News

Melbourne-based private film finance group Elevate Production Finance has hired Shana Levine as head of production investment.

Levine joins other recent recruits in London-based film financier and producer Charles Auty, who is COO, and Brisbane-based entertainment and finance lawyer Ted Cawrey, who is head of legal and business affairs.

Epf MD Craig McMahon said Levine’s appointment would now mean the company could provide “superior end-to-end service to productions”.

Since launching in 2017, Elevate has helped fund a number of Australian and international films, including George Miller’s Three Thousand Years Of Longing; Rich Lee’s War Of The Worlds starring Eva Longoria; Liam-Neeson starrer Blacklight; Sophia Banks’ debut feature Black Site; and Film Nation’s Misanthrope, directed by Damián Szifron.

During the height of Covid-19, the company, which is backed by Australian and international institutions and private equity, reassessed its protocols to provide debt funding to productions despite the pandemic.

Any nostalgic affection for Aussie star Paul Hogan and his iconic Crocodile Dundee character will likely be put to the test by this ill-conceived comedy starring the now octogenarian actor. Incorporating Curb Your Enthusiasm-style meta humor, with the actor playing a rather depressed version of himself, The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee makes one long for such comparatively stellar Hogan vehicles as Almost an Angel and Lightning Jack.

Being released nearly two decades after the star’s last American film, the unfortunate Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles, this effort, directed by his frequent collaborator Dean Murphy (Strange Bedfellows, Charlie & Boots), depicts Hogan living a quiet life in ...

Any nostalgic affection for Aussie star Paul Hogan and his iconic Crocodile Dundee character will likely be put to the test by this ill-conceived comedy starring the now octogenarian actor. Incorporating Curb Your Enthusiasm-style meta humor, with the actor playing a rather depressed version of himself, The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee makes one long for such comparatively stellar Hogan vehicles as Almost an Angel and Lightning Jack.

Being released nearly two decades after the star’s last American film, the unfortunate Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles, this effort, directed by his frequent collaborator Dean Murphy (Strange Bedfellows, Charlie & Boots), depicts Hogan living a quiet life in ...

(L-r) Daniel Lapaine, Jacqueline McKenzie, Nathan Page and director Tony Tilse on set in Victoria.

The relationship between Essie Davis’ Phryne Fisher and Nathan Page’s Jack Robinson breaks new ground in Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears.

That’s according to Tony Tilse, who directed Every Cloud Productions’ murder-mystery/adventure/romance, which premieres in Australian cinemas on February 27.

“The lovely tension between Phryne and Jack is always there but the two of them on screen together is just magic in a way we haven’t seen before,” Tilse tells If.

“Nathan is fantastic, absolutely up there with Essie’s performance level. It’s beautiful to watch.”

Tilse, who was the set-up director of Ms Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, was the natural choice by producer Fiona Eagger and scriptwriter/executive producer Deb Cox

to helm the feature.

“After the third series we started talking about the movie as a way to continue the franchise,...

Paul Walton

Paul Walton is leaving Princess Pictures after seven years as a producer and partner in the production company founded by Laura Waters in 2003.

Walton described his decision to depart as bitter-sweet but is looking forward to the next chapter of his career, including finding ways to address the disruptive changes in the screen industry.

“I am sad to be leaving a talented team behind but it’s due to their creativity and support that I find myself excited about the future I am carving out for myself,” Walton, who finishes up on May 10, tells If.

“Our industry is changing and we all need to reinvent ourselves in response to this global disruption. I feel I have achieved so much during my time at Princess, both professionally and personally. It fills me with pride to be leaving behind a legacy of content that has pushed boundaries, challenged the norm...

Jonathan auf der Heide to direct serial killer.

Myriad Pictures’ genre label Scoundrel Media will launch worldwide pre-sales in Toronto next week on thriller The Girl Beneath starring Australian star of Jessica Jones, Rachael Taylor.

Jonathan auf der Heide will direct from a screenplay by Sarah Smith and Ian John Ridley about a police officer’s race to save the life of a serial killer abductee. The woman calls the police for help, but has no idea where she is.

“We were impressed by this elevated material and wanted to work with this team of talented filmmakers including Jonathan auf...

Paul Hogan, the star of the hit Crocodile Dundee films, is set to star in a new feature film comedy called The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee!. Now, before you get too excited, this isn't going to be a sequel to the classic 80s films, but it still sounds like it will be an entertaining movie!

According to Deadline, the film "sees Hogan playing himself and on the brink of receiving a Knighthood for services to comedy. ‘Don’t do anything to mess this up’, his manager tells him, according to the plot line. However, despite all his best efforts, the next six weeks sees his name and reputation destroyed."

I know a lot of fans were hoping to eventually see a sequel to Crocodile Dundee, especially after that fun Super Bowl spot, Dundee: The Son of a Legend Returns home. But, it looks like we're getting the next best thing!

Paul Hogan, star of the hit Crocodile Dundee franchise, is heading back to the big screen in feature comedy The Very Excellent Mr Dundee!

The film isn’t a sequel to Paramount’s iconic 1980s franchise but instead sees Hogan playing himself and on the brink of receiving a Knighthood for services to comedy. ‘Don’t do anything to mess this up’, his manager tells him, according to the plot line. However, despite all his best efforts, the next six weeks sees his name and reputation destroyed.

The film will be directed by Dean Murphy (Charlie & Boots) who is producing alongside Nigel Odell. Executive Producers are Kathy Morgan from La based Kmi who is handling international sales, Christopher Figg and Robert Whitehouse from London’s Piccadilly Pictures, Sherman Ng from Singapore’s Salt Media and Andrew Mackie and Richard Payten from Transmission Films. Fulcrum Media Finance and several equity partners complete the financing.

Iconic Australian actor, Paul Hogan is to star in upcoming feature film “The Very Excellent Mr Dundee.” Production starts next month in Australia, Los Angeles and Vancouver.

Hogan recently thrilled and infuriated fans of the “Crocodile Dundee” film series in which he starred in the 1980s, by appearing in a short film that appeared to be a trailer for a new film in the franchise. But the clip turned out to be a advertisement for Tourism Australia.

“The Very Excellent Mr Dundee” sees Hogan playing himself and on the brink of receiving a Knighthood for services to comedy. “Don’t do anything to mess this up,” his manager tells him. However, despite all his best efforts, the next six weeks sees his name and reputation destroyed.

It is to be directed by Dean Murphy who is producing alongside Nigel Odel. International sales are to be handled by Los Angeles-based Kmi.