Speaking after a visit to the film set of ‘City of Ember’, a children’s sci-fi fantasy adventure based on the book by American writer Jeanne DuPrau, the Minister said: "Northern Ireland is an excellent location for film production and it is very important that we make every effort to market the area nationally and internationally as a production base. The fact that this major Hollywood film has come here, in the face of stiff competition from other regions and film commissions is evidence that Northern Ireland is an attractive place for international film makers to shoot their films.
"’City of Ember’ means a great deal to Northern Ireland and has huge potential to contribute to the economy, helping to grow the film industry here and showing the world that we can pull a major Hollywood blockbuster.
“I am keen that people of all ages get opportunities to become involved in various aspects of the industry, that we discover new talent and develop the region’s reputation for creativity."
The film is funded by the Northern Ireland Screen Commission from its Film Production Fund (Invest NI) and received the maximum amount of £800,000. The cast includes Academy Award nominee Bill Murray, Toby Jones and Saoirse Ronan. They are joined by Academy Award winners Tim Robbins and Martin Landau, Acadamy Award nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste and newcomer Harry Treadaway. The film is being produced by Playtone’s Gary Goetzman and Tom Hanks, with John D Schofield executive producing.
The story is set in the future when earth’s citizens have moved underground to escape the planet’s toxic atmosphere. Ember is “the only light in the dark world” that is slowly dying as supplies begin to run low and the electricity generator starts to fail. The story centres around two teenagers who are destined to be the unforeseen heroes of Ember as they dare to venture into the forbidden “Unknown Regions” to try and save their city.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Minister’s visit was to the Paint Hall, a converted hangar that once served as the construction site for the original Titanic which is the film base.
The Northern Ireland Screen Commission, formerly known as the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission, was established in April 1997 as a company limited by guarantee. It is funded presently by Invest NI and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
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