News

Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) and Paddy Considine (House of the Dragon) will star in Small Town, Big Story, a new Sky original series created and directed by Chris O’Dowd (Moone Boy).

The six-part show focuses on an Irish village that gets taken over by a Hollywood production that throws the spotlight on an old secret.

“Every small town has a story to tell. Some don’t know how to keep a secret …,” reads a plot description, which promises “a warm and witty, very dramatic comedy.” It is set in the fictional town of Drumbán, “a rural village of rattled misfits on the border of Ireland and another world,” and explores “what happens when a Hollywood production rolls into town and throws the spotlight on a secret that’s been kept hidden since the eve of the millennium.”

Hendricks stars as Wendy Patterson, “a local girl done good as a hot-shot television producer,...

Chris O’Dowd is penning a Sky comedy-drama starring Christina Hendricks and Paddy Considine about a Hollywood production that disturbs the peace in a fictional town in Ireland.

Small Town, Big Story has started filming on location in Ireland under a UK Equity contract and follows goings-on in Drumbán, a rural village of rattled misfits. When a major Hollywood production rolls into town, a spotlight is thrown on a secret that has been kept hidden since the eve of the Millennium.

Hendricks (Mad Men) is playing Wendy Patterson, a local girl done good as a hot-shot television producer, who returns to her hometown from LA with the Hollywood production in tow, while House of the Dragon’s Considine is local doctor and pillar of the community Seamus Proctor. The show also stars David Rawle, who reunites with Sky’s Moone Boy creator and co-star O’Dowd. Other castmembers are Eileen Walsh...

Christina Hendricks and “House of the Dragon’s” Paddy Considine have been tapped to lead “Small Town, Big Story,” a new Sky Studios drama from Chris O’Dowd

O’Dowd (“State of the Union”) created and will direct the six-part dramatic comedy, which tells the story of the effect on a small Irish village when a Hollywood production begins shooting on its doorstep and rattled residents struggle to keep a long-buried secret under wraps.

The series is an Equity production, which is being shot in the U.K. and Ireland, but Sky has emphasized that all cast agreements comply with SAG-AFTRA rules in light of the ongoing actors strike. The cast were contracted before the strike.

In the series, “Mad Men” star Hendricks is set to play Wendy Patterson, a hot-shot L.A. producer who grew up in the fictional Irish village of Drumbán while Considine stars as local doctor and community stalwart Seamus Proctor.

Louisa Mellor Feb 16, 2018

To mark the release of Netflix’s 90s-set Everything Sucks!, here are a dozen more recommended nostalgic comedies…

The 90s felt so good that some of us never left. We’re still there, wearing Converse All-Stars, drinking blackcurrant Hooch and listening to Natalie Imbruglia. When we zone out in the monthly budgetary planning meeting, we’re doodling band logos and daydreaming about Alicia Silverstone in that Aerosmith video.

See related Collateral episode 1 review New on Netflix UK: what's added in February 2018? 28 British TV dramas to watch in 2018

This Friday welcomes new nineties-set high school comedy Everything Sucks! to Netflix. A sweet comedy set in the real-life town of Boring, Oregon in 1996, it’s the story of two outsider kids Luke and Kate, a would-be filmmaker and the principal’s daughter. It’s piled with retro references that will wrap around nineties kids like a warm blanket (and,...

Festival guests will include director Jim Sheridan and actress Ruth Negga.

Netflix-acquired war-drama The Siege of Jadotville - which tells the true story of a battalion under attack in the Congo in the 1960s - leads a strong line-up of Irish cinema at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh (July 5 - 10).

The film stars Jamie Dornan as Commandant Pat Quinlan, who led an Irish battalion of United Nations soldiers during a tense stand-off against local troops and foreign mercenaries in the Congo in 1961.

The Parallel Film-produced title, a directorial debut by Richie Smyth based on the novel by Irish journalist Declan Power, will have a special screening at the Fleadh.

It is one of several Irish films that will bow at the Fleadh, which runs from July 5th-10th. The festival will also focus on world cinema and Finnish cinema. Guests include director Jim Sheridan, actress Ruth Negga and screenwriter Kirsten Smith.

Property Of The State, a drama...

This magical, exquisite feature about a boy living on a remote Irish island uses bravura design and storytelling to convey a subtle and meaningful story

Like The Secret of Kells, director Tomm Moore’s first feature, Song of the Sea blends Celtic legends, bravura design and animation, and intelligent storytelling that understands but never patronises young viewers, to create an exquisite and rewarding work. In a vaguely 20th-century Ireland, pugnacious young Ben (voiced by David Rawle of Moone Boy) lives on a remote island with his lonely lighthouse-keeper father (Brendan Gleeson) and six-year-old kid sister Saoirse, a mute who, like the children’s lost mother, is a half-human, half-seal selkie.

Continue reading...

Oscar-nominated at this year's Academy Awards, Song of the Sea tells the story of two Irish kids discovering the mystical properties of a magical sea horn after the disappearance of their mother. In this opening clip, Ben (David Rawle) is left in charge of his mute sister, Saoirse (Lucy O'Connell), as she gets drawn towards the water. Song of the Sea is released in UK cinemas on 10 July Continue reading...

An enchanting trailer has been released for 2D animation Song of the Sea.

The film comes from the makers of 2009's Oscar-nominated The Secret of Kells, this time telling the Celtic myth of the selkie.

A young girl called Saoirse discovers an amazing inheritance - she can transform herself into a seal.

But with the world of spirit creatures under threat, she must embark on a fantastical journey with her big brother in order to save the day.

The film features the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle and Lisa Hannigan.

Song of the Sea is coming to UK cinemas on July 10. A Us release date is yet to be announced.

Eddie Redmayne has won yet another award for his portrayal of acclaimed physicist Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.

Redmayne scooped the Irish Film and Television Awards' prize for Best International Actor, adding to his Oscar, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe awards.

Oscar winner Julianne Moore was also honoured with the Best International Actress prize for Still Alice at this weekend's awards ceremony.

Meanwhile, children's animated film Song of the Sea scooped the Best Irish Film prize.

Tomm Moore's feature is based on Celtic myth of the Selkie and follows brother and sister Ben and Saoirse, who have to figure out a mystery about their late mother. Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan and Moone Boy's David Rawle lend their voices to the movie.

Song of the Sea was nominated for an Oscar earlier this year, but ultimately lost out to Big Hero 6.

Other winners at...

The insanely talented Chris O’Dowd is coming back to Hulu for a third and final season of Moone Boy, and if you aren’t familiar with the show yet, you owe it to yourself to catch up before May 13th.

Also featuring the surprising abilities of David Rawle as young Martin Moone, the show revolves around Martin and his imaginary friend (O’Dowd) trying to figure out life in a small Irish town in the ’80s.

After two seasons, the only question about the show is why everyone in the cast isn’t famous.

Head over to Hulu now, where you can watch the first two seasons, because the show is finally getting in a bump in awareness, and you don’t want to be left out.

Hulu Original Moone Boy to Return for A Sidesplitting Third Season

Final Season of the 2015 BAFTA TV Award Nominee for Best Situation...

Eight years as an ER surgeon may have been tough on Eriq La Salle — but it will be a cakewalk compared to life Under the Dome.

The TV vet has joined the Season 3 cast of CBS’ sci-fi drama, EW.com reports.

La Salle will play Hektor Martin, a cutthroat CEO of the energy company run by Barbie’s (Mike Vogel) father. He previously directed a Season 2 episode, “The Fall,” and will get behind the camera again for Season 3’s ninth episode.

RelatedCBS Summer Schedule: Dome Gets New Home and Marg Helgenberger, Big Brother‘s Return and More

Since ending his run as ER‘s Dr.

Sketchy falls in love with 2014’s “Song of the Sea,” an Irish animated film by Tomm Moore (The Secret of Kells) that was nominated for an Academy Award. Featuring the voice talents of David Rawle and Brendan Gleeson, this film explores the Celtic myth of the selkie from the perspective of the a little girl and her brother. Enjoy!

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The post Sketchy Episode 164 – ‘Song of the Sea’ appeared first on Sound On Sight.

How freaked out would you be if someone's invisible, imaginary friend turned out to be real? Very, we'd say.

Members of the public were tricked into thinking just that in a prank to promote the forthcoming third series of Sky1's Moone Boy.

Moone Boy sees Chris O'Dowd play the imaginary friend of 12-year-old boy Martin Moone (David Rawle).

The third series of the show starts on Monday, March 2 at 9pm on Sky1.

O'Dowd and wife Dawn O'Porter welcomed their first child earlier this year.

Watch a trailer for Moone Boy series three below:...

Chicago – Just in time for its potential win of the “Best Animated Feature” Oscar this Sunday, the Irish animated film “Song of the Sea” opens this weekend at Chicago’s Music Box Theater. A grab-bag myth come to storytelling life, this film is vitalized by its gorgeous animation as much as the heart within its narrative.

An accomplishment that would make the likes of Hayao Miyazaki proud, “Song of the Sea” is a gift to fans of animation.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

This animated treasure from the “Secret of Kells” director Tomm Moore is an original story, but based on the Irish folklore of Selkies, creatures that live as seals in the sea, but humans on land. Moore angles his Selkie tale to focus on themes of humans dealing with burrowed grief. In “Song of the Sea,” a father (Conor, voiced by Brendan Gleeson) cares for his children, his pre-teen Ben (David Rawle...

Produced by the Ireland-based animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, and distributed by Gkids, "Song of the Sea" is an animated Oscar contender for its exquisite hand-drawn beauty and stirring story about the last Seal-child trapped between two worlds. It debuted in Toronto. Ben and his enchanted little sister Saoirse (a Selkie) are hurled into a fading world of ancient legend and magic as they attempt to return to their home by the sea. The film takes inspiration from the mythological Selkies of Irish folklore, who live as seals in the sea but become humans on land. "Song of the Sea" features the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt, and Jon Kenny. The score is composed by Bruno Coulais and Irish band Kíla, who previously collaborated on "The Secret of Kells." "I had heard plenty of Selkie stories growing up and had seen the 'Secret of...

Sir Terry Wogan, Sharon Horgan and John Sessions have joined the cast of Moone Boy.

They will star in the forthcoming third series of the Sky1 sitcom, which premieres on March 2.

Moone Boy was created and co-written by Chris O'Dowd, who also stars in the show.

Wogan plays a TV host on the show, while Horgan plays a Yoga-loving entrepreneur, and Sessions plays conspiracy theorist Dr Steven Gnot.

Wogan recently made headlines when he claimed that Conchita Wurst turned last year's Eurovision Song Contest into "a freak show".

Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan on Catastrophe: 'We want people to laugh'

Watch Chris O'Dowd and David Rawle discuss Moone Boy below:...

Song of the Sea is a film as light as the wind, and as swift. As airy as the Gaelic song which rides above its plot like a mystical zephyr visiting from another world, it’s a unique fairy tale even among the many supernaturally inclined animated features that have entranced us this year. The Boxtrolls is more aggressively outrageous, The Tale of Princess Kaguya more overtly theosophical. Tomm Moore’s Irish rhapsody of shape-shifting and age-old lore is special because of both its narrative restraint and its visual ambition, an occasionally overwhelming object of color and light with a deceptively modest plot. The film begins with a beautiful family and a sudden tragedy. Moore presents the young Ben (David Rawle), his father (Brendan Gleeson) and his mother (Lisa Hannigan) as the only family in the world. As they await the arrival of their second child, their idyllic lives are painted by Moore with the sort of...

Tomm Moore's touching Song of the Sea is not anime, but it shares elements with some of the best anime films of recent years, particularly Mamoru Hosoda's Wolf Children. Then again, certain kinds of legends pop up in every culture. In this iteration, young Saoirse (Lucy O'Connell) was born on the night her mother, Broanch (Lisa Hannigan), disappeared into the waves surrounding their lighthouse home. After their father, Conor (Brendan Gleeson), sends the seemingly mute Saoirse and her brother Ben (David Rawle) away for getting too close to the mystery — Saoirse is half-Selkie, a woman who's human on land but a seal in the ocean — the brother and sister must travel back to the ocean to save Saoirse's life and possibly all of humanity, discoverin...

A charming new trailer has been released for director Tomm Moore's upcoming animated Irish Folklore film Song of the Sea. This is the same director who created the wonderful animated movie The Secret of Kells.

Song of the Sea is based on a number of Irish folklore tales, and the magical story centers on two siblings named Ben and Saoirse. "They belong to the mythological race of Selkies who live as humans on land and as seals in the sea. Together they embark on an adventure to free fairy creatures trapped in the modern world."

The movie features the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt, Jon Kenny, Lucy O’Connell, Liam Hourican, and Kevin Swierszsz.

If you haven't watched The Secret of Kells yet, it's available on Instant Netflix. If you enjoyed that movie, then I'm sure that you're going to enjoy this one as well.

"Those stories that mum told me – they're all true." GKids has released a brand new Us trailer for Tomm Moore's animated Song of the Sea, a beautiful film out of Ireland about the folklore legend of the Selkies. Tomm Moore was the director of the Oscar nominee The Secret of Kells and tells a different story about family and love in this new adventure, Song of the Sea, about a boy named Ben (voiced by David Rawle) and his little sister Saoirse, who is a Selkie. I saw this film at the Toronto Film Festival and it is wonderful, have nothing but good things to say about it, from the voices to the animation to the story, and the music, it was all so lovely. It's a gem. If you feel entranced by this trailer, you definitely need to see this. Have a look. Here's the new Us trailer...

"Surprise" is the word most often associated with "The Secret of Kells," Tomm Moore’s directorial debut and 2010’s out-of-nowhere Best Animated Feature contender. With a few short films and the animated series "Skunk Fu!" under its belt, Moore’s Irish animation company, Cartoon Saloon, snuck into the category with mystic lore and 2D-animated whimsy. Moore’s film couldn’t top Pixar’s "Up" but it did grab the attention of animation buffs who eagerly awaited his follow-up. Now it’s here, looking just as gorgeous and meticulously crafted as "Kells." Inspired by the legend of the "selkies," an Irish mermaid who can transform from sea creature to human for earthbound travel, "Song of the Sea" follow a young brother and sister, Ben and Saoirse, as they embark on a fantastic journey to uncover their mother’s ancient, magical secrets. The film stars David Rawle (Chris O'Dowd’s "Moone Boy"), Brendan Gleeson,...

Song Of The Sea arrived to a red carpet reception for its European premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on Saturday afternoon. Taking pride of place for the festival's Family Gala, the keenly anticipated second feature from The Secret Of Kells director Tomm Moore was well supported by the creators and voice actors. The film follows the story of a young boy, Conor (voiced by David Rawle) and his quiet little sister Saoirse (Lucy O’Connell), who live by the sea in Ireland with their widowed father (Brendan Gleeson). Soon their ordinary lives take a turn for the strange and the family start to question whether the ancient myths of their country might actually contain some real life truth. The story was conjured up by director Moore and magicked into a screenplay by Will Collins. "The original fantasy that Tomm had," said Collins, "was a story about a family...

Chris O'Dowd's Moone Boy is set to be adapted for Us network ABC.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a put-pilot commitment has been ordered of the Emmy-winning comedy.

O'Dowd will write the script and executive produce ABC's single-camera adaptation but the actor is not expected to have an on-screen role.

Moone Boy follows the story of the imaginative Martin Moone (David Rawle) as he grows up in rural Ireland.

Series two of the original show aired on Sky1 earlier this year, while a third series has already been filmed and will air in 2015.

Both series have aired on PBS in the Us and are available to watch on Hulu.

The product of a miraculously unique brand of animated alchemy, Tomm Moore’s follow-up to the Academy Award-nominated “The Secret of Kells,” is an even more stunning work of art. As if wrapped in a blanket made of gorgeous magical dreams, watching “Song of the Sea” is a spellbinding experience that captures fantasy in its purest form. Cartoon Saloon has once again reinterpreted Irish folktales and crafted a world so unimaginably alluring is hard not to surrender to its charm.

Sporting a superhero cape and a spunky attitude, Ben (voiced by David Rawle) is a 10-year-old boy who lives in an island with his younger sister Saoirse, his father Conor (Brendan Gleeson), a lighthouse keeper, and his adorable dog Cú, a joyful and loyal furball. Living in what seems to be the 80s, Ben’s most prized possessions include goofy 3-D glasses and a rock-and-roll-ready Walkman - fun items for a kid his age. But amongst these, a peculiar seashell given to him by Bronagh (Lisa Hannigan), his mother, before passing away, holds a special place in his memory. The singular keepsake doesn’t only connect him to her, but also to the many stories of magical creatures and enchanted worlds he grew up listening to. His role as a big brother is not something he enjoys. Little Saoirse, who has never uttered a word but is their father’s only source of happiness, easily frustrates Ben.

One night as if in a trance, Saoirse is escorted into the ocean by a group of smiling seals wearing a shiny mystical coat that belonged to her mother. It is then that her remarkable power is revealed. She is a beautiful white Selkie - a mythological being that lives as a human on ground and as a seal underwater – and has a mission to accomplish. But after this incident, the kids pompous Granny (Fionnula Flanagan), who lives in the city, beliefs the seaside life is too dangerous and takes them back with her to the urban sprawl. Their father is still so paralyzed with grief after losing his beloved wife that he agrees with her plan.

Unsatisfied with their new situation, the siblings attempt to trek back to the island. Along the way they are confronted with an array of whimsical friends and enemies realizing that those mythical stories their mom used to recite are actually tangible. Musical fairies in distress, an eccentric Wiseman whose every hair holds a memory, and an owl-like witch who stores her emotions, and those of everyone else in this magical realm, in tight-sealed enchanted jars. Indeed a clever metaphor for bottling emotions that turn hearts into stone. Only Saoirse’s yet non-existent voice can save them and restore order both in the real world and the ancestral kingdom.

Resembling rustic watercolor paintings enhanced with movement, there is an artisanal quality to every frame. From the sea, to the city, to the forest and the fantastical underworld, the amount of details employed in every creature and space is breathtaking. Nothing is overlooked. So meticulous is their approach that even transmission towers have a distinct design. Unattainable by solely using computer animation, the film’s visual aesthetic feels simultaneously handcrafted and otherworldly. Filled with a classical warmth, “Song of the Sea” should remind everyone why animation, when done as flawlessly as it is here, is such a incredible medium. Color, form, and fluid motion delivered in an unforgettable style that's at the service of a similarly compelling story.

An ethereal atmosphere imbues the film thanks to the evocative score by Bruno Coulais. His music builds a bridge between the two worlds and adds a wonderfully enigmatic tone. By the same token, the glowing lighting work of the animators is worthy of enormous praise. Their manufactured cinematography is vivid and subtle all at once. It makes the sea shimmer with uncanny intensity and the lovely characters sparkle with life. Written by William Collins, the narrative itself packs heartfelt themes weaved into the mythological components. Adults have been consumed with pain and have protected themselves with solid armatures only breakable with the hopeful innocence of children. Reconnecting with ones roots and appreciating the value of selfless courage, figure prominently as themes in the film.

With only two animated features under his belt, it's clear that a few years from now –sooner rather than later – we will be talking about Tomm Moore with the same reverence and adoration as we do now about Miyazaki. Here is a new master animator on his way to becoming legendary on his own right. Moore has taken us on a journey into Irish folklore that truly isn’t quite like anything seen before. Old tales of honor, valor, and family values adapted for the screen with the transfixing power of its dreamlike drawings. Watching “Song of the Sea” it's easy to assert that this is one of the most blissfully beautiful animated films ever made. It is a gem beaming with awe-inspiring, heartwarming magic.

"Song of the Sea" had its World Premier on Saturday September 6th at Tiff. Gkids will release the film theatrically on December 19th in NYC and Toronto.

Tomm Moore follows up his Oscar-nominated "The Secret of Kells" with an even more ambitious Irish folk tale, "Song of the Sea," which plays Toronto on Saturday. Produced by the Ireland-based animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, and distributed by Gkids, "Song of the Sea" (opening December 19th) looks to be a sure Oscar contender for its exquisite hand-drawn beauty and stirring story about the last Seal-child trapped between two worlds. Ben and his enchanted little sister Saoirse (a Selkie) are hurled into a fading world of ancient legend and magic as they attempt to return to their home by the sea. The film takes inspiration from the mythological Selkies of Irish folklore, who live as seals in the sea but become humans on land. "Song of the Sea" features the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt, and Jon Kenny. The score is composed by Bruno Coulais and Irish band Kíla,...

Fury (David Ayer)

[via the BFI]

The programme for the 58th BFI London Film Festival launched today, with Festival Director Clare Stewart presenting this year’s rich and diverse selection of films and events. The lineup includes highly anticipated fall titles including David Ayer’s Fury, Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher, the Sundance smash Whiplash, Jean-Luc Godard’s Goodbye to Language 3D, The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Jason Reitman’s Men, Women and Children and Jean-Marc Vallee’s Wild.

As Britain’s leading film event and one of the world’s oldest film festivals, it introduces the finest new British and international films to an expanding London and UK-wide audience, offering a compelling combination of red carpet glamour, engaged audiences and vibrant exchange. The Festival provides an essential profiling opportunity for films seeking global success at the start of the Awards season, promotes the careers of British and...

A delightful trailer has been released for director Tomm Moore's new film Song of the Sea. This is the same director who brought us the fantastic animated film The Secret of Kells. His newest film looks absolutely wonderful.

Song of the Sea pulls from several aspects of Irish folklore, more specifically the Selkies, who are seals in the sea, but shed their skin to become human on land. The story focuses on siblings Ben and Saoirse (who is the last Seal-child) who embark on a great adventure. The movie stars the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt, Jon Kenny, Lucy O’Connell, Liam Hourican, and Kevin Swierszsz.

Cartoon Saloon is likely to release the movie sometime in 2015, and I'll be looking forward to it. If you haven't seen The Secret of Kells yet, you should check it out. It's currently on Netflix.

Tales of boyhood, of one's family, and one's town, are a down right staple in TV Land. From Leave It To Beaver to The Wonder Years, it seems that every decade of television must have at least one iconic male-centered coming-of-age show (even when said show takes place a couple of decades behind present day).In 2012, actor Chris O'Dowd and co-writer Nick Vincent Murphy decided to fictionalize their own rise to adolescence on the small screen. Those who took notice of their efforts were treated to the earnestly charming, delightfully goofy and occasionally bawdy Moone Boy... which consists of the chronicles of one young Martin Moone (David Rawle), his imaginary friend Sean Murphy (O'Dowd), and the whole Moone clan in the small town of Boyle,...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

On Thursday, April 24th, new episodes of the excellent comedy series Moone Boy (which originally aired in the U.K. on Sky1) will return to online streaming provider Hulu. Each season of the half-hour show only runs six episodes, making it a scrumptious morsel that's easy to devour quickly (and if you haven't already devoured the first season, remedy that immediately). Moone Boy focuses on 12-year-old Martin Moon (David Rawle) and his imaginary friend Sean (Chris O'Dowd), and their many misadventures in Martin's home town of Boyle, Ireland. Season Two starts in 1990, but doesn't wear out that fact with too many jokes about fads and historical hindsight (although those that exist are well-placed, like Martin's love of Ghostbusters, or his sister Trisha's [Aoife Duffin] mourning over Talking Heads breaking up). Ireland is as lush and as important a player in the second season as it was in the first -- O'Dowd (and...

Want to make sure you don't miss anything great on the telly in the next seven days? Never fear, because Tube Talk has done all the hard work for you and smushed all of this week's must-see TV into one snappy rundown. Check out what you should be checking out below...

And don't miss... James Corden returns to host The Brit Awards for one last time - Wednesday, February 19 at 8pm on ITV.

Modern Family: Monday (February 17) at 8pm on Sky1

Loving taunts, innocent treachery, plenty of fun and moments that'll tug on your heartstrings - we all know what to expect from Modern Family as it enters its fifth season, but that doesn't mean we're any less excited to check in with the Pritchetts, the Dunphys et al again.

This opening double bill kicks off with Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) each enlisting the help...

Gkids has signed on to be the North American distributor for Oscar-nominated Irish director Tomm Moore’s second animated feature "Song of the Sea." For this much-anticipated follow-up to 2009’s The Secret of Kells," Moore has re-teamed with composer Bruno Coulais and the Irish band Kíla. The film will feature the voices of Brendan Gleeson, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt, and Jon Kenny. Regarding partnering once again with animation studio Cartoon Saloon and Moore, Gkids founder and president Eric Beckman said, “We are absolutely thrilled to renew our collaboration with Cartoon Saloon for Song of the Sea. Tomm brings an unprecedented level of artistry and passion to his filmmaking and he and the team at Cartoon Saloon have created something truly incredible with this film. Us audiences have a very, very special treat in store for them.” Moore continues exploring his fascination with Irish folklore with a story that...

Exclusive: The Secret of Kells director’s sophomore animation gets sales company.

WestEnd Films has signed on to sell Tom Moore’s anticipated animation Song of the Sea, the director’s follow up to Oscar-nominated animation The Secret of Kells.

Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt and Jon Kenny are among the voice cast in the Cartoon Saloon-produced family-animation, due for release late this year.

Like Moore’s previous film, Song of the Sea takes inspiration from Irish folklore, centring on the legend of the Selkies, mythological creatures that are part seal, part human.

The storyline revolves around brother and sister Ben and Saoirse, who are forced to leave their coastal home to live with their grandmother following their mother’s mysterious disappearance.

Oscar-nominated composer Bruno Coulais again joined forces with Irish Band Kíla to create the score after their collaboration on 2009 feature Kells.

Previous deals done with producers include StudioCanal for the...

Moone Boy, “Godfellas”

Written by Chris O’Dowd & Nick Vincent Murphy

Directed by Declan Lowney

Aired July 10th, 2013 on Hulu

In a year full of fantastic imports, Moone Boy seems to have slipped through the cracks. This Irish series, which was picked up in July by Hulu, was created by Chris O’Dowd and stars youngster David Rawle as 12 year old Martin Moone and O’Dowd as his imaginary friend, Seán Murphy. The series follows Martin’s exploits growing up in a small Irish town in the late eighties and early nineties and is based on O’Dowd’s childhood experiences. “Godfellas”, the fifth of the first season’s six episodes, centers on Martin’s newfound desire to become an altar boy. He’s immediately taken with the idea upon seeing a group of them process in at his confirmation, “You Can’t Touch This” playing in his head as...

From Chris O’Dowd, the semi-autobiographical comedy series Moone Boy (now available exclusively on Hulu) is about an 11-year-old boy named Martin Moone (David Rawle), who is the youngest child in the large, loud Moone family, in late 1980s Ireland. Helping Martin get through life, and survive school bullies, is his 30-year-old imaginary friend (O’Dowd). During this recent exclusive phone interview with Collider, Irish actor Chris O’Dowd talked about how the show came about, the semi-autobiographical storylines, collaborating with Nick Vincent Murphy, how challenging it was to find the right child actor to lead the show, how he will happily go to any lengths for his own character, how important it was to make the show suitable for audiences the age of the young characters, and that they’ve already completed a second season and are about to start shooting a third. He also talked about how much...

Childhood sucks. Imaginary friends rule. Chris O'Dowd stars in this comedy about a boy & his sarcastic imaginary friend. You won’t want to miss it. Hey you, yes you sitting there reading this right now, you are getting an exclusive sneak peek at the first episode of Chris O’Dowd's comedy Moone Boy, exclusively on Hulu.Created by Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, Girls), Moone Boy tells the story of an “interesting” 6th grader navigating his chaotic family and school life in Ireland with an imaginary friend played by O’Dowd himself. This hilarious semi-autobiographical series is already a hit in Britain (2 more seasons are on the way) as 11 year-old David Rawle shines as title character Martin Moone. Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think!

"Moone Boy," an Irish sitcom created by and starring "Bridesmaids" actor Chris O'Dowd arrives in the U.S. via Hulu today after premiering on the U.K.'s Sky1 last fall. Drawing from O'Dowd's childhood in Boyle, Ireland, in the '80s, "Moone Boy" recalls the comforting nostalgia of fare like "The Wonder Years" and "A Christmas Story," with a whimsical touch -- while the series sets out the charming adventures of 12-year-old Martin Moone (David Rawle), O'Dowd plays Sean Murphy, the boy's not particularly imaginative imaginary friend. O'Dowd co-wrote the series with Nick Vincent Murphy ("Hideaways"), and while the six-episode first season is currently being rolled out on Wednesdays on Hulu, a second and third season have already been commissioned by Sky. On a call with press, O'Dowd spoke about making the transition to writing and producing a TV series after starring in ones like "The It Crowd," "Girls" and "Family Tree.

Feature scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2014.

Award-winning Irish director Tomm Moore unveiled extensive footage from his upcoming feature Song of the Sea at a Work in Progress session of the Annecy Animation Film Festival on Friday (June 14).

Like Moore’s previous film - Oscar-nominated The Secret of Kells - the picture takes inspiration from Irish folklore, centring on the legend of the Selkies, mythological creatures that are part seal, part human.

The storyline revolves around brother and sister Ben and Saoirse, who are forced to leave their coastal home to live with their grandmother in the city following their mother’s mysterious disappearance.

When they decide to runaway and return home by sea, the voyage takes an unexpected turn - leading them into a fantastical marine world - where it becomes clear there is more to Ben’s silent sister Saoirse than meets the eye.

The $7.5m (€5.6m) film is a five-way co-production between...

One of the first things Seth Meyers and Michael Shoemaker realized they had in common when they met at Saturday Night Live in 2001 was a love of comic books. They always thought it’d be fun to do an animated show for adults about superheroes, and around 2006, the idea for The Awesomes began to crystallize. But it didn’t become a reality until they found the 10-episode series a home at Hulu, where it will premiere Aug. 1 (after a planned screening and panel at Comic-Con in July). The story revolves around the greatest superhero team in history, The Awesomes, and...

Sky1's Moone Boy is to return for a third series.

The Chris O'Dowd comedy was picked up for a second series in June 2012 before the show had premiered.

Sky has now similarly ordered a third run ahead of series two's premiere later this year.

Irish actor and comic O'Dowd - who writes and stars in the semi-autobiographical series - will also make his directorial debut in the third series.

Moone Boy will resume filming in late 2013, picking up the story of the imaginative Martin Moone (David Rawle) as he grows up in rural Ireland.

Sky's Head of Comedy Lucy Lumsden said: "Since launching Sky's push into comedy in 2010 across our four entertainment channels, the genre has flourished under our investment establishing Sky firmly within the television comedy landscape.

"The outstanding talent at the heart of these series demonstrates the range and ambition of our output and our continued commitment to the genre.

'The Secret of Kells,’ director Tomm Moore is set to begin production on his second feature film ‘Song Of The Sea’ which begins on January.

Irish acting talent such as Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, Pat Shortt, Jon Kenny and David Rawle, and singer Lisa Hannigan, have all done voice over work on the animation.

The story of the last Seal Child's journey home. After their mother's disappearance, Ben and Saoirse are sent to live with Granny in the city. When they resolve to return to their home by the sea, their journey becomes a race against time as they are drawn into a world Ben knows only from his mother's folktales. But this is no bedtime story; these fairy folk have been in our world far too long. It soon becomes clear to Ben that Saoirse is the key to their survival.

Moore is currently sharing developments of the...

It's been a little while coming but Tomm Moore's The Song Of The Sea - the latest from the director of Oscar nominated animated feature The Secret Of Kells - is up and running. The voice tracks have been laid down by the likes of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, Pat Shortt, Jon Kenny, David Rawle, and Lisa Hannigan and principal production on the actual animation begins in January.Moore, in my estimation, is an outright genius and The Secret Of Kells an utterly fabulous bit of work. For a taste of what is coming check out the test reel below....

With new seasons of existing shows to get me through the year, this list was a hard one to devise.

10. Fox’s Napoleon Dynamite

Following the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite the series follows the adventures of Dynamite and his family and friends. With Simpsons/Parks and Rec producer Mike Scully as executive producer, the franchise has been successfully modernised and molded for the TV realm.

The original cast is back as their characters and there are some new faces too. Unfortunately with Dynamite being constantly being compared to Fox’s other animated shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy, the show saw cancellation right after the first season.

9. ABC’s Last Resort

Along with 666 Park Avenue, ABC unfortunately cancelled Last Resort this year. A stimulating, new drama with a highly fascinating concept, Last Resort is about the renegade crew of a U.S. navy missile submarine.

With impressive special effects and remarkable submarine interior shots,...

There was plenty to howl about at last night's comedy awards. But while Olivia Colman and Cuckoo missed out, there were well-deserved gongs for The Thick of It, Hunderby and Reeves and Mortimer

There is no justice. That is what a lot of nominated comedians who missed out on a British comedy award last night will be thinking today, despite painting on obligatory smiles at the unusually well-behaved ceremony in London. But actually there is some justice after all. The nearest the painfully unfunny Keith Lemon/Leigh Francis got to taking home an award was when he leapt onstage and attempted to snatch somebody else's mantelpiece-bound slab from the rostrum.

Olivia Colman fans might have good reason to feel that justice took the night off. The 57 judges, drawn from journalism, TV production and performers, shortlisted Colman against herself for best comedy actress in Rev and Twenty Twelve, only for her to go home empty-handed.