Filming Underway On New Alan Partridge BBC Series
Filming is underway on new Alan Partridge mockumentary And Did Those Feet. Deadline revealed the BBC series several months back and cameras have rolled on the latest Steve Coogan conception. The mockumentary follows the beloved comedy creation settling into life back in his Norfolk home after a year working in Saudi Arabia, but the adjustment has left him with a deep sense of unease. Over six episodes he will unpack what is missing in his life, explore why the nation is in such a funk and find out what it might take to keep a person funk-free. “This look into the state of the nation (and Alan’s own psyche) through a unique lens – that of Alan Partridge – promises to further bolster the already iconic repertoire of the most legendary comedy character in the UK,” said BBC comedy boss Jon Petrie. Coogan...
Filming is underway on new Alan Partridge mockumentary And Did Those Feet. Deadline revealed the BBC series several months back and cameras have rolled on the latest Steve Coogan conception. The mockumentary follows the beloved comedy creation settling into life back in his Norfolk home after a year working in Saudi Arabia, but the adjustment has left him with a deep sense of unease. Over six episodes he will unpack what is missing in his life, explore why the nation is in such a funk and find out what it might take to keep a person funk-free. “This look into the state of the nation (and Alan’s own psyche) through a unique lens – that of Alan Partridge – promises to further bolster the already iconic repertoire of the most legendary comedy character in the UK,” said BBC comedy boss Jon Petrie. Coogan...
- 5/20/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Their first on-screen romance came in 2019 feature Top End Wedding, and now Miranda Tapsell and Gwilym Lee are getting in the loving mood for a Prime Video Australia series.
The pair are reprising their roles from the local box office hit in Top End Bub, with Tapsell and Top End Wedding co-writer Joshua Tyler penning the scripts. Christian van Vuuren and Shari Sebbens are directing.
Top End Bub will revisit Lauren (Tapsell), a dynamic Indigenous lawyer ticking off life goals in Adelaide, and her baker husband Ned (Lee), who abandon city life for the Top End (where the outback meets the tropics) to raise Lauren’s recently-orphaned eight-year-old niece.
While Lauren and Ned juggle the responsibility of becoming unexpected parents and try to keep their marriage together, Lauren must come to terms with her responsibilities within her culture, as she transforms from an individualist to the linchpin of her family,...
The pair are reprising their roles from the local box office hit in Top End Bub, with Tapsell and Top End Wedding co-writer Joshua Tyler penning the scripts. Christian van Vuuren and Shari Sebbens are directing.
Top End Bub will revisit Lauren (Tapsell), a dynamic Indigenous lawyer ticking off life goals in Adelaide, and her baker husband Ned (Lee), who abandon city life for the Top End (where the outback meets the tropics) to raise Lauren’s recently-orphaned eight-year-old niece.
While Lauren and Ned juggle the responsibility of becoming unexpected parents and try to keep their marriage together, Lauren must come to terms with her responsibilities within her culture, as she transforms from an individualist to the linchpin of her family,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
An Aboriginal demon steps in for the real-life enduring trauma of Australia’s “Stolen Generations” in Jon Bell’s debut feature, The Moogai. Government sponsored assimilation programs ripped tens of thousands of Aboriginal children from their families to be placed with white families in Australia in the first half of the 20th century, leading to widespread decimation of cultural identities among the indigenous population. The Moogai substitutes a child-stealing demon for the government in what could have been a powerful examination of the tragedy and its lingering effects on Aboriginal people, but instead falls flat as it forgoes tension while ultimately spending too much effort saying the quiet part loud. Sarah Bishop (Shari Sebbens) is a successful woman, an attorney on the brink of superstardom with her...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 3/10/2024
- Screen Anarchy
Stories of Australia’s “Stolen Generations” — Aboriginal children forcibly removed from their families by a white government — fuel the central metaphor in “The Moogai,” Jon Bell’s Sundance horror movie based on his 2020 short film. Unfortunately, this well-meaning metaphorical approach defines the strict boundaries of Bell’s feature debut, a brief but languid thriller rife with reminders of meaning that fail to coalesce into something thrilling or moving.
A riveting prologue, set decades in the past, orients the viewer within Australia’s torrid history, as white men in suits attempt to chase down and kidnap Black children on an Aboriginal reserve. Two of these kids, a pair of young sisters, evade this fate of ethnic cleansing and forced assimilation, though one of them ends up taken by a supernatural force hiding in the shadows: the Moogai, a folkloric boogeyman who snatches children with its sickly, talon-like fingers.
The main story,...
A riveting prologue, set decades in the past, orients the viewer within Australia’s torrid history, as white men in suits attempt to chase down and kidnap Black children on an Aboriginal reserve. Two of these kids, a pair of young sisters, evade this fate of ethnic cleansing and forced assimilation, though one of them ends up taken by a supernatural force hiding in the shadows: the Moogai, a folkloric boogeyman who snatches children with its sickly, talon-like fingers.
The main story,...
- 1/31/2024
- by Siddhant Adlakha
- Variety Film + TV
It seems these days the devil’s designs have strayed from virginal teen girls to kindergarteners. Whether stuffing them in animatronic suits or isolating them in apocalyptic cabins, the worst thing an au courant horror villain can do is harm children. The second-worst sin is to disbelieve a mother. The Moogai, Jon Bell’s feature debut based on his short film of the same name, wears these trends like a badge of honor. But while The Moogai comes by its earnest messaging honestly––the real horrors stem from Australian colonialism––it just feels like a different take on old tropes.
At the center of the action is Sarah (Shari Sebbens), a new mom in the middle of her own Rosemary’s Baby-like conspiracy. Newly pregnant Sarah is trying to cold-shoulder her biological mom, Ruth (Tessa Rose), and the Aboriginal culture she’s eager to share, but her daughter, Chloe (Jahdeana Mary), and husband,...
At the center of the action is Sarah (Shari Sebbens), a new mom in the middle of her own Rosemary’s Baby-like conspiracy. Newly pregnant Sarah is trying to cold-shoulder her biological mom, Ruth (Tessa Rose), and the Aboriginal culture she’s eager to share, but her daughter, Chloe (Jahdeana Mary), and husband,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Lena Wilson
- The Film Stage
Over the course of six decades (1910-1970), tens of thousands of Australian Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their homes due to the assimilation policies that were in place at the time. These policies claimed that the lives of First Nations people would be improved if they became part of white society, and an effort to breed out color from the Aboriginal population was carried out. Unsurprisingly, the lives of the removed children were not improved, with studies showing that many of them developed adverse reactions to their removal like mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse, among others. These children became known as The Stolen Generation, and their experiences left a black mark in Australia’s history.
Writer/director Jon Bell, adapting his award-winning 2021 short film of the same name, taps into this unsavory event with The Moogai, yet another monster-as-a-metaphor horror drama that mostly succeeds when it acts as a drama,...
Writer/director Jon Bell, adapting his award-winning 2021 short film of the same name, taps into this unsavory event with The Moogai, yet another monster-as-a-metaphor horror drama that mostly succeeds when it acts as a drama,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Trace Thurman
- bloody-disgusting.com
Between 1910 and 1970, tens of thousands of mixed-race children of Australian Aboriginal descent were forcibly removed from their parents and communities, becoming wards of the state. That human rights violation carried out in the name of “protection” and assimilation has been the subject of books, documentaries and narrative features, notably Phillip Noyce’s gripping 2002 drama, Rabbit-Proof Fence. Few Indigenous filmmakers have been given the opportunity to explore the unhealable wound of the “Stolen Generations,” which makes Jon Bell’s The Moogai deserving of attention, deftly weaving a legacy of trauma into supernatural horror.
Writer-director Bell expanded the screenplay from his intense 2021 short of the same name, a punchy 14 minutes that make chillingly effective use of sound and mostly unseen terrors to convey a young couple’s escalating fear for their newborn baby and their ultimate helplessness to escape the grasp of a malevolent spirit. A powerful closing image eloquently places the...
Writer-director Bell expanded the screenplay from his intense 2021 short of the same name, a punchy 14 minutes that make chillingly effective use of sound and mostly unseen terrors to convey a young couple’s escalating fear for their newborn baby and their ultimate helplessness to escape the grasp of a malevolent spirit. A powerful closing image eloquently places the...
- 1/22/2024
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Growing up in an Indigenous Aboriginal family in Australia, nothing was scarier to horror director Jon Bell than the government. He recalls the “Stolen Generations,” a tragedy that Americans likely know little about.
“The government would take light-skinned kids — or just any kids they could get their hands on — and rehouse them,” he said. “It’s a pretty common tool of colonizers to try and take kids and make them convert to this other culture.”
Bell opens his new movie “The Moogai” — premiering at this year’s Sundance midnight selections — by putting audiences in the middle of one of these traumatic moments, a flashback in which Aboriginal children at play with their mothers are suddenly pursued by heartless men in suits, hoping to snatch them up.
The kids quickly run into another monster: The titular Moogai, a creature hell-bent on stealing children. The word has several meanings for the Aboriginal people,...
“The government would take light-skinned kids — or just any kids they could get their hands on — and rehouse them,” he said. “It’s a pretty common tool of colonizers to try and take kids and make them convert to this other culture.”
Bell opens his new movie “The Moogai” — premiering at this year’s Sundance midnight selections — by putting audiences in the middle of one of these traumatic moments, a flashback in which Aboriginal children at play with their mothers are suddenly pursued by heartless men in suits, hoping to snatch them up.
The kids quickly run into another monster: The titular Moogai, a creature hell-bent on stealing children. The word has several meanings for the Aboriginal people,...
- 1/19/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
The Sundance Film Festival is one of the most highly respected film festivals in the world, and while the horror genre generally doesn’t seem to receive as much respect as it deserves, horror has had a steady presence at Sundance over the years. In fact, just last year the Sundance horror line-up included the likes of Infinity Pool, Talk to Me, My Animal, and Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls. The Sundance 2024 line-up was revealed earlier today (you can see the list Here) – and there again a good number of horror movies included in the program.
Below you can take a closer look at some of the horror movies that will be showing at Sundance 2024, with images to go along with each one of them.
Of course, most of the horror can be found in the Midnight program:
I Saw the TV Glow / U.S.A. — Teenager...
Below you can take a closer look at some of the horror movies that will be showing at Sundance 2024, with images to go along with each one of them.
Of course, most of the horror can be found in the Midnight program:
I Saw the TV Glow / U.S.A. — Teenager...
- 12/6/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
The Office is being remade again for the thirteenth time. This adaption will be an Australian version featuring a female lead, Felicity Ward, for the first time. Ward will be acting as Hannah Howard, the manager of one of the branches of Flinley Craddick, a packaging company. This adaption differs from the original U.K. version as it will follow what happens to Howard and the other branch workers when they must work from home due to their branch being shut down.
Prime Video Australia will be creating the show and it will be an eight-part series. Filming will start in June and is set to launch in 2024. Viewers can access the show through Prime membership, as it will be an Amazon Original show.
Other actors will star in the series including Steen Raskopoulos, Firass Dirani, Susan Ling Young, Josh Thomson, Shari Sebbens, Edith Poor, Lucy Schmit, Jonny Brugh, Raj Labade and Pallavi Sharda.
Prime Video Australia will be creating the show and it will be an eight-part series. Filming will start in June and is set to launch in 2024. Viewers can access the show through Prime membership, as it will be an Amazon Original show.
Other actors will star in the series including Steen Raskopoulos, Firass Dirani, Susan Ling Young, Josh Thomson, Shari Sebbens, Edith Poor, Lucy Schmit, Jonny Brugh, Raj Labade and Pallavi Sharda.
- 6/4/2023
- by Nina Hauswirth
- Uinterview
Prime Video Australia is remaking The Office as a female-led comedy starring stand-up Felicity Ward in the role Ricky Gervais first made famous.
Gervais’ David Brent will become Hannah Howard in the series, with Ward putting her own spin on bad team management at packaging company Flinley Craddick. When she gets news from Head Office that they will be shutting down her branch and making everyone work from home, she goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her ‘work family’ together.
Ward is best known as a stand-up and for ABC series Spicks and Specks and The Ronnie Johns Half Hour. She also appeared in Wakefield and The Inbetweeners.
Additional cast includes Edith Poor (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Power of the Dog), Steen Raskopoulos (The Duchess, Feel Good), Shari Sebbens (The Sapphires, Thor: Love and Thunder), Josh Thomson...
Gervais’ David Brent will become Hannah Howard in the series, with Ward putting her own spin on bad team management at packaging company Flinley Craddick. When she gets news from Head Office that they will be shutting down her branch and making everyone work from home, she goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her ‘work family’ together.
Ward is best known as a stand-up and for ABC series Spicks and Specks and The Ronnie Johns Half Hour. She also appeared in Wakefield and The Inbetweeners.
Additional cast includes Edith Poor (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Power of the Dog), Steen Raskopoulos (The Duchess, Feel Good), Shari Sebbens (The Sapphires, Thor: Love and Thunder), Josh Thomson...
- 5/31/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Office” comedy franchise will see middle management led by a woman for the first time in an Australian version that will play on Amazon’s Prime Video.
Australian comedian and actor Felicity Ward will portray Hannah Howard, the MD of packaging company Flinley Craddick in “The Office Australia.” In a post-covid plot twist, Howard gets news from head office that her branch will be shutting down and that staff will have to work from home. She goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep and launches outlandish plots in order to keep her “work family” together.
The Australian adaptation is the 13th iteration of the show that was originally created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Other international retreads have included those in France, Canada, Chile, Israel and the Middle East.
Filming of the eight-part series will commence in Sydney in June. Production is by Prime Video,...
Australian comedian and actor Felicity Ward will portray Hannah Howard, the MD of packaging company Flinley Craddick in “The Office Australia.” In a post-covid plot twist, Howard gets news from head office that her branch will be shutting down and that staff will have to work from home. She goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep and launches outlandish plots in order to keep her “work family” together.
The Australian adaptation is the 13th iteration of the show that was originally created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Other international retreads have included those in France, Canada, Chile, Israel and the Middle East.
Filming of the eight-part series will commence in Sydney in June. Production is by Prime Video,...
- 5/31/2023
- by Katherine Tulich
- Variety Film + TV
Two years ago, writer/director Jon Bell made a 15 minute horror short called The Moogai. Bell is now set to make his feature debut with an expansion of The Moogai, and The Babadook producers Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings of Causeway Films are producing the film alongside Mitchell Stanley of No Coincidence Media. Filming will be underway by the end of this month.
The Moogai has the following synopsis:
A young Aboriginal couple brings home their second baby. What should be a joyous time takes a sinister turn, as the baby’s mother starts seeing a malevolent spirit she is convinced is trying to take her baby. The feature explores post-natal depression, transgenerational trauma and Australia’s Stolen Generation (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were removed from their families between 1910 and 1970).
The film stars Shari Sebbens (Thor: Ragnarok) and Meyne Wyatt (The Sapphires), who were both in the short.
The Moogai has the following synopsis:
A young Aboriginal couple brings home their second baby. What should be a joyous time takes a sinister turn, as the baby’s mother starts seeing a malevolent spirit she is convinced is trying to take her baby. The feature explores post-natal depression, transgenerational trauma and Australia’s Stolen Generation (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were removed from their families between 1910 and 1970).
The film stars Shari Sebbens (Thor: Ragnarok) and Meyne Wyatt (The Sapphires), who were both in the short.
- 10/25/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
UK sales outfit Bankside Films has acquired Aboriginal Australian filmmaker Jon Bell’s debut psychological horror The Moogai, reports ScreenDaily.
In the film…
“A young Aboriginal couple brings home their second baby. What should be a joyous time takes a sinister turn, as the baby’s mother starts seeing a malevolent spirit she is convinced is trying to take her baby.”
The feature explores post-natal depression, transgenerational trauma and Australia’s Stolen Generation (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were removed from their families between 1910 and 1970), explains the site. It is based on Bell’s short film of the same name (pictured above).
The cast includes Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt, who both appeared in Bell’s original short. Tessa Rose, Clarence Ryan, Toby Leonard Moore and Bella Heathcote also star.
It is produced by Australian outfit Causeway Films and based on a screenplay by Bell.
Production commences in...
In the film…
“A young Aboriginal couple brings home their second baby. What should be a joyous time takes a sinister turn, as the baby’s mother starts seeing a malevolent spirit she is convinced is trying to take her baby.”
The feature explores post-natal depression, transgenerational trauma and Australia’s Stolen Generation (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were removed from their families between 1910 and 1970), explains the site. It is based on Bell’s short film of the same name (pictured above).
The cast includes Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt, who both appeared in Bell’s original short. Tessa Rose, Clarence Ryan, Toby Leonard Moore and Bella Heathcote also star.
It is produced by Australian outfit Causeway Films and based on a screenplay by Bell.
Production commences in...
- 10/21/2022
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
It is the debut feature from Jon Bell.
UK sales outfit Bankside Films has acquired Aboriginal Australian filmmaker Jon Bell’s debut, psychological horror The Moogai. It is produced by Australian outfit Causeway Films and based on a screenplay by Bell.
A young Aboriginal couple brings home their second baby. What should be a joyous time takes a sinister turn, as the baby’s mother starts seeing a malevolent spirit she is convinced is trying to take her baby. The feature explores post-natal depression, transgenerational trauma and Australia’s Stolen Generation (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were removed...
UK sales outfit Bankside Films has acquired Aboriginal Australian filmmaker Jon Bell’s debut, psychological horror The Moogai. It is produced by Australian outfit Causeway Films and based on a screenplay by Bell.
A young Aboriginal couple brings home their second baby. What should be a joyous time takes a sinister turn, as the baby’s mother starts seeing a malevolent spirit she is convinced is trying to take her baby. The feature explores post-natal depression, transgenerational trauma and Australia’s Stolen Generation (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were removed...
- 10/20/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Australian films have won in two categories at this year’s LA Shorts International Film Festival, with Jon Bell’s The Moogai awarded Best Horror and Tony Radevski’s Risen named Best Sci-Fi.
This year’s line-up, which was available to stream on-demand throughout July, featured a focus on international films, including curated programs for Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America.
The Best Horror award is yet another international accolade for The Moogai, which also won the Jury Prize in the Midnight Shorts section at this year’s SXSW Festival in March.
Starring Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt, the film follows Sarah, a young mother who becomes terrorised by a malevolent spirit she believes is trying to take her children.
It was produced by Kristina Ceyton, Taylor Goddard, Samantha Jennings, and Mitchell Stanley for Causeway Films and No Coincidence Media.
A feature film version of the concept is in the works,...
This year’s line-up, which was available to stream on-demand throughout July, featured a focus on international films, including curated programs for Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America.
The Best Horror award is yet another international accolade for The Moogai, which also won the Jury Prize in the Midnight Shorts section at this year’s SXSW Festival in March.
Starring Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt, the film follows Sarah, a young mother who becomes terrorised by a malevolent spirit she believes is trying to take her children.
It was produced by Kristina Ceyton, Taylor Goddard, Samantha Jennings, and Mitchell Stanley for Causeway Films and No Coincidence Media.
A feature film version of the concept is in the works,...
- 8/2/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Elaine Crombie delivered the second annual Naidoc Week Lecture at Nida this week, drawing attention to training programs and her own experience as a First Nations creative.
Crombie, a Pitjantjatjara, Warrigmal, South Sea and German-descended actor, singer, songwriter and writer from South Australia, discussed the importance of First Nations people standing together in the arts.
A self-described “older woman in this game”, Crombie has noticed upcoming comedic talent “blitzing past”. But she emphasised there is nothing helpful about looking at newcomers with “side eyes and head tilts”.
“Being black and in the arts, we can’t do that. We have to always lead with love and celebrate each other,” she said.
“I purposely love everybody, and champion everybody.”
Crombie acknowledged the work Nida is doing as an educational institution, but also questioned if there is enough Indigenous-controlled spaces to nurture new talent. She particularly highlighted the effect Naisda Dance College...
Crombie, a Pitjantjatjara, Warrigmal, South Sea and German-descended actor, singer, songwriter and writer from South Australia, discussed the importance of First Nations people standing together in the arts.
A self-described “older woman in this game”, Crombie has noticed upcoming comedic talent “blitzing past”. But she emphasised there is nothing helpful about looking at newcomers with “side eyes and head tilts”.
“Being black and in the arts, we can’t do that. We have to always lead with love and celebrate each other,” she said.
“I purposely love everybody, and champion everybody.”
Crombie acknowledged the work Nida is doing as an educational institution, but also questioned if there is enough Indigenous-controlled spaces to nurture new talent. She particularly highlighted the effect Naisda Dance College...
- 7/9/2021
- by Matthew Kappos
- IF.com.au
Jon Bell’s psychological horror short The Moogai was among the winners at this year’s SXSW, awarded the Jury Prize in the Midnight Shorts section.
Starring Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt, the film follows Sarah, a young mother who becomes terrorised by a malevolent spirit she believes is trying to take her children.
It was produced by Kristina Ceyton, Taylor Goddard, Samantha Jennings, and Mitchell Stanley for Causeway Films.
A feature film version of the concept is in the works, having received Story Development Funding from Screen Australia.
Prior to its international premiere at SXSW, The Moogai nominated for an Aacta Award 2020 Best Short Film and won the Erwin Rado Award for Best Audience Short Film at Melbourne International Film Festival last year.
The SXSW Jury said it was “proud” to recognise a film which affected it “on so many levels”.
“The Moogai is a haunting, psychological thriller that...
Starring Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt, the film follows Sarah, a young mother who becomes terrorised by a malevolent spirit she believes is trying to take her children.
It was produced by Kristina Ceyton, Taylor Goddard, Samantha Jennings, and Mitchell Stanley for Causeway Films.
A feature film version of the concept is in the works, having received Story Development Funding from Screen Australia.
Prior to its international premiere at SXSW, The Moogai nominated for an Aacta Award 2020 Best Short Film and won the Erwin Rado Award for Best Audience Short Film at Melbourne International Film Festival last year.
The SXSW Jury said it was “proud” to recognise a film which affected it “on so many levels”.
“The Moogai is a haunting, psychological thriller that...
- 3/21/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
The ten Indigenous-led productions due to participate in Bunya Talent Lab LA will each receive development funding and participate in a companion writing program with Netflix.
Originally scheduled for May 2020 in LA, the five-day incubator program was delayed due to travel restrictions but will now take place virtually in early February 2021.
In order for the creatives to maintain momentum and utilise the extra time ahead of the event, Screen Australia’s Indigenous department and Netflix will give each team development funding to further develop their projects with Bunya producers.
As part of the hub, each project will also receive one-on-one international mentorship for their production from Australians in Film (AiF).
A final pitch session to Netflix commissioners in early 2021 will see one of the projects land a formal development deal with Netflix, with Bunya Productions engaged as producers.
Projects include a range of feature film and TV series ideas encompassing comedy,...
Originally scheduled for May 2020 in LA, the five-day incubator program was delayed due to travel restrictions but will now take place virtually in early February 2021.
In order for the creatives to maintain momentum and utilise the extra time ahead of the event, Screen Australia’s Indigenous department and Netflix will give each team development funding to further develop their projects with Bunya producers.
As part of the hub, each project will also receive one-on-one international mentorship for their production from Australians in Film (AiF).
A final pitch session to Netflix commissioners in early 2021 will see one of the projects land a formal development deal with Netflix, with Bunya Productions engaged as producers.
Projects include a range of feature film and TV series ideas encompassing comedy,...
- 11/12/2020
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Alexandra Keddie, Drew Weston and Gemma Bird Matheson in ‘The Housemate.’
Frustrated with the scarcity of job offers, two years ago young actors Gemma Bird Matheson and Alexandra Keddie decided to launch their own production company, Chips & Gravy Films.
Their maiden production was The Housemate, an affectionate take on The Bachelor. They spent several thousand dollars of their own money to make a 4-minute teaser, in which they played friends who are searching for the housemate of their dreams, posted it online and got 260,000 views in the first week.
So they sent the teaser to Rick Kalowski, then the ABC’s head of comedy, who called them within 30 minutes and quickly commissioned a series of 6 x 5′ episodes for iview.
Since then the duo have created four or five projects which are in development with Screen Australia, while Matheson also performs in plays (currently the Griffin Theatre Company’s Superheroes...
Frustrated with the scarcity of job offers, two years ago young actors Gemma Bird Matheson and Alexandra Keddie decided to launch their own production company, Chips & Gravy Films.
Their maiden production was The Housemate, an affectionate take on The Bachelor. They spent several thousand dollars of their own money to make a 4-minute teaser, in which they played friends who are searching for the housemate of their dreams, posted it online and got 260,000 views in the first week.
So they sent the teaser to Rick Kalowski, then the ABC’s head of comedy, who called them within 30 minutes and quickly commissioned a series of 6 x 5′ episodes for iview.
Since then the duo have created four or five projects which are in development with Screen Australia, while Matheson also performs in plays (currently the Griffin Theatre Company’s Superheroes...
- 10/7/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
The final season of Sbs’s The Family Law, the first series of ABC’s The Heights and the Sbs miniseries The Hunting have won the 10th annual Equity Ensemble Awards.
The actors who starred in these programs were voted the most outstanding Australian small screen ensembles in their respective categories by the Meaa Equity National Performers’ Committee (Npc).
Equity president Chloe Dallimore, who was among the 33 Npc members who selected this year’s finalists and winners, said: “I can’t think of a better way to spend lockdown than re-watching the incredible small screen performances of the last 12 months. What phenomenal talent we have in this country, both in front and behind the camera.
“It emphasised what’s at stake if we don’t continue to vigorously defend our local content quotas, and why we must continue to remind our government how the arts contribute to our Australian cultural identity.
The actors who starred in these programs were voted the most outstanding Australian small screen ensembles in their respective categories by the Meaa Equity National Performers’ Committee (Npc).
Equity president Chloe Dallimore, who was among the 33 Npc members who selected this year’s finalists and winners, said: “I can’t think of a better way to spend lockdown than re-watching the incredible small screen performances of the last 12 months. What phenomenal talent we have in this country, both in front and behind the camera.
“It emphasised what’s at stake if we don’t continue to vigorously defend our local content quotas, and why we must continue to remind our government how the arts contribute to our Australian cultural identity.
- 8/13/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Moreblessing Maturure (Photo credit: Kristina Yenko).
Moreblessing Maturure plans to make her screen directing debut on a segment of Masc (working title), an online anthology which examines modern masculinity through female and non-binary lenses.
Separately the Zimbabwean/Australian writer/performer is developing several projects with the Afro Sistahs Collective.
Masc’s key creative drivers, Laura Nagy and Madeleine Gottlieb, invited Maturure to become the eighth member of the team, joining Renée Marie Petropoulos, Hyun Lee, Imogen McCluskey, Shari Sebbens and Cloudy Rhodes.
Developed with Screen Australia’s support, the anthology explores different stages of the subjects’ lives in ascending age, beginning with a young child and ending with an older man.
“The series has a particular focus on diversity, exploring masculinity through the lens of different cultures, sexualities and gender identities,” Easy Tiger’s Rob Gibson, who is co-executive producer with RevLover Films’ Martha Coleman, tells If.
“The development process has been extremely collaborative,...
Moreblessing Maturure plans to make her screen directing debut on a segment of Masc (working title), an online anthology which examines modern masculinity through female and non-binary lenses.
Separately the Zimbabwean/Australian writer/performer is developing several projects with the Afro Sistahs Collective.
Masc’s key creative drivers, Laura Nagy and Madeleine Gottlieb, invited Maturure to become the eighth member of the team, joining Renée Marie Petropoulos, Hyun Lee, Imogen McCluskey, Shari Sebbens and Cloudy Rhodes.
Developed with Screen Australia’s support, the anthology explores different stages of the subjects’ lives in ascending age, beginning with a young child and ending with an older man.
“The series has a particular focus on diversity, exploring masculinity through the lens of different cultures, sexualities and gender identities,” Easy Tiger’s Rob Gibson, who is co-executive producer with RevLover Films’ Martha Coleman, tells If.
“The development process has been extremely collaborative,...
- 7/26/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Jub Clerc and Aaron Pedersen.
Fans of Aaron Pedersen’s Detective Jay Swan can look forward to more Mystery Road adventures on the big and small screens.
Ivan Sen has written the first draft of the script for the third movie in Bunya Productions’ franchise, the follow-up to Goldstone, and Pedersen hopes to shoot in Coober Pedy, with Sen again directing.
In Jub Clerc’s first Deadly Yarns webinar for Australians in Film yesterday, Pedersen also said he is in discussions with Bunya’s David Jowsey for a third series of Mystery Road.
Wayne Blair and Warwick Thornton co-directed the second season, which rated strongly for the ABC.
The series was sold widely by All3Media International, including to BBC2 in the UK, Arte in France/Germany and Acorn TV in North America
Jowsey tells If a third movie had long been planned, observing: “Jay Swan is a great character and...
Fans of Aaron Pedersen’s Detective Jay Swan can look forward to more Mystery Road adventures on the big and small screens.
Ivan Sen has written the first draft of the script for the third movie in Bunya Productions’ franchise, the follow-up to Goldstone, and Pedersen hopes to shoot in Coober Pedy, with Sen again directing.
In Jub Clerc’s first Deadly Yarns webinar for Australians in Film yesterday, Pedersen also said he is in discussions with Bunya’s David Jowsey for a third series of Mystery Road.
Wayne Blair and Warwick Thornton co-directed the second season, which rated strongly for the ABC.
The series was sold widely by All3Media International, including to BBC2 in the UK, Arte in France/Germany and Acorn TV in North America
Jowsey tells If a third movie had long been planned, observing: “Jay Swan is a great character and...
- 7/24/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Businesses often aim to help the neighborhoods they’re based in, but sometimes their aid can ultimately lead to more conflict. That’s certainly the case for the Australian drama series, ‘The Heights.’ The television show, which is set in the country’s inner?city neighborhood of Arcadia Heights, explores the relationships between the residents of the Arcadia social […]
The post Shari Sebbens Legal Skills Find an Outlet on The Heights appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Shari Sebbens Legal Skills Find an Outlet on The Heights appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 7/22/2020
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
‘Little J and Big Cuz’.
A third season of animated series Little J and Big Cuz, produced by Ned Lander Media, Media World and Blue Rocket, is in pre-production for Nitv and ABC Kids, to air in 2021.
Director Tony Thorne joins the writing team for this season, together with short fiction writer Adam Thompson, as well as Dot West, Erica Glynn, Beck Cole, Danielle MacLean and Sam Paynter.
The series, based on an Indigenous perspective on the Early Years Learning Framework, has been translated into 11 different Indigenous languages, with the third expected to be translated further. It follows Little J, Big Cuz and their friends, as they’re guided by Nanna and Old Dog and explore Nanna’s wonderful backyard and Ms Chen’s classroom.
The voice cast includes Deborah Mailman, Miranda Tapsell, Aaron Fa’oaso, Ursula Yovich, Renee Lim and Shari Sebbens.
Nitv channel manager Tanya Orman said: “Here at Nitv,...
A third season of animated series Little J and Big Cuz, produced by Ned Lander Media, Media World and Blue Rocket, is in pre-production for Nitv and ABC Kids, to air in 2021.
Director Tony Thorne joins the writing team for this season, together with short fiction writer Adam Thompson, as well as Dot West, Erica Glynn, Beck Cole, Danielle MacLean and Sam Paynter.
The series, based on an Indigenous perspective on the Early Years Learning Framework, has been translated into 11 different Indigenous languages, with the third expected to be translated further. It follows Little J, Big Cuz and their friends, as they’re guided by Nanna and Old Dog and explore Nanna’s wonderful backyard and Ms Chen’s classroom.
The voice cast includes Deborah Mailman, Miranda Tapsell, Aaron Fa’oaso, Ursula Yovich, Renee Lim and Shari Sebbens.
Nitv channel manager Tanya Orman said: “Here at Nitv,...
- 6/17/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
(L-r) Jack Steele, Warwick Thornton and Mitchell Stanley (Photo credit: John Paille).
The Indigenous creative teams in Australia and New Zealand were developing the anthology feature Cook 2020: Our Right of Reply when they decided the basic premise wasn’t right.
When Screen Australia’s Indigenous department and the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) agreed to fund the project last year the intention was for each of the eight teams to provide an Indigenous perspective on the 250th anniversary of James Cook’s maiden voyage to the Pacific.
“We have scrapped that idea. The film will touch on survival and colonisation but it doesn’t refer directly back to Cook,” says Mitchell Stanley, who is co-producing with his No Coincidence Media partner Toni Stowers and Mia Henry-Tierney (Baby Mama’s Club).
“The consensus from all the writing teams was that we want to tell stories about us, we don’t...
The Indigenous creative teams in Australia and New Zealand were developing the anthology feature Cook 2020: Our Right of Reply when they decided the basic premise wasn’t right.
When Screen Australia’s Indigenous department and the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) agreed to fund the project last year the intention was for each of the eight teams to provide an Indigenous perspective on the 250th anniversary of James Cook’s maiden voyage to the Pacific.
“We have scrapped that idea. The film will touch on survival and colonisation but it doesn’t refer directly back to Cook,” says Mitchell Stanley, who is co-producing with his No Coincidence Media partner Toni Stowers and Mia Henry-Tierney (Baby Mama’s Club).
“The consensus from all the writing teams was that we want to tell stories about us, we don’t...
- 6/4/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Hyun Lee.
Born in Sydney to Korean parents, emerging filmmaker Hyun Lee identifies as Asian-Australian and is starting to learn Korean.
“A lot of Asian people living in Western countries do tend to get lumped by their appearance into that big group of Asians,” Hyun tells If.
“My experience of being Australian is a version of being Australian that many people can relate to and some other Australians may not relate to.”
Lee is writing and will direct one episode of Masc, a seven-part online anthology which will give female and non-binary perspectives on contemporary masculinity, with development funding from Screen Australia.
Each segment will focus on a different man at his particular stage of life. Hers will centre on a group of Asian men who gather at a skate park, one of whom has a broken leg and a broken heart and is miserable. She likens the tone to...
Born in Sydney to Korean parents, emerging filmmaker Hyun Lee identifies as Asian-Australian and is starting to learn Korean.
“A lot of Asian people living in Western countries do tend to get lumped by their appearance into that big group of Asians,” Hyun tells If.
“My experience of being Australian is a version of being Australian that many people can relate to and some other Australians may not relate to.”
Lee is writing and will direct one episode of Masc, a seven-part online anthology which will give female and non-binary perspectives on contemporary masculinity, with development funding from Screen Australia.
Each segment will focus on a different man at his particular stage of life. Hers will centre on a group of Asian men who gather at a skate park, one of whom has a broken leg and a broken heart and is miserable. She likens the tone to...
- 3/24/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Cloudy Rhodes.
Filmmaker and photographer Cloudy Rhodes is carving out quite a career, helped by mentors Justin Kurzel and Samantha Lang.
Rhodes, who identifies as non-binary, was born in Bondi to hippie parents who named her after the sky, and grew up in Sydney’s northern beaches.
(For the sake of consistency this article will refer to Cloudy as she, although she often uses the pronouns them and they).
After leaving school she pursued photography and pro-surfing. The turning point came when Justin Kurzel saw some of her photographs and encouraged her to become a filmmaker.
A recurring theme in her work is queer narratives which are uplifting. “I want to focus on telling positive stories to queer kids and stories that give people hope,” she tells If.
Currently Rhodes is writing and will direct one of the segments of Masc, a seven-part anthology which will give female and non-binary perspectives on contemporary masculinity,...
Filmmaker and photographer Cloudy Rhodes is carving out quite a career, helped by mentors Justin Kurzel and Samantha Lang.
Rhodes, who identifies as non-binary, was born in Bondi to hippie parents who named her after the sky, and grew up in Sydney’s northern beaches.
(For the sake of consistency this article will refer to Cloudy as she, although she often uses the pronouns them and they).
After leaving school she pursued photography and pro-surfing. The turning point came when Justin Kurzel saw some of her photographs and encouraged her to become a filmmaker.
A recurring theme in her work is queer narratives which are uplifting. “I want to focus on telling positive stories to queer kids and stories that give people hope,” she tells If.
Currently Rhodes is writing and will direct one of the segments of Masc, a seven-part anthology which will give female and non-binary perspectives on contemporary masculinity,...
- 3/15/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Imogen McCluskey with longtime Dop Lucca Barone-Peters.
After graduating from Aftrs in 2017 filmmaker Imogen McCluskey’s career is taking off, with one feature and several shorts under her belt and multiple projects in development.
Currently she is writing and will direct one of seven segments of the anthology Masc, which will give female and non-binary perspectives on contemporary masculinity, with development funding from Screen Australia.
Her co-collaborators are Madeleine Gottlieb and Laura Nagy, who both came up with the concept, Renée Marie Petropoulos, Hyun Lee, Shari Sebbens and Cloudy Rhodes.
A comedy, her episode will focus on a 16-year-old boy who attends a single sex school and is being pressured by his friends to have sex with a girl.
In a surreal twist, his post-sex self comes to life as a kind of guardian angel. “It looks at hyper-masculine archetypes that boys are taught to live up to, and takes...
After graduating from Aftrs in 2017 filmmaker Imogen McCluskey’s career is taking off, with one feature and several shorts under her belt and multiple projects in development.
Currently she is writing and will direct one of seven segments of the anthology Masc, which will give female and non-binary perspectives on contemporary masculinity, with development funding from Screen Australia.
Her co-collaborators are Madeleine Gottlieb and Laura Nagy, who both came up with the concept, Renée Marie Petropoulos, Hyun Lee, Shari Sebbens and Cloudy Rhodes.
A comedy, her episode will focus on a 16-year-old boy who attends a single sex school and is being pressured by his friends to have sex with a girl.
In a surreal twist, his post-sex self comes to life as a kind of guardian angel. “It looks at hyper-masculine archetypes that boys are taught to live up to, and takes...
- 3/11/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Dop Emma Paine with Laura Nagy on the set of ‘Hook Up’ (Photo credit: Narika Mckenzie)
Laura Nagy first met Ian Collie when she was a casting coordinator on Doctor Doctor and he later hired her as his assistant at Essential Media in 2017.
Spotting her potential, Collie asked Laura to follow him and colleagues Rachael Turk and Tanya Phegan when he departed to launch Easy Tiger in 2018.
He then asked the emerging filmmaker to join the Easy Tiger development team, where the 2010 Aftrs graduate is nurturing several projects. “Laura is an absolute gem and multi-skilled – a filmmaker in her own right,” Collie tells If.
Laura says: “I am queer and I started writing those stories because a lot of it was exploring things I felt in my real life and wasn’t necessarily talking about.
“Once I started doing it, it got easier and people keep asking me to do it,...
Laura Nagy first met Ian Collie when she was a casting coordinator on Doctor Doctor and he later hired her as his assistant at Essential Media in 2017.
Spotting her potential, Collie asked Laura to follow him and colleagues Rachael Turk and Tanya Phegan when he departed to launch Easy Tiger in 2018.
He then asked the emerging filmmaker to join the Easy Tiger development team, where the 2010 Aftrs graduate is nurturing several projects. “Laura is an absolute gem and multi-skilled – a filmmaker in her own right,” Collie tells If.
Laura says: “I am queer and I started writing those stories because a lot of it was exploring things I felt in my real life and wasn’t necessarily talking about.
“Once I started doing it, it got easier and people keep asking me to do it,...
- 3/3/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Madeleine Gottlieb.
Madeleine Gottlieb is co-developing a seven-part online series which will give female and non-binary perspectives on contemporary masculinity as well as writing a feature for Revlover Films’ Martha Coleman and Lauren Edwards.
Screen Australia is funding the development of Masc (working title), which she co-created with Easy Tiger’s Laura Nagy.
Her co-collaborators are Nagy, Renée Marie Petropoulos, Hyun Lee, Imogen McCluskey, Shari Sebbens and Cloudy Rhodes. Each segment will focus on a different man at his particular stage of life.
“I am really interested in exploring the sensitive, more gentle, non-hyper masc side of masculinity,” Gottlieb tells If.
The feature is Panyee, which is set on the man-made floating island of Koh Panyee in Thailand, to be directed by Matt Devine, inspired by his short Panyee Fc.
The narrative will follow a group of young Thai boys who build a rickety football pitch in their floating village,...
Madeleine Gottlieb is co-developing a seven-part online series which will give female and non-binary perspectives on contemporary masculinity as well as writing a feature for Revlover Films’ Martha Coleman and Lauren Edwards.
Screen Australia is funding the development of Masc (working title), which she co-created with Easy Tiger’s Laura Nagy.
Her co-collaborators are Nagy, Renée Marie Petropoulos, Hyun Lee, Imogen McCluskey, Shari Sebbens and Cloudy Rhodes. Each segment will focus on a different man at his particular stage of life.
“I am really interested in exploring the sensitive, more gentle, non-hyper masc side of masculinity,” Gottlieb tells If.
The feature is Panyee, which is set on the man-made floating island of Koh Panyee in Thailand, to be directed by Matt Devine, inspired by his short Panyee Fc.
The narrative will follow a group of young Thai boys who build a rickety football pitch in their floating village,...
- 2/18/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Miranda Tapsell and Nakkiah Lui in ‘Get Krack!n’ (Photo credit: ABC).
The nine creative teams comprising 13 individuals who will take part in the inaugural Bunya Talent Indigenous Hub in Los Angeles in March were announced today.
Presented in association with Netflix Australia and Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department, the five-day talent incubator is aimed at mid-career Indigenous writers, showrunners, directors and producers.
The 13 will develop and pitch their projects and attend meetings and presentations by executives from Netflix and other industry practitioners.
The feature film and TV series ideas encompass comedy, drama and the supernatural. The event will take place at Charlie’s, Australians in Film’s hub for business, project development and networking for the Australian screen community in La.
At the end of the incubator, one participant’s work will be selected to proceed to further development with Bunya Productions as producers, receiving up to $20,000 in further development...
The nine creative teams comprising 13 individuals who will take part in the inaugural Bunya Talent Indigenous Hub in Los Angeles in March were announced today.
Presented in association with Netflix Australia and Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department, the five-day talent incubator is aimed at mid-career Indigenous writers, showrunners, directors and producers.
The 13 will develop and pitch their projects and attend meetings and presentations by executives from Netflix and other industry practitioners.
The feature film and TV series ideas encompass comedy, drama and the supernatural. The event will take place at Charlie’s, Australians in Film’s hub for business, project development and networking for the Australian screen community in La.
At the end of the incubator, one participant’s work will be selected to proceed to further development with Bunya Productions as producers, receiving up to $20,000 in further development...
- 1/29/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
"When you're hurting', where do you go lookin'?" Samuel Goldwyn Film has released an official Us trailer for indie romantic comedy Top End Wedding, an Australian film that premiered at last year's Sundance Film Festival. This "heartwarming, feel-good comedy" is set against the spectacular natural beauty of the Northern Territory. The story follows a newly engaged couple, Lauren and Ned. They are in love, and they have just ten days to find her mother who has gone Awol somewhere in the remote far north of Australia, in order to reunite her parents and pull off their dream wedding. Starring Miranda Tapsell (from The Sapphires) & Gwilym Lee (from Bohemian Rhapsody) as the two lovers, plus Huw Higginson, Ursula Yovich, Elaine Crombie, Shari Sebbens, Kerry Fox, and Dalara Williams. Looks charming and fun. Here's the official Us trailer (+ poster) for Wayne Blair's Top End Wedding, direct from YouTube: You can...
- 1/11/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
‘Faboriginal’. (Photo: Kelly Gardner)
Art, camp and Indigenous culture collide in the Nitv/Sbs-commissioned quiz show Faboriginal, produced by Noble Savage Pictures.
Hosted and co-created by actor and comedian Steven Oliver, the 8 x 30 serial trivia show features an all Indigenous cast and guest panellists who are challenged by the quizmaster on Indigenous art and culture. Production has recently wrapped, to air early 2020 on Nitv followed by Sbs On Demand.
“We’ve built a show that is wickedly funny, entertaining, smart and political. Faboriginal is unapologetically black, unapologetically camp and unapologetically art focused,” says Noble Savage Pictures producer Majhid Heath.
Heath saw taking on the light entertainment format space as natural new ground to break. It was a way of engaging audiences with Indigenous art and culture with levity and comedy, while celebrating established and emerging Indigenous actors, writers, musicians and artists.
“After all the recent success Indigenous filmmakers have had in documentary,...
Art, camp and Indigenous culture collide in the Nitv/Sbs-commissioned quiz show Faboriginal, produced by Noble Savage Pictures.
Hosted and co-created by actor and comedian Steven Oliver, the 8 x 30 serial trivia show features an all Indigenous cast and guest panellists who are challenged by the quizmaster on Indigenous art and culture. Production has recently wrapped, to air early 2020 on Nitv followed by Sbs On Demand.
“We’ve built a show that is wickedly funny, entertaining, smart and political. Faboriginal is unapologetically black, unapologetically camp and unapologetically art focused,” says Noble Savage Pictures producer Majhid Heath.
Heath saw taking on the light entertainment format space as natural new ground to break. It was a way of engaging audiences with Indigenous art and culture with levity and comedy, while celebrating established and emerging Indigenous actors, writers, musicians and artists.
“After all the recent success Indigenous filmmakers have had in documentary,...
- 9/26/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Emma Fletcher on ‘The Heights’ set.
Viewers won’t know it when the second season of The Heights premieres on the ABC next year, but the 30-episode drama is being enhanced in both production design and cinematography.
The production is using a third studio in addition to the ABC’s two Perth studios which now houses the set of a pub (previously filmed on location in Northbridge) and a new community centre for the Arcadia Heights High School.
All that has enabled the writers to “grow our story world,” according to Matchbox Pictures’ Warren Clarke, who co-created the show with Que Minh Luu.
“By grouping these sets together we are able to shoot far more efficiently which then allows the show to get a bit bigger,” says Clarke, who produces the serial with For Pete’s Sake Productions’ Peta Astbury-Bulsara.
“We’re still heavily studio-based but splitting our studio time...
Viewers won’t know it when the second season of The Heights premieres on the ABC next year, but the 30-episode drama is being enhanced in both production design and cinematography.
The production is using a third studio in addition to the ABC’s two Perth studios which now houses the set of a pub (previously filmed on location in Northbridge) and a new community centre for the Arcadia Heights High School.
All that has enabled the writers to “grow our story world,” according to Matchbox Pictures’ Warren Clarke, who co-created the show with Que Minh Luu.
“By grouping these sets together we are able to shoot far more efficiently which then allows the show to get a bit bigger,” says Clarke, who produces the serial with For Pete’s Sake Productions’ Peta Astbury-Bulsara.
“We’re still heavily studio-based but splitting our studio time...
- 9/9/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
The cast of ‘The Heights’ season 2 (Photo credit: Ben King).
Backed by Screen Australia, the second season of the ABC’s ground-breaking drama serial The Heights will start shooting in Perth on August 26, providing more opportunities for emerging directors, writers and actors.
Jub Clerc, whose short Storytime is featured in the horror anthology Dark Whispers – Volume 1 curated by Megan Riakos and Leonie Marsh, and Kelli Cross (Aussie Rangers) are joining the cohort of directors under the production’s mentorship program.
They will be mentored by Karl Zwicky, alongside another addition in Tenika Smith (Neighbours) and Renée Webster, who made her TV drama directing debut on the first season.
Season one writers Romina Accurso, Hannah Carroll Chapman, Megan Palinkas, Peter Mattessi, Dot West, Magda Wozniak, the showrunner/co-creator Warren Clarke and Katie Beckett return.
They are joined by recruits Tim Williams, Nora Niasari, Nayuka Gorrie, Cassandra Nguyen, Jane Allen, Alex Cullen,...
Backed by Screen Australia, the second season of the ABC’s ground-breaking drama serial The Heights will start shooting in Perth on August 26, providing more opportunities for emerging directors, writers and actors.
Jub Clerc, whose short Storytime is featured in the horror anthology Dark Whispers – Volume 1 curated by Megan Riakos and Leonie Marsh, and Kelli Cross (Aussie Rangers) are joining the cohort of directors under the production’s mentorship program.
They will be mentored by Karl Zwicky, alongside another addition in Tenika Smith (Neighbours) and Renée Webster, who made her TV drama directing debut on the first season.
Season one writers Romina Accurso, Hannah Carroll Chapman, Megan Palinkas, Peter Mattessi, Dot West, Magda Wozniak, the showrunner/co-creator Warren Clarke and Katie Beckett return.
They are joined by recruits Tim Williams, Nora Niasari, Nayuka Gorrie, Cassandra Nguyen, Jane Allen, Alex Cullen,...
- 8/19/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
The ABC’s Libbie Doherty (L) and Dena Curtis.
When Dena Curtis turned to writing and directing a dozen years ago after years as a film editor, she was confronted by a recurring problem.
“The challenge was convincing people, mostly broadcasters, to commission Indigenous stories when they said no one would watch them,” Curtis tells If.
Since then, as she acknowledges, there has been a “huge shift,” which she credits in part to the support and advocacy by ABC head of scripted production Sally Riley and Screen Australia’s Indigenous department headed by Penny Smallacombe.
Curtis, who founded Inkey Media in 2015, is in a sweet spot in her career. Currently she is crafting ideas for her segment of the anthology feature Cook 2020: Our Right of Reply, co-funded by Screen Australia and the New Zealand Film Commission.
The shorts from eight Indigenous teams from Australia and New Zealand will each...
When Dena Curtis turned to writing and directing a dozen years ago after years as a film editor, she was confronted by a recurring problem.
“The challenge was convincing people, mostly broadcasters, to commission Indigenous stories when they said no one would watch them,” Curtis tells If.
Since then, as she acknowledges, there has been a “huge shift,” which she credits in part to the support and advocacy by ABC head of scripted production Sally Riley and Screen Australia’s Indigenous department headed by Penny Smallacombe.
Curtis, who founded Inkey Media in 2015, is in a sweet spot in her career. Currently she is crafting ideas for her segment of the anthology feature Cook 2020: Our Right of Reply, co-funded by Screen Australia and the New Zealand Film Commission.
The shorts from eight Indigenous teams from Australia and New Zealand will each...
- 6/6/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Huw Higginson.
Huw Higginson often plays admirable, upstanding characters but sometimes he gets more of a kick out of tackling villains.
In the past year the English-born actor has portrayed a brutish magistrate in Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale and a serial killer truck driver in Playmaker Media’s Mandarin series Chosen directed by Tony Tilse.
He played more nuanced characters including the abandoned husband and father of Miranda Tapsell’s bride-to-be in Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding; a lawyer who represents the family of a missing priest (Sam Reid) in Lingo Pictures/Foxtel’s drama Lambs of God; and a wealthy gentleman who sends his ward to boarding school in Fremantle/Foxtel’s Picnic at Hanging Rock.
“Unpleasant characters are often more interesting to play,” says the actor who played the well-meaning Constable George Garfield in The Bill for 10 years. “You have to try to find something to...
Huw Higginson often plays admirable, upstanding characters but sometimes he gets more of a kick out of tackling villains.
In the past year the English-born actor has portrayed a brutish magistrate in Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale and a serial killer truck driver in Playmaker Media’s Mandarin series Chosen directed by Tony Tilse.
He played more nuanced characters including the abandoned husband and father of Miranda Tapsell’s bride-to-be in Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding; a lawyer who represents the family of a missing priest (Sam Reid) in Lingo Pictures/Foxtel’s drama Lambs of God; and a wealthy gentleman who sends his ward to boarding school in Fremantle/Foxtel’s Picnic at Hanging Rock.
“Unpleasant characters are often more interesting to play,” says the actor who played the well-meaning Constable George Garfield in The Bill for 10 years. “You have to try to find something to...
- 6/4/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Top End Wedding.’
Pokémon fans flocked to the franchise’s second movie in 20 years last weekend but even more people were keen to see Disney/Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame, which reigned again in its third frame.
Meanwhile word-of-mouth is paying off for Universal’s Top End Wedding, which eased by just 22 per cent in its second weekend.
Universal’s comedy The Hustle, a female reboot of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, over-indexed its Us opening, probably due to co-star Rebel Wilson.
Roadshow’s Poms, an ensemble comedy about seniors in a retirement home who form a cheer-leading squad, had little to cheer about, unwisely scheduled against The Hustle.
A passion project for Kenneth Branagh, Sony’s Shakespearean drama All is True had a respectable debut on limited screens. Of the two new Indian releases, Maharshi proved far more appealing than Student Of The Year 2.
The top 20 titles generated $16.5 million, down 9 per cent...
Pokémon fans flocked to the franchise’s second movie in 20 years last weekend but even more people were keen to see Disney/Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame, which reigned again in its third frame.
Meanwhile word-of-mouth is paying off for Universal’s Top End Wedding, which eased by just 22 per cent in its second weekend.
Universal’s comedy The Hustle, a female reboot of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, over-indexed its Us opening, probably due to co-star Rebel Wilson.
Roadshow’s Poms, an ensemble comedy about seniors in a retirement home who form a cheer-leading squad, had little to cheer about, unwisely scheduled against The Hustle.
A passion project for Kenneth Branagh, Sony’s Shakespearean drama All is True had a respectable debut on limited screens. Of the two new Indian releases, Maharshi proved far more appealing than Student Of The Year 2.
The top 20 titles generated $16.5 million, down 9 per cent...
- 5/12/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Diary of an Uber Driver.’
Sally Riley is bemused when people use this line when they are pitching projects to her: “This is definitely an ABC show.”
The ABC’s head of scripted production, Riley usually replies: “What is that? What is an ABC show?”
Interviewed in her Ultimo office for a two-part story, she tells If: “If it’s a great show, we’ll do it. I don’t think it must fit in the parameters of what is supposed to be an ABC show.
“We want to not only hold our audiences but also bring in new and younger audiences and we have a broad slate to try to meet both. We will definitely take a calculated risk when we believe in a show.”
As an example of a program which she thinks most people would not expect to see on the public broadcaster, she points to Les Norton,...
Sally Riley is bemused when people use this line when they are pitching projects to her: “This is definitely an ABC show.”
The ABC’s head of scripted production, Riley usually replies: “What is that? What is an ABC show?”
Interviewed in her Ultimo office for a two-part story, she tells If: “If it’s a great show, we’ll do it. I don’t think it must fit in the parameters of what is supposed to be an ABC show.
“We want to not only hold our audiences but also bring in new and younger audiences and we have a broad slate to try to meet both. We will definitely take a calculated risk when we believe in a show.”
As an example of a program which she thinks most people would not expect to see on the public broadcaster, she points to Les Norton,...
- 5/7/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Top End Wedding.’
Released in the slipstream of the Disney/Marvel Studios’ juggernaut Avengers: Endgame, Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding proved effective counter-programming last weekend.
The romantic comedy starring Miranda Tapsell, Gwilym Lee, Kerry Fox, Huw Higginson and Shari Sebbens wooed $1.1 million at 287 locations and $1.588 million with paid previews for Universal Pictures.
The opening was slightly behind that of Jeremy Sims’ Last Cab to Darwin’s $1.14 million, which finished with $7.4 million.
So, given the largely positive reviews and favourable word-of-mouth, the film co-written by Tapsell and Joshua Tyler and produced by Goalpost Pictures’ Rosemary Blight and Kylie du Fresne and Kojo’s Kate Croser could well reach $7 million.
The launch date was locked in before Universal took over eOne’s theatrical releases and before anyone knew the latest Marvel title would smash industry records in Australia and globally.
The superhero action adventure directed by the Russo brothers scored $13.6 million in Oz,...
Released in the slipstream of the Disney/Marvel Studios’ juggernaut Avengers: Endgame, Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding proved effective counter-programming last weekend.
The romantic comedy starring Miranda Tapsell, Gwilym Lee, Kerry Fox, Huw Higginson and Shari Sebbens wooed $1.1 million at 287 locations and $1.588 million with paid previews for Universal Pictures.
The opening was slightly behind that of Jeremy Sims’ Last Cab to Darwin’s $1.14 million, which finished with $7.4 million.
So, given the largely positive reviews and favourable word-of-mouth, the film co-written by Tapsell and Joshua Tyler and produced by Goalpost Pictures’ Rosemary Blight and Kylie du Fresne and Kojo’s Kate Croser could well reach $7 million.
The launch date was locked in before Universal took over eOne’s theatrical releases and before anyone knew the latest Marvel title would smash industry records in Australia and globally.
The superhero action adventure directed by the Russo brothers scored $13.6 million in Oz,...
- 5/6/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Imogen Banks and Asher Keddie, who will produce ‘The Sisters Antipodes’.
Screen Australia has announced more than $600,000 of story development funding for seven feature films, four television dramas and five online series.
The slate includes a currently untitled feature film from Little Monsters‘ Abe Forsythe, Jodi Matterson and Bruna Papandrea, based on a real missing person case in a remote Northern Territory town; TV series The Sisters Antipodes, produced by Asher Keddie and Imogen Banks, about estranged families who are pushed to opposite sides of the world; and an online series from writer/director Kauthar Abdulalim, Salma and the City, about a mother who sets her sights on winning the Australian Open
Screen Australia’s head of development Nerida Moore said: “It’s fantastic to see such strong applications coming through, and in this round we’ve noticed an increase in series as well as a lot of female writers attached to projects.
Screen Australia has announced more than $600,000 of story development funding for seven feature films, four television dramas and five online series.
The slate includes a currently untitled feature film from Little Monsters‘ Abe Forsythe, Jodi Matterson and Bruna Papandrea, based on a real missing person case in a remote Northern Territory town; TV series The Sisters Antipodes, produced by Asher Keddie and Imogen Banks, about estranged families who are pushed to opposite sides of the world; and an online series from writer/director Kauthar Abdulalim, Salma and the City, about a mother who sets her sights on winning the Australian Open
Screen Australia’s head of development Nerida Moore said: “It’s fantastic to see such strong applications coming through, and in this round we’ve noticed an increase in series as well as a lot of female writers attached to projects.
- 4/10/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Women’s collective Dame Changer will host an International Women’s Day event tomorrow evening in Sydney, to mark the organisation’s first anniversary.
The event aims to “celebrate successful women from all areas of professional screen activity who make us feel empowered every day”, and will see a range of panelists share insights on the industry and tackle stereotypes of successful women.
Speaking will be director Gillian Armstrong, cinematographer Bonnie Elliott, actress Shari Sebbens, editor Dany Cooper, composer Caitlin Yeo and executive producer Que Minh Luu. The event will be Mc’d by actress and writer Megan Wilding.
Dame Changer advisory board member and Ausfilm CEO Debra Richards said: “We are more powerful together each and every day and we need to celebrate women who empower, inspire and keep us going each of those every days.”
Dame Changer was formed on International Women’s Day in 2018 to run programs...
The event aims to “celebrate successful women from all areas of professional screen activity who make us feel empowered every day”, and will see a range of panelists share insights on the industry and tackle stereotypes of successful women.
Speaking will be director Gillian Armstrong, cinematographer Bonnie Elliott, actress Shari Sebbens, editor Dany Cooper, composer Caitlin Yeo and executive producer Que Minh Luu. The event will be Mc’d by actress and writer Megan Wilding.
Dame Changer advisory board member and Ausfilm CEO Debra Richards said: “We are more powerful together each and every day and we need to celebrate women who empower, inspire and keep us going each of those every days.”
Dame Changer was formed on International Women’s Day in 2018 to run programs...
- 3/11/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘Animals’.
Adelaide Film Festival will hold pop up screenings of Top End Wedding and Animals in early April, marking each film’s official Australian premiere.
Both films – which each made their world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January to critical acclaim – were made with the support of the Adelaide Film Festival investment fund. Each will premiere with a red carpet gala screening and after party, with a screening and Q&A the following day.
Adelaide Film Festival CEO and creative director Mat Kesting said: “Adelaide Film Festival is thrilled to present the Australian premieres of Sophie Hyde’s Animals and Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding, giving audiences the chance to be among the first in the world to see these fine works. Diverse in their nature, both films are immensely compelling and entertaining films we encourage Adelaide audiences to embrace at the Adl Film Fest April Pop Up.
Adelaide Film Festival will hold pop up screenings of Top End Wedding and Animals in early April, marking each film’s official Australian premiere.
Both films – which each made their world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January to critical acclaim – were made with the support of the Adelaide Film Festival investment fund. Each will premiere with a red carpet gala screening and after party, with a screening and Q&A the following day.
Adelaide Film Festival CEO and creative director Mat Kesting said: “Adelaide Film Festival is thrilled to present the Australian premieres of Sophie Hyde’s Animals and Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding, giving audiences the chance to be among the first in the world to see these fine works. Diverse in their nature, both films are immensely compelling and entertaining films we encourage Adelaide audiences to embrace at the Adl Film Fest April Pop Up.
- 2/26/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
The cast of ‘The Heights’.
With the exception of flagship serials Home and Away and Neighbours, for the last few years, long-form adult drama has all but disappeared from our screens, replaced by high budget, short-run shows.
With that has also come a reduced number of training opportunities for emerging writers and directors, something that producers, writers and directors alike have lamented.
Given the landscape, it was somewhat of a surprise to see the ABC announce last June that it had commissioned a 30 x 30” serial drama in The Heights.
Produced by Matchbox Pictures and For Pete’s Sake Productions, The Heights is set in the fictional suburb of Arcadia Heights and explores the relationships, work lives and everyday challenges of six families living in a social housing tower and the rapidly gentrifying inner-city community that surrounds it.
The diverse ensemble cast includes Marcus Graham, Shari Sebbens, Roz Hammond, Fiona Press, Dan Paris,...
With the exception of flagship serials Home and Away and Neighbours, for the last few years, long-form adult drama has all but disappeared from our screens, replaced by high budget, short-run shows.
With that has also come a reduced number of training opportunities for emerging writers and directors, something that producers, writers and directors alike have lamented.
Given the landscape, it was somewhat of a surprise to see the ABC announce last June that it had commissioned a 30 x 30” serial drama in The Heights.
Produced by Matchbox Pictures and For Pete’s Sake Productions, The Heights is set in the fictional suburb of Arcadia Heights and explores the relationships, work lives and everyday challenges of six families living in a social housing tower and the rapidly gentrifying inner-city community that surrounds it.
The diverse ensemble cast includes Marcus Graham, Shari Sebbens, Roz Hammond, Fiona Press, Dan Paris,...
- 2/20/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Roz Hammond and Bridie McKim in ‘The Heights’ (Photo: Ben King).
Roz Hammond rates her role in The Heights, the ABC drama serial from Matchbox Pictures and For Pete’s Sake Productions, as the best she’s ever had.
That’s a big call for the Waapa graduate who broke through as Cheryl, one of the “bitchy” bridesmaids in Paul J. Hogan’s Muriel’s Wedding in 1994.
Perhaps best known as a founding member of the cast in Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell, she has featured in a raft of comedies including Please Like Me, The Librarians, It’s a Date and Upper Middle Bogan. She has shown her dramatic chops in Jack Irish, Offspring and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.
Co-created by Warren Clarke and Que Minh Luu and set in the fictional inner-city neighbourhood of Arcadia Heights, The Heights explores the relationships between a public housing tower...
Roz Hammond rates her role in The Heights, the ABC drama serial from Matchbox Pictures and For Pete’s Sake Productions, as the best she’s ever had.
That’s a big call for the Waapa graduate who broke through as Cheryl, one of the “bitchy” bridesmaids in Paul J. Hogan’s Muriel’s Wedding in 1994.
Perhaps best known as a founding member of the cast in Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell, she has featured in a raft of comedies including Please Like Me, The Librarians, It’s a Date and Upper Middle Bogan. She has shown her dramatic chops in Jack Irish, Offspring and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.
Co-created by Warren Clarke and Que Minh Luu and set in the fictional inner-city neighbourhood of Arcadia Heights, The Heights explores the relationships between a public housing tower...
- 2/17/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
(L-r) Shari Sebbens, Calen Tassone, Siria Kickett and Marcus Graham in ‘The Heights’ (Photo: Ben King)
When Shari Sebbens graduated from Nida and Waapa she expected her fair complexion would mean she would be cast mostly as white characters in shows about Indigenous people.
Happily she was wrong. After making her screen debut in Wayne Blair’s 2012 hit The Sapphires she starred in a bunch of series including Redfern Now, The Gods of Wheat Street, 8Mmm Aboriginal Radio and Black Comedy, all true to her cultural identity.
“I think The Sapphires confused the hell out of everybody as they thought, ‘She looks white but she says she’s Aboriginal,’ she tells If. “It’s something our community has known since colonisation: our people come in very different shades. I call it the Fifty Shades of Black.”
The actress will next be seen in the Matchbox Pictures/For Pete’s Sake Productions 30-episode drama serial The Heights,...
When Shari Sebbens graduated from Nida and Waapa she expected her fair complexion would mean she would be cast mostly as white characters in shows about Indigenous people.
Happily she was wrong. After making her screen debut in Wayne Blair’s 2012 hit The Sapphires she starred in a bunch of series including Redfern Now, The Gods of Wheat Street, 8Mmm Aboriginal Radio and Black Comedy, all true to her cultural identity.
“I think The Sapphires confused the hell out of everybody as they thought, ‘She looks white but she says she’s Aboriginal,’ she tells If. “It’s something our community has known since colonisation: our people come in very different shades. I call it the Fifty Shades of Black.”
The actress will next be seen in the Matchbox Pictures/For Pete’s Sake Productions 30-episode drama serial The Heights,...
- 2/13/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
L-r: Amir Rahimzadeh, Phoenix Raei, Ze Winters, Jasmine Sadati, Yazeed Daher and Rasta Karami in ‘The Heights’ (Photo: Ben King)
After breaking through in Kriv Stenders’ Australia Day, Phoenix Raei landed roles in Mustangs Fc, Romper Stomper and Wentworth.
The Iranian-born actor who came to Australia when he was a kid still feels he is a relative unknown in the wider screen industry – but that could change this month after The Heights premieres on the ABC.
Raei plays Ash, who lives with his uncle Hamid (Amir Rahimzadeh) and his brother Kam (Yazeed Daher) in a social housing tower in the 30-episode serial produced by Matchbox Pictures and For Pete’s Sake Productions.
Co-created by Warren Clarke and Que Minh Luu and set in the fictional inner-city neighbourhood of Arcadia Heights, the drama explores the relationships between the tower’s residents and those who live in the adjoining, rapidly gentrifying community.
After breaking through in Kriv Stenders’ Australia Day, Phoenix Raei landed roles in Mustangs Fc, Romper Stomper and Wentworth.
The Iranian-born actor who came to Australia when he was a kid still feels he is a relative unknown in the wider screen industry – but that could change this month after The Heights premieres on the ABC.
Raei plays Ash, who lives with his uncle Hamid (Amir Rahimzadeh) and his brother Kam (Yazeed Daher) in a social housing tower in the 30-episode serial produced by Matchbox Pictures and For Pete’s Sake Productions.
Co-created by Warren Clarke and Que Minh Luu and set in the fictional inner-city neighbourhood of Arcadia Heights, the drama explores the relationships between the tower’s residents and those who live in the adjoining, rapidly gentrifying community.
- 2/3/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
"I can't get married if my mum isn't here." Universal Australia has debuted the first official trailer for an indie comedy titled Top End Wedding, an Australian film that is premiering at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival this week. This "heartwarming, feel-good comedy" is set against the spectacular natural beauty of the Northern Territory. The story follows a newly engaged couple, Lauren and Ned. They are in love, and they have just ten days to find Lauren's mother who has gone Awol somewhere in the remote far north of Australia, in order to reunite her parents and pull off their dream wedding. This stars Miranda Tapsell (from The Sapphires) and Gwilym Lee (from Bohemian Rhapsody) as the couple, with Huw Higginson, Ursula Yovich, Elaine Crombie, Shari Sebbens, Kerry Fox, and Dalara Williams. This looks like an enjoyable mainstream comedy with plenty of quirky Australian jokes and references. Still might be good.
- 1/30/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Berlin-based Films Boutique has acquired international sales rights to Wayne Blair’s “Tod End Wedding” and Jacek Borcuch’s “Dolce Fine Giornata,” which will have their world premieres at the Sundance Film Festival.
Set to play in the premieres section, “Top End Wedding” marks Blair’s first Australian feature film since his critically acclaimed period musical “The Sapphires” which opened out of competition at Cannes in 2012.
The film follows an engaged couple who embark on a road trip across Australia to find the future bride’s mother who disappeared somewhere in the remote far north of the country days before their planned dream wedding.
“Top End Wedding” reunites Blair with Miranda Tapsell and Shari Sebbens, who starred in “The Sapphires.” They star opposite Gwilym Lee (Bohemian Rhapsody), Kerry Fox (“Cloudstreet”), Huw Higginson (“Home and Away”), Ursula Yovich (“The Code”) and Joshua Tyler (“Plonk”).
“It’s a great wedding comedy boasting...
Set to play in the premieres section, “Top End Wedding” marks Blair’s first Australian feature film since his critically acclaimed period musical “The Sapphires” which opened out of competition at Cannes in 2012.
The film follows an engaged couple who embark on a road trip across Australia to find the future bride’s mother who disappeared somewhere in the remote far north of the country days before their planned dream wedding.
“Top End Wedding” reunites Blair with Miranda Tapsell and Shari Sebbens, who starred in “The Sapphires.” They star opposite Gwilym Lee (Bohemian Rhapsody), Kerry Fox (“Cloudstreet”), Huw Higginson (“Home and Away”), Ursula Yovich (“The Code”) and Joshua Tyler (“Plonk”).
“It’s a great wedding comedy boasting...
- 1/24/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
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