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David McCallum’s journey to landing the iconic role of Dr. Ducky Mallard on NCIS is one of those stories that stands out in Hollywood. Unlike many actors who simply follow the traditional audition process, he took a creative approach that not only captured the attention of casting directors but also set him apart from others.

David McCallum in a still from NCIS | Credits: CBS

Let’s take a deeper dive into the behind-the-scenes story of McCallum’s breakthrough and the moment that helped him land his career-defining role as Dr. Ducky Mallard.

How did David McCallum land the iconic role of Dr. Ducky on NCIS?

David McCallum’s audition for the role of Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on NCIS is one for the history books. The actor, who would go on to become an iconic part of the show’s cast, used an unconventional tactic that ultimately won him the role.

Like most nerdy kids, I went through a Greek mythology phase in my youth. And among geeky disappointments like finding out that Hercules was actually a jerk and realizing that Xena: Warrior Princess wasn’t a canonical Greek hero, I was also pretty bummed by the fact that filmmakers never seemed to get my favorite mythic yarn right – that of Theseus and the Minotaur.

In fact, I still think that we’ve yet to see a definitive cinematic take on this ancient tale of bovine terror, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some honorable attempts at turning the story into a thrilling movie. So today, I’d like to look back on a mostly forgotten movie that attempts to re-imagine the myth as a fantasy-horror epic akin to Mathew Robbins’ Dragonslayer. Naturally, I’m referring to Jonathan English’s 2006 Sci-Fi original Minotaur, an ambitious creature feature that...

War is hell, and it’s been that way for a very long time. However, when it comes to moviemaking, many filmmakers have difficulty portraying large scale combat as anything but thrilling. This accidental glorification of collective violence is especially true when it comes to epic tales of historical warfare, with films like Braveheart and even Excalibur tending to shy away from the more horrific side of dark age violence.

And as someone who enjoys less glamorized takes on history, today I’d like to look back on Jonathan English’s underappreciated historical action film Ironclad, a 2011 flick that – while not really historically accurate – provides a disturbingly intimate view of a time when combat meant having to look your opponent in the eyes as your cleave their head in half and bathe in their fresh, steaming blood.

Funnily enough, the story of Ironclad begins during the 2008 recession, with the independent...

Stars of The Golden Bachelorette, Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple, have found love through the competitive dating show. During their first introductions, Chock impressed the leading lady with his patented Chock-a-Noodle soup. This decidedly “delicious” soup, and his charismatic personality, landed him the season’s first one-on-one date. On this magical Disneyland trip, the pair established a formidable connection.

The winner became clear by the finale of The Golden Bachelorette season 1. Joan ultimately chose Chock as the recipient of the final rose and he proposed to the Maryland native. Since the televised finale, Joan and Chock have been frequently updating fans about their relationship online. While these posts allow insight into their lives, the updates have been surprisingly persistent. Some fans are wondering if these incessant posts may be concealing some turmoil.

Joan And Chock May Have Contractual Obligations They Are Profiting From Upbeat Content View this post on InstagramA...

On Tuesday December 10 2024, History broadcasts Tales From Oak Island!

Trail of the Templar Cross Season 1 Episode 5 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Tales From Oak Island,” titled “Trail of the Templar Cross,” promises to delve into one of the most intriguing aspects of the Oak Island mystery. This episode will focus on a lead cross that has emerged as a potentially significant clue in the ongoing search for answers about the island’s secrets, which have puzzled treasure hunters for over 230 years.

In this episode, the team will explore the design of the lead cross, which has not only been discovered on Oak Island but also in various locations around the world. This connection raises questions about the cross’s origins and its possible links to historical events or figures. The episode aims to uncover how this symbol could be tied to the Templar Knights and what implications it may have for the treasure hunt.

Bleach is one of the Big Three manga of the Shonen genre, and for good reason. Its widespread popularity is unrivaled except for a few other series, and Kubo is considered a huge icon for the next generation of mangakas. Yet, like every other author, he is pelted with negative comments from self-proclaimed critics.

But unlike many other authors, Tite Kubo does not let it get to him as he knows his worth as a mangaka, as well as how successful Bleach is. So rather than accepting everything at face value, Kubo chooses to let loose his inner savage, and honestly, fans love it.

That One Time Tite Kubo Let Loose His Inner Demon at Orihime Haters Orihime Inoue | Credit: Studio Pierrot

While there are plenty of Bleach haters in the world, Orihime draws the ire of most of them. It is funny how the sweetest and most humane character...

What is the perfect crime... and could you get away with it? That question lies at the core of Perfect Crime Story, a new comics anthology from Iron Circus Comics.

Edited by Kel McDonald, comprising 300+ pages, and spotlighting 25 lighthearted crime stories, Perfect Crime Story will be crowdfunding on BackerKit, and we're thrilled to exclusively reveal the creative teams and details for three of the tales featured in the new collection!

Below, we have exclusive details on The Crime Beat by Van Jensen & Neal Obermeyer, Psikotika Will Strike At Midnight by Illuminated, and Darling Doesn't Know by John Konrad, as well as exclusive comments from the creators of these Perfect Crime Party stories!

We also have a look at the cover art by Jeff Smith as well as the press release with additional details, and to learn more about supporting Perfect Crime Story, be sure to visit:

https://www.backerkit.com...

Young and the Restless (Y&r) spoilers suggest that Faith Newman is returning to the land of Genoa City very soon, as actress Reylynn Caster has been spotted on the soap’s set, and photos were leaked recently. Still, could the storyline Faith is about to jump into, require a friend?

The Young And The Restless Spoilers – The Daytime Drama’s Casting Call

As per a report from Soap Hub, Y&r recently put out a casting call for “Miriam”, a gorgeous, smart 21-something that is “honest” about her opinions.

She sounds like a fiery new character who isn’t afraid to speak her mind! Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see who is cast in the role, and what kind of storyline she’ll dive into.

Also, fans shouldn’t exactly fall in love with the name “Miriam” until the character is cast. More often than not, soaps change the...

Young and the Restless (Y&r) spoilers suggest that Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) isn’t overly pleased with Cole Howard (J. Eddie Peck) right now.

The Moustache had Jordan (Colleen Zenk) right where he wanted her, locked up, behind bars, and under his watch, until Cole snooped around and figured him out.

When Cole realized what Victor was up to, he put a stop to things with the help of Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc). Newman reluctantly gave up Jordan to the authorities, and now he’s mighty upset with Cole. What happens if when Jordan escapes custody?

The Young And The Restless Spoilers – Jordan Is An Escape Artist

Y&r spoilers note that if history dictates anything, Jordan will escape authorities in no time flat; whether that’s days, weeks, or months from now.

Jordan is a master manipulator and a pristine escape artist. While she may stay locked up for now,...

The Young and the Restless spoilers reveal that Faith Newman (Reylynn Caster) is coming back to Genoa City. It is also teased that another college-aged female will hit our screens, going by the name of Miriam. When Faith comes back, she will meet Claire Grace (Hayley Erin) at some point.

Faith has always felt compelled to help others, so we can easily see her bonding with Claire. At the same time, could Faith’s new friendship be sabotaged by an unexpected “friend,”… Miriam? Keep reading and let’s talk about what could happen with this storyline.

The Young And The Restless Spoilers – Summer Newman’s Turnaround

Y&r spoilers reveal that everyone seems willing to give Claire the benefit of the doubt. Everyone except Summer Newman (Allison Lanier).

Of course, Summer has her reasons and any part would understand. Summer was right when she was puzzled why everyone was willing to trust Claire so quickly.

Glenn Kendrick Ackermann will kick off worldwide sales in Cannes through his V International Media on the supernatural drama Can You Hear Me starring Peter Facinelli from The Twilight Saga.

Charlotte Radford, who starred alongside Daryl Hannah in The American Connection, also stars and wrote the screenplay.

The cast includes James Cosmo from Game Of Thrones, John Standing from The Crown, Matt Barber of Downton Abbey, and Jane Thorne from Night Train To Lisbon.

Simon Hunter, who helmed Mutant Chronicles, directs the story about the whirlwind romance and marriage between Annabel and Samuel, an American soldier who is severely wounded in the first World War.

Glenn Kendrick Ackermann will kick off worldwide sales in Cannes through his V International Media on the supernatural drama Can You Hear Me starring Peter Facinelli from The Twilight Saga.

Charlotte Radford, who starred alongside Daryl Hannah in The American Connection, also stars and wrote the screenplay.

The cast includes James Cosmo from Game Of Thrones, John Standing from The Crown, Matt Barber of Downton Abbey, and Jane Thorne from Night Train To Lisbon.

Simon Hunter, who helmed Mutant Chronicles, directs the story about the whirlwind romance and marriage between Annabel and Samuel, an American soldier who is severely wounded in the first World War.

As you continue to find paths through the Temple of the Ancients in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, you'll run into the Ironclad boss, who can only be beaten when staggered by your party. This massive knight has nearly no weaknesses, making them difficult to pressure. You'll need to use specific attacks from characters on your team to stun this creature quickly enough to defeat it.

Ironclad appears in Chapter 13 as a guardian of the Temple who can be forced into breaking a specific pillar that helps you move further into the region. You cannot defeat the boss until it has been staggered at least once, otherwise your party will fail the fight and be forced to start over. It can be easy to accidentally kill this boss before you manage to stagger it, so you have to carefully approach this battle.

Try not to use a summon in FF7 Rebirth...

As producers across the globe continue to feel the effects of inflation on their budgets, a growing number of European countries have been seeking to alleviate some of that budget squeeze as they battle it out to entice foreign projects to shoot on their home turf. One front runner in this race is Serbia, which has been quietly establishing itself as a trusted and attractive destination for global producers.

The Balkan country not only has one of the lowest production costs in Europe but offers a tried and tested 25% to 30% rebate on local spend, an established professional film crew, varied locations and a host of world class film studios that have seen the country fast become a sought-after destination for international productions to set up camp.

“We never really advertise our services in Serbia,” says producer Andjelka Vlaisavljevic, who is largely considered one of the early producers to lure Hollywood...

The stars are remembering a legend.

On Friday, actor Alan Arkin passed away at age 89. The Oscar-winning “Little Miss Sunshine” star received tributes from his Hollywood colleagues on social media.

Read More: Alan Arkin, Oscar-Winning Actor And ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ Star, Dead At 89

Arkin’s “Kominsky Method” co-star Michael Douglas shared a post in memory of the actor on Instagram.

“Today we lost a wonderful actor whose intelligence, sense of comedy and consummate professionalism over the past 70 years has left an indelible mark on our industry,” he wrote. “My experience of working with Alan were some of my most memorable. He will be deeply missed. Sincere condolences to his wife, Suzanne, and his family.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michael Douglas (@michaelkirkdouglas)

John Cusack, who worked with Arkin in “Grosse Point Blank”, recalled a particular moment from behind-the-scenes, sharing the story on Twitter.

“ At one point,...

Spoiler Alert: This story contains spoilers for “Treasure Protectors,” the season finale of “National Treasure: Edge of History,” now streaming on Disney+.

In the first “National Treasure” movie, Nicolas Cage’s Ben Gates justifies stealing the Declaration of Independence by telling the authorities he is a treasure protector — but that was so 2004.

In the Disney+ spinoff series “National Treasure: Edge of History,” the latest threat to this country’s lost history is from treasure destroyers, specifically a group known as Cras Est Nostrum. This faction hunts down and destroys treasure to avoid the messy business of having to rewrite history.

Billie (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and her specific brand of brute force has been the group’s muscle this season in pursuing Montezuma’s Treasure, which she calls a “political powderkeg” if found. And in this week’s season finale, she deciphers the final clue by kidnapping Jess (Lisette Olivera) and her...

Amazon Prime Video hasn’t yet renewed The Terminal List for season 2 yet, but series star Chris Pratt seems pretty confident that they’ll be back.

While speaking on Danger Close, the Ironclad podcast series hosted by The Terminal List author Jack Carr, Chris Pratt was asked whether a second season was in the works. “To the rabid fans of The Terminal List out there, you have nothing to worry about,” Pratt said. “We love you and appreciate your support. It’s our life’s mission to make sure you can come back to the well. We are working away.” Carr added, “There may be some cool stuff on the horizon being discussed.“

Related The Terminal List: Producer says critics hate it because there’s not enough “woke stuff shoved into it”

Based on the best-selling novel by Jack Carr, the first season of The Terminal List followed James Reece...

In a world where mermaids are supposed to eat people, a human and a mermaid form an intimate bond that might just surpass traditional oceanic expectations in Jessi Sharon's The Sea in You. A modern-day twist of The Little Mermaid, Sharon's The Sea in You is now being crowdfunded by C. Spike Trotman and Iron Circus Comics, and we've been provided with a preview from the new graphic novel to share with Daily Dead readers!

Below, you can check out our preview pages and details on the crowdfunding campaign for The Sea in You. To learn more about how to support this new graphic novel, visit:

https://ironcircus.com/product/sea-in-you/

Press Release: Crowdfunding pioneer C. Spike Trotman and Iron Circus Comics are helming their latest independent crowdfunding campaign for The Sea In You, a whimsical dark fantasy retelling of The Little Mermaid which will upend everything you thought you...

The third installment in Otava Heikkilä's Letters for Lucardo graphic novel series, Letters for Lucardo: The Silent Lord is now being crowdfunded by Spike Trotman and Iron Circus Comics, and we've been provided with an exclusive preview from the new graphic novel to share with Daily Dead readers!

Below, you can check out exclusive preview pages and details on the crowdfunding campaign for Letters for Lucardo: The Silent Lord, and to learn more about how to support this new graphic novel, visit Iron Circus Comics' official website!

Press Release: Crowdfunding pioneer Spike Trotman and Iron Circus Comics are helming their second-ever independent crowdfunding campaign for Letters For Lucardo: The Silent Lord, the third installment in the groundbreaking and popular LGBTQ erotica horror series from Otava Heikkilä. In this highly anticipated third installment of the erotically charged graphic novel series, the story takes a dark and foreboding turn as aristocratic vampire...

Exclusive: Bree Condon has signed with Apa for agency representation. The actress plays Kimberly Guilfoyle, former co-host of Fox News Channel’s The Five and current girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., in Lionsgate’s Jay Roach-directed drama Bombshell, in theaters in December.

Starring Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, John Lithgow and Margot Robbie, the Oscar contender follows the women who rose up against the late Fox News chairman Roger Ailes amid sexual misconduct.

Condon’s credits include Warner Bros’ history-drama Ironclad, Tyler Perry’s drama series The Haves and Have Nots, ABC’s American Housewife, the CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Lucifer on Fox.

Condon is also repped by McGowan Rodriguez Management.

Industry veteran was formerly head of Content Film.

Jamie Carmichael

La-based international sales veteran Jamie Carmichael is stepping down from his role as president of film at Kew Media Group.

The long-time Content Film head is understood to be lining up another venture in the film and TV sector but details have yet to be confirmed.

Kew told Screen in a statement:

”Kew is further combining its film and television units. This allows for more cohesion and synergies across our sales and marketing teams and better positions the company for its growth and expansion. The new joint division will be led by Greg Phillips, President, Distribution. Jamie Carmichael, President of Film, has decided to leave the company to pursue new opportunities.”

Recent titles on the Kew slate include Zach Fox and Omri Dorani’s teen comedy How To Get Girls, Bees Make Honey starring Alice Eve, comedy An Actor Prepares with Jeremy Irons and Jack Huston and sci-fi...

“Dunkirk” is finally upon us after months of anticipation, and it’s clear the long wait has been worth it. IndieWire has named the WWII epic the best movie Christopher Nolan has ever made and a certain Oscar contender in the months ahead. As audiences nationwide get to discover why the film is such a monumental war epic, questions as to who exactly is in the cast are bound to come up.

Read More: ‘Dunkirk’ Review: Christopher Nolan’s Monumental War Epic Is The Best Film He’s Ever Made

Unlike Nolan’s recent star-driven efforts like “Inception” and “Interstellar,” “Dunkirk” features an eclectic mix of relative newcomers, Oscar winners and the director’s reliable collaborators. Getting a blend of known and unknown talent was crucial for Nolan, as including too many stars would’ve distracted from the urgent nature of the story. In following mostly fresh faces, Nolan is...

Exclusive: UK seller/distributor teams with financier to back director’s company Balkanic.

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution (Kfd) has signed a multi-picture deal with financier, Head Gear Films, and director, Jonathan English’s (Ironclad) new production outfit, Balkanic.

Under the deal, Kfd will handle all-rights worldwide, with features being released in the UK by Kaleidoscope Entertainment.

Head Gear will fully finance the films. English will write and produce, and also direct the first feature, Drago: a car chase thriller set across the Balkans. Paul Hyett (Howl) is attached to direct the second project, Blood Feud.

Kaleidoscope’s Spencer Pollard and Michael Chapman, together with Head Gear’s Phil Hunt and Compton Ross, will serve as executive producers.

Drago is due to go into production in 2017 and is scheduled for release in 2018.

Head Gear recently helped close finance on Amma Asante’s Where Hands Touch, and has previously backed movies including Black Mass, War On Everyone and [link...

Exclusive: Mfi clocks new sales on Greece-set thriller.

Gaga Corporation has taken Japanese rights to UK director Jonathan English’s Athens-set action-thriller Dias, following its launch at the market.

The film, which is due to shoot in Athens this September, revolves around Athen’s elite police motorbike force, the Dias.

As previously announced, Paris-based Memento Film International (Mfi) also sold the production to Koch at the beginning of the market.

The film revolves around the city’s elite police motorbike force, the Dias, consisting of four-person squads travelling two-by-two on high-powered vehicles. The force was created in 2010 in response to a rise in petty and organised crime after the debt crisis threw the country into chaos.

The story will follow energetic young recruit Theo, who quickly becomes a pivotal member of the force as it presses on with its work of eradicating the city of violent crime gangs but in the end becomes their target too.[p...

Exclusive: Athens-set thriller will shoot in September.

Koch Films Gmbh takes German-speaking rights on UK director Jonathan English’s [pictured] Athens-set action-thriller Dias, which is due to shoot in the Greek capital in September.

Paris-based Memento Film International (Mfi) is handling sales on the picture about Athen’s elite police motorbike force, the Dias, which was created in 2012 in response to a rise in petty and organised crime after the debt crisis threw the country into chaos.

“There are lots of reasons to be intrigued by Dias: First and foremost, it’s a fast paced, straightforward action film with cops on motorbikes, chasing their enemies in the streets of Athens,” said Koch Films director of acquisitions Moritz Peters.

The production marks a change of scene for English whose last two films Ironclad and sequel Ironclad: Battle For Blood, were set against the backdrop of medieval England.

It is a $4.5m (€4m) co-production between Athens-based View Master Films and Germany...

Exclusive: Deal marks company’s first foray into the action genre; film set to shoot in Athens in September.

Paris-based Memento Film International (Mfi) will kick-start sales at Cannes on UK director Jonathan English’s Athens-set action-thriller Dias, which is due to shoot in the Greek capital in September.

The film revolves around the city’s elite police motorbike force, the Dias, consisting of four-person squads travelling two-by-two on high-powered vehicles. The force was created in 2010 in response to a rise in petty and organised crime after the debt crisis threw the country into chaos.

The story will follow energetic young recruit Theo, who quickly becomes a pivotal member of the force as it presses on with its work of eradicating the city of violent crime gangs but in the end becomes their target too.

“I was in Athens in 2013 and I saw the Dias units fly through the city,” said English...

Paramount Music will release the 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi – Music from the Motion Picture digitally on January 15, 2016. The album features the film’s original score by Lorne Balfe (Terminator Genisys, Penguins Of Madagascar).

“The film is really about the soldiers’ ordeal and how they coped with the situation at hand,” said Balfe. “Michael (Bay) does a great job keeping the film from becoming political. The film is really here to honor the soldiers and the men and women who ultimately had to step up and do everything they could to save as many people as possible.”

From director Michael Bay, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi is the gripping true story of six elite ex-military operators assigned to protect the CIA who fought back against overwhelming odds when terrorists attacked a U.S. diplomatic compound on September 11, 2012. When everything went wrong, six men had the courage to do what was right.

Here’s an exclusive look at the first five minutes of the action packed ‘Momentum’ which stars Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) and James Purefoy (Ironclad) and Morgan Freeman. In the opening 5 minutes, we get to see a bank heist by what looks like futuristic beings with rather funky face masks. It’s a great teaser

The post Exclusive: Watch the first 5 minutes of action packed ‘Momentum’ starring Olga Kurylenko & James Purefoy appeared first on HeyUGuys.

Exclusive: Script from Zodiac: Year Of The Snake and The League Of Extraordinary Gentleman writer.

La-based production outfit Benattar/Thomas Productions are in development on writer Jayson Rothwell’s action-thriller script Shotgun Love.

Producers Nigel Thomas (The Numbers Station) and Rick Benattar (Ironclad) are aiming for a 2016 shoot on the project.

The story centres on a former black-ops agent who is hired by a ruthless lawyer to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend from a cartel, only to discover she does not want to be rescued and is on a secret mission to infiltrate the gang in order to avenge her family.

La-based writer Rothwell recently completed work on the reboot of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen for Fox and Davis Entertainment while action script Zodiac: Year of the Snake was this month acquired by Le Vision Pictures USA.

Fledgling production team Benattar/Thomas, whose titles The Fixer and The Last Heist will be distributed by XLrator Media, recently...

Exclusive: La production outfit takes rights to Iraq war story.

Fledgling La-based film and TV production outfit Benattar/Thomas Productions, headed by UK executive Nigel Thomas (Killing Bono) and Us producer Rick Benattar (Ironclad), has bought rights to Iraq war book Sniper One.

The producers are aiming to move the film into production in 2016.

Written by former British soldier Sgt. Dan Mills, the account tells the true story of a British sniper unit sent into Iraq only to find themselves engaged in a full scale combat operation against overwhelming odds.

The men were besieged for six months, vastly outnumbered and with little help of rescue.

The book was brought to Benattar/Thomas by Tom Hopper, best known for his role as Billy Bones in Black Sails, who recently starred in the Benattar/Thomas feature The Fixer, which just wrapped principal photography in Ireland.

Hopper will serve as co-producer on the project as will Dan Mills.

Thomas [pictured...

Exclusive: La production outfit takes rights to Iraq war story.

Fledgling La-based film and TV production outfit Benattar/Thomas Productions, headed by UK executive Nigel Thomas (Killing Bono) and Us producer Rick Benattar (Ironclad), has bought rights to Iraq war novel Sniper One.

The producers are aiming to move the film into production in 2016.

Written by former British soldier Sgt. Dan Mills, the novel tells the true story of a British sniper unit sent into Iraq only to find themselves engaged in a full scale combat operation against overwhelming odds.

The men were besieged for six months, vastly outnumbered and with little help of rescue.

The book was brought to Benattar/Thomas by Tom Hopper, best known for his role as Billy Bones in Black Sails, who recently starred in the Benattar/Thomas feature The Fixer, which just wrapped principal photography in Ireland.

Hopper will serve as co-producer on the project as will Dan Mills.

Thomas [pictu...

XLrator Media has acquired North American rights from Arclight Films to the Dutch historical epic that premiered in Berlin earlier this year.

The distributor will release Admiral via its Turbo action label in early 2016.

Roel Reiné directed and Klaas de Jong produced the 17th century-set story that takes place during the Anglo-Dutch naval wars and centres on Holland’s Admiral Michiel de Ruyter. Charles Dance, Rutger Hauer and Frank Lammers star.

“Admiral is a dazzling film of epic proportions with larger-than-life naval battles that haven’t been seen since Master And Commander,” said XLrator Media CEO Barry Gordon.

“Audiences will be blown away by the amazing cinematography and action set-pieces, coupled with stunning performances from the entire cast. As proven by the huge success of the Game Of Thrones series and our own recent Ironclad films, action fans have a huge appetite for exciting content based on historical facts and themes.

“Admiral is a unique...

Former Molinare exec, Ironclad producer launch UK company.

Former Molinare head of business Richard Conway and producer Andrew Curtis (Ironclad, The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson) are in Cannes with new UK-based production outfit Essential Film and Development.

Backed by Mike Campbell, the entrepreneur behind Strand Vci and Mvp Home Entertainment, the company is looking to take a minimum of three medium to large budget features into production within the next three years.

According to company owners, the outfit has both development funds and access to production funding via interests in China.

The first film on the slate is underdog drama What’s Going On, written by Nick Bain & Cordel DeBardeLaben. Essential is hoping to shoot the film in France and Canada in 2016 with packaging currently underway.

Conway said: “Development funding these days is rare but particularly rare when they come with a clear path to independent production funding. Mike’s ambitions are very much aligned with our...

Exclusive: Metrodome inks Us deal on werewolf thriller.

Alchemy has picked up Us rights from Metrodome International to werewolf thriller Howl.

The deal was negotiated by Caroline Couret-Delègue of Metrodome and Samantha Fabin from Alchemy.

The Paul Hyett-directed (The Seasoning House)​ feature, starring Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey), Shauna Macdonald (Ripper Street) and Sean Pertwee (Dog Soldiers), tells the story of a midnight train stranded in a forest and attacked by a terrifying pack of werewolves.

Special makeup effects guru Hyett has worked on titles including The Descent, The Woman in Black and Ironclad.

The film is produced by Ed King and Martin Gentles for Starchild Productions. Script comes from Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler (Me & My Monsters). Lee Brazier executive produces for Av Pictures.

Metrodome International will screen the film to the international market for the first time in Cannes.

Also on the sales agent’s Cannes slate is supernatural horror Thea, currently in production...

If we wanted a sensible police drama, we wouldn't be watching The Following. Where has all the craziness gone, asks Ron?

This review contains spoilers.

1.7 The Hunt

One of the best things about The Following is that it is set in a world with an infinite supply of serial killers. That's also one of the worst things about The Following, as it lends itself to laziness. Whenever one of the killers we know is in trouble, well, we just have that person turn to someone in his network of murderer pals to help him solve his problem. When it's someone like Arthur Strauss reaching out to one of his many students, it makes sense. We've seen Strauss at work training other killers, we know he's got hundreds of students committing thousands of murders, and it makes sense that they'd be willing to stick their neck out to help the man...

Mia Wasikowska’s Madame Bovary Sells For Radiant Films

Radiant Films International has completed multiple sales deals in territories worldwide for Madame Bovary starring Mia Wasikowska including all French-speaking rights to Jour2Fête and Italy to Paco Pictures. Additional sales include Benelux to A-Film, Scandinavia to Svensk Filmindustri and Portugal to Nos Lusomundo Audiovisuais, Latin America to Swen, Australia to Transmission Films, South Korea to Noori Pictures, Turkey to Aqua Pinema, Middle East to Gulf Film, Greece to Odeon and Iceland to Myndform. Radiant is handling all foreign sales on the project which they are actively selling at Efm.

The Solution Boards Tokyo Vice Starring Daniel Radcliffe

The Solution Entertainment Group is handling international rights to Tokyo Vice, produced by John Lesher’s Le Grisbi Productions. The Solution’s Myles Nestel and Lisa Wilson will exec produce and present to buyers at the Efm. UTA is representing Us rights. Adam Kassan is also producing.

Exclusive: XLrator Media will co-produce, release in the Us and oversee international distribution on three action-thrillers.

XLrator will co-produce, release in the Us and oversee international distribution on the slate.

Gordon is one of a small coterie of savvy low-overhead players in Us distribution who want to build a sustainable model for films and avoid ‘statement buys’ that are liable to run out of steam after the first window.

The move comes hot on the heels of a similar pact on sci-fi thrillers that XLrator struck with New Artists Alliance.

Michael Hurst’s time-travel story Paradox kicks off the Rnr slate and will commence shooting in spring for a 2016 release.

Rick Benattar, who runs Rnr with Nigel Thomas and Robert Menzies, produced Ironclad and Ironclad: Battle For Blood, both of which XLrator released in North America.

“We see this as an opportunity to expand our relationship with our existing partners like Netflix and Amazon and with some...

The Geffen Playhouse announces its production of The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy Discord. Written by Scott Carter, executive producer and writer for Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect and Real Time, this whip-smart philosophical comedy features Larry Cedar Deadwood, PBS's Square One TV, David Melville Travel Channel Lawrence of America, film Ironclad and Armin Shimerman Quark on Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Associate Artistic Director at The Antaeus Company and will be again helmed by director, Matt August Broadway How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Discord began previews on October 7 with the press opening tonight, October 15. The closing date is currently scheduled for November 16.

The Geffen Playhouse announces its production of The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy Discord. Written by Scott Carter, executive producer and writer for Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect and Real Time, this whip-smart philosophical comedy features Larry Cedar Deadwood, PBS's Square One TV, David Melville Travel Channel Lawrence of America, film Ironclad and Armin Shimerman Quark on Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Associate Artistic Director at The Antaeus Company and will be again helmed by director, Matt August Broadway How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Discord begins previews tonight, October 7 with the press opening on October 15. The closing date is currently scheduled for November 16.

After last week’s news about Netflix securing The Blacklist for a record fee, a similar story came to light this week concerning the pre Batman prequel series Gotham. Now rather than getting it day and date after Us broadcast as per Breaking Bad and From Dusk Till Dawn, Gotham’s entire run will just arrive on Netflix after it’s finished its TV broadcast. Worse news is that this means you have to wait for Channel 5 to get their finger out and schedule it on one of their three channels and then muck it around the schedule just to confuse you further and for it to finish its run there. Kind of takes the wind out the sails doesn’t it? I wouldn’t expect to see Gotham on Netflix until this time next year at best but we will see.

In better news David Wain’s relatively well...

Mercy's for Picts!

Ironclad: Battle for Blood picks up where the original, bizarrely well-cast Ironclad (2011) left off and goes in another, astonishingly similar direction. Guy (Tom Austen), the battle-scarred Aeneas of the Rochester siege, has given up on the idea of honor and now beats people to death for money. Even when his cousin, Hubert (Tom Rhys Harries), needs him to help defend his family's castle against marauding Scots, he still demands to get paid. Guy also brings along his buddy Berenger (David Caves), a sadistic executioner (Andy Beckwith), and a lunatic murderess (Twinnie Lee Moore). This film bears such a striking likeness to the plot developments in Ironclad but without the vague political implications that it's almost as if they went to Jonathan English and asked if he could do roughly the same thing but with less money. His answer was "Yes, yes I can. But only if I...

Directed by Jonathan English with Michelle Fairley, Roxanne McKee, Danny Webb.

Ironclad: Battle For Blood is a sequel to Ironclad which was released in 2011. I have not seen the first film but based on what is on view in Battle for Blood it would be worth seeking out. Ironclad: Battle for Blood is a different type of historical war movie. There are no fancy sword moves, no spell casting wizards or dragons running amok. What we have here is a serious version of the type of thing Monty Python used to do, especially in their movie about the Holy Grail, showing what life in the middle ages was really like. Dirty, dangerous, ignorant, short and brutish.

Opening titles tell us that in the 12th Century England had laid waste to Scotland and then withdrawn. Scottish clans raided estates and castles all over the northern part of England in retaliation.

We...

The Rocket | Under The Skin | The Zero Theorem | Suzanne | Veronica Mars | Need For Speed | Plot For Peace

The Rocket (12A)

(Kim Mordaunt, 2013, Aus/Thai/Laos) Sitthiphon Disamoe, Loungnam Kaosainam, Thep Phongam, Bunsri Yindi. 96 mins

Children are often the best ambassadors for world cinema and so it proves here, in a Laos-set tale that's sympathetic but never condescending. The story centres on a displaced boy burdened by a perceived "curse". But it's told with documentary-like conviction and distinctly local details, from James Brown-worshipping war vets to the unexploded ordnance littering the landscape.

Under The Skin (15)

(Jonathan Glazer, 2013, UK) Scarlett Johansson, Paul Brannigan. Krystof Hádek. 108 mins

Glazer's delectably mystifying sci-fi makes Glasgow look like another planet – as seen through the eyes of Johansson's alien seductress, on the prowl for unsuspecting males. It sounds like a highbrow Species, but the imagery and sustained strangeness put it in a realm of its own.

The Zero Theorem (15)

(Terry Gilliam,...

Ironclad: Battle for Blood hits UK cinema screens today and we got to sit down with actor Tom Austen to talk about his character ‘Guy’. In the interview we hear about what it was about Ironclad 2 which he liked so much, what he thought of playing opposite Game of Thrones star Michelle Fairley and how he tried to avoid mimicking James Purefoy’s performance in the original movie.

Ironclad: Battle for Blood is released in UK cinemas today. If you haven’t seen the first movie and want a quick catch up, head this way!

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HeyUGuys: What first attracted you to the project?

Tom Austen: To be honest it was the first thing that came along that was out and out action. I’d been working in Paris for about 7 months playing a cop in the modern day so a lot of guns and procedural stuff. I was really...

Writer-director Jonathan English got surprisingly lucky with the first Ironclad (2011) film, as it offered a thrilling/shocking blood thirst of video-gaming proportions, as well as an impressive cast, including Paul Giamatti, Brian Cox, Derek Jacobi, Charles Dance and the dashing James Purefoy. Still set in the harsh surroundings of 13th Century Britain, post the Great Siege of Rochester Castle, the second film, Ironclad 2: Battle For Blood, seems to have switched target audience, with a more youthful cast of mainly TV actors.

After the De Vesci castle home comes under attack from a band of marauding Celts, resulting in a critical body wound for the master of the house, Gilbert De Vesci (David Rintoul), his son Hubert (Tom Rhys Harries) is tasked with fetching his battle-scarred cousin, Guy (Tom Austen) to defend their ancestral home. But the bitter Guy comes at a price and with a band of reprobates in tow,...

Wamg is giving away 5 DVDs of the new action thriller Wicked Blood.

The film stars Abigail Breslin (August: Osage County, Little Miss Sunshine, Haunter) Alexa Vega (Spy Kids, Machete Kills) Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings, GoldenEye, Age of Heroes) James Purefoy (“The Following,” John Carter, Ironclad) and Lew Temple (“The Walking Dead”, Lawless, Unstoppable).

It’s the ultimate endgame, as “Breaking Bad” meets “Justified” in the new action thriller Wicked Blood!

Backed by an all-star cast, Academy Award® nominee Abigail Breslin is Hannah – a teenage girl desperate to free her family from the corrupt Southern underworld of violence, guns, meth and biker gangs that surrounds them. A chess-wiz, Hannah lives with her older sister, Amber (Alexa Vega), and her drug-addicted Uncle Donny (Lew Temple) and they all live in fear of “Uncle Frank” (Sean Bean) Stinson, who runs the powerful crime organization in a ruthless manner.

But when...

Here’s your first look at The Devil’S Harvest starring Max Irons, Samantha Barks, Barry Pepper and Terence Stamp.

Principal photography wrapped on director George Mendeluk’s epic romance in Kiev on January 30th.

Shot on location in Ukraine and London, The Devil’S Harvest is an action-packed, dramatic tale of love and the importance of family, set against the backdrop of political upheaval in 1930s Ukraine. Yuri (Max Irons) is an artistic soul born into a family of Cossack warriors, who struggles to win the approval of his grandfather Ivan (Terence Stamp), father Yaroslav (Barry Pepper) and the heart of Natalka (Samantha Barks.) Yuri finds his life changed forever with the invasion of the Red Army and the subsequent persecution of his family and fellow countrymen as Stalin’s regime of terror extends across Eastern Europe.

The Devil’S Harvest also features Tamer Hassan (Dracula), Aneurin Barnard (The White Queen...

“Ironclad” director Jonathan English apparently had such a blast chronicling the siege of an English castle by bad guys in the first movie that he’s decided to do it again in a sequel, “Ironclad 2: Battle for Blood.” It looks and feels like the same plot, with a bunch of new people gathered in a castle being attacked by crazy barbarian types. The only difference seems to be the first movie had Paul Giamatti and James Purefoy in the cast, and this time things look decidedly lower budgeted. On the plus side, “Ironclad: Battle for Blood” does feature two actresses from “Game of Thrones,” so there’s that. Anyways, get your first look at the battle for the blood. It certainly looks like everyone gets their fill. Travelling back to the dark, brutal past of 13-century England, Ironclad: Battle For Blood plunges us headlong into one of the most...

Exclusive: Content will commence sales here on The Nightmare, the latest genre title from its Preferred Film & TV joint venture with producer Ross Dinerstein and Kevin Iwashina.

Rodney Ascher of Room 237 fame will direct the horror documentary about victims of sleep paralysis who experience demonic visions. Ascher himself has personal experience of such visions.

Dinerstein and Iwashina are producing alongside Glen Zipper, whose credits include the Oscar-winning documentary Undefeated.

Content’s Jamie Carmichael (pictured) serves as executive producer and will kick off pre-sales with his team at the Afm this week. Iwashina and Carmichael represent North American sales.

“We’ve assembled a great team with Rodney, Kevin, and Glen and are going to collectively break new ground with this film,” said Dinerstein.

”Room 237 was a mind-bendingly brilliant movie,” said Carmichael. “Rodney has a piercing intellect and a unique cinematic vision for horror. We can’t wait to follow him down this new supernatural wormhole.”

[link...

Well it finally happened; Now TV added a superb catch up/live option for their TV channels including Sky Atlantic, Living, Fox and even UK Gold! So now for just £4.99 a month you can get shows like Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Hannibal and Eastbound and Down as they happen or whenever you want.

Considering that the movies package is now just £8.99 a month and the TV is £4.99 on top of this, it becomes clear that this is probably going to place them as the major contender now and Lovefilm/Amazon and Netflix need to start cranking out those exclusive series’ with major names pretty fast.

The term “All sewn up” comes to mind.

The Guilt Trip (2012)

This light comedy with Seth Rogen as a put upon entrepreneur and Barbara Streisand as his overbearing mother is worlds away from other comedy Rogen has been in before. It’s more...