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The Film Consortium and BBC Films are pleased to announce the start of principal photography on Kismet Film Company’s "Doctor Sleep" starring Goran Visnjic alongside Shirley Henderson, Paddy Considine, Miranda Otto and Corin Redgrave. Based on the book by Madison Smartt Bell "Doctor Sleep" is a chilling psychological thriller written and directed by Nick Willing and produced by Michele Camarda. Shooting commences May 13, 2001 for 8 weeks on location in London.

Hypnotherapist Dr Michael Strother (Visnjic) has a dangerous gift: he gets flashes of the inside of his patients’ minds. Whilst trying to help a detective stop smoking, he sees in her mind a young girl floating below the surface of a stream. He is soon caught up in the detective’s pursuit of a ritualistic killer who believes he has found the secret of immortality. Although the girl has managed to escape from him, she has been struck mute by her trauma. Only Michael can get at the terrible images locked in her mind, and provide a clue as to the whereabouts of the killer.

Goran Visnjic is probably best known for his portrayal of Dr. Luka Kovac in the hit hospital drama "ER." Visnjic’s film credits include "The Deep End," Michael Winterbottom’s acclaimed "Welcome To Sarajevo" (1997), "Practical Magic" alongside Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman and "Committed" with Heather Graham. An established actor in his native Croatia, Visnjic won the Croation Best Acting Award for his title role in the theatre production of Hamlet.

The cast also includes Shirley Henderson ("24 Hour Party People," "Bridget Jones’s Diary," "The Claim"), Paddy Considine ("24 Hour Party People," "Last Resort," "A Room For Romeo Brass"), Miranda Otto ("Human Nature," "Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring," "What Lies Beneath") and Corin Redgrave ("Enigma," "Four Weddings and a Funeral").

Director Nick Willing’s credits include the award winning "Photographing Fairies" (1997) starring Ben Kingsley, Toby Stephens and Emily Woof. In addition he directed the Emmy Award winning "Alice In Wonderland" starring Miranda Richardson, Gene Wilder and Whoopi Goldberg and "Jason & The Argonauts" with Dennis Hopper and Derek Jacobi (both for Hallmark/NBC). Willing also has a string of commercials and music promos under his belt for artists including Kirsty MacColl, P.I.L and Bob Geldof.

SOURCE: BBC Films