n Once upon a time when Scotland was not in the headlights of Cannes a man called Bill Forsyth led the cinematic field. Even now he is hailed in reference books as ''Perhaps the most important figure ever in the Scottish film industry''. To the extent that a new term called ''Forsythian'' was invented. This dubious accolade came on the back of top films, That Sinking Feeling, Gregory's Girl, Comfort and Joy and Local Hero. The common elements seemed to be low-key, eccentric comedy and a Scottish backdrop that wavered between tourist friendly and industrial grey.

n The move to America studio moguldom was commercially disastrous with Housekeeping, Breaking In and Being Human all dipping at the box office. Forsyth's American sojourn was not a happy time. He even admitted to having thought of giving up the whole Tinseltown game. In a 1995 interview Forsyth said: ''If I had any guts, I'd sit down and start writing novels.'' In philosophical moments he added: ''I don't suppose they'll be queueing up to offer me another $30 million to make a picture in the near future. But it's not much fun in Hollywood, anyway. Everyone drinks water and goes to bed at nine o'clock.''

n Not the case back in Scotland - The Movie. Bill Forsyth set the cat among the pigeons last year when he wrote a fiery open letter protesting against the so-called ''cronyism'' rife at the Scottish Film Production Fund and Scottish Arts Council funding policy. The touch-paper lit, Forysyth gathered support from fellow thinkers like Peter Mullan, David Hayman, and Aileen Ritchie to form Scottish Stand.

n Once more into the breach, Forsyth is about to film Gregory's Girl 2 back in sunny Cumbernauld. Original star John Gordon Sinclair plays the hapless Gregory, now a teacher at his former school with a crush on one of his pupils. Perhaps the most important director is about to regain his crown.

That Sinking Feeling is on Channel 5 at 3.30pm.