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"It takes time to understand your parents..." Gravitas Ventures has released an official trailer for an indie coming-of-age story titled Chasing Wonders, filmed across five years by first-time filmmaker Paul Meins. Also known as Emu Plains, a reference to one of the wine growing locations in this, the film is being released in this US this June. A coming-of-age story set across the lush wine country of both Australia and Spain, a young man explores the nature of father-son relationships and the pathway toward understanding and forgiveness. This looks like a heartwarming story about the revelations of growing up. Chasing Wonders stars Michael Crisafulli as Sabino, with Edward James Olmos, Paz Vega, Jessica Marais, Carmen Maura, Antonio de la Torre, and Quim Gutiérrez. Not the best trailer, but this looks pretty good. A lot of lovely shots of landscapes and the stars and vineyards. I'm curious if there's some celestial aspect to this?...

Gravitas Ventures will release Chasing Wonders theatrically and on-demand in the US as part of a new distribution deal.

Arclight Films announced it had reached an agreement for the film to be screened in North America, having secured worldwide distribution rights last September.

Scripted by Judy Morris, Chasing Wonders was shot over five years across Australia and Spain and with a cast that includes Paz Vega, Edward James Olmos, Quim Gutierrez, Carmen Maura, Antonio de la Torre, Jessica Marais and newcomer Michael Crisafulli as the lead.

The story follows 12-year-old Savino, who takes off on the adventure to find the magical Emu Plains after being encouraged by his maternal grandfather to live a life of hope and possibility. His journey leads him to the heart of the human condition – learning to understand our parents’ past but not to be defined by it.

Anna Vincent, Stewart Le Marechal, Anna Mohr-Pietsch, Hilton Nathanson,...

Arclight Films’ Chasing Wonders has locked North American distribution with Gravitas on its coming of age film, Chasing Wonders directed by Paul Meins. A theatrical and on-demand release is scheduled for June 4. Arclight is handling global sales for the pic.

Set in the lush wine country landscapes of Australia and Spain, the heart-warming tale follows 12-year-old Savino, who, encouraged by his maternal grandfather to live a life of hope and possibility, takes off on the adventure of a lifetime to find the magical Emu Plains. His journey leads him to the heart of the human condition – learning to understand our parents’ past but not to be defined by it.

The pic stars Paz Vega, Oscar nominee Edward James Olmos, Quim Gutierrez, Carmen Maura, Goya award-winner Antonio de la Torre, Australia’s Jessica Marais, and making his feature film debut, Michael Crisafulli as Savino.

Australian award-winning screenwriter Judy Morris wrote the screenplay, which was shot over a five-year period.

Chasing Wonders made its World Premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival last year and has been selected for the Gold Coast Film Festival, where it will screen on April 18 and 22.

“Chasing Wonders is an uplifting story of familial love and loss and a powerful exploration of the path to understanding and acceptance. This heartwarming film with top international stars and spectacular landscapes is exactly what audiences yearn for. We are thrilled to have our longtime trusted partners at Gravitas Ventures bringing the film to North American audiences and are certain that their team will make this beautiful film shine bright,” said Arclight Films Chairman Gary Hamilton.

“With an ensemble that includes veteran screen icons alongside exciting new talent, the filmmakers craft an inspiring coming of age story on a canvas of breathtaking vistas across multiple continents. We look forward to North American audiences taking the journey,” said Tony Piantedosi, VP of Acquisitions at Gravitas Ventures.

Hianlo Films presents Chasing Wonders in association with the South Australian Film Corporation, a Met Film and Sla Films production. Anna Vincent (I Am Mother), Stewart Le Marechal (Swimming With Men), Anna Mohr-Pietsch (Swimming With Men), Hilton Nathanson, and Louise Nathanson are producers. Jonny Persey (The Mercy) and Timothy White are EPs.

Arclight handles worldwide sales.

Arclight Films has licensed North American rights on Paz Vega coming-of-age drama Chasing Wonders to Gravitas Ventures, which has set a June 4 theatrical and on-demand release.

The story takes place in the wine country of Australia and Spain and centres on a 12-year-old boy who sets off on an adventure to find the magical Emu Plains.

Edward James Olmos, Carmen Maura, Antonio de la Torre, Quim Gutierrez, Jessica Marais and newcomer Michael Crisafulli round out the key cast.

Paul Meins directed and Australian award-winning screenwriter Judy Morris wrote the screenplay. The film premiered at Adelaide Film...

‘Chasing Wonders’ (Photo: Sam Oster).

Arclight Films has taken the worldwide distribution rights to coming-of-age film Chasing Wonders, produced by South Australia’s Sla Films and the UK’s Met Film, launching sales at the virtual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this week.

Scripted by Judy Morris, the film was shot over five years across Australia and Spain and with a cast that includes Paz Vega, Edward James Olmos, Quim Gutierrez, Carmen Maura, Antonio de la Torre, Jessica Marais and newcomer Michael Crisafulli as the lead.

Due to make its world premiere at October’s Adelaide Film Festival, Chasing Wonders follows a 12 year old, whose sense of adventure and imagination runs wild, fueled by his maternal grandfather’s (Olmos) encouragement to journey to the magical Emu Plains. Against his father’s wishes, Savino takes off on an adventure of a lifetime and discovers that learning about life and living life are two very different things.

Film scheduled to premiere at Adelaide Film Festival on October 23.

Arclight Films has boarded worldwide sales rights to the ensemble coming-of-age drama Chasing Wonders led by Paz Vega and will launch sales during Toronto International Film Festival.

The key cast includes Edward James Olmos, Quim Gutierrez, Carmen Maura, Antonio de la Torre, Jessica Marais, and newcomer Michael Crisafulli.

Australian screenwriter Judy Morris wrote the screenplay about a 12-year-old only child who defies his father’s wishes and takes off on the adventure of a lifetime to find the magical Emu Plains. Debutant Hilton Nathanson directs.

Anna Vincent (I Am Mother...

Rodger Corser and Tina Bursill in ‘Doctor Doctor.’

The Nine Network has ordered a fifth season of Easy Tiger’s medical drama Doctor Doctor, a rare commission with much of the country in virtual lockdown.

Co-head of drama Andy Ryan says the broadcaster is developing a number of drama series for 2021 and 2022.

The renewal follows yesterday’s announcement by Nine Entertainment that it aims to cut costs by $266 million this calendar year as the pandemic flattens advertising revenues.

Nine said it expects to save $28 million in spending on broadcast content this year, primarily local drama and children’s programs, assuming a prolonged production shutdown.

Co-created by Easy Tiger’s Ian Collie and Tony McNamara, Doctor Doctor stars Rodger Corser as errant rural doctor Hugh Knight. Season four, which features regulars including Nicole da Silva, Ryan Johnson, Tina Bursill, Matt Castley and Miranda Tapsell, is on hiatus while Nine News screens...

(L-r) Hugh Sheridan, Georgina Haig and Angus McLaren.

Georgina Haig has replaced Jessica Marais in Seven Studios’ Back to the Rafters, and HaiHa Le, Libby Tanner, Rose Riley, Aaron McGrath and Bruce Spence are among new additions to the cast.

Among the other fresh faces in the Packed to the Rafters reboot are Willow Speers as Ruby Rafter and Kaspar Frost.

Willow had a supporting role in Cjz’s Rocky and Me commissioned by ABC Me and Screen Australia as part of the DisRupted program, .

Haig, whose credits include Secret Bridesmaids Business and the Us ABC network’s sci-fi series The Crossing, is playing Rachel Rafter after Marais withdrew.

The first Australian drama commissioned by Amazon, the Bevan Lee-created series is shooting in Sydney, produced by Chris-Martin Jones and directed by Jeremy Sims, Lynn Hegarty and Catherine Millar.

Amazon Prime also acquired the streaming rights to the original Seven Network...

Amazon Studios has commissioned its first Australian original scripted series, with a reboot of hit Seven Network family drama, Packed to the Rafters.

Back to the Rafters picks up six years after the original show’s final season on free to air TV network, Seven, and will be written by series creator Bevan Lee and made for Amazon Prime by Seven’s production arm, Seven Studios.

Following Dave and Julie Rafter, Back to the Rafters will feature the original principal cast members Rebecca Gibney (Julie Rafter), Erik Thomson (Dave Rafter), Jessica Marais(Rachel Rafter), Hugh Sheridan ...

Amazon has scheduled its first scripted Australian Amazon Original series, Back to the Rafters, which will launch on Prime Video in Australia and around the world. Production on the series is expected to start next year.

Back to the Rafters offers the next chapter in the story of the Rafter family, who appeared for six years in one of Australia’s most popular drama series, Packed to the Rafters. At its center were parents Dave and Julie, working to balance their own journey as a couple with the ups and downs of raising a family into adulthood.

Set to begin production in Sydney in 2020, Back to the Rafters is produced by Seven Studios and will feature original principal cast members Rebecca Gibney (Julie Rafter), Erik Thomson (Dave Rafter), Jessica Marais (Rachel Rafter), Hugh Sheridan (Ben Rafter), Angus McLaren (Nathan Rafter), Michael Caton (Ted Taylor) and George Houvardas (Nick “Carbo” Karandonis...

‘Packed to the Rafters.’

Seven Studios is preparing to revive Packed to the Rafters, the first Australian drama commission by Amazon Prime Video.

Bevan Lee, who created the family comedy-drama which ran for six seasons on the Seven Network, is overseeing the reboot which is in pre-production.

Katherine Thomson is among the writing team and there will potentially be three series, each six episodes, If understands.

Virtually all members of the original cast including Rebecca Gibney, Erik Thomson, Hugh Sheridan, Jessica Marais, Ryan Corr, Jessica McNamee, Angus McLaren and James Stewart are returning, If believes.

Yet to be announced, the deal for the new series which has the working title Back to the Rafters was first mooted in September.

Amazon Prime has also acquired the streaming rights to the original series which was produced by Jo Porter for Seven Productions. The two hour finale in 2013, which saw Dave and Julie...

Justin Rosniak in ‘Les Norton’ (Photo: Tony Mott).

Justin Rosniak has been cast as crooks and other wayward types so often in his career he is relishing the opportunity to play more upstanding characters.

“There is not a lot of diversity in characters in Australia so once you get locked into something, some people only see you as one thing,” he tells If. “I often long to get to show my range a bit more, or a softer side.

“So it’s been good that in the last couple of years I have started to get roles that push me in other directions and allow me to add a few different layers.”

In the second season of Mr Inbetween, the comedy/drama created by and starring Scott Ryan as criminal-for-hire Ray Shoesmith, he gets the chance to show a different side to his character Gary, Ray’s best friend.

“Gary...

Anthony Lapaglia and Jessica Marais will star alongside Rebecca Gibney in Australian drama series “Halifax: Retribution.”

The crime thriller follows forensic psychiatrist Jane Halifax and was on Australian free-tv network Nine in the 1990s and early 2000s. It has resurrected the Melbourne-set show, with production getting underway this month, on location.

Other cast for the new miniseries include Jacqueline McKenzie (“Romper Stomper”), Rick Donald (“Wentworth”), Hannah Monson (“Glitch”), Craig Hall (“The Doctor Blake Mysteries”), Mavournee Hazel (“Neighbours”), and Louisa Mignone (“Rake”).

After years on the police frontline, Halifax has carved out a new career as a university professor in the new series. She has to return to the field when a serial sniper starts terrorizing Melbourne, and Halifax finds herself in his sights.

“’Halifax’ has a rich and revered heritage and I am very much looking forward to working opposite the legend that is Rebecca Gibney in this latest iteration,...

Rebecca Gibney, Anthony Lapaglia and Jessica Marais head the cast of crime thriller mini-series “Halifax: Retribution.” The show is the revival of an iconic Australian series that ran on the Nine Network for six seasons from 1994 to 2002, starring Gibney.

In the new show, produced for Nine, Gibney’s forensic psychiatrist character is called back from academia to the police front line when a serial sniper begins attacking Melbourne.

Original creator and writer Roger Simpson returns as writer and producer, alongside executive producer Mikael Borglund and writers Mac Gudgeon (“Killing Time”), Peter Gawler (“Underbelly”) and the Oscar-nominated Jan Sardi (“Shine”).

Production starts next month in Melbourne with Jacqueline McKenzie, Rick Donald, Hannah Monson (“Glitch”), Craig Hall, Mavournee Hazel and Louisa Mignone among the supporting cast.

“Halifax: Retribution” is a Beyond Lonehand Production with major production investment from Screen Australia, in association with Film Victoria. Beyond Distribution is handling international sales of...

Anthony Lapaglia, Jessica Marais.

Anthony Lapaglia and Jessica Marais will co-star with Rebecca Gibney in the Nine Network’s crime thriller miniseries Halifax: Retribution, which will start shooting in Melbourne later this month.

Jacqueline McKenzie, Rick Donald, Hannah Monson, Craig Hall, Mavournee Hazel and Louisa Mignone round out the cast of the Halifax reboot produced by Beyond Lonehand.

Original creator and writer Roger Simpson returns as writer and producer alongside executive producer Mikael Borglund and writers Mac Gudgeon, Peter Gawler and Oscar-nominated Jan Sardi.

Gudgeon and Sardi both worked with Simpson on Halifax f.p., which ran for seven seasons on Nine and ended in 2002. Rebecca Gibney reprises her role as forensic psychiatrist Jane Halifax, who has carved out a new career as a university professor.

When a serial sniper starts terrorising Melbourne, she is lured back into the field to help the police task force find the killer. As...

Tess Haubrich in ‘Bad Mothers’.

Tess Haubrich jumped at the chance to play a key role in Bad Mothers at very short notice after Jessica Marais was forced to withdraw for health reasons – not least because she had never worked with female directors.

Sian Davies, Catriona McKenzie and Geoff Bennett directed the Nine Network’s ensemble comedy-drama from Jungle Entertainment and Filthy Productions.

“It’s quite shocking that I had never worked on shows with female directors, except on short films,” says Haubrich, whose credits include Pine Gap, Wolf Creek 2, Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant, the Jackie Chan starrer Bleeding Steel and the Turner-Roache brothers Nekrotronic.

The Sydney-based actress was told one Friday night that she had won the role of Sarah in Bad Mothers and on the following Monday morning was in Melbourne for the start of two weeks pre-production.

However, she wasn’t there for the full two...

William McInnes and Sigrid Thornton in the ABC’s ‘SeaChange’ (Photo: ABC).

Eighteen years since SeaChange ended its 39-episodes run on the ABC, Sigrid Thornton and John Howard will be back on screen in 2019 in a contemporary version of the show created by Andrew Knight and Deborah Cox.

The Nine Network has commissioned eight one hour episodes as a co-production between ITV Studios Australia and Every Cloud Productions. Shooting starts next year with Every Cloud’s Cox and Fiona Eagger as executive producers alongside Thornton and ITV’s David Mott. ITV owns the format to the show which was produced by Artist Services for the ABC.

Twenty years on, Laura Gibson (Thornton) returns to the beachside paradise of Pearl Bay and this time it seems Pearl Bay needs Laura just as much as she needs it. Howard reprises his role as Bob Jelly, who was the mayor in the original.

Isla Fisher..

Aacta has named Isla Fisher as the recipient of this year.s Aacta Trailblazer Award, designed to recognise .the achievements, abilities and successes of an Australian screen practitioner who inspires others with their portfolio of work."

The Aacta Trailblazer Award is a discretionary award, determined by the board and president of AFI | Aacta..It was first awarded to Rose Byrne.at the 4th Aacta Awards.

After her start on Home and Away, Fisher broke in the States with 2005 comedyThe Wedding Crashers. She has since gone on to star in the likes of.Definitely, Maybe; Confessions of a Shopaholic;.and The Brothers Grimsby.alongside husband Sasha Baron Cohen. Despite being a self-described 'comic actress', Fisher has also appeared in.The Great Gatsby and the recent Nocturnal Animals.

Outside of acting, Fisher also published two teen novels at age 18; 'Bewitched' and 'Seduced by Fame'. She has also co-written two scripts...

Jessica Marais in 'Love Child'..

Screen Nsw has announced it will invest in 20 new Australian film and television projects..

These will include seven TV dramas to be funded under the $20 million Made in Nsw Fund, announced by the Nsw Government earlier this year..

Among the Made in Nsw fund projects are Monkey, a family action-adventure series based on the Chinese legend 'Journey to The West', to be produced by See-Saw Films; Fighting Season, about Australian soldiers returning from Afghanistan, from the producers of The Sapphires and Cleverman; and Friday on My Mind, the story of legendary Australian rock band The Easybeats from the producers of Love Child and The Code. Love Child has also been funded for a further season.

Nash Edgerton is set to make his TV debut, directing Jungle.s Mr In Between, the story of a charismatic yet volatile hitman. Michelle Bennett will produce.

Jessica Marais in The Wrong Girl.

Network Ten has announced its new Aussie drama, The Wrong Girl, based on the book by Zoë Foster Blake, will premiere on September 28.

The show follows the life of 29-year old breakfast television producer Lily Woodward, played by Jessica Marais (Love Child, Packed to the Rafters)..

.I.m thrilled to bring the character of Lily Woodward to life. She is fun, confident, determined, quick to react and disarmingly charismatic. I hope audiences love her as much as I do,. said Marais.

.It has been a pleasure working with the exceptional cast and crew, and I.m incredibly proud to be involved in this fresh and exciting new drama..

Marais will be joined by a cast that includes Craig McLachlan, Kerry Armstrong, Madeleine West, Hamish Blake, Doris Younane, Steve Vizard, Rob Collins, Ian Meadows, Hayley Magnus, Kevin Harrington, Leah Vandenberg, Christie Whelan Browne, Hugo Johnstone-Burt,...

A Playmaker Media drama starring Jessica Marais and a reality series which reunites people with long-lost family members are among six new Australian shows for Network Ten in 2016.

The line-up includes Australian Survivor, All Star Family Feud, the spin-off I.m A Celebrity. Get Me Out Of Here! Now, and the previously announced telemovie Brock.

Ten said more new local series will be announced next year as it strives to build the momentum which saw the broadcaster record its highest commercial prime time shares since 2011 as audiences increased by 15 per cent this year.

In Playmaker Media's The Wrong Girl, Love Child star Marais will play Lily, a modern woman caught between two guys — one too good to be true and the other so wrong he might be Mr. Right.. Lily and her flatmate Simone are supposed to be taking a sabbatical from men but Lily falls in love with Jack,...

That Sugar Film Samuel Goldwyn Films Reviewed by: Harvey Karten for Shockya. Databased on Rotten Tomatoes. Grade: A- Director: Damon Gameau Cast: Damon Gameau, Stephen Fry, Jessica Marais, Brenton Thwaites, Isabel Lucas Screened at: Critics’ link, NYC, 6/27/15 Opens: July 31, 2015 “The Sugar Film” is not the cat’s meow of scientific proof that sugar is not only bad for you but that it has devastated individuals and communities alike. While a documentary about a white additive that is stuffed into maybe eighty percent of processed food could sound as dull as a trip to a public school lunchroom, “That Sugar Film” is enormously entertaining thanks to the leading presence [ Read More ]

The post That Sugar Film Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

I have recently started building my diet around the Whole30 concept. I read Dallas and Melissa Hartwig's book and have been prepping the kitchen for the switch. Not because I necessarily need to lose weight (though there are a few lbs I'd like to shave), but because after talking to a friend and him telling me how much better he feels and sleeps, not to mention the waist trimming benefits, I figured I'd give it a twirl. Now the Whole30 way of eating means removing things like dairy, grains, soy and other items from your diet, but obviously one big contributing factory to unhealthy eating is sugar and man, it's in everything. I haven't officially started the Whole30 program (not doing the full 30 days until the second week of August), but I've basically been eating as well as I can without the proper preparation -- it isn't easy. Other than...

Home and Away star Lincoln Younes is leaving Summer Bay and heading to King.s Cross to feature in the popular series Love Child.

The actor.s representation, United Management, today confirmed to If the 22-year-old actor has finished filming the soap for Channel Seven and has recently started shooting the Channel Ten drama in Sydney.

Younes has played the role of Casey Braxton on Home and Away since 2011. He will continue to appear on our screens as Casey well into the year, though his shooting with the show has wrapped.

His new role in Love Child sees him cast as the .love child. of one of the show.s main characters.

The second season of Love Child is set in the 1970.s and continues to follow the lives of staff and residents at a fictional King.s Cross Hospital and Stanton House. The series also stars Jessica Marais,.Mandy McElhinney,...

The Nine Network has commissioned a second series of Playmaker Media's Love Child after the premiere drew more than 4 million viewers across three airings.

Created by writer/producer Sarah Lambert, the drama is set in Kings Cross Hospital and an adjacent home for unwed mothers in 1969.

Jessica Marais (who plays midwife Joan Millar), Jonathan Lapaglia (Dr. Patrick McNaughton) and Mandy McElhinney (Matron Frances Bolton) will return for series two, which starts on New Year.s Eve 1970.. Also returning are Ella Scott Lynch (Shirley Ryan), Sophie Hensser (Viv Maguire), Gracie Gilbert (Annie Carmichael) Harriet Dyer (Patricia Saunders) and Miranda Tapsell (Martha Tenant).

Shawn Seet, who was the set-up director on the first series, is on board for the second.. Nine.s Heads of Drama Jo Rooney and Andy Ryan said: .We are delighted with how Australian audiences have fallen in love with Love Child, and we are looking forward to working...

The premiere of Playmaker Media.s Nine Network drama Love Child has drawn nearly 4.5 million viewers, according to figures released today.

The first episode was watched by 2.2 million people nationally, including catch-up viewing. A repeat screening last Friday attracted a further 531,000 viewers and another airing on Sunday pulled in 422,000.

So the peak audience for the three broadcasts was 3.18 million in the five capitals and 1.27 million in regional areas, for a total of 4.451 million. A further 20,000 have downloaded the first four episodes via Nine.s second-screen app, Jump-In.

The second episode won its timeslot last night with a national average of 1.85 million viewers and a peak of 2.51 million.

.Love Child has been a labour of love for everyone here at Nine and at Playmaker Media,. said Michael Healy, Nine Network Director of Television. "It.s gratifying the series is resonating with audiences in such large numbers all over the country. I...

Tulip Fever

Holliday Grainger ("The Borgias") has scored a supporting role as a maid in Justin Chadwick's adaptation of Deborah Moggach's beloved romance novel "Tulip Fever" at The Weinstein Company. Filming aims to begin in April.

Set in 17th century Amsterdam, the story follows a married woman (Alicia Vikander) who begins a passionate affair with an artist hired to paint her portrait. The lovers gamble on the booming market for tulip bulbs as a way to raise money to run away together. [Source: The Wrap]

Entourage: The Movie

Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi) has scored the role of assistant to Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) in the upcoming movie based on the HBO series "Entourage" at Warner Bros. Pictures. Lloyd, Gold's previous long-suffering assistant, has been promoted to an agency rep in the new film. [Source: Deadline]

Untitled Jim Loach Project

Paz Vega, Edward James Olmos, Jessica Marais, Carmen Maura, Michael Crisafulli,...

Oranges and Sunshine director returning to Australia to film Spanish family drama starring Paz Vega.

The lead cast has been unveiled on British filmmaker Jim Loach’s second feature, which will begin production on March 3 at Adelaide Studios and across South Australia’s outback and vineyard regions.

The film, currently known as Untitled Jim Loach Project, marks a return to the country for the London-born director, who made Oranges and Sunshine in Australia in 2009.

The UK-Australia co-production is from Met Film and Southern Light Alliance, with investment from the UK’s Rattle & Hum Films and the South Australian Film Corporation.

Producers are Stewart le Maréchal and Anna Mohr-Pietsch for UK outfit Met Film alongside Australia’s Tim White and Anna Vincent for Southern Light Alliance.

Set within a multigenerational Spanish family, the upcoming film tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who realises he must escape his passionate yet dysfunctional family.

The script...

Jessica Marais (Magic City) and Spanish actress Carmen Maura (Women On The Verge of A Nervous Breakdown) will star in British director Jim Loach’s new untitled feature which will be shot in South Australia in March. The film, from a script by seasoned Australian screenwriter, Judy Morris (Babe, Happy Feet 2), is set within a multigenerational Spanish family and tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who realizes he must escape his passionate yet dysfunctional family to effect change. An ensemble of Spanish stars are heading down under for the shoot including Paz Vega (Grace of Monaco), Antonio

read more...

Spanish stars Paz Vega, Carmen Maura and Antonio de la Torre together with Edward James Olmos and Love Child.s Jessica Marais head the cast of Jim Loach.s movie which starts shooting in South Australia on March 3.

Scripted by Judy Morris (Happy Feet 2, The Eye of the Storm), the plot revolves around a multi-generational, dysfunctional Spanish family and a 12-year-old boy, Savino, who realises he has to escape to effect change. Sydney newcomer Michael Crisafulli will play Savino with Jarin Towney (Two Little Boys, Underbelly) as his buddy Skeet.

It.s the first film from Timothy White (Son of a Gun, The Boys are Back) and Anna Vincent.s Southern Light Alliance, an unofficial co-production with Stewart le Maréchal and Anna Mohr-Pietsch of the UK.s Met Film.

Vincent tells If that White was introduced to the project from an international contact, she then met the UK producers in...

The Nine Network has another hit Australian drama in Love Child, which drew 1.36 million viewers in the five capital cities last night.

Adding the regional audience of 566,280, the premiere of the 1960s-set series had a combined national average audience of 1.926 million.

It was the night's second highest rating show behind Seven's My Kitchen Rules,. easily beating Seven's Us drama Revenge which had 1.27 million viewers nationally, 862,000 in the capitals. .

Nine's gambit of previewing the. first four episodes on Jump-in before the premiere seems to have worked.

Created by writer/producer Sarah Lambert and produced by Playmaker Media, Love Child tells the stories of young women and men fighting an unjust system in a world on the brink of change.

Jessica Marais plays Joan Millar, a smart and sophisticated midwife who returns home from London to take a job at the Kings Cross Hospital. She finds a new life for herself when...

While fans of Magic City are understandably upset by the show's cancellation, Starz CEO Chris Albrecht recently explained that the decision wasn't a difficult one when it came to finances.

At the TCA press tour, he said, "It was a fine show but it was extremely expensive. It had decent audience but distributors weren’t interested in co-marketing it with us, and we felt season two had a pretty reasonable and satisfying landing spot."

Magic City revolves around the world of Miami's Miramar Playa Hotel in 1959. The TV series stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Olga Kurylenko, and Danny Huston, with Steven Strait, Christian Cooke, Jessica Marais, Yul Vazquez, Dominik Garcia-Lorido, Kelly Lynch, and Elena Satine.

What do you think? Did you like Magic City? Would you liked to have seen a second season?...

Jessica Marais in Love Child..

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Sarah Lambert wasn.t around in the 1960s but Love Child, the drama series she created for the Nine Network, sets to capture that era of revolution, bohemia, youthful innocence and exuberance.

The eight-part series set in Kings Cross in 1969 evidently delivers on that promise, encouraging the network to commission a second season as announced by director of television Michael Healy at the launch of Nine's 2014 season this week..

As the writer-producer, Lambert was inspired to make the show when she learned that a close family friend of her mother was one of thousands of women who had been forced to live in an unwed mothers' home and give up her baby daughter for adoption 20 years earlier.

Produced by Playmaker Media, the series follows characters who live and work in a maternity hospital and home for unwed mothers, contrasted with those who inhabit the streets...

The Nine Network today revealed details of its upcoming telemovie on Schapelle Corby, a miniseries on Gina Rinehart and a telemovie chronicling a near- disaster involving a Qantas flight.

The network.s 2014 slate also includes a factual series which follows Australian diplomats as they deal with Aussies in crisis in Thailand, relationships documentary Married at First Sight, dating show When Love Comes To Town and a new, six-part current affairs series, Inside Story.

FremantleMedia.s Schapelle features Krew Boylan as the 27-year-old beauty school dropout from the Gold Coast who was arrested at Bali airport with 4.2kg of marijuana in a boogie board bag. The cast includes Jacinta Stapleton as her sister Mercedes, Denise Roberts as her mother Ros, Colin Friels as her father Mick, Les Chantery as her mentor Ron Bakir, Vince Colosimo as lawyer Robin Tampoe, Francis Greenslade as Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Michael Croaker as Federal Police boss Mick Keelty.

From Anchor Bay Entertainment, Sneak Peek creator Mitch Glazer's circa 1959, Miami-set gangster TV series, "Magic City: The Complete Second Season", available on a three-disc Starz Originals Blu-ray and DVD, November 5, 2013, starring Danny Huston,Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Olga Kurylenko, Kelly Lynch, Jessica Marais and James Caan.

"...'Ike Evans' risks everything in a life and death battle to rid his 'Miramar Playa Hotel' of the mob and 'Ben The Butcher Diamond'.

"Ike’s dangerous plan to defeat Ben takes Ike from Havana’s glamorous casinos to dealings with a new devil - Ben’s boss in the 'Chicago Outfit'.

"Meanwhile Ike’s wife 'Vera' gets a second chance at her former dancing glory, while sons 'Stevie' and 'Danny' drift farther from Ike - Stevie towards the power and rewards of Ben’s dark world, Danny into the moral righteousness of State’s Attorney 'Jack Klein'.

"Changes in Castro...

Rebecca Gibney is set to star in and co-produce The Killing Field, a telemovie for the Seven network.

She.ll play the leader of a task force that.s sent to a country town to investigate a shocking crime.

The concept and screenplay came from Sarah Smith and Michaeley O'Brien. Samantha Lang (The Monkey.s Mask, episodes of My Place and Packed to the Rafters ) will direct.

Bill Hughes and Smith are producing for Seven, with Gibney as co-producer. Seven.s head of drama Julie McGauran is executive producer.

Smith co-created and produced with McGuaran Wild Boys and Rescue Special Ops for Southern Star Entertainment.

O.Brien.s screenwriting credits include episodes of Serangoon Road, Underbelly, Rescue Special Ops, City Homicide, McLeod.s Daughters, Sea Patrol and Blue Heelers.

Lang most recently directed Carlotta, the ABC telemovie which stars Jessica Marais as an Australian transgender pioneer who was a colourful figure in Kings Cross.

Anchor Bay Entertainment is set to release the second season of Magic City on DVD and Blu-ray November 5th. From creator/writer and executive producer Mitch Glazer (The Recruit, Scrooged), executive producer Geyer Kosinski (Changeling, The Astronaut Farmer), co-executive producers Fred Berner (Pollock) and Colin Callender (“The White Queen”) comes all 8 intense new episodes of the steamy drama, plus some very cool bonus features. The Blu-ray will have a suggested retail price of $54.99 and $44.98 for the DVD. Magic City: The Complete Second Season stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen, Texas Killing Fields), Golden Globe® nominee Danny Huston (Hitchcock), Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace), Jessica Marais (“Packed to the Rafters”), Steven Strait (City Island), Christian Cooke (Cemetery Junction), Kelly...

Last year, Magic City was renewed for another season before the series even premiered. The ratings ended up being poor so one has to wonder if the Starz execs regretted that decision. Will it be cancelled or renewed for season three? We'll have to wait and see.

Magic City airs on Friday nights and there are eight episodes once again. The show's cast includes Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Olga Kurylenko, Steven Strait, Jessica Marais, Christian Cooke, Elena Satine, Dominik Garcia-Lorido, Taylor Blackwell, and Danny Huston.

Below are the most recent ratings for the second season of Magic City on Starz. The TV show's ratings are typically the best way to tell if a series will be cancelled or renewed for another season. These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:

Final season...

Network: Starz

Episodes: 16 (hour)

Seasons: Two

TV show dates: March 30, 2012 -- August 9, 2013

Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Olga Kurylenko, Steven Strait, Jessica Marais, Christian Cooke, Elena Satine, Dominik Garcia-Lorido, Taylor Blackwell, and Danny Huston.

TV show description:

This dramatic TV series takes place in 1959, shortly after the Cuban Revolution, and is set in Miami Beach.

Isaac "Ike" Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is the majority owner and boss of the Miramar Playa, Miami Beach's premier resort. It's a turbulent time in Miami, but it’s The place to be. The Kennedys, the mob, and the CIA all hold court there.

Ike is the star of his hotel -- but everything comes at a price. To finance his dream, he sold his soul to mob boss Ben "The...

The series' fourth episode from season two of its original series .Magic City,. this Friday, July 12th at 9pm Et/Pt. Episode 204 .Crossroads. Risking everything, Ike makes mob boss Sy Berman an offer . Havana for the Miramar Playa. As Vera prepares for her show.s big premiere, Stevie brings a new piece of risky business to the Miramar Playa. Danny commits to Klein and learns the truth about Ben Diamond.s dark empire. Ben ruins Nicky Grillo.s arms deal with the Cubans, with tragic results. Episode 204 .Crossroads. Clip: .How's My Casino. (feat. Danny Huston as Ben Diamond) Clip: .Butterflies. This clip will become live on Thurs. 7/11 (feat. Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Ike Evans, Jessica Marais as Lily Diamond,...

Asher Keddie and Rodger Corser will star in Party Tricks, a six-part drama series produced by Southern Star Entertainment.s John Edwards and Imogen Banks for Network Ten.

Scripted by Michael Lucas, the series will feature Keddie as Kate Ballard, an ambitious politician who aims to become the State.s next State Premier.

Her victory seems assured until a popular TV and radio personality, David McLeod (Corser), is selected as leader of the Opposition. As the drama unfolds, it.s revealed that several years earlier Kate and David had a secret, tumultuous affair. The cat-and-mouse game culminates in an election night showdown.

Screen Australia agreed to invest in the production along with Film Victoria. It will air on Ten in 2014. Southern Star.s parent Endemol Worldwide Distribution will represent the series internationally.

The agency is also. investing in Love Child, a Nine Network drama series set in Kings Cross in 1969, starring Jonathan Lapaglia,...

If Season 1 of Starz's stylish 1950s mob drama "Magic City" was about establishing the dynamic between suave Miami Beach hotelier Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his silent but brutal business partner, mobster Ben "The Butcher" Diamond (Danny Huston), Season 2 will be about blowing it up.

As the season opens on Friday (June 14), Ike is sitting in a jail cell after having been framed for a murder. He concludes he can no longer function with this association in his life, and he hatches a plan to rid himself of his glowering nemesis once and for all. It involves Ike's pride and joy, the Miramar Playa, along with Fidel Castro, the hotels and casinos in Havana, and a Chicago mob boss by the name of Sy Berman (Oscar nominee James Caan, "The Godfather"), who happens to be Ben's boss.

Once cleared of the charges, Ike puts his plan in motion.

"He...

Returning for a second season June 14, 2013, Sneak Peek a video and images of the women appearing in the Miami-set period drama series, "Magic City", created by Mitch Glazer for the Starz network.

"...'Ike Evans' (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is the owner of Miami's most glamorous hotel, the 'Miramar Playa' .

"Ike is forced into making an ill-fated deal with Miami mob boss 'Ben Diamond' (Danny Huston) to ensure the success of his glitzy establishment.

"The exotic ex-showgirl turned housewife, a seductive, platinum blonde who charges by the hour and the 'wrong woman' are just some of the ladies who bring style, seduction and danger to 1959 Miami, Florida shortly after the Cuban Revolution..." 

Cast of "Magic City" also includes Olga Kurylenko as Ike's wife 'Vera Evans', Jessica Marais as Ben's wife 'Lily Diamond', Elena Satine as prostitute 'Judi Silver', Dominik Garcia-Lorido as 'Mercedes Lazaro', a former maid turned Pan Am stewardess...

Jessica Marais will star as transgender Les Girls performer Carlotta in a new telemovie for ABC 1. Carlotta follows the life of the transgender pioneer, who was born as Richard Byron before transforming into Carol and, on stage, Carlotta in the 1970s. Written by David Hannum, with story consultation from Carlotta, the film will be directed by Samantha Lang (My Place, The Monkey.s Mask) and will feature an acclaimed cast, including Caroline O.Connor, Alex Dimitriades, Anita Hegh, Eamon Farren and Paul Capsis. Carlotta will be produced by Riccardo Pellizzeri (Underbelly: Nz, Siege, Mda, Blue Heelers) and Lara Radulovich (Wentworth, Neighbours) with the ABC.s Carole Sklan and Christopher Gist as executive producers. Developed by Pellizzeri and Radulovich, Carlotta is being produced by their new production company Story Ark Productions. Producers Lara Radulovich and Riccardo Pellizzeri said, .This has been a passion project of ours for many years and...

Magic City Season 2 Trailer. Starz‘s Magic City: Season 2 TV show trailer stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, James Caan, Danny Huston, Steven Strait, and Jessica Marais. Magic City: Season 2′s plot synopsis: ”Dangerous and decadent, “Magic City” begins in 1959, in Miami’s Miramar Playa Hotel where hotelier Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is conjuring [...]

Continue reading: Magic City: Season 2 TV Show Trailer: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, James Caan...

Sneak Peek a  video and images of the women appearing in the first season of the Miami-set drama series, "Magic City", created by Mitch Glazer for the Starz network, now available on Blu-ray and DVD.

"...'Ike Evans' (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is the owner of Miami's most glamorous hotel, the 'Miramar Playa' .

"Ike is forced into making an ill-fated deal with Miami mob boss 'Ben Diamond' (Danny Huston) to ensure the success of his glitzy establishment.

"The exotic ex-showgirl turned housewife, a seductive, platinum blonde who charges by the hour and the 'wrong woman' are just some of the ladies who bring style, seduction and danger to 1959 Miami, Florida shortly after the Cuban Revolution..." 

Cast of "Magic City" also includes Olga Kurylenko as Ike's wife 'Vera Evans', Jessica Marais as Ben's wife 'Lily Diamond', Elena Satine as prostitute 'Judi Silver', Dominik Garcia-Lorido as 'Mercedes Lazaro', a former maid turned...

Danny Huston has played his share of memorable villains in his career, from the cartoonishly sinister Styker in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" to the philosophically brutal Arthur Burns in "The Proposition" to the mundanely malevolent bureaucrat Sandy Woodrow in 'The Constant Gardener." But it's safe to say that none of them seem to be having as good a time as Ben Diamond, the bronzed gangster Huston plays in Starz's period drama "Magic City." Diamond owns a share in the Miramar Playa, the plush Miami hotel belonging to protagonist Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), and he's a constant thorn in the man's side, a dangerous, volatile business partner who enjoys having people under his thumb. Ike needs Ben, but wishes he didn't -- and given the way his son Stevie (Steven Strait) is involved in a very hazardous affair with Ben's latest wife Lily (Jessica Marais), he'd do well to figure...

  Magic City: The Complete First Season Contest Giveaway Sweepstakes. This Magic City: The Complete First Season Blu-ray contest, giveaway, sweepstakes illustrates Magic City: The Complete First Season release on DVD and Blu-ray on October 2, 2012. Magic City: The Complete First Season stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Danny Huston, Steven Strait, Jessica Marais, Yul Vazquez, Dominik [...]

Continue reading: Contest: Magic City: The Complete First Season Blu-ray...

Starz is bulking up Magic City for its second season. The Jeffrey Dean Morgan period drama has enlisted James Caan, Esai Morales and Jamie Harris for recurring roles. The Godfather's Caan will play Sy Berman, a Chicago mob kingpin and the boss to Danny Huston's Miami mobster Ben Diamond, who has a connection to Ben's wife, Lily (Jessica Marais). The casting marks a Godfather reunion for Caan, who co-starred with Alex Rocco in the 1972 Francis Ford Coppola feature. Story: Starz Renews 'Magic City' Ahead of Period Drama's Premiere Morales (NYPD Blue) will play Carlos Ruiz a former Castro

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Exclusive: Starz‘s Miami-set period drama Magic City is beefing up the cast for Season 2 with major additions. I’ve learned that Sonny Corleone himself, veteran actor James Caan, is joining the series in a major recurring role, along with NYPD Blue alum Esai Morales. Set in 1959 Miami shortly after the Cuban Revolution, Magic City tells the story of Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the owner of Miami’s glitzy Miramar Playa hotel, who is forced to make a deal with local mob boss Ben Diamond (Danny Huston). Caan will play Sy Berman, the head of the Chicago mob and Diamond’s boss. A father figure to Ben, Sy saw the potential in the young con and encouraged Ben’s criminal talents — creating “The Butcher.” Unbeknownst to Ben, Sy also has a secret connection to Ben’s wife Lily (Jessica Marais). Morales will play Carlos Ruiz, a former rebel who...