MY OLD SCHOOL - CATCHING UP WITH ALAN CUMMINGS and JONO McLEOD

My Old School is a creative and unique documentary that you have to see to believe!

Alan Cumming appears both visually and aurally (though not at the same time) in My Old School, a captivating documentary that unravels the true story of Brandon Lee,  a mysterious 16-year-old
student who in 1993 enrolled at Bearsden Academy, a secondary school in a well-to-do suburb of Glasgow, Scotland.  What followed over the next two years would become the stuff of legend.  No surprise that the film created a big-buzz when it premiered at Sundance 2022.

 Filmmaker Jono McLeod, who attended the school with Brandon, talks not only to former classmates and teachers, but also to Brandon who agreed to an audio-only interview.  Ingeniously, Cumming becomes the face of adult Brandon (by appearing on camera and lip synching to the audio interview)
and the voice of young Brandon (by voicing him in animated flashbacks).

Even if you know some of Brandon’s story, you’ll be surprised at the revelations.  Before enrolling, Brandon had been privately tutored in Canada while accompanying his mother, an opera diva, on tour before
her tragic death.  The preternaturally bright student impressed teachers by blazing toward his goal of entering medical school.  Despite his initial awkwardness, Brandon found friends, taking bullied students under his wing, introducing classmates to seminal retro bands and even starring in the school's
production of South Pacific.  But then his unbelievable secret was revealed.

The animation also includes Clare Grogan (Gregory’s Girl) and Lulu (To Sir, with Love) who provide voices for teaching staff.  Lulu sings a powerhouse rendition of the Steely Dan hit ”My Old School” over the fun
end credits, where cartoon characters meet their real-life counterparts.

 The film marks the debut feature from writer/director Jono McLeod who began his career as an onscreen reporter for Scottish TV news before moving behind the camera at BBC Scotland.  His short film Being Stavros was an audience hit at major LGBT film festivals, including Inside Out.

 My Old School is being released in Canada by Mongrel Media on July 29th.

I spoke with star Alan Cummings and Director Jono McLeod about the process of working on this documentary.