SHOOTING is under way on the first feature film from a Newcastle company.

Frozen, written and directed by Juliet McKoen, is the first full-length feature to be produced by Newcastle film, television and new media company RS Productions.

Producer Mark Lavender said: "This is something we have been working towards for two years now, and it is a bit of a dream come true.

"It has actually come together remarkably quickly, principally down to the fine quality of the script, and that will take a great leap forward on to the screen.

"As a company, we have also had a huge amount of support from our many partners in the North-East, including the North East Chamber of Commerce, Trade Partners and the international trade team at Business Link Tyne and Wear."

Frozen stars Shirley Henderson, who played Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and was in Trainspotting, and Roshan Seth, who starred in Gandhi and My Beautiful Launderette.

The film is a psychological thriller about a young woman's attempt to unravel the mystery of her sister's disappearance two years earlier. It is being shot in Fleetwood, Lancashire, and Scotland over the next six weeks.

Mr Lavender is keeping an on-line production diary of the film, at www.frozenfilm. com