Australian actors Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths have begun production on the final six-episode season of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s award-winning female-led political drama series “Total Control.”
With screenplays by Stuart Page, Julia Moriarty, Pip Karmel and Meyne Wyatt, season three picks up almost two years after the explosive events of the second season.
Outsider turned kingmaker, Alex Irving (Mailman), is completely at home in the nation’s capital. While Rachel Anderson (Griffiths), now an occasional ally, is threatening to upend the entire system by establishing her own political party. However, as Alex attempts to carve out a nation changing legacy, a controversy engineered by her enemies threatens to destroy her career and public reputation. In the final season, Alex must make a choice: either she can stay true to her principles and accept defeat, or she can get her hands dirty and fight back.
Directed by Wayne Blair and Jub Clerc,...
With screenplays by Stuart Page, Julia Moriarty, Pip Karmel and Meyne Wyatt, season three picks up almost two years after the explosive events of the second season.
Outsider turned kingmaker, Alex Irving (Mailman), is completely at home in the nation’s capital. While Rachel Anderson (Griffiths), now an occasional ally, is threatening to upend the entire system by establishing her own political party. However, as Alex attempts to carve out a nation changing legacy, a controversy engineered by her enemies threatens to destroy her career and public reputation. In the final season, Alex must make a choice: either she can stay true to her principles and accept defeat, or she can get her hands dirty and fight back.
Directed by Wayne Blair and Jub Clerc,...
- 6/1/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“Oh, she’s always challenging me.”
Deborah Mailman is reflecting on playing Senator Alex Irving, her in character Total Control – the most complex role she believes she’s had in a more than 20 year career.
The Blackfella Films political drama is set to return for a second season tonight on the ABC, and for Mailman, the emotional stakes this time around are higher again.
In the Aacta Award-winning first season, Irving engineered a coup to dethrone Prime Minister Rachel Anderson (Rachel Griffiths), who appointed her to the Senate.
Now, she must face the reality of the alliance she’s made with the Opposition Leader Laurie Martin (William McInnes), taking orders from him and his offsider, enigmatic Indigenous politician Paul Murphy (Wayne Blair).
“In season two, the writers took Alex pretty much to breaking point,” Mailman tells If.
“The emotional energy that was required for some of those moments was exhausting.
Deborah Mailman is reflecting on playing Senator Alex Irving, her in character Total Control – the most complex role she believes she’s had in a more than 20 year career.
The Blackfella Films political drama is set to return for a second season tonight on the ABC, and for Mailman, the emotional stakes this time around are higher again.
In the Aacta Award-winning first season, Irving engineered a coup to dethrone Prime Minister Rachel Anderson (Rachel Griffiths), who appointed her to the Senate.
Now, she must face the reality of the alliance she’s made with the Opposition Leader Laurie Martin (William McInnes), taking orders from him and his offsider, enigmatic Indigenous politician Paul Murphy (Wayne Blair).
“In season two, the writers took Alex pretty much to breaking point,” Mailman tells If.
“The emotional energy that was required for some of those moments was exhausting.
- 11/7/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
The second season of Total Control will launch on the ABC November 7.
In the first season, political newcomer Alex Irving (Deborah Mailman) engineered a coup against Rachel Anderson (Rachel Griffiths), the Prime Minister who appointed her to the Senate.
In season two, both Alex and Rachel find themselves treading different political paths. After being dumped by her own party, Rachel relies on strategist Nick Pearce (Alex Dimitriades) to guide her political ambitions, while Alex finds herself surrounded by a new team, led by her brother Charlie (Rob Collins). But politics can be a nasty business. Will Alex’s determination and the tenacity of her grass-roots driven team be enough? Can she survive a system determined to shake everything she values? And can these political adversaries become political allies?
Reprising their roles in the Blackfella Films series are Rob Collins, Wes Patten, Anthony Hayes, William McInnes, Huw Higginson and Lisa Flanagan,...
In the first season, political newcomer Alex Irving (Deborah Mailman) engineered a coup against Rachel Anderson (Rachel Griffiths), the Prime Minister who appointed her to the Senate.
In season two, both Alex and Rachel find themselves treading different political paths. After being dumped by her own party, Rachel relies on strategist Nick Pearce (Alex Dimitriades) to guide her political ambitions, while Alex finds herself surrounded by a new team, led by her brother Charlie (Rob Collins). But politics can be a nasty business. Will Alex’s determination and the tenacity of her grass-roots driven team be enough? Can she survive a system determined to shake everything she values? And can these political adversaries become political allies?
Reprising their roles in the Blackfella Films series are Rob Collins, Wes Patten, Anthony Hayes, William McInnes, Huw Higginson and Lisa Flanagan,...
- 10/7/2021
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
The second season of ABC/Blackfella Films’ Total Control will headline this year’s Series Mania Melbourne, which will be held online next month.
Organised by Acmi and Film Victoria, in partnership with Series Mania France, the four-day event includes a public screening program comprising a mix of web series, comedy, and drama.
The festival also features a Screen Industry Day on October 14 that incorporates craft-focused panels, keynotes, and masterclasses with global creators.
Series Mania Melbourne will commence with the opening two episodes from political drama Total Control, starring Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths. The second instalment picks up where Senator Alex Irving’s (Mailman) crusade left off, as she vies to hold everyone to account. Mailman and Griffiths are joined by a host of new cast members for the second season, including Wayne Blair, who is also directing.
Other program highlights include ABC doomsday comedy Preppers from writers/creators Nakkiah Lui and Gabriel Dowrick.
Organised by Acmi and Film Victoria, in partnership with Series Mania France, the four-day event includes a public screening program comprising a mix of web series, comedy, and drama.
The festival also features a Screen Industry Day on October 14 that incorporates craft-focused panels, keynotes, and masterclasses with global creators.
Series Mania Melbourne will commence with the opening two episodes from political drama Total Control, starring Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths. The second instalment picks up where Senator Alex Irving’s (Mailman) crusade left off, as she vies to hold everyone to account. Mailman and Griffiths are joined by a host of new cast members for the second season, including Wayne Blair, who is also directing.
Other program highlights include ABC doomsday comedy Preppers from writers/creators Nakkiah Lui and Gabriel Dowrick.
- 9/28/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
ABC is passing on three more drama pilots from its 2021 pilot season slate.
“National Parks Investigation,” “Triage,” and “Dark Horse” have all been passed over by the network after being in consideration for midseason pickups. Fellow dramas “Epic” and “Promised Land” remain in contention.
“National Parks Investigation” boasted Kevin Costner as co-writer and executive producer. The series revolved around the small group of elite Nps agents as they solve these crimes while protecting America’s national parks.
The cast included Billy Campbell, Angel Parker, Guillermo Diaz, Tiffany Dupont, Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut, Blu Hunt, Gerardo Celasco. Along with Costner, the show was written and executive produced by Aaron Helbing and Jon Baird. Barry Jossen, Tana Jamieson, Rod Lake, Ivan Cohen, and Ken Halsband also executive produced, with Anthony Hemingway directing and executive producing the pilot. A+E Studios and 20th Television produce.
“Triage” was a holdover from the 2020 pilot season. The medical drama followed a pioneering surgeon,...
“National Parks Investigation,” “Triage,” and “Dark Horse” have all been passed over by the network after being in consideration for midseason pickups. Fellow dramas “Epic” and “Promised Land” remain in contention.
“National Parks Investigation” boasted Kevin Costner as co-writer and executive producer. The series revolved around the small group of elite Nps agents as they solve these crimes while protecting America’s national parks.
The cast included Billy Campbell, Angel Parker, Guillermo Diaz, Tiffany Dupont, Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut, Blu Hunt, Gerardo Celasco. Along with Costner, the show was written and executive produced by Aaron Helbing and Jon Baird. Barry Jossen, Tana Jamieson, Rod Lake, Ivan Cohen, and Ken Halsband also executive produced, with Anthony Hemingway directing and executive producing the pilot. A+E Studios and 20th Television produce.
“Triage” was a holdover from the 2020 pilot season. The medical drama followed a pioneering surgeon,...
- 7/1/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
It’s been a busy day at ABC.
The network has handed series pickups to pilots The Wonder Years, Queens, Maggie and Abbott Elementary and passed on pilots including Sam Esmail’s Acts of Crime and comedies Black Don’t Crack and Bucktown.
But there are five pilots that are still in consideration for the 2021-22 broadcast season, including Kevin Costner’s National Parks Investigation, that will be considered for midseason.
These also include Dark Horse, Epic, Promised Land and Triage.
Dark Hose, Epic and Promised Land have yet to be filmed and will be considered after the upfronts, while the off-cycle Triage pilot was produced and went through a rollercoaster ride of a poorly received first cut, highly testing second cut and so-so screening response. National Parks Investigation was considered a wildcard for fall consideration but a final, broadcast-length cut of the pilot, was not delivered in time.
National Parks Investigation,...
The network has handed series pickups to pilots The Wonder Years, Queens, Maggie and Abbott Elementary and passed on pilots including Sam Esmail’s Acts of Crime and comedies Black Don’t Crack and Bucktown.
But there are five pilots that are still in consideration for the 2021-22 broadcast season, including Kevin Costner’s National Parks Investigation, that will be considered for midseason.
These also include Dark Horse, Epic, Promised Land and Triage.
Dark Hose, Epic and Promised Land have yet to be filmed and will be considered after the upfronts, while the off-cycle Triage pilot was produced and went through a rollercoaster ride of a poorly received first cut, highly testing second cut and so-so screening response. National Parks Investigation was considered a wildcard for fall consideration but a final, broadcast-length cut of the pilot, was not delivered in time.
National Parks Investigation,...
- 5/14/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths will be joined on screen by a host of new faces for the second season of the ABC/Blackfella Films’ Total Control, including Wayne Blair, who will also direct all six episodes.
Steph Tisdell stars in her first dramatic role, alongside other new cast members such as Alex Dimitriades, Colin Friels, Harry Greenwood, Rob Carlton, Daniella Farinacci, Brenna Harding, Benedict Hardie, and Anita Hegh.
Returning are Rob Collins, Anthony Hayes, William McInnes, Huw Higginson, Wes Patten, Lisa Flanagan and Harry Richardson.
Filming is currently underway, with production to take place across Sydney; Canberra, including at Parliament House, and Broken Hill.
The first season of the multiple Aacta Award-winning drama saw political newcomer Alex Irving (Mailman) engineer a coup against Rachel Anderson (Griffiths), the Prime Minister who appointed her to the Senate.
Season two sees Alex running as an independent. She’ll be ready for the...
Steph Tisdell stars in her first dramatic role, alongside other new cast members such as Alex Dimitriades, Colin Friels, Harry Greenwood, Rob Carlton, Daniella Farinacci, Brenna Harding, Benedict Hardie, and Anita Hegh.
Returning are Rob Collins, Anthony Hayes, William McInnes, Huw Higginson, Wes Patten, Lisa Flanagan and Harry Richardson.
Filming is currently underway, with production to take place across Sydney; Canberra, including at Parliament House, and Broken Hill.
The first season of the multiple Aacta Award-winning drama saw political newcomer Alex Irving (Mailman) engineer a coup against Rachel Anderson (Griffiths), the Prime Minister who appointed her to the Senate.
Season two sees Alex running as an independent. She’ll be ready for the...
- 3/25/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
William Jehu Garroutte’s pilot “Dark Horse” has been picked up by ABC. Garroutte recently participated in ABC’s writing program and served as a story editor for the network’s “Stumptown.” “Dark Horse” hails from Universal Television and ABC Signature in association with Tel Aviv-based media company Keshet Studios.
“Dark Horse” follows Alex Irving, a passionate Indigenous woman on her unconventional journey into politics, wherein she reckons with her own troubled past while juggling obligations to her family, culture and to a government that has never met anybody quite like her. Garroutte, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, writes and executive produces the series. Jessica Goldberg serves as showrunner and will also executive produce.
Prior to working on “Stumptown,” Garroutte was a story editor on the upcoming Sony International series “Unknown Girl” and was a staffer on John Rogers’ “The Kingkiller Chronicles” fantasy drama adaptation with Lin-Manuel Miranda on...
“Dark Horse” follows Alex Irving, a passionate Indigenous woman on her unconventional journey into politics, wherein she reckons with her own troubled past while juggling obligations to her family, culture and to a government that has never met anybody quite like her. Garroutte, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, writes and executive produces the series. Jessica Goldberg serves as showrunner and will also executive produce.
Prior to working on “Stumptown,” Garroutte was a story editor on the upcoming Sony International series “Unknown Girl” and was a staffer on John Rogers’ “The Kingkiller Chronicles” fantasy drama adaptation with Lin-Manuel Miranda on...
- 3/9/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
ABC is remaking Australian political drama Total Control and has handed the project a pilot order.
The Disney-owned network is piloting Dark Horse, written by Stumptown story editor William Jehu Garroutte with The Path creator Jessica Goldberg set as showrunner.
The original show, which was commissioned by ABC Australia with the working title Black Bitch, was co-created by Rachel Griffiths, who starred in HBO’s Six Feet Under and ABC’s Brothers & Sisters.
Dark Horse comes from Keshet Studios, Universal Television, where the U.S. arm of the Israeli company has a first-look deal, and ABC Signature.
The drama follows Alex Irving, a passionate Indigenous woman, on her unconventional journey into politics. As Alex reckons with her own troubled past, she juggles obligations to her family, to her culture, and to a political system that’s never seen anybody quite like her.
2021 ABC Pilots & Series Orders
Jehu Garroutte (left...
The Disney-owned network is piloting Dark Horse, written by Stumptown story editor William Jehu Garroutte with The Path creator Jessica Goldberg set as showrunner.
The original show, which was commissioned by ABC Australia with the working title Black Bitch, was co-created by Rachel Griffiths, who starred in HBO’s Six Feet Under and ABC’s Brothers & Sisters.
Dark Horse comes from Keshet Studios, Universal Television, where the U.S. arm of the Israeli company has a first-look deal, and ABC Signature.
The drama follows Alex Irving, a passionate Indigenous woman, on her unconventional journey into politics. As Alex reckons with her own troubled past, she juggles obligations to her family, to her culture, and to a political system that’s never seen anybody quite like her.
2021 ABC Pilots & Series Orders
Jehu Garroutte (left...
- 3/9/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
ABC has ordered a pilot for a political drama centered on an Indigenous woman.
The project, Dark Horse, is based on an Australian series titled Total Control. Stumptown veteran William Jehu Garroutte, a citizen of the Cherokee nation, is writing the script and will be an executive producer. Jessica Goldberg (Netflix’s Away, Hulu’s The Path) will serve as showrunner.
Dark Horse revolves around Alex Irving, a passionate Indigenous woman who takes an unconventional journey into politics. As Alex reckons with her own troubled past, she juggles obligations to her family, her culture, and a political system that’s never seen anybody quite like her....
The project, Dark Horse, is based on an Australian series titled Total Control. Stumptown veteran William Jehu Garroutte, a citizen of the Cherokee nation, is writing the script and will be an executive producer. Jessica Goldberg (Netflix’s Away, Hulu’s The Path) will serve as showrunner.
Dark Horse revolves around Alex Irving, a passionate Indigenous woman who takes an unconventional journey into politics. As Alex reckons with her own troubled past, she juggles obligations to her family, her culture, and a political system that’s never seen anybody quite like her....
ABC has ordered a pilot for a political drama centered on an Indigenous woman.
The project, Dark Horse, is based on an Australian series titled Total Control. Stumptown veteran William Jehu Garroutte, a citizen of the Cherokee nation, is writing the script and will be an executive producer. Jessica Goldberg (Netflix’s Away, Hulu’s The Path) will serve as showrunner.
Dark Horse revolves around Alex Irving, a passionate Indigenous woman who takes an unconventional journey into politics. As Alex reckons with her own troubled past, she juggles obligations to her family, her culture, and a political system that’s never seen anybody quite like her....
The project, Dark Horse, is based on an Australian series titled Total Control. Stumptown veteran William Jehu Garroutte, a citizen of the Cherokee nation, is writing the script and will be an executive producer. Jessica Goldberg (Netflix’s Away, Hulu’s The Path) will serve as showrunner.
Dark Horse revolves around Alex Irving, a passionate Indigenous woman who takes an unconventional journey into politics. As Alex reckons with her own troubled past, she juggles obligations to her family, her culture, and a political system that’s never seen anybody quite like her....
British broadcaster Channel 4 and distributor All3Media Intl. picked up multiple prizes Tuesday at the Mipcom Diversify TV Excellence Awards, dedicated to championing and promoting diversity and inclusion across the international television industry. Variety was the awards’ official media partner.
U.K. series “Feel Good,” which follows recovering addict and comedian Mae, won the award for representation of LGBTQ+ in a scripted show. In the series we follow Mae as she tries to control the addictive behaviors and intense romanticism that permeate every facet of her life. It was produced by Objective Fiction and Objective Media Group Scotland. The show, distributed by All3Media Intl., was originally broadcast on Channel 4 and streamed on Netflix.
The award for representation of LGBTQ+ in a non-scripted show went to Japanese-Filipino series “Jake and Charice.” The show focuses on Charice, a renowned Filipina singer with a Billboard Top 10 album, who gave up her “miracle voice” to become Jake,...
U.K. series “Feel Good,” which follows recovering addict and comedian Mae, won the award for representation of LGBTQ+ in a scripted show. In the series we follow Mae as she tries to control the addictive behaviors and intense romanticism that permeate every facet of her life. It was produced by Objective Fiction and Objective Media Group Scotland. The show, distributed by All3Media Intl., was originally broadcast on Channel 4 and streamed on Netflix.
The award for representation of LGBTQ+ in a non-scripted show went to Japanese-Filipino series “Jake and Charice.” The show focuses on Charice, a renowned Filipina singer with a Billboard Top 10 album, who gave up her “miracle voice” to become Jake,...
- 10/13/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The “Downton Abbey” effect will be felt at Mipcom, with one of the stars of the show in town to launch her new project, an ITV-Masterpiece period drama, while a number of lavish historical series ready to take the international stage. Buyers looking for thrillers or edgy contemporary dramas will also be in luck, and several shows take on the exploration of race, community or other social issues, often with complex female characters at the fore.
As the annual market gets underway, Variety breaks down the dozen must-see series from all over the world.
The Accident
Producer: The Forge
Broadcaster: Channel 4 (U.K.), Hulu (U.S.)
Distributor: All3Media Intl.
“The Accident” is the third installment of Jack Thorne’s trilogy for Channel 4 and Hulu after “National Treasure” and “Kiri.” In the new show, a large building project offers the people of a forgotten Welsh town hope, but...
As the annual market gets underway, Variety breaks down the dozen must-see series from all over the world.
The Accident
Producer: The Forge
Broadcaster: Channel 4 (U.K.), Hulu (U.S.)
Distributor: All3Media Intl.
“The Accident” is the third installment of Jack Thorne’s trilogy for Channel 4 and Hulu after “National Treasure” and “Kiri.” In the new show, a large building project offers the people of a forgotten Welsh town hope, but...
- 10/13/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Rachel Griffiths is best known for her long-running roles as masseuse Brenda Chenowith in HBO’s Six Feet Under and Sarah Walker Laurent in ABC’s Brothers & Sisters. But now, the Australian actor, writer and director is swapping Disney-owned ABC to Australian public broadcaster ABC with controversial political drama Black Bitch.
Deadline spoke to Griffiths about the show she co-created and the way that a shift in Australian politics has informed the drama, as well as the rise of populism around the world. She also discusses stepping out from in front of the camera as she lines up a raft of projects set down under.
Black Bitch follows Alex Irving, played by Cleverman star Deborah Mailman, a charismatic and contradictory Indigenous woman who is thrust into the national limelight after a horrific shooting and is quickly chosen by Australia’s embattled Prime Minister Rachel Anderson, played by Griffiths,...
Deadline spoke to Griffiths about the show she co-created and the way that a shift in Australian politics has informed the drama, as well as the rise of populism around the world. She also discusses stepping out from in front of the camera as she lines up a raft of projects set down under.
Black Bitch follows Alex Irving, played by Cleverman star Deborah Mailman, a charismatic and contradictory Indigenous woman who is thrust into the national limelight after a horrific shooting and is quickly chosen by Australia’s embattled Prime Minister Rachel Anderson, played by Griffiths,...
- 10/9/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Rose Riley (L) and Emma Harvie in ‘Diary of an Uber Driver.’
Rose Riley is getting ready to have her first crack at Hollywood amid the most successful year of her career since graduating from Waapa in 2013.
This week the actor is heading to the Us for the first time for meetings with producers, casting directors and other players set up by her Us agent, Authentic Talent & Literary Management’s Jessica Morgulis.
Rose met Morgulis when the agent visited Sydney, arranged by her Oz rep United Management, before she started work in Stateless, the six-part ABC drama about four strangers in an immigration detention centre in the Australian desert, co-created by Cate Blanchett, Tony Ayres and Elise McCredie.
“I will always be very passionate about Australian stories and Australian cinema, TV and theatre but working overseas would be a total dream; ideally I will find a balance,” she tells If.
Rose Riley is getting ready to have her first crack at Hollywood amid the most successful year of her career since graduating from Waapa in 2013.
This week the actor is heading to the Us for the first time for meetings with producers, casting directors and other players set up by her Us agent, Authentic Talent & Literary Management’s Jessica Morgulis.
Rose met Morgulis when the agent visited Sydney, arranged by her Oz rep United Management, before she started work in Stateless, the six-part ABC drama about four strangers in an immigration detention centre in the Australian desert, co-created by Cate Blanchett, Tony Ayres and Elise McCredie.
“I will always be very passionate about Australian stories and Australian cinema, TV and theatre but working overseas would be a total dream; ideally I will find a balance,” she tells If.
- 8/19/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Black Bitch’ (Photo credit: John Platt).
The first two episodes of Blackfella Films’ ABC political drama Black Bitch will have their world premiere in the Primetime program at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Directed by Rachel Perkins and starring Rachel Griffiths as Australia’s embattled Prime Minister Rachel Anderson and Deborah Mailman as her rival Alex Irving, it’s one of six series from around the world in the line-up.
Perkins said: “News of our acceptance into Toronto, particularly given our series is one of the few chosen from the world, is a high point and a huge relief. Screening at Toronto is also special on a very personal level. It marks the 20th year of my collaboration with Deborah Mailman.
“My career has been built around her prodigious talent and I look forward to following our leading lady onto the red carpet.”
Among the other world premieres will be HBO’s Mrs.
The first two episodes of Blackfella Films’ ABC political drama Black Bitch will have their world premiere in the Primetime program at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Directed by Rachel Perkins and starring Rachel Griffiths as Australia’s embattled Prime Minister Rachel Anderson and Deborah Mailman as her rival Alex Irving, it’s one of six series from around the world in the line-up.
Perkins said: “News of our acceptance into Toronto, particularly given our series is one of the few chosen from the world, is a high point and a huge relief. Screening at Toronto is also special on a very personal level. It marks the 20th year of my collaboration with Deborah Mailman.
“My career has been built around her prodigious talent and I look forward to following our leading lady onto the red carpet.”
Among the other world premieres will be HBO’s Mrs.
- 8/15/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Huw Higginson.
Huw Higginson often plays admirable, upstanding characters but sometimes he gets more of a kick out of tackling villains.
In the past year the English-born actor has portrayed a brutish magistrate in Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale and a serial killer truck driver in Playmaker Media’s Mandarin series Chosen directed by Tony Tilse.
He played more nuanced characters including the abandoned husband and father of Miranda Tapsell’s bride-to-be in Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding; a lawyer who represents the family of a missing priest (Sam Reid) in Lingo Pictures/Foxtel’s drama Lambs of God; and a wealthy gentleman who sends his ward to boarding school in Fremantle/Foxtel’s Picnic at Hanging Rock.
“Unpleasant characters are often more interesting to play,” says the actor who played the well-meaning Constable George Garfield in The Bill for 10 years. “You have to try to find something to...
Huw Higginson often plays admirable, upstanding characters but sometimes he gets more of a kick out of tackling villains.
In the past year the English-born actor has portrayed a brutish magistrate in Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale and a serial killer truck driver in Playmaker Media’s Mandarin series Chosen directed by Tony Tilse.
He played more nuanced characters including the abandoned husband and father of Miranda Tapsell’s bride-to-be in Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding; a lawyer who represents the family of a missing priest (Sam Reid) in Lingo Pictures/Foxtel’s drama Lambs of God; and a wealthy gentleman who sends his ward to boarding school in Fremantle/Foxtel’s Picnic at Hanging Rock.
“Unpleasant characters are often more interesting to play,” says the actor who played the well-meaning Constable George Garfield in The Bill for 10 years. “You have to try to find something to...
- 6/4/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Anthony Hayes in ‘Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan’.
Anthony Hayes has been acting since he was nine. While there is no danger of him giving up that stellar career, for the present he is concentrating more on his other passions: writing and directing.
In the past five or six years he has been in the fortunate position of choosing roles he really wanted to do – in the movies Cargo, War Machine and The Light Between Oceans and TV’s Mystery Road and Seven Types of Ambiguity – rather than just for a pay cheque.
Now his primary focus is writing and directing, starting with Gold, a thriller in which he will co-star with Sam Worthington about two guys who discover the world’s biggest gold nugget in the Australian desert. After that he hopes to make Stingray, a crime thriller he wrote and was set to direct in 2016 until the financing fell through.
Anthony Hayes has been acting since he was nine. While there is no danger of him giving up that stellar career, for the present he is concentrating more on his other passions: writing and directing.
In the past five or six years he has been in the fortunate position of choosing roles he really wanted to do – in the movies Cargo, War Machine and The Light Between Oceans and TV’s Mystery Road and Seven Types of Ambiguity – rather than just for a pay cheque.
Now his primary focus is writing and directing, starting with Gold, a thriller in which he will co-star with Sam Worthington about two guys who discover the world’s biggest gold nugget in the Australian desert. After that he hopes to make Stingray, a crime thriller he wrote and was set to direct in 2016 until the financing fell through.
- 5/22/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Jolene Anderson and Remy Hii in ‘Harrow’ 2.
Here’s a shout-out to producers: The ABC is keen to find another genre series to fill a gap as Matchbox Pictures’ Glitch comes to its conclusion after three seasons.
The pubcaster is also looking for a multi-generational relationship drama, comedies for Wednesday nights and shows with diverse casts and creatives across all genres.
It is less interested in programs set in small country towns and procedural crime series, particularly with the second series of Hoodlum Entertainment’s Harrow premiering on May 12 and the second season of Bunya Productions’ Mystery Road due to shoot later this year in Broome.
That’s the word from ABC head of scripted production Sally Riley. She hopes the funding for her domain – drama, comedy and Indigenous content – for the next financial year will not be less than the last couple of years, despite the federal government-imposed three-year $83.7 million funding cut.
Here’s a shout-out to producers: The ABC is keen to find another genre series to fill a gap as Matchbox Pictures’ Glitch comes to its conclusion after three seasons.
The pubcaster is also looking for a multi-generational relationship drama, comedies for Wednesday nights and shows with diverse casts and creatives across all genres.
It is less interested in programs set in small country towns and procedural crime series, particularly with the second series of Hoodlum Entertainment’s Harrow premiering on May 12 and the second season of Bunya Productions’ Mystery Road due to shoot later this year in Broome.
That’s the word from ABC head of scripted production Sally Riley. She hopes the funding for her domain – drama, comedy and Indigenous content – for the next financial year will not be less than the last couple of years, despite the federal government-imposed three-year $83.7 million funding cut.
- 5/6/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Deborah Mailman.
Deborah Mailman has been appointed to the Screen Australia board for three years, the second Indigenous person to serve in that role following Rachel Perkins.
The stage and screen actor currently serves on Screen Australia’s Gender Matters task force and has been a member of the Sydney Opera House Trust since 2015.
In 2017 she received an Order of Australia Medal for her services to the performing arts and as a role model for Indigenous performers.
Currently she is starring in Blackfella Films’ Black B*tch (working title), a six-part drama for the ABC directed by Rachel Perkins.
She plays Alex Irving, a charismatic and contradictory Indigenous woman who is thrust into the national limelight after a horrific event. Rachel Griffiths co-stars as Australia’s embattled Prime Minister Rachel Anderson, who, seeing a publicity goldmine for her party, makes Alex a captain’s pick for the Senate.
In Seth Larney...
Deborah Mailman has been appointed to the Screen Australia board for three years, the second Indigenous person to serve in that role following Rachel Perkins.
The stage and screen actor currently serves on Screen Australia’s Gender Matters task force and has been a member of the Sydney Opera House Trust since 2015.
In 2017 she received an Order of Australia Medal for her services to the performing arts and as a role model for Indigenous performers.
Currently she is starring in Blackfella Films’ Black B*tch (working title), a six-part drama for the ABC directed by Rachel Perkins.
She plays Alex Irving, a charismatic and contradictory Indigenous woman who is thrust into the national limelight after a horrific event. Rachel Griffiths co-stars as Australia’s embattled Prime Minister Rachel Anderson, who, seeing a publicity goldmine for her party, makes Alex a captain’s pick for the Senate.
In Seth Larney...
- 3/26/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths.
Blackfella Films’ Black B*tch (working title), a six-part drama for the ABC revolving around high stakes ambition, betrayal and treachery in the nation’s capital, started shooting today.
Directed by Rachel Perkins, the series stars Deborah Mailman as Alex Irving, a charismatic and contradictory Indigenous woman who is thrust into the national limelight after a horrific event.
Rachel Griffiths co-stars as Australia’s embattled Prime Minister Rachel Anderson, who, seeing a publicity goldmine for her party, makes her a captain’s pick for the Senate.
But Alex wants to be more than just a political stunt: she wants to make a difference. So after Alex is betrayed by the Pm she sets out for revenge that will send the political establishment into meltdown.
The supporting cast includes Harry Richardson, William McInnes, Aaron Pedersen, Rob Collins, Anthony Hayes, Celia Ireland, Trisha Morton-Thomas, James Sweeny, David Roberts,...
Blackfella Films’ Black B*tch (working title), a six-part drama for the ABC revolving around high stakes ambition, betrayal and treachery in the nation’s capital, started shooting today.
Directed by Rachel Perkins, the series stars Deborah Mailman as Alex Irving, a charismatic and contradictory Indigenous woman who is thrust into the national limelight after a horrific event.
Rachel Griffiths co-stars as Australia’s embattled Prime Minister Rachel Anderson, who, seeing a publicity goldmine for her party, makes her a captain’s pick for the Senate.
But Alex wants to be more than just a political stunt: she wants to make a difference. So after Alex is betrayed by the Pm she sets out for revenge that will send the political establishment into meltdown.
The supporting cast includes Harry Richardson, William McInnes, Aaron Pedersen, Rob Collins, Anthony Hayes, Celia Ireland, Trisha Morton-Thomas, James Sweeny, David Roberts,...
- 3/4/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Keshet International has headed down under to snap up its second global drama – picking up Australian political thriller Black B*tch (w/t).
The company has acquired the global rights to the drama, which stars Brothers & Sisters’ Rachel Griffiths and The Sapphires’ Deborah Mailman, the second third-party pick up for its Keshet International Fund that was launched in March during the In-tv conference in Jerusalem. It comes after picking up BBC One drama The Trial of Christine Keeler.
It will also work alongside Endeavor Content to co-distribute the six-part series in the U.S.
The series, which will air on Australian public broadcaster ABC, is produced by Blackfella Films. Directed by Mystery Road’s Rachel Perkins, Black B*tch is a story of high stakes ambition, betrayal and treachery, played out in Australia’s capital.
It follows Alex Irving, played by Mailman, a charismatic and contradictory Indigenous woman, who...
The company has acquired the global rights to the drama, which stars Brothers & Sisters’ Rachel Griffiths and The Sapphires’ Deborah Mailman, the second third-party pick up for its Keshet International Fund that was launched in March during the In-tv conference in Jerusalem. It comes after picking up BBC One drama The Trial of Christine Keeler.
It will also work alongside Endeavor Content to co-distribute the six-part series in the U.S.
The series, which will air on Australian public broadcaster ABC, is produced by Blackfella Films. Directed by Mystery Road’s Rachel Perkins, Black B*tch is a story of high stakes ambition, betrayal and treachery, played out in Australia’s capital.
It follows Alex Irving, played by Mailman, a charismatic and contradictory Indigenous woman, who...
- 11/19/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths lead the cast of ‘Black B*tch’.
Leading the ABC’s drama slate in 2019 is Blackfella Films’ Black B*tch, starring Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths, with the broadcaster reconfirming its commitment to Australian stories and diversity at its upfronts today.
Other new drama/comedy series on the ABC’s slate for new year include the previously announced Frayed, a Mermaid Television production that stars Sarah Kendall, RevLover’s Diary of an Uber Driver, Synchronicity Films’ The Cry, and 30-episode serial The Heights, from Matchbox and For Pete’s Sake Productions.
Speaking at the content launch, ABC acting MD David Anderson put forward that the ABC is Australia’s “chief storyteller”. He cited statistics from the most recent Screen Australia drama report – that showed the ABC invested more in Australian drama content than any other single broadcaster in the last financial year, and that its...
Leading the ABC’s drama slate in 2019 is Blackfella Films’ Black B*tch, starring Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths, with the broadcaster reconfirming its commitment to Australian stories and diversity at its upfronts today.
Other new drama/comedy series on the ABC’s slate for new year include the previously announced Frayed, a Mermaid Television production that stars Sarah Kendall, RevLover’s Diary of an Uber Driver, Synchronicity Films’ The Cry, and 30-episode serial The Heights, from Matchbox and For Pete’s Sake Productions.
Speaking at the content launch, ABC acting MD David Anderson put forward that the ABC is Australia’s “chief storyteller”. He cited statistics from the most recent Screen Australia drama report – that showed the ABC invested more in Australian drama content than any other single broadcaster in the last financial year, and that its...
- 11/19/2018
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
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