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When it comes to The Oscars, it's fair to say that it's one of the most anticipated celebrations in the film industry. For many filmmakers, winning an Oscar is the finest achievement possible, mostly because it's tied with a lot of recognition. Thus, movies like Gone with The Wind and Parasite remain with the audience because they have such a coveted position in the film business.

However, certain critics turn their noses up at animated movies. Although these films secure awards in their own right, they're typically undervalued because they are mostly associated with children. In turn, a lot of film buffs are missing out on the best Oscar-winning films of a generation.

A Little Girl Must Complete Forced Labor to Save Her Parents Spirited Away

Chihiro and her family are excited to start again in their new home. During their journey to the house, her parents stop off at an abandoned amusement park.

No-Face is an enigmatic figure in the world-renowned film Spirited Away from Studio Ghibli. He is introduced innocently enough, but quickly becomes a menace in Yubabas Bathhouse. He is a constant presence throughout protagonist Chihiro Ogino's journey and has become one of the most iconic symbols of the film. Because nothing is stated outright, however, many viewers are left wondering what No-Face represents.

Spirited Away is one of the most popular Studio Ghibli films with millions of fans around the world. While the imaginative and fantastical nature of the story can sometimes make it hard to understand all of the symbolism that's packed into it, there are some theories about what different aspects of it represent. Hayao Miyazaki is known for deftly placing real-world allegories in his movies, and No-Face is no exception. For some viewers, No-Face represents an often-lauded part of society that can turn ugly and cruel very...

Recently, Studio Ghibli's official store restocked an old favorite for My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Spirited Away fans. Donguri Sora's "Swinging Roly-Poly" toy collection has made a comeback, providing Ghibli lovers with a fun and wholesome way to enjoy their favorite characters.

As detailed on Donguri Sora's website, the swinging roly-poly figure collection features toys that, if rocked or tilted, will rise back up, making it seem as if they are "dancing" in place. The Totoro subset includes one small, one medium and one large Totoro. As a fun callback to the movie, the large Totoro holds an umbrella while the other two carry leaves. Jiji, who hails from the 1989 classic Kiki's Delivery Service, is depicted inside a cute coffee mug that appears in the film. Spirited Away's No-Face holds a cup of tea -- a reference to a memorable sequence that takes place near the story's climax.

Why did the scarecrow become a successful actor? Because he was outstanding in his field! Well, this might not be one of Will Ferrell’s jokes, but it could easily be! His name is anything but new to our comedy radar. The man who turned Saturday Night Live into a laughter battleground and single-handedly gave newsmen a hilarious makeover with Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy in 2004, is worthy of every chuckle and guffaw.

Will Ferrell in Anchorman | Credit: FilmFlex

Ferrell, 57, who also dabbles in writing, has stacked up a fortune through his humor and timeless performances. So, how rich is the man who has ruled the box office and our funny bones? How many zeros are we talking about when it comes to his bank account? Let’s dive into the whimsy and wealth of everyone’s favorite ‘Anchorman’.

Will Ferrell’s Fortune: A Comedy King with a $160 Million...

The recent blurring line between reality and fantasy has fascinated audiences all across the globe by resulting in live-action adaptations dipped in animated scenes. It has become the new horizon for storytelling. This approach has been exhibited well in films like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Here, animations flow very seamlessly into a live-action setting and vice versa.

A still from the Oscar-winning Boy and The Heron movie | Credits: Studio Ghibli

Now just imagine the untold magic that would emerge if the anime world gets onto this trend, staring at the legendary Hayao Miyazaki as animation director! It will certainly be a promising cinematic experience like no other, one that would break every record and redraw the future of anime.

Hayao Miyazaki’s Thoughts on The Recent Outgrowth of Live-Action X Animation Media A still from the Oscar-winning Spirited Away movie by Hayao Miyazaki | Credits: Studio Ghibli

From a resurfaced interview...

The worlds of My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and Spirited Away (2001) are populated by dozens of cute -- and sometimes scary -- supernatural creatures that are dear to the hearts of many Ghibli fans. Recently, Studio Ghibli's official store revived a popular novelty tablewear collection featuring some of its most memorable animated icons.

Donguri Sora, Ghibli's official online storefront, has given a fresh 2024 re-release to its and My Neighbor Totoro-themed chopstick rests. A common sight in Japanese households, chopstick rests provide a handy place for diners to place their eating utensils during meals. Ghibli's newly re-released tablewear sets allow fans to dine with Totoro, No-Face, Otori-sama, Boh the Mouse and several other famous characters.

Related Studio Ghibli's New Greeting Cards Star My Neighbor Totoro & More in Magical Night Sky-Themed Artwork

Studio Ghibli celebrates the magical beauty of a starlit night sky with its brand-new Totoro, Kiki and Castle in the Sky greeting card collection.

Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most renowned storytellers of this generation, establishing Studio Ghibli, which is the hub to some of the greatest titles like Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron, and so many more. Each project would not only showcase his creative genius but also move one into tears while appreciating the beauty of the film.

A still from The Boy and the Heron. Credits: Studio Ghibli

However, each one of his works would feature an important message that would make the audience ponder the complex themes featured in a respective film. While fans appreciate Miyazaki-Sensei’s storytelling skills, the animation studio’s ability to create jaw-dropping scenery will leave the fans awestruck.

One such film is My Neighbor Totoro, which happens to be a beautiful blend of narration and bewitching scenery. Interestingly, the storyteller detests the country for its past, but at the same...

The Netflix limited series adaptation of the Alice Feeney novel “His & Hers” has added four new cast members.

Crystal Fox, Sunita Mani, and Rebecca Rittenhouse have joined as series regulars, with Marin Ireland set in a supporting role. They will star alongside previously announced cast members Tessa Thompson as well as Jon Bernthal and Pablo Schreiber. Netflix has commissioned six episodes, with production set to begin this fall.

The official description for the series states, “Set in the sweltering heat of Atlanta, Anna (Thompson) lives in haunting reclusivity, fading away from her friends and career as a news anchor. But when she overhears about a murder in Dahlonega – the sleepy town where she grew up – Anna is snapped back to life, pouncing on the case and searching for answers. Detective Jack Harper (Bernthal) is strangely suspicious of her involvement, chasing her into the crosshairs of his own investigation. There...

The Academy Awards, or as the world knows them, the Oscars, have been considered the biggest accolade in the entertainment industry, but the Japanese anime has not had much luck with them. The Oscars have a specific category for animated movies called the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, which was started in 2001, but as of yet, the anime industry has only won twice.

Spirited Away | Credit: Studio Ghibli

The first one was won by Spirited Away during the 75th Academy Awards, and the second was won by The Boy and the Heron during the 96th Academy Awards. Both of them were a production of Studio Ghibli and were created by Hayao Miyazaki, a legend in the game. However, there are still some other movies that, according to fans, deserve an Oscar or at least an Oscar nomination.

These movies have done exceptionally well in terms of storyline, characters, development,...

Exclusive: Sunita Mani has joined the cast of Apple Original Films’ Spirited, starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds and Octavia Spencer. Mani will play Past, known as The Ghost of Christmas Past, in the musical rendition of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story A Christmas Carol that will feature all original music.

The pic will be directed by Sean Anders, who also serves as writer alongside writing partner John Morris. In addition to starring, Reynolds will produce through his Maximum Effort banner, as will Ferrell, who will produce through his Gloria Sanchez Productions alongside Jessica Elbaum and David Koplan. George Dewey serves as executive producer for Maximum Effort.

Best known for her role of Arthie on the Netflix series Glow as well as the hit USA series Mr. Robot, Mani recently wrapped production on the HBO limited series Scenes from a Marriage and was most recently seen in the Apple TV+ series Servant.

Nippon TV represents international sales.

Gkids has acquired North American rights to Production I.G’s official Annecy selection The Deer King as the film premieres in the festival this week.

The fantasy epic takes place in the aftermath of a war as an enslaved former soldier and a young girl in a mine run by the Empire of Zol escape an attack by disease-carrying wild dogs from Aquafa, a region outside Zol’s control.

The pair seek a simple life in the countryside, however the widespread return of the disease pitches them into a struggle far larger than any one nation.

Indie distributor Gkids has acquired the North American distribution rights for The Deer King (Shika no Ou), the latest animated feature from Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell), which had its world premiere this week in competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

The fantasy feature is directed by Masashi Ando and Masayuki Miyaji, and marks the directorial debut of respected animator Ando, who has been a key animator at Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away) and on such film’s as Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name. Miyaji is known for directing the 2009 series Xam’d: Lost Memories and work on Studio Ghibli films such as My Neighbors The ...

Indie distributor Gkids has acquired the North American distribution rights for The Deer King (Shika no Ou), the latest animated feature from Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell), which had its world premiere this week in competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

The fantasy feature is directed by Masashi Ando and Masayuki Miyaji, and marks the directorial debut of respected animator Ando, who has been a key animator at Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away) and on such film’s as Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name. Miyaji is known for directing the 2009 series Xam’d: Lost Memories and work on Studio Ghibli films such as My Neighbors The ...

Out of all the anime production companies, Studio Ghibli is undeniably the most famous. Now, there will be a theme park based on the animation powerhouse. New details were recently revealed about the park's subject matter. The Ghibli Park Promotion Division in Aichi Prefecture announced an overview of what the Ghibli Park facility will include. The park will finally be open for business in Fall 2022.

Towns from 2001 masterpiece Spirited Away are being brought into the real world for the purposes of the park. One of the many noteworthy things about the movie is that it is the first, and so far, only anime film to one for Best Animated Film at the Academy Awards. Now, fans will be able to see the mysterious towns brought to life for themselves. On the Japanese internet, the subject has been a popular topic to discuss.

To get into more specifics, Ghibli Park will...

The very first image from Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon has arrived. In the shot, Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone star in a scene from the highly anticipated upcoming Apple Original Film which recently began production last month in Oklahoma.

Killers of the Flower Moon is based on David Grann's highly praised best-seller. Set in 1920s Oklahoma, the film depicts the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation, a string of brutal crimes that came to be known as the Reign of Terror. Gray Horse, Oklahoma 1919. DiCaprio plays Ernest Burkhart, and Gladstone appears as Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman who falls in love with Ernest. Early in their relationship, Mollie invites him in for a meal and they form a bond.

A native of Montana, Lily Gladstone is of Blackfeet and Nez Perce descent. She made her film debut in Alex and Andrew Smith's "Winter in the Blood,...

Thanks to the lovely variety of diverse and memorable characters, the legendary 2001 Hayao Miyazaki animated film, Spirited Away, has gone down in history amongst fans as one of the greatest animated films of all time. There's always at least one character in the ensemble that viewers hold close to their hearts.

Related: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Spirited Away

One way to look even deeper into one's own relationship with the magical cast of humans, creatures, and deities in the movie is to see how they would all rank by zodiac sign so you can find out who you would most relate to.

Monday Update, writethru after Sunday 11:41Am post: There was a bit more varied action at the international box office this holiday weekend. Highlights include the continued rollout of Warner Bros/DC’s Wonder Woman 1984 with a good start in Australia, a sizable bow for China’s Shock Wave 2, the debut of Disney/Pixar’s Soul and a brand new milestone for Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train which has officially overtaken Spirited Away to become the highest-grossing film ever in Japan.

Starting with Wonder Woman 1984, the Patty Jenkins-directed sequel added an estimated $19.4M from 40 overseas markets, taking the international box office cume to $68.3M. When combined with this frame’s domestic debut, the worldwide running total is $85M.

Last week’s bow was hindered by a soft debut in China, and the picture isn’t any rosier in the Middle Kingdom, but there are some positive signs elsewhere.

Robert Zemeckis’s Roald Dahl adaptation debuts with an estimated $4.8m; ‘Rams’ lands top in Australia.

‘The Witches’ debuts with $4.8m

Robert Zemeckis’s film version of Roald Dahl’s The Witches began its international run on Halloween weekend, following its October 22 premiere on HBO Max in the US. The Warner Bros comedy fantasy – which is co-written by Zemeckis, Black-ish creator Kenya Barris and Guillermo Del Toro, and stars Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer and Stanley Tucci – debuted with an estimated $4.8m from 17 markets.

Top-performing territory was Russia/Cis with $1.6m, with Mexico second with $823,000. Germany, Saudi Arabia and Spain round...

Female-led caper mini-series “The Unusual Suspects” has begin filming in Sydney this week. The four-part series, which also highlights Australia’s ethnic diversity, is being produced for publicly-funded broadcaster Sbs.

Set in the upmarket eastern suburbs of Sydney, the story features the theft of a multi-million-dollar necklace and the women from different walks of life who come together to ensure that justice is served.

The cast is headlined by Miranda Otto as well as Filipina-American actress Aina Dumlao, and Michelle Vergara Moore.

The series is written by Jessica Redenbach, Roger Monk and Vonne Patiag, with Margarett Cortez as script consultant. It is directed by Emmy Award-winning Natalie Bailey and Melvin Montalban.

“Suspects” is produced by award-winning filmmaking duo Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford. Vonne Patiag (“Halal Gurls”) is associate producer, while executive production credit goes to Sbs’s acting head of scripted, Amanda Duthie.

It has major production investment from...

Melvin Montalban and Natalie Bailey.

Short films, music videos and Tvc director Melvin Montalban will make his TV debut on The Unusual Suspects, Aquarius Films’ four-part heist caper commissioned by Sbs.

Natalie Bailey, whose recent credits include helming three episodes of Avenue 5, Armando Iannucci’s HBO comedy starring Hugh Laurie and Run, an HBO series starring and executive produced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, will direct the other two episodes.

Scripted by Vonne Patiag (Halal Gurls), Jessica Redenbach and Roger Monk and set in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs, the plot revolves around the theft of a $10 million necklace from self-made Filipina businesswoman Roxanne Waters’ home during her twins’ birthday party,

The ensuing police investigation exposes hidden rivalries, shady business deals and forbidden affairs. No one is safe from suspicion, including socialite Sara Beasley whose life is crumbling fast, and her long-suffering nanny, Evie De La Rosa, a godmother of sorts for other Filipino domestic workers.

Aaron Sagers Feb 4, 2020

Where can you meet likeminded UFO and paranormal enthusiasts from around the world? Check out these conventions.

At most comic cons and fan events, one expects to run into people dressed as supernatural entities, extraterrestrials, and mysterious creatures. But at paranormal, cryptozoology, and ufology events, fans are discussing the existence of them – and often gather to actively go looking for them.

And as much as I move about in the world of comic cons, for the past decade or so, I have spent weekends traveling the world to talk as a journalist and researcher about ghosts, demons, curses, aliens, UFO, and monsters. During the day, the world of paracons closely resembles most fan events, and there is quite a bit of cross-pollination between them. There are panels, vendor rooms, and signings by notable authors, television personalities, and occasionally actors from paranormal pop culture. But at night, the activities continue with a skywatch,...

Join our newsletter to get more stories like this Actress Yael Stone has accused Geoffrey Rush of inappropriate behavior during the 2010 theater production of The Diary of a Madman. She claims that he held a mirror above her as she showered, was naked in front of her, and touched her in unwanted and sensual ways. But who is Stone? The actress is best known for playing Lorna Morello on Orange Is The New Black, as well as roles in Spirited, Deep Water and Childhood’s End. She also filmed Picnic at Hanging Rock, a television mini-series from 2018, and played Beth on […]

The post Yael Stone: Who is actress behind Geoffrey Rush misconduct allegations? appeared first on Monsters and Critics.

The Roy family might want to get comfortable at HBO: The premium cabler announced Monday that it has renewed drama series Succession for a second season.

Succession — which kicked off its 10-episode first season on June 3 — stars Brian Cox (Deadwood) as Logan Roy, an aging patriarch who refuses to relinquish control of his media and entertainment conglomerate. Jeremy Strong (Masters of Sex), Kieran Culkin (Fargo), Alan Ruck (The Exorcist) and Sarah Snook (Spirited) star as Logan’s four children, who are contemplating what the future will hold for them if and when their father begins to step back from the company.

The drama in Litchfield is “better than ever” (The Boston Globe) in the fourth season of the groundbreaking hit series, Orange Is the New Black: Season Four, arriving on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital HD), DVD, and Digital HD May 9 from Lionsgate.

Now you can own the Orange Is The New Black: Season 4 Blu-ray. We Are Movie Geeks has Four copies to give away. All you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite movie featuring Natasha Lyonne ? (mine is Everyone Says I Love You!). It’s so easy!

Good Luck!

Official Rules:

1. You Must Be A Us Resident. Prize Will Only Be Shipped To Us Addresses. No P.O. Boxes. No Duplicate Addresses.

Winner of three consecutive Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, Orange Is the New Black: Season Four features an all-star cast including:

Taylor Schilling – 2014 Emmy® Nominee,...

The drama in Litchfield is “better than ever” (The Boston Globe) in the fourth season of the groundbreaking hit series, Orange Is the New Black: Season Four, arriving on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital HD), DVD, and Digital HD May 9 from Lionsgate.

Winner of three consecutive Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, Orange Is the New Black: Season Four features an all-star cast including:

Taylor Schilling – 2014 Emmy® Nominee, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, “Orange Is the New Black,” and nominated for two Golden Globe® Awards (2014, Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama; 2015, Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy), “Orange Is the New Black” Natasha Lyonne – 2014 Emmy® Nominee, Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, “Orange Is the New Black” Uzo Aduba – 2014 Emmy® Winner, Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, and 2015 Primetime Emmy® Winner,...

(L-r): Josh Thomson, Chai Hansen, Luciane Buchanan and Emilie Cocquerel (Photo: Geoffrey Short)..

See Saw Films and Jump Film & TV have kicked off production on.The Legend of Monkey for ABC, Tvnz and Netflix..

To be shot on location around Auckland, the 10x30. children.s series is an adaptation of the 16th century Chinese fable Journey to the West. It.follows a teenage girl and a trio of fallen gods on a journey to bring an end to a demonic reign..

The Legend of Monkey will star Chai Hansen (Mako Mermaids, The 100) with Luciane Buchanan (Filthy Rich, Blue Rose), Josh Thomson (Terry Teo, 7 Days, The Project) and Emilie Cocquerel (Lion, An Accidential Soldier)..

Head writer is Jacquelin Perske (Seven Types of Ambiguity, Spirited), who will work alongside Craig Irvin (Nowhere Boys) and Samantha Strauss (Dance Academy)..

The lead director is Gerard Johnstone (Housebound, The Jaquie Brown Diaries), with Irvin to direct additional eps.

Claudia Karvan in 'Newton's Law'..

How did you get involved in Newton.s Law?.

I think they originally wrote it for Miriam Margolyes. She was originally devised as an old, fat Jewish woman (laughs). I've never worked with them before so I don't know how I came on their radar. I was a big admirer of the film Mallboy.that Fiona [Eagger] produced a long time ago. It's one of my favourite Australian films. It really packs a punch..

I've never heard of it.

It's really worth checking out. I loved it. And then, obviously, [I.m] a big fan of SeaChange and totally appreciate the extraordinary phenomena that is Miss Fisher, and what successful producers they are. They just approached me, I read it, we had a few conversations and then it was all happening. I really wanted to play a character who was emotionally intelligent and had authority and...

Laura Jones, the winner of the inaugural Awg Lifetime Achievement Award and screenwriter of Brick Lane, will appear in conversation with Holding the Man scribe Tommy Murphy later this month.

Jones has worked with Gillian Armstrong on High Tide and Oscar and Lucinda, with Jane Campion on An Angel at My Table and A Portrait of a Lady, with Samantha Lang on The Well and Jocelyn Moorhouse on A Thousand Acres.

As well as Holding the Man, Murphy has written episodes of Spirited, Offspring and Devil's Playground.

The event will be held at Sydney's Harlequin Hotel on June 28.

www.awg.com.au/index.php?option=com_awgevents&layout=event&eid=137&Itemid=122...

Kerrie Mainwaring.

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Screentime, a Banijay Group company, has appointed producer Kerrie Mainwaring as head of production - scripted.

Mainwaring has produced projects including Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door, Catching Milat, Inxs: Never Tear Us Apart as well as new production.Brock..

Previously head of production - drama for Southern Star, Mainwaring's other credits include Paper Giants: Magazine Wars, Howzat: Kerry Packer.s War, Puberty Blues and Wild Boys - as well as having line produced Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo and Rescue Special Ops. .Her earlier credits include East West 101, Spirited and the first series of Rake.

.Working alongside head of drama, Greg Haddrick, and reporting to chief executive, Rory Callaghan, Mainwaring will be responsible for the management of the company.s drama slate including budgeting and reporting.

..I am delighted to be joining the team at Screentime, and to be continuing the collaboration with Rory Callaghan,...

Jessica Redenbach.

Jessica Redenbach will serve as the director.s attachment on Matchbox's.Hide and Seek..

Redenbach will work with director David Caesar, who is directing two episodes..

"I.m so grateful to the Australian Directors Guild, Screen Australia, Matchbox Pictures and of course to David Caesar for this exciting opportunity", Redenbach said..

"The chance to work with a filmmaker of David.s calibre is just thrilling. I.m appreciative that such opportunities exist and offer my sincere thanks to everyone who makes the Directors Attachment Scheme possible."

Redenbach has form as a screenwriter (Spirited, Rush), as well as a writer/director, with her latest short Tender premiering in the International Competition at Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival and winning the Australian Directors Guild Award for Best Short Film.

Hide and Seek is the story of a routine murder investigation that leads to the uncovering of an international network of identity fraud.

Daniel Millar, Laura Hughes and Bryan Moses.

This week a new Australian film will premiere at Utah's Slamdance, the festival at which first-time, low-budget filmmakers can strut their stuff.

Slamdance has seen the world premieres of films such as The King of Kong, Paranormal Activity.and Following, the debut of a 29 year-old Christopher Nolan.

The Tail Job is the debut feature of Bryan Moses and Daniel Millar (co-writer-directors) and Laura Hughes (producer). The crew usually consisted of just the three of them. Hughes is an experienced actress, with credits on 8Mmm Aboriginal Radio, Spirited and Laid, while Moses and Millar have worked together in TV and commercials for years.

Bearing the tagline "If you love someone, set them free, then follow at a safe distance", the micro-budgeted comedy follows Nicholas, who discovers his fiancé Mona has been sending text messages to a mystery man and decides to tail her in a cab.

Peter Capaldi.

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Currently directing two episodes of Doctor Who, Daniel Nettheim has a family connection with the iconic BBC series.

Nettheim.s late uncle David Nettheim was as an actor who worked in the UK in the 1960s and 70s. In 1967 he played a villain opposite the second Doctor, Patrick Troughton.

.There's a lot of personal connection for me with this show," says Nettheim, who moved with his family to the UK in 2013 after a 15-year career in Oz, where he directed the feature The Hunter and multiple episodes of such shows as Dance Academy, Rush, Spirited, The Secret Life of Us and All Saints.

"I was obsessed with it as a kid when Tom Baker was the Doctor. And my own kids are obsessed with it now.. They convinced me to take the job, even though it means spending months away from the family because production takes place in Cardiff.

Us studios have bought the format rights to Offspring, Fat Cow Motel and East West 101. Word of the deals emerged today during panel sessions at Spa.s Screen Forever conference. Endemol Worldwide Distribution has sold Offspring to Us producer Mandeville Television, which has done a script deal with the ABC network. Mandeville Television president Laurie Zaks told If that if the show gets the go-ahead it will be produced by herself and Mandeville principals David Hoberman and Todd Leiberman. She said she hoped the show.s creators, John Edwards and Imogen Banks, will be involved in the Us remake. During a panel on Selling Formats to the Us, Hoodlum Entertainment.s Tracey Robertson said a format deal for mystery Fat Cow Motel has been signed with the ABC network, negotiated by her Us agent ICM. In turn she said ABC has funnelled the project to ABC Studios and a writer has been attached.

Jessabelle just wants to heal, but she’ll get hell for her efforts. Wheelchair-bound as she recovers from a car accident that killed her boyfriend, Jessabelle returns home to be near her father, but ends up getting too close to a malevolent spirit in Saw VI director Kevin Greutert’s Jessabelle, a Southern gothic film with a supernatural streak that Lionsgate is releasing to home media this winter:

Press Release – “From the mastermind producer behind Insidious and The Purge comes the ghostly tale of Jessabelle. The haunting, supernatural thriller, directed by Kevin Greutert (Saw VI, Saw 3D: The Final Chapter), written by Robert Ben Garant (Hell Baby, Night at the Museum) and starring Sarah Snook, Mark Webber and Joelle Carter, will arrive on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD), DVD (plus Digital) and Digital HD on January 13, 2015 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The Jessabelle Blu-ray and DVD, including audio commentary with the filmmakers,...

Following strong notices for their breakout zombie film "Undead" in 2003, Australian genre filmmakers Michael and Peter Spierig teamed with Ethan Hawke and Sam Neill for the vampire action flick "Daybreakers" back in 2009. Five years on, they're back for their third feature "Predestination" which also stars Hawke along with Noah Taylor and Sarah Snook.

Dropping horror in favor of complicated sci-fi, this might be their best effort yet. Based on "Starship Troopers" author Robert A. Heinlein’s 1960 short story "All You Zombies," the action follows a Temporal Agent who must pursue a criminal that has eluded him throughout time and at the same time ensure his own survival.

Actress Sarah Snook has scored a strong reputation here in Australia for her work on the TV series "Spirited" and films like "Not Suitable for Children". Here she takes on what appears to be a meaty role where half the time they've adjusted...

Now shooting in Melbourne and country Victoria, the comedy Oddball is breaking all the rules which say you should never work with children, animals, birds and on or near water.

.You name the risk, we.re taking it,. Wtfn.s Richard Keddie, who is producing with Steve Kearney and Sheila Hanahan Taylor, tells If.

Based on a true story, the film stars Shane Jacobson as Swampy Marsh, an eccentric chicken farmer who, helped by his granddaughter, trains his mischievous dog Oddball to protect a wild penguin sanctuary from fox attacks.

Saran Snook plays Swampy.s daughter Emily, a single mother, with Coco Gillies as her daughter and Alan Tudyk as an American tourism consultant who is hired to help the town get back on its feet.

Richard Davies is a local conservationist, Deborah Mailman is the mayor, Frank Woodley is a dogcatcher and Meeko, a maremma, is Oddball.

Animal trainer...

Matt King..

UK actor, comedian and writer Matt King today embarked on a new career with Australian production company Cjz.

As the newly appointed development executive King will work with Cjz.s development and production teams.

King collaborated with Cjz MD co-founder Nick Murray in Australia in the 1990s when he served as a comedy writer on Full Frontal and Jimeoin.

Before moving back to Australia with his family last month he filmed a role in Paddington, a comedy about a young bear from Peru who moves to London in search of a home and family, starring Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent, directed by David Heyman (producer of the Harry Potter franchise and Gravity).

He played the co-lead opposite Claudia Karvan in Southern Star Entertainment.s Spirited in 2011. He also appeared as the cult character Super Hans in the Channel 4 comedy Peep Show...

Lionsgate has released the first Jessabelle trailer for director Kevin Greutert’s (Saw 3D: The Final Chapter) horror thriller, which also marks the latest effort from Paranormal Activity, Insidious, and The Purge producer Jason Blum. Sarah Snook (Spirited) stars as a young woman recuperating from a terrible car wreck at her family home in Louisiana who finds herself haunted by a long-tormented spirit. Somewhat surprisingly, the film was written by Reno 911! co-creator/writer Robert Ben Garant. He appears to have made the genre switch quite successfully, as Jessabelle looks to be a promising spin on the haunted house/ghost story trope. Hit the jump to watch the Jessabelle trailer. The film also stars Mark Webber, Larisa Oleynik, David Andrews, Joelle Carter, Ana de la Reguera, Chris Ellis, Fran Bennett, and Amber Stevens. Jessabelle opens in theaters on August 29th. Jessabelle trailer via Yahoo! Movies. Here’s the official synopsis for...

I am most impressed by Weinstein Co's first trailer for The Railway Man, which looks to deliver excellent performances from leads Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman and Hiroyuki Sanada, as well as Stellan Skarsgård and War Horse star Jeremy Irvine. The story which is based on Eric Lomax's autobiography, is scripted by Andy Paterson and Frank Cottrell Boyce. Jonathan Teplitzky, known for TV's Spirited and 2011' Burning Man starring Matthew Goode, takes on the biggest project of his short career, and looks to have turned in a gem of a film. In The Railway Man, Lomax, a man scarred with memories from World War II's "Death Railway" finds love in Patricia Wallace (Kidman). When one of the men responsible for his torture is tracked down, Lomax confronts him.

Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: Dec. 24, 2013

Price: DVD $30.99, Blu-ray/DVD Combo $40.99

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

The Lambert family haunting continues in Insidious: Chapter 2, once again coming from the team behind the Saw franchise, director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell.

In the second movie in this horror franchise, Patrick Wilson (Young Adult) and Rose Byrne (X-Men: First Class) are still getting visits from beyond. So they dig deep in their family history to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has left them connected with the spirit world.

Barbara Hershey (Black Swan), Lin Shaye (Take Me Home) and young Ty Simpkins (Iron Man 3) also reprise their roles for the film.

Although the original got high praise from critics and moviegoers alike, Insidious: Chapter 2 got much less love. Village Voice critic Nick Schager called it “unintentionally hilarious.” Not good for a straight horror film. The R-rated movie still grossed...

Kim Mordaunt won the Australian Writers. Guild best original screenplay award for his debut film The Rocket and Cate Shortland and Robin Mukherjee got the feature film adaptation prize for Lore at the Awgie awards held in Melbourne on Friday night.

David Roach and Warwick Ross.s Red Obsession took the award for public broadcast documentary screenplay.

Underbelly again won best original mini -series and Robert Connolly.s Underground: The Julian Assange Story was named best telemovie adaptation.

The $25,000 Foxtel prize for a significant and impressive body of work in television went to Jacquelin Perske, whose screenwriting credits include The Secret Life of Us, Love My Way, Spirited and Little Fish.

The Good News Week writing team received a ninth Awgie for the final season of the series.

Playwright Alana Valentine picked up three awards including most outstanding script of 2013 and the inaugural David Williamson Prize.

Australian Writers. Guild president Jan Sardi said,...

Xavier Samuel, Miranda Otto and Sam Neill are attached to star in Midnight in Byzantium, a mystery/adventure about a young guy who is trapped in a remote town where nothing - and no one - is as it seems.

The film will mark the feature debut of Melbourne-based writer-director Cris Jones, who has directed numerous short films, music videos and TVCs. The producers are Optimism Films. Melanie Coombs, Alicia Brown and Mish Armstrong.

The project has received development funding from Screen Australia and a travel grant which enabled Jones to attend this year.s Binger Filmlab Directors Lab in Amsterdam.

Also attached is Jacek Koman, whose credits include Top of the Lake, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, Spirited and Julius Avery.s upcoming movie Son of a Gun, which stars Ewan McGregor, Alicia Vikander and Brenton Thwaites.

The synopsis reads: .A young man wakes up in a small,...

The day after Australian actress Yael Stone got married in the Us last year, she turned up for an audition with a slight hangover and in her words, "still glowing."

The Nida graduate who was a regular in Spirited and All Saints must have impressed the producers of Orange is The New Black, a TV dramedy set in a women's prison: She landed the role of inmate Lorna Morello in the 13-episde series which premiered in the Us on Netflix last week to rave reviews.

From Weeds creator Jenji Kohan, the show features Taylor Schilling as an engaged yuppie who is serving a 15-month stint in the slammer for her unwitting role in an international drug smuggling ring.

"The most appealing elements come from the wealth of supporting players, including a breakout turn by Yael Stone as a wonderfully distinctive character who seems to have parachuted in from a 1930s gangster film,...

Too often, when a film features time travel, a ton of time is spent trying to explain the time traveling with displays of elaborate devices and long-winded speeches, instead of getting to the meat of the story in which the time travel is taking place. If the upcoming adaptation of Robert Heinlein.s short story .---All You Zombies---. is anything like the source material, the story will be much too busy piling paradoxes to try and explain everything. The second cast member to join the film, titled Predestination, will be Australian actress Sarah Snook, whom Deadline reports will play the film.s female lead opposite Ethan Hawke. Predestination will be written and directed by Michael and Peter Spierig, the brothers responsible for 2009.s promising but troublesome vampire drama Daybreakers, which also starred Hawke. Popular in Australia for her work on the TV show Spirited, Snook was recently seen opposite True...

Brenton Thwaites, Alicia Vikander and Jacek Koman have joined the cast of Australian thriller Son of a Gun, which begins shooting in Western Australia at the end of February.

The film marks the debut feature of acclaimed short filmmaker Julius Avery and centres on the relationship between a master criminal (Ewan McGregor) and his young protégé (Thwaites). Thwaites previously starred in Blue Lagoon: The Awakening and recently completed production on Maleficent with Angelina Jolie.

Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, a BAFTA rising star nominee, recently appeared opposite Keira Knightley and Jude Law in Anna Karenina and in Danish film A Royal Affair. She will be seen next in The Seventh Son with Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges.

Jacek Koman was nominated for an Aacta Award in 2010 for his performance in TV series Spirited, and has also appeared in films such as Romulus My Father, Children of Men, and The Hunter. He...

The Australian Writers. Guild (Awg) released their first line-up announcement for the biennial National Screenwriters Conference, which will take place at Mornington Peninsula in Victoria from 20-22 February 2013. Shameless creator Paul Abbott, announced as international headliner last month, will be joined by a host of industry elite including John Collee (Happy Feet, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World), Craig Pearce (The Great Gatsby, Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet, Strictly Ballroom), Stephan Elliott (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Easy Virtue), Jacquelin Perske (Spirited, Love My Way, Little Fish, The Secret Life of Us), Keith Thompson & Tony Briggs (The Sapphires), Ian Simmons (Good News World, Good News Week, The Sideshow) and Peter Moon (Fast Forward, Full Frontal). "We bring together an unrivalled number of preeminent writers at the top of their game for the Nsc, which is a not-for-profit event. The retreat-like setting creates a hothouse of ideas,...

All You Need Is Kill

Aussie actor Kick Gurry ("Speed Racer ," "Spartan") has landed a role alongside Tom Cruise in Doug Liman's sci-fi feature "All You Need Is Kill".

Gurry will play a fellow soldier to Cruise who must fight an alien-like battle day after day in a Groundhog Day-type scenario. [Source: The West Australian]

Untitled London Project

Tom Hiddleston ("Thor," "Wallander"), Viv Albertine and Liam Gillick have joined the cast of Joanna Hogg's as-yet-untitled third feature which will shoot for six weeks in and around west London.

Details of the movie remain under wraps. Hiddleston starred in Hogg's previous two films "Unrelated" and "Archipelago". [Source: Heat Vision]

Third Person

Kim Basinger has joined the cast of Paul Haggis’ ensemble drama "The Third Person". The film tells the interconnected love stories of three couples who live in three different cities.

Basinger will have a supporting role as the wife of a character played by Liam Neeson.

Sam Reid and Sarah Snook have been cast in the lead roles for prospective Australian apocalyptic-noir The Second Coming.

The anouncement comes as the film project has just passed the halfway mark of a 42-day crowdfunding campaign, which has so far raised just over 50 per cent of its $75,000 minimum. The producers are attempting to raise $200,000 total.

It looms as another test for the ability of crowdfunding to both promote bigger screen projects while growing a fan base. South Australian-filmed horror feature The Babadook just scraped over the line with its $30,000 crowdfunding campaign last month.

The Second Coming, based on Andrew Masterson's novel about a man who believes he is Jesus and is then forced to clear his name after becoming a murder suspect, is planned to commence shooting next year.

Reid recently finished filming The Railway Man, which stars Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, and will seen next in Serena...

Claudia Karvan has been appointed patron of the Natalie Miller Fellowship. The fellowship awards an annual grant to one woman working in the screen industry and has a development proposal that would assist her to further her career.

The announcement:

The Natalie Miller Fellowship is proud to announce Claudia Karvan as an official Patron for the association. The Fellowship was founded in recognition of the unique contribution of Natalie Miller Oam, an inspiring mentor and role model who continues to make an enormous contribution to film distribution, exhibition and production.

Claudia exemplifies the core philosophy of the Fellowship having significantly contributed to the Australian screen industry through her outstanding achievements across Australian & International film and television productions.

Claudia’s extensive filmography includes exceptional performances in Australian feature films such as Paperback Hero, The Heartbreak Kid and Dating the Enemy, along with the prolific characters she brought to life in beloved television series Love My Way,...

Almost 300 people attended Nida.s annual Foundation Trust fundraising Gala on Saturday night, July 21, at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Kensington.

Nida.s foyer was transformed to reflect the theme of the evening: .Trip the Light Fantastic!. and the evening featured entertainment provided by Nida.s acting students. The Nida Foundation Trust.s annual fundraising dinners have raised close to $700,000 over the last six years (with support from Seven Network) to support Nida student projects and other opportunities for the creative development of emerging Australian talent.

Among the guests were Nida acting graduates Sarah Snook (Not Suitable for Children, Spirited), Ryan Corr (Not Suitable for Children, Packed to the Rafters), Miranda Tapsell (The Sapphires), Andrea Demetriades (Sydney Theatre Company.s Pygmalion, Crownies), Hugo Johnstone-Burt (cloudstreet, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries), Benedict Samuel (Home and Away), Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood (Home and Away, A Place to Call Home), Susie Porter (Bikie Wars,...