Interview with Paul Hyett - Director of Werewolf movie HOWL

As AVOD film site W4Free unleashes bloodthirsty Werewolf movie HOWL, director Paul Hyett reflects on the importance of story-telling, the career effects of the pandemic and what horror films have caught his eye lately.

Q: Looking back on the production of HOWL, what stands out for you in terms of the directorial experience?

It was a real learning experience with the sheer number of VFX shots. And what I can do on set to make the VFX guys workload easier, for example, getting practical plate shots. Also, working on a green screen set. I think that's what made it stand out to me, the pure logistical way of filming on a train set build, on a green screen set with hundreds of visual effects and tying everything together so it works.

Full Interview at 

http://www.mastersofhorror.co.uk/2021/07/interview-with-paul-hyett-director-of.html

GAMING REVIEW: The Innsmouth Case on Nintendo Switch

In 2021 you don't really get many text-based adventure games, especially not on a console like the Nintendo Switch, but with The Innsmouth Case that is exactly what you are getting. Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, The Innsmouth Case is a horror/comedy adventure.

The gameplay itself is literally reading and following a book on screen, there are 35 chapters, and 27 different endings, so for those of you old enough, this is basically the same as those old 'choose your own adventure' books, where you would skip back and forth to different pages to follow the story, dependent on the choices you make.

On a console though, there is no cheating.

Here is a brief breakdown of the story:

"A desperate mother, a missing girl and a mystical place - a case could hardly be more challenging. To solve the enigmatic disappearance of little Tabitha Marsh, however, the toughest and cleverest detective of all is wanted... but he does not have the time - and so the job goes to you. This mysterious assignment takes you to the remote fishing village of Innsmouth, where nothing is what it seems…

Save the girl, solve the case, survive Innsmouth!"

Read Full Review

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/07/review-innsmouth-case-on-nintendo-switch.html

Hollyoaks commence filming Channel 4-commissioned special hour-long episode, directed by Patrick Robinson

Hollyoaks commence filming Channel 4-commissioned special hour-long episode, directed by Patrick Robinson to air on Friday 10 September

'Overstanding other people's cultures, I believe, is one giant step towards an inclusive society and drama is one of the best tools to do that.' – Patrick Robinson

'Once cultural differences are understood, this can often dissipate hatred, racism or bigotry simply, by telling truthful stories we can all relate to.' – Kelle Bryan

Filming has commenced on an hour-long special that will play a pivotal part in Channel 4's Black to Front, the ground-breaking diversity project culminating in a special day of content on Friday September 10th. Across the day Channel 4 will broadcast programming fronted by Black talent and featuring Black contributors, to champion Black voices and stories, and the incredible Black talent that make, shape and star in British TV.

Planned over a year, and working with numerous production partners, Black to Front is part of Channel 4's on-going commitment to improve Black representation on and off screen. From breakfast right through to late night, some of Channel 4's most iconic shows will have Black talent at the forefront, offering viewers a new perspective of much-loved programmes.

Hollyoaks will air a special episode - written by Hollyoaks core team writer Thabo Mhlatshwa - anchored around the pivotal Black Deveraux family and joined by characters past, present and future, played by Black and of Black heritage talent.

It will be directed by Patrick Robinson, whom fans of continuing drama will know from his early acting career playing consultant Martin 'Ash' Ashford in Casualty for a number of years. He first began directing in 1998 on the short film, Monument, also playing the lead character. This will be his first major directorial debut for a continuing drama.

Patrick said: "I'm very excited to be directing this hour long special of Hollyoaks, featuring characters who share my background and heritage.

"Overstanding other people's cultures, I believe is one giant step towards an inclusive society and Drama is one of the best tools to do that. Music, Dance and Art also play a vital part in giving greater insight basically because we feel it…Heart, body and soul.

"Love is the theme of the episode, which I hope we can all relate to. And my litmus test for any good work? Did I feel…"

Interview with Mo Gilligan – The Lateish Show: Series 2 Friday 23rd July, 10PM

Since The Lateish Show's debut in July 2019, you've won BAFTA and RTS Awards, joined the judging panel on The Masked Singer and Dancer, written a book, presented a series from home, fronted a documentary, announced your There's Mo To Life tour, filmed Celebrity Gogglebox with Babatundé Aléshé and we've been through a pandemic. So not busy at all then?

A lot has happened in my life since we were last doing this show really! It was quite weird because just after we finished recording the last episode of Lateish series one, we announced the Netflix Momentum special and the new tour, then pandemic hit. It's so good to finally be back doing my own show!  I love getting involved in every part of it, being back in the studio with the team – and we're back bigger than ever now for Series 2!

It's been two years since the first series of The Lateish Show aired. How are the nerves? Or are you raring to go?

I am raring to go man! I've been waiting, like we all have, but the fact I'm now able to have The Lateish Show back with an audience… I'm counting down the days! I can't wait to get back into the studio and show everyone what's we've been working on.  

Do you see The Lateish Show as being an antidote to the news?

Not really to the news – I see Lateish as a bit of escapism. I've always wanted to make a show where, regardless of what's going on in the world, you get to switch off for a bit and watch something which is a bit silly, a bit fun, puts you in a good mood and sets you up for the weekend.

What can we expect from the new series?

We're coming back BIG! We've got some big new gameshow items which I think people are going to love. Everyone's favourite rave game Nursery Grimes is back with added surprises. We've got some insanely good guest appearances as well. With this show, I always love to have guests that come from so many different worlds. I mean last series we had Steve Coogan on with Jessie J and Tyson Fury, David Schwimmer on with Jada Pinkett Smith! And of course we'll have amazing prizes – that's the thing I really love, being able to give some really brilliant prizes away to the Great British Public.

You had some amazing guests in the first series – David Schwimmer, Riz Ahmed, Kelis, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tyson Fury. How do you top that? Who's on the wish list?

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson would be high up on the wish list, he was a childhood hero. I'd love to see Adele do Nursery Grimes – she'd be dope! If those guys are free man, I'm all here for it!

You've had some time on your hands to make the games even more bonkers. How mad have you gone this time round?

We always try to keep the games as simple and as silly as possible, because what we really want is everyone to play along at home. It's like Nursery Grimes – that's something you can really play at home with the whole family! I can't wait for everyone to see the new games we're launching this series as well.

Do we get to find out what some of your characters have been up to during the pandemic?

Oh yeah, most definitely. Some of my most prominent comedy characters will be making a big return and it's really great to have them back in ways viewers have never seen before.

It's always been a priority to you to make the series interactive, and ensure the audience are just as important as the guests. Will we see more of that in this series? I believe you're going out on the streets too.

Yes, for a big Series 2 first, we are taking ourselves outside the studio and heading all over the country. The viewing audience will have a chance to win some great prizes, but we'll also be rocking up on people's doorsteps unannounced, giving them some chances to win too. People have been inside their houses for the last 18 months, so it just makes sense to go to them now!

Are you looking forward to being back on stage this year?

Yeah man! I love performing on stage, doing my stand up, so I can't wait to be back on tour with There's Mo to Life later this year. If there's ever a time to do comedy, where people really want to come out, this is it. The cool thing with a comedy tour is just being able to bring joy to people's lives for about an hour and 20 mins. A lot of us comics feel the same – it's bought a lot of us together and we're all saying, 'have you been back on stage yet?.  I was talking to Joel Dommett recently and he was saying the same thing!

How did it feel hearing your name read out as the BAFTA Award winner?

Ah man, it was incredible. It was one of those moments that I'll always remember. At first I just said to people I'm just really happy to be nominated and as we got closer, I thought oh maybe I can win this…? When my name got read out, it was just amazing.  As it was for Entertainment Performance, I felt like it was for everyone who helped out with the show, came to the show, participated in the show, told a friend about it – it was their BAFTA a little bit. As much as I won it, a lot of other people won it with me and for me – it just felt really special, because some people have been part of this journey from the start of my comedy journey. It was a very special moment.

Where do you keep your trophy?

Actually ironically, I keep it right next to the TV! It feels quite fitting that sometimes when I'm watching TV I just sneak it a few glances…

You and fellow stand-up Babatundé Aleshe have become firm favourites on Celebrity Gogglebox. What have been the best and worst shows you've had to watch?

We had to watch Dr Pimple Popper and oh my god, it's so horrible. Why would you even make the show?! It's absolutely disgusting and now every time I get a spot, I think I better pop it now just in case it turns into a growth! They also put horror films on as they know me and Babatundé will always scream at them and the viewers love that! I get so engrossed in horrors too even though I hate them. It's been so lovely doing it with Babatundé, he's been a good friend of mine for a number of years and will be supporting me on tour later this year, so it was a no brainer to do Gogglebox with him. We have a real laugh.

We also saw you front your own documentary, Black British and Funny, last year on Channel 4. What was it like being able to assemble so many legends of Black British comedy in one place?

It was an honour and something I've wanted to do since first becoming a comic. Trying to do a documentary with these icons that I grew up watching was amazing, and the public responded so beautifully. My goal in making it was that if anyone in future needs to research or understand what Black British comedy was about, this is your starting point. I wanted people to be educated on where it started, and I'm so pleased it was so well received. A lot of the big comedy names featured in the Doc will also be appearing at my O2 Arena show this December!

You were on The Masked Singer & Dancer with fellow chat show host Jonathan Ross. Did you ask him for any tips? Or did he ask you for any?

Jonathan is one of my favourite people in entertainment. He has the best stories. I've never asked him for tips, but he's been in the business since before I was born, and his stories are like sitting down with your dad and asking things like 'so what was it like when you got to meet Prince?' He loves a name drop. He told me he'd did a show a few years ago in Monaco and I was like 'Nice! Who was performing?' and he just replies with 'Well I was performing, and Stevie Wonder.' I'd love to get him on the Lateish show, he's always a really good laugh.

If you could go back five years and speak to the Mo Gilligan who was working in retail and doing homemade sketches on Instagram, what would you tell him?

It's hard because I wouldn't want to tell him anything. The Mo Gilligan that was working in retail was grinding to get to this point, so I wouldn't want to tell him anything that would throw him off course. Maybe just trust the process. Working in retail has helped me so much because the level of hard work you put into those 12 hour shifts is the same when you're on stage and you want to entertain people and make sure everyone's happy.

Do you think that Mo Gilligan would believe where you are today?

There's a bit of me that says yes and a bit that says no. I think he could have seen it happen but not this quickly. A lot has happened in the last four or five years where I look back and I'm like oh my god, I've done that, and that, and that... Sometimes I do pinch myself when looking through my camera roll and thinking oh wow, I remember doing that, that was awesome. I've been lucky enough to travel the world and go to places I never thought I'd get to. There's still so much I want to try and accomplish though!

Channel 4 announces cast for animated Christmas special ‘Terry Pratchett's The Abominable Snow Baby’ from Eagle Eye Drama

Channel 4 has announced a trio of top stars to head up their high-profile Christmas 2021 animated special Terry Pratchett's The Abominable Snow Baby produced by Eagle Eye Drama, the production company recently launched by the team behind global drama brand Walter Presents, in association with Narrativia, the independent production company, launched in 2012 by one of Britain's most illustrious and well-loved authors, Sir Terry Pratchett.

Terry Pratchett's The Abominable Snow Baby, based on one of legendary author Sir Terry's best-selling short stories tells the story of a quintessentially English town which is thrown into disarray by a huge snowfall and the dramatic appearance of a 14-feet tall Abominable Snow Baby. Shunned and feared by the local townsfolk, Snow Baby is rescued by an indomitable Granny who along with grandson Albert, welcomes him into her home, showering her new pet with love and affection, changing the town's perception and helping the community overcome their initial prejudices.

Screen legend and comedy icon Julie Walters (Harry Potter, Mamma Mia, Paddington) will star as the voice of fearless 'Granny', whilst Hugh Dancy (Black Hawk Down, Ella Enchanted, Hannibal, Downton Abbey 2) will take on the role of her courageous grandson 'Albert' with narration from 'Homeland' star David Harewood (Homeland, Supergirl, Blood Diamond)

Out of Death - Starring Bruce Willis

ILY FIlms today confirmed that their latest action thriller, Out of Death, is set to be released on Digital Download from August 2nd and on DVD from October 4th.

 

Directed by Mike Burns, who makes his feature film debut, Out of Death stars the legendary action icon Bruce Willis (Die Hard), Jaime King (Sin City, My Bloody Valentine) and Lala Kent (Hard Kill, Vault).

 

Still grieving the untimely death of her father, photojournalist Shannon Mathers (Jamie King) spreads his ashes in the woods when she witnesses a cop (Lala Kent) shooting and killing an unarmed henchman during a drug deal. She captures the whole scene on her camera before being discovered. Shot at, scared, helpless and on the run, she races her way through the woods with no recognition of her location.

 

Distracted by the violent noise of the attack, Jack Harris (Bruce Willis) a newly retired police officer who is relaxing at his cabin, saves Shannon just in time and the two narrowly escape into the woods. Not sure of whom she can trust, as more dirty cops arrive to help hunt her down, including the brutal town sheriff Hank Rivers (Michael Sirow), she decides to rely on Jack, her only real chance to fight back the corrupt police and bring it to justice.

 

Director of ILY FIlms, Richard Lechartier, says "We are delighted to be releasing Out of Death in the UK. It's a tense action-packed thriller and we are sure the audiences will love seeing Bruce Willis back to his best".

Out of Death will be available on Digital Download from August 2nd and DVD from October 4th

Watch Trailer

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2021/07/out-of-death-starring-bruce-willis.html

Channel 4 invites viewers’ feedback in new series Complaints Welcome

Channel 4 has commissioned Rumpus Media to make Complaints Welcome (w/t), a new comedy entertainment series putting viewers' opinions at the heart of the show.

Comedians Tom Allen, Jessica Knappett and Munya Chawawa, will join forces to assemble a "Complaints Committee" of viewers with plenty to say about the television shows getting the nation talking each week. From daytime to documentaries, preschool to politics – no genre of TV is off-limits.

Munya Chawawa (in his first prime time series on Channel 4), Jessica Knappett (Taskmaster, The Inbetweeners Movie) and Tom Allen (Bake Off: The Professionals, Quizness) will be joined in the studio each week by guests from the world of telly as they playfully dissect the week's televisual complaints, looking for resolutions, and ultimately deciding whether the viewers' feedback will be upheld or rejected. The show will feature sketches, stunts and studio discussion covering all aspects of TV.

Tom Allen comments: "Jess, Munya and I will be putting TV on trial. If you've got an opinion on anything from the corsets in Bridgerton to a frown about Countdown, we want to hear from you. Complaints Welcome will be standing by to review the reviews viewing viewers viewed."

Complaints Welcome will air later this year on Channel 4.

Channel 4 have commissioned Flicker Productions to make a 1x60 film exploring social media, racism and football, fronted by Jermaine Jenas

There have been growing calls for social media companies to address online trolling after nearly 2,000 discriminatory abusive tweets targeted Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling in the 24 hours after the Euros final. For the last six months Jermaine Jenas has been tackling the issues head on, by confronting the people who hide behind their screens, interviewing Premier League footballers on the receiving end of the abuse and discussing his own personal experiences.

Jermaine Jenas says, "This film is incredibly important to me and something I've been working on for a while. there has been an ongoing conversation surrounding racism and football for as long as I can remember, and the reactions to the Euros has been heart-breaking. I've felt sick to my stomach reading the comments and chants and promise to make it my mission to help create positive change... @instagram @twitter @facebook and all the other social platforms out there, we have to hold these trolls accountable, we have to do better."

Baddiel and Skinner join Adam, Alex and Josh for a 90-minute Euro 2020 special of The Last Leg this Friday

After 55 years of hurt, could football finally be coming home?

Last Leg of the Euros with Baddiel and Skinner, a 90 minute extended episode of the multi award-winning The Last Leg, will probe that very question this Friday at 10pm. Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker will be joined live in the studio by none other than the Three Lions comedic heroes David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and legendary band The Lightning Seeds as they count down to the must see event of the year – the England v Italy Euro 2020 final.

With our enduring love affair for unofficial national anthem, Three Lions at an all-time high, the team will celebrate its 25th anniversary and ask whether Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds might need to pen a new song come Monday morning…

Comedian Tom Allen, former Tory Party co-chairwoman Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and some surprise guests will also join the gang for an epic night of footballing fun, acerbic wit, unmatched satirical insight – and quite possibly, a monumental end of the show musical performance.

As ever, the hashtag #isitok will also play a key role in the night's proceedings.

Last Leg of the Euros with Baddiel & Skinner

Friday 9th July at 10pm on Channel 4

'Joy Womack: The White Swan' feature documentary on the prima ballerina releases on digital 19 July 2021

Experience the joy and pain of professional ballet with Joy Womack: The White Swan, an intimate look at the journey of professional ballerina Joy Womack from her humble beginnings in Texas to performing as prima ballerina with the Kremlin Ballet. This beautiful and insightful film dances on to digital on 19 July 2021 courtesy of 101 Films.

Joy Womack is lauded as one of the greatest ballerinas in the world, and now a brand-new evocative documentary follows her early family life in Texas and sees her passion and drive that takes her to the top of her profession to become a world-class ballet dancer.

More info at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2021/07/joy-womack-white-swan-feature.html

Red Soil - UK Trailer - Starring Zita Hanrot, Olivier Gourmet and Céline Sallette

Red Soil is a described as an edge-of-your-seat thriller and is produced by the Dardenne brothers and directed by Farid Bentoumi. Zita Hanrot (The Hookup Plan), Olivier Gourmet (The Kid with a Bike) and Céline Sallette (The Returned) lead the cast. The film serves as part of the official selection of Cannes 2020 and will finally street in August.

Nour (Hanrot), a young nurse, finds a job running the infirmary at the chemical plant where her dad (Sami Bouajila) has been labouring for 30 years. She soon discovers a vast cover-up involving toxic waste dumping, cancer victims and a corrupt local government. Now the young woman will have to choose between hiding the truth for her father's sake or becoming a whistleblower and speak out against corporate greed to uncover the local pollution scandal.

Watch Trailer at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2021/07/red-soil-uk-trailer-starring-zita.html

The Love Trap - Hosted by Joel Dommett - Coming to Channel 4

Channel 4 has commissioned The Love Trap, an entertaining gameshow from Great Scott Media, the indie launched by the executive producers behind Too Hot To Handle, Leon Wilson and Ed Sleeman.

In the modern world of dating, it's harder than ever before to know who to trust. Now this brand-new reality-gameshow hybrid ingeniously subverts familiar dating show tropes in order to explore just how good we all are at spotting a genuine connection.

Comedian and presenter Joel Dommett presides over The Love Trap, as twelve women do all they can over a series of dates to win the affection of one single man. In a twist, only half of the women want to win our bachelor's heart, the other half want to stay in the game to be one step closer to winning a big cash prize. Successfully enticing our single man means they also avoid the elimination at the end of each episode when one suspected love trap will be dumped, quite literally, through the trap door.

 

Joel Dommett said "Super proud to announce I'll be presenting the new series, Love Trap on Channel 4! I love lying, love, and trap doors so it's all I've ever wanted. It's genuinely a huge idea and I'm excited that they have trusted me at the helm."

Channel 4 announces new comedy Hullraisers, from Lucy Beaumont

Channel 4 has commissioned a brand-new, hull-arious series, Hullraisers (6 x 30') from Hull's very own Lucy Beaumont (Meet the Richardsons, To Hull and Back, Live at the Electric), written by Lucy Beaumont and Anne-Marie O'Connor (Trollied, Mum) and produced by Fable Pictures (Rocks, Wild Rose, Anne Boleyn).

Hullraisers celebrates female talent, both on and off screen in a laugh-out- loud, chaotic comedy that embodies the ups and downs of life, friendship, and family.  The series centres on three women; Toni, played by Hull-native Leah Brotherhead (Bridgerton, White Gold), Rana, played by Taj Atwal (Line of Duty, Truth Seekers) and Paula, played by Sinead Matthews (The Crown, The Power) and looks at their disheveled, messy and joyful lives. The series explores the hilarious and agonising reality of what it is to be a working-class woman juggling work, kids, demanding friends, family and frustrating parents from the school playground - all whilst trying to have some fun too.

Toni is a big-hearted tornado of chaos.  She's a self-described actress with no acting jobs (she can currently be found 'auditioning' to hand out cheese samples in a supermarket car park). She adores her 4-year-old daughter Leah and her soulmate Craig, but she still dreams of escaping Hull and craves her old life. Like many of us, she's caught between being the person she once was and the person she's becoming.

Toni's bestie is Rana, a confident policewoman who's daily life is ruled by her libido. She would rather date the full spectrum of Hull's most disappointing bachelors than think about settling down. Completing the trio is Paula, Toni's self-deprecating, down-to-earth matriarchal older sister who married her childhood sweetheart Dane, Rana's big brother. She's always been the polar opposite of Toni: she's never imagined being anywhere other than Hull, she doesn't approve of Rana's irresponsibility, and just can't understand Toni's unsettledness and constant need for more.

Hullraisers has been adapted from the Israeli hit show, Little Mom, which has been recommissioned for its fifth series, and is exclusively distributed worldwide by Dori Media.