This year, Australia.s longest running children.s series, Play School, celebrates 50 years on air. To mark the occasion, ABC Kids has enlisted some famous faces to join with Big Ted and Humpty Dumpty to host a special series. Entitled Play School Celebrity Covers, the mini-episodes will feature a lineup of popular Australian personalities, actors and musicians turning their hand to being a Play School presenter, either performing a song or reading a story. Daily episodes will air from July 4 on ABC Kids, as well as on iview. Featuring in Play School Celebrity Covers are: Adam Goodes, Annabel Crabb with Leigh Sales, Architecture in Helsinki, Benita Collings with Don Spencer, Bernard Fanning, Carrie Bickmore, Costa Georgiadis, Dami Im, Dan Sultan, Delta Goodrem, Emma Wiggle, Guy Sebastian, Hamish and Andy, Jeremy Fernandez, John Hamblin, Josh Thomas, Kate Ceberano with her daughter Gypsy, Kate Miller-Heidke, Katie Noonan, Kurt Fearnley with Rachael Coopes,...
- 6/23/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
The Church of Scientology is planning a publicity drive in Australia to challenge what it calls “misconceptions” among the public and the media.
The controversial religious group kicked off a PR drive with an appearance on Seven breakfast show Sunrise last week, although the interview with church spokeswoman Virginia Stewart was cut short to make way for a live cross with opposition leader Tony Abbott.
The Sunrise interview was prompted by the publication of a guide for journalists that outlined the areas where the organisation feels it has been wrongly represented in the past.
Among the criticisms levelled at Scientology in recent years are that it is secretive, controlling and believes humans are descended from aliens – all allegations that the church strongly refutes.
The Church of Scientology plans to launch a localised version of a Us-made TV ad that ran around the Super Bowl, direct marketing activity to promote its videos and books,...
The controversial religious group kicked off a PR drive with an appearance on Seven breakfast show Sunrise last week, although the interview with church spokeswoman Virginia Stewart was cut short to make way for a live cross with opposition leader Tony Abbott.
The Sunrise interview was prompted by the publication of a guide for journalists that outlined the areas where the organisation feels it has been wrongly represented in the past.
Among the criticisms levelled at Scientology in recent years are that it is secretive, controlling and believes humans are descended from aliens – all allegations that the church strongly refutes.
The Church of Scientology plans to launch a localised version of a Us-made TV ad that ran around the Super Bowl, direct marketing activity to promote its videos and books,...
- 2/7/2013
- by Robin Hicks
- Encore Magazine
Guy Sebastian has become a father for the first time. The 30-year-old Australian singer, who is married to high school sweetheart Jules, revealed that she gave birth to Hudson James on Saturday, weighing 2.7kg. Sebastian decided to announce the news on Twitter rather than selling the first baby photos to a magazine. He posted a few pictures of him cradling his baby and wrote: "I'm in love. He's a little dude." He later wrote: "[He's] actually really chilled (for now)... hopefully he stays like that! He's so tiny. They don't sleep much do they?!! [He's] keeping me up." After accepting well-wishes from celebrities such as singer Kate Ceberano, X Factor winner Reece Mastin, supermodel Jennifer Hawkins and The Voice judge Joel Madden, Guy thanked all his followers for "all the kind words" (more)...
- 3/5/2012
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Lara Bingle has been announced as one of the special celebrity guests at this year's Melbourne Cup. The Australian swimwear model, who used to be engaged to cricket captain Michael Clarke and recently split from rugby star Danny Cipriani, will reportedly join racing ambassadors Megan Gale and Samantha Harris in the David Jones marquee at the BMW Caulfield Cup this weekend. According to the Herald Sun, Celebrity Apprentice contestants Jesinta Campbell, Polly Porter, Pauline Hanson and Warwick Capper will attend the Nine Network's party, while MasterChef judge George Calombaris, The 7pm Project presenter Carrie Bickmore and singer Kate Ceberano will be VIPs in the BMW marquee. Dannii Minogue's partner Kris Smith is also scheduled to make a special appearance with his father (more)...
- 10/14/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Hugh Jackman was forced to keep a huge secret from his actress wife Deborra-lee Furness as he helped organise a special Australian TV tribute in her honour.
The X-Men star struggled to keep quiet after Furness was selected to have her achievements and career celebrated on documentary show This Is Your Life, which is set to air Down Under on Monday.
In the taped tribute, Jackman reveals, "I'm not good at keeping secrets, but she has no idea," before a stunned Furness is welcomed onto the set and informed she will be the star of the show.
The couple, who married in February 1996, later relived their wedding day by dancing to All the Way, sung by Tom Burlinson and Kate Ceberano.
Fellow Aussie actresses Naomi Watts, Sigrid Thornton and Nicole Kidman, and comedian Jerry Seinfeld all appear in taped video messages, with the funnyman declaring: "She (Furness) is not a woman who is overwhelmed or thrown for a loop by anything in this world."...
The X-Men star struggled to keep quiet after Furness was selected to have her achievements and career celebrated on documentary show This Is Your Life, which is set to air Down Under on Monday.
In the taped tribute, Jackman reveals, "I'm not good at keeping secrets, but she has no idea," before a stunned Furness is welcomed onto the set and informed she will be the star of the show.
The couple, who married in February 1996, later relived their wedding day by dancing to All the Way, sung by Tom Burlinson and Kate Ceberano.
Fellow Aussie actresses Naomi Watts, Sigrid Thornton and Nicole Kidman, and comedian Jerry Seinfeld all appear in taped video messages, with the funnyman declaring: "She (Furness) is not a woman who is overwhelmed or thrown for a loop by anything in this world."...
- 2/23/2011
- WENN
Kate Ceberano has revealed that she loves her curvy body. The 44-year-old Australian singer, who has a 6-year-old daughter called Gypsy, said that she is now "comfortable" with herself and her figure. Ceberano told Woman's Day magazine: "I've become fearless about a lot of things in life. But what I really am is fearless about getting involved in things, from eating beautiful food to swimming. "There are people who find it difficult (more)...
- 1/11/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Kate Ceberano has announced that Hollywood actor and fellow Scientologist Tom Cruise is her hero. The Australian singer praised Cruise after singing at his 47th birthday party in Melbourne last month. According to the Melbourne Herald Sun, she said: "Quite simply, I worship the ground he walks on. He is a great friend and one whose friendship I value over anyone else I know. He is my idol." She added: "He exemplifies what I consider to be the greatest attributes (more)...
- 8/10/2009
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
Director Paul Cox's latest effort concerns, as the title makes clear, the true story of the famous priest who devoted himself to the desperate leper colony located on the Hawaiian island of Molokai in the 1870s.
Eschewing stylization and populating the film with a stellar array of well-known actors in supporting roles, Cox has produced a straightforward, moving and informative docudrama.
A natural for the festival circuit -- it played Montreal and Toronto this year -- "Molokai" boasts a stellar cast, but its commercial prospects are less certain.
Filmed where the actual story took place, the film begins with Father Damien's (David Wenham) assignment to Molokai Island, where an isolated leper colony has been established. Damien is a dedicated Flemish priest who clearly has taken to his calling with a passion.
Although his higher-ups in the Catholic Church are not exactly fully committed to the cause, Damien embraces his new assignment with a messianic fervor. His repeated entreaties for money and supplies are a major thorn in the sides of the Church and the beleaguered prime minister (Sam Neill), especially when they result in negative publicity.
It isn't long before Damien's methods produce results. The island is visited by royalty, Princess Liliukalani (Kate Ceberano), who, in one of the film's more outlandish scenes (even if it may be true), serenades the lepers with a pretty song. More importantly, Damien is joined by the practical-minded Brother Dutton (Tom Wilkinson) and a group of nuns led by the dedicated Mother Marianne (Alice Krige).
Unfortunately, Damien's absolute faith has tragic results; ignoring the repeated warnings to avoid physical contact with the lepers, he eventually contracts the disease.
Screenwriter John Briley, an Oscar winner for "Gandhi", has produced a similarly straightforward effort here and, though there are few surprises or exceptional moments, the film has no-nonsense directness.
The best scenes involve Damien's encounters with an erudite white Protestant patient (Peter O'Toole), a former medical worker who humorously resists the priest's efforts to save his soul. Also well-written are the scenes depicting the Church officials' frustrated reactions to Damien's belligerency.
In the title role, Australian actor Wenham delivers a compellingly idiosyncratic performance that interestingly conveys Damien's religious fervor with an almost distracted quality; it is a courageously offbeat turn that almost certainly couldn't have been provided by a traditional leading man. Excellent cameos are provided by O'Toole, Derek Jacobi, Neill, Leo McKern, Wilkinson and Kris Kristofferson, who demonstrates that accents are not exactly his forte.
Nino Martinetti's photography well captures the natural beauty of the Hawaiian settings, and the full horrors of the physical ravages of the disease are conveyed through endless close-ups spotlighting the film's state-of-the-art makeup effects.
MOLOKAI: THE STORY
OF FATHER DAMIEN
Motion International
Director: Paul Cox
Screenplay: John Briley
Producers: Tharsi Vanhuysse, Grietje Lammertyn, Era Films, Kineapolis Group
Photography: Nino Martinetti
Editors: Ludo Troch, John Scott
Music: Wim Mertens
Color/stereo
Cast:
Father Damien: David Wenham
Prime Minister Gibson: Sam Neill
Princess Liliukalani: Kate Ceberano
Williamson: Peter O'Toole
Bishop Maigret: Leo McKern
Father Leonor Fousnel: Derek Jacobi
Rudolph Meyer: Kris Kristofferson
Mother Marianne: Alice Krige
Brother Dutton: Tom Wilkinson
Running time -- 113 minuntes
No MPAA rating...
Eschewing stylization and populating the film with a stellar array of well-known actors in supporting roles, Cox has produced a straightforward, moving and informative docudrama.
A natural for the festival circuit -- it played Montreal and Toronto this year -- "Molokai" boasts a stellar cast, but its commercial prospects are less certain.
Filmed where the actual story took place, the film begins with Father Damien's (David Wenham) assignment to Molokai Island, where an isolated leper colony has been established. Damien is a dedicated Flemish priest who clearly has taken to his calling with a passion.
Although his higher-ups in the Catholic Church are not exactly fully committed to the cause, Damien embraces his new assignment with a messianic fervor. His repeated entreaties for money and supplies are a major thorn in the sides of the Church and the beleaguered prime minister (Sam Neill), especially when they result in negative publicity.
It isn't long before Damien's methods produce results. The island is visited by royalty, Princess Liliukalani (Kate Ceberano), who, in one of the film's more outlandish scenes (even if it may be true), serenades the lepers with a pretty song. More importantly, Damien is joined by the practical-minded Brother Dutton (Tom Wilkinson) and a group of nuns led by the dedicated Mother Marianne (Alice Krige).
Unfortunately, Damien's absolute faith has tragic results; ignoring the repeated warnings to avoid physical contact with the lepers, he eventually contracts the disease.
Screenwriter John Briley, an Oscar winner for "Gandhi", has produced a similarly straightforward effort here and, though there are few surprises or exceptional moments, the film has no-nonsense directness.
The best scenes involve Damien's encounters with an erudite white Protestant patient (Peter O'Toole), a former medical worker who humorously resists the priest's efforts to save his soul. Also well-written are the scenes depicting the Church officials' frustrated reactions to Damien's belligerency.
In the title role, Australian actor Wenham delivers a compellingly idiosyncratic performance that interestingly conveys Damien's religious fervor with an almost distracted quality; it is a courageously offbeat turn that almost certainly couldn't have been provided by a traditional leading man. Excellent cameos are provided by O'Toole, Derek Jacobi, Neill, Leo McKern, Wilkinson and Kris Kristofferson, who demonstrates that accents are not exactly his forte.
Nino Martinetti's photography well captures the natural beauty of the Hawaiian settings, and the full horrors of the physical ravages of the disease are conveyed through endless close-ups spotlighting the film's state-of-the-art makeup effects.
MOLOKAI: THE STORY
OF FATHER DAMIEN
Motion International
Director: Paul Cox
Screenplay: John Briley
Producers: Tharsi Vanhuysse, Grietje Lammertyn, Era Films, Kineapolis Group
Photography: Nino Martinetti
Editors: Ludo Troch, John Scott
Music: Wim Mertens
Color/stereo
Cast:
Father Damien: David Wenham
Prime Minister Gibson: Sam Neill
Princess Liliukalani: Kate Ceberano
Williamson: Peter O'Toole
Bishop Maigret: Leo McKern
Father Leonor Fousnel: Derek Jacobi
Rudolph Meyer: Kris Kristofferson
Mother Marianne: Alice Krige
Brother Dutton: Tom Wilkinson
Running time -- 113 minuntes
No MPAA rating...
- 11/8/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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