasgow School of Art and National Film and Television School is in good company in Hollywood, where the majority of this year's Oscar nominations have a political flavour.

Colman's Scottish roots seem to work in her favour across the pond:"They love this idea of this quaint director from the hills with something to say," admits Colman. "Everyone loves the accent. So it's a big bonus being Scottish." 

She is star-struck. "We walked up to see the Kodak Theatre last night where the Oscars will be held. It was incredible. I realise I have been quite sheltered really. I cannot really believe I am here. I think when I jump into the limo and walk up the red carpet it might hit me." She added: "I am not an A list celebrity so I will probably be sitting up the back somewhere anyway."

Colman, who will wear an off-the-peg dress, can expect an Academy Awards goodie bag worth more than £60,000. It is reputed to include a £15,000 Honolulu holiday and a £12,000 digital camera.

Even if she leaves empty-handed, Colman has an invite to the Governors Ball, where guests will tuck into 450 smoked salmon pizzas and 200 gold-dusted chocolate Oscars.