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"Transmission Films” new live-action, Australian-produced crime comedy feature “Spit”, directed by Jonathan Teplitzky, stars David Wenham Helen Thomson, David Field, David Roberts, Gary Sweet, Arlo Green, Ayik Daniel Chut Deng, Sam & Teagan Rybka and Sami Afuni, with a North American release Tba:

“…in this sequel to the feature ‘Gettin' Square’, former junkie and international fugitive ‘John Spitieri’ returns to Australia…

“…only to find himself locked up in an ‘Immigration Detention Centre’ with a massive target on his back…

“…as old enemies come looking for him, determined to settle old scores…”

Click the images to enlarge...

"I'm gonna get outta here, and when I do I'm gonna look after ya..." Transmission Films has revealed the main official trailer for the film Spit – yes that's the actual title for it. David Wenham stars as infamous criminal John Francis "Spit" Spitieri in Jonathan Teplitzky's film Spit - debuting in Australia next March. In the sequel to the award-winning crime comedy, Gettin' Square, ex-junkie John Spitieri returns to Australia, only to find himself locked up in an Immigration Detention Centre with a massive target on his back, as old enemies come looking for him, determined to settle old scores. As Johnny talks up a storm without saying anything at all, he makes new friends amongst the detainees, and teaches them his version of mateship. The full cast also includes Helen Thomson, David Field, David Roberts, Gary Sweet, Arlo Green, Ayik Daniel Chut Deng, Sam & Teagan Rybka, & Sami Afuni.

"International fugitive. Money launderer. Criminal mastermind." Transmission Films has unveiled a first look teaser trailer for a film called Spit – yes that's the actual title for it. David Wenham is John Francis "Spit" Spitieri in the first look at Jonathan Teplitzky's film Spit. Opening first in Australia next March. In the sequel to the award-winning crime comedy, Gettin' Square, ex-junkie John Spitieri returns to Australia, only to find himself locked up in an Immigration Detention Centre with a massive target on his back, as old enemies come looking for him, determined to settle old scores. As Johnny talks up a storm without saying anything at all, he makes new friends amongst the detainees, and teaches them his version of mateship. The full cast also includes Helen Thomson, David Field, David Roberts, Gary Sweet, Arlo Green, Ayik Daniel Chut Deng, Sam & Teagan Rybka, & Sami Afuni. Just a few seconds of footage in here so far,...

“Lord of the Rings,” “Elvis” and “Faraway Downs” star David Wenham is to reprise one of other his best-known roles in upcoming feature “Spit.”

The picture is a sequel to 2003 comedy crime thriller “Gettin’ Square,” in which Wenham played Johnny ‘Spit’ Spitteri, a recently-released ex-convict and Sam Worthington (“Avatar”) played an older brother trying to keep the kid out of trouble.

Production of “Spit” has got underway in Gold Coast and Brisbane, Queensland and will continue through May.

The new film is directed by ‘Gettin’ Square” and “The Railway Man” director Jonathan Teplitzky, from a screenplay by Queensland-based writer and lawyer Christopher Nyst.

It is produced by Trish Lake of Queensland-based Freshwater Pictures alongside Greg Duffy, Felicity McVay and Wenham. It received major production investment from Screen Australia with local distribution by Transmission Films and international rights sales managed by Moviehouse Entertainment.

In “Spit,’ Spitteri finds himself locked up in...

The Pacific, a miniseries produced by Tom Hanks, is now a global hit on Netflix, joining the ranks of popular contemporary shows like One Piece and Sex Education. Despite being released in 2010, The Pacific has recently attracted 2.4 million views and accumulated 21.5 million hours of viewing time, making it one of the top-performing English-language shows on Netflix for the week. The Pacific stands out on the list as the only title that isn't from 2022 or 2023.

The Tom Hanks-produced 2010 miniseries The Pacific is now a global Netflix hit. A companion project to the 2001 World War II miniseries Band of Brothers, The Pacific focuses on the U.S. Marine Corps' campaign in the Pacific Theater. The large ensemble cast of the miniseries included James Badge Dale, Jon Seda, Joseph Mazzello, Rami Malek, Gary Sweet, William Sadler, and Jon Bernthal.

Netflix has now calculated their Top 10 highest-performing English-language shows for the week of September...

Movies based on cults make up for great concepts not just because we encounter some of them in real life but also because the writers add an eerie element to them. Although gory horror films such as Wrong Turn aren't based on actual events, the recent Wrong Turn: The Foundation is not far from true stories that may have occurred in the real world. These movies show the dreadful reality of cults, which seem to adhere to a false belief system and commit unspeakable atrocities in the name of their cause.

The upcoming psychological thriller The Clearing seeks to keep up the trend by focusing on an exceptionally unique notion. The series, which consists of eight episodes, is based on distressing true stories that occurred in various cults across Australia. Miranda Otto, Teresa Palmer, and Guy Pearce appear in the series based on J. P. Pomare's best-selling novel. While we're discussing this psychological thriller,...

Production has begun in Brisbane, Australia, on dramatic comedy film “A Savage Christmas.”

The story is that of a trans woman who, after years of estrangement, returns home for Christmas with her new boyfriend. Expecting her transition to be the focus, it is instead overshadowed by family secrets and lies which threaten not only their lives but another Christmas lunch.

The film is written, directed and produced by feature debutant Madeleine Dyer, who has pitched it as stylistically resembling “Death at a Funeral” and “Silver Linings Playbook.” Screen Australia’s head of content Grainne Brunsdon said the film “blends off-beat humor while reflecting our nation’s diversity.” Dyer co-wrote the screenplay with Daniel Mulvihill and Max Jahufer.

The film is also the debut production from Roaring Entertainment, a newly formed company by Brisbane-based producers Ben McNeill and Mulvihill.

Members of the Savage family are played by Helen Thomson (“Elvis”), Darren Gilshenan,...

The second season of ABC’s Mystery Road, lockdown ABC comedy Retrograde and Sbs thriller Hungry Ghosts have won the 11th annual Equity Ensemble Awards.

The actors who starred in these programs were recently voted the most outstanding Australian small screen ensembles in their respective categories by the Meaa Equity National Performers’ Committee (Npc).

Equity president Jason Klarwein said: “There’s never been a more important time to celebrate Australian stories and the talented Meaa members who bring them to life. As our industry begins to recover from the last 12 months we must stand together and campaign for more quality local productions like our finalists and winners across every platform.”

Retrograde, which stars Pallavi Sharda, Ilai Swindells, Maria Angelico, Esther Hannaford, Nick Boshier and Max Brown, won in the comedy category.

Judges said of the Unless Pictures and Orange Entertainment Co series: “Through their zoom the characters negotiate their friendships,...

FrightFest, the UK horror festival that was forced to move online this year because of pandemic disruption, has unveiled a lineup for its 21st edition (August 27-31) including seven world premieres.

The event opens with the UK premiere of Sky Sharks, which features Nazi zombie-piloted airborne killer sharks.

World premieres include Logan Thomas’s There’s No Such Thing As Vampires, Patrick Rea’s I Am Lisa, Ruben Pla’s The Horror Crowd, G-Hey Kim’s Don’t Click, Toby Watts’ Playhouse, Airell Anthony Hayles and Sam Casserly’s They’re Outside, and Francesco Giannini’s Hall.

Industry-focused events will include a panel hosted by Den Of Geek’s UK editor Rosie Fletcher about how the horror genre has been affected by the pandemic.

All online film screenings will be geo-locked to UK audiences and available through FrightFest’s website.

“We will desperately miss seeing all of you in person...

Steven Oliver in ‘Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky’.

Local films from directors Jo-Anne Brechin and Steven McGregor are among the 12 world premieres to feature on the line-up for Miff 68½ – Melbourne International Film Festival’s upcoming digital-only iteration.

To run August 6-23, the event will encompass some 69 features and 44 shorts from 56 countries – an impressive number given the rights complications inherent in putting together an online showcase. Forty-nine per cent of films are from a female director, and all films are available to stream across Australia.

Miff artistic director Al Cossar said: “I’m delighted to say that, despite the extraordinary circumstances of 2020, Miff’s ‘radical act’ is to keep going and continue on our mission to bring you the world through unforgettable screen experiences. At Miff, we are driven by a deep understanding that film has the ability to entertain, inspire, illuminate and empower audiences in a way that few other...

Stars: Kerry Armstrong, Kathryn Wilder, Gary Sweet, Stephen Hunter, Jordan Waller, Kevin Harrington, Don Bridges, Helen Dallimore, Madekaine Nunn, Anna Tolputt, Danxia Yang, Rob Sheean, David Adlam, Kasha Bajor | Written by Jordan Waller | Directed by Jesse O’Brien

After the death of their adoptive mother, shy butcher Norman and his drama queen twin sister Annabelle leave the UK and adventure to Australia in search of their biological mother, but the local townsfolk of Two Heads Creek are hiding a dark secret… but aren’t they all when it comes to small towns in horror movies?

Australia and New Zealand have a fine tradition of mixing comedy and horror to superb effect. Be it the early work of Peter Jackson such as Bad Taste and Brain Dead, or more recent efforts such as Primal and The Loved Ones, horror from down under always seems to walk a very fine line be laughs and scares,...

Gary Sweet and Rachel Griffiths in ‘House Husbands.’

Gary Sweet will play a fictional version of himself in a six-part comedy which is being developed by Rachel Griffiths and writer/actor Maddie Dyer.

In Saving Gary Sweet, the former House Husbands star will play a troubled TV actor who has been married four times and ends up in hospital after a drug and alcohol binge.

Griffiths discussed the project today in conversation with Denise Eriksen in Running Free Skills, a webinar presented by Acmi, Film Victoria and Media Monitors.

She got the idea when she co-starred with Sweet in House Husbands after having a number of dreams in which she “saved” Ben Affleck.

The premise has Sweet as a TV actor whose career is derailed after a video of him bagging his co-star in a procedural cop show while doing cocaine with an underage girl goes viral.

Sweet loved the...

Exclusive: Shaked Berenson and Jonathan Barkan’s genre distribution label The Horror Collective has acquired the North American distribution rights to the Jesse O’Brien-directed horror-comedy Two Heads Creek. The pic is slated for a summer release.

Written by Jordan Waller, who also stars in the UK-Australian film alongside Kathryn Wilder, Two Heads Creek follows a timid butcher and his drama-queen twin sister as they venture off to Australia in search of their birth mother. While there, they are among seemingly tolerant townsfolk but little do they know, they are hiding a dark, meaty secret.

More from DeadlineShaked Berenson And Jonathan Barkan Launch Genre Distro Label The Horror CollectiveSydney Film Festival Cancelled Over CoronavirusChina Moviegoing Survey Reveals 62% Of People Will Wait For Complete Covid-19 Containment Before Returning To Cinemas

“Making Two Heads Creek was a horror fan’s dream,...

Cate Blanchett in ‘Stateless.’ (Photo: Ben King).

The first two episodes of Matchbox Pictures’ Stateless and the second series of Bunya Productions’ Mystery Road will have their world premieres at the sixth edition of the Berlin International Film Festival’s Berlinale Series.

In addition, Goalpost’s Dark Victory from writer-director Matthew Saville is among eight titles selected for the Co-Pro Series 2020, which seeks to link projects with international partners.

Adapted from the book by David Marr and Marian Wilkinson, Dark Victory is the story of the Howard government’s refusal to allow Norwegian frieghter Tampa, with hundreds of mainly Afghan refugees on board, to enter Christmas Island.

The Berlinale Series line-up consists of eight series from around the world including Damien Chazelle’s Paris-set musical-drama The Eddy for Netflix, Jason Segel’s AMC series Dispatches from Elswehere and the BBC-HBO Max’s Trigonometry.

“An abundance of topics and...

Jordan Waller in ‘Two Heads Creek.’

Producers Brett Thornquest, Steven Matusko and Mat Graham have launched Entertainment Advocate, an Australian distribution company with the aim of handling a limited number of Oz, Us and UK titles each year.

The banner’s debut release, Two Heads Creek, a macabre, irreverent horror comedy directed by Jesse O’Brien, opened last weekend after premiering at Monster Fest.

While the weekend gross was a modest $14,000 including festival screenings, Matusko, who is partnered with Thornquest in Eclectik Vision, tells If: “We understand the business and will approach distribution with a producer’s mindset rather than a distributor’s.

“We are not looking to outbid larger distribution companies but we want to work with other Australian producers and also to release select films from the UK and Us.”

Graham was one of the producers on Eclectik Vision’s Infini and The Osiris Child, both directed by Shane Abbess.

(L-r) Greg McLean, Phoebe Tonkin, Bryan Brown, Glen Dolman.

During filming of Stan’s Bloom in Victoria last year the creator/showrunner Glen Dolman was already hatching ideas for a second series of the supernatural drama.

So when Stan’s Mike Sneesby and Nick Forward ordered another six episodes in April after he pitched an overview Dolman pressed ahead with plans to bring a fresh perspective to the show.

That involved hiring new directors in Greg McLean and Sian Davies (who collaborated on Stan’s The Gloaming), assembling a new team of writers and adding half a dozen fresh faces to the cast, with the assistance of casting director Leigh Pickford.

Joining him in the writers’ room are Giula Sandler, Matt Ford, Tommy Murphy and Catherine S McMullen. Dolman scripted four of the six eps of the first series, which was named Drama Series Production of the Year at last...

Phoebe Tonkin and Bryan Brown.

Jacqueline McKenzie, Gary Sweet, Bella Heathcote, Toby Schmitz, Jackson Heywood, Scott Lee and Ed Oxenbould are new additions to the cast of Stan’s Bloom, the second season of which is now shooting in regional Victoria.

Greg McLean and Sian Davies (who both directed episodes of Stan’s The Gloaming) are directing the six-part supernatural drama created and written by Glen Dolman, produced by Sue Seeary for Playmaker Media. Geoffrey Hall is the Dop.

Jacki Weaver, Bryan Brown, Phoebe Tonkin, Genevieve Morris, John Stanton, Anne Charleston, Terry Norris and Thomas Ersatz are all returning.

In the first series the residents of a small country town were left reeling after a “fountain of youth” appeared in the wake of a devastating flood. A mysterious plant with luminous berries gave those who consumed it a second chance to return to their prime. The results were miraculous for...

Aaron Pedersen and Jada Alberts in ‘Mystery Road 2’ (Photo: David Dare Parker).

Swedish actress Sofia Helin, who starred in all four seasons of The Bridge, is co-starring with Aaron Pedersen in the second series of Bunya Productions’ ABC crime drama Mystery Road.

Helin, who played Saga Norén, a homicide detective from Malmö, in the Swedish/Danish film noir crime series which screened here on Sbs, is cast as archaeologist Professor Sondra Elmquist.

The professor is conducting a dig near a remote coastal town when she encounters Pedersen’s Detective Jay Swan, who has moved to the town to be closer to his family and is investigating a grisly case.

Warwick Thornton and Wayne Blair are sharing the directing duties on the six episodes produced by David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin, with Thornton as the Dop.

Two weeks into the 10 weeks shoot in Broome and the Dampier Peninsular, the series is...

Bryan Brown and Clare Bowen.

After appearing in all six seasons of Us musical drama Nashville, Clare Bowen has returned to Australia to star alongside Bryan Brown in Sbs’s Hungry Ghosts.

Matchbox Pictures’ four-part character-driven ghost story based on an original idea by Timothy Hobart explores three generations of Vietnamese Australian families, all haunted by the traumatic events of war.

Four weeks into a seven week shoot, the Shawn Seet-directed series opens on the eve of the Hungry Ghost Festival in Melbourne when a vengeful spirit is unleashed, wreaking havoc across the Vietnamese Australian community.

The large ensemble cast also features Catherine Davies, Justine Clarke, Ryan Corr, Ferdinand Hoang, Gareth Yuen, Jillian Nguyen, Hoa Xuande, Suzy Wrong, Gary Sweet and Susie Porter.

Brown plays Neil Stockton, a photographer famous for his collection of Vietnam War photographs which are featured in an exhibition that has ripple effects.

Bowen, who...

Luke Saliba in rehearsals with Gary Sweet.

An Aussie romantic comedy with a Kiwi twist, Paper Champions will start shooting in Geelong on Monday, directed by Jo-Anne Brechin.

Luke Saliba, who co-wrote the screenplay based on his 2017 short Rey directed by Ryan Chamley, plays the lead, also named Rey, who is desperate to find love but has lost his ‘Mana,’ meaning power, prestige and being able to cope with any situation.

Lucky for Rey, he is surrounded by supportive work colleagues, a Polynesian family, a Spanish dance teacher and an ex-wrestler, all of whom help Rey get his Mana back.

Tessa de Josselin is cast as Holly, a confident and determined nurse whom Rey meets.

Gary Sweet is Terry, a former wrestling champion who is dating Rey’s mum and sets out to help him discover his inner confidence.

Kiwi John Tui is Wade, Rey’s big-hearted best mate since primary school,...

Kaarin Fairfax and Chris Haywood in ‘Skewwhiff.’

Chris Haywood is so committed to making a thriller based on the Australian novel The Crossing he has agreed to produce as well as star in the feature film.

First-time feature director James Khehtie sent the novel by B. Michael Radburn to the actor, who loved the premise: Taylor Bridges flees from Victoria to an isolated Tasmanian town to work as a park ranger after his daughter disappeared, triggering the breakdown of his marriage.

When a young girl who was the same age as his daughter vanishes, Bridges, a chronic sleepwalker, begins to wonder what happens when he sleepwalks.

“I did not want to produce but James insisted,” Haywood tells If, recalling that he has served as a producer only once before, on writer-director Peter Watkins’ 1991 feature doc The Media Project, which critiqued Australian media coverage of the first Gulf war.

Radburn has...

David Wenham on set of his directorial feature debut, 'Ellipsis'..

In the second part of his interview with If, David Wenham chats about his recent roles in 'Wake in Fright', 'In Like Flynn' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales'...

When David Wenham was offered the role of the police sergeant Jock Crawford in the miniseries Wake in Fright he initially recoiled at the idea.

As a passionate admirer of Canadian director Ted Kotcheff.s seminal 1971 movie based on the Kenneth Cook novel he thought the idea of a remake was ridiculous.

Wenham had watched the restored movie twice, at the Sydney Film Festival and at the Chauvel cinema, rating it as a visceral experience and an incredible piece of filmmaking.

However he changed his mind after reading Stephen M. Irwin.s script for the Network Ten two-parter directed by Kriv Stenders.

Peter Weir on the set of his last feature 'The Way Back'.

Adg CEO Kingston Anderson told If earlier this year that he was angling for a high-profile director to present the Feature award at this year's Adg awards.

Now we know who it is: Peter Weir will present the Best Direction in a Feature Film award at the awards in Melbourne.

Weir will bestow the award on one of the five nominees; Garth Davis (Lion), Simon Stone (The Daughter), Ben Young (Hounds of Love), Craig Boreham (Teenage Kicks) and Jonnie Leahy (Skin Deep).

.It is a great privilege to have one of Australia.s pre-eminent directors, Peter Weir, presenting the award for Best Direction in a Feature Film," said Adg CEO Kingston Anderson..

"We have a tradition at the awards to have our best feature directors presenting this award. Directors who have presented the award in the past include Fred Schepisi,...

Sean Keenan.

Puberty Blues star Sean Keenan has nabbed the lead role in Ten's Wake in Fright two-parter, which begins shooting today..

Keenan will play John Grant, a young school teacher who descends into his own personal nightmare after being stranded in the small outback mining town of Bundanyabba.—.the role made famous by Gary Bond in Ted Kotcheff's 1971 original.

Keenan just worked with director Kriv Stenders, who's helming both episodes of the TV redo, on Foxtel telemovie Australia Day.

He's joined in the cast by David Wenham (Seachange, Lion), Caren Pistorius (Offspring), Gary Sweet (House Husbands), Alex Dimitriades (The Slap), Robyn Malcolm (Upper Middle Bogan), Lee Jones (The Bastard Executioner), Anna Samson (Winners & Losers), Hannah Frederiksen (Hunters) and Jada Alberts (Wentworth), with filming to take place in Broken Hill and Sydney.

Written by Stephen M. Irwin, the Wake In Fright mini is produced by Helen Bowden (The Slap,...

Delta Goodrem.

Delta Goodrem has joined season five of Nine's House Husbands.

Goodrem will play Izzy Dreyfus, the new reading recovery teacher at Nepean South Primary School.

"Riding in on her cafe racer motorbike, brilliant, beautiful and slightly tomboyish Izzy both excites and frightens everyone in the House Husbands world and her audacious attitude is instrumental in diverting a threat to the Nepean South community that none of them see coming." .

Goodrem said: .I couldn.t be happier to join the amazing House Husbands family. It.s such a fantastic Aussie drama that I love — and my whole family loves — so I feel very lucky and cannot wait to get started..

Nine.s co-Heads of Drama, Jo Rooney and Andy Ryan, said they were excited to welcome Goodrem to the cast..

"Delta is a much-loved Australian performer who brings a special star quality to our screens. We can.t wait...

(l-r): Gary Sweet, Peter Phelps, Richard Roxburgh and Tony Martin in Blue Murder.

Shooting has begun on mini-series The High Road, the sequel to the 1995 ABC series Blue Murder. Blue Murder, set in the 70s and 80s, followed disgraced former detective Roger Rogerson.s associations with underground figures such as criminal Neddy Smith. Director of the original production, Michael Jenkins, has returned to shoot the project. Richard Roxburgh (Rake) will also reprise his acclaimed role as Rogerson. The series is being produced by John Edwards through Endemol Shine. Edwards told If that a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.that the show was being produced through his new production company, Roadshow Rough Diamond, was incorrect. He said The High Road was a remaining obligation he had to Endemol Shine, whom he left last year.

According to reports in the Herald Sun, Channel 7 will broadcast the series. Earlier this week,...

House Husbands.

House Husbands season five begins filming in Melbourne this week.

Gary Sweet, Firass Dirani, Rhys Muldoon, Julia Morris, Natalie Saleeba, Jane Allsop, Louise Siversen and Denise Scott are all back, and will be joined by Packed to the Rafters alum Hugh Sheridan.

Sheridan will play Nick Gazecki, a music teacher who makes an enemy of his new neighbour Lewis (Sweet).

Other new additions include Roy Billing and Australian musical theatre legend Nancye Hayes.

.Everyone with a family can relate to the House Husbands and their partners as they juggle the pressures of relationships, work and parenting", Nine.s co-Heads of Drama Jo Rooney and Andy Ryan said..

Sue Seeary from Playmaker said: .We are thrilled to be back again for a fifth series. With such a wonderful returning cast and the opportunity of working with Hugh Sheridan as the new House Husband, this series is sure to capture...

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Hounds of Love star Emma Booth with Patrick Brammall in Glitch.

Australian cinematographer Mick McDermott has described Ben Young.s debut feature Hounds of Love, starring Stepen Curry and Emma Booth, as the .surprise package of the year. in Australian film.

The project, which is now in production in Western Australia, from writer/director, Young and producer Melissa Kelly, is a thriller drawn from a number of infamous local and international crimes.

Supported by Screen Australia and ScreenWest, is also stars Susie Porter, Harrison Gilbertson, Ashleigh Cummings and Damien de Montemas.

McDermott told If he had a look at the rough edit of about 40 per cent of a week.s scenes and was very impressed.

.It's going to be an intense and challenging journey for the audience,. he says. .

.The performances are very powerful. .Emma Booth, Ashleigh Cummings and Stephen Curry really dug deep with their roles and were very brave.

.

Hounds of Love star Emma Booth with Patrick Brammall in Glitch.

Australian cinematographer Mick McDermott has described Ben Young.s debut feature Hounds of Love, starring Stepen Curry and Emma Booth, as the .surprise package of the year. in Australian film.

The project, which is now in production in Western Australia, from writer/director, Young and producer Melissa Kelly, is a thriller drawn from a number of infamous local and international crimes.

Supported by Screen Australia and ScreenWest, is also stars Susie Porter, Harrison Gilbertson, Ashleigh Cummings and Damien de Montemas.

McDermott told If he had a look at the rough edit of about 40 per cent of a week.s scenes and was very impressed.

.It's going to be an intense and challenging journey for the audience,. he says. .

.The performances are very powerful. .Emma Booth, Ashleigh Cummings and Stephen Curry really dug deep with their roles and were very brave.

The full trailer for Stan Original's Wolf Creek series has arrived.

All six episodes of the show will be available May 12 on the streaming platform.

In the new series, Mick Taylor (Jarratt) targets an American tourist family, but 19-year-old Eve (Lucy Fry) survives the massacre and sets out to exact revenge.

A poster for the show has also been revealed (see below).

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The series stars Fry (11.22.63, The Preppie Connection, Vampire Academy), Jarratt (Wolf Creek, The Last Outlaw, Picnic at Hanging Rock) and Dustin Clare (Strike Back, Anzac Girls, Spartacus: War of the Damned).

Also featured are Deborah Mailman (Offspring, Redfern Now, The Sapphires), Miranda Tapsell (Love Child, Redfern Now, The Sapphires), Jessica Tovey (Wonderland, Dance Academy, Home and Away), Jake Ryan (Wentworth, Fat Tony & Co, Underbelly: Razor) and Richard Cawthorne (Catching Milat, Fat Tony & Co., Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms), and guest stars Robert Taylor (Longmire) and Gary Sweet (House Husbands...

Netflix has bought Melbourne-made series Small Time Gangster for UK, Australia and New Zealand, with more territories to be announced shortly.

Directed by Jeffrey Walker, with a cast including Steve Le Marquand, Gia Carides, Sacha Horler, Geoff Morrell and Gary Sweet, the series follows the misadventures of Tony Piccolo.

Piccolo is outwardly a devoted family man who earns his living cleaning carpets.

But he is also the toughest underworld enforcer in Melbourne. .When Tony suddenly develops a conscience and his two worlds threaten to collide, he.s going to need more than just cleaning fluid to clear up the mess.

Gareth Calverley and Joss King created and wrote the show.s eight episodes.

Producer Gareth Calverley said: .We.re delighted that some of the 63 million people who subscribe to Netflix the world over will now have the opportunity to see the show..

Distributed globally by Drg UK, the show was...

New feature film Hounds of Love is set to start shooting in Western Australia early next year.

The project, from writer/director Ben Young and producer Melissa Kelly, has been supported by Screen Australia and ScreenWest.

Hounds of Love is the debut feature film for Young and is a thriller drawn from a number of infamous local and international crimes. ..

Producer Melissa Kelly said Hounds of Love explored some of the same territory as the gripping Australian crime thrillers Animal Kingdom, Suburban Mayhem and Mystery Road.

The project participated in the ScreenWest script and talent development initiatives Feature Navigator and eQuinoxe in 2014 and attracted international recognition when it was pitched at European Film Market (Efm) in Berlin earlier this year. ..

In 2014 the project was awarded production funding through ScreenWest.s West Coast Visions initiative, which aims to uncover, inspire and develop local filmmakers..

Screen Australia chief executive, Graeme Mason said...

While writing and directing a well-received short film can be a great stepping stone to features, aspiring feature directors should avoid the trap of making short after short.

Producer Raquelle David expressed that view on social media, prompting a flood of comments, some in full support, others disagreeing.

.Australian writers and directors that have made one solid short film need to stop making more,. said David, who has produced more than a dozen shorts and is developing several features.

.Seriously, stop. Focus on the feature or high-end TV concept and work with producers that will help you realise it. I'm so worried about our industry pumping out great shorts but bugger all else..

Screenwriter Shane Danielsen, who made his directing debut on the short The Guests, which screened in official competition in Cannes, produced by David, responded, .Could not agree more..

Danielsen, who wrote the features Errors of the Human Body...

Indiana Evans and Justine Clarke have joined the cast of the fourth season of Playmaker Media.s House Husbands, now shooting in Melbourne.

Evans (Secrets & Lies, Janet King) is playing Tash, a single mother new to Melbourne who ignites a tumultuous love triangle. Clarke is Eve, the hot-headed tuckshop lady who competes with the catering business run by Kane (Gyton Grantley).

Also new to the cast are Akos Armont (Winter, Janet King) as the charming and ambitious Dr Saxon, whose presence creates tension within the hospital, and Jane Kennedy as Belinda, the resident Director of Medical Services.

Returning regulars include Lewis (Gary Sweet), Justin (Firass Dirani), Mark (Rhys Muldoon), Gemma (Julia Morris), Abi (Natalie Saleeba), Alex (Darren McMullen) and Miss Looby (Louise Siversen). Mark.s controlling boss Rachel, played by Jane Allsop in season one, makes a fiery comeback . Also returning from season one to cause trouble is Rodney (Nicholas Coghlan...

After 10 years as president of Actors Equity Australia, Simon Burke has stepped down from that post.

Geoff Morrell was elected acting president by the national performers. committee (Npc) yesterday, pending union elections to be held in the next six months.

Burke.s resignation co-incides with his 40th anniversary as an Equity member: he joined when he was 12 after landing the lead role in Fred Schepisi.s The Devil.s Playground.

The actor told If he first considered relinquishing the job a couple of years ago but postponed his decision when Simon Whipp quit as Equity director.. "I wanted to step down when we had the right person leading the union,". Burke said from Melbourne, where he is about to start rehearsals for La Cage Aux Folles..

Presented by Jeanne Pratt's The Production Company, the musical co-starring Todd McKenney, Gary Sweet and Rhonda Burchmore will open at the Victorian Arts Centre...

The Nine Network.s drama House Husbands is being remade in France and Italy.

The French version of the Playmaker Media series co-created by Ellie Beaumont and Drew Proffitt will be produced by Paris-based Made in Pm.

The Italian remake will be produced by Rome-based Publispei. Both companies will adapt the scripts of the first season.

Neither has yet been sold to a broadcaster, although Made in Pm produces drama for the channels TF1 and France2. The format deals were negotiated by Zdf Enterprises.

Playmaker Media.s David Maher said, .'The rise of the stay at home dad is obviously happening everywhere and it's great when a warm, funny and relatable Aussie drama like House Husbands resonates internationally..

Andy Ryan, Nine.s co-head of drama, said, .We are thrilled to be exporting the House Husbands format to such competitive TV markets. Just like Australian viewers, the French and Italian networks...

Exclusive: Visit Films has come on board to handle world sales excluding Australia, New Zealand and Italy on the Un Certain Regard selection.

Charlie’s Country marks the fourth film by Rolf de Heer to premiere in official selection at Cannes after competition contenders The Quiet Room in 1996 and Dance Me To My Song in 1998 and Ucr 2006 special jury prize winner entry Ten Canoes.

de Heer and David Gulpilil co-wrote Charlie’s Country, about an Aboriginal warrior torn between his community’s traditional way of life and his new modern existence.

Gulpilil, whose credits include Australia, Rabbit-Proof Fence and Crocodile Dundee, plays the protagonist who heads into the wild to live life the old way after his gun, spear and best friend’s jeep are confiscated.

Charlie’s Country also stars Peter Djigirr, Luke Ford and Gary Sweet. Nils Erik Nielsen, Djigirr and de Heer produced.

The Vertigo Productions and Bula’Bula Arts Aboriginal Corporation coproduction is presented...

Director Jonathan Teplitzky, writer Chris Nyst and producer Chris Brown are developing Mr Cranky, a black comedy in the vein of their 2003 hit Gettin. Square.

The protagonist is a professional boxer with anger management issues who wins eight out of 10 fights; he settles the other two in the car park. The plot follows the character as he deals with his six-year-old daughter from whom he is estranged.

Brown.s Pictures in Paradise is developing the project with the assistance of Screen Queensland. It.s early days on casting but Brown tells If that given the universality of the story, the lead will be a high profile actor with international appeal. It.s set partly in the UK and Brown says a co-production with the UK is a possibility.

The saga of an ex-crim who was jailed for a murder he claims he didn.t commit and aims to get square with a crooked cop,...

Two mothers go on an unconventional romantic journey in the drama Adore, which debuts on Blu-ray and DVD today from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Naomi Watts and Robin Wright star as two longtime friends who find themselves falling for each others sons, portrayed by Xavier Samuel and James Frecheville. We have a giveaway lined up where our readers can win copies of the Blu-ray. Take a look at how you can take home the directorial debut of Anne Fontaine today.

Winners Receive:

Adore Blu-ray

Here's How To Win!

Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

Set in an Australian seaside town of otherworldly beauty, Adore follows two women's plunge into uncharted waters as they explore the intricacies of love,...

Australian cinemagoers flocked to the latest edition of The Hunger Games and the Doctor Who anniversary special last weekend, but Adoration was unloved.

Box-office takings shot up to 72% to $20 million, thanks to the two newcomers and a reasonable hold by Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire hauled in $12.5 million, 34% bigger than the opening of the original and on par with the debut of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 2.

The first Hunger Games wound up with $31.2 million so the sequel starring Jennifer Lawrence as feisty heroine Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Philip Seymour Hoffman has an excellent chance of beating that, particularly with no new films targeting that demographic in the next few weeks.

Worldwide, the fantasy adventure directed by Francis Lawrence scored $US308 million last weekend, including $160.6 million in North America.

Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor 3D rang up $1.5 million from 107 locations on Sunday,...

There is little love from the critics and minimal interest from audiences in the Us for Adoration, the Australian romantic drama starring Naomi Watts and Robin Wright as best friends who end up bonking each other.s teenage sons.

The first English-language feature from French director Anne Fontaine (Coco Before Chanel, The Girl From Monaco), the film opened on 57 screens in 23 Us cities last weekend.

Renamed Adore in the Us, it took $US125,000 in three days, for a paltry per-screen average of $2,200.

Judging by those figures and the barrage of bad reviews, eOne Hopscotch faces a marketing challenge when it launches the film in Oz in November.

Christopher Hampton wrote the screenplay based on the Doris Lessing novella The Grandmothers. The cast includes James Frecheville and Xavier Samuel as the sons plus Gary Sweet, Ben Mendelsohn and Sophie Lowe.

The buzz on the movie hasn.t been great since it...

Anne Fontaine (Coco Before Chanel) makes her English-language directorial debut with the compelling drama Adore, starring Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Xavier Samuel and Ben Mendelsohn. The film follows two mothers and longtime friends who fall for each other's sons. To celebrate the film's opening in both theaters and VOD formats September 6, we have a contest lined up to give fans a few extra treats while watching this at home on VOD. We're giving away kits that include a cotton tote, 4-piece wine opener set, truffles, 4 wine glasses and wine charms. Take a look at how you can win.

Winners Receive:

Adore cotton toteAdore 4-piece wine opener setAdore trufflesAdore set of 4 wine glasses with a gift boxAdore wine charms

Here's How To Win!

Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just...

Director David Parker will start shooting The Menkoff Method, billed as a quirky .comedy of human resources,. in Melbourne on September 9.

The screenplay is by first-timer Zac Gillam. It.s the debut feature from White Hot Productions, the production arm of the White Hot Group. The producers are David Lee, Jan Bladier and John Kearney, with Ian Kirk as executive producer.

The plot follows David Cork, a young, introverted bank worker who.s more interested in drawing his comic book than his tedious job in the bank.s data processing centre. All that changes when an enigmatic Russian Hr consultant, Max Menkoff, introduces sweeping reforms with devastating effects.

Menkoff.s unorthodox management techniques take on a dark and sinister turn, forcing Cork and the beautiful and formidable Ruby Jackson from the bank.s head office to try to save their colleagues from a fate worse than death.

The cast will be announced soon.

On behalf of Exclusive Media, we're excited to share new Photos from the upcoming film Adore starring Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Xavier Samuel and James Frecheville!

Set in an Australian seaside town of otherworldly beauty and shot in lush 35mm Cinemascope, Adore establishes an aura of fable as it follows two women's plunge into uncharted waters. Naomi Watts and Robin Wright fearlessly engage with both the physical and psychological components of the story, capturing the complex emotions and powerful desires driving their characters.

Naomi Watts and Robin Wright deliver riveting performances in Adore, a sensual and provocative drama about two lifelong friends who find unexpected happiness in relationships that cross the bounds of convention. An unpredictable tale of misguided love and a heartfelt celebration of the enduring nature of female friendship, the film is the English-speaking directorial debut of distinguished filmmaker Anne Fontaine.

Adore comes to theaters September 6th, 2013 and stars Robin Wright,...

The producers of Trouble Down Under have secured the backing of an American philanthropic and investment family for their $50 million 3D animated feature.

Donna Bennett and Mehal Rockefeller have agreed to fund the film and a sequel and to serve as executive producers.

Production is due to begin on September 2 in a new purpose built CGI animation studio in Sydney developed with consultants EngineRoom. The cost of the studio was factored into the budget.

The producers are Fastlane Entertainment.s Frank Miniaci (who.s La-based) and Tony Findlay. Aussie Steve Trenbirth (The Lion King II, The Jungle Book II) will direct.

The voice cast already recruited includes Rove McManus, Tony Bonner, Cameron Daddo, Dave Hughes, Gary Sweet, Andrew Daddo, Dan Mor and Josh Lawson. The role of Doc the Cattle Dog will be voiced by Us TV host Dr Mehmet Oz. Findlay is heading to Los Angeles to join Miniaci...

The provocative tale of two mothers drawn to younger men is put on display in the first trailer and poster for Adore. Naomi Watts and Robin Wright star as two longtime friends who both begin to fall for each other's sons (Xavier Samuel and James Frecheville). Directed by Anne Fontaine (Coco Before Chanel), Adore hits theaters on September 6.

Adore Trailer

Naomi Watts and Robin Wright deliver riveting performances in Adore, a sensual and provocative drama about two lifelong friends who find unexpected happiness in relationships that cross the bounds of convention. An unpredictable tale of misguided love and a heartfelt celebration of the enduring nature of female friendship, Adore is the English-speaking directorial debut of Anne Fontaine. Set in an Australian seaside town, Adore establishes an aura of fable as it follows two women's plunge into uncharted waters. Watts and Wright fearlessly engage with the physical and psychological components of the story,...

Psychological thriller Nerve continues its hectic production schedule with the project set to go into post next week. The feature length film, the first from director Sebastian Guy and producer Neal Kingston, stars Christian Clark (Mr & Mrs Murder) and Georgina Haig (Fringe), and was shot in Sydney over just 14 days at the end of last year. .Even though we had an intense shooting schedule, the vibe on set has been one of the most relaxed and easy-going I have ever experienced. The energy and enthusiasm of the cast and crew has been amazing and very humbling., says Guy. The film follows Jakob (Clark) who, after the sudden death of his wife, suffers an emotional breakdown. The discovery that his wife was having an affair prior to her death sends Jakob into an obsessive search for her lover in a misguided attempt to understand their relationship. Along the way, he meets...

Psychological thriller Nerve continues its hectic production schedule with the project set to go into post next week. The feature length film, the first from director Sebastian Guy and producer Neal Kingston, stars Christian Clark (Mr & Mrs Murder) and Georgina Haig (Fringe), and was shot in Sydney over just 14 days at the end of last year. .Even though we had an intense shooting schedule, the vibe on set has been one of the most relaxed and easy-going I have ever experienced. The energy and enthusiasm of the cast and crew has been amazing and very humbling., says Guy. The film follows Jakob (Clark) who, after the sudden death of his wife, suffers an emotional breakdown. The discovery that his wife was having an affair prior to her death sends Jakob into an obsessive search for her lover in a misguided attempt to understand their relationship. Along the way, he meets...

Check out the first French poster for Anne Fontaine's Two Mothers (Perfect Mothers) with Naomi Watts and Robin Wright. Watts and Wright star as two lifelong female friends who fall for each other's sons (Xavier Samuel and James Frecheville). The cast of the Christopher Hampton-adapted film from the novel by Doris Lessing, also has Ben Mendelsohn, Sophie Lowe, Gary Sweet, Jessica Tovey, Alyson Standen and Charlee Thomas on board. Two Mothers was picked up for N. American distribution by Exclusive Releasing at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Check out the first French poster for Anne Fontaine's Two Mothers (Perfect Mothers) with Naomi Watts and Robin Wright. Watts and Wright star as two lifelong female friends who fall for each other's sons (Xavier Samuel and James Frecheville). The cast of the Christopher Hampton-adapted film from the novel by Doris Lessing, also has Ben Mendelsohn, Sophie Lowe, Gary Sweet, Jessica Tovey, Alyson Standen and Charlee Thomas on board. Two Mothers was picked up for N. American distribution by Exclusive Releasing at this year's Sundance Film Festival.