Congratulations Stan Choy – appearing on Ch9’s “Here Come the Habibs” created by our own Rob Shehadie.

HERE COME THE HABIBS!

When a Lebanese migrant family, the Habibs, strike it rich and move to Australia’s poshest postcode, their neighbours know this can only mean one thing – trouble! Mega-rich suburb, old-money mansion, working-class Lebanese migrant family … there’s no prize for guessing the odd one out. The real mystery is, how on earth did the Habibs fund their prized position in Australia’s wealthiest suburb? Pig-headed dad Fou Fou (Michael Denkha) is a dodgy builder, mum Mariam (Camilla Ah Kin) is a housewife, daughter Layla (Kat Hoyos) is an Instagram-a-holic, middle child Elias (Tyler De Nawi) is a uni student, and Toufic (Sam Alhaje) is a wheeler-dealer entrepreneur.

Neighbour Olivia O’Neill (Helen Dallimore) is determined to drive the Habibs from her world and enlists her husband Jack (Darren Gilshenan) to help in the quest. Daughter Madison (Georgia Flood) doesn’t think the Habibs are all that bad, especially the youngest son. It’s a case of be careful what you wish for in this conflict-charged, fish-out-of-water story, which brings a fresh comic perspective to multicultural Australia.Here Come The Habibs!is the boldest Australian comedy in decades. It is currently in production by Jungleboys, with executive producers Andy Ryan, Jo Rooney, Ben Davies and Jason Burrows. The series created by Rob Shehadie, Tahir Bilgic and Matt Ryan-Garnsey is directed by Darren Ashton and produced by Chloe Rickard. Here Come The Habibs!is proceeding with the assistance of Screen Australia and Screen NSW.

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Screen Australia has today announced projects that will receive development funding to the total of $640,000

Cate Blanchett’s Stateless is one of 23 film and TV projects that Screen Australia has today announced will receive development funding to the total of $640,000. A diverse range of projects and talent are being supported, including works from Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward, Richard Roxburgh, Marieke Hardy, Jan Chapman, Stephan Elliott and Bondi Hipsters’ Nicholas Boshier.

Cate Blanchett’s TV project Stateless centres on the tragic and true story of Cornelia Rau which made headlines in 2004. The young German/Australian woman escaped a frightening cult only to be trapped in a bizarre labyrinth of psychiatric and legal systems, landing her in the notorious Baxter Immigration Detention Centre. Stateless will be Cate Blanchett’s first venture into high-end TV. (more…)

Rhianne Evelyn-Ross in “Camille”
Rhianne Evelyn-Ross in "Camille"

Matthew Grego as “The Count” and Rhianne Evelyn-Ross as “Clemence”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“This enticing story of the famous courtesan is a delicious mix of sex, death and chocolate. Together the dramatic and comedic twists and turns of plot pose the question: Who is responsible for the destruction? The madam who exploits her, the marquis who breaks her heart, the man who demands too much of her or does Marie herself kill all hope when she makes her choice to be Marguerite the lady of the Camellias?”

Rhianne plays Clemence, a young, naive Courtesan. A colleague and friend of Marguerite. Clemence is the light-hearted comic relief in the play and is a joy to create.

Group picture the Courtesans and Madame. L-R Rhianne Evelyn-Ross as “Clemence”, Imogen French as “Prudence”, Gemma Knight as “Sophie” and Paloma Alma as “Marguerite”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opens at Star of the Sea Theatre, Manly 11th July 2015 and will be on Friday, Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons for 3 weeks.

 

Making sense of Australia’s foreign actor visa dispute – SMH – 6 Mar.15

Proposed changes to the restrictions on foreign actors in Australian film and television will either spur a production boom or kill the industry, apparently. What’s the truth?

Meryl Streep (with Sam Neill in Evil Angels) would be welcome back to film in Australia. All her mates? Not so much.

If Meryl Streep were to come to Australia to make another film with Fred Schepisi, as she did in 1988 with Evil Angels (based on the Lindy Chamberlain story), there would be few complaints. Even if the production benefited from government subsidies, it would still be an Australian story, with an Australian director, mostly Australian cast and crew, and filmed in Australia – all of it made that bit more sellable to the world thanks to the presence of a bona fide international star. (more…)

Australian actors streak into the lead as Hollywood casts TV pilot season – SMH – 01 Mar.2015

Sullivan Stapleton, seen here in the film <i>Cut Snake</i>, has won a role in a US pilot called <i>Blindspot</i>.

Sullivan Stapleton, seen here in the film Cut Snake, has won a role in a US pilot called Blindspot.

Hollywood’s “pilot season” is barely under way and Australian actors have grabbed many of the roles in the crop of new shows.

US free-to-air and cable channels produce between 70 and 90 pilots every year, from which a few dozen proceed to series. Of those, ultimately only a handful survive.

So far this year – the casting window for pilot season runs between February and March – the process has thrown up a mix of familiar and emerging faces, including Daniel MacPherson, Rachael Taylor, Sullivan Stapleton and Melissa George. (more…)