Throng

Pukeko Pictures is describing its latest high-end project The Maid as “Game of Thrones with Joan of Arc in the middle of it”.

The Kiwi company’s executive vice-president of development Adam Fratto told Broadcast magazine that The Maid – which is based on the best-selling novel by Kimberly Cutter about Joan of Arc’s childhood – is their priority project.

“We’re going to take on the project as a full series, a historical Game Of Thrones with Joan of Arc in the middle of it,” Fratto said of the project that is being written by Craig Pearce (The Great Gatsby, Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juiliet).

The project is one of a number on the go at the company, with others including a District 9-style sci-fi series that has been sold to a US cable network and the UK reboot of Thunderbirds. Continue reading »

The winner of the Samsung Insider job for The X Factor NZ has been announced as Georgie Wright.

The 19-year-old student will now have the opportunity to report backstage from the TV3 series.

As the the proud technology partner of The X Factor NZ, Samsung provided Georgie with the latest Samsung GALAXY S4 smartphone, GALAXY Note 10.1 tablet and GALAXY camera.

Armed with these and an access-all-areas pass, Georgie is backstage at the LIVE shows, rubbing shoulders with contestants and judges, asking the questions the fans want answered, and covering the stories you won’t see on television. Continue reading »

Most watched

1. One News: 678,310 (TV ONE, 6:00pm – 7:00pm)
2. Police Ten 7: 561,160 (TV2, 7:35pm – 8:05pm)
3. Mrs. Brown’s Boys: 541,130 (TV ONE, 9:10pm – 9:45pm)
4. Shortland Street: 506,520 (TV2, 7:00pm – 7:35pm)
5. Miranda: 476,620 (TV ONE, 8:30pm – 9:10pm) Continue reading »

Prometheus actor joins new pilot

Prometheus actor Logan Marshall-Green will lead the cast in a new drama pilot called Quarry. The project will centre on a Marine sniper who is shunned by loved ones after his return from Vietnam and starts a life as a professional assassin.

No Freaks and Geeks revival

Writer/director Paul Feig has played down a potential revival of Freaks and Geeks in the style of Arrested Development. “I’ve never seen a good reunion – in real life or on film,” he said. “There’s always something that’s wrong. Half the time, you’re just thinking, ‘Oh, look how old they are’.” Continue reading »

We’ll soon be seeing a whole lot more of the big red shed on TV screens with The Warehouse planning infomercial-style advertisements.

Warehouse Group CEO Mark Powell told TV3’s Firstline this morning that one of the strategies the company is planning is to run TV infomercials.

“It’s one avenue of communicating with our customers,” says Powell.

“What it really means is longer advertorials really showing the features and benefits of products I think are helpful. They help sell products, rather than just showing five seconds of a product.”

Whether or not she wins, Anna Wilson has the X Factor.

It appears as though before pursuing a music career, Anna had a budding acting career, starring in the 2001 movie Kid’s World alongside Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future) and Olivia Tennet (Shortland Street).

Perhaps her outfit from Sunday was inspired by her first scene wardrobe from the movie. (View more photos at ChildStarlets) Continue reading »

So excited to announce that Annabel Fay & Smashproof will be performing on Monday night #XFactorNZ Live Results show! twitter.com/xfactornz/stat…

— The X Factor NZ (@xfactornz) May 22, 2013

Next Monday’s live X Factor NZ results show will include appearances by special guests Annabel Fay and Smashproof.

The two Kiwi acts were announced via the X Factor NZ Twitter feed this morning.

I don’t believe there is a single artist who has performed on American Idol hasn’t seen their work fly up the charts.  All that prime time TV exposure is excellent if you can capitalise on it, even if you’re Ruby Frost it would seem.

It will be fascinating to see what happens to the singles charts once the performances are available on iTunes.

Most watched

1. One News: 710,390 (TV ONE, 6:00pm – 7:00pm)
2. Shortland Street: 611,380 (TV2, 7:00pm – 7:30pm)
3. My Kitchen Rules: 585,430 (TV2, 7:35pm – 9:35pm)
4. Fair Go: 562,640 (TV ONE, 7:30pm – 8:00pm)
5. Border Security: 539,030 (TV ONE, 8:00pm – 8:30pm) Continue reading »

Guyon Espiner and the Affirmative team won last night’s debate regarding decriminalising soft drugs on TV3’s The Vote with a 72% majority.

Viewers voted from around the country and overseas. During the broadcast #thevotenz trended at #1 in New Zealand, and #2 Worldwide on Twitter.

The debate saw the ‘legal highs’ industry controversially admit that their synthetic products are more dangerous than ordinary cannabis – and advise: “If you want to get rid of synthetic cannabis, the best way is to decriminalise natural cannabis.” Continue reading »