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Winter is Laid-Back Camp 's domain, and with another set of outdoor adventures coming soon , there's never been a better time for the English dub to make its return for Season 2, with weekly episodes kicking off Wednesday, January 24! Check out the cast and crew for Episode 1 below! Laid-Back Camp Season 2 English Dub Cast Rin voiced by Celeste Perez Nadeshiko voiced by Morgan Lauré Ena voiced by Molly Zhang Chiaki voiced by Katelyn Barr Aoi voiced by Hannah Alyea Wataru voiced by Phil Parsons Saki voiced by Kelsey Cruz Narrator voiced by Larry Cassady Ayano voiced by Katie Wetch Clerk voiced by Ian Sinclair Laid-Back Camp Season 2 English Dub Crew Voice Director: Shawn Gann Producer: Susie Nixon Adaptation: Heather Walker Engineer: Jose Sandoval Related: Interview: Laid-Back Camp Producer Shoichi Hotta on Creating the Comfort in Season 2 Based on the manga by Afro, Laid-Back Camp Season 2 was directed by Yoshiaki Kyogoku at studio C-Station,...

Peacock has given a straight-to-series order for a US adaptation of Porchlight Films comedy 'Laid', with 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' star Stephanie Hsu attached to take on the role previously held by Alison Bell.

The post ‘We’re really excited it’s found a home’: Peacock moves forward with ‘Laid’ adaptation appeared first on If Magazine.

Laid is headed to Peacock. The streaming service has ordered the remake of the Australian comedy series of the same name from Nahnatchka Khan (Fresh Off the Boat) and Sally Bradford McKenna (Ghosted).

Starring Stephanie Hsu (above), the Laid TV series will follow a woman who discovers her past lovers are dying. She must review her sexual past to figure out why that is happening.

Read More…...

Peacock announced the straight to series order of comedy Laid, starring and executive produced by Academy Award nominee Stephanie Hsu. The series is written and executive produced by Nahnatchka Khan (Totally Killer, Young Rock, Fresh Off the Boat, Always Be My Maybe) and Sally Bradford McKenna (Son of Zorn). Also executive producing are John Davis and John Fox for Davis Entertainment; Jennifer Carreras for Fierce Baby; Marieke Hardy, Kirsty Fisher, and Liz Watts for Porchlight Films; and All3Media International. The series comes from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and is based on the Australian series ‘Laid’ created by Marieke Hardy and Kirsty Fisher, produced by Liz ... Read more...

Stephanie Hsu is heading back to television in a brand new comedy series!

The 33-year-old Oscar nominated actress will lead the upcoming TV show Laid, which was given a straight to series order at Peacock.

In addition to starring, Stephanie will executive produce alongside EPs and writers Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna.

Keep reading to find out more…

Here’s a synopsis: A woman finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past in order to move forward – Laid is a f**cked up rom-com where the answer to “Why can’t I find love, is there something wrong with me?” is a resounding “Yes. There is. The problem is definitely you.”

The upcoming new show is based on the Australian series of the same name, which was created by Marieke Hardy and Kirsty Fisher, and produced by Liz Watts,...

Stephanie Hsu, known for her roles in Everything Everywhere All At Once and Joy Ride, will lead a new series called Laid for Peacock Laid is described as a "f--ked up rom-com" in which Hsu's character must confront her past after her former lovers start turning up dead. Hsu is a powerful on-screen talent, earning an Oscar nomination for Everything Everywhere All At Once and proving herself adept at both comedy and drama.

Everything Everywhere All At Once star Stephanie Hsu has been tapped to lead a new "f--ked up rom-com" series called Laid. Hsu became a recognizable star with the release of Daniels' Everything Everywhere All At Once in 2022, in which she plays villain Jobu Tupaki, the daughter of Michelle Yeoh's Evelyn. In addition to her role in the Best Picture-winning indie, Hsu is known for her roles in Joy Ride, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,...

Peacock has given a straight-to-series order to the comedy “Laid” with Stephanie Hsu attached to star, Variety has learned.

The series was first reported as being in development in June 2022. It hails from Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna. Based on the Australian series of the same name, the official logline for “Laid” states, “A woman finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past in order to move forward.”

Khan and Bradford McKenna serve as writers and executive producers, with Hsu also executive producing. Khan executive produces along with Jennifer Carreras under their Fierce Baby Productions banner. John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment also executive produce, as do Marieke Hardy, Kirsty Fisher, and Liz Watts for Porchlight Films. All3Media International is also an executive producer. Universal Television is the studio behind the series.

Hsu...

Peacock has given a series order to Laid, a comedy from Universal Television written and executive produced by Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna.

Everything, Everywhere, All at Once‘s Stephanie Hsu will star in the series as well as executive produce.

Nahnatchka Khan, left, and Sally Bradford McKenna

Laid is based on the Australian created by Marieke Hardy and Kirsty Fisher, produced by Liz Watts. It follows a woman who finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past in order to move forward. It’s described as a f*cked up rom-com where the answer to “Why can’t I find love, is there something wrong with me?” is a resounding: “Yes, there is. The problem is definitely you.”

The series comes from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. Also executive producing are...

Peacock is ready to get Laid.

The NBCUniversal-backed streamer has handed out a straight-to-series order for Laid, a comedy starring Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) and from writers Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna.

Khan (Young Rock, Always Be My Maybe) and McKenna (Son of Zorn) are writing and exec producing the series for Universal Television, where the former’s Fierce Baby is based with an overall deal.

Laid revolves around a woman who finds out that her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her “sex timeline” to confront her past in order to move forward. Peacock says Laid is a “f—ked up rom-com where the answer to ‘Why can’t I find love, is there something wrong with me?’ is a resounding ‘Yes. There is. The problem is definitely you.’”

Laid is based on the Australian series of the...

Laid-Back Camp on Crunchyroll is popular due to its refreshing take on the "cute girls doing hobbies" formula and its strong points. The anime adaptation goes beyond the typical saccharine escapism of the iyashikei genre, creating a meditative and quiet atmosphere that captures the essence of camping. Laid-Back Camp stands out by providing an expansive look at winter camping, with moments of solitude and a folksy soundtrack that adds a sense of nomadic adventure.

While the cold season may seem like something to merely tolerate, it is also the perfect time to revisit Laid-Back Camp, which is currently hosted on Crunchyroll. While it may be easy to chalk up its popularity to being one of the first shows to revitalize the "cute girls doing hobbies" formula, C-Station's anime draws on a variety of strong points. All of these, together with its cheery cast, are what help make the idea of...

Released in 2009 in the midst of the same neo-slasher run that produced Hatchet’s Victor Crowley and Behind the Mask’s Leslie Vernon, writer/director/special effects makeup artist Robert Hall’s Laid to Rest introduced horror fans to Chromeskull (Nick Principe), a towering slasher in a sleek suit and polished mask who carries out all manner of mayhem while chasing after a hapless group of blue collar victims across a desolate stretch of country under the cover of night. A sequel followed in 2011, continuing on from the previous film’s events and revealing that the vicious killer commands a group of subordinates who do his bidding, including Chromeskull wannabe Preston (Brian Austin Green) and the devious Spann (Danielle Harris). In that film’s closing moments, Chromeskull heads out onto the streets of Hollywood to likely carry out yet another gore-soaked killing spree.

While that sequel’s finale and mid-credits scene teased another installment,...

Vincent Sheehan, Liz Watts and Anita Sheehan.

After 23 years and a body of work that spans 15 features, five TV series, two docos and three shorts, Porchlight Films will cease operations as founding partners Vincent Sheehan, Liz Watts and Anita Sheehan move on to pursue new opportunities individually.

The company is best known internationally for producing three of David Michôd’s four features, including his Oscar-nominated debut, Animal Kingdom, as well as The Rover and Netflix’s The King.

Other notable film credits include Justin Kurzel’s True History of the Kelly Gang, Garth Davis’ Mary Magdalene, Rachel Perkins’ Jasper Jones, Tony Krawitz’ Jewboy and Dead Europe, Daniel Nettheim’s The Hunter, Tony Ayres’ The Home Song Stories and Walking on Water, Cate Shortland’s Lore, Rowan Woods’ Little Fish and David Caesar’s Mullet.

In television and episodic, the team have produced Foxtel drama The Kettering Incident, created by Vicki Madden...

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...

Duncan Fellows and Alison Bell.

Fans of ABC TV’s The Letdown who enjoy watching Duncan Fellows as Jeremy, partner and foil of Alison Bell’s oft-stressed Audrey, can look forward to his next series Fam Time.

Fellows is playing John, aka ‘Handy Andy’, second husband of Michala Banas’ Belinda Box, matriarch of a dysfunctional blended family in the Seven Studios’ narrative comedy.

Created by Michael Horrocks and scripted by Erica Harrison and Jack Yabsley, the sitcom features Benson Jack Anthony as Belinda’s son Rylan, Karina Banno as her step-daughter Tahnee, Chloe De Los Santos as her adopted half-Filipino daughter Cherry, Rhonda Burchmore as grandma Viv and Tainui Tukiwaho as handyman Bill.

While everyone else in the family is obsessed with the online world, Handy Andy prefers fixing and inventing things, although he’s not very good at either.

There are some similarities between the two characters. “Neither is...

Michala Banas and Benson Jack Anthony.

A dysfunctional blended family who are addicted to their screens is at the heart of Fam Time, Seven Studios’ narrative comedy which is shooting in Sydney.

Hayden Guppy is directing the 6 X 30′ series created by Michael Horrocks, who joined Seven Studios a year ago as executive producer, comedy, with the remit to drive the production division’s expansion into comedy.

It’s the Seven Network’s first narrative comedy in more than 20 years since Bullpitt!, which starred Ross Higgins as Ted Bullpitt, reprising the character he played in the 1980s sitcom Kingswood Country.

Scripted by Erica Harrison and Jack Yabsley, Fam Time stars Michala Banas as the family matriarch Belinda Box. She runs a blog which chronicles her daily adventures as a modern mum with a busy blended family in the digital age.

Duncan Fellows is her second husband John, aka ‘Handy Andy’, an...

Joseph Baxter Oct 31, 2017

Lupita Nyong’o joins Josh Gad to star in Little Monsters, which is being described as a zombie rom-com movie.

Lupita Nyong’o, the Oscar-winning breakout star of 2013’s 12 Years a Slave, continues a tour-de-force of high-profile projects that’s seen her – via digital motion capture – in the Star Wars sequel films, including December's The Last Jedi, and wielding weapons in the 2018 Marvel movie, Black Panther.

However, her upcoming role in a film called Little Monsters will be a major change of pace, playing a pursued love interest in a romantic zombie movie.

Little Monsters will see Nyong’o join Josh Gad in the zombie rom-com. Aussie actor Alexander England will play Dave, a washed-up musician who accompanies his nephew on a school trip with designs to spend time with teacher Miss Caroline (Nyong’o), with whom he sports an unrequited crush. Yet, his plans for amorous...

Joseph Baxter Sep 13, 2019

Lupita Nyong’o and Josh Gad star in Little Monsters, a mirthfully undead zombie movie that's set for Hulu.

Lupita Nyong’o, the Oscar-winning breakout star of 2013’s 12 Years a Slave, continues a tour-de-force of high-profile projects that’s seen her – via digital motion capture – as Maz Kanata in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy and as Nakia in Marvel's Black Panther. However, her role in this film, Little Monsters, will be a major change of pace, playing a sanguine, sun-dress-wearing school teacher in a romantic, comedic zombie movie.

Not to be confused with the 1989 Fred Savage/Howie Mandel children's fantasy classic of the same name, Little Monsters is the brainchild of director/writer Abe Forsythe. The Aussie actor-turned-director most recently directed the 2016 Australian comedic crime drama film, Down Under, and an array of Aussie TV shows, notably dark comedy series Laid.

While past genre offerings...

Down Under.

Abe Forsythe will talk the two masks of drama - comedy and tragedy - this Friday as part of Aftrs' Friday on My Mind talks series. The Down Under writer-drector will chat with host Giles Hardie in Sydney to analyse the awful things we laugh at, and possibly have a chuckle at the missteps he.s made in his career as a filmmaker. Forsythe has surfed the line between comedy and tragedy for years, winning Tropfest in 2010 with his short film Shock, showing the depression behind the scenes of breakfast radio, while his black comedy.feature Down Under premiered at.Sff and will screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival, kicking off tomorrow. Forsythe won the Tropfest Tropicana Award at the age of sixteen for his film Guided By The Light Of The Lord. In 2003 he wrote, directed and starred in the feature comedy Ned, which was released...

Celia Pacquola and Luke McGregor.

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Celia Pacquola says buying a whiteboard was the best decision she has ever made as she prepares to shoot Rosehaven — the ABC comedy series she wrote and created with Luke McGregor.

.It was only like a hundred bucks from Officeworks and it flips, it.s the greatest,. she tells If.

The whiteboard in question, despite making the comment in jest, was how Pacquola and fellow comedian McGregor mapped out their new eight-part comedy series, which starts filming on Monday in Geeveston, Tasmania

The series, which also stars McGregor (Utopia, It.s a Date, Luke Warm Sex) and Pacquola (The Beautiful Lie, Utopia, Laid) was cooked up while both were on tour for their various comedy shows.

.Luke McGregor and I knew each other from standup but became really close friends from filming Utopia seasons 1 and 2,. she says..

.There was a lot of in-between-filming. talking shit...

Celia Pacquola and Luke McGregor.

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Celia Pacquola says buying a whiteboard was the best decision she has ever made as she prepares to shoot Rosehaven — the ABC comedy series she wrote and created with Luke McGregor.

.It was only like a hundred bucks from Officeworks and it flips, it.s the greatest,. she tells If.

The whiteboard in question, despite making the comment in jest, was how Pacquola and fellow comedian McGregor mapped out their new eight-part comedy series, which starts filming on Monday in Geeveston, Tasmania

The series, which also stars McGregor (Utopia, It.s a Date, Luke Warm Sex) and Pacquola (The Beautiful Lie, Utopia, Laid) was cooked up while both were on tour for their various comedy shows.

.Luke McGregor and I knew each other from standup but became really close friends from filming Utopia seasons 1 and 2,. she says..

.There was a lot of in-between-filming. talking shit...

Rosehaven writer and creator Celia Pacquola.

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Production is set to start in Tasmania on Celia Pacquola and Luke McGregor's.Rosehaven, a new eight-part comedy series for the ABC. .

From the production base at the ABC Centre in Hobart, the series will be filmed entirely on location in the state, creating jobs for 200 Tasmanians as cast, crew and extras. ..

Eight emerging screen practitioners will also be engaged by the production in training positions funded by Screen Tasmania. .

Tasmanian actors have been cast in over 80 per cent of the sixty roles in the series.

Rosehaven stars two of Australia.s most popular comedians, Tasmanian born Luke McGregor (Utopia, It.s a Date, Luke Warm Sex) and Celia Pacquola (The Beautiful Lie, Utopia, Laid), who also wrote and created the series..

The series, which will screen in the second half of 2016, is a Guesswork Television production. .

It is produced by Andrew Walker and .co-produced by Fiona McConaghy.

Rosehaven writer and creator Celia Pacquola.

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Production is set to start in Tasmania on Celia Pacquola's Rosehaven, a new eight-part comedy series for the ABC. .

From the production base at the ABC Centre in Hobart, the series will be filmed entirely on location in the state, creating jobs for 200 Tasmanians as cast, crew and extras. ..

Eight emerging screen practitioners will also be engaged by the production in training positions funded by Screen Tasmania. .

Tasmanian actors have been cast in over 80 per cent of the sixty roles in the series.

Rosehaven stars two of Australia.s most popular comedians, Tasmanian born Luke McGregor (Utopia, It.s a Date, Luke Warm Sex) and Celia Pacquola (The Beautiful Lie, Utopia, Laid), who also wrote and created the series..

The series, which will screen in the second half of 2016, is a Guesswork Television production. .

It is produced by Andrew Walker and .co-produced by Fiona McConaghy.

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.

Benjamin Law on the set of Sbs series The Family Law.

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Benjamin Law.s new six-part series The Family Law has put form to his hit memoir of the same name as he makes his first foray in television.

Co-written with friend and colleague Marieke Hardy, Law told If that bringing the highly personal memoir to the screen was less about what he felt and more about how his family felt.

.I have already written a book about them and now it.s. hey family! Now our lives are going to be on television,. he said.

.I have got this really amazing career turning point and you are involved. They were curious about what it would look like and once they read the script, they thought this is really funny..

The series is told through the eyes 14-year-old Benjamin Law over a long, hot, Queensland summer.

The.Family.Law.is...

Maeve Dermody will play Olivia, a free-spirited Aussie girl living in Italy, in romantic drama The Space Between.

The debut feature from writer-director Ruth Borgobello is in pre-production and the shoot will start in northern Italy on May 7

Flavio Parenti (To Rome with Love, I am Love ) is the lead, Marco, a 35-year-old who has a dispiriting job as a factory worker in Udine despite his skill as a chef amid the deepening economic crisis in Italy.

He passes his time in an empty relationship and after his best friend Claudio is killed in a car accident he tries to keep Claudio.s struggling bookshop business alive. Then he encounters Olivia, an aspiring furniture designer who is visiting Italy, the land of her father and grandparents.

Dermody recently finished shooting Paul Currie.s romantic thriller 2.22, playing the ex-girlfriend of an air traffic controller in New York (Game of Thrones. Michiel Huisman...

At least two actors formerly represented by International Casting Services (Ics), the talent agency that is closing down after 52 years, have signed with other agents.

It.s expected that a number of other actors on Ics.s books will cross to Lisa Mann Creative Management (Lmcm), a process which will play out over the next week.

nm2942148 autoMelina McKenna[/link], a senior agent at Ics, is joining Lmcm on June 4. The decision to close Ics was sparked by the retirement of veteran agent Pauline Lee, If believes.

Lisa Mann told If that the question of which Ics actors would transfer to her agency is still in discussion. She said, .When Melina was offered senior agent position here at Lmcm we had no way of knowing that Ics.s doors were about to close, so the shock was as great to us as it was to her, the industry at large and...

Porchlight Films has further committed to expanding into television with the creation of a Head of Television role. The independent production company today announced that Tanya Phegan has been appointed to fill the newly created position. Phegan has spent the last 12 years in the UK and the Us working in various development, production and acquisitions roles, and has worked for both BBC Films and DNA Films. Her time at DNA films saw Phegan develop some acclaimed projects such as The Last King of Scotland, 28 Weeks Later, Dredd, Never Let Me Go, Sunshine and Notes on A Scandal. Liz Watts, a founding director of Porchlight Films said, "Since producing two seasons of the comedy series Laid for the ABC, Porchlight has been developing television, but Tanya's appointment marks a new focus on producing high quality content in the television arena. Tanya's background; her creative abilities and understanding of what it takes...

The team behind ABC1 comedies A Moody Christmas and Review with Myles Barlow has started production on a new sketch series: The Elegant Gentleman.s Guide to Knife Fighting.

The new 6 x 30 minute Jungleboys TV series.began as an experimental online comedy program and is being filmed in Sydney and Melbourne.

It stars Patrick Brammall (A Moody Christmas), Brendan Cowell (The Borgias, The Slap), Phil Lloyd (Review with Myles Barlow, A Moody Christmas), Jane Harber (A Moody Christmas), Georgina Haig (Fringe), Craig Anderson (Next Stop Hollywood), Helen Dalimore (Laid), Janis McGavin (The Urban Monkey) and standup comedian Dave Eastgate.

The series also features a strong line-up of directing talent: Wayne Blair (The Sapphires, Redfern Now), Trent O.Donnell (A Moody Christmas, Review with Myles Barlow), Christiaan and Connor Van Vuuren (Bondi Hipsters), Abe Forsythe (Mr & Mrs Murder, Laid), Craig Melville (John Safran.s Race Relations and John Safran Vs God...

Wayne Blair

One of Australia’s most sought-after directors has signed on to a new ABC sketch comedy series, Encore can reveal.

The Sapphires director Wayne Blair will direct sketches in The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting, produced by The Jungleboys for the public broadcaster.

Last week Blair received the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts award for best direction for his work on The Sapphires, which also won best film.

Jason Burrows, co-founder and executive producer at Jungleboys, told Encore: “Wayne is obviously an awesome director and he’s good with comedy. He’s one of our directors and has a great profile.”

“He’s obviously quite in demand and will be even more so once The Sapphires releases in the States next month. But he’s still into doing commercials and fun projects like this.”

Jungleboys added Blair to their books at the end of...

Russell Crowe has been announced as the new Aacta host after a conflicting La schedule forced original host Hugh Sheridan to pull out.

The second annual Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards will see Crowe headline an impressive line-up of presenters, including Aacta president Geoffery Rush and Aacta ambassador Cate Blanchett.

The awards, to be held on January 30 at The Star Event Centre, will see more than 1000 Australian film and television performers and practitioners in attendance.

In addition to the Aacta Awards in Sydney, Crowe will also host the Aacta International Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, which Sheridan will now also attend.

"The Australian Academy is making its mark in the States, and I'm equally as honoured to represent the Australian industry in L.A. as host of Aacta's International Awards, as I am to return home to celebrate the success of my peers at the 2nd Aacta Awards Ceremony in Sydney,...

The ABC has begun production of a new legal series which will showcase the talent of Australia’s acting talent pool.

The announcement:

Marta Dusseldorp (A Place to Call Home, Jack Irish, Crownies) returns as Senior Crown Prosecutor Janet King in the title role of the powerful new eight hour mini-series for ABC1, which begins production today.

Joining the cast are Vince Colosimo (Underbelly, The Great Gatsby) as Chief Superintendent Jack Rizzoli, and Damian Walshe-Howling (Underbelly, Brothers In Arms, The Time of Our Lives) as Owen Mitchell, a rising star prosecutor – each crucial in Janet’s campaign to expose the truth behind a shocking murder that strikes at the very heart of the justice system.

Also appearing in the compelling high stakes legal thriller are John Howard (Fury Road, Packed to the Rafters, All Saints), Sonia Todd (Rake, Home and Away, McLeod’s Daughters), Jessica Napier (Sea Patrol, McLeod’s Daughters), Deborah Kennedy (Rake,...

Hit musical drama The Sapphires has scored 12 nominations at the 2012 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) Awards including in the coveted best feature film category.

The Sapphires, which follows four indigenous singers during the Vietnam war, has grossed more than $14 million in Australia to become the biggest local film of the year.

Three other films will be also be vying for the best feature film award: Burning Man (10 nominations in total), Lore (eight nominations in total) and Wish You Were Here (eight nominations in total) at the main Aacta ceremony, which will be held on January 30, 2013, at The Star Event Centre. Last year's event was held at the iconic Sydney Opera House.

P.J. Hogan's Mental also scored eight nominations including Best Lead Actress (Toni Collette), Best Supporting Actor (Liev Schreiber) Best Young Actor (Lily Sullivan) and Best Supporting Actress for Rebecca Gibney and Deborah Mailman.

Not Suitable for Children...

The Sapphires has led the Academy of Australian Cinema and Television Arts Awards nominations being nominated in 12 categories.

Awards will be handed out over two events, with an awards luncheon, focused on craft categories on Monday January 28 and the main event on January 30. Both events will be held at the Star Event Centre, the first public events for the venue.

The Sapphires, distributed by Hopscotch/eOne has been nominated for Best Film, Best Direction and best adapted screenplay as well as Best Lead Actor and Actress for Chris O’Dowd and Deborah Mailman, and Best Supporting Actress for Jessica Mauboy.

Burning Man was not far behind on 10 nominations including best film and best direction as well as best lead actor for Matthre Goode and Best Supporting Actress for Essie Davis.

Three more films, Lore, Mental and Wish You Were Here received eight nominations while Not Suitable For Children received four.

Former ABC head of comedy Debbie Lee has moved to production company Matchbox Pictures.

Lee moves to the production company behind The Slap and The Straits in the new position of director of scripted development.

In her role as head of comedy, and prior, as commissioning editor, entertainment and comedy Lee greenlit A Moody Christmas, Laid, Lowdown and Angry Boys.

Before that she was commissioning editor, drama and comedy for Sbs Independent, commissioning Wilfred and John Safran vs God.

Lee will report to Chris Oliver-Taylor, MD of Matchbox Pictures.

Oliver-Taylor said of the appointment: “Debbie is one of the most gifted, creative people in the industry. She brings vast experience in scripted content and will allow Matchbox Pictures to continue to deliver the highest quality scripted productions to audiences in Australia and internationally. On behalf of the founders of Matchbox, we are thrilled to have Debbie join us at what...

Foxtel and FremantleMedia Australia have announced the cast for the remake of classic Australian series Prisoner.

The contemporised Wentworth, which begins production next week, will see the return of Bea Smith played by Underbelly: Razor’s Danielle Cormack, Liz Birdsworth played by Celia Ireland of Laid and Franky Doyle, now a GenY lesbian, played by Rush’s Nicole Da Silva.

Kris McQuade of Killing Time will play new crime matriarch Jacs Holt and Shareena Clanton will play a young indigenous woman Doreen Anderson.

Other cast members include Catherine McClements, Kate Atkinson, Aaron Jeffrey, Robbie Magaziva and Leeanna Walsman.

Brian Walsh, Foxtel’s executive director of television said: “Wentworth will be bold Australian storytelling with this remarkable group of actors portraying the rivalries, power struggles and heartbreak of prison life in a drama tailor-made for the subscription television audience.”

FremantleMedia’s Jo Porter, director of drama and Ep on Wentworth said:...

Wentworth, the new drama based on iconic Australian TV series Prisoner, starts production in Melbourne next week.

The 10-part series will be filmed on a purpose-built women.s prison, the Wentworth Detention Centre, where inmates and corrections staff will be forced to forge unlikely friendships to survive on the inside.

The cast includes Danielle Cormack (Underbelly Razor, Rake) as Wentworth.s latest arrival, suburban wife and mum Bea Smith; Nicole Da Silva (Rush, East West 101) as Gen Y lesbian Franky Doyle; Celia Ireland (Laid, All Saints) as earthy Liz Birdsworth; and Shareena Clanton as young Aboriginal woman Doreen Anderson.

Catherine McClements (Rush, Water Rats) and Kate Atkinson (Offspring, Rush) play Governor Meg Jackson and her deputy Vera Bennett. Aaron Jeffery (Underbelly Badness, McLeod.s Daughters) and Robbie Magasiva (Shortland Street) are corrections officers Matthew .Fletch. Fletcher and Will Jackson. Leeanna Walsman (Underbelly Badness) plays progressive and crusading lawyer Erica Davidson.

Production has begun today on a new ABC sketch comedy series from comedian Sam Simmons, a former Triple J presenter and finalist of Edinburgh Comedy Festival’s top award in 2011.

Called Problems, there will be four initial episodes with the series slated for late 2012.

The production company behind the show is Guesswork Television, the production arm of Token Group, one of the main talent management firm for comedy in Australia.

Kevin Whyte, Ep for Problems and MD for Token Group, told Encore: “Each episode will have a story arc from Sam and built around that will be characters and sketches, some in Sam’s ‘world’ and others in a world of their own. It will be set in the suburbs but is not a riff on suburban life, Australia is the suburbs and their cream brick endlessness provide a great backdrop for our odd little world.”

Trent O’Donnell, a...

This article originally appeared in If Magazine #144 (Dec-Jan 2012).

Kirsty Fisher I haven.t marked my calendar but I guess I met Marieke when I script edited her on a kids show many, many years ago . probably almost ten years ago . and then we worked together really closely on Last Man Standing.

I was a script editor and she was basically everything else and we realised in working together on that show that we shared a lot in common and we loved working with each other.

So when that show didn.t go ahead to a second series we got together... and came up with a whole lot of stories, ideas and concepts and one of those was . well it was called Like a Virgin but it.s the show that became Laid.

It doesn.t feel like work at all, it.s great fun. It.s very harmonious . there.s very little tension.

The finalists have been announced for the Australian Writers’ Guild awards – or Awgies.

Wish You Were Here is up for best feature film, along with Last Dance and Not Suitable For Children.

The Slap and Underbelly: Razor are up for best TV mini-series.

The short list in full:

Telemovie Original

Beaconsfield – Judi McCrossin

Mabo – Susan Smith

Television Mini-series – Adaptation

The Slap – Emily Ballou, Alice Bell, Brendan Cowell, Kris Mrksa with Cate Shortland

Underbelly: Razor – Peter Gawler, Michaeley O’Brien, Felicity Packard and Jeffrey Truman

Television Mini-series – Original

Only one nomination and the winner will be announced on the night.

Television – Series

Spirited: If You See Her Say Hello – Alice Bell

Offspring: Episode 206 – Michael Lucas

Spirited: Living In Oblivion – Ian Meadows

Spirited: I’ll Close My Eyes – Jacquelin Perske

Television – Serial

Home & Away 5437- Louise Bowes

Home & Away 5391 – Fiona Bozic

Neighbours 6231 (Jim’s Death) – Pete McTighe

Comedy...

The Australian Writers’ Guild has announced the nominations for the 45th annual Awgie Awards. Among the nominated is Michael Lucas for his feature film Not Suitable For Children, Kieran Darcy-Smith for Wish You Were Here, the writing teams behind The Slap and Underbelly: Razor and in the comedy division, the teams behind Laid 2, Agony Uncles and At Home With Julia.

The announcement:

The nominees this year reflect the abundance of high quality screenwriters Australia has produced.

“The Awgies are a unique opportunity to celebrate the writers whose stories have shaped our national culture including feature films, theatre, TV series and serials, mini-series, radio, interactive, animation and children’s programs,” says Awg’s President and Academy Award nominee Jan Sardi. “This rich crop of writers is a sure sign Australia can match it with the best from anywhere in the world when it comes to performance writing, and that’s something to celebrate in this,...

The nominees for this year's Awgie awards include the scribes behind local films such as The Sapphires, The Eye of the Storm, Wish You Were Here and TV programs such as Mabo, Beaconsfield, and Underbelly.

Battling in the feature film adaptation category will be Judy Morris. The Eye of the Storm, starring Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davies, and The Sapphires from Keith Thompson and Tony Briggs. Michael Lucas has also been nominated for his first original feature, Not Suitable for Children while Last Dance by Terence Hammond and David Pulbrook and drama Wish You Were Here, written by Kieran Darcy-Smith and Felicity Price, have also been nominated.

Among television nominees, the team of writers behind The Slap and Underbelly: Razor have been nominated as well as Susan Smith for indigenous telemovie Mabo, and Judi McCrossin for Beaconsfield. Michael Lucas was also nominated for the television series Offspring while three scripts...

Kat Stewart

Shaun Micallef

A new FremantleMedia Australia production is one of four new television dramas receiving support from Screen Australia.

Produced by Andy Walker and Jason Stephens with Stephens executive producing, the 13-part, hour series Mr & Mrs Murder will air on Ten.

A murder mystery series, Mr & Mrs Murder follows Nicole and Charlie, a married couple who run an extreme cleaning business, specialising in crime scenes, solving the crimes before the police.

The synopsis reads “Armed with wit, smarts and the invisibility that cleaning brings, the duo solve the crimes the cops can’t in a murder mystery with a smile.”

Shaun Micallef of Talkin ‘Bout Your Generation and Newstopia co-created the series with Stephens.

Stephens told Encore: “We’ve found a tone that is not absurd at all, its quite grounded and real.”

Stephens said Micallef, who will play Charlie, alongside Kat Stewart of Offspring and Tangled as Nicole,...

Production on a new six-part comedy series from the team behind Review with Myles Barlow begins this week in Sydney.

This Christmas , which will air on ABC1 later in the year,. follows Dan Moody (Ian Meadows) as he visits the dysfunctional family he moved halfway across the world to escape from.

The series was created by Trent O'Donnell and Phil Lloyd of production company Jungleboys. O'Donnell (Review with Myles Barlow, Laid, Woodley, The Chaser's War on Everything) will direct, while Lloyd (who was seen last year as Tim Mathieson in ABC comedy At Home with Julia) will co-produce and star in the series.

Other cast members include Patrick Brammall (Hawke), Guy Edmonds (Underbelly: Razor) and Jane Harber (Offspring)

Each episode will be set a year apart, focusing on the Moody family as they come together to share the fights, fun, bad gifts, family secrets and boring uncles universally associated with Christmas Day.

Production on a new six-part comedy series from the team behind Review with Myles Barlow begins this week in Sydney. This Christmas , which will air on ABC1 later in the year,. follows Dan Moody (Ian Meadows) as he visits the dysfunctional family he moved halfway across the world to escape from. The series was created by Trent O'Donnell and Phil Lloyd of production company Jungleboys. O'Donnell (Review with Myles Barlow, Laid, Woodley, The Chaser's War on Everything) will direct, while Lloyd (who was seen last year as Tim Mathieson in ABC comedy At Home with Julia) will co-produce and star in the series. Other cast members include Patrick Brammall (Hawke), Guy Edmonds (Underbelly: Razor) and Jane Harber (Offspring) Each episode will be set a year apart,...

It seems controversy leads to awards. The two big winners at last night.s inaugural Aacta Awards were thriller feature film Snowtown and TV drama series The Slap. Both renowned for their controversial nature, the film and TV series netted four and five gongs respectively.

Snowtown, about Australian serial killer John Bunting who befriends a 16-year-old, was honoured in the Best Direction (Justin Kurzel), Best Adapted Screenplay (Shaun Grant), Best Actor (Daniel Henshall) and Best Supporting Actress (Louise Harris) categories.

The last two awards were particularly impressive as neither actor had appeared in a feature film before. While Henshall had previously acted in such shows as Out of the Blue, it was Harris. first ever acting role.

The four gongs awarded last night at the Sydney Opera House brings the film.s tally to an impressive six Aacta Awards after receiving Best Editing (Veronika Jenet Ase) and Best Sound (Frank Lipson Mpse,...

Australian cinematographer Don McAlpine (Acs/Asc) received two standing ovations after tributes from longtime colleagues Jack Thompson and Bruce Beresford at the inaugural Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts (Aacta) awards yesteryday.

McAlpine was awarded the coveted Raymond Longford Award for a lifetime achievement in cinema. McAlpine’s career spans over 50 films including Moulin Rouge and William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, Breaker Morant and most recently Mental.

The ceremony, hosted by Sigrid Thornton, was the first for the newly formed academy. The ceremony also included the announcement of the Australian academy’s international awards to recognise excellence in film. The announcements were made during a live cross to actress Jackie Weaver at the G’Day USA Gala in Los Angeles.

Further awards for both Australian cinema and TV and the international awards will be presented on January 31 at the Opera House.

The Winners

Raymond Longford Award

Don McAlpine

Byron Kennedy Award...

The Hunter has lead the Aacta Awards with 14 nominations including best film.

The film, by Daniel Nettheim, is also up for best direction, adapted screenplay, cinematography, sound, production design, costume, original music score, and visual effects. Meanwhile, Willem Dafoe, Frances O’Connor, Sam Neill and Morgana Davies are all up for acting awards.

The film has currently made just over $1m at the local box office.

It’s the first year for the re-launched AACTAs, formerly the AFI awards.

The technical awards will be given out at a luncheon on 15 January at the Sydney Opera House, with an evening ceremony for the more ‘public-friendly’ awards held at the Opera House on 31 January.

Running against The Hunter for best film is Red Dog, Mad Bastards, The Eye of the Storm, Snowtown and Oranges and Sunshine.

The Eye of the Storm, was second in the nominations race with 12, of which six are...

Creators of ABC comedy Review with Myles Barlow have today launched an online comedy site jungleboys.tv.

The Jungle Boys are Trent O’Donnell, Phil Lloyd and executive producer Jason Burrows, who last week announced a new comedy series for the ABC, This Christmas.

The online platform is a place to experiment with new material that doesn’t fit with their current slate of TV work and free from network approval.

The first show on the platform will be The Elegant Gentleman’s guide to Knife Fighting.

O’Donnell, who has directed The Chaser’s War on Everything, Laid and the upcoming Woodley for ABC said: “The great thing about online is that we have a direct connection with our viewers and we can upload clips very fast and freely.”

“The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting is a different kind of sketch comedy. We’ve gone for naturalistic...

NBC has bought Kept Men, a multi-camera comedy from writers-actors Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme, members of the Broken Lizard comedy filmmaking group behind such movies as Super Troopers and Beerfest. Heffernan and Lemme will write the project, which tells he story of two friends who become supported by their respective wives after their business closes down. They also will executive produce with 3 Arts. Apa-repped Heffernan and UTA-repped Lemme just wrapped photography on The Babymakers with Olivia Munn and Paul Schneider. Additionally, NBC is developing a U.S. version of the Australian black comedy series Laid, from BermanBraun. Ali Rushfield (Help Me Help You) will write the script for the project, which was brought to NBC and BermanBraun by Jeremy Fox and Kary Mchoul of Digital Rights Group. It centers on a woman whose ex-boyfriends/one-night stands start dying under suspicious circumstances, prompting her to launch an investigation with her...

The first winners of the newly renamed Kit Denton Disfellowship, previously the Kit Denton Fellowship, have been named as Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan whose writing credits have included Big Bite, Hamish & Andy and The Mansion.

The announcement was made at tonight’s Australian Writers Guild Awgie Awards held in Sydney.

Other winners included The Secret Life Of Us writer Kris Mrksa who picked up the Foxtel Fellowship, Chris Lilley who was recognised for his contribution to comedy and films Snow Town and Burning Man.

The Awgie winners:

2011 Kit Denton Fellowship

ForCourage and Excellence in Performance Writing

Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan

2011 Foxtel Fellowship

Fellowship awarded in recognition of a significant body of work in television.

Kris Mrksa

2011 Richard Lane Award

For Outstanding Service and Dedication to the Australian Writers’ Guild

Ian David

2011 Dorothy Crawford Award

For Outstanding Contribution to the Profession

Currency Press

2011 Fred Parsons Award

For Outstanding Contribution...