CASSY LOCKHART

“DENIED”

Gill Sherry

If you’re familiar with Ayrshire’s live music scene, you’ll have probably come across Cassy Lockhart. The Ayr-based singer-songwriter has performed in numerous venues across the county, notably in Prestwick and Ayr. She also has three studio albums to her name with a fourth in the pipeline.

However, Cassy is currently using her creative talents for a different kind of project.

“I’ve put together a docuseries. It’s a story about my gran’s life, my mum’s life, and latterly my own life. It starts off with my gran getting a job as a servant in ‘the big house’ as they called it then, which was owned by the aristocracy. It ends in modern day court cases with my mum.”

Cassy’s mum unfortunately passed away in 2020 and it was her mum’s passing that encouraged her to write what she describes as “an absolutely amazing story” and to bring that story to the screen.

“I was going to self-publish it as a memoir,” she tells me, “but I do music videos, and I taught myself how to edit, so I thought… I could actually put the story down as a short film, even if it’s just for myself.”

But she soon discovered that more and more people were offering to help and were keen to become involved.

“I put an ad on the Scottish Film Makers and Actors Facebook page and got a few actors interested, and it just snowballed from there.”

Professional actors involved in the project include Jon Dan Duncan, Holly Woodhouse and Anne Flynn but various others, including George Brown, plus a number of children, have also committed their time for which Cassy is extremely grateful.

The first scene was filmed in February and the last, filmed in Dunure, was wrapped up in August. All scenes were filmed on location in Ayrshire, including at Blairquhan Castle in Straiton.

So what exactly is the story about?
“It’s about how my gran faced diversity from day one, how she had to toe the line to keep her job, how she was abused from all angles – by the aristocracy but also by her family – how everything had to be kept secret, how that affected her, and how it affected my mum.”

The story spans over three generations from 1933 to 2006, and Cassy is obviously reluctant to give away too many spoilers. What she does tell me is that it begins with a one-sided affair, involves a ‘hidden’ child, and includes what is now referred to as Stockholm syndrome. The crux of the story, though, is about being entitled to DNA to confirm parental lineage.

“I saw my mum go through the trauma of this story all through my childhood and all through my adulthood. She had been fighting for her DNA to prove who she was for so many years but was denied at every point and turn. If you’re looking for your DNA, I don’t think anybody’s got the right to say no. My mum went through her life without having that closure.”

It’s clearly a subject Cassy feels very strongly about, which is another reason why she felt compelled to write the story.

“I’m doing it for my mum. But I think it might help other people in the same situation. Not being allowed your DNA to prove who you are… it’s cruel.”

The film, titled Denied, highlights how Cassy’s mum was entitled to inheritance and status. However, Cassy insists that neither she or her mum were motivated by those things.

“It wasn’t about financial gain,” she confirms. “My mum had her own money. She just wanted to prove that she was who she was.”

The film will premiere at Ayr Town Hall on Thursday 29th August. It’s an event Cassy is understandably very excited about.

“I think Ayr Town Hall is absolutely amazing. I was more or less raised in Ayr, and this will bring positive energy to the town. There will be fabulous cars dropping off the actors… it’s going to be a fun night.”
The event is invitation only and is an ideal opportunity for Cassy to thank the people who made it possible. Although the project is almost entirely self-funded, she’s quick to acknowledge that she couldn’t have done it alone.

“Friends and family have chipped in, or taken less fees. It’s all local people and local companies that have helped me out. There was a friend who stepped in who has never played a part as an actor… he smashed it! But all the actors are fantastic. Every single person has fitted their character perfectly. It’s as if they were made to play it. I couldn’t ask for a better team and they all work so well together.”

No doubt Cassy will be both proud and emotional when the 30-minute film is screened during the red carpet event on 29th August (which also happens to be the date of her mum’s birthday), but she already has her sights set on bigger things.

“I’m aiming for big production companies,” she declares. “It’s not for entering in film festivals. It’s not to compete with anybody. If you go to film festivals, you’re all competing against each other to get recognition for your work and your art. I’m not a professional editor or cinematographer, but what I am is passionate, and I hope that comes across… to show the highlights of my family history in this story.”

She’s thinking along the lines of Outlander, The Crown, or Downton Abbey. And why not?
“This is a true story, a one-off… and I think with the proper finance and the proper backing you could have a full-length film, or a really good series like Outlander. Every clip that I’ve put together could actually be made into an hour episode. It could flourish into something amazing!”

In the meantime, Cassy and her many supporters are looking forward to seeing the film in its current form.

“It’s short dialogue so it’s punchy. It gets to the point quickly so you know exactly what the story’s about. And there’s room for imagination, especially the last scene… it’s the most gritty part of the story. You don’t need to see what’s happening, you know where it’s going and that’s what makes it powerful.”
From singer-songwriter to film producer, Cassy Lockhart’s talents cannot be denied.