Saturday, 31 August 2019

Dream Match Tennis VR - Online Multiplayer Reveal Trailer | PS VR


Dream Match Tennis VR Online Multiplayer Out on September 3 with Free Update.
Play REAL tennis at home. Now it’s a match against a real human.

The first-person viewpoint and simulated physics give the sensation of truly playing tennis.
The experience of holding a racket and hitting a ball -- so difficult to capture on a TV screen in the past -- has been fully realized in VR.

Friday, 30 August 2019

Andrew Neil to host new BBC political programme


Andrew Neil, widely hailed as one of Britain’s finest political analysts and interviewers, is to host a new prime-time political programme from next week (Wednesday 4 September).

With in-depth analysis and forensic questioning of key political players, The Andrew Neil Show, on BBC Two at 7pm every Wednesday, will run through the autumn as the country approaches 31 October, the date of the UK’s scheduled departure from the European Union.

The 30-minute programme will round up the events of the political week, including that day’s Prime Minister’s Questions or the party leaders’ conference speeches, and will feature interviews with key political players.

Andrew Neil says, “The Autumn of 2019 is destined to be one of the most intriguing and significant in British politics for at least a generation. I’m delighted to be fronting a weekly show in prime time on BBC Two that will be on top of the story, whatever direction it takes”

Fran Unsworth, Director of BBC News, says, “Andrew’s one of the best political journalists in the UK, and we’re thrilled he’ll be on our screens for a prime-time BBC Two series.

“Andrew’s special programme with the Conservative leadership candidates was hailed as a masterclass of political interviewing. As Britain moves towards the Brexit deadline, this show will be a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand what’s going on.”

Andrew Neil presents Politics Live on BBC Two every Thursday lunchtime. This Week, which he hosted, recently ended after 16 years following Andrew’s decision to step down from late-night broadcasting.

BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 1 launch Future Sounds Collective


BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 1 launch the Future Sounds Collective - a monthly evolving music mix curated by artists, producers, and DJs.

This brand new listening experience will allow listeners to discover what their favourite artists and those in the industry are really listening to on their personal playlists, with a message from each contributor about why they just can’t get enough of their chosen track.

Spearheaded by DJ and presenter of BBC Radio 1’s Future Sounds, Annie Mac, (Radio 1, Mon-Fri, 7pm-9pm) the mix brings together artists, producers and DJs across genres to create a totally unique mix of music championed by those at the heart of the industry, with new additions updated monthly.

The first edition of Future Sounds Collective features recommendations from Yungblud, HAIM, Robyn, Bring Me The Horizon’s Oli Sykes, High Contrast, Jordan Rakei, Michael Kiwanuka, Frank Carter, AJ Tracey, Tierra Whack, Blossoms, Martyn, Jamz Supernova, Sea Girls, BBC Radio 1Xtra’s DJ Target, and BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and Annie Mac.

Annie Mac says: “Every weeknight on Radio 1’s Future Sounds we provide two hours of the best new music in the world for our listeners to discover. The Future Sounds Collective playlist is the perfect companion piece to the show, bringing together the tracks our favourite artists love for you to fall in love with too. I can’t wait to listen!”

Listen to Future Sounds Collective exclusively on BBC Sounds, with new mixes every month. Download the free app, or listen online at bbc.co.uk/sounds

Hairy Bikers Route 66


In this brand new six-part series The Hairy Bikers fulfil a long-held ambition: to take on the world’s most iconic road trip, America’s Route 66, which spans over 2,000 miles of tarmac from Chicago to California.

With a large helping of their signature warmth and humour, Si King and Dave Myers explore modern America via the ‘Mother Road’ and learn how it drives you into America’s past, meeting the communities, cultures and cuisine along the way.

As the Bikers ride from place to place, they share their passion for good food and have some incredible experiences which give them the real taste of America.

From joining modern day cowboys on a thrilling cattle drive through the vast prairies of Oklahoma and experiencing the staggering scale of the Mojave Desert and Monument Valley, to cooking with the Amish community and sampling the very latest LA food trends, the Bikers have an unforgettable adventure.


The Capture - In a post-truth world can we really believe what we see?


An acutely timed six-part surveillance thriller that looks at a troubling world of fake news and the extraordinary capabilities of the intelligence services. In this ‘post-truth era’, can we really believe what we see?

When soldier Shaun Emery’s (Callum Turner) conviction for murder is overturned because of flawed video evidence, he returns to life as a free man with his young daughter.

But when damning CCTV footage from a night out in London comes to light, his life takes a shocking turn - and he must fight for his freedom once again.

DI Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger) is drafted in to investigate Shaun’s case, but she quickly learns that the truth can be a matter of perspective: should she trust Shaun Emery?


An introduction from Ben Chanan, series creator, writer and director
"Video evidence is one of the most successful ways to convict a criminal. Video fakery is becoming ever more convincing. So what happens when these two developments collide? What happens to criminal justice if we can no longer trust what we see?

When I began writing The Capture two years ago, these questions felt firmly like the stuff of hypothetical ‘what if’ drama. I think they still are, but maybe not for long. Now, barely a week goes by without a new warning about the potential horrors of facial recognition, deep-fakes or fake news. Perhaps we will soon have to find new ways to judge the veracity of video footage.

My characters, in their efforts to uncover the truth, fall back on more fundamental, human faculties: memory, trust, instinct. But these things are hardly infallible. Can the traumatised soldier rely on his memories? Can the idealistic police detective trust the institutions that surround her? Eventually, the soldier and the detective will come to question everything they know and believe in.

This turbulent scenario reflects how the world feels to me at the moment. Several years ago, when the foundations for this idea were laid, I was working on a documentary about counter terrorism, interviewing retired agents from US Homeland Security and the CIA. I got a clear sense of where they all were politically - generally Hawkish, George W Bush-era Republicans. Now many of those same spymasters are commentators for CNN. Routinely they lambast a Republican administration, whose President has professed a love for Wikileaks. Up is indeed down, black is white.

My ambition starting out was to create a modern-day conspiracy thriller that evoked the mood and paranoia of my favourite 1970s post-Watergate movies, The Parallax View and Three Days Of The Condor. I had no idea our current era would turn out to be such a good fit."

Legend Of The Skyfish - Launch Trailer | PS4, PS Vita


Legend of the Skyfish is a beautiful level-based adventure puzzler with a unique weapon and tool - a fishing pole!

Follow the intrepid Little Red Hook on her journey with the Moonwhale to defeat the monstrous Skyfish.

Use your fishing pole as a weapon or a grappling hook, and upgrade it as you go.

Legend of the Skyfish features beautiful hand-painted art, intricate action puzzles and unique enemies. Explore a huge world of 45 handcrafted levels and defeat giant bosses.

Features
- Unique fishing/grappling hook mechanics
- Gorgeous hand-painted environments and creatures
- Original music score by Sean Beeson
- 45 handcrafted levels
- Epic boss fights
- Various puzzles to solve

Available now for PS4 & PSVita with cross-buy!

Terminator: Dark Fate - Trailer


Linda Hamilton (“Sarah Connor”) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (“T-800”) return in their iconic roles in Terminator: Dark Fate, directed by Tim Miller (Deadpool) and produced by visionary filmmaker James Cameron and David Ellison. Following the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Terminator: Dark Fate also stars Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes, Gabriel Luna, and Diego Boneta.

27 years after the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, a new, modified liquid metal Terminator (Gabriel Luna) is sent from the future by Skynet in order to terminate Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes), a hybrid cyborg human (Mackenzie Davis), and her friends. Sarah Connor comes to their aid, as well as the original Terminator, for a fight for the future.

Thursday, 29 August 2019

JOKER - Final Trailer


Director Todd Phillips “Joker” centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone fictional story not seen before on the big screen.  Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck, who is indelibly portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, is of a man struggling to find his way in Gotham’s fractured society. 

A clown-for-hire by day, he aspires to be a stand-up comic at night…but finds the joke always seems to be on him.  Caught in a cyclical existence between apathy and cruelty, Arthur makes one bad decision that brings about a chain reaction of escalating events in this gritty character study.


The Amazing Johnathan Documentary Released 22 November 2019


Following its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival, Dogwoof have announced that THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN DOCUMENTARY will be released in cinemas nationwide on 22 November 2019.  Benjamin Berman’s acclaimed feature directorial debut starts as the story of The Amazing Johnathan, an extraordinary magician who built a career out of shock and deception in the 1980s, which transforms into a bizarre story about the unravelling of the documentarian.

After Johnathan is diagnosed with a terminal heart condition and given one year to live, he’s forced to retire his act. Cut to three years later: Johnathan is not dead, much to everyone’s amazement, and documentarian Ben Berman films the illusionist on an epic comeback tour. But as their mutual journey kicks off, Johnathan drops a bombshell that sends the film spiraling into uncertainty. Embracing this unforeseen obstacle, Ben delves deeper to determine what is truth and what is illusion. Built into the heart of this quick-witted and highly Meta story is an indelible commentary on the process and ethics of making a documentary today. Issues of negotiation and access become the central threads that reveal, and further cloud, our understanding of this elusive protagonist.

HORROR fans celebrate Barry Jay's hit horror film "ASHES"


Horror fans are celebrating the terrifying new horror treat Ashes, calling the film “gruesome”, “inventive” and “the scares…so effective”!

It’s time to discover what has film fans cowering under their sofa cushions this month!


Now available on Digital and Demand from 1091 media, when an estranged aunty passes away, a family is creeped out to receive her ashes. And when supernatural misfortunes begin to best them, they quickly discover they have to go through hell to rid of her angry spirit.

From writer/director Barry Jay, and starring Elizabeth Keener, Jeremy Earl, Yumarie Morales, Angelique Maurnaé, and Melinda deKay, prepare to receive Ashes.

Audiences are raving about the effective scares, welcome dark humor and haunting imagery from Barry Jay's triumphant new genre addition.

Ashes is now available on Digital and Demand. - iTunes Link (Opens in a new window)

Synopsis: 
After a family’s estranged aunt passes away, they’re reluctant and creeped out to receive her cremated ashes. But when a series of supernatural misfortunes beset them, they’ll have to go through Hell to be rid of her angry spirit.

Wednesday, 28 August 2019

Chinese animated box office sensation NE ZHA released in IMAX 3D and UK & ROI cinemas from 30th August


Arriving in UK cinemas and IMAX 3D, see the animated box office hit which has taken the world by storm, even surpassing Avengers: Endgame’s record haul in China...

Synopsis:
Inspired by mythology and loosely adapted from a Chinese novel, heaven and earth has given birth to a powerful pearl possessing great energy. Yuanshi Tianzun (the Primeval Lord of Heaven) concocts two pills from the pearl – a spiritual pill (Ling Zhu) and a sorcery pill (Mo Wan) – and seals both of them in a sacred lotus. The spiritual pill will reincarnate as a man, who is destined to assist in the creation of the new Zhou dynasty; while a demon will be born from the sorcery pill, set to bring great destruction to the world. To prevent disaster, a spell is created which will strike the sorcery pill with thunder in three years. Will Nezha, a young boy born from the sorcery pill, live up to his evil fate, or can he forge his own path for good?

The director Jiao Zi spent two years refining the story. Along with its great script, Ne Zha received rave reviews for its fine CG production, which took over 20 animation studios, 1600 animators in China and years in the making.

This exceptional movie has been picked up by CMC Pictures for Australia, New Zealand, UK, Middle East, and Africa.

Following the Australian release of 23rd August 2019, Ne Zha scored the strongest box office opening for a Chinese film in Australia in the past 10 years, and the second highest performing release during the same period. Ne Zha achieved a screening capacity rate of over 90% and many screenings sold out in seconds.

Boasting incredible special effects and visuals, Ne Zha is the must-see animated blockbuster of the year.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Scalebreaker – Official Trailer


The Halls of Colossus is not the only place that held Dragons. Continue your Season of the Dragon adventure with Scalebreaker, a new DLC dungeon pack that expands upon the events of the Elsweyr Chapter with new stories and challenges. Enter two deadly new dungeons in Lair of Maarselok and Moongrave Fane that sees you race to stop a vampiric ritual and a Dragon’s corrupting blight. The fight for Tamriel has only just begun!

The Scalebreaker DLC dungeon pack is coming August 27 for Xbox One. Get access to Scalbreaker free with an active ESO Plus membership, or purchase it with crowns from the in-game Crown Store.

Bard's Tale IV: Director’s Cut Launch Trailer


Deadly traps, devious puzzles, and dynamic tactical combat awaits. Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut is on Xbox and Window 10 PC today.


Interview with Lee Murray By David Kempf


When did you first become interested in writing?

It’s hard to separate writing from reading, isn’t it? From the moment I was born, my parents read to me, instilling a passion for books and story that I’ve never been able to wean myself from. I remember loving words, and the sounds the words made, and I liked the shape of them. I think I was two when I learned the shape of the word Christmas, with its festive, bauble-shaped ‘i’ in the middle. I remember struggling to decipher ‘who’ from ‘how’ and the difference between ‘their’ and ‘there’. I felt lucky that Lee was short and perfectly formed, starting with an elegant straight-backed ‘L’ and then those lovely identical ee’s that were so hard to get right.

At bedtime, Dad would read to my brother and me—Horton the Elephant was a popular choice—or tell us stories he made up himself. One of Dad’s recurring protagonists was the brilliant and intrepid inventor, Professor Morgan—naturally, Dad’s name is Morgan—who created machines out of junk which he then put to work solving important world problems. Professor’s Morgan’s most famous invention was the Zzz-Burp, a steampunk-style zeppelin, named for the noise it made as it travelled. Dad made the best noises. There were other stories too, including a series of hilarious tales about a pair of frogs named Horace and Aristotle who lived in the creek at the end of our road. In the tradition of all comic duos, there was a dumb one (Horace), and a smart one (Aristotle). It wasn’t until much later, that I worked out where he’d stolen the names from. The thing about Dad’s stories, was that they were always in development, sometimes the whole family taking part. For example, when we took road trips, he would tell us that our cousin, Jocelyn, was following the car, taking rides on surprised cows, running through houses, and effectively inventing parkour in a frantic attempt to catch us up. Only, any time our poor cousin looked like she might reach us, some other dreadful calamity would intervene to prevent it. Looking back, it was classic plotting; Dad showing us how to throw up obstacle after obstacle to prevent the protagonist from reaching her goal. Eventually, if the story looked like it was going to end, my siblings and I would jump in with a suggestion. Oh no! She’s got stuck in some tar! Whoops, look out for that washing line. To this day, I’m not sure any of us ever revealed to Jocelyn that she was the heroine of some of the most amazing adventures ever told, stories that entertained us for hours as we drove to the beach for the weekend, or to the city to visit our grandmother.

Since those early days when my love of story was kindled, I’ve always scribbled, writing long newsy tales in letters to family, keeping notebooks, and penning blog posts and articles. Strangely though, becoming a ‘real’ writer felt as impossible as growing up to be a princess. On the encouragement of my parents, I opted instead for the stability of test tubes and autoclaves. Sometimes, I wish I’d side-stepped the science degrees, but then I remember that everything we do informs our writing, so heading off on that tangent hasn’t been a waste. I got married, worked other jobs, travelled, and finally wrote my first book in my mid-thirties, working on the manuscript during my children’s nap times. I didn’t decide to make writing my career until a decade later, when my husband encouraged me to take the plunge.


How did you get involved in fantasy/horror?

I started by borrowing all the science fiction and fantasy I could find the Taupō Public Library. As children, we visited the library every Friday evening, where the four of us were allowed to borrow up to twenty books each! This meant my weekends almost always involved being immersed in some fantasy world or other: Tolkien, Lewis, Barrie… So when it came to write, it seemed natural that I would also choose to write in this genre. However, one of my earliest novels, which I call my practice book, is a chick-lit title, a Kiwi romp based around my long-distance running experiences. That old ‘write what you know’ adage might have something to do with it. Anyway, the book’s internal conflicts focused on personal growth, selflessness and perseverance, but the external barriers the heroine faced were less meaty and included wardrobe malfunctions, cupcake deprivation, attempts to avoid paparazzi. Set in my hometown, was a lot of fun to write, and readers still tell me they enjoy it, but I realised then I wanted to examine more deeper themes, and that naturally led me to horror.


Tell us about your first publisher. 

My first publisher, Taramea Publishing, was a small Māori publisher based on New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsular. The publisher, Werohia, herself a writer of New Zealand picture books in both English and te reo Māori, was a keen proponent of New Zealand-flavoured stories with strong spiritual and mythological underpinnings, which she hoped would resonate for local children, and also inform other readers about life here in the Land of the Long White Cloud. I did some research, and, convinced my work was a good fit for her stable, I sent her a standard query, attaching a rather dark middle grade speculative novel called Battle of the Birds, in which a homesick Kiwi named Annie travels back home to New Zealand on an American eagle, only to discover she’s arrived in the wrong time, and right in the middle of a battle between the flighted and flightless birds. As it turned out, Werohia was sick at the time, so she made herself a hot drink, curled up in bed, and read the manuscript from cover to cover. The next thing I knew, she’d sent me a contract. I could barely read the legalese, so I contacted a much-loved local writer for children, Susan Brocker, who I’d never met, to ask her for advice. Happily, Suzy was able to point me to organisations and resources to help me decipher what the words meant. Once the contract was signed, we got on to the business of creating the book. The press was small, employing only part-time staff, but the focus was always on putting out a high-quality work, so I was able to work closely with the house’s formatters, artists, assessors, and editors. For me, it was a massive learning curve, but those early experiences have proved to be hugely helpful over the course of my career. The book was launched by Bay of Plenty writer-celebrity and kaumatua, Tommy ‘Kapai’ Wilson, and went on to earn me my first Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Youth Novel for science fiction, fantasy, and horror writing. New Zealand children’s book expert, Trevor Agnew, listed it in The Dominion Post’s best books for children. Several years later, Werohia and I parted ways, rights for Battle of the Birds returning to me when her focus changed. It turned out that instead of writing and publishing adventures, Werohia wanted to live them, winning herself a spot as a sailor on a now-famous 2012 expedition that saw two waka hourua (double-hulled canoes) travel from New Zealand to Rapanui in a round trip of 10,000 nautical miles (18,500km). The crews used strictly traditional navigational methods to guide them, relying on the stars, moon, sun, ocean currents, birds and marine life to make the epic journey. Nowadays, Werohia helps other people discover their own life adventures, offering isolated bush retreats and holiday accommodation to visitors to the Bay of Plenty. I’m always very grateful to her for launching my own writing adventure.


How would you classify the genre you write?

Another tough question! My own view is that the term ‘genre’ provides a convenient means for booksellers and librarians to classify works into broad categories which will enable readers to find the kind of books they enjoy on the shelves. It’s easy enough to classify the book when we’re talking about memoir, a cookbook, or children’s non-fiction. However, when it comes to fiction, classifications can be entirely arbitrary and sometimes a little foggy. Is Attwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale a classic literary work with sociopolitical underpinnings, or would you classify it as a speculative fantasy? Is Andy Weir’s The Martian a suspenseful techno-thriller or a work of hard science fiction? The truth is, they are all of these things, depending on the reader’s perspective. For example, my books for adults have been categorised as military thriller, supernatural crime-noir, new pulp, kaiju fiction, speculative fiction, action adventure, magical realism, mystery, science fiction and fantasy, and horror. That’s a lot of categories. When people ask me what I write, I tend to say that I am a New Zealand writer of New Zealand stories, since almost all of my work is set here at home in our dramatic volcanic landscape, involves Kiwi characters, or explores some aspect of local mythology and culture. Calling my work New Zealand fiction first and foremost feels like an important part of my identity as a writer. Here at home, I’m best known for science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction—for adults and children—however you’re unlikely to discover entirely new worlds in my works. There are few elves, dwarves, or beleaguered kingdoms described in my stories. However, almost all of my work features magical realism or supernatural elements, set in a recognisable contemporary or historical setting. And most of my work includes horror elements, although I wouldn’t call it classic horror, since there are no haunted houses, malevolent children, cabins in the woods, or red balloons. That said, it is very dark in places, and tends to explore familiar horror themes of isolation, superstition, otherness. A recent feature article published in a local paper named me New Zealand’s Mistress of Menace! If only menace was a genre. Overall, I think the terms that best describe my work are dark Kiwi speculative fiction.

The question of genre is a sensitive one for many writers, though. Most of us agree that readers should have ready access to books they’ll find entertaining, informative, even provocative, but grouping writers and writing into ‘genres’ has other consequences. There’s a positive aspect, since it allows writers to find their ‘tribe’, offering opportunities for us to network with colleagues who share our creative perspectives. The romance writers’ group is one of the most welcoming thriving writing communities in New Zealand, for example, and the same can be said for our speculative and horror communities. Believe me, there is nothing more inspiring than a bunch of horror writers having a chat over coffee, and the convention post-award room parties are ultra-fun. However, these same genre classifications also open us up to exclusion by funders, festival organisers, booksellers, and even readers, since there’s a long-held (and entirely false) view that says only ‘literary’ fiction has merit. One critic, who is well-known in New Zealand science fiction and fantasy fandom, demonstrates this bias by proudly announcing that she won’t read New Zealand speculative fiction, and nor will she read horror. In her view, they can have no merit. Of course, that is her choice; she’s free to read, or not read, these types of books if she likes. Personally, I think excluding great chunks of our literary smorgasbord is like removing a food group from your diet. Without that balance, our individual and collective well-being is compromised.


Why do you think horror and fantasy books remain so popular?

It’s true people have always been fascinated by horror/fantasy and while affordability and accessibility have played a part, from the early pulp fiction comics, through to current film and book distributors like Netflix and Amazon, a key reason for that interest is that horror and fantasy works address important themes that are universal to us all, real issues that have an impact on our lives. And there’s a lovely paradox in play too because horror fantasies allow us to face our fears head on, while still maintaining a measure of distance. Also, wherever we have horror, it is juxtaposed with hope, since in examining those hard topics, horror encourages us consider possible solutions. Let’s face it, it stands to reason that when the zombie apocalypse inevitably comes, readers of Maberry’s Patient Zero are going to be one step ahead of the horde. 


What inspires your stories?

This is probably an odd answer, but our New Zealand landscape plays a big part. Writing the Taine McKenna adventure series, and also the Path of Ra supernatural crime-noir series which I co-write with Dan Rabarts, the New Zealand landscape, with its geysers, crater lakes, mountain ranges, and dense mist-filled forests has been a wonderful source of story, and New Zealand storytellers have only begun to scratch the surface of what is possible. And if our local storytellers imbue our stories with our history and culture, throw in the call of the kōkako and the whims of our gods, and add in the Māori concept of the landscape representing our ancestors, then there is a point of difference, something unique that doesn’t appear in other literature. As a New Zealand writer, I feel there is a responsibility for us to tell our stories, to offer our perspectives in this moment, and our landscape is essential to that viewpoint.


What do you think the difference between American horror and British horror is?

As an outsider, the differences are hard to pinpoint—apart from the obvious spelling and idiom.
I think British horror retains an island mentality, that idea of isolation and separation that we see captured in New Zealand fiction, whereas American horror conveys a sense of vastness. It’s a place where villains and monsters are able to disappear into obscurity. Who knows what the Americans have hidden underneath Area 51? And British horror seems steeped in tradition and propriety, whereas writers in former colonies like New Zealand, and previously the USA, might have more pioneering freedom to dash off into unknown worlds.


What are your favorite horror books?

Oh this is too hard. Please don’t make me do this. I have so many favourites. Instead, to give you an idea of what I like, why don’t I tell you what I’ve been reading over the past couple of weeks? For example, I’m speeding through Fountain Dead by Theresa Braun, and if I’m bleary-eyed today, it’s all her fault. To be honest, I’m late to the party on this one—it was released last year—and I only wish I’d got to it sooner. A fresh take on the gothic haunted house thriller, Braun’s writing has a wonderful clarity, and wow, she knows how to write tension. Not quite finished it yet, but already I can recommend it. I’ve also been enjoying Alessandro Manzetti’s gorgeous graphic novel adaptation of Poppy Z. Brite’s short story, Calcutta: Lord of Nerves, a surprise gift print copy which arrived for me in the post last week. Calcutta Horror is illustrated by Stefano Cardoselli, whose stunning black and white images perfectly capture the gritty, lonely aspect of the story. A real treat. In fact, I’ve enjoyed a veritable banquet of Manzetti’s writing lately, dipping into his most recent poetry collection The Place of Broken Things which is co-written with the indomitable Linda D. Addison, who is a Lifetime Member of the Horror Writers Association, one of the most significant and eloquent poets of our time, and perhaps our most hard-working champion of diversity in writing. I’ve been savouring this wasabi-sharp collection in small bites, partly because this examination of the nature of trauma is not only deadly brutal, but also because the words are so powerful, the images so astounding that it requires some reflection. More Manzetti: I’ve also had the privilege of reading the English language version of his speculative Cold War novella The Keeper of Chernobyl, which is forthcoming from Omnium Gatherum. Already published to some acclaim in Italy, weird science lovers are going to devour this one. Gruesome and compelling!

For a quick read over coffee, I gobbled up Lit-RPG short story Thirty to Fifty Feral Hogs, a recent bestseller by Australian horror writer Matthew Barbeler, and a spin-off from his Rise of the Crimson Order world. I’m new to Lit-RPG which is a break-the-fourth-wall approach to game adventure. I enjoyed this short read; it’s great fun, and well-orchestrated in Barbeler’s hands. For those readers who prefer their fiction without the gaming intrusion, I recommend sampling some of Barbeler’s other horror works. Carnifex, a chompy, uniquely Australian tale, written in his penname Matthew Hellscream, is a favourite of mine.

One of the best perks of being a writer is that, occasionally, I’m offered sneak peeks at work written by my colleagues. Recently, I was lucky enough to read Christine Morgan’s fabulous deep-sea horror-thriller Trench Mouth. I’m still gasping. With Morgan, you know the water’s going to run red. Trench Mouth is 100,000 words of breathless, action-packed terror. I’ve also read Kathleen’s Kaufmann’s Diabhal, which is releasing soon from Turner Publishing, and EV Knight’s debut novel The Fourth Whore (Raw Dog Screaming Press). Both beautifully crafted narratives with feminist themes, everyone needs to read these empowering and important novels. And for fantasy lovers, I’ve been loving Omens, the final title in A.J. Ponder’s hilarious YA fantasy send up The Sylvalla Chronicles, told by revered wizard academic Freddie Fraderghast and following the exploits of the Princess Sylvalla, better known for the point of her blade than she is for needlepoint.

Omens is a standalone adventure, but if you’re quick you probably still have time to read the first two books in the series: Quest and Prophecy. Sons of the Curse, the second book in my colleague Dan Rabart’s Children of Bane comic fantasy epic is also due out soon too. Picking up from where Brothers of the Knife left off, it’s hard to categorise this book which incorporates many of the best elements of traditional fantasy—elves, dwarves, wyvern, betrayal, intrigue, family squabbles, and meals eaten on the hoof. Did I mention the steampunk airship and the tragic love story? Finally, I have a poem appearing in the HWA’s upcoming Poetry Showcase VI anthology, so I’ve seen a proof preview of the entire text and I all I can say is I’m extremely humbled to have my name appear alongside so many poets I admire and respect. Edited by Bram Stoker winning poet Stephanie Wytovich along with poets Cynthia Pelayo and Christa Carmen, this is a stunning collection and not to be missed.


What are some of your favorite horror movies?

This is where I admit that while most of my reading is speculative and horror, I don’t watch horror movies. Nope, nope, nope. Horror movies terrify me. I have tried it three times and each time they have given me night terrors. The first time, I stayed up late and watched Trilogy of Terror by myself in 1976 (at age 9), and later I saw the 1920s silent version of The Cabinet of Dr Caligari in class while I was in middle school in 1978. And the last time I watched a horror movie was at the cinema in 1981, when I went with friends to watch Friday 13th Part, II. After watching Freddie slaughter those teenagers, I screamed in my sleep for weeks, so much so that my parents asked me not to see any more horror movies, please. Even now, all these years later, images and scenes from those three movies still repeat in my head and make me wake up in a sweat. Sometimes I yell. Maybe it has something to do with the immediacy of the media. I don’t know. In any case, in the interests of sleep, I do not watch horror movies or even horror movie trailers (except by accident).

(Also, this kills me because so many of my writer friends have wonderful work that has been adapted into film that I would love to see.)


What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as an author?

In 2017, I was awarded New Zealand’s Sir Julius Vogel Award for Services to Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror, and last year I became SpecFicNZ’s first life member. I consider these some of my greatest accomplishments as an author, since I am most proud of my community-building work. Stemming in part from my writing, I undertake a lot of ‘mostly-free’ work intended to develop new writers and readers. For example, together with my colleague and dear friend, Piper Mejia, I co-founded volunteer group Young New Zealand Writers and for the past decade we have been offering national writing competitions, full-day writing workshops, mentorship, and publishing opportunities for New Zealand school students. Receiving sometimes as many as a thousand entries to our competitions, we still provide individual feedback to every student who sends us their work. In recent years, we’ve run some of our workshops alongside the New Zealand national convention, including this year’s GeyserCon where I was the convention’s programme director. I undertake a lot of mentorship, usually juggling up to four or five mentees at a time.

Not only do I learn a lot myself through mentorship, but it’s especially rewarding to see writers I’ve worked with produce high quality work and develop their careers further. Several of my mentees have simply surpassed me, winning major literary awards, or obtaining those little orange Amazon bestselling flags. For community building, it helps that I’m involved in a number of writing organisations where it’s easy to jump on board and support ongoing initiatives or gain support for project ideas I might have. I’m a member of a number of international groups (ITW, HWA, AHWA) and am actively involved in several local writing organisations such as SpecFicNZ, the New Zealand Society of Authors, and Tauranga Writers—New Zealand’s longest-running writing group.


Do you have any advice for new writers?

If you can, grow a carapace.
Seriously though, welcome to all our new writers! Come over to the dark side. There’s a place for you here in horror.

     
What is your opinion of the new self-publishing trend?

Self-publishing has become a vital part of our industry, and with opportunities for traditional publishing retrenching, many of my colleagues are turning to the hybrid model of traditional and self-publishing to fund their careers. Diversification is just good business sense. Self-publishing can be quicker, more lucrative, and writers retain more autonomy over their work than they would with a traditional publishing house. However, the barriers to entry are low—anyone can upload their homework and call it a book—so self-publishers are not always well received within the industry, their work seen as inferior despite some top-class writing coming from that sector. Even for traditional writers, there is merit in self-publishing at least some work to gain an idea of what the publisher’s role is, and all the tasks required to produce and sell a quality product.


What are your current projects?

Thanks for asking! I’ve just completed Blood of the Sun, the final book in the supernatural crime-noir series I write with my colleague Dan Rabarts, so right now I’m taking advantage of the break in novel projects to work on some overdue short story commissions. I’m busy organising a New Zealand book launch for my middle grade adventure, Dawn of the Zombie Apocalypse, releasing in October from IFWG Publishing, Australia. Together with UK editor Marie O’Regan, I’m wrapping up the last edits on Trickster’s Treats: Seven Deadly Sins a Halloween charity anthology for Things in the Well, Australia. I’m also about to guest edit Issue 10 of Breach Magazine, a dark fiction magazine showcasing Australian and New Zealand writing, and towards the end of the year I’ll be co-judging a national writing award on behalf of the New Zealand Society of Authors. In the works for 2020, is a short story collection, and also a couple of secret squirrel projects that I’m bursting to tell people about. Needless to say, I envisage a lot of cheese-on-toast dining in my future.


Please in your own words, write a paragraph about yourself & your work. 

Lee Murray is a New Zealand-born Chinese writer of dark speculative fiction for adults and children. Despite her penchant for darkness, there is nothing scary about her. She is five foot flat and wears teeny size 5 shoes. Born with clicky hip syndrome, doctors told her parents she would never walk, so being naturally contrary, she didn’t just walk, she went on to run 25 marathons, countless half marathons, and an ultramarathon, running the same way she writes—slowly. The oldest of four children, her siblings describe her as bossy.

She goes by Lee, Lilee, and Floss. She sometimes sings in the shower, and it is probably best it stays that way. She loves the New Zealand bush, family trips in the caravan, and a naughty Jack-tzu named Bella. Lee is lucky enough to have lived in New Zealand, England, France, and Wisconsin USA, all places which have allowed her to pursue her passion for cheese. Married for the past thirsty years to David, the best spouse a writer could dream of, they have two fantastic grown up kids (one Slytherin, one Hufflepuff, both Browncoats).

Lee speaks fluent French, but regrets never learning Cantonese, her mother’s language, and only having a smattering of words in Māori, which she considers one of the most beautiful and evocative languages in the world. She’s done quite well with this writing caper, even winning some literary awards, which is probably just as well since she isn’t fond of housework, cooking, or gardening. And when it comes to getting a duvet cover on the duvet, please, don’t go there. Lee says that while it’s wonderful that people enjoy her stories, and thank you for all your lovely positive reviews, if she’s remembered for anything, she hopes it’s for being kind.


Bio:
A multi-award-winning writer and editor of science fiction, fantasy, and horror (Sir Julius Vogel, Australian Shadows) and a two-time Bram Stoker nominee, Lee Murray’s works include the Taine McKenna military thrillers (Severed), and supernatural crime-noir series The Path of Ra, co-written with Dan Rabarts (RDSP). She is proud to have edited twelve dark fiction works, including the award-winning anthology Hellhole: An Anthology of Subterranean Terror. Lee lives in New Zealand where she conjures stories for readers of all ages from her office overlooking a cow paddock.

Links:
@leemurraywriter
www.leemurray.info
https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Murray/e/B0068FHSC4
https://www.facebook.com/lee.murray.393
https://www.instagram.com/leemurray2656/

THE DEVIL’S CANDY gets its long-awaited UK TV premiere on Horror Channel. Plus Chad Archibald’s BITE gets channel premiere


Horror Channel has seven prime-time premieres in September, including the UK TV premiere of Sean Byrne’s THE DEVIL’S CANDY; an absorbing, unnerving and devastating ride into psychological trauma, starring Ethan Embry (“Sneaky Pete”, “Grace & Frankie”).

There are also channel premieres for David Chirchirillo’s deadly dating thriller BAD MATCH; Chad Archibald’s BITE, a fearless fusion of slime, shivers and shock; box-office supernatural horror hit THE PACT; and Mick Garris’s macabre tale of horror and eroticism, SLEEPWALKERS, starring Ron Perlman and John Landis. Then there’s the original sly monster croc comedy LAKE PLACID starring Bridget Fonda and Bill Pullman; and psychic debunking chiller RED LIGHTS, starring Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, Toby Jones, Elizabeth Olsen and Robert De Niro.


Full film details in transmission order:


Fri 6 Sept @ 21:00 – BAD MATCH (2017) *Channel Premiere


Be careful who you swipe for...Harris (Jack Cutmore-Scott) seems to have it all - a great job, plenty of friends and an active sex life thanks to a range of dating apps. But that all changes when he matches with Riley (Lili Simmons). Unlike Harris, Riley isn’t looking for a one-night-stand and, while at first, Harris just assumes she’s clingy, he’s about to find out the truth is something far more sinister.


Fri 13 Sept @ 21:00 BITE (2015) *Channel Premiere

While on her hen party getaway to exotic Costa Rica, bride-to-be Casey gets a seemingly harmless bite from an unknown insect while bathing in an idyllic jungle pool. But after returning home with matrimonial cold feet, she starts exhibiting alien behaviour as what crept under her skin starts taking hold. Between physical transformation and wedding anxiety, Casey succumbs to her new instincts and begins creating a hive that not only houses her translucent offspring, but also feeds on flesh.


Sat 14 Sept @ 21:00 – THE PACT (2012) * Channel Premiere


Following her mother's funeral, Annie reluctantly returns to her childhood home - a place she would rather forget. Then as her sister and cousin inexplicably disappear, Annie is forced to unlock the doors to the past to discover the hidden secrets of the house and in doing so finds a room that she has no memory of. Things take a sinister and terrifying turn as Annie soon realises she isn't alone in the house...


Fri 20 Sept @ 21:00 – THE DEVIL’S CANDY (2015) *UK TV Premiere


Unfulfilled artist Jesse Hellman moves his wife and fellow metal music-loving teenage daughter Zooey into a rustic Texas home with a violent past. Soon his paintings start taking on a darker, disturbing and more prophetic turn as anxieties and family tensions get ramped up. Then the clearly unbalanced Ray appears on his doorstep wanting to move back into the house where his parents tragically died. When Ray sees Zooey, nothing prepares the family for the shocking chain of events.


Sat 21 Sept @ 22:55 – SLEEPWALKERS (1992) *Channel Premiere


Tanya (Mädchen Amick) falls for Charles (Brian Krause), the new boy in school, only to learn too late that he’s a life-sucking sleepwalker. Charles and his mother, Mary (Alice Krige), are the last of a dying breed who are able to stay alive only by feeding on the life force of virtuous young women. But it turns out that the sleepwalkers’ Achilles’ heel is the domestic house cat, with whom they share genetic information. As the tension mounts, and the casualties pile up, the town’s tabbies gather for a final chilling showdown with the monsters in their midst.


Fri 27 Sept @ 21:00 – LAKE PLACID (1999) *Channel Premiere


Welcome to Black Lake, Maine. This tranquil setting is probably the last place you'd expect to find a 30-foot man-eating crocodile. But this is what confronts Kelly Scott (Bridget Fonda); an emotionally fragile, nature-phobic, New York palaeontologist who's been reluctantly dispatched for her first real field assignment. She teams up with an eccentric billionaire Jack Wells (Bill Pullman) to find this multi-toothed menace.


Sat 28 Sept @ 21:00 – RED LIGHTS (2012) *Channel Premiere


Two investigators of paranormal hoaxes, Dr. Margaret Matheson (Sigourney Weaver) and her young assistant Tom Buckley (Cillian Murphy), study the most varied metaphysical phenomena with the aim of proving their fraudulent origin. Simon Silver (Robert De Niro), a legendary blind psychic, reappears after a thirty-year absence to become the couple’s greatest international challenge. Tom quickly begins to develop an obsession with Silver, and as the two get closer, his worldview is threatened to its core.


Horror Channel: Be Afraid
TV: Sky 317 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 70 / Freesat 138
Website: http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/

Tuesday, 27 August 2019

Competition: Win Killers Anonymous on Blu-ray


Killers Anonymous is out now on Digital, DVD & Blu-ray as well as in UK Cinemas from 28th August.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on Blu-Ray to give away.

Synopsis
A support group of killers is held regularly, the participants sit in a circle of trust and share their transgressions.

On this particular night, the city has been rocked by the failed assassination of a Senator and the brutal and professional demise of his attempted assassin. A chain of events is already in motion, as the group congregates for their late-night session. The very fabric of the group begins to unravel, as one layer of betrayal leads to another.

Welcome to Killers Anonymous. The meeting is now in session.

The film includes a host of British talent including Academy Award Winning Gary Oldman (The Darkest Hour), Suki Waterhouse (Assassination Nation), Tim McInnerny (Eddie the Eagle), Tommy Flanagan (Sons of Anarchy), Michael Socha (This Is England), as well as Jessica Alba (Sin City).

Buy from Amazon by clicking here (Opens in a new window)

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

Name the 3 actors that appear on the cover of the Blu-ray?

Send you name, address and of course the answer to competition@beentothemovies.com

Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 09-09-19
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

Monday, 26 August 2019

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - D23 Footage


Take a look at footage from the 9th and final piece of the Skywalker Saga.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (also known as Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker) is an upcoming American epic space-opera film produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams. It will be the third installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017).

It is being produced by Lucasfilm and Bad Robot Productions, and will be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film's ensemble cast includes Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, and Ian McDiarmid. It will be the final film in the nine-part 'Skywalker saga', following the original and prequel trilogy.

The Rise of Skywalker will see the Resistance face the First Order once more, and the end of the ancient conflict between the Jedi and the Sith. Principal photography began in August 2018 at Pinewood Studios in England, and wrapped in February 2019. The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 20, 2019.

A year after the events of The Last Jedi, the remnants of the Resistance face the First Order once again—while reckoning with the past and their own inner turmoil. Meanwhile, the ancient conflict between the Jedi and the Sith reaches its climax, altogether bringing the Skywalker saga to a definitive end.


What Death Leaves Behind – An interview with producer Rachel K.Ofori


Rachel K.Ofori, co-writer and producer of What Death Leaves Behind, explains how an organic donation inspired a dark, compelling movie.

When did you start writing, Rachel?

In 8th grade my English teacher told me my poetry and short stories could get published. It surprised me because I never thought what I wrote was poetry--just thoughts. Had my first poem published and wrote a stage play later that same year. Just kept it up from there. It’s amazing what one word of validation can do for a person. The opportunity to pass that on is something I aggressively pursue. 


And how did this particular screenplay come to be?

Our Executive Producer, Chad Morton’s cousin went through 7 years of dialysis and started having repetitive nightmares after finally receiving a kidney transplant. How he originally explained those dreams to Chad gave us the basis for the story and even the details to help guide the makeup by Joan Jones, wardrobe by Diamond Holland, and the eerie production design of Khadir Cade. Chad and Nico Giampietro wrote the original draft, Scott Hamilton (the director) and I took it to the final script you see in the film. Was a very organic and collaborative experience.


There’s some confronting subjects in here. How important to you was it that they be handled delicately and tasteful?

Very. For one, it’s medical. We had several medical consultants and I even casted actual nurses in the film to keep us true to that world--even cell memory and how much of us exist at the cell level. Then it goes deeper. We deal with mental illness and domestic violence as vehicles for the psychological thriller aspects of the story. We take the audience on a twisty, entertaining ride. But these subject matters are real and affect people every day. Audiences erupt in applause, some cry, but when a woman tells me she saw herself in Erin O’brien’s vulnerable character at the Pan African Film Festival or a man at Downtown LA Film Festival tells me Jake’s darkness helped him better understand his brother during a dark time-- I believe we got it right.


Though an entertaining genre film, this is also somewhat of a message movie. How do you hope the movie changes people – in what way?

If nothing else, we hope this helps us all to remember to pay attention to how those close to us are handling tough times. And when in a tough time to talk and open up to those that care about you--even when it’s something as crazy as our film.


How important to you that audiences get to discover the film on the big screen?

I would say priceless--but the distributors will say otherwise! In a time where studios bank on superheroes to bring people to the theater, it’s great to remember our world is full of amazing stories about regular people--like Jake.  We’re so grateful for distributors like Artist Rights Distribution that find ways to give a platform and a voice to indie filmmakers. We make films with the big screen in mind. It’s great we have so many mediums to consume content now--but ultimately when an audience sees a film in the theater you’re getting the art as the artist intended.

We list every chance to see WDLB on the big screen at whatdeathleavesbehind.com and on our social media @whatdeathleavesbehind


To see if the film is screening near you, visit
https://www.whatdeathleavesbehind.com/in-theaters/

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Film - Netflix


El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie is an upcoming film written and directed by Vince Gilligan and starring Aaron Paul. It will serve as a continuation of the television series Breaking Bad.

It is set to be released on Netflix on October 11, 2019, and will be broadcast at a later date on AMC.

Jesse Pinkman pursues freedom after escaping from his captors.

Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman, a former meth cook who once partnered with drug kingpin Walter White.
Charles Baker as Skinny Pete, Jesse's friend.

Competition: Win Keeping Faith - Series 2 DVD


Keeping Faith - Series 2  is out on DVD on September 2nd

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis
FOLLOWING THE runaway success of the first series last year, the critically acclaimed Welsh drama Keeping Faith, starring Eve Myles as the eponymous lead, returns for its second enthralling six-part series.

Originally airing on BBC Wales, series one was the most popular show on the channel in more than 25 years, as well as the most downloaded non-network show on BBC iPlayer since records began and boasted a large audience on BBC One.

We return to stunning rural Wales, to catch up with tenacious lawyer, wife and mother Faith Howells, played with élan by the brilliant Eve Myles (Broadchurch, Torchwood). 18 months after her life was turned upside down by the sudden disappearance of her husband, Evan (Bradley Freegard ­– Under Milk Wood), Faith is  drawn into a new mystery, taking on the case of Madlen Vaughan (Aimee-Ffion Edwards ­­– Peaky Blinders),  a local farmer accused of murdering her husband in cold blood.

With Madlen’s murder trial, the prospect of Evan’s return and her conflicted emotions towards former criminal Steve Baldini (Mark Lewis Jones – Chernobyl) Faith must take a stand. Putting her children, her business and even her life on the line, will she find the truth or lose everything and everyone she loves?

You’ll be Keeping Faith in this addictive thriller.

Buy from Amazon by clicking here (Opens in a new window)

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

Competition Closed

Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 09-09-19
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.


Competition: Win Memory: The Origins of Alien DVD

Memory: The Origins of Alien is out on DVD on September 2nd.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies to give away.

Synopsis
The iconic scenes and sequences from seminal sci-fi horror ALIEN are firmly embedded in film history and popular culture: the creepy eggs and HR Giger designed spacecraft on a long dead planet; the pivotal facehugger attaching itself to one of the crew of the Nostromo; the shocking chest-bursting sequence and much, much more…

But while we may all now know that "in space, no-one can hear you scream", how did Ridley Scott and the creative team come up with the ideas for a blockbuster that changed both the horror and sci-fi genres and truly terrified audiences around the world?

As we approach the 40th Anniversary of the game-changing film a fascinating feature documentary MEMORY: THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN, from writer/director Alexandre O. Philippe (78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene), uncovers the origin story behind Scott’s cinematic masterpiece, which arrives in cinemas on 30 August 2019 followed by DVD and on demand on 2 September from Dogwoof.


Buy from Amazon by clicking here (Opens in a new window)

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED

Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 09-09-19
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

Competition: Win Memory: The Origins of Alien DVD


Memory: The Origins of Alien is out on DVD on September 2nd.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies to give away.

Synopsis
The iconic scenes and sequences from seminal sci-fi horror ALIEN are firmly embedded in film history and popular culture: the creepy eggs and HR Giger designed spacecraft on a long dead planet; the pivotal facehugger attaching itself to one of the crew of the Nostromo; the shocking chest-bursting sequence and much, much more…

But while we may all now know that "in space, no-one can hear you scream", how did Ridley Scott and the creative team come up with the ideas for a blockbuster that changed both the horror and sci-fi genres and truly terrified audiences around the world?

As we approach the 40th Anniversary of the game-changing film a fascinating feature documentary MEMORY: THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN, from writer/director Alexandre O. Philippe (78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene), uncovers the origin story behind Scott’s cinematic masterpiece, which arrives in cinemas on 30 August 2019 followed by DVD and on demand on 2 September from Dogwoof.


Buy from Amazon by clicking here (Opens in a new window)

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED


Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 09-09-19
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

Competition: Win Blue on Blu-ray


Blue is out on Blu-ray on August 26th.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies to give away.

Synopsis
Half of all marine life has been lost in the last 40 years. By 2050 there will be more plastic in the sea than fish. The way the ocean operates is different to how we thought of it 100 years ago. We can no longer think of it as a place of limitless resources, a dumping ground, immune to change or decline. BLUE takes us on a provocative journey into the ocean realm, witnessing a critical moment in time when the marine world is on a precipice.

Featuring passionate advocates for ocean preservation, BLUE takes us into their world where the story of our changing ocean is unfolding. We meet those who are defending habitats, campaigning for smarter fishing, combating marine pollution and fighting for the protection of keystone species. This feature documentary comes at a time when we are making critical decisions that will decide the legacy we leave for generations to come. BLUE shows us there is a way forward and the time to act is now.


Buy from Amazon by clicking here (Opens in a new window)

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED

Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 09-09-19
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

Sunday, 25 August 2019

The king of magic, Dynamo, returns to TV screens in an explosive new Sky original



After five years away from TV due to a career-threatening illness, award-winning magician Dynamo returns to screens next year with a new, jaw-dropping three part special, Project 7 (w/t), for Sky One and NOW TV that promises to change the face of magic on television.


The Sky original will take viewers on a journey across the globe to watch Dynamo perform close-up miracles, impossible predictions and unbelievable feats of magic that will have a lasting effect both on him and the people he interacts with.

The ambitious, visually stunning special co-produced by Phil McIntyre Television, Inner Circle Films and Motion Content Group will air on Sky One and streaming service NOW TV in the UK and Ireland in 2020.

Dynamo says: "This show has been a passion project of mine for almost 3 years and represents a whole new approach to the genre. I believe that now more than ever people need a sense of magic in their lives so I can't wait for everyone to see what I've been working on."


Inside Man created by multi-award-winning writer Steven Moffat announced for BBC One




Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content and Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, announced at Edinburgh TV Festival a brand new original crime thriller Inside Man from Bafta and Emmy award-winning writer Steven Moffat (Dracula, Sherlock, Doctor Who).


In this four-part mini-series produced by Hartswood Films for BBC One, a prisoner on death row in the US and a woman trapped in a cellar under an English vicarage, cross paths in the most unexpected way…

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, says: "In our ongoing relationship with Steven and Sue (Vertue), they sent us this mini-series which Steven had written on spec and we commissioned it instantly. The script is a page-turner and grips you from the outset, and Charlotte and I couldn't resist bringing this story to BBC One."

Produced by Hartswood Films for BBC One, this four-part serial will go into production in late 2020.

BBC Three announces new original horror series Red Rose



Red Rose is an original horror series written by the Clarkson twins - Michael and Paul - for BBC Three.

The eight-part series was commissioned by Fiona Campbell, Controller of BBC Three and Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama and will be co-produced by Eleven (Sex Education, The Enfield Haunting) and global independent studio Entertainment One, eOne (Sharp Objects).

The story follows a disparate group of teenagers, adrift in the long hot summer following GCSEs, hanging out on the Bolton moors with little sense of direction or purpose now that school is over. Rumours circulate of the Red Rose app, an urban legend that blooms on the smartphones of teenagers, encouraging them to undertake a series of challenges increasingly dangerous in its demands. On the fringes of her group of friends, Rochelle Jackson downloads the mysterious app, naively inviting darkness into her life. What she sets in motion is a series of events that take the town by storm, and bring the friends together to battle the unseen forces of a seemingly supernatural entity.

Red Rose will explore the precarious relationship between teenagers and their online lives, the seductive power of what is not real versus what is and often less exciting; but ultimately it is a story of friendship told through the prism of a classic horror-thriller.

The Clarkson twins say: "We're thrilled that our first show will be with the BBC. We've been working in LA for a while now, so the opportunity to return to the UK for our own show is incredible. Red Rose is a love letter to our hometown and childhood. We get to explore what challenges face the bright but opportunity starved teenagers of today. Working on the Haunting Of Hill House has prepared us well to undertake this genre driven challenge. We can't think of a better home for it than the BBC. It's gonna be well good!"

BBC Three announces new original horror series Red Rose




Red Rose is an original horror series written by the Clarkson twins - Michael and Paul - for BBC Three.


The eight-part series was commissioned by Fiona Campbell, Controller of BBC Three and Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama and will be co-produced by Eleven (Sex Education, The Enfield Haunting) and global independent studio Entertainment One, eOne (Sharp Objects).

The story follows a disparate group of teenagers, adrift in the long hot summer following GCSEs, hanging out on the Bolton moors with little sense of direction or purpose now that school is over. Rumours circulate of the Red Rose app, an urban legend that blooms on the smartphones of teenagers, encouraging them to undertake a series of challenges increasingly dangerous in its demands. On the fringes of her group of friends, Rochelle Jackson downloads the mysterious app, naively inviting darkness into her life. What she sets in motion is a series of events that take the town by storm, and bring the friends together to battle the unseen forces of a seemingly supernatural entity.

Red Rose will explore the precarious relationship between teenagers and their online lives, the seductive power of what is not real versus what is and often less exciting; but ultimately it is a story of friendship told through the prism of a classic horror-thriller.

The Clarkson twins say: "We're thrilled that our first show will be with the BBC. We've been working in LA for a while now, so the opportunity to return to the UK for our own show is incredible. Red Rose is a love letter to our hometown and childhood. We get to explore what challenges face the bright but opportunity starved teenagers of today. Working on the Haunting Of Hill House has prepared us well to undertake this genre driven challenge. We can't think of a better home for it than the BBC. It's gonna be well good!"