His terrible toupee might be a joke, but to residents of the Menie estate on the northeast coast of Scotland, Donald Trump is no laughing matter. The flamboyant billionaire businessmen is determined to build the world’s greatest golf coast on their land, complete with a massive luxury hotel. The proposal should be preposterous – this is one of Britain's very last stretches of wilderness, and a protected conservation area. But the Scottish government, desperate to bring jobs to the region, have overturned its own environmental laws to give Trump the green light. Now Trump is running roughshod over anyone remaining in his path – including longterm residents whose homes threaten to mar the view. When local filmmaker Antony Baxter begins investigating the dispute, he finds himself abruptly arrested by police at Trump’s beck and call. This storyline might eerily mirror the classic film Local Hero, which was shot here, but for those interested in protecting Britain’s environment, there is no happy ending in sight.
Anthony Baxter founded Montrose Pictures in 2005, in the Scottish coastal town where his family goes back several generations. Previous to that he had worked 15 years as a journalist and filmmaker in Nottingham, London, and Edinburgh, employed by the BBC, Channel 4, and others. His BBC documentary in 2007 exposed the impact of dredging on the coastline of Scotland and other parts of the UK. He has also made numerous short films around the world for broadcasters and for NGOs, taking him to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan as well as numerous filming expeditions to Africa. Earlier stints included working on the BBC’s Top Gear as Assistant Producer. Anthony has also co-produced camera and editing training courses for young filmmakers in Afghanistan. You've Been Trumped is his first feature-length documentary.