the devil's plantation

Bonnyton Mound aka The Devil's Plantation

Angel/cherub on tombstone, Govan Old Parish Church

The Arc aka The Squinty Bridge, Govan Road. Closed for 6 months due to bad construction

what is the devil’s plantation?

When I first picked up Harry Bell’s The Secret Geometry of Glasgow I was captured by it. So when I won the Scottish Arts Council’s Creative Scotland Award to make a website about my native city his book became my mother lode, together with the casenotes of Mary Ross, an ex-patient of Leverndale Psychiatric Hospital.

The Devil’s Plantation is many things. A long walk – a dérive. It’s 66 films about my native city. It’s a website and a compelling riddle. It’s a search for the soul of Glasgow and for the magic in ordinary places.

In 2010 the project won a Best Interactive BAFTA. Time moves on. Recently I completed a feature-length film version, narrated by the acclaimed actors Kate Dickie and Gary Lewis. A new App of The Devil’s Plantation has also just been launched.

and who am I?

I’m May Miles Thomas, a writer and director from Glasgow.

I’ve made factual TV, music videos, commercials and feature films. In 1995 I founded Elemental Films to produce my own work but I also do the occasional freelance job. Check out Wikipedia to find out more.

Though I’m proud that all my projects have won awards, more than anything I just love what I do and the people I do it with – well, most of the time.

Please follow me @deilsplantin or subscribe below – and all comments very welcome.

One of the most unexpectedly amazing films I saw, Devil's Plantation, had no real budget at all. http://t.co/6jMJmVZeze #gff13EmmaRitch
@glasgowfilmfest LOVED The Devil's Plantation and The Fifth Season. ENjoyed Cloud Atlas. ABCs of Death was fun last night. Thanks! #gff13sisterphonetica
@deilsplantin Sounds like a succesful showing today! Congratulations.Lines_Landscape
Enchanting, beautiful and beguiling, May Miles Thomas http://t.co/8dT6WMgjpG @glasgowfilmfest #GFF13 - hopefully will screen again somewhereRobbieAllenCS
From the melancholy to the harrowing. The Devil's Plantation & the Passion of Joan of Arc double bill. #gff13 http://t.co/DQDbLbfRsFEmmakJackson
"...beautifully made, easily comparable to Patrick Keiller's psychogeographical films of London" on @deilsplantin http://t.co/1giYNwjFWJFifepsy
@deilsplantin thanks for an amazing and interesting film this afternoon @GFF13 When can I buy the DVD? Plus more showings in a cinema pleaseruthmedia
The Devil's Plantation film by @MayMilesThomas screens in Glasgow on Saturday Wish I could b there. http://t.co/4o9Bx4Z35y Thanks to @psygeoemmaZbolland
The Devil's Plantation at #gff13 - verra interesting! Has inspired much walk-plotting...Mala_Cara
Had a great time out at the Premiere of Miles May Thomas' 'Devils Plantation' http://t.co/dQdPpSHUqc follow @deilsplantin for detailspsychcomm
@deilsplantin did u see reaction luke fowler's doc got at Turnerprize?maybe Devil's Plantation shld be showing at kelvingrove instead of GFTRoisWolf8
The highlight of @glasgowfilmfest definitely http://t.co/2owuJXw3Xt about the secret geometry of Glasgow.@deilsplantin #gff13emmalouisenicol
An awesome film based on Harry Bell's The Secret Geometry of Glasgow and psychiatric casenotes of Mary Ross. Details http://t.co/qHy2RD9W7Gpsychcomm
...and perfectly-matched VO's by Kate Dickie / Gary Lewis + minimalist graphics - it's gonna become a classic http://t.co/hjXB1eD22Fpsygeo
@Bruchlas there's also an app http://t.co/pPoVmlmuP4 but it is worth seeing it on big screen, mesmerising!robertoalien
I bumped into The Devil's Plantation director May Miles Thomas outside GFT earlier. What a lovely woman. Sorry I missed the film.popcornaddict
@deilsplantin any plans for a DVD release of Devils Plantation? #GFF13 #psychogeographypsychcomm
@glasgowfilmfest The Devil's Plantation and 'The Day That Lasted 21 years' were both densely packed with history- both required study notesRoisWolf8
Check out this film: #The Devil's Plantation http://t.co/28rQnP78qP via @deilsplantinruthmedia
Really loved May Miles Thomas' meditation on lost Glasgow and one of its lost souls. I do hope @glasgowfilmfest rescreens Devil's PlantationSiobhanSynnot
@deilsplantin I LOVED it. I want to go on all those walks now and find all the secret places. THANK YOU! #gff13 #devilsplantationsisterphonetica
@deilsplantin Was in it once. Amazing acoustic. Been reading about the film. Congrats on tonight's screening. Will download the app.rocket_number9
Mesmerising GFT premiere of May Miles Thomas' film The Devils Plantation - app now available http://t.co/NXOrB9rxNy #psychogeographypsygeo
my #GFF13 highlights. Local films Shell and The Devil's Plantation also impressedMattMunroLloyd
@deilsplantin cos it's not really a 'film' structure-more like 'video art'- rhythm of the cuts between 2stories reflecting fragmented psycheRoisWolf8

the devil’s plantation: labour of love

posted on
15 May 13

written by
May Miles Thomas

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Nihil Sine Labore

Today’s Herald features a piece by Phil Miller on that perennial plea – voiced this time by Iain Smith, producer and current chair of the British Film Commission about the need for a Scottish studio. In the article an uncredited ‘spokeswoman’ for Creative Scotland is quoted as saying that £1m has already been ring fenced [...]

the devil’s plantation: CS Open Sessions

posted on
27 April 13

written by
May Miles Thomas

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With over 400 apps released every week, it’s hard to get attention so it’s especially pleasing to learn that the latest issue of Apps magazine has a two-page feature on The Devil’s Plantation app. I was quietly amused to see it described as Thomas Pynchon meets Trainspotting but what’s more gratifying is the observation that [...]

the devil’s plantation: update 1

posted on
11 March 13

written by
May Miles Thomas

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Anyone following the fortunes of The Devil’s Plantation – film and app – may be glad to know of the positive responses so far. Foremost is the news this week (March 8) that the app was selected by Stuart Dredge at The Guardian as a top pick, who astutely commented on the rise of interactive storytelling. It also received a five-star rating from KnowYourApps so kudos to my indomitable partner, Owen, for all his hard work.

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