Generator's 'Ghost Machine' Starts Production

Principal photography has begun in Belfast's Crumlin Road Gaol on director Chris Hartwill's feature debut 'Ghost Machine', a supernatural thriller starring Sean Faris, Rachael Taylor, Luke Ford and Richard Dormer.
This is the third feature from Generator Entertainment and will be produced by the company's Simon Bosanquet and Mark Huffam.
Thrill-seeking military technicians and computer-game enthusiasts Tom (Faris) and Vic (Ford) recklessly smuggle a top-secret, virtual warfare training programme out of their base and into a spooky disused jail, while a vengeful spirit infiltrates the software and draws them into an all-too-real game of life and death.
When Special Forces trainee Jess (Taylor) tracks the group down she embarks on a rescue mission that will take her into a virtual world as deadly as any real war-zone as she becomes their only hope for survival.
Sean Faris's acting career was established with parts in TV series including 'Life as We Know It', 'Reunion' and 'Smallville'. He recently starred in the feature film 'Never Back Down' and will soon be seen in 'Forever Strong'.
Australian co-star Rachael Taylor starred opposite Shia LaBoeuf in Michael Bay's 2007 international box office hit 'Transformers' and followed it up in the lead role of the US thriller 'Shutter'. Currently, she stars opposite Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman and Chris Pine in the US true story 'Bottle Shock'. This year, Rachael shot the Australian drama, 'Cedar Boys' and has just completed filming the US comedy 'Splinterheads'.
Fellow Australian Luke Ford recently starred in Berlin Crystal Bear winner 'The Black Balloon' and is currently starring opposite Brendan Fraser in this summer's hit 'The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor'. He also recently wrapped production on the Australian tele-film 'Blood in the Sand' for director Rowan Woods.
Rounding out the cast is talented Northern Ireland actor Richard Dormer, soon to be seen in Oliver Hirschbiegel's 'Five Minutes of Heaven'.
'Ghost Machine' is directed by Chris Hartwill from a screenplay by Sven Hughes and Malachi Smyth, based on an original story by Sven Hughes.
Hartwill, an award-winning commercials director based at one of the UK's leading commercials outfits, RSA (Ridley Scott Associates), has recently directed episodes of the hit US series 'Numb3rs'.
Taking up producer duties on the film will be Generator's Simon Bosanquet ('The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers', 'Ripley's Fame') and Mark Huffam ('Mamma Mia!', 'Saving Private Ryan'). The behind-the-scenes team also includes Lighting Cameraman George Richmond, until now known known for his operating work on films including 'Children of Men' and 'Wanted' and Mark Nelmes, Visual Effects Supervisor at Framestore.
Framestore's recent credits include 'The Dark Knight', 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian' and 'The Golden Compass'.
Chris Hartwill said: "Sven Hughes and Malachi Smyth have produced a visceral, action-packed adaptation of Sven's original story and I'm really looking forward to bringing it to the screen here in Northern Ireland."
Production financing for 'Ghost Machine' has been put together by Generator using a combination of slate financing from Limelight, and investment from Northern Ireland Screen and Framestore Features, the film production division of UK special effects powerhouse, Framestore.
The US distributor is Anchor Bay Entertainment and worldwide sales are being handled by Robbie Little's The Little Film Company, with delivery scheduled for February 2009.
Generator's Simon Bosanquet said: "Ghost Machine is the perfect debut feature for showcasing Chris Hartwill's talents - we're thrilled to be working with him and with such an exciting cast of young stars."
(KMcA/JM)