City Of Ember Is 'Hot'

The first scenes from a Hollywood science-fiction blockbuster that was filmed in Belfast last year have been released.

City of Ember, starring Bill Murray and Tim Robbins, was filmed between July and October 2007 in the historical 'Paint Hall' in the Titanic Quarter.

The film due to be released in the US on 10th October 2008. Details of the UK/Ireland release are expected soon.

It is a children's fantasy sci-fi adventure from the book by American writer Jeanne DuPrau, and is set in a future when the 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, Lina and Doon, 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.

The film, co-financed by Northern Ireland Screen and produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, features a stellar cast including Academy Award nominees Saoirse Ronan and Bill Murray, Harry Treadaway and Academy Award winners Martin Landau and Tim Robbins.

Martin Landau said: "It's amazing. It's quite an amazing set, extensive and tall and comfortable. I would say it's quite remarkable."

City of Ember is believed to have delivered an estimated £9.2m to the Northern Ireland economy. This was against an investment of just £800,000 from Northern Ireland Screen.

Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen said: "The creative industries are key to creating the right environment for other industries to flourish. That's the logic driving our funding for the film, TV and digital sectors in Northern Ireland."

Meanwhile, it has emerged that getting into the movie business looks like being 'no great shakes' for up-and-coming Belfast band, Delirium Tremens.

After one of its Belfast gigs, the group has been approached to provide a rock track to introduce a new big screen movie.

Their music is to feature on a forthcoming horror 'flick - one of a trio that includes a film that just premiered to critical acclaim in Cannes.

And while Delirium Tremens has been chosen for the music element of the second film in the slate - a low budget horror feature film called 'Salvage' - the writer has a local pedigree too.

The movie is from the pen of Derry man Colin O'Donnell, who describes 'Salvage' as a "cool little micro budget movie filmed in Liverpool" (on the old Hollyoaks set).

See: Major film set to shoot in Belfast

See: Belfast Band To Shake Movie Scene?

(BMcC)