Vertical and Bren Foster will launch their new martial arts thriller “Life After Fighting” on June 7 in select theaters and on demand. This marks Foster’s feature debut as writer-director and is his first collaboration with producer Navid Bahadori under their newly formed production and distribution company, Spinning Plates.
According to an official logline, “In ‘Life After Fighting,’ the tranquil existence of Alex Faulkner (Foster), a former martial arts world champion, is shattered when the inexplicable vanishing of two young students from his martial arts school culminates in a shocking revelation that strikes close to his heart. As all avenues of hope seem to dwindle, Faulkner’s determination leads to the rescue of the imprisoned girls, revealing an insidious international child-trafficking ring, which ultimately leads to the fight of his life.”
Other cast members include Luke Ford (“Animal Kingdom”), Cassie Howarth (“NCIS: Sydney”), Anabelle Stephenson (“Tidelands”) and Jake Ryan (“The Great Gatsby...
According to an official logline, “In ‘Life After Fighting,’ the tranquil existence of Alex Faulkner (Foster), a former martial arts world champion, is shattered when the inexplicable vanishing of two young students from his martial arts school culminates in a shocking revelation that strikes close to his heart. As all avenues of hope seem to dwindle, Faulkner’s determination leads to the rescue of the imprisoned girls, revealing an insidious international child-trafficking ring, which ultimately leads to the fight of his life.”
Other cast members include Luke Ford (“Animal Kingdom”), Cassie Howarth (“NCIS: Sydney”), Anabelle Stephenson (“Tidelands”) and Jake Ryan (“The Great Gatsby...
- 6/5/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety Film + TV
Head Count, an action-packed thrill ride starring Aaron Jakubenko, Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) and Melanie Zanetti (Bluey) and directed by Ben Burghart and Jacob Burghart, will be released on digital platforms 19th February courtesy of Blue Finch Film Releasing.
A gun is pointed to Kat’s head. It’s his gun. Or at least it was after he escaped a chain gang and stole it. Luckily for him though, it’s not fully loaded. But how many bullets are left? He can’t quite remember. And now, with an unknown assailant pulling the trigger, Kat is forced to recall exactly what happened to each bullet. While the empty rounds click away, memories of wild animal attacks, run-ins with an impulsive police officer, a down-to-earth arms dealer, and his ex-lover come flooding back. As the pressure mounts, Kat must figure out how many rounds are left and try to devise a plan to escape…...
A gun is pointed to Kat’s head. It’s his gun. Or at least it was after he escaped a chain gang and stole it. Luckily for him though, it’s not fully loaded. But how many bullets are left? He can’t quite remember. And now, with an unknown assailant pulling the trigger, Kat is forced to recall exactly what happened to each bullet. While the empty rounds click away, memories of wild animal attacks, run-ins with an impulsive police officer, a down-to-earth arms dealer, and his ex-lover come flooding back. As the pressure mounts, Kat must figure out how many rounds are left and try to devise a plan to escape…...
- 2/8/2024
- by Kevin Haldon
- Nerdly
Actress Elsa Pataky ("Thor: Love and Thunder") poses for the December 2023 issue of “InStyle” (Spain) magazine:
Pataky is best known for her role as ‘Officer Elena Neves’ in the “Fast & Furious” film franchise.
She has also appeared in the films “Snakes on a Plane” (2006), “Giallo”n(2009) and “Give 'Em Hell, Malone” (2009).
She also starred in the Spanish film “Di Di Hollywood” (2010).
Pataky starred in the Australian web television series “Tidelands” as ‘Adrielle Cuthbert’ .
Pataky played the lead role in “Interceptor” (2022).
Click the images to enlarge…...
Pataky is best known for her role as ‘Officer Elena Neves’ in the “Fast & Furious” film franchise.
She has also appeared in the films “Snakes on a Plane” (2006), “Giallo”n(2009) and “Give 'Em Hell, Malone” (2009).
She also starred in the Spanish film “Di Di Hollywood” (2010).
Pataky starred in the Australian web television series “Tidelands” as ‘Adrielle Cuthbert’ .
Pataky played the lead role in “Interceptor” (2022).
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 11/30/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Dark Harvest: "In a cursed town, the annual harvest becomes a brutal battle for survival. On Halloween 1963, Sawtooth Jack, a terrifying legend, rises from the cornfields, threatening the town's children. Groups of boys unite to defeat the murderous scarecrow before midnight. Richie, a rebellious outcast, joins the run, motivated by his brother's previous victory. As the hunt progresses, Richie makes a shocking discovery and faces a pivotal choice to break the relentless cycle."
Directed By: David Slade Screenplay By: Michael Gilio Based on the Novel by: Norman Partridge Produced By: Matt Tolmach, p.g.a., David Manpearl, p.g.a. Executive Producers: Pamela Hirsch, Michael Gilio Music By: Brian Reitzell Cast: Casey Likes, E’myri Crutchfield, Dustin Ceithamer, Elizabeth Reaser with Jeremy Davies
Available On Digital October 13th
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Killher: "Mattie and her three besties--Eddie, Jess, and Rae--head into the woods for a weekend to plan Mattie's upcoming wedding and bachelorette party.
Directed By: David Slade Screenplay By: Michael Gilio Based on the Novel by: Norman Partridge Produced By: Matt Tolmach, p.g.a., David Manpearl, p.g.a. Executive Producers: Pamela Hirsch, Michael Gilio Music By: Brian Reitzell Cast: Casey Likes, E’myri Crutchfield, Dustin Ceithamer, Elizabeth Reaser with Jeremy Davies
Available On Digital October 13th
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Killher: "Mattie and her three besties--Eddie, Jess, and Rae--head into the woods for a weekend to plan Mattie's upcoming wedding and bachelorette party.
- 9/13/2023
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Brazil’s Raccord Produções, Chile’s Araucaria Cine and France’s Nord-Ouest Films are teaming to produce acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Gabe Klinger’s feature drama project “Okonomiyaki.”
“Okonomiyaki” will topline celebrated Brazilian actor-helmer Leandra Leal, Yuki Sugimoto, star of Disney+ series “Mila in the Multiverse,” and feature Marco Pigossi, of Netflix’s “Invisible City” and “Tidelands.”
The feature-length project has been selected for the San Sebastian Film Festival’s Europe-Latin America Co-production Forum, its industry centerpiece, which runs Sept. 25-27.
The film is produced by Clélia Bessa and Marcos Pieri at Raccord, Araucaria’s Isabel Orellana and Nord-Ouest Films’ Ola Byszuk, who are looking fo further financing and co-production, as well as sales and distribution partners for the project.
Offscreen talent includes longtime Pablo Larraín Dp Sergio Armstrong and editor Soledad Salfate, of Sebastián Lelio’s Oscar-winner “A Fantastic Woman.”
Principal photography on “Okonomiyaki” is scheduled to kick-off second quarter next year in Sao Paulo.
“Okonomiyaki” will topline celebrated Brazilian actor-helmer Leandra Leal, Yuki Sugimoto, star of Disney+ series “Mila in the Multiverse,” and feature Marco Pigossi, of Netflix’s “Invisible City” and “Tidelands.”
The feature-length project has been selected for the San Sebastian Film Festival’s Europe-Latin America Co-production Forum, its industry centerpiece, which runs Sept. 25-27.
The film is produced by Clélia Bessa and Marcos Pieri at Raccord, Araucaria’s Isabel Orellana and Nord-Ouest Films’ Ola Byszuk, who are looking fo further financing and co-production, as well as sales and distribution partners for the project.
Offscreen talent includes longtime Pablo Larraín Dp Sergio Armstrong and editor Soledad Salfate, of Sebastián Lelio’s Oscar-winner “A Fantastic Woman.”
Principal photography on “Okonomiyaki” is scheduled to kick-off second quarter next year in Sao Paulo.
- 8/28/2023
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
U.K.-based sales and distribution company Blue Finch Film Releasing has acquired international sales rights, excluding North America, to the debut feature from the Burghart Brothers, “Head Count.”
The company plans to begin sales on the film during the Cannes Film Market.
“Head Count” follows the story of an escaped prisoner, Kat, who finds himself facing an unknown assailant with his own revolver pointed straight at his head. To survive, he must remember what happened on the crazy ride that brought him to this point, one bullet at a time.
The cast includes Ryan Kwanten (“True Blood”), Aaron Jakubenko (“Tidelands”), Melanie Zanetti (“Bluey”), Chris Bylsma (“El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie”), Addam Bramich (“Poker Face”), Polaris Banks (“Reklaw”) and Cinnamon Shultz (“Winter’s Bone”).
“Headcount” is directed by Jacob and Ben Burghart from a screenplay they wrote with Josh Doke. Tristan Barr and David Gim of Continuance Pictures serve as producers,...
The company plans to begin sales on the film during the Cannes Film Market.
“Head Count” follows the story of an escaped prisoner, Kat, who finds himself facing an unknown assailant with his own revolver pointed straight at his head. To survive, he must remember what happened on the crazy ride that brought him to this point, one bullet at a time.
The cast includes Ryan Kwanten (“True Blood”), Aaron Jakubenko (“Tidelands”), Melanie Zanetti (“Bluey”), Chris Bylsma (“El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie”), Addam Bramich (“Poker Face”), Polaris Banks (“Reklaw”) and Cinnamon Shultz (“Winter’s Bone”).
“Headcount” is directed by Jacob and Ben Burghart from a screenplay they wrote with Josh Doke. Tristan Barr and David Gim of Continuance Pictures serve as producers,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Shout! Studios has acquired all North American distribution rights to the neo-Western thriller Head Count, from Continuance Pictures and Method Media. Filmmakers Jacob and Ben Burghart — together known as The Burghart Brothers — are directing in their feature debut, from their script written with Josh Doke, with Aaron Jakubenko (Tidelands), Melanie Zanetti (Raven’s Hollow) and Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) set to star. Shout! Studios and the filmmakers are planning a strategic launch of the movie next year, beginning with major film festivals and film markets in 2023.
Based on the Burgharts’ 2014 short of the same name, the film billed as Blood Simple meets Memento follows Kat (Jakubenko), who, after escaping prison, finds his own revolver pointed to his head by an unknown assailant. As the empty rounds click away, Kat tries to remember what happened to each bullet, as impulsive officer Sawyer (Kwanten) is hot on his tail, and his ex-lover...
Based on the Burgharts’ 2014 short of the same name, the film billed as Blood Simple meets Memento follows Kat (Jakubenko), who, after escaping prison, finds his own revolver pointed to his head by an unknown assailant. As the empty rounds click away, Kat tries to remember what happened to each bullet, as impulsive officer Sawyer (Kwanten) is hot on his tail, and his ex-lover...
- 8/30/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Patrick Schwarzenegger (“The Staircase”), Sean Patrick Thomas (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”) and Marco Pigossi (“Tidelands”) have been cast in recurring roles for Prime Video’s as-yet untitled “The Boys” college-set spinoff, TheWrap confirmed.
According to Deadline, which first reported the news, Schwarzenegger will play Golden Boy, Thomas will portray Polarity and Pigossi will play Dr. Cardosa. Further details are being kept under wraps.
The streamer greenlit the series with “Agent Carter” alums Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters serving as showrunners and executive producers in September 2021. “The Boys” executive producer Craig Rosenberg was previously shepherding the series but exited due to creative differences.
Starring “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” alums Jaz Sinclair and Chance Perdomo, Lizzie Broadway and Maddie Phillips, the spinoff will take place at the Vought International-run college for young superheroes. It’s described as “an irreverent, R-rated series that explores the lives of hormonal, competitive Supes as they put their physical,...
According to Deadline, which first reported the news, Schwarzenegger will play Golden Boy, Thomas will portray Polarity and Pigossi will play Dr. Cardosa. Further details are being kept under wraps.
The streamer greenlit the series with “Agent Carter” alums Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters serving as showrunners and executive producers in September 2021. “The Boys” executive producer Craig Rosenberg was previously shepherding the series but exited due to creative differences.
Starring “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” alums Jaz Sinclair and Chance Perdomo, Lizzie Broadway and Maddie Phillips, the spinoff will take place at the Vought International-run college for young superheroes. It’s described as “an irreverent, R-rated series that explores the lives of hormonal, competitive Supes as they put their physical,...
- 5/11/2022
- by Natalie Oganesyan
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Patrick Schwarzenegger (The Staircase), Sean Patrick Thomas (The Tragedy of Macbeth) and Marco Pigossi (Invisible City) have been tapped for high-profile recurring roles in Prime Video’s college-set spinoff of The Boys. Character details are being kept under wraps. but I hear that Schwarzenegger will play Golden Boy, Thomas will portray Polarity and Pigossi will play Dr. Cardosa.
From showrunners Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, the as-yet untitled spinoff, which is now in production, is set at America’s only college exclusively for young-adult superheroes (run by Vought International). The spinoff is described as an irreverent, R-rated series that explores the lives of hormonal, competitive Supes as they put their physical, sexual, and moral boundaries to the test, competing for the best contracts in the best cities. It’s part college show, part Hunger Games— with all the heart, satire, and raunch of The Boys.
Previously announced series regulars include Jaz Sinclair,...
From showrunners Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, the as-yet untitled spinoff, which is now in production, is set at America’s only college exclusively for young-adult superheroes (run by Vought International). The spinoff is described as an irreverent, R-rated series that explores the lives of hormonal, competitive Supes as they put their physical, sexual, and moral boundaries to the test, competing for the best contracts in the best cities. It’s part college show, part Hunger Games— with all the heart, satire, and raunch of The Boys.
Previously announced series regulars include Jaz Sinclair,...
- 5/11/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Rlje Films and Shudder continue to add to their already-impressive horror catalogue and have announced the acquisition of North American rights to Martin Wilson's Great White!
"Los Angeles (April 15, 2021) – Rlje Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, and Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, have acquired the North American rights to the horror/action film, Great White from Altitude Film Sales. Rlje Films plans to release the film in theaters this summer with Shudder premiering the film on its platform later in the year.
Written by Michael Boughen (Dying Breed) and directed by Martin Wilson in his feature debut, Great White stars Katrina Bowden, Aaron Jakubenko (“Tidelands”), Kimie Tsukakoshi (Riptide), Tim Kano (“Neighbours”), and Te Kohe Tuhaka.
“We’ve all been afraid to go back into the water since 1975 and Great White is going to keep us out of the water for years to come,...
"Los Angeles (April 15, 2021) – Rlje Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, and Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, have acquired the North American rights to the horror/action film, Great White from Altitude Film Sales. Rlje Films plans to release the film in theaters this summer with Shudder premiering the film on its platform later in the year.
Written by Michael Boughen (Dying Breed) and directed by Martin Wilson in his feature debut, Great White stars Katrina Bowden, Aaron Jakubenko (“Tidelands”), Kimie Tsukakoshi (Riptide), Tim Kano (“Neighbours”), and Te Kohe Tuhaka.
“We’ve all been afraid to go back into the water since 1975 and Great White is going to keep us out of the water for years to come,...
- 4/16/2021
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Rlje Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, and Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, have acquired the North American rights to the horror/action film, Great White from Altitude Film Sales. Rlje Films plans to release the film in theaters this summer with Shudder premiering the film on its platform later in the year.
Written by Michael Boughen (Dying Breed) and directed by Martin Wilson in his feature debut, Great White stars Katrina Bowden, Aaron Jakubenko (“Tidelands”), Kimie Tsukakoshi (Riptide), Tim Kano (“Neighbours”), and Te Kohe Tuhaka.
“We’ve all been afraid to go back into the water since 1975 and Great White is going to keep us out of the water for years to come,” says Mark Ward, Chief Acquisitions Officer at Rlje Films. “There is no better time than the summer to bring this suspenseful and terrifying new film to audiences.”
In Great White,...
Written by Michael Boughen (Dying Breed) and directed by Martin Wilson in his feature debut, Great White stars Katrina Bowden, Aaron Jakubenko (“Tidelands”), Kimie Tsukakoshi (Riptide), Tim Kano (“Neighbours”), and Te Kohe Tuhaka.
“We’ve all been afraid to go back into the water since 1975 and Great White is going to keep us out of the water for years to come,” says Mark Ward, Chief Acquisitions Officer at Rlje Films. “There is no better time than the summer to bring this suspenseful and terrifying new film to audiences.”
In Great White,...
- 4/16/2021
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Rlje Films and the horror streamer Shudder have acquired the North American rights to “Great White,” a horror film about a killer shark starring “30 Rock” actress Katrina Bowden.
“Great White” is a horror, thriller and supernatural genre film written by Michael Boughen (“Dying Breed”) and directed by Martin Wilson in his feature debut. Rlje Films will release it theatrically this summer, and Shudder will premiere it on its platform later this year.
In “Great White,” a blissful tourist trip turns into a nightmare when five seaplane passengers are stranded miles from shore. In a desperate bid for survival, the group tries to make it to land before they either run out of supplies or are taken by a menacing terror lurking just beneath the surface.
Bowden (“Piranha 3Dd”) stars in “Great White” alongside Aaron Jakubenko (“Tidelands”), Kimie Tsukakoshi (“Riptide”), Tim Kano (“Neighbours”) and Te Kohe Tuhaka.
The producers on “Great White” are Neal Kingston,...
“Great White” is a horror, thriller and supernatural genre film written by Michael Boughen (“Dying Breed”) and directed by Martin Wilson in his feature debut. Rlje Films will release it theatrically this summer, and Shudder will premiere it on its platform later this year.
In “Great White,” a blissful tourist trip turns into a nightmare when five seaplane passengers are stranded miles from shore. In a desperate bid for survival, the group tries to make it to land before they either run out of supplies or are taken by a menacing terror lurking just beneath the surface.
Bowden (“Piranha 3Dd”) stars in “Great White” alongside Aaron Jakubenko (“Tidelands”), Kimie Tsukakoshi (“Riptide”), Tim Kano (“Neighbours”) and Te Kohe Tuhaka.
The producers on “Great White” are Neal Kingston,...
- 4/15/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Josh McKenzie and Chloe De Los Santos are set as series regulars in NBC’s upcoming drama series La Brea.
In La Brea, written by David Appelbaum, when a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens in Los Angeles, it tears a family in half, separating mother (Natalie Zea) and son (Jack Martin) from father (Eoin Macken) and daughter (Zyra Gorecki). When part of the family find themselves in an unexplainable primeval world, alongside a disparate group of strangers, they must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home.
McKenzie will play Lucas. Sarcastic with an air of danger, Lucas has gone down a road of crime and works as a drug dealer. He is on a much different path than his police officer mother, Marybeth.
De Los Santos plays Lilly. At 12 years old,...
In La Brea, written by David Appelbaum, when a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens in Los Angeles, it tears a family in half, separating mother (Natalie Zea) and son (Jack Martin) from father (Eoin Macken) and daughter (Zyra Gorecki). When part of the family find themselves in an unexplainable primeval world, alongside a disparate group of strangers, they must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home.
McKenzie will play Lucas. Sarcastic with an air of danger, Lucas has gone down a road of crime and works as a drug dealer. He is on a much different path than his police officer mother, Marybeth.
De Los Santos plays Lilly. At 12 years old,...
- 4/13/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
This week, actors such as Simon Baker, Bryan Brown and Marta Dusseldorp were in Canberra. Their aim was to convince parliament to introduce rules requiring streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ to spend 20 per cent of their local revenue on new Australian drama, documentary and children’s content.
Many of Australia’s film and television organisations see local content rules as a key way of tackling significant changes that have disrupted business norms and revenue streams. The Federal Government has indicated it supports quotas for some services at least.
Requirements on global services seem an easy answer — and who doesn’t want more Australian TV? — but this call ignores complex realities of how the TV business and its funding have changed.
Before exploring the key differences of 21st century television, let’s consider why pursuing content requirements on streaming services is a high risk, low reward campaign.
Nathalie Morris...
Many of Australia’s film and television organisations see local content rules as a key way of tackling significant changes that have disrupted business norms and revenue streams. The Federal Government has indicated it supports quotas for some services at least.
Requirements on global services seem an easy answer — and who doesn’t want more Australian TV? — but this call ignores complex realities of how the TV business and its funding have changed.
Before exploring the key differences of 21st century television, let’s consider why pursuing content requirements on streaming services is a high risk, low reward campaign.
Nathalie Morris...
- 3/17/2021
- by Anna Potter and Amanda Lotz
- IF.com.au
Fast & Furious actress Elsa Pataky and Holidate‘s Luke Bracey have signed on to star in Interceptor, an action drama that will be released by Netflix.
Matthew Reilly, the Australian action-thriller writer known for books such as Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves, Seven Ancient Wonders, and The Tournament, is on board to direct the feature from a screenplay he wrote with Collateral and Tomorrow, When the War Began screenwriter Stuart Beattie.
The film follows an Army lieutenant who must utilize her years of tactical training and military expertise to save humanity when sixteen nuclear missiles are launched at the U.S., and a violent coordinated attack simultaneously threatens her remote missile interceptor station.
“As those people who have read my novels know, I love telling big action stories that are told at a frenetic pace,” said Reilly. “I wanted to bring that kind of rocket-fast, relentless, high-stakes storytelling to film,...
Matthew Reilly, the Australian action-thriller writer known for books such as Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves, Seven Ancient Wonders, and The Tournament, is on board to direct the feature from a screenplay he wrote with Collateral and Tomorrow, When the War Began screenwriter Stuart Beattie.
The film follows an Army lieutenant who must utilize her years of tactical training and military expertise to save humanity when sixteen nuclear missiles are launched at the U.S., and a violent coordinated attack simultaneously threatens her remote missile interceptor station.
“As those people who have read my novels know, I love telling big action stories that are told at a frenetic pace,” said Reilly. “I wanted to bring that kind of rocket-fast, relentless, high-stakes storytelling to film,...
- 3/4/2021
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Australia is more than capable of producing a worldwide streaming hit, but its creators must first be willing to navigate the cultural parameters of overseas markets, according to local production companies.
At Screen Forever on Wednesday, producers with knowledge of what it takes to win over international audiences came together for a session entitled ‘How Producers can Compete in a Global Screen Ecosystem’.
The discussion began with a presentation from HBO senior vice president of productions and incentives Jay Roewe, who said viewers were increasingly craving content that was craving content that “culturally familiar and relatable”, while noting Australia was a “sought-after destination for productions from all around the world”.
“While 15 countries drive over 90 per cent of all global content expenditure, the bulk of primetime viewing outside of North America is dominated by local homegrown content,” he said.
“Australia has world-class production capabilities and expertise and talent that we look...
At Screen Forever on Wednesday, producers with knowledge of what it takes to win over international audiences came together for a session entitled ‘How Producers can Compete in a Global Screen Ecosystem’.
The discussion began with a presentation from HBO senior vice president of productions and incentives Jay Roewe, who said viewers were increasingly craving content that was craving content that “culturally familiar and relatable”, while noting Australia was a “sought-after destination for productions from all around the world”.
“While 15 countries drive over 90 per cent of all global content expenditure, the bulk of primetime viewing outside of North America is dominated by local homegrown content,” he said.
“Australia has world-class production capabilities and expertise and talent that we look...
- 2/17/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
The streaming giants would be forced to spend on Australian content, the commercial broadcasters offered a new licence system, and the role of the ABC and Sbs in producing local programming formalised, if policies outlined in a new green paper from the Federal Government are adopted.
Released today for industry consultation, the paper, dubbed ‘Modernising television regulation in Australia’ outlines the government’s intended ‘next stage’ of media reform. This is in line with its response to last year’s Accc Digital Platforms Inquiry, when it committed to a “platform-neutral regulatory framework”.
September saw the first step in the reform plan, with announcements including the overhaul of the fixed content quotas on commercial free-to-air, and the harmonisation of the film and TV Producer Offsets at 30 per cent.
At that stage, streaming services were merely asked to begin reporting their Australian acquisitions to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (Acma).
Yet Minister for Communications,...
Released today for industry consultation, the paper, dubbed ‘Modernising television regulation in Australia’ outlines the government’s intended ‘next stage’ of media reform. This is in line with its response to last year’s Accc Digital Platforms Inquiry, when it committed to a “platform-neutral regulatory framework”.
September saw the first step in the reform plan, with announcements including the overhaul of the fixed content quotas on commercial free-to-air, and the harmonisation of the film and TV Producer Offsets at 30 per cent.
At that stage, streaming services were merely asked to begin reporting their Australian acquisitions to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (Acma).
Yet Minister for Communications,...
- 11/27/2020
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Stephen M. Irwin and Leigh McGrath.
After collaborating on multiple projects including Harrow, Tidelands and Secrets & Lies for seven years, creators/showrunners Stephen M. Irwin and Leigh McGrath have launched their own production company.
Funded by Screen Queensland’s Enterprise program, Moving Floor Entertainment has no fewer than 35 projects in development spanning diverse genres and platforms.
The partners intend to serve as showrunners on the projects they create and are looking to work with new and emerging writers, utilising Queensland talent and crew as much as possible.
“Unlike many production companies, Moving Floor is a creative company with a central focus on showrunning,” said Irwin. “As experienced showrunners, writers and producers, we can present to networks, streamers and cable services content where we can quality-control story and production in-house, from the first pitch to the last sound mix.”
The name was inspired by the scene in Steven Spielberg’s...
After collaborating on multiple projects including Harrow, Tidelands and Secrets & Lies for seven years, creators/showrunners Stephen M. Irwin and Leigh McGrath have launched their own production company.
Funded by Screen Queensland’s Enterprise program, Moving Floor Entertainment has no fewer than 35 projects in development spanning diverse genres and platforms.
The partners intend to serve as showrunners on the projects they create and are looking to work with new and emerging writers, utilising Queensland talent and crew as much as possible.
“Unlike many production companies, Moving Floor is a creative company with a central focus on showrunning,” said Irwin. “As experienced showrunners, writers and producers, we can present to networks, streamers and cable services content where we can quality-control story and production in-house, from the first pitch to the last sound mix.”
The name was inspired by the scene in Steven Spielberg’s...
- 8/11/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Hannah Gadsby.
Facing the prospect that the Federal Government will impose local content spending obligations on SVOD services, Netflix asserts it wants the right to negotiate how much it invests over the next three years.
In its submission to the government’s ‘Supporting Australian Stories on Our Screens’ options paper review, the streaming giant proposes a “flexible, reasonably-set voluntary investment model that meets cultural policy goals and incentivises wider investment.”
Netflix rejects option 3, which is favoured by Screen Producers Australia and all industry guilds and would require all delivery platforms to invest a minimum percentage of their Australian revenues into local scripted content, with annual sub-quotas for drama, documentary and children’s programs.
This model has “the potential to cause significant problems for the sector, including the reality that there is currently insufficient physical production capacity for this option to work meaningfully in practice,” it says, which arguably ignores the...
Facing the prospect that the Federal Government will impose local content spending obligations on SVOD services, Netflix asserts it wants the right to negotiate how much it invests over the next three years.
In its submission to the government’s ‘Supporting Australian Stories on Our Screens’ options paper review, the streaming giant proposes a “flexible, reasonably-set voluntary investment model that meets cultural policy goals and incentivises wider investment.”
Netflix rejects option 3, which is favoured by Screen Producers Australia and all industry guilds and would require all delivery platforms to invest a minimum percentage of their Australian revenues into local scripted content, with annual sub-quotas for drama, documentary and children’s programs.
This model has “the potential to cause significant problems for the sector, including the reality that there is currently insufficient physical production capacity for this option to work meaningfully in practice,” it says, which arguably ignores the...
- 7/5/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Netflix has appointed Que Minh Luu as Director, Local Originals for Australia. She is joining from broadcaster ABC and will be based in Sydney.
The exec announced the news on twitter, thanking her former ABC colleagues and adding that she was “ready to get crackin’ on this streaming biz”. Her work at the network included Diary Of An Uber Driver, Retrograde, and The Heights. She previously worked at local producer Matchbox Pictures.
Netflix confirmed the news and stated that Que Minh Luu will be responsible for commissioning its local originals in Australia. The streamer has not commissioned a large amount of Australian original content to date but did have local creme series Tidelands debut on the platform in 2018.
People of Earth,
With sadness, today is my last day at @Abctv.
I am leaving Aunty to join @NetflixANZ as Director, Local Originals for Australia. I am ready to get crackin’ on this streaming biz.
The exec announced the news on twitter, thanking her former ABC colleagues and adding that she was “ready to get crackin’ on this streaming biz”. Her work at the network included Diary Of An Uber Driver, Retrograde, and The Heights. She previously worked at local producer Matchbox Pictures.
Netflix confirmed the news and stated that Que Minh Luu will be responsible for commissioning its local originals in Australia. The streamer has not commissioned a large amount of Australian original content to date but did have local creme series Tidelands debut on the platform in 2018.
People of Earth,
With sadness, today is my last day at @Abctv.
I am leaving Aunty to join @NetflixANZ as Director, Local Originals for Australia. I am ready to get crackin’ on this streaming biz.
- 6/22/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Wattpad, the entertainment company known as a source for original stories, has teamed with Screen Queensland, a Queensland Government-owned company that invests in talent and production to grow a creative, innovative and successful screen industry with a focus on stories and audience. This marks the first Australian partnership for Wattpad.
The partnership combines Screen Queensland and with Wattpad’s data-backed approach to development. The companies will use Wattpad’s Story DNA Machine Learning technology to identify stand-out stories for development from the extensive library from the storytelling platform. The partnership will also allow the companies to use data-backed audience insights throughout the development process.
Screen Queensland and Wattpad will select up to three successful stories from the Wattpad platform and ask Queensland screen industry creatives to submit their “take”. Writers will provide a pitch outlining how they plan to translate their original idea from story to screen for a film and TV adaptation.
The partnership combines Screen Queensland and with Wattpad’s data-backed approach to development. The companies will use Wattpad’s Story DNA Machine Learning technology to identify stand-out stories for development from the extensive library from the storytelling platform. The partnership will also allow the companies to use data-backed audience insights throughout the development process.
Screen Queensland and Wattpad will select up to three successful stories from the Wattpad platform and ask Queensland screen industry creatives to submit their “take”. Writers will provide a pitch outlining how they plan to translate their original idea from story to screen for a film and TV adaptation.
- 6/22/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Screen Queensland, the Queensland state’s film support body, has struck a deal with Canada’s Wattpad to develop stories. Wattpad uses global audience insights and machine learning to find and develop hit projects for screens.
Screen Queensland and Wattpad will select up to three successful stories from the Wattpad platform and ask Queensland screen industry creatives to submit their ‘take’. Writers will provide a pitch outlining how they plan to translate the story to screen. The winning three may then move into further development with the input and feedback of the Wattpad platform audience over the following 12 months. The intention is to identify a project to secure marketplace backing and achieve production in Queensland.
Wattpad currently works with companies like Sony Pictures Television, eOne, Erik Feig’s Picturestart, Bavaria Fiction, Mediaset, Lagardere Studios, Wise Entertainment and Turner LatAm’s Particular Crowd. The company has nearly 50 projects in development, including...
Screen Queensland and Wattpad will select up to three successful stories from the Wattpad platform and ask Queensland screen industry creatives to submit their ‘take’. Writers will provide a pitch outlining how they plan to translate the story to screen. The winning three may then move into further development with the input and feedback of the Wattpad platform audience over the following 12 months. The intention is to identify a project to secure marketplace backing and achieve production in Queensland.
Wattpad currently works with companies like Sony Pictures Television, eOne, Erik Feig’s Picturestart, Bavaria Fiction, Mediaset, Lagardere Studios, Wise Entertainment and Turner LatAm’s Particular Crowd. The company has nearly 50 projects in development, including...
- 6/22/2020
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
In a bid to present a holistic picture to government of how Covid-19 has impacted the screen industry, Screen Producers Australia (Spa) has called on the sector to share how coronavirus has affected their production slate and release schedule, and launched an industry survey.
“Ours is a powerful and enduring industry that has had the resilience to weather many storms. This being said, Covid-19 represents a unique threat to our businesses and workers on a scale we have not faced in living memory – physical production is not a job that can be done from home,” said CEO Matthew Deaner.
“We are already hearing from our members about suspension, delays and terminations for productions including The Voice, Clickbait and Australia’s Got Talent, and we acknowledge that this is merely the tip of the iceberg. While we have issued advice to our members on pragmatic steps to take for health and...
“Ours is a powerful and enduring industry that has had the resilience to weather many storms. This being said, Covid-19 represents a unique threat to our businesses and workers on a scale we have not faced in living memory – physical production is not a job that can be done from home,” said CEO Matthew Deaner.
“We are already hearing from our members about suspension, delays and terminations for productions including The Voice, Clickbait and Australia’s Got Talent, and we acknowledge that this is merely the tip of the iceberg. While we have issued advice to our members on pragmatic steps to take for health and...
- 3/19/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Steven Jones-Evans with Rod Allan, CEO Docklands Studios.
Hotel Mumbai received the accolade for best feature film production design at the 2019 Australian Production Design Guild Awards held at Melba Spiegeltent, Collingwood, on Sunday night.
The other feature film honorees were Judy & Punch, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, Aquaman and Ladies in Black.
The winners in the TV categories were Tidelands, A Place to Call Home season 6 and Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries.
The Twist won the screen animation design prize at the show compered by Adam Elliot, the Academy Award winning creator of Harvie Krumpet.
Grant Slotboom, construction manager of Illusions, was presented with the Canal Road Film Centre Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement for Screen.
The 2019 Apdg Award winners in the screen categories:
Aftrs Award for Student and Emerging Designer for Screen
Sweet Tooth
Emma Bourke, Production Designer
Sabina Myers, Costume Designer
Barry Jarrot, Art Director
Title...
Hotel Mumbai received the accolade for best feature film production design at the 2019 Australian Production Design Guild Awards held at Melba Spiegeltent, Collingwood, on Sunday night.
The other feature film honorees were Judy & Punch, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, Aquaman and Ladies in Black.
The winners in the TV categories were Tidelands, A Place to Call Home season 6 and Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries.
The Twist won the screen animation design prize at the show compered by Adam Elliot, the Academy Award winning creator of Harvie Krumpet.
Grant Slotboom, construction manager of Illusions, was presented with the Canal Road Film Centre Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement for Screen.
The 2019 Apdg Award winners in the screen categories:
Aftrs Award for Student and Emerging Designer for Screen
Sweet Tooth
Emma Bourke, Production Designer
Sabina Myers, Costume Designer
Barry Jarrot, Art Director
Title...
- 12/2/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Tidelands’.
The nominees for this year’s Australian Production Design Guild (Apdg) Awards have been unveiled, with 140 nominees across 19 categories.
Those behind the worlds of Hotel Mumbai, Judy and Punch, Ladies in Black and Storm Boy are in contention for the best production design on a feature film award, while those who helped to put together A Place To Call Home (Season 6), Black Mirror: Striking Vipers, Bloom and Tidelands will vie for the equivalent award in TV/web series.
Overall, Netflix series Tidelands leads with four nominations, while feature films I Am Mother and Ladies In Black have three each.
Apdg president George Liddle said: ‘The guild is thrilled to represent all the talent from the diverse areas of design and to highlight and award the outstanding work produced over the last year in our annual awards.”
Hosted by Mc Adam Eliot, the Apdg Awards will be held on December...
The nominees for this year’s Australian Production Design Guild (Apdg) Awards have been unveiled, with 140 nominees across 19 categories.
Those behind the worlds of Hotel Mumbai, Judy and Punch, Ladies in Black and Storm Boy are in contention for the best production design on a feature film award, while those who helped to put together A Place To Call Home (Season 6), Black Mirror: Striking Vipers, Bloom and Tidelands will vie for the equivalent award in TV/web series.
Overall, Netflix series Tidelands leads with four nominations, while feature films I Am Mother and Ladies In Black have three each.
Apdg president George Liddle said: ‘The guild is thrilled to represent all the talent from the diverse areas of design and to highlight and award the outstanding work produced over the last year in our annual awards.”
Hosted by Mc Adam Eliot, the Apdg Awards will be held on December...
- 11/17/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Katrina Bowden and Aaron Jakubenko.
Us actor Katrina Bowden and Aaron Jakubenko lead the cast of survival thriller Great White, which is now shooting in Queensland.
Scripted by Michael Boughen and directed by Tvc director Martin Wilson in his feature debut, the plot follows five people who are stranded on a seaplane far from shore.
Their challenge is to try to make it to land before they either run out of supplies or are devoured by sharks.
Bowden, who played Florence Fulton in The Bold and the Beautiful and Cerie in 30 Rock, and Jakubenko play the seaplane operators and lovers Kaz Fellows and Charlie Brody.
Cast as the hapless passengers are Tim Kano (Neighbours) as Joji, Kimie Tsukakoshi as his wife Michelle and Te Kohe Tuhaka (The Dead Lands) as the cook Benny.
In their second collaboration following Andrew Traucki’s survival thriller Black Water : Abyss, currently in post,...
Us actor Katrina Bowden and Aaron Jakubenko lead the cast of survival thriller Great White, which is now shooting in Queensland.
Scripted by Michael Boughen and directed by Tvc director Martin Wilson in his feature debut, the plot follows five people who are stranded on a seaplane far from shore.
Their challenge is to try to make it to land before they either run out of supplies or are devoured by sharks.
Bowden, who played Florence Fulton in The Bold and the Beautiful and Cerie in 30 Rock, and Jakubenko play the seaplane operators and lovers Kaz Fellows and Charlie Brody.
Cast as the hapless passengers are Tim Kano (Neighbours) as Joji, Kimie Tsukakoshi as his wife Michelle and Te Kohe Tuhaka (The Dead Lands) as the cook Benny.
In their second collaboration following Andrew Traucki’s survival thriller Black Water : Abyss, currently in post,...
- 11/6/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Lunatics’. (Photo: Amelia Entertainment)
Since 2017, we have been studying the availability of local content on the major subscription streaming services operating in Australia. Our latest report, which examines Netflix, Stan and for the first time, Amazon Prime Video, confirms that the level of local content on these services remains modest, although the number of original productions is growing.
There is also increasing variation between the three services in terms of the kind, age, and genre mix of Australian-made material they carry. The entry of Disney+ and Apple TV+ next month will add new complexity to this rapidly changing market.
We were surprised to learn how much Australian content Amazon Prime Video offers (over 400 Australian titles). However, Amazon is significantly different from Stan and Netflix for several reasons, which make direct comparisons between these services misleading.
Netflix: few local titles, but increasing investment
With an estimated audience of 11 million Australians, Netflix is the clear market leader.
Since 2017, we have been studying the availability of local content on the major subscription streaming services operating in Australia. Our latest report, which examines Netflix, Stan and for the first time, Amazon Prime Video, confirms that the level of local content on these services remains modest, although the number of original productions is growing.
There is also increasing variation between the three services in terms of the kind, age, and genre mix of Australian-made material they carry. The entry of Disney+ and Apple TV+ next month will add new complexity to this rapidly changing market.
We were surprised to learn how much Australian content Amazon Prime Video offers (over 400 Australian titles). However, Amazon is significantly different from Stan and Netflix for several reasons, which make direct comparisons between these services misleading.
Netflix: few local titles, but increasing investment
With an estimated audience of 11 million Australians, Netflix is the clear market leader.
- 10/31/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Hunter Page-Lochard in Les Norton (Photo credit: Tony Mott).
Hunter Page-Lochard has a ready answer when people ask why he speaks with an Ocker accent as Billy Dunne, the former pro boxer turned Kings Cross casino doorman in the ABC’s Les Norton.
While he is proud of his Aboriginal and American heritage, he says: “I don’t want to be labelled as an Indigenous character. I want to fit in the group of the people that I’m appearing with.”
From his first day on the set of the Roadshow Rough Diamond crime caper with Alexander Bertrand, Justin Rosniak and Steve Le Marquand, he sensed this show was going to be special.
“We found our groove and our characters by watching and flowing off each other,” he tells If. “As someone who had never done comedy before, I needed that confidence. Once we got together it was like, ‘Oh my God,...
Hunter Page-Lochard has a ready answer when people ask why he speaks with an Ocker accent as Billy Dunne, the former pro boxer turned Kings Cross casino doorman in the ABC’s Les Norton.
While he is proud of his Aboriginal and American heritage, he says: “I don’t want to be labelled as an Indigenous character. I want to fit in the group of the people that I’m appearing with.”
From his first day on the set of the Roadshow Rough Diamond crime caper with Alexander Bertrand, Justin Rosniak and Steve Le Marquand, he sensed this show was going to be special.
“We found our groove and our characters by watching and flowing off each other,” he tells If. “As someone who had never done comedy before, I needed that confidence. Once we got together it was like, ‘Oh my God,...
- 9/9/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Top End Wedding’ is among the eight films in contention for the feature film Spa Award.
Some 54 production companies are among the finalists for this year’s Screen Producers Australia (Spa) Awards, which span 12 categories across film, TV and interactive.
Eight titles will compete for the feature film gong. The nominees include the highest grossing Australian films of the year, Ambience’s Storm Boy and Goalpost Pictures/Kojo Entertainment’s Top End Wedding. Also in the running are Unicorn Films’ Celeste and Red Dune Films & Deeper Water Films’ Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, as well as four yet to be released films, Blue-Tongue Films’ Judy & Punch, Closer Productions’ Animals, Ticket To Ride’s Standing Up For Sunny and SixFourSixty’s Angel of Mine.
Hoodlum is up twice in the drama series category for Tidelands and Five Bedrooms, as is Matchbox for Glitch and The Heights (the latter together...
Some 54 production companies are among the finalists for this year’s Screen Producers Australia (Spa) Awards, which span 12 categories across film, TV and interactive.
Eight titles will compete for the feature film gong. The nominees include the highest grossing Australian films of the year, Ambience’s Storm Boy and Goalpost Pictures/Kojo Entertainment’s Top End Wedding. Also in the running are Unicorn Films’ Celeste and Red Dune Films & Deeper Water Films’ Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, as well as four yet to be released films, Blue-Tongue Films’ Judy & Punch, Closer Productions’ Animals, Ticket To Ride’s Standing Up For Sunny and SixFourSixty’s Angel of Mine.
Hoodlum is up twice in the drama series category for Tidelands and Five Bedrooms, as is Matchbox for Glitch and The Heights (the latter together...
- 8/19/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Amazon’s series adaptation of The Wheel of Time has added five actors to its cast opposite lead Rosamund Pike. Madeleine Madden, Marcus Rutherford, Barney Harris, Zoë Robins and Josha Stradowski will co-star in the adaptation of Robert Jordan’s fantasy epic.
Set in a sprawling, epic world where magic exists and only certain women are allowed to access it, the story follows Moiraine, a member of the incredibly powerful all-female organization called the Aes Sedai, as she arrives in the small town of Two Rivers. There, she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women, one of whom is prophesied to be the Dragon Reborn, who will either save or destroy humanity.
Madden (Tidelands) will play Egwene Al’Vere in the series co-produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television. Rutherford (Obey) it set as Perrin Aybara,
Harris (Clique) is Mat Cauthon, Robins (Power Rangers Ninja Steel) will play Nynaeve,...
Set in a sprawling, epic world where magic exists and only certain women are allowed to access it, the story follows Moiraine, a member of the incredibly powerful all-female organization called the Aes Sedai, as she arrives in the small town of Two Rivers. There, she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women, one of whom is prophesied to be the Dragon Reborn, who will either save or destroy humanity.
Madden (Tidelands) will play Egwene Al’Vere in the series co-produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television. Rutherford (Obey) it set as Perrin Aybara,
Harris (Clique) is Mat Cauthon, Robins (Power Rangers Ninja Steel) will play Nynaeve,...
- 8/14/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Tracey Vieira.
Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira has resigned, and will leave the agency at the end of August after five and a half years.
Vieira was appointed CEO in February 2014, having previously been based in La as Ausfilm executive vice president international. Prior to that she was the executive manager of locations for the Pacific Film and Television Commission. Vieira was contracted to the CEO position until early 2020.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk thanked Vieira for her leadership of the funding body, noting last year was a record year for the state with 32 productions generating $262 million for the state economy and creating 2,600 jobs.
“Queensland’s screen industry has never been stronger,” the Premier said. “That’s thanks to Tracey.”
Vieira said she is incredibly proud to have been part of the Screen Queensland team, noting it was time to pass leadership into new hands.
“I came into the role during...
Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira has resigned, and will leave the agency at the end of August after five and a half years.
Vieira was appointed CEO in February 2014, having previously been based in La as Ausfilm executive vice president international. Prior to that she was the executive manager of locations for the Pacific Film and Television Commission. Vieira was contracted to the CEO position until early 2020.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk thanked Vieira for her leadership of the funding body, noting last year was a record year for the state with 32 productions generating $262 million for the state economy and creating 2,600 jobs.
“Queensland’s screen industry has never been stronger,” the Premier said. “That’s thanks to Tracey.”
Vieira said she is incredibly proud to have been part of the Screen Queensland team, noting it was time to pass leadership into new hands.
“I came into the role during...
- 7/11/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Labor has attacked the federal government for five and a half years of inaction over screen sector reforms while the Australian Greens have advocated a suite of measures to support the industry.
The Greens urged the government to impose a local content quota of at least 10 per cent on streaming services, harmonise the Producer Offset at 40 per cent and raise the Location Offset to 30 per cent.
The removal of the 65-hour cap for the Producer Offset, closing the New Zealand content ‘loophole,’ maintaining the existing content quota system and establishing terms of trade between broadcasters and producers were among the Greens’ proposals – all policies advocated by Screen Producers Australia.
Labor Senators accused the government of failing to articulate an agenda or vision for the Australian screen and music sectors and of cutting funding for public broadcasting by about $500 million.
They called on the government to ensure appropriate...
Labor has attacked the federal government for five and a half years of inaction over screen sector reforms while the Australian Greens have advocated a suite of measures to support the industry.
The Greens urged the government to impose a local content quota of at least 10 per cent on streaming services, harmonise the Producer Offset at 40 per cent and raise the Location Offset to 30 per cent.
The removal of the 65-hour cap for the Producer Offset, closing the New Zealand content ‘loophole,’ maintaining the existing content quota system and establishing terms of trade between broadcasters and producers were among the Greens’ proposals – all policies advocated by Screen Producers Australia.
Labor Senators accused the government of failing to articulate an agenda or vision for the Australian screen and music sectors and of cutting funding for public broadcasting by about $500 million.
They called on the government to ensure appropriate...
- 3/26/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
(L-r) Jai Courtney, Finn Little and Shawn Seet.
Shawn Seet was 12 when he saw Henri Safran’s Storm Boy, the 1976 family drama based on Colin Thiele’s acclaimed novel.
The director was born in Australia but lived in Malaysia until he was 12. His uncle took him to the movie which made such an impression he kept the film’s poster, which still adorns his bedroom.
So when producers, Ambience Entertainment’s Michael Boughen and Matthew Street asked him to direct a contemporary re-imagining of the movie, he did not hesitate.
“It was amazing,” Seet tells If. “I asked them, ‘Do you know my history?’ Safran’s film was wonderful, a classic, and as I left the meeting I wondered if I had what it takes to pull it off.”
Enthusiastic responses to previews staged by Sony Pictures and screenings at the St George OpenAir Cinema suggest he’s nailed it.
Shawn Seet was 12 when he saw Henri Safran’s Storm Boy, the 1976 family drama based on Colin Thiele’s acclaimed novel.
The director was born in Australia but lived in Malaysia until he was 12. His uncle took him to the movie which made such an impression he kept the film’s poster, which still adorns his bedroom.
So when producers, Ambience Entertainment’s Michael Boughen and Matthew Street asked him to direct a contemporary re-imagining of the movie, he did not hesitate.
“It was amazing,” Seet tells If. “I asked them, ‘Do you know my history?’ Safran’s film was wonderful, a classic, and as I left the meeting I wondered if I had what it takes to pull it off.”
Enthusiastic responses to previews staged by Sony Pictures and screenings at the St George OpenAir Cinema suggest he’s nailed it.
- 1/15/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Deanne Weir.
Given the commercial pressures facing Australia’s free-to-air networks and funding agencies, the industry should look to private investors to fill the widening gap in financing TV dramas and features, according to Deanne Weir.
The chair of Hoodlum Entertainment who also runs her own investment company, Weir is talking to Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason about how to encourage private investment in the screen sector.
“We have to find ways to create an investor class, particularly as the financing gap in television becomes more of an issue,” she tells If. “We have to help producers become more pro-active and to educate private investors.”
In the final part of If’s series on the challenges and opportunities for the screen industry, If also spoke to Animal Logic CEO Zareh Nalbandian and Ausfilm CEO Debra Richards.
Pre-production has started in Sydney on Will Gluck’s Peter Rabbit 2, a co-production between...
Given the commercial pressures facing Australia’s free-to-air networks and funding agencies, the industry should look to private investors to fill the widening gap in financing TV dramas and features, according to Deanne Weir.
The chair of Hoodlum Entertainment who also runs her own investment company, Weir is talking to Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason about how to encourage private investment in the screen sector.
“We have to find ways to create an investor class, particularly as the financing gap in television becomes more of an issue,” she tells If. “We have to help producers become more pro-active and to educate private investors.”
In the final part of If’s series on the challenges and opportunities for the screen industry, If also spoke to Animal Logic CEO Zareh Nalbandian and Ausfilm CEO Debra Richards.
Pre-production has started in Sydney on Will Gluck’s Peter Rabbit 2, a co-production between...
- 1/11/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Netflix's new series Tidelands is a first for the streaming platform: it's the inaugural Australian series to be exclusively produced and distributed on Netflix! The new fantasy mystery centers on a small Aussie fishing village where a mysterious death leads an investigator to discover that the townspeople are actually magical creatures: half siren, half human. It's an intriguing concept, but will we see a second season?
So far, nothing has been confirmed by either Netflix or the creative team, but Netflix's history with both international series and supernatural shows could be a clue. This is the first Australian Netflix original, but the platform has produced original series with several other countries, from Britain's The Crown to Spain's Cable Girls and Germany's Dark. These shows have had a range of receptions, but it seems like the more a show can make its own brand, the better it does. Tidelands'...
So far, nothing has been confirmed by either Netflix or the creative team, but Netflix's history with both international series and supernatural shows could be a clue. This is the first Australian Netflix original, but the platform has produced original series with several other countries, from Britain's The Crown to Spain's Cable Girls and Germany's Dark. These shows have had a range of receptions, but it seems like the more a show can make its own brand, the better it does. Tidelands'...
- 12/17/2018
- by Amanda Prahl
- Popsugar.com
This weekly feature is in addition to TVLine’s daily What to Watch listings.
With nearly 500 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable, streaming and whatever “Pluto TV” is, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.
Below you’ll find a whopping 33 (!) fall finales (including NCIS and Superstore), eight holiday specials (including Sabrina‘s standalone Christmas episode) and so much more.
With nearly 500 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable, streaming and whatever “Pluto TV” is, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.
Below you’ll find a whopping 33 (!) fall finales (including NCIS and Superstore), eight holiday specials (including Sabrina‘s standalone Christmas episode) and so much more.
- 12/8/2018
- TVLine.com
Netflix has confirmed that 64 new original series, movies and specials will be debuting on the streaming service in December, including the red-hot Oscar contender “Roma.” Among the returning shows are the second half of season 3 of “The Ranch” and season 4 of “Fuller House.”
Available December 1
“8 Mile”
“Astro Boy”
“Battle” (Netflix original)
“Bride of Chucky”
“Christine”
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”
“Crossroads: One Two Jaga” (Netflix original)
“Friday”
“Friday After Next”
“Hellboy”
“Man vs Wild with Sunny Leone,” Season 1
“Meet Joe Black”
“Memories of the Alhambra” (Netflix original)
“My Bloody Valentine”
“Next Friday”
“Reindeer Games”
“Seven Pounds”
“Shaun of the Dead”
“Terminator Salvation”
“The Big Lebowski”
“The Great British Baking Show: Masterclass,” Season 5 Masterclasses
“The Last Dragon”
“The Man Who Knew Too Little”
Available December 2
“The Lobster”
Available December 3
“Blue Planet II,” Season 1
“Hero Mask” (Netflix original)
“The Sound of Your Heart: Reboot,” Season 2 (Netflix original)
Available December 4
“District 9”
Available December 6
“Happy!
Available December 1
“8 Mile”
“Astro Boy”
“Battle” (Netflix original)
“Bride of Chucky”
“Christine”
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”
“Crossroads: One Two Jaga” (Netflix original)
“Friday”
“Friday After Next”
“Hellboy”
“Man vs Wild with Sunny Leone,” Season 1
“Meet Joe Black”
“Memories of the Alhambra” (Netflix original)
“My Bloody Valentine”
“Next Friday”
“Reindeer Games”
“Seven Pounds”
“Shaun of the Dead”
“Terminator Salvation”
“The Big Lebowski”
“The Great British Baking Show: Masterclass,” Season 5 Masterclasses
“The Last Dragon”
“The Man Who Knew Too Little”
Available December 2
“The Lobster”
Available December 3
“Blue Planet II,” Season 1
“Hero Mask” (Netflix original)
“The Sound of Your Heart: Reboot,” Season 2 (Netflix original)
Available December 4
“District 9”
Available December 6
“Happy!
- 12/1/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
If you thought the only thing you had to worry about in the water was the Meg, think again. Fast and the Furious's Elsa Pataky stars in Netflix's latest original, Tidelands - an Australian series that promises a tantalizing murder mystery with a dash of the supernatural mixed in.
In the first trailer, above, we meet Cal (Charlotte Best), a young woman returning home to her small hometown village of Orphelin Bay after 10 years in juvenile detention. But her happy homecoming is short-lived when a local fisherman washes up dead onshore, igniting an investigation into the community's secretive group of outcasts, who call themselves "Tidelanders."
Pataky leads the group as the alluring Adrielle Cuthbert, whose tribe is suspected of being half-human, half-Sirens suspected of luring fisherman to their deaths. With Cal and the town's constable (Mattias Inwood) on Adrielle's trail, things are bound to get crazy. Watch the first...
In the first trailer, above, we meet Cal (Charlotte Best), a young woman returning home to her small hometown village of Orphelin Bay after 10 years in juvenile detention. But her happy homecoming is short-lived when a local fisherman washes up dead onshore, igniting an investigation into the community's secretive group of outcasts, who call themselves "Tidelanders."
Pataky leads the group as the alluring Adrielle Cuthbert, whose tribe is suspected of being half-human, half-Sirens suspected of luring fisherman to their deaths. With Cal and the town's constable (Mattias Inwood) on Adrielle's trail, things are bound to get crazy. Watch the first...
- 11/30/2018
- by Quinn Keaney
- Popsugar.com
"Tidelands", named after a race of 'half-humans', is a 10-episode Australian TV series, written, created by Stephen M. Irwin and Leigh McGrath for Hoodlum Entertainment, starring Charlotte Best, Dustin Clare and Chloe De Los Santos, streaming on Netflix, December 14, 2018:
"...a female, former criminal innocently returns home to her small fishing village of 'Orphelin Bay'.
"But when the body of a local fisherman washes ashore, she must uncover the town's secrets while investigating strange inhabitants, made up of powerful 'siren'/humans known as the 'Tidelanders'..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Tidelands"...
"...a female, former criminal innocently returns home to her small fishing village of 'Orphelin Bay'.
"But when the body of a local fisherman washes ashore, she must uncover the town's secrets while investigating strange inhabitants, made up of powerful 'siren'/humans known as the 'Tidelanders'..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Tidelands"...
- 11/23/2018
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
"What is she hiding?" Netflix has just released a new trailer and key art for their upcoming TV show, Tidelands.
The Australian drama "follows Cal McTeer, played by Charlotte Best, a young woman who returns home to the small fishing village of Orphelin Bay after ten years in juvenile detention then jail." The cast also includes Elsa Pataky, Aaron Jakubenko, Peter O'Brien, and Marco Pigossi.
Read More…...
The Australian drama "follows Cal McTeer, played by Charlotte Best, a young woman who returns home to the small fishing village of Orphelin Bay after ten years in juvenile detention then jail." The cast also includes Elsa Pataky, Aaron Jakubenko, Peter O'Brien, and Marco Pigossi.
Read More…...
- 11/22/2018
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
If a group of mystical beings ascended from the ocean and insisted they now controlled your town and everyone in it, would you push back at all? That’s the central question at the heart of “Tidelands,” a new Australian Netflix series that sees modern-day sirens planning to overtake the community of Orphelin Bay. Of course, there are skeptics, people who are wary of these new “tidelanders” coming to infiltrate everything.
Then, guys show up murdered, sprawled out on the tops of cars. There are guns involved. Bad news ahead for Orphelin Bay, it looks like. As the people of the town figure out who to trust, old legends and new obsessions form the backbone for a series that looks like it’ll fill the “Siren”-sized hole in the hearts of all those Freeform viewers.
“Tidelands” is yet another international series designed to load up Netflix’s queue of...
Then, guys show up murdered, sprawled out on the tops of cars. There are guns involved. Bad news ahead for Orphelin Bay, it looks like. As the people of the town figure out who to trust, old legends and new obsessions form the backbone for a series that looks like it’ll fill the “Siren”-sized hole in the hearts of all those Freeform viewers.
“Tidelands” is yet another international series designed to load up Netflix’s queue of...
- 11/21/2018
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Nicole Kidman isn’t ruling out the possibility of a third season of Big Little Lies (Season 2 of the Emmy-winning smash bows in 2019). Although the actress concedes that “it would be hard to get the whole group together” again, she tells our sister site Variety, “we would love to do it.”
Kidman also confesses that she was “terrified” working alongside new Season 2 addition Meryl Streep (who plays her character Celeste’s mother-in-law). “You’re acting opposite the great one,” she shares. “I get nervous anyway — but to be opposite her and not want her to think, ‘Who is this amateur?...
Kidman also confesses that she was “terrified” working alongside new Season 2 addition Meryl Streep (who plays her character Celeste’s mother-in-law). “You’re acting opposite the great one,” she shares. “I get nervous anyway — but to be opposite her and not want her to think, ‘Who is this amateur?...
- 11/21/2018
- TVLine.com
Netflix is heading down under for its first Australian original series, Tidelands. The supernatural crime drama offers a dark twist on the mermaid, though you probably won’t hear anyone speak that word in the first Tidelands season 1 trailer. Tidelands Season 1 Trailer “This place isn’t normal.” You won’t find your usual small town drama in Tidelands, which stars […]
The post ‘Tidelands’ Season 1 Trailer: Maybe There’s a Siren in the Water appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Tidelands’ Season 1 Trailer: Maybe There’s a Siren in the Water appeared first on /Film.
- 10/23/2018
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
Catriona McKenzie.
Catriona McKenzie launched her production company Dark Horse last month in part because she feels she’s now in a position to give practitioners from diverse backgrounds a leg up in their careers.
McKenzie has worked extensively as director, including feature film Satellite Boy, which she also wrote and produced, and on series such as Tidelands, Harrow, The Warriors, Dance Academy, The Circuit, Redfern Now and The Gods of Wheat Street, as well ABC iview’s Kiki and Kitty and Wrong Kind Of Black.
She is also the first Indigenous Australian woman to direct series television in the Us, having recently worked on Shadowhunters for Freeform, and is a member of the Directors Guild of America.
While McKenzie already has several projects on her slate, Dark Horse won’t just be a vehicle for her own work. Rather, she tells If she feels she’s now at stage...
Catriona McKenzie launched her production company Dark Horse last month in part because she feels she’s now in a position to give practitioners from diverse backgrounds a leg up in their careers.
McKenzie has worked extensively as director, including feature film Satellite Boy, which she also wrote and produced, and on series such as Tidelands, Harrow, The Warriors, Dance Academy, The Circuit, Redfern Now and The Gods of Wheat Street, as well ABC iview’s Kiki and Kitty and Wrong Kind Of Black.
She is also the first Indigenous Australian woman to direct series television in the Us, having recently worked on Shadowhunters for Freeform, and is a member of the Directors Guild of America.
While McKenzie already has several projects on her slate, Dark Horse won’t just be a vehicle for her own work. Rather, she tells If she feels she’s now at stage...
- 10/2/2018
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
South Australia is small, but it packs a punch.
According to data from Screen Australia’s most recent Drama Report, in the five financial years from 2012-13 to 2016-17, South Australia captured on average 5 per cent of drama production expenditure in Australia. However, the state’s output often ranks among the most country’s most notable.
In recent years, the South Australian Film Corporation (often alongside the Adelaide Film Festival) has supported feature films like Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale and The Babadook, Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai, Yolanda Ramke and Ben Howling’s Cargo, Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country and Samson and Delilah, Sophie Hyde’s 52 Tuesdays, Rosemary Myers’ Girl Asleep, Rolf de Heer’s Charlie’s Country, John Curran’s Tracks and Jeremy Sims’ Last Cab to Darwin. Upcoming Sa projects also include Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding and Shawn Seet’s reimagining of Storm Boy.
The...
According to data from Screen Australia’s most recent Drama Report, in the five financial years from 2012-13 to 2016-17, South Australia captured on average 5 per cent of drama production expenditure in Australia. However, the state’s output often ranks among the most country’s most notable.
In recent years, the South Australian Film Corporation (often alongside the Adelaide Film Festival) has supported feature films like Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale and The Babadook, Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai, Yolanda Ramke and Ben Howling’s Cargo, Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country and Samson and Delilah, Sophie Hyde’s 52 Tuesdays, Rosemary Myers’ Girl Asleep, Rolf de Heer’s Charlie’s Country, John Curran’s Tracks and Jeremy Sims’ Last Cab to Darwin. Upcoming Sa projects also include Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding and Shawn Seet’s reimagining of Storm Boy.
The...
- 9/25/2018
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Damien Garvey and Mark Mitchinson in ‘Rake’.
As a regular in the ABC’s Rake since the second series, Damien Garvey has a ready explanation as to why the fifth series is the last.
“This series plays more like a documentary than a satire,” says Garvey, who plays Cal McGregor, the resilient former government minister, jailbird and now blow-hard TV show host.
“The scripts were written 12 or 15 months ago, depicting the most ridiculous scenes. Now you turn on the TV and what you see is very similar. You can’t make up enough stories like that about politics anymore.”
In Sunday night’s episode Cal was offered a vacant seat in the House and a ministerial portfolio while his ambitious wife Jane (Sonia Todd) has her eyes on the seat.
Garvey is a huge admirer of Richard Roxburgh – “he works very hard on the show” – and co-creator Peter Duncan and...
As a regular in the ABC’s Rake since the second series, Damien Garvey has a ready explanation as to why the fifth series is the last.
“This series plays more like a documentary than a satire,” says Garvey, who plays Cal McGregor, the resilient former government minister, jailbird and now blow-hard TV show host.
“The scripts were written 12 or 15 months ago, depicting the most ridiculous scenes. Now you turn on the TV and what you see is very similar. You can’t make up enough stories like that about politics anymore.”
In Sunday night’s episode Cal was offered a vacant seat in the House and a ministerial portfolio while his ambitious wife Jane (Sonia Todd) has her eyes on the seat.
Garvey is a huge admirer of Richard Roxburgh – “he works very hard on the show” – and co-creator Peter Duncan and...
- 9/9/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Former Rectify star Aden Young and True Blood alum Sam Trammell are set to headline Reckoning, a 10-episode straight-to-series psychological thriller drama, from writer David Hubbard (Noel), veteran showrunner David Eick (Falling Skies) and Sony Pictures Television Networks.
Rounding out the ensemble cast are Simone Kessell, Laura Gordon, Gloria Garayua Mitzi Ruhlmann, Milly Alcock, Ed Oxenbould, Finn Little, Anthony Phelan and Diana Glenn.
Produced by Sony Pictures TV-owned Australian company Playmaker (The Code), Reckoning began production this week in Sydney for premiere next year on Sptn’s international channels, including Axn, in select territories in Europe and Latin America. Set in California, the 10-episode series is being filmed and wholly produced and post-produced in Australia.
Rounding out the ensemble cast are Simone Kessell, Laura Gordon, Gloria Garayua Mitzi Ruhlmann, Milly Alcock, Ed Oxenbould, Finn Little, Anthony Phelan and Diana Glenn.
Produced by Sony Pictures TV-owned Australian company Playmaker (The Code), Reckoning began production this week in Sydney for premiere next year on Sptn’s international channels, including Axn, in select territories in Europe and Latin America. Set in California, the 10-episode series is being filmed and wholly produced and post-produced in Australia.
- 7/10/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Yeah, sure, Chris Hemsworth and Matt Damon are hot and all, but guess what? They're even better together! On Thursday, the pals whipped off their shirts and enjoyed a fun beach day in Queensland, Australia. Matt was joined by his beautiful wife, Luciana, while Chris brought along some of his family. Matt kicked back with a beer and even hit the waves for a surf session, and Chris soaked up the sun on the beach with a bag of chips. Missing from the fun, though, was Chris's wife, Elsa Pataky, who's currently shooting her new Netflix series, Tidelands.
Of course, this isn't the first time we've seen Chris and Matt together this year. The longtime pals also reunited at the beach in Byron Bay, Australia, for Easter in April. Ok, now how do we join this friend group?
Related: 21 Chris Hemsworth Shirtless Photos That Will Do Unspeakable Things to Your...
Of course, this isn't the first time we've seen Chris and Matt together this year. The longtime pals also reunited at the beach in Byron Bay, Australia, for Easter in April. Ok, now how do we join this friend group?
Related: 21 Chris Hemsworth Shirtless Photos That Will Do Unspeakable Things to Your...
- 6/3/2018
- by Monica Sisavat
- Popsugar.com
Kate Dennis..
Kate Dennis, one of the large band of Australian directors who have been forging successful careers in the Us, is coming home to direct Harrow, Hoodlum Entertainment.s 10-part crime drama.
Hoodlum.s Los Angeles-based CEO Tracey Robertson will produce the series commissioned by the ABC and the international distributor, Disney.s ABC Studios International, with Hoodlum co-founder Nathan Mayfield and Leigh McGrath.
Co-created by writer Stephen M. Irwin (Australia Day, Wake in Fright, Secrets & Lies) and. McGrath (Australia Day, Secrets & Lies, Strange Calls), the drama centers on a brilliant forensic pathologist who solves cases while harbouring a dark secret. The lead is yet to be announced. Shooting is due to start in Brisbane on August 7, supported by Screen Queensland.
Dennis moved to L.A. in 2014 to direct Hoodlum.s Us remake of Secrets and Lies for the ABC network, followed by episodes of CSI: Cyber for CBS and AMC.s Turn.
Kate Dennis, one of the large band of Australian directors who have been forging successful careers in the Us, is coming home to direct Harrow, Hoodlum Entertainment.s 10-part crime drama.
Hoodlum.s Los Angeles-based CEO Tracey Robertson will produce the series commissioned by the ABC and the international distributor, Disney.s ABC Studios International, with Hoodlum co-founder Nathan Mayfield and Leigh McGrath.
Co-created by writer Stephen M. Irwin (Australia Day, Wake in Fright, Secrets & Lies) and. McGrath (Australia Day, Secrets & Lies, Strange Calls), the drama centers on a brilliant forensic pathologist who solves cases while harbouring a dark secret. The lead is yet to be announced. Shooting is due to start in Brisbane on August 7, supported by Screen Queensland.
Dennis moved to L.A. in 2014 to direct Hoodlum.s Us remake of Secrets and Lies for the ABC network, followed by episodes of CSI: Cyber for CBS and AMC.s Turn.
- 7/4/2017
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Hoodlum CEO and co-founder Tracey Robertson..
In a rare if not unique arrangement for an Australian-based production company, Hoodlum Entertainment has signed a worldwide first-look deal with Disney.s ABC Studios International.
.The global nature of the deal may well be the first for an Australian company although NBCUniversal and Sony both have footprints in Australia,. Hoodlum CEO Tracey Robertson told If, referring to NBCUniversal.s Matchbox Pictures and Sony.s Playmaker Media.
.The deal allows us to be a lot more flexible about a project and place it where we think it may fit and have a partner who is interested working with us to exploit it across international territories..
The two companies first collaborated on the Us version of the Australian ratings hit Secrets and Lies, which ran for two seasons on the ABC network.
That is followed by the co-production Harrow, which marks the first move into...
In a rare if not unique arrangement for an Australian-based production company, Hoodlum Entertainment has signed a worldwide first-look deal with Disney.s ABC Studios International.
.The global nature of the deal may well be the first for an Australian company although NBCUniversal and Sony both have footprints in Australia,. Hoodlum CEO Tracey Robertson told If, referring to NBCUniversal.s Matchbox Pictures and Sony.s Playmaker Media.
.The deal allows us to be a lot more flexible about a project and place it where we think it may fit and have a partner who is interested working with us to exploit it across international territories..
The two companies first collaborated on the Us version of the Australian ratings hit Secrets and Lies, which ran for two seasons on the ABC network.
That is followed by the co-production Harrow, which marks the first move into...
- 6/25/2017
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
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