When Foxtel first began to craft with Fremantle Wentworth back in 2011, the hope was it would sit comfortably alongside the service’s premium HBO and BBC dramas.
While based on Reg Watson’s long-running ’80s drama Prisoner, and suitably honouring its legacy, it was not designed to a be remake. The desire was to see a modern reimagining of the characters; one that was ambitious and bold.
“We wanted to make something great for Foxtel and set the bar high. It was all part of our hopes for what we could do in the future,” executive producer and former Foxtel head of drama Penny Win recalls to If.
Originally created by Lara Radulovich and David Hannam, Fremantle Australia CEO Ian Hogg pitched Foxtel director of television Brian Walsh the series over a meal in Cannes.
By December that year, early plotting was underway, with journalist and critics Michael Idato and...
While based on Reg Watson’s long-running ’80s drama Prisoner, and suitably honouring its legacy, it was not designed to a be remake. The desire was to see a modern reimagining of the characters; one that was ambitious and bold.
“We wanted to make something great for Foxtel and set the bar high. It was all part of our hopes for what we could do in the future,” executive producer and former Foxtel head of drama Penny Win recalls to If.
Originally created by Lara Radulovich and David Hannam, Fremantle Australia CEO Ian Hogg pitched Foxtel director of television Brian Walsh the series over a meal in Cannes.
By December that year, early plotting was underway, with journalist and critics Michael Idato and...
- 10/26/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Fiona Eagger.
The biggest challenge facing TV producers next year is figuring out ways to keep Australian dramas screening on the free-to-air broadcasters, according to Fiona Eagger.
Eagger, who co-founded Every Cloud Productions with Deb Cox, welcomes the raising of the TV Producer Offset to 30 per cent but laments the abolition of the local content sub-quotas for Fta networks.
“For Australian producers our greatest challenge is keeping Australian drama alive on our free-to-airs,” she tells If. “All the networks want to keep making Australian drama because when it hits the sweet spot, it creates great audience loyalty to a brand.
“But they’re worried about their revenues and livelihoods so, hand-in-glove with Screen Australia and the state agencies, we have to be really clever in how we put deals together.
“We are resilient and inventive but it’s not easy when the government gives on one hand but takes away on the other hand.
The biggest challenge facing TV producers next year is figuring out ways to keep Australian dramas screening on the free-to-air broadcasters, according to Fiona Eagger.
Eagger, who co-founded Every Cloud Productions with Deb Cox, welcomes the raising of the TV Producer Offset to 30 per cent but laments the abolition of the local content sub-quotas for Fta networks.
“For Australian producers our greatest challenge is keeping Australian drama alive on our free-to-airs,” she tells If. “All the networks want to keep making Australian drama because when it hits the sweet spot, it creates great audience loyalty to a brand.
“But they’re worried about their revenues and livelihoods so, hand-in-glove with Screen Australia and the state agencies, we have to be really clever in how we put deals together.
“We are resilient and inventive but it’s not easy when the government gives on one hand but takes away on the other hand.
- 10/19/2020
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Sophie Hyde, pictured here on the set of ‘Animals’, has been nominated for two Adg Awards.
First-time feature directors Thomas Wright (Acute Misfortune), John Sheedy (H is for Happiness), Ben Lawrence (Hearts and Bones) and Natalie Erika James (Relic) will vie for the Australian Directors’ Guild (Adg) Award for Best Direction in a Feature Film ($1 million or over) against Sophie Hyde (Animals) and Wayne Blair (Top End Wedding).
Up in the $1 million or under category are Josephine Mackerras for Alice, Imogen Thomas for Emu Runner, Lucy Colman for Hot Mess, Luke Sullivan for Reflections In The Dust and Samuel Van Grinsven for Sequin In A Blue Room.
The Adg announced nominees for its annual awards today, with winners to be announced in Sydney at a ceremony October 19. A record 202 entries were received this year, up from 117 in 2019.
“At these challenging times, it is more important than ever that we come...
First-time feature directors Thomas Wright (Acute Misfortune), John Sheedy (H is for Happiness), Ben Lawrence (Hearts and Bones) and Natalie Erika James (Relic) will vie for the Australian Directors’ Guild (Adg) Award for Best Direction in a Feature Film ($1 million or over) against Sophie Hyde (Animals) and Wayne Blair (Top End Wedding).
Up in the $1 million or under category are Josephine Mackerras for Alice, Imogen Thomas for Emu Runner, Lucy Colman for Hot Mess, Luke Sullivan for Reflections In The Dust and Samuel Van Grinsven for Sequin In A Blue Room.
The Adg announced nominees for its annual awards today, with winners to be announced in Sydney at a ceremony October 19. A record 202 entries were received this year, up from 117 in 2019.
“At these challenging times, it is more important than ever that we come...
- 7/14/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Marta Dusseldorp in ‘Wentworth’ (Photo credit: Sarah Enticknap).
In a world away from A Place to Call Home, Marta Dusseldorp has donned the prison track suit with a guest role in Foxtel’s Wentworth, which resumes shooting this week.
Her character Sheila Bausch, a senior figure in the True Path cult, is on remand, charged with the murder of nine people at the cult’s retreat.
Described as highly intelligent, charismatic and manipulative, Sheila worked as the personal secretary for True Path’s founder Dr Mendel (Brian Vriends).
The Fremantle production re-starts after shutting down on March 23, just before a planned hiatus. The show has the advantage of being shot in its own large building in Melbourne, which has the flexibility of moving scenes set in a small cell to a bigger cell.
Executive producer Jo Porter, who is Fremantle’s director of scripted, said: “We have carefully adjusted our...
In a world away from A Place to Call Home, Marta Dusseldorp has donned the prison track suit with a guest role in Foxtel’s Wentworth, which resumes shooting this week.
Her character Sheila Bausch, a senior figure in the True Path cult, is on remand, charged with the murder of nine people at the cult’s retreat.
Described as highly intelligent, charismatic and manipulative, Sheila worked as the personal secretary for True Path’s founder Dr Mendel (Brian Vriends).
The Fremantle production re-starts after shutting down on March 23, just before a planned hiatus. The show has the advantage of being shot in its own large building in Melbourne, which has the flexibility of moving scenes set in a small cell to a bigger cell.
Executive producer Jo Porter, who is Fremantle’s director of scripted, said: “We have carefully adjusted our...
- 6/15/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Kate Box and Zoe Terakes on the ‘Wentworth’ set.
The time when cis-gender people could play transgender characters on screen is fast disappearing, according to Zoe Terakes.
“I’ve never seen a cis-gender person tell a transgender story 100 per cent believably,” the young actor, who identifies as non-binary, tells If.
“There is a level of authenticity in representation that comes when you have somebody who gets it, feels it in their bones and they have lived it.”
Terakes has joined the cast of season eight and nine of Fremantle/Foxtel’s Wentworth playing Rebel ‘Reb’ Keane, who is terrified after being sentenced to prison.
Reb was born female, came to feel she was trapped in a man’s body and now identifies as a female-to-trans man.
Reb’s parents send Reb to a cult-like “rehabilitation” clinic in an effort to “cure” their “daughter,” which has echoes of Joel Edgerton’s feature Boy Erased.
The time when cis-gender people could play transgender characters on screen is fast disappearing, according to Zoe Terakes.
“I’ve never seen a cis-gender person tell a transgender story 100 per cent believably,” the young actor, who identifies as non-binary, tells If.
“There is a level of authenticity in representation that comes when you have somebody who gets it, feels it in their bones and they have lived it.”
Terakes has joined the cast of season eight and nine of Fremantle/Foxtel’s Wentworth playing Rebel ‘Reb’ Keane, who is terrified after being sentenced to prison.
Reb was born female, came to feel she was trapped in a man’s body and now identifies as a female-to-trans man.
Reb’s parents send Reb to a cult-like “rehabilitation” clinic in an effort to “cure” their “daughter,” which has echoes of Joel Edgerton’s feature Boy Erased.
- 10/29/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Beck Cole with Tessa Rose on the set of ‘Grace Beside Me’ (Photo credit: Magpie Picture/Julian Panetta).
As a proud woman from Warramungu/Luritja nations filmmaker Beck Cole has worked on numerous Indigenous-themed TV series and documentaries including First Australians, Redfern Now, Grace Beside Me and Black Comedy.
Two years ago she decided to embark on a wider range of projects, a strategy that’s paid off as she has directed two episodes of Fremantle/Foxtel’s Wentworth and is preparing to direct two episodes of Seven Studios’ drama Between Two Worlds.
Later this year she will resume her role as voice director on the third season of Ned Lander Media’s animated series Little J & Big Cuz for Sbs.
Cole and emerging writer/director Samuel Paynter are among eight Indigenous teams from Australia and New Zealand who are making the anthology feature Cook 2020: Our Right of Reply.
As a proud woman from Warramungu/Luritja nations filmmaker Beck Cole has worked on numerous Indigenous-themed TV series and documentaries including First Australians, Redfern Now, Grace Beside Me and Black Comedy.
Two years ago she decided to embark on a wider range of projects, a strategy that’s paid off as she has directed two episodes of Fremantle/Foxtel’s Wentworth and is preparing to direct two episodes of Seven Studios’ drama Between Two Worlds.
Later this year she will resume her role as voice director on the third season of Ned Lander Media’s animated series Little J & Big Cuz for Sbs.
Cole and emerging writer/director Samuel Paynter are among eight Indigenous teams from Australia and New Zealand who are making the anthology feature Cook 2020: Our Right of Reply.
- 5/21/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Peter Templeman on set with Stephen Peacocke.
Director Peter Templeman rates Michael Lucas and Christine Bartlett as Australia’s pre-eminent creators of TV comedy-dramas.
So he jumped at the chance to serve as the set-up director of the duo’s Five Bedrooms, Hoodlum Entertainment’s 8-part series which premieres on 10 at 8.40 pm on May 15.
He could not be happier with the performances of the ensemble cast led by Kat Stewart, Stephen Peacocke, Doris Younane, Katie Robertson, Roy Joseph, Kate Jenkinson and Hugh Sheridan.
“Michael and Chris created totally real characters, each with a rich inner life and a back story,” Templeman tells If. “Working on the show was a great experience. We were spoiled for talent.”
Scripted by Lucas, Bartlett and Mithila Gupta, the plot revolves around five strangers, all misfits, who find themselves at a singles table at a wedding. After an excess of alcohol they decide the solution...
Director Peter Templeman rates Michael Lucas and Christine Bartlett as Australia’s pre-eminent creators of TV comedy-dramas.
So he jumped at the chance to serve as the set-up director of the duo’s Five Bedrooms, Hoodlum Entertainment’s 8-part series which premieres on 10 at 8.40 pm on May 15.
He could not be happier with the performances of the ensemble cast led by Kat Stewart, Stephen Peacocke, Doris Younane, Katie Robertson, Roy Joseph, Kate Jenkinson and Hugh Sheridan.
“Michael and Chris created totally real characters, each with a rich inner life and a back story,” Templeman tells If. “Working on the show was a great experience. We were spoiled for talent.”
Scripted by Lucas, Bartlett and Mithila Gupta, the plot revolves around five strangers, all misfits, who find themselves at a singles table at a wedding. After an excess of alcohol they decide the solution...
- 5/9/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Sigrid Thornton and John Howard.
Brooke Satchwell, Dan Wyllie, Darren McMullen and Katrina Milosevic have joined the cast of Every Cloud Productions and ITV Studios Australia’s SeaChange, which started production today.
Wayne Blair is the set up director and Lois Randall is producing the Nine Network reboot set 20 years after the ABC series created by Deb Cox and Andrew Knight.
Sigrid Thornton reprises her role as Laura Gibson, who returns to Pearl Bay after the breakup of her marriage and losing her job. Questioning her place in the world she learns that her family and her town need her as much as she needs them.
John Howard returns as the former mayor Bob Jelly with Kerry Armstrong as Heather Jelly, his estranged wife, and Kevin Harrington as local business owner Kev Findlay.
Satchwell is Miranda Gibson, Laura’s daughter. Also new to the cast are Ella Newton, Kate Lister and Alex Tarrant.
Brooke Satchwell, Dan Wyllie, Darren McMullen and Katrina Milosevic have joined the cast of Every Cloud Productions and ITV Studios Australia’s SeaChange, which started production today.
Wayne Blair is the set up director and Lois Randall is producing the Nine Network reboot set 20 years after the ABC series created by Deb Cox and Andrew Knight.
Sigrid Thornton reprises her role as Laura Gibson, who returns to Pearl Bay after the breakup of her marriage and losing her job. Questioning her place in the world she learns that her family and her town need her as much as she needs them.
John Howard returns as the former mayor Bob Jelly with Kerry Armstrong as Heather Jelly, his estranged wife, and Kevin Harrington as local business owner Kev Findlay.
Satchwell is Miranda Gibson, Laura’s daughter. Also new to the cast are Ella Newton, Kate Lister and Alex Tarrant.
- 5/5/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
'Lion' director Garth Davis has won the Adg Award for Best Direction in a Feature Film..
Director Garth Davis has taken out the top gong at the Adg Awards for his work helming Lion..
Davis was presented the prize for Best Direction in a Feature Film by Peter Weir at an award ceremony in Melbourne on Friday..
Lion, which received six Oscar nods and has gone on to be the fifth highest-grossing Australian film of all time at the local box office, is Davis. debut feature. .
Davis was up against Simon Stone (The Daughter), Ben Young (Hounds of Love), Craig Boreham (Teenage Kicks) and Jonathan Leahy (Skin Deep) — each of which was also a first feature..
The award for Best Direction in a Documentary Feature Film was presented to Dan Jackson for In The Shadow of the Hill, while Hotel Coolgardie director Pete Gleeson received High Commendation. The...
Director Garth Davis has taken out the top gong at the Adg Awards for his work helming Lion..
Davis was presented the prize for Best Direction in a Feature Film by Peter Weir at an award ceremony in Melbourne on Friday..
Lion, which received six Oscar nods and has gone on to be the fifth highest-grossing Australian film of all time at the local box office, is Davis. debut feature. .
Davis was up against Simon Stone (The Daughter), Ben Young (Hounds of Love), Craig Boreham (Teenage Kicks) and Jonathan Leahy (Skin Deep) — each of which was also a first feature..
The award for Best Direction in a Documentary Feature Film was presented to Dan Jackson for In The Shadow of the Hill, while Hotel Coolgardie director Pete Gleeson received High Commendation. The...
- 5/8/2017
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
(l-r) Deepti Naval and Garth Davis on set (photo credit: Mark Rogers).
The nominees for best feature direction at this year.s Adg Awards are Garth Davis (Lion), Simon Stone (The Daughter), Ben Young (Hounds of Love), Craig Boreham (Teenage Kicks) and Jonathan Leahy (Skin Deep). All are celebrated for their feature debuts..
Adg CEO Kingston Anderson says the Adg is angling for a high-profile director to present the feature film award. .I can.t say who it is but if we get him it.d be great," he tells If. "It.s a timing issue as usual...
Emma Freeman is nominated in the TV direction category for her work on Secret City alongside Leah Purcell for Cleverman, Rowan Woods for Rake and Tony Krawitz for The Kettering Incident.
.As always TV drama continues to be a strong and important and powerful category, and that reflects what.s going on in our industry,...
The nominees for best feature direction at this year.s Adg Awards are Garth Davis (Lion), Simon Stone (The Daughter), Ben Young (Hounds of Love), Craig Boreham (Teenage Kicks) and Jonathan Leahy (Skin Deep). All are celebrated for their feature debuts..
Adg CEO Kingston Anderson says the Adg is angling for a high-profile director to present the feature film award. .I can.t say who it is but if we get him it.d be great," he tells If. "It.s a timing issue as usual...
Emma Freeman is nominated in the TV direction category for her work on Secret City alongside Leah Purcell for Cleverman, Rowan Woods for Rake and Tony Krawitz for The Kettering Incident.
.As always TV drama continues to be a strong and important and powerful category, and that reflects what.s going on in our industry,...
- 4/6/2017
- by Harry Windsor
- IF.com.au
Blue Murder: Killer Cop..
The Seven Network has revealed its programming slate for the coming 18 months. Among it are a number of new Australia dramas, including: Olivia Newton-John, Warnie, Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story and the anticipated Blue Murder: Killer Cop, which sees Richard Roxburgh reprise his role as Roger Rogerson.
The network has also confirmed that The Secret Daughter, Wanted and 800 Words will return in 2017.
Also new for Seven are Million Dollar Cold Case, Yummy Mummies, The Aussie Property Flippers and Murder Uncovered. The network has also touted a controversial new show.—..now being filmed under a veil of secrecy..—.which it claims will be the most talked about program of 2017.
Seven has confirmed reality mainstays.My Kitchen Rules, House Rules, First Dates and Seven Year Switch for new seasons.
New international titles secured by the network include Trial and Error and Training Day.
Seven.s...
The Seven Network has revealed its programming slate for the coming 18 months. Among it are a number of new Australia dramas, including: Olivia Newton-John, Warnie, Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story and the anticipated Blue Murder: Killer Cop, which sees Richard Roxburgh reprise his role as Roger Rogerson.
The network has also confirmed that The Secret Daughter, Wanted and 800 Words will return in 2017.
Also new for Seven are Million Dollar Cold Case, Yummy Mummies, The Aussie Property Flippers and Murder Uncovered. The network has also touted a controversial new show.—..now being filmed under a veil of secrecy..—.which it claims will be the most talked about program of 2017.
Seven has confirmed reality mainstays.My Kitchen Rules, House Rules, First Dates and Seven Year Switch for new seasons.
New international titles secured by the network include Trial and Error and Training Day.
Seven.s...
- 10/27/2016
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
John Cornell and Paul Hogan on The Paul Hogan Show.
Josh Lawson will play Paul Hogan in Hoges, Fremantle Media's mini for Channel Seven.
Joining Lawson are Justine Clarke as Hogan's partner Noelene and Ryan Corr as John Cornell, his best friend and manager.
Also starring are Laura Gordon (Ms Fisher.s Murder Mysteries) as Linda Kozlowski, Nikki Osborn (Granny Smith) as Delvene Delaney, Sean Keenan (Puberty Blues, Glitch) as Young Paul and Marny Kennedy (The Saddle Club) as Young Noelene.
.Paul Hogan has always been one of my heroes", Lawson said in a statement, "so this role is as exciting as it is challenging.".
"He.s such an iconic figure. Everyone loves Hoges and one of his great gifts was making audiences feel like we really knew him. But there.s so much of his life that many people don.t know about and I.m thrilled that...
Josh Lawson will play Paul Hogan in Hoges, Fremantle Media's mini for Channel Seven.
Joining Lawson are Justine Clarke as Hogan's partner Noelene and Ryan Corr as John Cornell, his best friend and manager.
Also starring are Laura Gordon (Ms Fisher.s Murder Mysteries) as Linda Kozlowski, Nikki Osborn (Granny Smith) as Delvene Delaney, Sean Keenan (Puberty Blues, Glitch) as Young Paul and Marny Kennedy (The Saddle Club) as Young Noelene.
.Paul Hogan has always been one of my heroes", Lawson said in a statement, "so this role is as exciting as it is challenging.".
"He.s such an iconic figure. Everyone loves Hoges and one of his great gifts was making audiences feel like we really knew him. But there.s so much of his life that many people don.t know about and I.m thrilled that...
- 5/29/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Adg awards nominee Jennifer Peedom.
More than a third of nominees for this year's Australian Directors Guild awards are women.
Two of the four nominees in the Best Direction in a Feature Film category are women and all five films in the Best Documentary Feature category were directed or co-directed by female filmmakers, the Adg said in a statement..
The 2016 awards will be presented across sixteen categories including film, television, animation, multiplatform, music and advertising..
The nominees for Best Direction in a Feature Film are Sue Brooks for Looking for Grace, Jocelyn Moorhouse for The Dressmaker, Bentley Dean and Martin Butler for Tanna and Jeremy Sims for Last Cab to Darwin.
This year there are five nominations for Best Feature Documentary: Nick Bird and Eleanor Sharpe for Remembering The Man, Jennifer Peedom for Sherpa, Margot Nash for The Silences, Stefan Moore and Susan Lambert for Tyke Elephant Outlaw and Lisa Nicol for Wide Open Sky.
More than a third of nominees for this year's Australian Directors Guild awards are women.
Two of the four nominees in the Best Direction in a Feature Film category are women and all five films in the Best Documentary Feature category were directed or co-directed by female filmmakers, the Adg said in a statement..
The 2016 awards will be presented across sixteen categories including film, television, animation, multiplatform, music and advertising..
The nominees for Best Direction in a Feature Film are Sue Brooks for Looking for Grace, Jocelyn Moorhouse for The Dressmaker, Bentley Dean and Martin Butler for Tanna and Jeremy Sims for Last Cab to Darwin.
This year there are five nominations for Best Feature Documentary: Nick Bird and Eleanor Sharpe for Remembering The Man, Jennifer Peedom for Sherpa, Margot Nash for The Silences, Stefan Moore and Susan Lambert for Tyke Elephant Outlaw and Lisa Nicol for Wide Open Sky.
- 4/12/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Screen Australia and Screen Queensland have greenlit the upcoming Paul Hogan biographical project from FremantleMedia Australia for Channel Seven.
Screen Australia and Screen Queensland will provide "signfiicant" funding to The Paul Hogan project (working title), an intimate story of how an Aussie tradie from the wrong-side-of-the-tracks evolves into an Oscar-nominated superstar..
Kevin Carlin, whose work includes Wentworth and Seven.s upcoming miniseries Molly, will direct..
The script is by Keith Thompson (The Sapphires) and Marieke Hardy (Packed To The Rafters, The Family Law)..
FremantleMedia director of drama and executive producer, Jo Porter, has assembled the creative team, with shooting set to commence early next year.
Casting of the lead role is underway and highly contested, according to a Channel Seven statement.
Seven.s head of drama, Julie McGauran, said the The Paul Hogan project would be a celebration of a beloved icon.
"An Aussie battler with a larrikin heart who experienced an unexpected,...
Screen Australia and Screen Queensland will provide "signfiicant" funding to The Paul Hogan project (working title), an intimate story of how an Aussie tradie from the wrong-side-of-the-tracks evolves into an Oscar-nominated superstar..
Kevin Carlin, whose work includes Wentworth and Seven.s upcoming miniseries Molly, will direct..
The script is by Keith Thompson (The Sapphires) and Marieke Hardy (Packed To The Rafters, The Family Law)..
FremantleMedia director of drama and executive producer, Jo Porter, has assembled the creative team, with shooting set to commence early next year.
Casting of the lead role is underway and highly contested, according to a Channel Seven statement.
Seven.s head of drama, Julie McGauran, said the The Paul Hogan project would be a celebration of a beloved icon.
"An Aussie battler with a larrikin heart who experienced an unexpected,...
- 12/7/2015
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Sigrid Thornton has joined the cast of Wentworth Season 4, which will premiere on Foxtel in 2016.
Thornton is the first actress to have starred in the original Prisoner series to join the cast of Wentworth..
However, rather than reprising her previous character Ros Coulson, she enters the prison as Sonia Stevens - a new character partially inspired by one originally played by Tina Bursill.
Thornton plays a wealthy but self-made dynamo behind a cosmetics empire. .
She comes into the prison on remand, suspected of the murder of a missing woman.
Foxtel head of drama Penny Win said the fourth season continued the series. finely-honed evolution as a world class contemporary drama which proudly forges its own path.
.Having Sigrid Thornton sign on to return behind the walls of Wentworth is a casting dream and a wonderful acknowledgement of the work the writing team has put into the creation of Sonia Stevens...
Thornton is the first actress to have starred in the original Prisoner series to join the cast of Wentworth..
However, rather than reprising her previous character Ros Coulson, she enters the prison as Sonia Stevens - a new character partially inspired by one originally played by Tina Bursill.
Thornton plays a wealthy but self-made dynamo behind a cosmetics empire. .
She comes into the prison on remand, suspected of the murder of a missing woman.
Foxtel head of drama Penny Win said the fourth season continued the series. finely-honed evolution as a world class contemporary drama which proudly forges its own path.
.Having Sigrid Thornton sign on to return behind the walls of Wentworth is a casting dream and a wonderful acknowledgement of the work the writing team has put into the creation of Sonia Stevens...
- 11/5/2015
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Jessica Mauboy will star in a new Australian family drama series for the Seven Network, which also unveiled local versions of three entertainment formats including a dating show from the creators of Married at First Sight.
These were among the highlights of Seven.s 2016 slate announced today as director of network programming Angus Ross said, .We are launching more new Australian shows next year than ever before..
Screentime is producing The Secret Daughter, which will star Mauboy as a part-time country pub singer who discovers she may be the daughter of a tycoon who has just died.
That leads to a confrontation with the man.s son and sees her character torn between the worlds of the haves and have-nots.
Screen Australia is investing in the series, which was developed specifically for The Sapphires star and will go into production next year with Greg Haddrick and Bob Campbell as executive producers.
These were among the highlights of Seven.s 2016 slate announced today as director of network programming Angus Ross said, .We are launching more new Australian shows next year than ever before..
Screentime is producing The Secret Daughter, which will star Mauboy as a part-time country pub singer who discovers she may be the daughter of a tycoon who has just died.
That leads to a confrontation with the man.s son and sees her character torn between the worlds of the haves and have-nots.
Screen Australia is investing in the series, which was developed specifically for The Sapphires star and will go into production next year with Greg Haddrick and Bob Campbell as executive producers.
- 10/21/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Production started this week on season four of Foxtel and FremantleMedia Australia.s drama Wentworth.
The cast and crew are settling in to a new location and studio in Melbourne.s western suburbs to shoot the 12 episode season.
Wentworth.s S4 cast includes Danielle Cormack (Bea Smith), Pamela Rabe (Joan Ferguson), Kate Atkinson (Vera Bennett), Nicole da Silva (Franky Doyle), Celia Ireland (Liz Birdsworth), Shareena Clanton (Doreen Anderson), Katrina Milosevic (Sue .Boomer. Jenkins), Robbie Magasiva (Will Jackson), Socratis Otto (Maxine Conway), Tammy MacIntosh (Kaz Proctor), and Libby Tanner (Bridget Westfall).
.As the story resumes, Bea and her cell-block mates are returning to Wentworth after the fire and rebuilding of H Block to find a new dynamic in play with a new contender for Top Dog. On the outside, Franky is trying hard to be a productive member of society. As always, no-one should underestimate .the Freak...
.Wentworth is a FremantleMedia Australia...
The cast and crew are settling in to a new location and studio in Melbourne.s western suburbs to shoot the 12 episode season.
Wentworth.s S4 cast includes Danielle Cormack (Bea Smith), Pamela Rabe (Joan Ferguson), Kate Atkinson (Vera Bennett), Nicole da Silva (Franky Doyle), Celia Ireland (Liz Birdsworth), Shareena Clanton (Doreen Anderson), Katrina Milosevic (Sue .Boomer. Jenkins), Robbie Magasiva (Will Jackson), Socratis Otto (Maxine Conway), Tammy MacIntosh (Kaz Proctor), and Libby Tanner (Bridget Westfall).
.As the story resumes, Bea and her cell-block mates are returning to Wentworth after the fire and rebuilding of H Block to find a new dynamic in play with a new contender for Top Dog. On the outside, Franky is trying hard to be a productive member of society. As always, no-one should underestimate .the Freak...
.Wentworth is a FremantleMedia Australia...
- 8/14/2015
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Michael Gudinski.s Mushroom group is re-activating its theatrical distribution arm, kicking off with the documentaries Unity and Heaven Adores Us.
Writer-director Shaun Monsoon.s Unity explores the themes of love, tragedy and hope as it examines humanity.s impact on the world.
The cast of 100 narrators includes Ellen DeGeneres, Geoffrey Rush, Jennifer Aniston, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Spacey, Helen Mirren, Amanda Seyfried, Rose Byrne, Minnie Driver, Missy Higgins, Moby, Olivia Wilde, Phil Donahue, Portia de Rossi and Susan Sarandon.
Mushroom Distribution has booked 21 cinemas and the limited season begins on August 12 in a simultaneous worldwide release.
The venues include the Jam Factory, Cinema Nova and Rivoli in Melbourne; Event Cinemas George Street, Palace Cinemas Leichardt and the Chauvel in Sydney; Palace Centro in Brisbane; Palace East End in Adelaide; and Cinema Paradiso in Perth. A New Zealand season will follow.
Mushroom.s Kate Gudinski decided to buy the rights for...
Writer-director Shaun Monsoon.s Unity explores the themes of love, tragedy and hope as it examines humanity.s impact on the world.
The cast of 100 narrators includes Ellen DeGeneres, Geoffrey Rush, Jennifer Aniston, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Spacey, Helen Mirren, Amanda Seyfried, Rose Byrne, Minnie Driver, Missy Higgins, Moby, Olivia Wilde, Phil Donahue, Portia de Rossi and Susan Sarandon.
Mushroom Distribution has booked 21 cinemas and the limited season begins on August 12 in a simultaneous worldwide release.
The venues include the Jam Factory, Cinema Nova and Rivoli in Melbourne; Event Cinemas George Street, Palace Cinemas Leichardt and the Chauvel in Sydney; Palace Centro in Brisbane; Palace East End in Adelaide; and Cinema Paradiso in Perth. A New Zealand season will follow.
Mushroom.s Kate Gudinski decided to buy the rights for...
- 8/11/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Matt Saville has been nominated in two categories at the 2015 Australian Directors Guild Awards, for his feature Felony and an episode of Josh Thomas. ABC-tv comedy Please Like Me.
The other nominees in the feature film category are Sophie Hyde for 52 Tuesdays, Jennifer Kent for The Babadook and Robert Connolly for Paper Planes.
There are two nominees for Rake for TV drama series: Jessica Hobbs and Rowan Woods. Also in the running are Shawn Seet for The Code, Geoff Bennett for Love Child and Kevin Carlin for Wentworth.
Kate Dennis and Peter Salmon are both nominated for Secrets & Lies in the TV miniseries category, together with Tony Krawitz (Devil.s Playground). and Ian Watson (Anzac Girls).
The telemovie award is a toss-up between Samantha Lang for Carlotta and Jeffrey Walker for Jack Irish: Dead Point.
In the 30th year of Neighbours, Chris Langman has been nominated in the TV drama...
The other nominees in the feature film category are Sophie Hyde for 52 Tuesdays, Jennifer Kent for The Babadook and Robert Connolly for Paper Planes.
There are two nominees for Rake for TV drama series: Jessica Hobbs and Rowan Woods. Also in the running are Shawn Seet for The Code, Geoff Bennett for Love Child and Kevin Carlin for Wentworth.
Kate Dennis and Peter Salmon are both nominated for Secrets & Lies in the TV miniseries category, together with Tony Krawitz (Devil.s Playground). and Ian Watson (Anzac Girls).
The telemovie award is a toss-up between Samantha Lang for Carlotta and Jeffrey Walker for Jack Irish: Dead Point.
In the 30th year of Neighbours, Chris Langman has been nominated in the TV drama...
- 4/9/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
If you.ve been watching Ian .Molly. Meldrum on TV for years and think you know a lot about the former Countdown host, the Molly biopic on the Seven Network is likely to surprise.
.Viewers will learn a lot about the man they thought they knew well; there are many dimensions to Molly,. says John Molloy, who is producing the two-part program in Melbourne.
Meldrum wanted Samuel Johnson to portray him, which happily coincided with the views of Molloy, director Kevin Carlin and the network. .Molly knew Sam and really trusts him,. Molloy tells If on Thursday, day 14 of the 37-day shoot.
The supporting cast includes Tom O.Sullivan (Wonderland, Packed to the Rafters) as executive producer Michael Shrimpton and T. J Power (The Little Death, Underbelly) as producer-director Rob Weekes, who co-created Countdown with Meldrum in 1974.
The show ran until 1987, launching and supporting the careers of dozens of acts including Inxs,...
.Viewers will learn a lot about the man they thought they knew well; there are many dimensions to Molly,. says John Molloy, who is producing the two-part program in Melbourne.
Meldrum wanted Samuel Johnson to portray him, which happily coincided with the views of Molloy, director Kevin Carlin and the network. .Molly knew Sam and really trusts him,. Molloy tells If on Thursday, day 14 of the 37-day shoot.
The supporting cast includes Tom O.Sullivan (Wonderland, Packed to the Rafters) as executive producer Michael Shrimpton and T. J Power (The Little Death, Underbelly) as producer-director Rob Weekes, who co-created Countdown with Meldrum in 1974.
The show ran until 1987, launching and supporting the careers of dozens of acts including Inxs,...
- 2/19/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Film Victoria is investing $1.14 million in three features and five TV projects through its new assigned production investment program.
Combined these projects will create employment for around 400 creatives, cast and crew and generate an estimated $11.8 million in production expenditure in the State, according to CEO Jenni Tosi.
.Under our assigned production investment program, which came into effect in July, Film Victoria.s equity, copyright and recoupment position is assigned to the producer, giving screen production businesses access to an increased level of returns and a greater financial capacity to develop new ideas and expand their output,. she said.
.The diversity of projects in this round reflects the significant production activity taking place in Victoria right now . activity that is being driven by our talented local screen practitioners." The projects are: Downriver, Happening Films Jannine Barnes, producer Grant Scicluna, writer/director
The plot follows a teenager, James (Reef Ireland) who serves...
Combined these projects will create employment for around 400 creatives, cast and crew and generate an estimated $11.8 million in production expenditure in the State, according to CEO Jenni Tosi.
.Under our assigned production investment program, which came into effect in July, Film Victoria.s equity, copyright and recoupment position is assigned to the producer, giving screen production businesses access to an increased level of returns and a greater financial capacity to develop new ideas and expand their output,. she said.
.The diversity of projects in this round reflects the significant production activity taking place in Victoria right now . activity that is being driven by our talented local screen practitioners." The projects are: Downriver, Happening Films Jannine Barnes, producer Grant Scicluna, writer/director
The plot follows a teenager, James (Reef Ireland) who serves...
- 8/27/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The ailing screen production sector is set to get a major boost with more than $80 million worth of films, TV dramas and a documentary receiving funding from Screen Australia.
The agency is investing more than $12 million in four features, four adult dramas, two children.s dramas and a theatrical doc. In addition Scroz is providing completion funding to sex comedy The Little Deaths, writer-director Josh Lawson.s feature debut.
The projects include a Blinky Bill animated movie, a comedy set during the Cronulla race riots, the long-mooted Molly Meldrum TV drama and The Principal, the first drama commissioned by Sbs since Better Man.
.We have backed some of our great contemporary writers, directors and producers, alongside some exciting new voices, . said Screen Australia head of production Sally Caplan.
.The projects target audiences as diverse as Australia is today, with projects which are ambitious, risk-taking and culturally important, revealing we have...
The agency is investing more than $12 million in four features, four adult dramas, two children.s dramas and a theatrical doc. In addition Scroz is providing completion funding to sex comedy The Little Deaths, writer-director Josh Lawson.s feature debut.
The projects include a Blinky Bill animated movie, a comedy set during the Cronulla race riots, the long-mooted Molly Meldrum TV drama and The Principal, the first drama commissioned by Sbs since Better Man.
.We have backed some of our great contemporary writers, directors and producers, alongside some exciting new voices, . said Screen Australia head of production Sally Caplan.
.The projects target audiences as diverse as Australia is today, with projects which are ambitious, risk-taking and culturally important, revealing we have...
- 8/6/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Female directors have dominated the Documentary Feature category of the 2014 Australian Directors Guild Awards, whilst Home & Away has muscled out any other competition for TV Drama Serial. The nominees, announced this morning, cover 16 categories across film, television, multiplatform, music and advertising. This year has seen the Adg receive more entries than ever before, making the judging process a difficult one. .In the TV drama category, the documentary feature category and the feature film categories especially, the caliber is really high so that.s why there are so many nominations,. says Adg Executive Director Kingston Anderson. .The judges take it very seriously and fully understand the recognition the awards can bring.. In the feature film category, Baz Luhrmann was unsurprisingly nominated for box office hit The Great Gatsby alongside strong contenders Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket), Ivan Sen (Mystery Road), Jonathan Teplitzky (The Railway Man) and Zak Hilditch, whose film These Final Hours,...
- 4/9/2014
- by Emily Blatchford
- IF.com.au
The lags and warders of Wentworth prison will do more time with news that Foxtel has commissioned a third season of 12 episodes from FremantleMedia Australia.
Shooting of season two will continue in Melbourne until mid-February and the show will resume filming in March.
The reimagining of Prisoner has sold to more than 20 countries including the UK.s Channel 5, Ireland TV3, Africa.s Mnet, Tvnz and Sweden.s TV4. A German-language remake is in production for German network Rtl, owned by Fremantle.s parent the Rtl Group.
The premiere on Foxtel.s SoHo channel in May 2013 was the most watched non-sports program ever on Australian pay-tv. Across the 10 episodes Wentworth reached 1.868 million unique viewers . 26% of Foxtel subscribers.
On series two the directors are Kevin Carlin, Catherine Millar, Dee McLachlan, Pino Amenta and Steve Jodrell. The writing team comprises Marcia Gardner (script producer), Timothy Hobart (story editor), John Ridley, Pete McTighe and Adam Todd.
Shooting of season two will continue in Melbourne until mid-February and the show will resume filming in March.
The reimagining of Prisoner has sold to more than 20 countries including the UK.s Channel 5, Ireland TV3, Africa.s Mnet, Tvnz and Sweden.s TV4. A German-language remake is in production for German network Rtl, owned by Fremantle.s parent the Rtl Group.
The premiere on Foxtel.s SoHo channel in May 2013 was the most watched non-sports program ever on Australian pay-tv. Across the 10 episodes Wentworth reached 1.868 million unique viewers . 26% of Foxtel subscribers.
On series two the directors are Kevin Carlin, Catherine Millar, Dee McLachlan, Pino Amenta and Steve Jodrell. The writing team comprises Marcia Gardner (script producer), Timothy Hobart (story editor), John Ridley, Pete McTighe and Adam Todd.
- 1/29/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Screen Australia says it has not mismanaged its finances by spending its annual production funding in just six months - a state of affairs which it says reflects the strength of the local film industry.
The government screen agency revealed in mid-December 2012 that it had spent its entire annual $42 million drama production allocation due to the unprecedented number of quality feature film and television projects seeking support. The shock announcement was reminiscent of the agency's abrupt decision to cut its investment cap in 2009 while several films were mid-financed. That decision.threw several major Australian productions into dissaray including The Tree and the biggest box office hit of.2010, Tomorrow When the War Began (Omnilab Media had to increase its investment at the last minute to ensure production).
Overspending on such a scale has never occurred before, even going back to the era of Screen Australia.s predecessor funding arm, the Film Finance Corporation.
The government screen agency revealed in mid-December 2012 that it had spent its entire annual $42 million drama production allocation due to the unprecedented number of quality feature film and television projects seeking support. The shock announcement was reminiscent of the agency's abrupt decision to cut its investment cap in 2009 while several films were mid-financed. That decision.threw several major Australian productions into dissaray including The Tree and the biggest box office hit of.2010, Tomorrow When the War Began (Omnilab Media had to increase its investment at the last minute to ensure production).
Overspending on such a scale has never occurred before, even going back to the era of Screen Australia.s predecessor funding arm, the Film Finance Corporation.
- 2/6/2013
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
David Michod
David Michod’s new film has received funding from Screen Australia, as part of almost $20m of investment from the screen agency.
The investment is expected to trigger $100m worth of production across four feature films, five TV dramas and three children’s dramas.
The Rover is written and directed by Michod, with a story by Michod and Joel Edgerton.
The film has cast Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson in the lead roles.
Michod will also produce the film alongside his Animal Kingdom producing partner Liz Watts for Porchlight Films and David Linde, Ep on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for his Lava Bear Films.
The film will be distributed by Village Roadshow with international sales by FilmNation.
The Rover, set in the Australian desert in the dangerous near-future sees Eric, a man who has lost almost everything in life, have his car stolen by a gang of criminals.
David Michod’s new film has received funding from Screen Australia, as part of almost $20m of investment from the screen agency.
The investment is expected to trigger $100m worth of production across four feature films, five TV dramas and three children’s dramas.
The Rover is written and directed by Michod, with a story by Michod and Joel Edgerton.
The film has cast Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson in the lead roles.
Michod will also produce the film alongside his Animal Kingdom producing partner Liz Watts for Porchlight Films and David Linde, Ep on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for his Lava Bear Films.
The film will be distributed by Village Roadshow with international sales by FilmNation.
The Rover, set in the Australian desert in the dangerous near-future sees Eric, a man who has lost almost everything in life, have his car stolen by a gang of criminals.
- 7/26/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Screen Australia will invest almost $20 million across 12 screen projects including futuristic Western The Rover, starring Robert Pattinson and Guy Pearce.
The film is the latest collaboration between producer Liz Watts and writer-director David Michôd, following the success of their crime-thriller Animal Kingdom in 2010. FilmNation Entertainment acquired the majority of worldwide rights to The Rover at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year while Village Roadshow will distribute the film in Australia.
Screen Australia has also backed three other feature films: drama Felony, written by Joel Edgerton and directed by Matthew Saville (Noise); Healing, a redemptive prison drama starring Don Hany (East West 101) and Hugo Weaving; and Aim High in Creation, a hybrid documentary-drama about the late Kim Jong-il from writer/director Anna Broinowski (Forbidden Lie$).
Screen Australia chief executive Ruth Harley said the four Australian features have huge potential. "The Rover is a powerful, well-crafted script from a talented team with an impressive cast,...
The film is the latest collaboration between producer Liz Watts and writer-director David Michôd, following the success of their crime-thriller Animal Kingdom in 2010. FilmNation Entertainment acquired the majority of worldwide rights to The Rover at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year while Village Roadshow will distribute the film in Australia.
Screen Australia has also backed three other feature films: drama Felony, written by Joel Edgerton and directed by Matthew Saville (Noise); Healing, a redemptive prison drama starring Don Hany (East West 101) and Hugo Weaving; and Aim High in Creation, a hybrid documentary-drama about the late Kim Jong-il from writer/director Anna Broinowski (Forbidden Lie$).
Screen Australia chief executive Ruth Harley said the four Australian features have huge potential. "The Rover is a powerful, well-crafted script from a talented team with an impressive cast,...
- 7/25/2012
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
Australia.s highest-rated TV drama series Packed To The Rafters is back to claim its crown.
The Seven series, which last year averaged 1.8 million viewers, returns next week with another 22 episodes.
It.s the nation.s favourite drama, having netted Best Australian Drama at the last three Logie Awards. Two weeks ago it also took out the Audience Choice Award for Best TV Program at the inaugural Aacta Awards.
Series producer Chris Martin-Jones, who occasionally sits in the director.s chair, puts the show's success down to it being so relatable. The drama focuses on the Rafter family . a family, which, like any, faces pressures of life and love while dealing with serious social issues.
.They can see the characters in their own lives. They can see the situation the character.s in,. Martin-Jones says from his Sydney office.
He says tackling serious issues such as abortion, drug abuse and...
The Seven series, which last year averaged 1.8 million viewers, returns next week with another 22 episodes.
It.s the nation.s favourite drama, having netted Best Australian Drama at the last three Logie Awards. Two weeks ago it also took out the Audience Choice Award for Best TV Program at the inaugural Aacta Awards.
Series producer Chris Martin-Jones, who occasionally sits in the director.s chair, puts the show's success down to it being so relatable. The drama focuses on the Rafter family . a family, which, like any, faces pressures of life and love while dealing with serious social issues.
.They can see the characters in their own lives. They can see the situation the character.s in,. Martin-Jones says from his Sydney office.
He says tackling serious issues such as abortion, drug abuse and...
- 2/8/2012
- by Sam Dallas
- IF.com.au
Well, some gay portal already uses that name, but the show's characters can still talk about doorQ’s reboot.
Australia’s ABC1 has announced plans for Outland, a six-part comedy series with openly gay science fiction geeks. A show about “belonging and fitting in” will feature the gay characters Rae (Christine Anu), Toby (Ben Gerrard), Andy (Paul Ireland), Fab (Adam Richard) and Max (Toby Truslove). Kevin Carlin will direct. Princess Pictures, already known for the hits Summer Heights High and John Safran’s Race Relations, will produce.
They even need gay pride event extras for filming in Melbourne.
Photo: Adam Richard plays Fab.
Duane Simolke wrote the gay-themed novel Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure.
Australia’s ABC1 has announced plans for Outland, a six-part comedy series with openly gay science fiction geeks. A show about “belonging and fitting in” will feature the gay characters Rae (Christine Anu), Toby (Ben Gerrard), Andy (Paul Ireland), Fab (Adam Richard) and Max (Toby Truslove). Kevin Carlin will direct. Princess Pictures, already known for the hits Summer Heights High and John Safran’s Race Relations, will produce.
They even need gay pride event extras for filming in Melbourne.
Photo: Adam Richard plays Fab.
Duane Simolke wrote the gay-themed novel Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure.
- 11/11/2010
- doorQ.com
Film Victoria has announced a new round of investment funding worth $992,500.
The recipients are the feature Surviving Georgia, Southern Star drama Offspring, a Princess Pictures comedy, two documentaries and an online portal to complement the Sbs doco series Second Australians.
Talking about the significant investment on television, Film Victoria Sandra Sdraulig said the small screen was essential for the state, because of the consistency of expenditure and employment opportunities..
The chosen projects are:
Online
The Multicultural History Portal
The Chocolate Liberation Front; Producers Dan Fill, Frank Verheggen ; Writer Andrew Jacobuwicz.
A series of interactive documentary features that capture the history of immigration to Australia. It will act as a companion piece to Second Australians.
Documentary
The First Interview
Jungle Pictures; Producer Fiona Cochrane; Writer/Director Dennis Tupicoff; Network ABC
A documentary that goes bacck to Paris, 1886, to a conversation between great French scientist Michel-Eugene Chevreul and famous photographer Nadar – the...
The recipients are the feature Surviving Georgia, Southern Star drama Offspring, a Princess Pictures comedy, two documentaries and an online portal to complement the Sbs doco series Second Australians.
Talking about the significant investment on television, Film Victoria Sandra Sdraulig said the small screen was essential for the state, because of the consistency of expenditure and employment opportunities..
The chosen projects are:
Online
The Multicultural History Portal
The Chocolate Liberation Front; Producers Dan Fill, Frank Verheggen ; Writer Andrew Jacobuwicz.
A series of interactive documentary features that capture the history of immigration to Australia. It will act as a companion piece to Second Australians.
Documentary
The First Interview
Jungle Pictures; Producer Fiona Cochrane; Writer/Director Dennis Tupicoff; Network ABC
A documentary that goes bacck to Paris, 1886, to a conversation between great French scientist Michel-Eugene Chevreul and famous photographer Nadar – the...
- 5/20/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
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