Synchronicity Films and Big Light Productions tie for Scottish Highlands drama

Glasgow-based Synchronicity Films and Frank Spotnitz’s Big Light Productions are to co-produce a Yellowstone-esque family drama based in the Scottish Highlands.  

River City writer Anita Vettesse has created Blue Mountain, which follows multiple families locked in escalating conflict over their land and legacy, while threatened by developers. It will explore of power, inheritance and identity.  

Further announcements, including casting and distribution partners, will be made in due course. 

 Synchronicity Films chief executive and creative director Claire Mundell said: “We’ve been fans of Anita’s for a long time and we’re incredibly excited to partner with Frank and the team at Big Light on Blue Mountain -  a project that brings together our passion for character-driven storytelling, contemporary Scottish portrayal and a deep appreciation for the cinematic possibilities of the Highlands.  

“Thoughtful co-productions like this allow us to bring rich, universal stories to life with authenticity, scale, and international reach.” 

Big Light chief executive Spotnitz said: “Blue Mountain is exactly the kind of bold, emotionally resonant storytelling we love at Big Light. Working with Anita’s extraordinary vision, and alongside Claire and the team at Synchronicity, we’re creating something that feels both timeless and contemporary. The beauty of the Scottish landscape combined with the authenticity and complexity of Anita’s characters makes this a truly exciting project.” 

Vettesse, whose other writing credits include ITV’s Grantchester and BBC’s The Break, added: “I’ve always wanted to write an epic family Western in the snow ever since moving from the city to the highlands. This vast landscape is the perfect backdrop to get under the skin of two deeply complex families bound by one historical traumatic event that’s bled into the present day.”