Schoolboy Toby Hall has shivers down his spine after landing a dream lead role in a big budget Hollywood ghost movie.

With only one performance to his name – as Fagin in a school production of Oliver! - the 12-year-old from Shepherd's Bush had no idea what to expect when he was encouraged by a family friend to audition for the main part in The Great Ghost Rescue .

But he dazzled the producers, who picked him to star alongside veteran Brit actor Jason Isaacs in the family adventure.

"I didn't have that many expectations, so I wasn't that nervous," said Toby.

"I had to learn three scenes to perform, and it seemed to go alright – I didn't really know what was good or bad.

"I was home by myself when the phone rang and the producer asked if I wanted a part in the film. I said 'yes' and she said 'well you've got one'.

"It was really good, although my first feeling was nerves as well as excitement."

Toby has been trying to play it cool with his classmates at Chiswick Community School, but his cover will soon be blown once filming gets under way, as he is planning to chart the whole bewildering process through social networking website Twitter.

"I don't know what to expect – I've never really used Twitter and I've never done a film," said Toby. "But I'm just getting into Twitter now and it seems quite cool.

"I'm looking forward to filming the special effects bits. With the green screen I'm just going to try and act as if something's there."

Toby will play a young boy who died after falling off the roof of an orphanage at the turn of the 20 th century, and who joins a dysfunctional family of ghosts, each with their own paranormal idiosyncrasies.

"I meet them all and for 107 years I just don't do anything, then there's a scheme by the Government to destroy lots of old ruins and make them into housing," said Toby.

"All the ghosts want to go and scare the people in London – I go with them but I don't really want to scare them, I want to talk to them and reason with them. Then we all go to the Houses of Parliament and I make a big speech to the Prime Minister."

If the filming experience is a positive one, it could herald the beginning of an exciting career for Toby.

Mum Polly Steele said: "It's totally unexpected, but of course I'm proud. I just hope he has a really wonderful time doing it.

"You never know with films what the future holds, so you just have to value the moment. You never want to deny your child a great fun experience."

To follow Toby's progress online visit twitter.com/toby_hall