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Lost on Mars is a 2002 United States science fiction film written, directed, and produced by Eric Shook. The film was produced by Westfield Entertainment and sitributed by Pro-Active Entertainment. The film concept is based upon Shook's idea of what it might have been like had a very early Mars had a pre-human civilization and atmosphere billions of years ago, and the effects of a more recent human reaction to signals coming from that planet.

Plot
U.S. Space Command sends a rocket ship to Mars to investigate a signal that Earth has received from Mars. Once the crew arrives on the planet they encounter strange things beneath the surface of the planet. Astronaut Alex Quin (David Long) enters a monument on Mars where he finds a room full of gold and silver, he also finds a strange box; within this box there is a device which he takes back to the ship. A violent storm erupts on his way back and the rocket ship needs to take off immediately before it strikes. The crew tries to launch but it's too late and the storm hits the ship hard making the ship go out of control directing the ship back towards the planet. One of the astronauts notices something very strange on her monitor which shows in the cargo bay there is a very strong energy field being created. The energy is coming from the box that Alex brought aboard. This energy force is what creates a door way back into time, a door way back into Mar's past. Once they travel back into time the three astronauts find a strange new world, a world of barbaric proportions. While on the surface of Mars they are imprisoned tortured and brought forth to the Siperion Empire for their judgment. Their only hope is to figure out how to get back to their ship in hope they can return home.

Cast

 * Kelli Wilson as Giza
 * Eric Shook as Ardamas
 * David Long as Alex Quin
 * Gretchen Maxwell as Michelle Fox
 * Megan Glosser as Nicole Taylor
 * Beverly Rankin as Space Program Director
 * Julia Gommell as the Head Officer
 * Brittnay Wisovaty as the Judge
 * John T. Oertling as General Gatewood
 * Michale Dwiggins as Torture Officer
 * Amber Distler as Commander Cordullus
 * Justin Hemming as Officer Zomac

Production
Illinois native Erik Shook wrote his script for Lost on Mars after returning to Central Illinois, and when lacking funding to create a film, decided to approach Eastern Illinois University to seek cast. Westfield Entertainment Group coordinator Bev Shook contacted John Oetling, the chair of the university's theater department, and asked if they could post casting flyers on campus. Dealing with filming delays caused by the student's schedules, filming of Shook's two films was generally done during nights and weekends from September 2001 and late February 2003.

The film was released on DVD October 29, 2002.

Sequel
Before releasing Lost on Mars, Shook wrote and began directing a sequel titled Empire of Danger, which used talent local to central Illinois, including Traci Alms of Mattoon replacing the Kelli Wilson's character of Giza and Cindy Tozer of Charleston as commander of the mission sent to rescue the original flight's team. As of December 2002, it was reported that filmmaker Shook had completed 75% of his shots for the sequel, including all the required outdoor filmimng. The sequel is expected for a spring 2003 release.

Reception
Nick Smithson of Sci-Fi Online wrote that the film was "cheap and cheerful", and described that the film's actors showed inexperience. Only the performances of Eric Shook, John T Oertling and Kelly Wilson approached believably. Despite embarrasing acting and needing to be edited to be 30minutes shorter, the film represents a decent small budget first effort.