News

Adeline Rudolph, star of this fall’s Mortal Kombat 2, and Arden Cho (Partner Track) are set to lead Perfect Girl, a psychological thriller set against the competitive world of K-pop, from director Hong Won-ki (Goedam) and Scott Strauss’s Badlands.

Billed as Scream meets Black Swan, the film is based on a 2023 Black List script by Lynn Q. Yu. We were first to report on director Hong’s attachment last summer when the project was known as Unnie. Upgrade will introduce the project to buyers next week at EFM, with CAA Media Finance handling domestic rights.

Perfect Girl centers on a brand-new K-Pop super group that’s preparing to be launched to the world at a massive concert. A group of girls have trained for years for only four spots, and the final cut is only a week away. The competition is off the charts. But when a talented...

Veteran entertainment attorneys Eric Feig and Harry Finkel are joining forces to form Feig Finkel Llp, a new firm focused in film (including film financing and production legal), television, new media, licensing, merchandising, podcasts, and publishing.

They are joined in the venture by three partners: Panayiotis “Pano” Spanos, Andrew Barcello, and Riccardo Maddalosso.

“Feig Finkel is dedicated to protecting its clients’ interests with two underlying principles: integrity and creativity,” said Feig.

Feig – whose clients include William Zabka (Cobra Kai) and Martin Kove(Cobra Kai), writer Max Borenstein, David Berenbaum, Kamillion (Rap Sh!t), writer Ashleigh Powell (Nutcracker and the Four Realms), Noah Stollman (Fauda), Australian Director Elissa Down (Black Baloon, Ivy & Bean) writer Kc Perry and director Chris Eyre – will continue to focus on serving talent clients.

Finkel brings years of experience specializing in independent film finance and production legal,...

Sbs has unveiled the lead cast and directors of Arcadia's 1940s-set 'While The Men Are Away', with Gemma Ward making her screen return alongside Benedict Hardie and rising stars of stage and screen, Shaka Cook and Max McKenna.

The post Gemma Ward, Benedict Hardie join cast of ‘While The Men Are Away’ with Elissa Down to direct appeared first on If Magazine.

“Ivy and Bean” director Elissa Down gushed over working with “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, describing him as her “spirit animal,” at the film’s premiere in Los Angeles on Monday.

“We were shooting [during] a heat wave in Canada. The set was hot, but [Jesse] wasn’t waiting in his trailer — he came straight in and he goes, ‘I’ve got a joke to pitch,'” Down told Variety on the red carpet at Harmony Gold. “He just loves improvisation and he was such a generous actor.”

Based on the children’s book series by Annie Barrows, the upcoming film trilogy follows the adventures of unlikely best friends Ivy (Keslee Blalock) and Bean (Madison Skye Validum), from hunting down ghosts to enrolling in dance lessons. Ferguson plays ballet teacher Monsieur Joy in the third installment, “Ivy and Bean: Doomed to Dance.”

“I had this idea that he’s a fake...

Netflix’s September 2022 lineup of new films includes the much anticipated drama Blonde starring Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe, and Allison Janney channeling her inner action hero in Lou.

September’s lineup also includes The Umbrella Academy‘s Tom Hopper teaming up with The Vampire Diaries‘ Kat Graham for Love in the Villa, a romantic comedy set in Italy. Queen Latifah and Ludacris headline the action thriller End of the Road, and Riverdale‘s Camila Mendes and Stranger Things‘ Maya Hawke combine forces in Do Revenge.

Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe in ‘Blonde’ (Photo Credit: Netflix © 2022)

September 2022 Releases

Sept. 1

Love in the Villa

Genre: Rom-com

Logline: A young woman (Kat Graham) takes a trip to romantic Verona, Italy, after a breakup, only to find that the villa she reserved was double-booked, and she’ll have to share her vacation with a cynical and very good-looking British man (Tom Hopper).

Cast: Kat Graham,...

We have a major update from Netflix to share today, as the streaming service has announced their Fall 2022 Movie Preview, unveiling release dates through the end of the year! The fall movie fun begins this Thursday, September 1st, and the line-up includes Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, Blonde, Descendant, Enola Holmes 2, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Good Nurse, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Luckiest Girl Alive, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, My Father’s Dragon, The Redeem Team, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, The Pale Blue Eye, The School for Good and Evil, Slumberland, The Swimmers, Wendell & Wild, and White Noise.

The full list can be seen below. Let’s break it down by month:

September

September 1: Fenced In

Genre: Comedy

Logline: Walter is stressed and collapses. Following medical advice, he abandons the urban rhythm and seeks peace in a small town, surrounded by nature. But...

Here in its near entirety are the streaming and some theatrical dates for Netflix’s fall and holiday movie lineup.

Many of these streaming dates have already been out there, i.e. the TIFF world premiere Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery hitting the service on Dec. 23 (yet still not theatrically dated). However, there’s 13 movies getting dates here, read Alejandro Iñárritu’s Venice Film Festival world premiere Bardo, which is getting an exclusive month and half theatrical window before it hits the service.

There’s also the Jessica Chastain-Eddie Redmayne drama thriller The Good Nurse (world premiering at TIFF), Noah Baumbach’s Venice and New York film festival opener White Noise, Sally Hosaini’s TIFF opener The Swimmers, Henry Selick’s animated pic Wendell & Wild (also at TIFF), and Scott Cooper’s period crime drama about Edgar Allen Poe, The Pale Blue Eye and The Volcano:...

There’s nothing like a good dance film to get your heart racing and your feet moving. And thanks to Netflix, there’s no shortage of great dance movies to choose from.

Whether you’re a fan of dance competitions or enjoy watching people bust a move, there’s something for everyone on this list.

Rejoice, Dance fans! We’ve compiled a list of the best dance movies streaming on Netflix.

So put on your dancing shoes and get ready to have some fun. These are the best dance movies on Netflix!

Step Sisters (2018)

“Step Sisters” is a dance movie with an important message. The film follows the story of Jamilah, a college student tasked with teaching a group of white sorority girls how to step.

She’s a student leader at Harvard Law School, the president of her sorority, the captain of her step dance crew, and a liaison...

Exclusive: Brandon Kyle Goodman, an actor, writer and activist who hit on a career breakthrough as part of the team behind Netflix’s critically acclaimed animated series Big Mouth, has signed with WME for representation in all areas.

Goodman got his start as a writer on Big Mouth‘s staff and voices its queer lovebug character Walter, first introduced in Season 5. He is set to reprise the role as a lead in the Big Mouth spinoff, Human Resources, for which he also writes, with that series set to debut on Netflix on March 18. In his time with Big Mouth, he also helped create and launch the show’s mentorship program for aspiring Black writers in animation, known as the Brutus Pink x The Black Folx Initiative.

Goodman has partnered with Endeavor Content and Joel Stillerman’s Content Superba to develop What Am I?, an original scripted series he’s creating,...

Exclusive: Jessi Case (Mother’s Day) and Rocky Myers (Sons of Thunder) have joined the cast of On a Wing and a Prayer, a faith-based feature from director Sean McNamara, which will be released through MGM’s distribution and marketing joint venture United Artists Releasing. They’ll star alongside previously announced cast members Dennis Quaid, Heather Graham and Jesse Metcalfe.

The Lightworkers pic is based on a true story, watching as a small-town pilot dies unexpectedly while flying. In the aftermath, passenger Doug White (Quaid) is forced to land the plane safely in order to save his entire family.

Case will play Doug’s angsty teenage daughter, Maggie, who realizes while on board the plane that something has gone terribly wrong, and becomes the protector she was destined to be as she cares for her younger sister. Myers will portray Dan, an air traffic controller-in-training with a sardonic charm and...

Exclusive: We have learned first that Netflix has set the cast for their adaptation of Annie Barrows’ New York Times bestselling book series Ivy & Bean and that is Emmy Award Nominee Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Emmy Award Winner Jane Lynch, Pretty Little Liars‘ Sasha Pieterse, Oscar nominee Nia Vardalos, Garfield Wilson, Jaycie Dotin and Marci T. House.

The group joins previously announced Keslee Blalock as Ivy; Madison Skye Validum as Bean and Lidya Jewett as Nancy in the series of one-hour family movies from the streamer.

In the Elissa Down-directed and Kathy Waugh and Jeff Stockwell-penned screenplay, Ivy and Bean never expected to be friends. Ivy is quiet, thoughtful and observant. Bean is playful, exuberant and fearless. However, sometimes an adventure reveals that opposites can become the best of friends.

Producers are Anne Brogan and Melanie Stokes as well as Lionsgate TV backed Kindle Entertainment.

Ivy & Bean reunites...

Netflix has announced the cast and filmmaking team for its upcoming family friendly movie series “Ivy and Bean.”

Elissa Down is directing the live-action films, based on the best-selling children’s book series. Down has previously worked with the streaming platform on the musical comedy “Feel the Beat” and the drama “The Honor List.”

Young actors Keslee Blalock and Madison Skye Validum will play Ivy and Bean, respectively, while Lidya Jewett is portraying a character named Nancy. Blalock has previously appeared in “Family Camp” and “Pulled From Darkness.” Jewett’s screen credits include “Good Girls,” “Feel the Beat” and “Nightbooks.”

“Ivy and Bean” centers on two girls who never expected to be friends. However, the quiet and thoughtful Ivy and the playful and fearless Bean soon discover that seemingly different people can become the best of pals. The series, written Barrows and illustrated by Sophie Blackall, has 12 books in total.

Exclusive: Netflix has locked down the cast to its upcoming feature adaptation of Broadway’s 13: The Musical.

The musical, which ran from October 2008 to January 2009 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre follows Evan Goldman (12) who following a move from NYC to small-town Indiana, grapples with his parents’ divorce, prepares for his impending Bar Mitzvah, and navigates the complicated social circles of a new school.

The Broadway version featured the first and only all-teenage cast and band and served as professional debuts of Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies. The musical has since been a popular production of high school theater groups.

Of the 14 starring in 13: The Musical include Eli Golden (The Wizard of Lies), Gabriella Uhl, Jd McCrary, Frankie McNellis, Lindsey Blackwell (The Change-Up), Jonathan Lengel, Ramon Reed (Disney Channel’s Just Roll With It...

Exclusive: The music-driven project Mixtape, which landed on the 2009 Black List, is finally turning up the volume at Netflix.

Outer Banks and The Archer director Valerie Weiss has come aboard to direct, with a number of actors joining the cast including two-time Emmy winner Julie Bowen, Gemma Brooke Allen, Nick Thune, Jackson Rathbone and newcomers Olga Petsa, Audrey Hsieh and Diego Mercado.

Stacey Menear penned the original script with revisions by The Half of It‘s Alice Wu.

In Mixtape, on the eve of Y2K, orphaned, awkward 12-year-old Beverly Moody (Allen) discovers a broken mixtape crafted by her teen parents. Raised by her grandmother Gail (Bowen), a former teen mom herself who finds it painful to speak about her late daughter, Beverly sees this mixtape as a chance to finally learn more about her parents. So she sets out on a journey to find all the songs on the tape.

Exclusive: Jane Austen’s novels have been adapted by Hollywood plenty. Amazon Studios and Di Novi Pictures have acquired for feature the Rachel Givney breakout novel, Jane in Love, that will make her a screen heroine. Denise Di Novi and Margaret French Isaac are producing. Elissa Down (Feel the Beat and The Black Balloon) is attached to direct.

A respected TV series writer back her native Australia, Givney will adapt her own novel for the screen. The novel follows Jane Austen as she strikes a Faustian bargain to find love, and ends up time traveling from 1803 to the present day. When the world-famous writer falls in love with a modern-day man, all her books begin disappearing, forcing her to decide between staying in the 21st century – where she’s found love, but has lost the ability to write, or returning to her own time – where she’ll write her books...

Netflix continues to bet big on kids and family programming. The streaming service announced on Friday it optioned the rights to Annie Barrows’ illustrated children’s book series “Ivy & Bean” and plans to make them into movies.

The live-action films will be one-hour in length and geared toward family audiences. Kathy Waugh is writing the movies.

“With a one-hour run-time, the ‘Ivy & Bean’ film series will still very much be movies the whole family can enjoy,” said Netflix’s Director of Family Features Naketha Mattocks. “Safe, fun and elevated comedy-adventures, they also have the wonderful benefit of giving the youngest members of the family an opportunity to see themselves as the star of their own story.”

“Ivy & Bean” follows two unlikely friends — the loud and fearless Bean, and the thoughtful and quiet Ivy. Yet the two discover that an adventure can reveal that even seemingly different people can become the best of friends.

Kelly Lefever.

Prolific screenwriter, script producer and story editor Kelly Lefever is juggling multiple projects – not least a deeply personal series about disability.

Inspired by her own family’s experiences, Care will look at five families who each care for a family member who was born with or acquired a disability.

Her daughter Alexandra, who is 30, was born with Kabuki syndrome, a rare genetic disorder.

“This is a universal story,” Kelly told If. “There are more than 3 million people in Australia who care for a family member or a close relative.

“Most of us will have to deal with this at some time in our lives with aging parents. For me it has been a very grounding experience which has also brought tremendous joy and humour.”

Lefever is in talks with a producer and intends to pitch the project to the ABC, Sbs or streamers.

Another project she created is Sundown,...

Kelly Lefever.

Prolific screenwriter, script producer and story editor Kelly Lefever is juggling multiple projects – not least a deeply personal series about disability.

Inspired by her own family’s experiences, Care will look at five families who each care for a family member who was born with or acquired a disability.

Her daughter Alexandra, who is 30, was born with Kabuki syndrome, a rare genetic disorder.

“This is a universal story,” Kelly told If. “There are more than 3 million people in Australia who care for a family member or a close relative.

“Most of us will have to deal with this at some time in our lives with aging parents. For me it has been a very grounding experience which has also brought tremendous joy and humour.”

Lefever is in talks with a producer and intends to pitch the project to the ABC, Sbs or streamers.

Another project she created is Sundown,...

Exclusive: Jessica Jones star Krysten Ritter, Winslow Fegley And Lidya Jewett are set to star in the Netflix family pic Night Books with David Yarovesky on board to direct. Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert will produce through Ghost House Pictures along with Mxn Entertainment’s Mason Novick and Michelle Knudsen.

Based on the J.A. White horror-fantasy children’s book, the story follows Alex (Fegley), a boy obsessed with scary stories, who is imprisoned by an evil young witch (Ritter) in her contemporary New York City apartment. He meets Yasmin (Jewett), who is also trapped there, and learns he must tell a new scary story every night in order to stay alive.

Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis will adapt the script. Ghost House Pictures’ Romel Adam will exec produce and Mxn Entertainment’s Tracy Kopulsky will co-produce.

Yarovesky broke on to the scene with his horror pic The Hive in 2014 and...

Don’t know what to do with your life today? Well, you can always watch Netflix, as they’ve added a bunch of new content to their collection, just in time for the weekend.

First up is a drama called Feel the Beat. Produced in 2020 and directed by Elissa Down, it tells the story of a dancer who, after failing to make a career for herself on Broadway, returns to her hometown to teach young kids instead – a job which, though devoid of glitter and glamour, is actually a lot more meaningful than she dared hope. Kind of like School of Rock, but with dance – and without Jack Black.

Up next we have a comedy series called Floor Is Lava. Have you ever seen the Community episode in which they play this children’s game? If you enjoy watching adults act like little toddlers, this reality series may be for you.

‘Feel the Beat’s’ Wolfgang Novogratz with Elissa Down.

Elissa Down’s teen dance movie Feel the Beat premieres worldwide on Netflix this week. Sofia Carson stars as April, a self-centred dancer who, after blowing a Broadway audition, reluctantly returns home and agrees to coach a squad of young misfits for a big competition.

The director tells If how she landed her first Netflix gig, which was produced by What Women Want’s Susan Cartsonis; collaborating with fellow Aussies, composer Michael Yezerski and editor Jane Moran; and how her career has ebbed and flowed since her debut film The Black Balloon.

Q: How did you get the gig?

A: I met with producer Susan Cartsonis to discuss the project and we connected right away. Susan responded to the vision I had for the movie and she then presented me to Netflix to pitch – which had to be done over Google...

"I'm trying to help them, but it's like a brick wall." Netflix has debuted a trailer for an upbeat dance comedy titled Feel the Beat, from director Elissa Down. Feel the Beat stars actress / dancer Sofia Carson (from "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists" and Disney Channel shows) as April. After blowing a big Broadway audition, a self-centered dancer reluctantly returns home and ends up coaching a squad of young misfits for a big competition. The full cast includes Enrico Colantoni, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Dennis Andres, Wolfgang Novogratz, Donna Lynne Champlin, Brandon Kyle Goodman, Rex Lee, and Marcia Bennett. This seems a bit like School of Rock but for dance. Have fun. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Elissa Down's Feel the Beat, direc from Netflix's YouTube: After failing to find success on Broadway, April (Sofia Carson) returns to her hometown and reluctantly is recruited to help train a misfit...

‘Butch’.

Screen Australia has announced almost $750,000 of story development funding for nine feature films, 11 television series and two online projects.

The slate includes an Imogen Banks-produced musical dramedy, composed by Kate Miller-Heidke; a television adaptation of Melanie Cheng book Australia Day; and a feature film from Helpmann Award-winning playwright S. Shakthidharan.

Screen Australia’s head of development Nerida Moore said, “We are looking for projects that are distinctive in the market, have a very specific audience in mind and reflect a range of Australian experiences. As such, it’s fantastic to be able to support the development of these 22 productions, which give an exciting glimpse into the diversity of stories, formats and genres we will hopefully see on our screens in the coming years.”

“I’m particularly pleased Screen Australia is able to support creators to expand their skill sets and take creative risks, including actors Lucy Durack and...

Exclusive: We’ve learned that Netflix is adapting the millennial Broadway musical 13 into a family film with three-time Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown to compose new music and Tony winner Robert Horn to adapt the script based on the book he co-wrote with Dan Elish. Tamra Davis is attached to direct.

The musical follows young Evan Goldman as he moves from New York City to small-town Indiana. While grappling with his parents’ divorce, he prepares for his impending Bar Mitzvah, and navigates the complicated social circles of a new school. The Broadway version which ran for a 105 performances between 2008-2009 featured the first and only all-teenager cast and band and marked the professional debuts of Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies. The musical has since been a popular production of high school theater groups. The original production of 13 premiere at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles in January 2007.

Brown...

Exclusive: As part of Netflix’s growing slate of live-action family films aimed at kids and teens, the streamer has started production on the Ld Entertainment production The Sleepover directed by Pitch Perfect 3 filmmaker Trish Sie.

Pic, written by Sarah Rothschild, follows two siblings who discover their seemingly normal mom is a former thief in witness protection. Mom is forced to pull one last job, and the kids team up to rescue her over the course of an action-packed night. Marino will play Glen Finch, the father of the kids and the husband who learns many unexpected new facts about his wife.

Boasted by a large ensemble cast, The Sleepover stars Sadie Stanley (Kim Possible), Maxwell Simkins, Ken Marino, Cree Cicchino, Lucas Jaye, Karla Souza, Enuka Okuma...

From TorontoFilm.Net here is the Toronto Film Production Update for September 2019 including "Jupiter's Legacy", "The Boys", "Titans" and a whole lot more:

AMÉLIE Et Compagnie! Season 4

Episodic Series - TV

Carte Blanche Films Inc.

Prod.: Tracy Legault

Dir.: Dominque Cardona,

Jul 3 - Sep 20/19

Awake

Feature Films - Streaming

eOne / Netflix

Prod.: Mark Gordon, Paul Schiff

Dir.: Mark Raso

Aug 6 – Sep 27/19

Backyard Beats

Episodic Series – TV

Bristow Global Media Inc.

Prod.: Daniel Bourre, Corinna Lehr

Dir.: tbd

Aug 19 - Sep 2/19

Beacon Street

Feature Films - Streaming

Twinkle Toes Movie Prod. Ltd.

Prod.: Susan Cartsonis, Brent Emery, Suzanne Farwell

Dir.: Elissa Down

Jul 25 - Sep 20/19

Christmas 9 To 5

Television Movie

Christmas 95 Ulc

Prod.: Arnie Zipursky, Suzanne Berger, Tyler Levine

Dir.: Jill Carter

Aug 19 - Sep 9/19

Coroner Season 2

Episodic Series – TV

Coroner 2 Productions (Ontario) Inc.

Prod.: Suzanne Colvin-Golding

Dir.: Adrienne Mitchell,...

Sofia Carson, who stars in Disney Channel’s Descendants movies and Freeform’s Pretty Little Liars spinoff Pll: The Perfectionists, is set to star in Feel the Beat, a Netflix dance film being directed by Elissa Down.

The ensemble family pic also will star Wolfgang Novogratz (Sierra Burgess Is a Loser), Donna Lynne Champlin (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars), Lidya Jewett (Good Girls), Eva Hauge, Johanna Colón (Troupe Zero), Sadie Lapidus, Shiloh Nelson (Tomorrowland), Shaylee Mansfield, Justin Allan, Kai Zen, Carina Battrick, Brandon Kyle Goodman (Plus One), Ken Pak, Dennis Andres and Amy Stewart.

Susan Cartsonis is producing for Resonate Entertainment. Emmy-winning choreographer and former So You Think You Can Dance judge Mia Michaels is choreographing the pic.

Written by Michael Armbruster and Shawn Ku, the plot follows April (Carson), who, after failing to find success on Broadway, returns to her small hometown and reluctantly is recruited to train...

“The Descendants” star Sofia Carson is taking the lead role in Netflix’s dance movie “Feel the Beat.”

Carson will portray a dancer who, after failing to find success on Broadway, returns to her small hometown and is reluctantly recruited to train a misfit group of young dancers for a big competition. Principal photography began July 25 in Toronto, Canada with Elissa Down (“The Honor List”) directing from a script by “Beautiful Boy” writers Michael Armbruster & Shawn Ku.

Susan Cartsonis, whose credits include “Deidra and Laney Rob a Train” and “The Duff,” is producing for Resonate Entertainment. Clément Bauer is associate producing for Resonate Entertainment. Executive producers are Brent Emery and Suzanne Farwell for Resonate Entertainment and Aaron Barnett.

Cast members includes Wolfgang Novogratz (“Sierra Burgess is a Loser”), Donna Lynne Champlin, Enrico Colantoni, Lidya Jewett, Eva Hauge, Johanna Colón, Sadie Lapidus, Shiloh Nelson, Shaylee Mansfield, Justin Allan, Kai Zen, Carina Battrick,...

Sofia Carson — one of the stars of Disney Channels' popular Descendants franchise — will lead director Elissa Down's ensemble dance movie Feel the Beat for Netflix.

The film's logline reads: "After failing to find success on Broadway, April (Sofia Carson) returns to her small hometown and is reluctantly recruited to train a misfit group of young dancers for a big competition."

Emmy winner Mia Michaels, who has contributed as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance?, will choreograph.

The massive ensemble includes Wolfgang Novogratz (Sierra Burgess Is a Loser), Donna Lynne Champlin (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Enrico ...

Sofia Carson — one of the stars of Disney Channels' popular Descendants franchise— will lead director Elissa Down's ensemble dance movie Feel the Beat for Netflix.

The film's logline reads: "After failing to find success on Broadway, April (Sofia Carson) returns to her small hometown and is reluctantly recruited to train a misfit group of young dancers for a big competition."

Emmy winner Mia Michaels, who has contributed as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance?, will choreograph.

The massive ensemble includes Wolfgang Novogratz (Sierra Burgess Is a Loser), Donna Lynne Champlin (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Enrico Colantoni ...

From TorontoFilm.Net here is the Toronto Film Production Update for August 2019 including "Titans", "Nightmare Alley", "Zeus" and a whole lot more:

AMÉLIE Et Compagnie! Saison 4

Episodic Series - TV

Carte Blanche Films Inc.

Prod.: Tracy Legault

Dir.: Dominque Cardona,

Jul 3 - Sep 20/19

Anne With An E Season 3

Episodic Series - TV

Northwood Anne Trois Inc.

Dir.: Various

Mar 11 – Aug 22/19

Awake

Feature Films - Streaming

eOne / Netflix

Prod.: Mark Gordon, Paul Schiff

Dir.: Mark Raso

Aug 6 – Sep 27/19

Backyard Beats

Episodic Series – TV

Bristow Global Media Inc.

Prod.: Daniel Bourre, Corinna Lehr

Dir.: Tba

Aug 19 - Sep 2/19

Beacon Street

Feature Films - Streaming

Twinkle Toes Movie Prod. Ltd.

Prod.: Susan Cartsonis, Brent Emery, Suzanne Farwell

Dir.: Elissa Down

Jul 25 - Sep 20/19

Condor Season 2

Episodic Series - Streaming

T5 Condor 2 Productions Inc.

Prod.: Andrea Raffaghello

Dir.: Andrew McCarthy

Apr 29 - Aug...

From TorontoFilm.Net here is the Toronto Film Production Update for July 2019 including "Dare Me", "Titans", "Stardust" and a whole lot more:

A Grand Romantic GESTUREFeature – Theatrical

Paragraph Pictures

Prod.: David Gordian, Alan Latham

Dir.: Joan Carr-Wiggin

Jun 24 - Jul 19/19

AMÉLIE Et Compagnie! Saison 4

Episodic Series - TV

Carte Blanche Films Inc.

Prod.: Tracy Legault

Dir.: Dominque Cardona,

Jul 3 - Sep 20/19

Anne With An E Season 3

Episodic Series - TV

Northwood Anne Trois Inc.

Dir.: Various

Mar 11 – Aug 22/19

Awake

Feature Films - Streaming

eOne / Netflix

Prod.: Mark Gordon, Paul Schiff

Dir.: Mark Raso

Aug 6 – Sep 27/19

Backyard Beats

Episodic Series – TV

Bristow Global Media Inc.

Prod.: Daniel Bourre, Corinna Lehr

Dir.: tbd

Aug 19 - Sep 2/19

Beacon Street

Feature Films - Streaming

Twinkle Toes Movie Prod. Ltd.

Prod.: Susan Cartsonis, Brent Emery, Suzanne Farwell

Dir.: Elissa Down

Jul 25 - Sep 20/19

Carter...

A post shared by The Honor List (@honorlistmovie) on Aug 29, 2017 at 1:21pm Pdt

Meghan Rienks is one of the stars of The Honor List, a movie that follows former best friends who reunite when tragedy strikes before their high school graduation. Get The Honor List on iTunes now, and on DVD May 15!

To the women of The Honor List,

Thank you for being my partners in this movie. Thank you for all the work I did and did not see you do. Thank you for the hours you put in when nobody was watching. Thank you for believing in this story as much I did. They say it takes a village and I couldn't be prouder of the one we created.

I still pinch myself trying to wrap my head around how we got here, creating a movie about women and friendship, made by women; a movie we made together.

"This one isn't just for Honor, it's for you." Lionsgate has debuted an official trailer for indie coming-of-age drama titled The Honor List, from Australian director Elissa Down (Pink Pyjamas, The Black Balloon). The Honor List is about four friends who, before high school, were besties, but by senior year they wouldn't even speak to each other. When tragedy strikes, they bond over a list they have to complete together. It's a bittersweet film that "explores the complexities of friendships, family, love, loss, and high school." It's also a film "made by women for women", with over 60% of the crew being women. This stars Meghan Rienks, Karrueche Tran, Arden Cho, and Sasha Pieterse. It looks like a meaningful, empowering film for all. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Elissa Down's The Honor List, direct from YouTube: The story of four friends and a bucket list. The summer before high school,...

Director Elissa Down’s The Honor List will serve as opening night film at the Bentonville Film Festival, which will be held May 1-5 in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The film, a world premiere from Lionsgate’s Studio L, was written by Marilyn Fu from a story by Fu and Meghan Rienks and stars Rienks, Sasha Pieterse, Karrueche Tran, and Arden Cho in a story about former best friends who reunite when tragedy strikes before their graduation. It was produced by sisters Mariel, Zoe, and Cisely Saldana’s Cinestar Pictures, along with PopSugar Films, and had a crew made up of more than 60 percent women.

The festival also unveiled that Lea Thompson’s...

The digital content unit is working with brands and platforms on three upcoming film releases.

Lionsgate has unveiled the first slate of films from Studio L, its recently christened digital content unit targeting millennial audiences.

Studio L is designed to develop, finance, produce and distribute mainstream and targeted films and series in partnership with brands and digital platforms.

Set for release on May 11 is female-driven coming-of-age drama The Honor List, the first release from PopSugar Films, the film unit of media and technology company PopSugar. The film’s cast of social media talent is led by Meghan Rienks, Sasha Pieterse, Karrueche Tran and Arden Cho. Elissa Down directed from a script by Marilyn Fu and Zoe Saldana’s Cinestar Pictures produced.

Set to premiere at next month’s South by Southwest festival is Most Likely To Murder, described as “a home-for-the-holidays noir-comedy” from TV comedy writer-producers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. Gregor also directs...

Screen Women Series (photo credit: Emma Leslie).

Film Fatales is a network of female filmmakers who meet regularly to mentor each other, share resources, collaborate on projects and build a supportive community in which to make their films. The Sydney chapter was started by Brooke Goldfinch and is now co-run by Megan Riakos..

Brooke Goldfinch:.

Film Fatales was started by writer/director Leah Meyerhoff. She was making her first feature I Believe in Unicorns and she invited a bunch of veteran female directors to her house for dinner to ask their advice. The evening was so productive that Leah decided to start an organisation, in which groups of women directors would meet monthly at someone.s house to discuss filmmaking. It.s a simple, grass-roots concept that has become a powerful global movement, with chapters all over the world. I knew Leah from the grad film program at Nyu where I got my Mfa.

Sneak Peek Australian model, actress Gemma Ward ("The Great Gatsby") in the July 2016 issue of "Elle" (Australia) magazine, photographed by Georges Antoni:

Ward's first film starring role was in Australian director Elissa Down's feature "The Black Balloon" (2008).

This was followed by work in the suspense thriller "The Strangers" (2008).

In 2011 she played 'Tamara' the 'mermaid' in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides".

Ward plays the 'Languid Girl' in "The Great Gatsby".

Click the images to enlarge...

Sneak Peek Australian model, actress Gemma Ward ("The Great Gatsby") in the Spring/Summer 2016 issue of "Unconditional" magazine, photographed by Alexandra Nataf and styled by Ilona Hamer:

Ward's first film starring role was in Australian director Elissa Down's feature "The Black Balloon" (2008).

This was followed by work in the suspense thriller "The Strangers" (2008).

In 2011 she played 'Tamara' the 'mermaid' in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides".

Ward plays the 'Languid Girl' in "The Great Gatsby".

Click the images to enlarge...

The Legend of Gavin Tanner.

We Were Here and Flushed have scooped the nominations for the West Australian Screen Awards.

The West Australian Screen Awards celebraes excellence and achievements in feature film, short film, web series, music videos, television production, documentary, games and interactive productions.

Short drama We Were Here, directed by David Vincent Smith and produced by Joshua Gilbert and Simon Camp, earned six nominations, the most for the awards.

Short comedy Flushed, directed and produced by Richard Eames, also received six nominations.

ABC comedy TV series The Legend of Gavin Tanner, written and directed by Matt Lovkis and Henry Inglis and produced by Lauren Elliott received five nominations, as did short drama Sol Bunker, produced by Glen Stasiuk and directed by Nathan Mewett.

Film and Television Institute Wa (Fti) chief executive, Paul Bodlovich, said the WASAs were one of the most important events on the cultural calendar in Western Australia.

The Aftrs Open Summer School — now in its third year — has expanded to 17 intensive courses, including a new six-week doco school and a six-week film school.

These introductory and intermediate film courses running between November and January are designed for intensive learning and the chance to upskill in the rapidly changing media landscape.

Amongs the screen industry speakers and lecturers are writer/director David Caesar (Nowhere Boys, Underbelly, Dirty Deeds, Mullet), cinematographer Ross Emery (The Wolverine, Woman In Gold, I Frankenstein), TV writer Vicki Madden (The Bill, Water Rats, Blood Brothers, McLeod.s Daughters and Foxtel drama The Kettering Incident), feature film director Elissa Down (The Black Balloon, Offspring) and documentary director/producer Madeleine Heatherton (Call Me Dad, Bondi Rescue, The Nest,. Last Chance Surgery, Outback Truckies).

Also screenwriter Ian David ( Police Crop: The Winchester Conspiracy, Police State, Joh's Jury, Blue Murder, Killing Time, 3 Acts of Murder, The Shark Net,...

Sneak Peek Australian model, actress Gemma Ward ("The Great Gatsby") in "Vogue" magazine.

Ward's first film starring role was in Australian director Elissa Down's feature "The Black Balloon" (2008).

This was followed by work with Liv Tyler in the suspense thriller "The Strangers" (2008).

In 2011 she played 'Tamara' the 'mermaid' in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides".

Ward plays the 'Languid Girl' in "The Great Gatsby".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Gemma Ward ...

Sneak Peek Australian model, actress Gemma Ward ("The Great Gatsby") in the May 2013 issue of "Vogue" magazine.

Ward's first starring role was in Australian director Elissa Down's feature "The Black Balloon" (2008).

This was followed by work with Liv Tyler in the suspense thriller "The Strangers" (2008).

In 2011 she played 'Tamara' the 'mermaid' in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides".

Ward will next be seen as the 'Languid Girl' in "The Great Gatsby".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Gemma Ward ...

Veronika Jenet accepts an If Award for her work on Snowtown.

Veronika Jenet began her film career in the same place as many others, at film school. Unlike many others, she wasn.t enrolled there.

.At the time, film school was not as regimented . the place was basically open 24 hours. I was hanging around solidly all year and I wasn.t a student. The teachers kind of looked at me strangely but hey, I was there; I was doing work,. she says. .I.m sure I wouldn.t be able to do that now..

The Australian Film, Television and Radio School (Aftrs) played a pivotal role in Jenet.s life. It.s where she met director Ray Quint, now her husband and business partner, and director Jane Campion, with whom she has collaborated on five feature films.

Quint and Campion were both final year students at the school when Jenet...

Tropfest will expand on its format for next year’s 20th edition in 2012.

The Tropfest short film festival will become a three day event, festival director John Polson told Encore. He said: “We’re pushing to three days for the twentieth birthday with a party on Friday, an all-day industry seminar on Saturday, musical events on Saturday night and the main event on Sunday.” There will also be screenings of the best films from the first 20 years.

“The conference will have six to eight successful filmmakers, maybe from short films, maybe from features, financiers, cinematographers; It is an opportunity for filmmakers serious about their career and taking their position to the next level to hear from others that have done well.”

The news comes with the announcement of this year’s Tropfest signature item, a light bulb and a call for entries. Entries close on Thursday 5 January 2012 at 6pm. The...

Brendan Cowell (Love My Way, Beneath Hill 60), Ella Scott Lynch (Crownies) and Toby Schmitz (Griff the Invisible, Lbf) will headline a cast for Cockatoo Island’s In The Raw screenplay presentation of psychological thriller Metamorphosis.

The In The Raw presentations help give filmmakers a better understanding on how the film will read while an industry panel give feedback.

Allanah Zitserman, creative director of Cockatoo Island Film Festival, said “Metamorphosis is a new psychological thriller and that the script reading will present a unique opportunity for audiences and the industry panel (including established film directors Samantha Lang and Elissa Down) to provide valuable feedback regarding its development.”

The film is written by Kris Wyld (East West 101, White Collar Blue, Wildside) and will be produced by David Elfick (Rabbit Proof Fence, Newsfront).

The event is Monday 26 September at 6pm at Aftrs Theatre, 130 Bent St, The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park.

Admission...

Australia’s screen professionals must be free to practice their skills anywhere in the world, but how do we stop this healthy career development from becoming a dangerous brain drain? Miguel Gonzalez reports.

If we were to make a list of all the Australian screen practitioners who have made it overseas, it would be a very long list indeed. It would probably start with the A-list creatives everybody knows, followed by the more anonymous and numerous executives, directors, producers, editors, cinematographers, VFX artists and technicians working all over the world.

While it is to be expected that many – if not all – industry practitioners would seek to expand their horizons and work internationally at some point in their careers to reach other markets, work in other systems and cultures and develop new skills, leaving Australia should not be an act of professional desperation.

The historical fluctuation in the volume of international...

Screen Australia has annouced development investment for 13 features, two animated shorts, two games and the completion of two shorts.

Projects include B Model, to be directed and produced by Rachel Griffiths, as well as new projects from the Spierig Brothers (Jungle), Bruce Beresford (The Fortunes of Richard Mahoney, co-production with China), Emile Sherman (Tracks) and Gregor Jordan (Five Spice)

Hannah Hilliard (Franswa Sharl) and Callum Cooper (Little Brother) were announced as the first recipients of the new Director’s Acclaim Fund, which recognises the importance of directors maintaining momentum following critical acclaim of their short film.

The projects are:

Features

B Model

Producers Rachel Griffiths, Louise Smith

Writer Samantha Strauss

Director Rachel Griffiths

Synopsis A young Australian girl gets swept up into the chaotic, exciting world of high fashion modelling. Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York. An innocent in a sex-soaked business, she is seeking love and validation, but isn...

Ausfilm’s Tracey Vieira reports from Ausfilm Week – perhaps the agency’s hardest week ever.

Attracting offshore production has never been harder. The once booming industry that attracted large budget feature films, movies of the week and television series from the USA has taken so many hits that Australia is no longer one of the standard locations studios do budget comparisons for when looking at potential filming locations.

As a result, the infrastructure that is a legacy of such production, sits unused and crew are finding work outside the film industry or moving overseas to follow the work that is happening. While unemployment in Australia is generally at a low, in the film industry – it is at a high.

No one event has triggered this impact more than the strength of the Australian dollar against the Us currency. As the dollar has shot up to a 27-year high after fulltime...

Out of Australia comes a movie about the bond among a family; even more so, the bond between brothers. The Black Balloon's titular character causes a lot of grief for Thomas, a kind, but timid, high schooler who was born into a military family who, as most military families do in films, move a lot. Will Thomas have a shot at a normal life? To him, that all depends on his brother.

The story focuses on the teetering relationship between Thomas and his brother Charlie, who is autistic and has been diagnosed with Add. With his special needs, Charlie is a handful, but systems are in place and methods are used to ensure the whole family gets along relatively effortlessly. The cornerstone of said systems and methods is the mother, Maggie, played by Toni Collette, a ferociously terrific actor who molds herself into a mother who convincingly displays two...