Barry Pepper takes the lead in feature film “Bring Him to Me,” which is now shooting in Queensland, Australia, under director Luke Sparke (“Occupation Rainfall”). The picture is a mob thriller written by Tom Evans and which also stars Sam Neill and Rachel Griffiths.
Under orders from a ruthless crime boss, a getaway driver must battle his conscience and drive a young and unsuspecting passenger to an uncertain fate. Evans’ script was inspired by the traumatic scene in Martin Scorsese’s “Casino” in which Nicky Santoro (portrayed by Joe Pesci) unwittingly turns up for a meeting in a cornfield and things go South.
“I’ve been fascinated by morally gray stories like ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Drive,’ so when presented with the chance to dive deep into the underworld, I couldn’t resist bringing my own flavor to the genre, toeing the lines of film noir and graphic novels,” said Sparke.
Under orders from a ruthless crime boss, a getaway driver must battle his conscience and drive a young and unsuspecting passenger to an uncertain fate. Evans’ script was inspired by the traumatic scene in Martin Scorsese’s “Casino” in which Nicky Santoro (portrayed by Joe Pesci) unwittingly turns up for a meeting in a cornfield and things go South.
“I’ve been fascinated by morally gray stories like ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Drive,’ so when presented with the chance to dive deep into the underworld, I couldn’t resist bringing my own flavor to the genre, toeing the lines of film noir and graphic novels,” said Sparke.
- 12/7/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Film Mode Entertainment has inked a multi-project distribution deal with Australian director/producer Luke Sparke’s company Sparke Films.
Among the titles Film Mode will represent worldwide are Sparke’s upcoming projects “Weapons of Choice,” an adaptation of John Birmingham’s World War Two trilogy “Axis of Time” and “Primitive War,” a horror feature franchise based on Ethan Pettus’ book series.
Film Mode will also handle worldwide sales rights for “Occupation: Rainfall 2” and “Occupation: Rainfall 3” – the third and fourth films in Sparke’s franchise – as well as a number of other projects still in development.
“Occupation: Rainfall 2” and “Occupation: Rainfall 3” are currently in pre-production and will be announced in advance of Cannes.
Sparke and Film Mode owner Clay Epstein previously worked together on “Occupation: Rainfall” (pictured above), which starred Ken Jeong and Jason Isaacs. Film Mode sold the feature, which is the second in the Occupation franchise, to dozens of...
Among the titles Film Mode will represent worldwide are Sparke’s upcoming projects “Weapons of Choice,” an adaptation of John Birmingham’s World War Two trilogy “Axis of Time” and “Primitive War,” a horror feature franchise based on Ethan Pettus’ book series.
Film Mode will also handle worldwide sales rights for “Occupation: Rainfall 2” and “Occupation: Rainfall 3” – the third and fourth films in Sparke’s franchise – as well as a number of other projects still in development.
“Occupation: Rainfall 2” and “Occupation: Rainfall 3” are currently in pre-production and will be announced in advance of Cannes.
Sparke and Film Mode owner Clay Epstein previously worked together on “Occupation: Rainfall” (pictured above), which starred Ken Jeong and Jason Isaacs. Film Mode sold the feature, which is the second in the Occupation franchise, to dozens of...
- 3/15/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
For actor Zac Garred, starring in the long-awaited and much-delayed Australian Gangster was like “going to a really cool party and not being able to tell anyone about it”.
The Roadshow Rough Diamond series, written and directed by Gregor Jordan, premieres tonight on the Seven Network some three years after it was shot, with delays due to legal reasons.
Inspired by true events, Alexander Bertrand leads the show as Pasquale “Pas” Barbaro, who grew up in an organised crime family. He is released from jail, but not before making an enemy of fellow inmate and Brothers For Life member, Mohammed “Little Crazy” Hamzy (Rahel Romahn).
The newly-freed Barbaro is not concerned about playing it safe or hiding in the shadows. He is, however, concerned about looking good on Instagram.
The supporting cast includes Steve Bestoni, Louisa Mignone, Karla Tonkich and Salvatore Coco.
Given legal sensitivities, when he speaks to If,...
The Roadshow Rough Diamond series, written and directed by Gregor Jordan, premieres tonight on the Seven Network some three years after it was shot, with delays due to legal reasons.
Inspired by true events, Alexander Bertrand leads the show as Pasquale “Pas” Barbaro, who grew up in an organised crime family. He is released from jail, but not before making an enemy of fellow inmate and Brothers For Life member, Mohammed “Little Crazy” Hamzy (Rahel Romahn).
The newly-freed Barbaro is not concerned about playing it safe or hiding in the shadows. He is, however, concerned about looking good on Instagram.
The supporting cast includes Steve Bestoni, Louisa Mignone, Karla Tonkich and Salvatore Coco.
Given legal sensitivities, when he speaks to If,...
- 9/13/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Given the WWII setting of author John Birmingham’s Axis of Time book trilogy, it’s fitting that filmmaker Luke Sparke became inspired to work on a television adaptation while working on a project detailing the same era.
While he read the first book, Weapons of Choice, upon its release in 2004, Sparke told If it wasn’t until he came across the series again at Brisbane Airport while en route to join the costume and wardrobe department on mini-series The Pacific in 2007 that the potential of the subject matter dawned on him.
“I picked it up and read it on the plane and couldn’t put it down,” he said.
“That’s when the gears starting turning that it would make a good TV show, but at the time I wasn’t in any position to create one.
“I kept the book, which is the copy I am using to do all my notes in.
While he read the first book, Weapons of Choice, upon its release in 2004, Sparke told If it wasn’t until he came across the series again at Brisbane Airport while en route to join the costume and wardrobe department on mini-series The Pacific in 2007 that the potential of the subject matter dawned on him.
“I picked it up and read it on the plane and couldn’t put it down,” he said.
“That’s when the gears starting turning that it would make a good TV show, but at the time I wasn’t in any position to create one.
“I kept the book, which is the copy I am using to do all my notes in.
- 9/13/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Exclusive: John Birmingham’s World War II alternate history book trilogy Axis of Time is set for a television adaptation.
Luke Sparke, the Australian writer/director behind the sci-fi feature franchise Occupation, has optioned the rights via his Sparke Films banner and will write the adaptation.
Weapons of Choice, the first book in the series was published by Macmillan in 2004, and the trilogy deals with a radical rip in the fabric of time when a technologically advanced naval task force from the near future is accidentally transported back through time to 1942, landing in the middle of WWII.
The series will feature all three books, including Designated Targets and Final Impact.
The project is a collaboration between Sparke and co-writer Jay Thames, who appeared in Sons of Anarchy. Carly Imrie and Carmel Imrie will produce, alongside Trimax Media’s Alan Glazier (Get Smart) and Zachary Garred (Occupation Rainfall).
The books begin...
Luke Sparke, the Australian writer/director behind the sci-fi feature franchise Occupation, has optioned the rights via his Sparke Films banner and will write the adaptation.
Weapons of Choice, the first book in the series was published by Macmillan in 2004, and the trilogy deals with a radical rip in the fabric of time when a technologically advanced naval task force from the near future is accidentally transported back through time to 1942, landing in the middle of WWII.
The series will feature all three books, including Designated Targets and Final Impact.
The project is a collaboration between Sparke and co-writer Jay Thames, who appeared in Sons of Anarchy. Carly Imrie and Carmel Imrie will produce, alongside Trimax Media’s Alan Glazier (Get Smart) and Zachary Garred (Occupation Rainfall).
The books begin...
- 9/3/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Producer Bec Dakin realises that aiming to raise up to $150,000 via crowdfunding for a $3 million comedy adapted from a John Birmingham novel is a very tall order, but that.s not the point.
The primary aim of the Pozible campaign, she says, is to build a fan base for The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco, which will pay off when the film is released in cinemas and on digital platforms.
It will be the second feature from Dakin (whose debut was 2008 crime thriller The Horseman) and the first from director Zenon Kohler, who has directed TV commercials and shorts.
.We are starting to build a fan base and we will take them on the journey,. said Dakin, whose day job is a producer at Brisbane-based Cutting Edge, where Kohler is creative director. The screenplay is by Karl Maher, who writes TVCs for an advertising agency.
"It's about starting to share the film...
The primary aim of the Pozible campaign, she says, is to build a fan base for The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco, which will pay off when the film is released in cinemas and on digital platforms.
It will be the second feature from Dakin (whose debut was 2008 crime thriller The Horseman) and the first from director Zenon Kohler, who has directed TV commercials and shorts.
.We are starting to build a fan base and we will take them on the journey,. said Dakin, whose day job is a producer at Brisbane-based Cutting Edge, where Kohler is creative director. The screenplay is by Karl Maher, who writes TVCs for an advertising agency.
"It's about starting to share the film...
- 10/19/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Producer Bec Dakin realises that aiming to raise up to $150,000 via crowdfunding for a $3 million comedy adapted from a John Birmingham novel is a very tall order, but that.s not the point.
The primary aim of the Pozible campaign, she says, is to build a fan base for The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco, which will pay off when the film is released in cinemas and on digital platforms.
It will be the second feature from Dakin (whose debut was 2008 crime thriller The Horseman) and the first from director Zenon Kohler, who has directed TV commercials and shorts.
.We are starting to build a fan base and we will take them on the journey,. said Dakin, whose day job is a producer at Brisbane-based Cutting Edge, where Kohler is creative director. The screenplay is by Karl Maher, who writes TVCs for an advertising agency
The comedy is set in a share...
The primary aim of the Pozible campaign, she says, is to build a fan base for The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco, which will pay off when the film is released in cinemas and on digital platforms.
It will be the second feature from Dakin (whose debut was 2008 crime thriller The Horseman) and the first from director Zenon Kohler, who has directed TV commercials and shorts.
.We are starting to build a fan base and we will take them on the journey,. said Dakin, whose day job is a producer at Brisbane-based Cutting Edge, where Kohler is creative director. The screenplay is by Karl Maher, who writes TVCs for an advertising agency
The comedy is set in a share...
- 10/19/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Actor Jarad Daperis as Squizzy Taylor..
Despite being the star of Channel Nine.s latest instalment in the Underbelly franchise, Jarad Daperis admits to having never watched any of the previous series.
.I never really got around to it. I know enough of Underbelly and I know what it.s like, I didn.t really deem it relevant to watch prior series, because they.re so different. Totally different stories,. the Underbelly: Squizzy actor told If..
The sixth and rumoured final Underbelly series follows the story of Melbourne-born gangster Leslie .Squizzy. Taylor, a character producer Peter Gawler describes as .a bit of an artful dodger type...
.As a kid he made a bit of money picking pockets and then he graduated to thieving of other types, and then he graduated to major robberies,. Grawler tells If. .The thing about Squizzy that set him apart is that he had an imagination.
Despite being the star of Channel Nine.s latest instalment in the Underbelly franchise, Jarad Daperis admits to having never watched any of the previous series.
.I never really got around to it. I know enough of Underbelly and I know what it.s like, I didn.t really deem it relevant to watch prior series, because they.re so different. Totally different stories,. the Underbelly: Squizzy actor told If..
The sixth and rumoured final Underbelly series follows the story of Melbourne-born gangster Leslie .Squizzy. Taylor, a character producer Peter Gawler describes as .a bit of an artful dodger type...
.As a kid he made a bit of money picking pockets and then he graduated to thieving of other types, and then he graduated to major robberies,. Grawler tells If. .The thing about Squizzy that set him apart is that he had an imagination.
- 8/19/2013
- by Emily Blatchford
- IF.com.au
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