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Principal photography has begun in Asheville, North Carolina on the psychological thriller "The Clearing," starring multiple award-winning actors Robert Redford, Helen Mirren and Willem Dafoe. The film marks the directorial debut for Academy Award(R)-nominated producer Pieter Jan Brugge ("The Insider").

The original story was conceived by Brugge and first-time screenwriter Justin Haythe, who wrote the screenplay. Palmer West and Jonah Smith ("The United States of Leland," "Requiem for a Dream") produce through their company Thousand Words, along with Brugge. Thousand Words and Fox Searchlight serve as co-financiers of the project.

Wayne (Redford) and Eileen (Mirren) Hayes live the American Dream. Together they've raised two children and struggled to build a successful business from the ground up. But there have been sacrifices along the way. When Wayne is kidnapped by an ordinary man, Arnold Mack (Dafoe), and held for ransom in a remote forest, the couple's world is turned inside out. Eileen finds her home full of FBI Agents, their life under scrutiny. While Wayne is engaged in the negotiation of his lifetime, Eileen works frantically with the FBI to secure his release. The terrifying ordeal causes Wayne and Eileen to reassess their marriage and come to a deeper sense of their commitment to each other. With each passing hour, the need and desire for Wayne to return home safely becomes ever more urgent.

Redford most recently starred in "Spy Game" and "The Last Castle" and received an honorary Academy Award in 2002 for his work with the Sundance Institute. He was nominated for an Oscar(R) as Best Actor in a Leading Role for "The Sting," and won two BAFTAs for Best Actor in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Downhill Racer." He won the Academy Award, the Directors Guild Award and the Golden Globe(R) as Best Director for "Ordinary People;" and was Oscar-nominated as Best Director for "Quiz Show," which also earned Golden Globe, DGA and BAFTA nominations. Additionally, he received Golden Globe directing nominations for "The Horse Whisperer" and "A River Runs Through It."

Mirren received Oscar nominations as Best Supporting Actress for "Gosford Park" and "The Madness of King George." Among her many additional accolades in both film and television are seven BAFTA nominations with three wins for Best Actress ("Prime Suspect," and "Prime Suspect 2" and "3"). She recently completed the cable TV remake of "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone."

Dafoe portrayed the Green Goblin in the 2002 summer hit "Spider-Man." He received a 2001 Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for "Shadow of the Vampire," and won the Independent Spirit Award, the LAFCA Award and Saturn Award for his unique performance as the vampire/actor. Additionally he was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor in "Platoon." Upcoming films are "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" and "Auto Focus."

Following four weeks of filming in Asheville, production will continue in Atlanta and Pittsburgh through the end of November 2002. Executive Vice President of Production Claudia Lewis is overseeing the project for Fox Searchlight.

Fox Searchlight is a filmmaker-oriented company that focuses on distinctive films helmed by world-class auteurs and exciting newcomers. It has its own marketing, distribution and publicity operations, and its films are distributed internationally by Twentieth Century Fox. Fox Searchlight Pictures is a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, a unit of Fox Entertainment Group.

SOURCE: Fox Searchlight