PLANS to make a movie about the life of Bonnie Prince Charlie have been launched in East Lothian.

Film-maker Henry Murray-Smith is collaborating with historian Arran Johnston to bring the prince’s tale of politics, ambition and war to the big screen.

The film, which is being called The Chevalier’s Lament, will see scenes shot around the county, including Dunbar Town House and Pinkie House, in Musselburgh, with more locations expected to be announced.

Supported by the Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust, Henry hopes to bring in funding from both Creative Scotland and a crowd-funding venture on wesbite IndieGoGo, which will launch on Sunday, February 1.

Crowd-funding allows people the chance to gain rewards – such as DVDs, t-shirts and tickets to the premiere of the film – in return for donating towards it production. It is hoped the film-makers will raise up to £20,000.

Arran Johnston is the author of Valour Does Not Wait, a biography of the prince, and has played him in re-enactments for more than 10 years.

As well as collaborating with director Henry on the script and story of the film, he will take on the lead role of Bonnie Prince Charlie himself.

Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobites were victorious in the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745 but were later vanquished at Culloden.

Henry said: “Our goal is to give this generation a definitive telling of the 1745 Jacobite rising. The film will reveal how one man, through sheer strength of personality, raised an army from farmers and volunteers and nearly changed the course of British history forever.

“We will be steering clear of making any political statements about the Union, independence or political persuasion; it’s a personal story about a man’s ambition to restore his father to the throne.” Film-makers are still waiting to hear if the project will receive financial support from Creative Scotland but have already lined up some of the sites for filming.

Henry said: “We have secured two locations: Dunbar Town House and Gallery and Pinkie House in Musselburgh, where the Jacobites looked after the wounded following the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745.

“There are still blood stains on the wood floor, so we’re very excited to be filming there in April/May time.

“Other locations we will be approaching in the next few weeks, but most will be in East Lothian.”