Former Packed to the Rafters’ star Jessica Marais may have signed on to play a drag queen in an upcoming ABC telemovie. The telemovie is about transgender television personality Carlotta (born Richard Byron) and her rise to fame in King’s Cross. Currently there has been no confirmation from Jessica or her management. Carlotta is also remaining tight-lipped, saying she ‘wasn’t allowed to talk about it yet’. Carlotta may not be a household name, but in the 1960s she was on the soap opera Number 96 and was reportedly the inspiration for the lead role in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.
Could Jessica Marais be playing Carlotta?
Downton Abbey, Wild Boys, Titanic, Underbelly Razor, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries… it seems impossible to turn on a TV without seeing a period television series at the moment and a new ABC drama has starts production on Monday. The Mystery of a Hansom Cab stars some of Australia’s finest talents and is based on the 1886 best-seller by Fergus Hume. Some of the names announced for the project include John Waters (All Saints, Offspring), Shane Jacobsen (Kenny, Beaconsfield) and Brett Climo (Killing Time). The new series has also turned out to be somewhat of an Underbelly Razor reunion, with Chelsie Preston-Crayford, Anna McGahan and Felix Williamson scoring roles.
As much as I love period pieces (and I seriously do love them), I’m hoping this new genre doesn’t die the same painful death the cop/hospital dramas have died over the years. There tends to be a habit of jumping on the bandwagon when it comes to succcessful genres of television shows, and soon everyone’s jumping and down to make one. This can be the kiss of death for shows of that caliber and it can be years before another successful one can be made- if made at all. With this sudden crowd of period television shows being made, does this mean it’s only a matter of time before the genre is tired, overdone and eventually thrown out?
Also coming to screens is a screen adaptation of Vale Valhalla, the novel written by Joy Chambers. The story centres on three families between the 1890s right up to the Great War of 1914-1918. Wild Boys actor Jeremy Sims is directing the mini-series and says Vale Valhalla is ‘driven by action, tragedy and romance’. The producers say they intend to gather a cast of world-renowned actors and Chris Hemsworth (Thor) is at the top of their wish list.
The Wrath of the Period Dramas- Too much too soon?
Exciting news for Wolverine fans- the new blockbuster movie is coming to Sydney! The government has invested $12.8million in the production which is to be filmed at Sydney’s Fox Studios. For the first two weeks Wolverine will be in Japan before arriving in Sydney where production will begin in August. Good news for Hugh Jackman fans!
Australian playwright Stephen Sewell has had years and years of success on stage with his acclaimed plays so it’s little wonder he is now moving his talents to the screen. Sewell will be directing Babylon, a film adaptation of his novel of the same name. Jaggi.Shute, a Sydney production company, has acquired the rights to the story and is currently in funding talks with various agencies. Stephen says this new project is ‘a dream come true’.
Any aspiring models or fashion lovers I’ve got a show you will adore. ABC2 has started showing The Model Agency, a British documentary about Premier- one of the number one modelling agencies in the world. The first episode screened last week and followed the drama of Premier when one of their star models pulled out of Fashion Week at the last minute due to jetlag and homesickness. It’s a very interesting series and absolutely worth a look!
The Model Agency screens Wednesday nights 8.30pm followed by encore screenings at 11.25pm on Thursdays, on ABC2
If you live in Sydney, today is your last chance to get in on the 2012 Big Brother action. Sydney auditions are taking place at Penrith Panthers throughout today. The rest of the dates are as follows:
Hobart- 1st May, Mercure Hobart
Adelaide- 3rd May, Adelaide Showground
Melbourne- 5th and 6th May, Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Are you a singer, dancer and actor? Are you a fan of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert? If that’s the case you might be interested to learn about the new reality series hitting Channel Ten this year. I Will Survive is a televised competition set to the stage production of Priscilla where the contestants will receive ‘intense training’ for the role of Tick. Auditions began in Brisbane on the 19th of April but the show will be travelling right across the country. Auditionees have two minutes in front of the panel to prove their talent. The winner will receive a cash prize of $250,000 as well as a trip to New York and a possible Broadway performance as well as representation from a US agent. It’s a great opportunity so if you’re interested head over to ten.com.au for more info and good luck!
If you were watching Offspring on Channel Ten last night you may have seen the preview for the upcoming series Brothers In Arms, the new drama centering around the bikie gang the Commancheroes and the Milperra Massacre. The series stars former RUSH actor Callan Mulvey and Matt Nable. It also includes Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Todd Lasance, Luke Hemsworth, Nathaniel Dean, Anthony Hayes and Susie Porter. Brothers In Arms has been created by the same team who created the successful Underbelly franchise so time will tell if this Channel Ten series will gain the same audience. It’s great to see Callan Mulvey in a starring role- he’s a very talented man and I’ve been watching him for awhile. He does seem to have a certain role that he gravitates to- he’s been a ‘bad guy’ in Home and Away, McLeod’s Daughters and Underbelly and he’s also played a ‘good guy’ on Channel Ten’s drama RUSH, which finished last year, so Callan seems to enjoy the crime driven dramas and audiences enjoy watching him do them.
Brothers In Arms is a six part series and it’s based on the best-selling book of the same name by Lindsay Simpson and Sandra Harvey. It’s set to go to air in May.
Below is a link for a Brothers In Arms ‘sneak peak’- enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQcpRoxL1Tg
I really enjoyed Delta Goodrem’s performance at the 54th Annual TV Week Logie Awards on Sunday night. It’s been such a long time since we’ve had our Delta around and she delivered a wonderful performance of her new single ‘Sitting On Top Of The World’. That song is upbeat, catchy and powerful and to be honest, it’s been in my head all week. I think she may have been a little bit nervous but there was no need- Australia loves Delta and always will. If you missed the performance check out the link below.
Delta Goodrem appears on The Voice (Channel 9)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p2DxDHR1JY
These photos are not the property of Aussiewood. I do not claim to own them, and I have credited them when able. This is an appreciation blog, and few photographs posted on here will be my own property. If you own a picture posted on here and you would like me to include a credit or remove it, please click on the ‘Talk to Aussiewood’ link above and contact me. Thank you!
