News

Exclusive: In the first major sale of the year, Lionsgate has pre-emptively purchased the big concept earthquake short story After Shock for a sum in the mid-six-figure purchase-price range. At the center of all this is Brandon Sklenar, poised to headline movies after a breakout turn in It Ends With Us and the imminent second season of Taylor Sheridan’s 1923, in which he plays Spencer Dutton.

Four suitors chased the After Shock deal with different actors attached and the deal closed within 24 hours of when Verve put it in the marketplace. Lionsgate insiders claim the number was lower.

The 35-page short story written by Aaron Jayh will be produced by Todd Lieberman and Alex Young for Hidden Pictures and Scott Glassgold for his newly launched film banner 12:01 Films. Sklenar is also expected to be involved in a producing capacity.

The logline for After Shock is being kept under wraps...

We know that Beatles fans all have their favorites, and now we want to know yours. For New Year’s, SiriusXM’s The Beatles Channel (Ch. 18) is playing the band’s 100 most popular songs — according to you, the real experts — during the annual “All Together Now” special.

The Beatles ChannelAll Together Now 2024Listen on the App

Listen on the App

Check out the songs listeners voted on for the countdown below, and find out the results by streaming the countdown in full anytime, anywhere, on the SiriusXM app.

Beatles song you voted on

These are the possible song choices for this year’s “All Together Now” countdown:

A Day In The Life

A Hard Day’s Night

A Taste Of Honey

Abbey Road Medley

Across The Universe

Act Naturally

All I’ve Got To Do

All My Loving

All Together Now

All You Need Is Love

And I Love Her

And...

The Neo-South Independent Film Festival has proudly unveiled the winners of its prestigious Out-of-Competition Awards, honoring exceptional works in independent filmmaking. This year’s festival attracted a remarkable range of submissions from across the world, reflecting the richness of global storytelling and innovation in film.

Best Out-of-Competition Feature Film: Wolfman Radio by George Panteleakis (United Kingdom)

Topping the list of Out-of-Competition winners is Wolfman Radio by UK filmmaker George Panteleakis. This captivating feature film has earned high praise for its gripping narrative and distinctive characters, affirming Panteleakis’ talent as a visionary filmmaker. His ability to draw audiences into an intense and immersive story makes Wolfman Radio a standout of this year’s festival.

Best Out-of-Competition Short Film: Run For Your Life by Lars B. Frahm (Denmark)

Danish director Lars B. Frahm takes home the award for Best Out-of-Competition Short Film with Run For Your Life, a suspenseful and expertly crafted piece of cinema.

Anna Strasberg, an actress and the widow of famed acting coach Lee Strasberg who wound up inheriting the bulk of Marilyn Monroe’s estate, has died. She was 84.

Strasberg died Saturday in New York City of natural causes, a publicist for The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute told The Hollywood Reporter. She co-founded the institute and served as artistic director and “visionary leader” at the home of the Method acting approach.

“Anna ensured that The Institute became a beacon for aspiring actors and remains a cherished space for artistic exploration and growth,” a statement said. “Her lifelong commitment to The Method and unwavering devotion to The Institute have left an indelible mark on the world of acting and the countless talented people she inspired.

“Her presence will be dearly missed, but her legacy lives on through The Method and every class of passionate students.”

Monroe died at age 36 on Aug.

Deadline reports that Universal Pictures has made the first major Hollywood deal of 2024, pre-emptively purchasing the short story package Long Lost, which has the legendary Steven Spielberg attached to produce through his company Amblin Partners.

Long Lost is a 50 page short story written by Colin Bannon, who previously wrote and directed the 2009 comedy Love Conquers Paul. Bannon will be writing the screenplay adaptation of his story, which is said to be “in the vein of What Lies Beneath and Rosemary’s Baby“. The story centers on a recently married woman whose life is upended when her husband’s long-lost wife shockingly returns after she was believed to be dead, sparking fears that she’s hatching a sinister plan to reclaim what was once hers.

How does the maker of a little-seen indie from 15 years ago land a deal like this? Well, in addition to making Love Conquers Paul, Bannon has...

Exclusive: In the first major sale of the year, Universal has pre-emptively purchased the short story package Long Lost that comes with an attachment by Steven Spielberg, who’s aboard as a producer through his U-based Amblin banner.

The 50-page short story was written by Colin Bannon, who will write the script. His deal is in the low 7-figures range for story and to write the script, said sources. Pic will be produced by Spielberg’s Amblin Partners , Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon for Genre Pictures and Scott Glassgold and his Ground Control Entertainment.

As a screenwriter, Bannon has landed scripts on the Black List a record seven times, and he has sold the specs Ultra to Tri-Star Pictures and First Ascent to Netflix. Bannon’s psychological thriller Holdout is readying at Netflix with Elizabeth Moss attached to star and direct.

In the vein of What Lies Beneath and Rosemary’s Baby,...

UK ska veterans Madness have released their latest studio album, Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’Est La Vie, via BMG. Stream the record via Apple Music or Spotify below.

Spanning 14 tracks, Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’Est La Vie is truly a theatrical affair, with a spoken word prologue and several different “acts” occurring between the songs, all performed by actor (and longtime fan) Martin Freeman. As for the music itself, Madness brought the album to life as a collaborative effort, recording together alongside engineer and mixer, Matt Galsbey, in Cricklewood, London.

“Well, well, well, here we are… our 13th album (lucky for some),” the band said in a statement. “Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’Est La Vie is ready for your ears. For us, recording it was the perfect antidote to the chaos of the past few years — we were all there, properly in the zone.

Exclusive: The book-to-movie market that has been spotty with two strikes hobbling the business is seeing an uptick that will lead to a few strong deals before the holiday. It could presage a boom market if the optimism from the latest labor talks lead to a deal and resumption of business.

One big deal just closed at Universal, for an action thriller based on the unpublished 43-page short story Run For Your Life. The story is about a groom marked for death on his wedding day, and the studio is at the altar with a pre-emptive purchase that has Safe House scribe and Designated Survivor creator David Guggenheim attached to write and Sam Hargrave in talks to direct. Latter helmed the Chris Hemsworth action films Extraction and its sequel for Netflix and Agbo; Hargrave will next direct another high-action thriller, Stay Frosty, for Warner Bros with Dark Horse Entertainment.

(L-r...

UK ska band Madness have announced their 13th album, Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’Est La Vie, out November 17th via BMG. As a preview, they’ve shared three songs from the project. Stream the tracks below.

Theatre of the Absurd marks the first album from Madness since 2016’s Can’t Touch Us Now. It was recorded in Cricklewood, London at the beginning of this year, where members Graham “Suggs” McPherson, Mark Bedford, Chris “Chrissy Boy” Foreman, Mike “Barso” Barson, Lee Thompson, and Dan “Woody” Woodgate found harmony alongside engineer and mixer Matt Galsbey.

Tying the 14 songs together is a prologue from actor (and longtime fan) Martin Freeman that runs throughout the album. Pre-orders for Theatre of the Absurd are ongoing. See the artwork and full tracklist below.

“Our thirteenth album (lucky for some) Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’Est La Vie is ready for your ears,” Madness said in a statement.

Lew Palter, who played Isidor Straus in James Cameron’s Titanic and a Supreme Court justice in First Monday in October, has died. He was 94.

Palter died of lung cancer May 21 at his Los Angeles home. CalArts, where Palter was a longtime faculty member, shared news of his death on Twitter.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news that longtime #calartstheater faculty Lew Palter has passed away. Lew retired from @CalArts in 2013, having served our community since 1971 as an acting teacher, director, and mentor.”

Among his students at CalArts was Cecily Strong, said it was Palter who encouraged her to try out for improv/sketch comedy group The Groundlings, leading to her breakout role on SNL.

“Lew loved the craft of acting, and taught his students to do the same,” said CalArts School of Theater Dean Travis Preston in a statement. “He fostered deep curiosity, care, intellect,...

Actor Lew Palter has died. Per THR, Palter passed away on May 21 of lung cancer at his L.A. home with his daughter, Catherine Palter, now sharing the sad news with the press. He was 94 years old.

Palter also worked as a beloved acting teacher and director at CalArts from 1971 to 2013. During that time he provided guidance to many big stars, such as Ed Harris and Don Cheadle. Palter also tutored Cecily Strong, personally encouraging her to try out for The Groundlings, which led to her rise to fame on Saturday Night Live. Palter's daughter Catherine says that, as a teacher, her father "seemed to have truly changed people's lives."

“Lew loved the craft of acting and taught his students to do the same. He fostered deep curiosity, care, intellect and humor in every scene, play and class,” adds CalArts School of Theater Dean Travis Preston. “He had the utmost...

Lew Palter, the veteran character actor and admired CalArts School of Theater faculty member who portrayed the department store magnate Isidor Straus in James Cameron’s Titanic, has died. He was 94.

Palter died May 21 of lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles, his daughter, Catherine Palter, told The Hollywood Reporter.

The New York native played one of the Supreme Court justices in First Monday in October (1981), starring Walter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh and Barnard Hughes, and he donned a robe for stints on The Flying Nun, Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law as well.

Plus, he portrayed an LAPD detective on the 1976-77 CBS series Delvecchio, starring Judd Hirsch.

Palter joined CalArts in 1971 and served as an acting teacher and director at the Santa Clarita school until his retirement in 2013, but he also conducted private workshops and taught around the country and around the world, including in Edinburgh and at Carnegie Mellon and UCLA.

Harold Livingston, an American novelist who wrote the screenplay for “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” in 1979, died early Thursday morning, Bobby Livingston confirmed to Variety. He was 97.

“Star Trek: The Motion Picture” was Livingston’s most famous writing credit, and he also wrote for several TV shows, including “Mission: Impossible,” “The Six Million Dollar Man” and more.

“Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry and sci-fi author Alan Dean Foster, who penned several “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” novels, also contributed to the story and script development alongside Livingston. The 1979 film was the first movie in the “Star Trek” franchise, and it starred the original TV series cast members, including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Majel Barrett, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Persis Khambatta and Stephen Collins.

The film was successful at the box office, earning 139 million worldwide from a 44 million budget, and Paramount ordered a follow-up, “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan...

Not only is the 25th James Bond film “No Time to Die” the last 007 adventure thriller starring Daniel Craig, it’s also the first one directed by an American: Cary Joji Fukunaga. The 44-year-old filmmaker won the Sundance dramatic directing award in 2009 for “Sin Nombre,” was the first Asian-American director to win an Emmy for directing in 2014 for “True Detective” and earned a Peabody in 2015 for “Beasts of No Nation.”

He joins other cutting-edge filmmakers to direct Craig as Bond including Oscar-winning English director Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”) who helmed 2012’s “Skyfall” and 2015’s “Spectre” and indie German filmmaker Marc Forster (2008’s “Quantum of Solace”), who had directed Halle Berry to an Oscar for 2001’s “Monster’s Ball” and Johnny Depp to a nomination for 2004’s “Finding Neverland.”

These three are a far cry from the early Bond directors who were British and had worked their way up the ranks...

Exclusive: Four-time Emmy winning producer, writer and showrunner Lee Metzger has signed with Verve for representation. The move comes as Metzger expands further into the scripted space following last week’s release of Strawberry Spring, the first-ever podcast adaptation based on a short story by Stephen King.

Written, directed, and produced by Metzger, Strawberry Spring stars Milo Ventimiglia, Garrett Hedlund, Herizen F. Gaurdiola and Sydney Sweeney. Based on one short story from King’s Night Shift collection, it follows the story of a journalist (Hedlund) in his relentless pursuit of a serial killer known as “Springheel Jack”. In addition to Metzger, producers are Emmy winner Philip Alberstat, Audio Up Media and iHeartMedia. Strawberry Spring debuted at #1 on Apple’s Fiction and Drama Podcast charts upon release in over 32 countries.

Next up, Metzger will be adapting the life story of an iconic American singer, songwriter and rock icon. Details are being kept under wraps for now.

Emmy-nominated film and TV editor Richard Bracken has died. He was 90.

Bracken died Thursday of kidney failure in Chatsworth, California, according to his daughter Kathleen Bracken.

Over the course of his 30 year career, Bracken served as editor for a roster of television classics, including “Columbo,” “The Bold Ones” and “Ironside.” He spent a particularly fruitful number of years working for Oscar-nominated producer Ross Hunter, editing films “The Thrill of It All” and “Madame X,” miniseries “The Moneychangers” and NBC drama “A Family Upside Down,” which starred Fred Astaire and Helen Hayes.

Much of Bracken’s career was dedicated to television, having also worked on NBC drama “Run for Your Life,” ABC American Western series “Alias Smith and Jones” and TV movie “The Jesse Owens Story.” His work was recognized with four Emmy nominations, including for the 1976 TV miniseries “Rich Man, Poor Man” and the Anjelica Huston-starring miniseries “Buffalo Girls...

Exclusive: Top reality producer Lee Metzger, best known for his work on 14 seasons of NBC’s The Voice, has signed with ICM Partners.

Lee, who works in both unscripted and scripted television, joined The Voice as co-executive producer in Season 1. He was upped to executive producer at the start of the second season. Lee remained on the hit NBC show as Ep through season 14 in 2018, sharing in The Voice‘s four Emmy awards for reality-competition series.

Lee most recently executive produced the Celebrity Escape Room Red Nose Day special for NBC starring Jack Black and Ben Stiller. Before that, he was executive producer/showrunne on the CBS competition series Million Dollar Mile from LeBron James.

Lee’s extensive resume also includes stints as executive producer/showrunner of Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, and Your Own Show: Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star. In addition, he has worked on series such as Big Brother,...

(Above: Lynley in the 1972 hit "The Poseidon Adventure")

By Lee Pfeiffer

Actress Carol Lynley has died from a heart attack at age 77. She began her career as a child model before gravitating to the movie industry. With her stunning looks, Lynley showed great potential in an era in which studios groomed starlets to become full-blown stars. Lynley gained fine notices for her starring role in the 1959 drama "Blue Denim" in which she and Brandon DeWilde played middle-class teenagers dealing with the secret of her unintended pregnancy in an era in which such scenarios were met with repression instead of compassion. Prominent roles followed including "Hound Dog Man", "Return to Peyton Place" and "The Last Sunset" in which she co-starred with Hollywood icons Rock Hudson and Kirk Douglas. Other major films of the 1960s include "The Stripper", "Under the Yum Yum Tree", "Shock Treatment", "The Pleasure Seekers", "The Maltese Bippy", "Danger...

Tom Jennings, a retired Hollywood talent agent and casting director, was killed in a household fire on Bainbridge Island in Washington State on April 18, his family announced Tuesday. He was 81.

Jennings’ notable clients during his long career included Julian Fellowes, Burl Ives, Lee Van Cleef and Gene Simmons.

Along with partner Walter Beakel, he founded the boutique talent agency Beakel and Jennings in 1976.

Also Read: Peggy Lipton of 'Mod Squad' and 'Twin Peaks' Dies at 72

Born in Evanston, Illinois in 1937, Jennings grew up in Santa Barbara, California, and later attended Hanover College in Indiana before serving in the Marine corps. He began his career in Hollywood in the late 1950s as an agency assistant to Bing Crosby at Artists Agency Corporation, later moving on to General Artists where he assisted Bill Sargent with the cult music series “The Teenage Music International.”

Following his departure from General Artists in the early ’60s,...

The current Marvel Cinematic Universe of superhero blockbusters, sequels and spin-offs might not exist if not for screenwriter Alvin Sargent, who is dead from natural causes at age 92 on May 9.

The two-time Oscar winner for his scripts for 1977’s “Julia” and 1980’s “Ordinary People” was involved in the screenplays for the original “Spider-Man” trilogy that began in 2002 starring Tobey Maguire as Spidey the web-slinger that would redefine and elevate the modern superhero genre and set the standard for all the spandex-wearing crusaders who followed. I recall Oscar talk for the possibility that Sargent’s much-praised script for 2004’s “Spider-Man 2” could be nominated — an unheard-of notion back then for a film based on a comic-book.

See Celebrity Deaths 2019: In Memoriam Gallery

Sargent would also contribute to 2012’s “The Amazing Spider-Man,” the reboot of the series starring Andrew Garfield. It would be his final script, which the scribe completed when...

Mexico’s famed “Tres Amigos” have made a name for themselves in Hollywood and beyond, directing their way to a bevy of Oscars. Less well known: the emerging wave of female auteurs from Mexico.

The directors range from Patricia Riggen and Issa Lopez, both busy with Hollywood projects and gaining their own international recognition, to women from indigenous communities, such as María Sojob, a Tzotzil native, and Elizabeth Piña, of Otomí Hñätho descent. The latter two are making their first documentaries. Also part of this wave: Tatiana Huezo and Variety director to watch Alejandra Marquez Abella.

“It’s just marvelous what’s happening now; there are more female directors in features, and even more making short films,” says Maria Novaro, freshly installed head of Mexican Film Institute (Imcine) and who fought against chauvinism early in her directing career. She is best-known for 1991’s uplifting dance drama “Danzon.”

According to the latest findings from Imcine,...

Syfy has passed on its pilot Tremors, a reboot of the 1990 cult classic film headlined by original star Kevin Bacon reprising his role. Bacon confirmed the news in an Instagram post.

“Sad to report that my dream of revisiting the world of Perfection will not become a reality,” he wrote. “Although we made a fantastic pilot (Imho) the network has decided not to move forward. Thanks to our killer cast and everyone behind the scenes who worked so hard. And always keep one eye out for Graboids!

Tremors, from Universal Cable Productions and Blumhouse Television, was one of three pilots from Syfy’s most recent batch. The network last week picked up one of the three, Deadly Class, to series, triggering speculation about the fate of the other two. Tremors is now officially dead, with no final decision yet on the third, Run For Your Life, though I hear it also looks unlikely.

NBCUniveral Cable Entertainment’s Entertainment Networks Group, composed of USA and Syfy, have ordered a pilot for supernatural thriller Run for Your Life, from Universal TV and Blumhouse Television. Run for Your Life is centered on the last night of Dia de Los Muertos (aka Day of the Dead), when a grieving detective is thrust into a deadly game to bring someone back from the dead. Should the pilot be ordered to series, the network on which it would air would be…...

Get ready to literally run towards today’s NYC casting notices! “Run For Your Life,” an upcoming web series on the many horrors of online dating, is looking to fill several roles, including its two leads! There are also several roles available in the upcoming feature film “When Everything’s Gone” and in a short online commercial! “Run For Your Life”“Run For Your Life,” an upcoming web series about the horrors of internet dating, is currently casting in New York. A male actor and a female actor ages 30–40 are sought to play the lead roles of Richard and Celine. There are also several supporting roles available for male and female talent aged 30–45, and two background roles available for female talent aged 70–80 as “fast grannies.” The series is filming its first four episodes Sept. 7–10 in NYC. Some pay will be provided, as well as meals and transportation. “When Everything’S...

Foo Fighters have returned, and they’re up to their old tricks—emphasis on old.

The Dave Grohl-led outfit is celebrating 22 years this summer, but anyone fearing that the band’s sledge hammer riffs have gone soft will have their ear drums pounded into rubble by their new song, “Run.” Age brings wisdom, and a greater ability to shred.

The accompanying music video hammers the point home. The Foos—prematurely elderly with the magic of prosthetic makeup—find themselves in an oppressive nursing home, lead by terrifying Nurse Ratched-like staff. Grohl, nearly unrecognizable but for his trademark Trini Lopez Gibson,...

The Mistress of the Dark and Fright Rags collide for a limited time in a new Midnight Madness shirt! Also: Comet TV's May contest details, a new poster for Hostile, a look at Doyle's "Run For Your Life" music video, and info on the zombie short story anthology Gone With the Dead.

Fright Rags' Elvira Shirt: From Fright Rags: "Hello Darlings! Since the 80s, Elvira has been tempting us as the horror hostess of our dreams (or maybe nightmares?). Late night so-bad-it’s-good horror movies were never complete without her hilariously quirky intros, her long black dress and her big… um… hair. We’re celebrating the Mistress of the Dark with a Limited Edition release at Midnight Tomorrow (Est)! They will be available for $18/ea for 24Hrs! Don't miss Midnight Madness!

Art by Christopher Franchi

Only at Fright-rags.Com"

Images from Fright Rags:

---------

Comet TV's May Contest Details: "May...

Los Angeles – With the flourish of trumpets in “The Bullfighter’s Song,” a pugnacious man would strut on stage and launch a volley of hilarious insults on some unsuspecting targets. That act was Don Rickles, whose show business nicknames included “The King of Zing,” “The Merchant of Venom” and the magnificently ironic “Mr. Warmth.” Rickles died in Los Angeles on April 6th, 2017. He was 90.

In his early career, Rickles was a throwback to the cocktail and burlesque joints of the 1950s and ‘60s, where a burgeoning stand up comic would do anything to engage the audience and keep a gig. With a quick wit and rat-a-tat delivery, Rickles developed a persona that would keep him working virtually all the way to the end. He went from the “Rat Pack” era, through comedy roasts of the 1970s, to the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” series, and never...

Legendary comedian Don Rickles passed away at home from kidney failure, his publicist confirmed. He was 90.  Rickles, who would've turned 91 on May 8, was best known for his comedy, but also became a best-selling author and dramatic actor. He made his mark alongside Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster in Run Silent, Run Deep. Rickles also served as an honorary member of the Rat Pack and appeared as an abrasive celebrity roast comic. Throughout his career, Rickles also appeared on various sitcoms and dramatic series, including Get Smart and Run for Your Life. Perhaps one of his best known film roles was voicing the role of Mr. Potato Head in Pixar's Toy Story...

Get Out is a genuinely terrifying satirical horror film filled that doubles as a chilling social commentary on race. But fans are now finding the lighter side of Jordan Peele’s masterwork with the #GetOutChallenge. The point of the challenge is to recreate a moment in the film where Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) goes outside to smoke a cigarette late at night while staying at his girlfriend’s parents’ house for the first time. Out of nowhere, the family’s groundskeeper Walter (Marcus Henderson) comes running at him full force only to make a sharp turn at the very last second. The film’s official Twitter account helpfully shared a Gif of the unsettling moment:

Run for your life. Have you tried the #GetOutChallenge? pic.twitter.com/6piaiP1vMX

— Get Out (@GetOutMovie) March 7, 2017

The #GetOutChallenge seems to have originated from Kira C. on Twitter:

#GetOutChallenge lmfaoo...

Monday's episode of Bachelor in Paradise had it all: breakups, makeups, new couples, old fights – and of course, enough of Ashley I.'s tears to fill a swimming pool. Let's begin.

Ashley/Jared/Caila Circus ContinuesThis love triangle is officially going in circles. Picking up where we left off last week, Caila was back with more sugar-coated cattiness aimed at Ashley than we could have ever dreamed of.

Caila: I'm sorry that you guys are longtime friends and that he like, loves you like a sister. You and I don't have to talk for the rest of the time here,...

Angkor temples, Cambodia.

Increased interest in 4K documentaries has helped Sydney-based international distributor Flame secure more than 65 hours of sales after Miptv.

Flames 4K documentary Ancient angkor has been bought by Discovery Channel in Canada, while there was also strong interest in Jet Set and the The Luxury Travel Show, according to a company statement.

Flame has also continued its partnership with Prospero Productions, the Western Australian indie who brought the world Outback Truckers, by securing a sale to Discovery Asia of their new series, Railroad Australia..

Canadian series, Restoration Garage, from Pixcom Productions has been picked up by the Australian digital channel 7Mate, while Singapore.s public broadcaster, Mediacorp, has taken two titles hosted by successful New Zealand psychologist/scientist Nigel Latta produced by Razor Films - Nigel Latta Blows Stuff Up and Is Sugar the New Fat?

Australia.s Foxtel Lifestyle Food Channel has picked up a third...

facebook

twitter

google+

Brilliantly tense UK crime drama Line Of Duty is back with more corruption, more action and lots of guns…

This review contains spoilers (incl. for Line Of Duty series 1 and 2).

Admit it, you thought you had Sgt Danny Waldron’s number from the moment he unloaded three bullets into that suspect’s head too. Here we go, I told myself, another bent copper murdering a witness to his no-doubt shady gangland dealings. He’s a bully, I thought, watching him intimidate his team and cockily bat away AC-12’s accusations. Probably a psychopath to boot, judging by those robotic powers of observation and recitation of procedural chapter and verse. ‘Run for your life, dry-white-wine-Rachel!’ I inwardly urged, as the pair swapped numbers.

By the time he was on the floor choking on his own blood, the scale of writer Jed Mercurio and actor Daniel Mays’ glorious deception was clear.

There was a celebratory vibe at Federation Hall at the Vca in Melbourne last night as this year.s primary and secondary student winners were announced at the 2015 Atom Awards student awards.

Held annually for more than 30 years, the Atom Awards recognise film and media excellence in the education sector and the screen industry. This year there were more than 500 entries from Australian and New Zealand filmmakers.

The award presentation was hosted by Nat Geo Wild.s Ben Britton and was followed by a special screening of all the winning productions.

Atom, in conjunction with the IP Awareness Foundation, also announced the winners of the 2015 My Story My Content short film competition.

The winners in the tertiary and general/open categories of the Atom Awards will be announced on Thursday November 27 in Melbourne.

Content from both events will also be shown on Foxtel community channel Aurora.

The student winners of...

Spoiler alert: "A Song of Ice and Fire" book spoilers referenced ahead.

If anyone should be Bolton right about now, it's Sansa Stark. Run for your life, little bird! Last night in "Game of Thrones" Season 5, Episode 3, "High Sparrow," the ill-fated elder Stark daughter was pushed into an engagement with Ramsay Snow Bolton. This is a big twist from the book, where Sansa's friend Jeyne Poole is forced to marry Ramsay, while pretending to be Arya Stark. Bad things happen to Jeyne as Mrs. Bolton, and fans are concerned that Sansa may face the same treatment.

In the book, a rescue attempt is launched to save "Arya," even though it's really Jeyne. On television, Littlefinger seems to have a plan to appear to align with the Boltons, who helped to kill Robb and Catelyn Stark at the Red Wedding, while really helping Sansa to avenge her family by taking back the North.

Infini is an upcoming Australian produced sci-fi horror in the vein of Alien, The Thing, Aliens, Event Horizon or Pandorum. Now that I have your attention, enjoy the first trailer for it. Let’s see, deep space, check, mining colony gone dark, check, alien force taking over the station’s inhabitants and turning them into crazed killers, […]

Read Run for Your Life in the New Sci-Fi Horror Infini on Filmonic.

It's crazy to think now, 10 years on, that the reputation surrounding Doctor Who before the broadcast of series one episode 'Rose' - starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper - in 2005, was not what it is now.

In fact, in the pre-2005 Who landscape, it's safe to say that in terms of the general public and especially in the media, the series was regarded as a bad joke. And not even a very good bad joke at that.

The press just didn't take it seriously. In the aftermath of the initial 2003 announcement of the show's return, tabloids suggested that people like Paul Daniels and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen were in the running to be the new Doctor Who. Remember, they're not even actors.

But before another lazy journalist had the time to type "wobbly sets" for the 13th time that hour, a masterstroke was pulled - the BBC presented Christopher Eccleston as the...

Danny Dyer supported daughter Dani Dyer at her movie premiere for We Still Kill The Old Way in London last night (September 28).

The 17-year-old aspiring actress, who has previously appeared with her father in movies such as 2009's Doghouse and the critically panned Run For Your Life, has a role in Sacha Bennett's British gangster movie.

The crime drama centres on a group of ageing East End gangsters who embark on a killing spree after one member is murdered by a feral street gang.

The pair were joined by Dyer's long-term partner and Dani's mother Joanne Mas. Dani is the couple's eldest daughter.

Other guests at the screening included former EastEnders actor Craig Fairbrass, former CBB star Casey Batchelor and ex-Emmerdale actress Adele Silva, who also stars in the film.

Morningstars, sledgehammers, chainsaws, and machetes... lots of machetes. The new gameplay trailer for Dead Island 2 showcases the raw brutality of unabashed hate crimes against the undead, delivered in a visceral style that only the Dead Island series can deliver.

Blood... man, that shit gets everywhere! And I mean everywhere. Every cut in this trailer reveals a fresh zombie getting stabbed, slashed, shot, bludgeoned, and stabbed again. Based on this trailer, gamers can expect to be slipping on blood and giggling with delight after a session with Dead Island 2.

Dead Island has always provided players with a hero’s arsenal of implements of sheer chaos, and today’s trailer really gave gamers some fun new toys to look forward to. It’s like a gore-filled Christmas morning. Forget church; there are zombies to decapitate!

Speaking of weapons, the trailer also promises three pre-order bonuses, all of which are in-game weapons that...

Remember when those rumors of a Dead Island feature film were squashed? Well, just like any good ghoul... it didn't stay dead for long. Read on for the first details of when you'll be able to plan your next vacation. The boats can leave now. Tell the crew.

From the Press Release

Occupant Entertainment and Deep Silver, the video game publishing label of Koch Media, announced today they are partnering to package, produce, and finance a screen adaption of the popular hit video game franchise Dead Island®.

Occupant plans to attach a filmmaker and fast track the project for a production start in Q1 of 2015.

Set on a tropical island resort, Dead Island revolves around a zombie outbreak and has become one of the most successful new video game IP’s in the last few years, selling over 8 million copies worldwide across all platforms.

“Deep Silver has created a highly...

On the outskirts of Comic-Con, there lurks something far scarier than Browncoat cosplayers. Across the street, the Petco Park Stadium has been turned into a militarized zone where the army has deployed troops around the area.

Officials carry bullhorns and warn everyone to stay away from the outbreak. Come any closer and you risk infection.

Welcome to The Walking Dead: Escape, an interactive zombie obstacle course based on Robert Kirkman's graphic novels.

Dread Central was invited to be among the first people inside after the stadium had been turned into an apocalyptic landscape.

Attendees could opt for one of three spots:

Survivors, who run the obstacle course and avoid the undead. Walkers, who get made up by the FX team and are set loose in the park to try to grab survivors. Spectators, who get to hang out behind the barricades and laugh at the poor fools trying to avoid getting eaten.

Dead Island 2 delivered the most genuinely entertaining trailer at this year’s E3. The short video of a man transforming into one of the undead during a jog in the sun was one of the highlights of Sony’s press conference.

And just when this game couldn't look more inviting, developer Deep Silver has just sweetened the pot by allowing fans to vote on what bonus items will be included in the game’s Collector’s Edition.

The developer released a survey online via which fans can vote one a range of goodies such as a zombie back scratcher, controller skins, a zombie Oscar, or zombie travel luggage. The winners will be included with the Collector’s Edition of the game, due for a tentative spring 2015 release.

The voting ends July 14th at midnight. Vote here.

Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!

Got news? Click here to submit it!

Subscribe to the Dread Central YouTube Channel!

Let this serve as a reminder! Skybound's (Robert Kirkman’s imprint at Image Comics) one-of-a-kind immersive zombie obstacle course experience, The Walking Dead Escape, is once again heading to the San Diego Comic-Con; and tickets are on sale now!

Rolled out as a nationwide experience in April, there will be a few stops before and beyond San Diego's big dance. The remaining dates on the tour are as follows:

Minneapolis, Mn – June 21st at Target Center Hartford, Ct – June 28th at Xfinity Theater San Diego, CA – July 25th and 26th at Petco Park surrounding Comic-Con 2014 Miami, Fl – October 25th at Sun Life Stadium

Dates Tbd at the following locations:

Tampa, Fl – Sundome Arena Jacksonville, Fl – EverBank Field New Orleans, La – Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Even cooler? From now until July 4th, there's a special Early Bird rate for tickets:

Combo Package: $125 Walker: $70 Survivor: $50 Spectator: $20

Additional tour dates will be announced in the near future.

A leisurely jog, ear buds in, smiling at pretty girls, doing a little shadow boxing. This was the test taste Sony fans received for the upcoming zombie game Dead Island 2. The new trailer blended a sense of fun with the horrors of a zombie horde and was the most entertaining trailer shown all day.

The Playstation 4 moved 7 million units in four months, all because of the fans. To acknowledge how much the fans mean to them, Sony executive Adam Boyes read letters from fans at Sony’s E3 press conference. He reported the biggest thing fans wanted: zombies.

This came amidst a slew of horror game announcements at Sony’s E3 press conference. One thing is for sure, if you are a horror fan, you need a PlayStation 4. Dead Island 2 will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Sony had a real theme of you get more when you play with Playstation,...

It's coming! Run for your life!

Uh oh. Those cheap toxic waste disposal guys left barrels of their nasty goo in a local cave and it looks like a gila monster has consumed it somehow, turning it into a very large gila monster. The locals start to notice strange things are happening. People getting hurt, bizarre stories get around, and livestock go missing. Hot rod racer and all-round perfect human, Chase (Brian Gross) helps the local Sheriff (Terence Knox) to put all the clues together. But Chase has a theory about what it might be. A big lizard thing. Luckily, there's an expert (just after the half-way mark) who tells them what they're facing and a local crank who has an arsenal for when the Commies invade.

Read more...

After staring at my movie collection trying to come up with an article idea (secrets revealed), I noticed a lot of coming of age stories. Growing up in a 90 minutes or so movie is no easy feat and these movies often deal with confusing, heartbreaking and even exhilarating time in our lives. They make sense of all the motions of a kid, show guidance in one form or another; they depict turning points in our lives that are all too common and relatable.

The spring is here folks, it’s time to get outside on your bikes, head to summer camp, make new friends, find trouble, get out of a pickle or steal a first kiss. But if you’re like me and have grown up into a life of responsibilities, there’s always nostalgia.

Here is part 1 of My Favorite Coming of Age Movies, tell me yours in the...

Run for your life - it's a stampede of fuzzy, cuddly, all-around adorable rabbits! In a video taken on the Japanese island of Okunoshima (a.k.a. "Rabbit Island" - a.k.a. best place ever!), a swarm of rabbits chases a woman, whom we will refer to as Luckiest Girl in the World. She's carrying some form of grub, but who could blame her for trying to lure the bunnies in? During World War II, rabbits were brought to the island to test mustard gas, reports The Huffington Post. Today, tourists flock to Rabbit Island to, well, be on...

Happy birthday to Christopher Eccleston, who turns 50 today (Sunday, February 16).

A stalwart of television, film and theatre, Chris has played some of television's most iconic characters (from Our Friends in the North's Nicky Hutchinson to Doctor Who's titular hero), brought life to numerous 'everyman' roles with extraordinary performances and used his work to explore themes of justice, loyalty and friendship.

To celebrate Christopher's half-century, Digital Spy has chosen ten standout performances from his film and television work, presented in chronological order. Given his acting career spans almost 25 years, a few didn't make our personal top ten, but as always, do tell us about your favourites in the comments section...

Shallow Grave (1994)

Danny Boyle's dizzying breakthrough movie Shallow Grave not only launched the career of Ewan McGregor, it propelled Christopher Eccleston - already an established TV star - into the big league.

Chris's portrayal of chartered accountant...

Happy birthday to Christopher Eccleston, who turns 50 today (Sunday, February 16).

A stalwart of television, film and theatre, Chris has played some of television's most iconic characters (from Our Friends in the North's Nicky Hutchinson to Doctor Who's titular hero), brought life to numerous 'everyman' roles with extraordinary performances and used his work to explore themes of justice, loyalty and friendship.

To celebrate Christopher's half-century, Digital Spy has chosen ten standout performances from his film and television work, presented in chronological order. Given his acting career spans almost 25 years, a few didn't make our personal top ten, but as always, do tell us about your favourites in the comments section...

Shallow Grave (1994)

Danny Boyle's dizzying breakthrough movie Shallow Grave not only launched the career of Ewan McGregor, it propelled Christopher Eccleston - already an established TV star - into the big league.

Chris's portrayal of chartered accountant...

Time to do more than just kill a little time as we have the first three episodes of the UK horror TV game show "Release the Hounds" right here for you to chew on. That's right, kids! Now you can get all caught up!

Synopsis

Horror is a reality as multi-channel network Collective Digital Studio (Cds) showcases the brand new horror game show "Release The Hounds" on Cds’s Metacafe and BlackBoxTV on YouTube in a groundbreaking approach to bring a hit UK show to audiences worldwide.

"Release The Hounds," produced by UK-based Gogglebox Entertainment, features three unsuspecting contestants who enter a forest at dusk in a quest to unlock chests full of prize money. Little do they know that in order to win big, they have to face the scariest challenges ever endured on TV.

To locate the keys to the chests, contestants must enter a field of crucified scarecrows,...

I had a happy childhood. Though my dog got run-over by a bus when I was five, my grandfather choked on a nut and died on my seventh Christmas and started haunting my house on the eighth, I can still make that statement easily.

For I was brought up in the constant company of video games: they were the friends I never had, or I wish I never had. They wouldn’t bully you for being small, they wouldn’t steal your breakfast box every morning and they certainly wouldn’t traumatize you for life by bursting your bubble about Santa at the age of nine.

Video games were as inseparable as a limb for most of us as we grew up. We threw tantrums, got grounded and made our parents want rue the day they ever considered making themselves a little family.

Even more than that, those delightful plastic...