02/04/2008

Scottish director Richard Jobson, best known for the acclaimed 16 Years of Alcohol, has commenced principal photography on his new film New Town Killers at various Edinburgh locations.

The film deals with bored private bankers, Alistair and Jamie, who get their kicks from playing a 12-hour game of hunt, hide and seek with people from the fringes of society. Their latest victim is orphaned teen Sean Kelly, who agrees to play their game in return for cash and soon realises that he’s walked into a living hell.

The film stars Dougray Scott (Hitman), Alastair Mackenzie (The Edge of Love), James Anthony Pearson (Control [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and Charles Mnene (Shoot the Messenger).

The film, also written by Jobson, is thematically similar to John Woo’s Hard Target, where Jean Claude Van Damme finds himself in a comparable predicament. Jobson’s other credits include The Purifiers and A Woman in Winter.

Jobson was nominated for BAFTA Scotland awards for 16 Years of Alcohol and A Woman in Winter.

Luc Roeg of the Independent Film Company is producing the film with Jobson. Backers are Independent, Str8jacket Creations, Scottish Screen and the Screen East Content Investment Fund in association with LipSync and the Glasgow Film Office, with Independent handling worldwide sales.

Roeg said, “This is particularly exciting for the company as it represents the first of our current slate to go before the cameras as a ‘developed, produced, co financed and sold by Independent package’. We will have a promo reel available for Cannes.”

Carole Sheridan, head of Talent and Creativity at Scottish Screen said, “The project offers real benefits to Scotland, filming in Edinburgh using cast, crew and facilities from across the country.”