Red Billabong, an action-thriller about two brothers who discover old secrets and family ties in the Outback, starts shooting on the Gold Coast on Monday.
The production marks the feature film writing and directing debut of Luke Sparke, who is partnered with his father Ian in SparkeFilms.
The plot follows the brothers as their friends go missing and they fear they are being stalked by someone or something from their worst nightmares.
The cast includes Dan Ewing, Tim Pocock, Bruce Carter, Jessica Green and newcomers Sophie Don, Ben Chisholm, Emily Joy and James Straiton.
Ian Sparke is producing and the international sales agent, the UK.s Manifest Film Sales/Intandem Films, will pitch the project at the American Film Market in November. Cutting Edge Brisbane will handle the post and VFX work.
Luke Sparke said, .Red Billabong is a roller-coaster ride and a rip roaring thriller. It.s got elements of action,...
The production marks the feature film writing and directing debut of Luke Sparke, who is partnered with his father Ian in SparkeFilms.
The plot follows the brothers as their friends go missing and they fear they are being stalked by someone or something from their worst nightmares.
The cast includes Dan Ewing, Tim Pocock, Bruce Carter, Jessica Green and newcomers Sophie Don, Ben Chisholm, Emily Joy and James Straiton.
Ian Sparke is producing and the international sales agent, the UK.s Manifest Film Sales/Intandem Films, will pitch the project at the American Film Market in November. Cutting Edge Brisbane will handle the post and VFX work.
Luke Sparke said, .Red Billabong is a roller-coaster ride and a rip roaring thriller. It.s got elements of action,...
- 9/4/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Ian and Luke Sparke (photo by Focus Magazine).
This article first appeared in If Magazine Issue #150
Ian Sparke Since very young, I have been interested in military history, Australian history and uniforms. This may sound strange, but the whole militaria collection started when I was about six years-old. My first item can be traced back till then. Now we have around 80,000 items. Our production becomes more sophisticated and we continuously research and collect more. The first professional job we got was in the 1993 ceremony for the coming back of the unknown soldier of the Australian Army. They brought one of our soldiers back from France and reburied him here after a memorial. It was my task to ensure all the war uniforms were correctly worn. I designed, manufactured and made them. After that, we started to get more and more professional jobs. At the same time I kept researching and working on history,...
This article first appeared in If Magazine Issue #150
Ian Sparke Since very young, I have been interested in military history, Australian history and uniforms. This may sound strange, but the whole militaria collection started when I was about six years-old. My first item can be traced back till then. Now we have around 80,000 items. Our production becomes more sophisticated and we continuously research and collect more. The first professional job we got was in the 1993 ceremony for the coming back of the unknown soldier of the Australian Army. They brought one of our soldiers back from France and reburied him here after a memorial. It was my task to ensure all the war uniforms were correctly worn. I designed, manufactured and made them. After that, we started to get more and more professional jobs. At the same time I kept researching and working on history,...
- 2/5/2013
- by Yuan Liu
- IF.com.au
The Australian Army’s 34th Battalion arrived in France in 1916 and fought against the Germans on the Western Front. The unit’s little-heralded story will be chronicled in the ensemble war drama The 34th Battalion.
A soccer hardman and Hollywood action star, Vinnie Jones and Avatar’s Stephen Lang will now join a cast that includes Luke Hemsworth (brother of Chris and Liam Hemsworth), Emilie de Ravin (Brick), Charles Mesure (Desperate Housewives), Les Hill and Andrew Lees of Rescue Special Ops, Claire van der Boom (Hawaii Five-0), Tony Bonner (Quigley Down Under, and Vince Colosimo (Body of Lies), respectively.
Jones will play the British-born Lieutenant-Colonel who led the battalion, while Lang is a U.S. officer who is part of the squad.
Ian Sparke will serve as executive producer and his son Luke Sparke will be making his directorial debut on the feature. The father-son team also wrote the screenplay.
A soccer hardman and Hollywood action star, Vinnie Jones and Avatar’s Stephen Lang will now join a cast that includes Luke Hemsworth (brother of Chris and Liam Hemsworth), Emilie de Ravin (Brick), Charles Mesure (Desperate Housewives), Les Hill and Andrew Lees of Rescue Special Ops, Claire van der Boom (Hawaii Five-0), Tony Bonner (Quigley Down Under, and Vince Colosimo (Body of Lies), respectively.
Jones will play the British-born Lieutenant-Colonel who led the battalion, while Lang is a U.S. officer who is part of the squad.
Ian Sparke will serve as executive producer and his son Luke Sparke will be making his directorial debut on the feature. The father-son team also wrote the screenplay.
- 1/5/2013
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
Happy New Year, everyone! It’s been a quiet week in Hollywood, so here’s the top casting news of the last few days:
• Maggie Gyllenhaal will star opposite Michael Fassbender in Frank, an indie comedy about a wild band lead by the titular character (Fassbender) and his fearsome right-hand woman (Gyllenhaal), as seen through the eyes of the group’s newest addition (Domhnall Gleeson, Anna Karenina). Scoot McNairy (Argo), and Jack White drummer Carla Aza costar. Leonard Abrahamson (Adam & Paul) is directing from a script by Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan (The Men Who Stare At Goats). [THR]
• Ashley Tisdale...
• Maggie Gyllenhaal will star opposite Michael Fassbender in Frank, an indie comedy about a wild band lead by the titular character (Fassbender) and his fearsome right-hand woman (Gyllenhaal), as seen through the eyes of the group’s newest addition (Domhnall Gleeson, Anna Karenina). Scoot McNairy (Argo), and Jack White drummer Carla Aza costar. Leonard Abrahamson (Adam & Paul) is directing from a script by Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan (The Men Who Stare At Goats). [THR]
• Ashley Tisdale...
- 1/5/2013
- by Adam B. Vary
- EW - Inside Movies
34th Battalion casts Vinnie Jones, Stephen Lang in World War I film Vinnie Jones and Stephen Lang are set for The 34th Battalion where they'll join the existing cast of Luke Hemsworth, Emilie de Ravin, Charles Mesure, Les Hill, Claire van der Boom, Tony Bonner, Andrew Lees and Vince Colosimo. Deadline reports that the film which is budgeted at $20 million tells of an Australian Army unit that battled the Germans heroically in the first World War. Lang of James Cameron's Avatar is in as a U.S. officer while Jones plays a British Lieutenant-Colonel who leads the battalion. Ian Sparke wrote the script with his son Luke who makes his directorial debut on the film which focuses on four men from rural New South Wales who, in 1916, joined the army following the Gallipoli campaign.
- 1/4/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
34th Battalion casts Vinnie Jones, Stephen Lang in World War I film Vinnie Jones and Stephen Lang are set for The 34th Battalion where they'll join the existing cast of Luke Hemsworth, Emilie de Ravin, Charles Mesure, Les Hill, Claire van der Boom, Tony Bonner, Andrew Lees and Vince Colosimo. Deadline reports that the film which is budgeted at $20 million tells of an Australian Army unit that battled the Germans heroically in the first World War. Lang of James Cameron's Avatar is in as a U.S. officer while Jones plays a British Lieutenant-Colonel who leads the battalion. Ian Sparke wrote the script with his son Luke who makes his directorial debut on the film which focuses on four men from rural New South Wales who, in 1916, joined the army following the Gallipoli campaign.
- 1/4/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Wikileaks Film
Laura Linney is in talks to re-team with her "Kinsey" director Bill Condon on the Wikileaks project in development at DreamWorks Pictures. Shooting kicks off in Berlin and Iceland early next year.
Benedict Cumberbatch will play Assange, and James McAvoy is circling the role of Assange's former right-hand man Daniel Domscheit-Berg. [Source: The Wrap]
School For Santas
Working Title is developing the Richard Bean-penned holiday film "School For Santas" as a vehicle for actor James Corden.
The story follows a down-on-his-luck dad who needs to find his inner Father Christmas to win back his kids. Shooting will take place next year in New York and London. [Source: Deadline]
The 34th Battalion
Emilie De Ravin has joined the cast of Ian Sparke's "The 34th Battalion," the saga of an Australian Army unit that fought heroic battles with the Germans during World War I.
De Ravin will play the wife of Nick Farnell’s character,...
Laura Linney is in talks to re-team with her "Kinsey" director Bill Condon on the Wikileaks project in development at DreamWorks Pictures. Shooting kicks off in Berlin and Iceland early next year.
Benedict Cumberbatch will play Assange, and James McAvoy is circling the role of Assange's former right-hand man Daniel Domscheit-Berg. [Source: The Wrap]
School For Santas
Working Title is developing the Richard Bean-penned holiday film "School For Santas" as a vehicle for actor James Corden.
The story follows a down-on-his-luck dad who needs to find his inner Father Christmas to win back his kids. Shooting will take place next year in New York and London. [Source: Deadline]
The 34th Battalion
Emilie De Ravin has joined the cast of Ian Sparke's "The 34th Battalion," the saga of an Australian Army unit that fought heroic battles with the Germans during World War I.
De Ravin will play the wife of Nick Farnell’s character,...
- 11/22/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Luke Hemsworth and "V" actor Charles Mesure are set to lead an impressive cast for the upcoming Wwi-set Australian film "The 34th Battalion".
The $20 million project follows The 34th Battalion, the Australian infantry group formed just after the disastrous Gallipoli campaign.
The film's story follows four friends from the town of Maitland in rural New South Wales who join the group and serve on the Western Front.
In their first engagement, they saved the French town of Villers-Bretonneux. They later played key roles in the battle of Amiens and the battle of St Quentin Canal, the first full breach of the Hindenburg Line.
Emilie de Ravin, Les Hill, Nick Farnell, Clare van der Boom, Henry Nixon, Andrew Lees, Vince Colosimo, Ashley Zuckerman, Tony Bonner and Khan Chittenden also star.
Luke Sparke will direct and co-wrote the script with his father Ian Sparke. Shooting kicks off early next year.
Source: Deadline...
The $20 million project follows The 34th Battalion, the Australian infantry group formed just after the disastrous Gallipoli campaign.
The film's story follows four friends from the town of Maitland in rural New South Wales who join the group and serve on the Western Front.
In their first engagement, they saved the French town of Villers-Bretonneux. They later played key roles in the battle of Amiens and the battle of St Quentin Canal, the first full breach of the Hindenburg Line.
Emilie de Ravin, Les Hill, Nick Farnell, Clare van der Boom, Henry Nixon, Andrew Lees, Vince Colosimo, Ashley Zuckerman, Tony Bonner and Khan Chittenden also star.
Luke Sparke will direct and co-wrote the script with his father Ian Sparke. Shooting kicks off early next year.
Source: Deadline...
- 11/14/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
The 25th Reich is being described as "a rollicking, WWII Sci-Fi adventure full of time-travel, duplicitous Nazi robots, faulty spaceships and giant, bloodthirsty mega-fauna..." Sounds like an awesome Indiana Jones style WWII adventure with scifi elements and classic creature-feature nods. Love it.
Official synopsis:
In 1943, five Us soldiers are recruited by the Oss for a time travel mission to save the world from the tyranny of Hitler's 25th Reich.
Now in post-production, the movie was produced in Australia and features a great crew with tons of experience. Costume designs were done by Ian Sparke (The Pacific), special makeup effects by Nik Dorning (Lord of the Rings, Australia, Troy and Knowing), editing by Bill Murphy (Romper Stomper), a Wagnerian, motif-driven score by Ricky Edwards (Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga.Hoole).
Directed by Stephen Amis, the film stars Jim Knobeloch (Heaven.s Gate), Serge DeNardo, Angelo Salamanca, Dan Balcaban and Jak Wyld.
Official synopsis:
In 1943, five Us soldiers are recruited by the Oss for a time travel mission to save the world from the tyranny of Hitler's 25th Reich.
Now in post-production, the movie was produced in Australia and features a great crew with tons of experience. Costume designs were done by Ian Sparke (The Pacific), special makeup effects by Nik Dorning (Lord of the Rings, Australia, Troy and Knowing), editing by Bill Murphy (Romper Stomper), a Wagnerian, motif-driven score by Ricky Edwards (Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga.Hoole).
Directed by Stephen Amis, the film stars Jim Knobeloch (Heaven.s Gate), Serge DeNardo, Angelo Salamanca, Dan Balcaban and Jak Wyld.
- 6/23/2011
- QuietEarth.us
Remember that one year (2001) when the list-happy AFI (American Film Institute) decided to compete with the Globes and the Oscars in year end prizes? No, that didn't last long. But there's another AFI, The Australian Film Institute, that has been around for a long time and is in no such danger of being a one-off. This year, they're all about the amazing family crime drama Animal Kingdom which they awarded with a record breaking 18 nominations. Sure, the film is in danger of being way overhyped for people who are coming to it late (which is just about everyone given the sorry state of international distribution for dramas of virtually any kind) but for those who can slough off the "omg" raves, I guarantee you'll think it at least an insinuating and well executed crime drama.
AFI Favorites with multiple nominations
Its main competition for the coveted prizes, if you go by nomination counts,...
AFI Favorites with multiple nominations
Its main competition for the coveted prizes, if you go by nomination counts,...
- 10/29/2010
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Animal Kingdom received 18 nominations for this year’s Australian Film Institute Awards, followed by Beneath Hill 60 (12), Bright Star (11), Tomorrow, When the War Began (8), The Tree, Bran Nue Dae (7 each) and The Boys Are Back (4)
The Best Film category will see Animal Kingdom competing against Beneath Hill 60, Bright Star, Bran Nue Dae, The Tree and Tomorrow, When the War Began.
Australia’s top rated drama productions – Packed to the Rafters and Underbellly: The Golden Mile – were both absent from the main Television categories (except for Underbelly‘s two acting nods).
The winners will be revealed on December 10 (Industry Awards) and 11 (main Awards Ceremony) in Melbourne.
This is the full list of nominees:
AFI Members’ Choice Award
Animal Kingdom. Liz Watts. Beneath Hill 60. Bill Leimbach. Bran Nue Dae. Robyn Kershaw, Graeme Isaac. Bright Star. Jan Chapman, Caroline Hewitt. The Boys Are Back. Greg Brenman, Tim White. Tomorrow When The War Began.
The Best Film category will see Animal Kingdom competing against Beneath Hill 60, Bright Star, Bran Nue Dae, The Tree and Tomorrow, When the War Began.
Australia’s top rated drama productions – Packed to the Rafters and Underbellly: The Golden Mile – were both absent from the main Television categories (except for Underbelly‘s two acting nods).
The winners will be revealed on December 10 (Industry Awards) and 11 (main Awards Ceremony) in Melbourne.
This is the full list of nominees:
AFI Members’ Choice Award
Animal Kingdom. Liz Watts. Beneath Hill 60. Bill Leimbach. Bran Nue Dae. Robyn Kershaw, Graeme Isaac. Bright Star. Jan Chapman, Caroline Hewitt. The Boys Are Back. Greg Brenman, Tim White. Tomorrow When The War Began.
- 10/27/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
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