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PaleyFest NY is lining up shows for this year’s event, starting with panels devoted to the 10th anniversary of Starz’s “Outlander,” one for HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere” and another for AMC’s “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol.”

The festival will run from Oct. 16 to Oct. 22 in midtown Manhattan and feature screenings and conversations with the casts and creative teams of the season’s most-anticipated television.

“‘Outlander,’ ‘Somebody Somewhere’ and ‘The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol’ each represent excellence in television, and we are thrilled to reveal these stellar programs as the first announced program selections for this year’s PaleyFest NY,” Maureen J. Reidy, president, CEO of The Paley Center for Media, said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming television fans to The Paley Museum this October, and we extend our tremendous thanks to Citi for their continued support of PaleyFest NY.

Top actor Asher Keddie will co-produce and star opposite David Wenham in Paramount+ Australia’s freshly-commissioned “Fake” drama-thriller series.

Keddie has a long TV career with recent credits including “The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart,” “Nine Perfect Strangers” and “Stateless.” Her movie credits include smaller roles in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and eccentric comedy “Rams.” Wenham’s filmography includes “SeaChange,” “Elvis,” “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers & The Return of the King.”

“Fake” follows Keddie’s character, a smart and brilliant writer who thinks she has found her ideal match when she meets a successful rancher, portrayed by Wenham, on a dating app. But after she commits, she discovers that her boyfriend isn’t all he has led her to believe.

The show is inspired by the book “Fake” by Stephanie Wood and was created for television by renown screenwriter, Anya Beyersdorf with award-winner director, Emma Freeman.

The eight- part...

The Jesse Stone movies are some of the best recent additions to the crime genre. The film follows the titular character, played by Tom Selleck, as he solves crimes in the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts.

While the movies are procedural, they also offer a deep and complex look at human relationships and the darker side of human nature. For example, the Jesse Stone movies are gripping tales of crime and suspense, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

Each movie is entirely fascinating, and you’ll find yourself rooting for Jesse every step of the way. If you’re looking for great tv movies, be sure to watch Jesse Stone Movies. There are nine films in the Jesse Stone franchise; you won’t get bored soon.

Here is the list of all nine Jesse Stone movies in order of the release date.

All Nine Jesse Stone Movies...

Top Australian actor Damon Herriman and U.K.-Italian star Greta Scacchi join “Succession” star Sarah Snook in horror-thriller “Run Rabbit Run” from “The Handmaid’s Tale” director Daina Reid. The film starts production in Victoria and South Australia this week.

Snook replaced Elizabeth Moss who was previously attached, but who dropped out late last year due to scheduling clashes. Snook plays a fertility doctor whose firm grasp on the cycle of life is put to the test as her young daughter begins to exhibit increasingly strange behavior.

The script was written by acclaimed South Australian novelist Hannah Kent (“Devotion,” “Burial Rites”) from an original idea developed with Carver Films. Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw of Carver Films are producing.

Los Angeles-based XYZ Films is executive producing, financing and handling world sales, having taken over sales duties from STX International which previously touted the project at 2020’s virtual Cannes Market. Storyd...

Moreblessing Maturure (Photo credit: Kristina Yenko).

Moreblessing Maturure plans to make her screen directing debut on a segment of Masc (working title), an online anthology which examines modern masculinity through female and non-binary lenses.

Separately the Zimbabwean/Australian writer/performer is developing several projects with the Afro Sistahs Collective.

Masc’s key creative drivers, Laura Nagy and Madeleine Gottlieb, invited Maturure to become the eighth member of the team, joining Renée Marie Petropoulos, Hyun Lee, Imogen McCluskey, Shari Sebbens and Cloudy Rhodes.

Developed with Screen Australia’s support, the anthology explores different stages of the subjects’ lives in ascending age, beginning with a young child and ending with an older man.

“The series has a particular focus on diversity, exploring masculinity through the lens of different cultures, sexualities and gender identities,” Easy Tiger’s Rob Gibson, who is co-executive producer with RevLover Films’ Martha Coleman, tells If.

“The development process has been extremely collaborative,...

‘Seachange’.

The Nine Network screened just two first-release Australian dramas – Seachange and Bad Mothers – last year and had to rely on New Zealand imports to fulfill the local drama quota.

Kiwi series The Brokenwood Mysteries, Straight Forward, Westside, The Bad Seed and Dear Murderer and feature film The Changeover aired on 9Gem, accounting for 50 per cent of the network’s local drama obligations.

Conversely, Nz dramas accounted for only 5 per cent of Network 10’s local drama hours and and 10 per cent of the Seven Network’s, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s 2019 Compliance with Australian Content Standard and Children’s Television Standard report issued last week.

The report prompted Screen Producers Australia to renew its attack on Australian broadcasters’ continued reliance on “cheap, second-run New Zealand programs” to acquit their local Australian content obligations.

Spa CEO Matthew Deaner said: “Spa has been calling on the government...

Editor’s note: The list is constantly updated. Dates refer to when announcements were made, or when an event is scheduled to happen.

You’ve probably seen our other Covid-19 list, the one where we are examining every cancellation that has taken place as the pandemic takes hold in our community. This is the counterpoint to that “Houston, we have a problem” list; this is the one where we’ll talk about how the show must go on, how the Force will be with us, and, maybe most importantly, how we’ll be back.

IndieWire will continue to update this page with the latest breaking news regarding virtual events, work logistics, TV premieres, and general acts of bravery and kindness. This is the place where we’ll be documenting our return to normalcy — and make no mistake, we’ll get through this. The most recent updates will be posted at...

David Mott.

ITV Studios Australia MD David Mott is encouraged to see the Aussie networks are still looking to commission shows despite the slump in advertising revenues.

He praises the JobKeeper initiative, addresses the challenges of working remotely and expresses concern if the suspension of the local content quotas continues next year.

Q: The Voice premieres on Nine on May 24. Are safe distancing restrictions impacting the production?

A: We had already shot the Blinds and Battles in February and early March so these were unaffected. Of the remaining episodes we have applied the government’s Covid-19 protocols and our own ITV Studios protocols to ensure the safety and well being of all coaches, hosts, contestants and, equally important, our crew.

I could not be happier with the workarounds The Voice team have worked tirelessly on. Whilst the production of these episodes will clearly look a little different the team have...

Aacta will hold a live pitching competition at Screenworks’ 2020 Business of Producing seminar in March, with the call out for feature film ideas inspired by Australia’s regional landscapes.

Put on with the support of the Australian Writers’ Guild (Awg), the brief is for story concept in which a regional setting lends itself as a central character.

Up to five finalists will be selected for the comp, with the winner to receive industry connection opportunities through the Awg’s Pathway program; script development from Emma Jensen; feedback and ongoing guidance from the judging panel; a three-day pass to all sessions at the Screenworks’ seminar; Aacta, Screenworks, and Awg annual memberships and two tickets to the 2020 Aacta Awards.

The judging panel will consist of:

Producer Michele Bennett Every Cloud Productions creative director and co-founder Deb Cox Sbs acting head of scripted and former Adelaide Film Festival CEO/creative director Amanda Duthie...

Tom Long.

Boston-born, Australian-raised actor Tom Long, whose credits include the series East of Everything, SeaChange and Young Lions and the movies The Dish and Two Hands, died from encephalitis on Saturday, aged 51.

Long was forced to quit acting after he collapsed on stage during a performance of the play Coranderrk: We Will Show the Country at the Sydney Opera House in July 2012.

Diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, he underwent chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants and natural therapies to treat the disease.

He was in remission after going to the Us last April for a medical trial in which his T cells were harvested and genetically modified to attack his cancer cells.

Screenwise CEO Denise Roberts said: “He fought the hard fight and was given the all clear. The happiness and relief pulled out from under him. So unfair.”

Actor Peter James Finlay, who worked with Long on Coranderrk,...

Tom Long, who appeared on the Australian TV shows SeaChange and The Dish, has died from encephalitis complications related to a long battle with cancer. He was 51 and his family confirmed his death.

Long’s wife Rebecca Fleming told news outlets in a statement that he was “really at peace and in his home” when he expired “Gratitude is our way of getting through this,” she said. “Gratitude for all these amazing experiences with people who have cared for Tom and the lessons we’ve learnt along the way. Tom’s mindset was always really positive because he felt really supported … by the Australian people and our community.”

Born to Australian parents in Boston, Massachusetts, Long began acting in 1992 in an episode of G.P.

His best known role in an acting career that embraced TV, film and theater was as Angus in ABC’s drama SeaChange. He was nominated for...

Prominent Australian actor Tom Long, known for SeaChange and The Dish, has died, according to multiple reports in local news outlets on Saturday. He was 51.

A story in The Sydney Morning Herald states that the actor collapsed onstage in 2012 and was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. He subsequently underwent extensive treatment to battle the aggressive cancer, including a trip to the U.S. for an experimental medical trial. The outlet says that Long died from encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. 

In a statement given to the Herald, Long's wife Rebecca Fleming said the actor was "really at peace and ...

Hallie McKeig. (Photo: Penny Lane)

Phoenix Raei, Shannon Berry, Cooper Van Grootel, Kate Lister and Daisy Axon are among the first actors on the roster of Creative Soul Management, a new talent management company just launched by Hallie McKeig.

The Perth-based McKeig has spent the last decade at the helm of Filmbites Talent Agency, but has decided to launch a more individualised management company given many of her actors are landing major roles in Australia and overseas.

“Creative Soul Management feels like the natural next step as we work more closely with actors on building rewarding international careers and lives in the film and television industry. We have a long term, comprehensive view towards working with great people, characters and stories,” she said.

McKeig will continue to run Filmbites, continuing its youth focus, while Creative Soul Management will specialise in national and international opportunities for breakout emerging and established talent.

L-r: Fred Schepisi, Minister Martin Foley, Andrew Knight, Film Victoria CEO Caroline Pitcher, Film Victoria president Ian Robertson, Claire Dobbin, Jan Sardi, John Howie and Tony Reed.

Film Victoria’s annual screen awards were held yesterday evening, honouring writer/producer Andrew Knight, director Daina Reid, games advocate Tony Reed and Melbourne International Film Festival (Miff) chair Claire Dobbin.

Knight, whose credits include TV shows such as Fast Forward, Full Frontal, SeaChange and Jack Irish and features like The Water Diviner, Ali’s Wedding and Hacksaw Ridge, was recognised with the Jan Sardi Award for his significant achievements as a screenwriter.

Daina Reid was presented Fred Schepisi Award for significant achievement in directing. Reid began her career in television as a comedy writer and actor, before moving into directing. Her creidts include Blue Heelers, The Secret Life of Us, Rush, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Offspring, Nowhere Boys, The Secret River,...

Sigrid Thornton.

Sigrid Thornton will be presented with the Chauvel Award tonight at a screen industry gala event held as part of the Gold Coast Film Festival.

The award recognises the prolific actress’ significant contribution to the Australian screen industry. Her long career includes films such The Man From Snowy River and The Lighthorsemen, and TV series SeaChange, All The Rivers Run, Prisoner and recently, The Code and Wentworth. Established in 1992, previous winners of the Chauvel Award include Fred Schepisi, Gillian Armstrong, George Miller, Jan Chapman, Heath Ledger and Deborah Mailman.

“This recognition is a wonderful and very humbling acknowledgement of essentially what’s been a lot of hard work,” Thornton tells If.

“It’s a career that’s been full, rich and enormously joyful, but it’s also had a lot of ups and downs as well.”

Thronton will soon return to one of her most notable roles, that of Laura Gibson,...

Sigrid Thornton and Aaron Pedersen.

Screen Australia has announced $4 million worth of production investment for one film, two television series and three online projects. They include a film adaptation of book Penguin Bloom, starring Naomi Watts and produced by Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories; a second season of ABC series Mystery Road; Nine’s Seachange reboot; and Roborovski, a Vr project from Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Dev Patel.

Penguin Bloom, to be directed by Glendyn Ivin, is based on the book by Bradley Trevor Greive and has been adapted for the screen by Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps. It follows the true story of a family from Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Watts is Sam Bloom, a young mother who has a near-fatal accident that leaves her unable to walk. As her family struggles to come to terms with their new situation, an injured magpie chick dubbed “Penguin” enters their lives and helps them to cope.

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.

Sean Keenan.

Puberty Blues star Sean Keenan has nabbed the lead role in Ten's Wake in Fright two-parter, which begins shooting today..

Keenan will play John Grant, a young school teacher who descends into his own personal nightmare after being stranded in the small outback mining town of Bundanyabba.—.the role made famous by Gary Bond in Ted Kotcheff's 1971 original.

Keenan just worked with director Kriv Stenders, who's helming both episodes of the TV redo, on Foxtel telemovie Australia Day.

He's joined in the cast by David Wenham (Seachange, Lion), Caren Pistorius (Offspring), Gary Sweet (House Husbands), Alex Dimitriades (The Slap), Robyn Malcolm (Upper Middle Bogan), Lee Jones (The Bastard Executioner), Anna Samson (Winners & Losers), Hannah Frederiksen (Hunters) and Jada Alberts (Wentworth), with filming to take place in Broken Hill and Sydney.

Written by Stephen M. Irwin, the Wake In Fright mini is produced by Helen Bowden (The Slap,...

Claudia Karvan in 'Newton's Law'..

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

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

I've never heard of it.

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

The team behind 'Miss Fisher.s Murder Mysteries', Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger, are back with 'Newton.s Law', starring Claudia Karvan. Eagger talks to If about the show.s development and shooting in the ABC carpark.

How.s Newton.s Law going?

We.re in the middle of a 12-week shoot. Deb [Cox] and I just went to Mipcom and you pay dearly for taking [time off]. We went and came back within a week but a lot of things stockpile.

Did you go there to show footage from the show?

Yeah, ABC Commercial is distributing the show for rest of world, and we did a little Mipcom teaser trailer. It's not our official trailer because not all the material had been shot. And then Deb and I obviously had some meetings with the people they wanted us to. Just to meet some of the North American platforms and talk about what...

Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge.

If there was an Aacta award for Australia's busiest screenwriter, Andrew Knight would take the prize in a cakewalk..

Last year the veteran of Seachange and Full Frontal worked on three films and two television series.

In between trips to La and London (where he's developing a film with Jonathan Teplitzky, Shakespeare in Love's David Parfitt and Essential's Ian Collie), Knight managed to churn out a new season of Rake and another Jack Irish, the latter of which premieres this Thursday on the ABC.

"It was just insanity", Knight said..

"I'm taking a huge break at the moment. I don't know how long, but I'm taking a long time off. I'm off to India shortly with my wife".

"I was writing Rake scripts on planes, and producing Jack Irish with [Ian] Collie. The year's a blur for me. I think the public's going to be...

Toni Collette.

Toni Collette has joined the cast of Please Stand By, the next film from Australian director Ben Lewin (Seachange, Paperback Romance) after his critically-acclaimed The Sessions in 2012..

Collette joins River Alexander, her The Way Way Back co-star, as well as Dakota Fanning and Alice Eve..

Fanning plays .a brilliant young woman with autism who escapes her care home and embarks on a road trip of a lifetime: to enter her script into a Hollywood competition...

Collette will play her caregiver.

Embankment FIlms is handling international sales.

Andrew Anastasios and Andrew Knight.s The Water Diviner won the top prize and the gong for best original feature at the 2015 Awgie Awards.

It was the first time a feature collected the Australian Writers' Guild's Major Award and the gong for original feature since 2012 when Tony Briggs and Keith Thompson won with The Sapphires.

The prize for feature film adaptation was shared by Brendan Cowell for Scarlett Productions'. Ruben Guthrie and Tommy Murphy for Matchbox Pictures' Holding the Man.

Matchbox and Full Clip.s Deadline Gallipoli was named best original TV miniseries, acknowledging the work of writers Jacquelin Perske (also script producer), Stuart Beattie, Shaun Grant and Cate Shortland.

FremantleMedia.s Wentworth Season 3, Episode 3 The Governor.s Pleasure by Stuart Page shared the TV series award with Endemol Australia.s Offspring Episode 511 by Michael Lucas. Jan Sardi and Mac Gudgeon took the award for best miniseries adaptation for...

Andrew Knight is not a critic of Australia.s film schools but if he were invited to lecture on screenwriting he.d take a radically different approach.

The veteran writer/producer disagrees with an over- emphasis on structure, formulas and genres. .Too much of it and you start to stifle creativity, to pigeon-hole and not let it take to the open air,. Knight tells If, elaborating on the Aacta masterclasses he delivered in Sydney and Melbourne this month.

.When you start hearing hard and fast rules like .there must be a crisis by page 23. - maybe it.s time to check if you.ve paid your medical insurance..

In January he received Aacta.s inaugural Longford Lyell Award which recognised his contributions to screen culture in a career spanning more than 30 years.

His credits as head writer or co-writer include The Water Diviner, SeaChange, The Broken Shore, Fast Forward, Full Frontal,...

In a distinguished career spanning more than 30 years, writer-producer Andrew Knight has rarely been so busy.

The co-writer (with Andrew Anastasios) of The Water Diviner concurrently is working on the Jack Irish series, the fourth season of Rake and three movies.

He is collaborating with actor-writer Osamah Sami on the screenplay of Ali.s Wedding, a feature which is due to start shooting in June, directed by Wayne Blair for Matchbox Pictures. He.s developing two other features, The Cartographer (co-written with Anastasios) for South Pacific Pictures, and King of Thieves, a co-production between Essential Media and Entertainment.s Ian Collie and UK producer David Parfitt.s Trademark Films.

.It.s a fantastic time to be writing and producing drama; I am doing exactly what I want to do,. Knight tells If.

In January he won Aacta.s Longford Lyell Award which recognises outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Australia.s screen environment and culture.

The Water Diviner and The Babadook share top film honours and ABC’s The Code is the biggest TV winner. All the red carpet glitz, gossip and gongs from Sydney

Water Diviner and Babadook tie, but at least they’re AussieAactas red carpet: the stars arrive – in pictures

8.58pm Aest

The big winners? The Water Diviner and The Babadook for film, and The Code for its multiple awards in the telly categories.

Plenty more to celebrate and debate in the coming days. We’ll be back on Friday with the best quotes and pictures. Not to mention our weekly film column that sees Luke Buckmaster re-watching the cult classics of Australian cinema, week in week out, for your reading/viewing pleasure.

8.39pm Aest

And, breathe, we’re almost there. Cate and Debs are back on stage to lead into the final and biggest gong of the night: the award for...

Sue Masters has re-joined Sbs as the executive producer of drama.

Masters reports to Alison Sharman, who was named head of commissioning for Sbs One and Sbs 2 last year.

Her appointment follows the retirement of Caterina de Nave as Ep of drama and comedy, TV and online.

.Sue will be a fantastic addition to the team and we are very much looking forward to having her on board to continue progressing our drama slate,. Sbs Head of TV Tony Iffland told If.

.Sue has an outstanding track record in Australian drama production, which our Sbs audience will soon come to appreciate..

Sbs has not announced a new local drama this year but a spokeswoman said, "We have several in development at the moment and hope to make a key announcement for 2015 very soon."

Masters was appointed supervising executive producer for comedy and drama for Sbs in 2008. In 2010 she was the...

Actors who get lousy reviews usually ignore them or suffer in silence- but not Kevin Harrington.

The veteran actor was so incensed by a review by News Ltd..s Leigh Paatsch of the DVD of Cliffy, he vented on Facebook.

The ABC telemovie features Harrington as Cliff Young, who became an unlikely hero at the age of 61 when he won the 875km endurance race from Sydney to Melbourne..

In Saturday.s Daily Telegraph and Herald-Sun Paatsch dismissed it as a .dreadful telemovie that turns the ripping true story of the late ultra-marathon legend Cliff Young into a crap-tastic cartoon. How the ABC ever ponied up a commitment to this dim-witted affair beggars belief..

Paatsch advised readers who want the .real tale- much of which was ignored or changed by this TV calamity,. to read Julietta Jameson.s book Cliffy: The Cliff Young Story.

His verdict: .1 star, run the other way.

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,...

When shooting a documentary about your two best mates, walking the line between being a filmmaker and a friend can be difficult. Just ask Macario De Souza.

.As a friend, you want to put down the camera and be with your mates,. says the 27 year-old director. .But you can.t do that while you.re making a movie..

Fighting Fear is De Souza.s follow up to 2007.s Bra Boys, the highest grossing local (non-imax) documentary in Australian history. Shot over three years, the film tracks the friendship between cage fighter Richie Vas and pro-surfer Mark Matthews from the ages of 12 to 27 as they experience highs and lows, personally and professionally.

.There.s a lot of movies about female friendship,. says executive producer Michael Lawrence. .But Macca and I hadn.t seen a film for a long time about men being mates, and I think mateship is a really great Australian theme.

William McInnes has revealed that he felt "abandoned" when his wife died. The Australian actor, who is best known for his roles in TV shows such as SeaChange and Blue Heelers, lost filmmaker Sarah Watt to cancer last November and has now admitted that his life hasn't felt "quite right" since she left him. McInnes told National Features: "It's an odd feeling of being abandoned and marooned, but it's no-one's fault and it's just a new way of living your life. That can be terribly hard to comprehend, especially when it's sort of public. "It's not that you don't laugh or you stop having fun or enjoying life, you just know something's not quite right. Sometimes it's just too hard and you can't deal with it and you just feel like jumping in a hole. There are lots of people (more)...

Kevin Harrington has been cast as Australian ultra-marathon runner Cliff Young in upcoming ABC1 telemovie Cliffy.

Set against the backdrop of the early-80s, Cliffy will retrace Young.s journey from his days training in cow paddocks on his farm to winning the inaugural Sydney to Melbourne ultra-marathon at 61-years of age.

.It's a great honour to be given the opportunity to celebrate the achievements and the character of such an extraordinary Australian," Harrington said in a statement. .I've lost 11 kilos and I'm working on his voice. Mind you, the time is fast approaching to stop talking the talk, and start shuffling the shuffle. Jeez, I hope I don't bugger it up!.

Harrington (Underbelly, Seachange, Neighbours), will star alongside Roy Billing (Jack Irish, Underbelly, Rake), who will play Young's unconventional trainer and masseur, Wally.

Producer Nigel Odell said the filmmakers had learnt a lot about Cliff Young through research and discussion with his brother Sid,...

Kevin Harrington has been cast as Australian ultra-marathon runner Cliff Young in upcoming ABC1 telemovie Cliffy. Set against the backdrop of the early-80s, Cliffy will retrace Young.s journey from his days training in cow paddocks on his farm to winning the inaugural Sydney to Melbourne ultra-marathon at 61-years of age. .It's a great honour to be given the opportunity to celebrate the achievements and the character of such an extraordinary Australian," Harrington said in a statement. .I've lost 11 kilos and I'm working on his voice. Mind you, the time is fast approaching to stop talking the talk, and start shuffling the shuffle. Jeez, I hope I don't bugger it up!. Harrington (Underbelly, Seachange, Neighbours), will star alongside...

Series two of Australian drama Rake begins shooting in Sydney in April.

The series, which first aired on ABC1 in 2010, stars Richard Roxburgh (Moulin Rouge, Blue Murder) as self-destructive criminal defence barrister Cleaver Greene.

Producer/director Peter Duncan said it was great to be back in production. "Once again we have an opportunity to channel our various depravities into Cleaver . rather than exercise them ourselves. This is a considerable relief for our friends and loved ones,. he said in a statement.

Indeed it is, as Cleaver.s debaucherous private life continues in series two. The series will see Cleaver engaged in a passionate affair with a dangerous liaison, stories of suicide bombers and psychotic schoolgirls, as well as a .pedantic chameleon. and an alleged .serial bobbitter..

The new series will see several actors returning including Matt Day (Tangle) as David Potter; Russell Dykstra (Romulus, My Father) as Barney, Cleaver.s...

Ben Lewin.s comeback flick The Surrogate has been acquired by Fox Searchlight Pictures following its screening at the Sundance Film Festival.

Fox Searchlight reportedly spent $US6 million for worldwide rights to the film that was also penned by the former Australian. Lewin now resides in Los Angeles after moving in 1994.

The La times said the film sparked a bidding war between key distributors at Sundance, which involved The Weinstein Company and Lionsgate.

The indie drama boasts an all-star cast including Helen Hunt, John Hawkes and William H. Macy and is based on poet/journalist Mark O.Brien. O.Brien was stricken with polio at the age of six, and was left paralysed from the neck down. He spent the remainder of life in an iron lung. The flick centres on his journey to lose his virginity - something he achieves with the help of his therapist and even his priest.

Trevor Harrison has stepped down as president of the Australian Screen Sound Guild (Assg).

Harrison, who has worked on SeaChange, McLeods’ Daughters and Einstein Factor, held the role for eight years.

Doron Kipen will replace Harrison as president with a committee of Tony Murtagh (The Way Back, Happy Feet Two), Jenny Ward (Legend of the Guardians, Happy Feet), Nigel Christensen (Australia, A Few Best Men), Liam Egan (Superman Returns, Clubland), Will Ward (Red Dog, The Way Back), Peter Miller and Rhette Dufty.

Kipen said: “The Assg will be broadening its horizons to be a truly national organisation with a keen interest in advocacy for all aspects of the vital screen sound sector. The Assg’s new focus will be to build positive and meaningful relationships with the other craft guilds, producers and all levels of Government. The Assg is committed to a “whole of industry” approach that will lead to...

Look Both Ways director Sarah Watt has lost her battle with bone cancer aged 53. The award-winning Australian filmmaker, who was married to SeaChange actor William McInnes, passed away at her Melbourne home on Friday (November 4) surrounded by her family including children Clem, 18, and 13-year-old Stella. The family posted a notice in The Age saying that Watt "died peacefully at home filled with the love she gave to those who adored her - her family". They also commended her for her "courage, humour, intelligence, generosity, honesty and grace". Watt revealed that she had breast cancer in 2005 and was then diagnosed with secondary bone cancer in 2009 after discovering a sore area around her ribs. McInnes wrote and released (more)...

Look Both Ways director Sarah Watt is fighting for her life after being diagnosed with secondary bone cancer. The award-winning 52-year-old Australian filmmaker, who is married to SeaChange and Blue Heelers actor William McInnes, discovered a sore area on her ribs about two years ago. Watt made the discovery shortly after celebrating five years since a successful fight against breast cancer. The couple, who are writing a book called Worst Things Happen At Sea, said that they are now making the most of every day they have together with their children Clem and Stella. Watt told Woman's Day magazine: "I don't know when I will (more)...