Justin McMillan’s feature debut Sweet River will premiere as a Netflix Original on Saturday, a “dream come true” for the director.
The psychological thriller follows Hanna (Lisa Kay), who returns to the sleepy town of Billins, nestled deep in the sugar cane fields, where her four-year-old son Joey was abducted by notorious serial killer Simpkins (Jack Ellis), and is now presumed dead.
On hearing the news that Simpkins had died and her son’s DNA was found on his property, the emotionally damaged Hana rents a small farmhouse in the valley near to where Simpkins lived and mounts her own investigation.
Starring alongside Kay and Ellis are Martin Sacks, Genevieve Lemon, Chris Haywood, Rob Carlton, Baroo, Sam Parsonson, Bryan Roberts and Jeremy Waters.
The screenplay, which was written by Marc Furmie (Terminus) and Eddie Baroo, is based on an original story by McMillan.
The film was produced by Ashley McLeod...
The psychological thriller follows Hanna (Lisa Kay), who returns to the sleepy town of Billins, nestled deep in the sugar cane fields, where her four-year-old son Joey was abducted by notorious serial killer Simpkins (Jack Ellis), and is now presumed dead.
On hearing the news that Simpkins had died and her son’s DNA was found on his property, the emotionally damaged Hana rents a small farmhouse in the valley near to where Simpkins lived and mounts her own investigation.
Starring alongside Kay and Ellis are Martin Sacks, Genevieve Lemon, Chris Haywood, Rob Carlton, Baroo, Sam Parsonson, Bryan Roberts and Jeremy Waters.
The screenplay, which was written by Marc Furmie (Terminus) and Eddie Baroo, is based on an original story by McMillan.
The film was produced by Ashley McLeod...
- 12/4/2020
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
The film is being sold at AFM by Reason8 Films.
UK-based sales company Reason8 Films has closed a North American deal with Gravitas Ventures for Sweet River.
Gravitas is looking to release the Australian mystery thriller theatrically in April next year. The deal was negotiated between Anna Krupnova of Reason8 and Brett Rogalsky of Gravitas.
Sweet River tells a story of Hannah, whose search for her son’s body leads her to a sleepy rural town that hides dark secrets. It’s the narrative directorial debut for Justin McMillan (Storm Surfers 3D); Ashley McLeod is the producer.
The cast includes Lisa Kay,...
UK-based sales company Reason8 Films has closed a North American deal with Gravitas Ventures for Sweet River.
Gravitas is looking to release the Australian mystery thriller theatrically in April next year. The deal was negotiated between Anna Krupnova of Reason8 and Brett Rogalsky of Gravitas.
Sweet River tells a story of Hannah, whose search for her son’s body leads her to a sleepy rural town that hides dark secrets. It’s the narrative directorial debut for Justin McMillan (Storm Surfers 3D); Ashley McLeod is the producer.
The cast includes Lisa Kay,...
- 11/11/2020
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Ben O’Toole in ‘Bloody Hell’ (Photo credit: Daniel Berghofer).
The virtual Cannes Film Market is underway with a raft of titles driven by Australian talent being pitched to buyers either as pre-sales or completed films.
The slate includes Daina Reid’s Run Rabbit Run, Frances O’Connor’s directing debut Emily, Alister Grierson’s Bloody Hell, Christopher Nelius’ feature doc Girls Can’t Surf and Justin McMillan’s Sweet River.
In addition, Hanway is looking to sell worldwide rights to Kim Mordaunt’s Wildlands, a thriller to be shot in Africa starring Matthias Schoenaerts as Richard Thomas, a jaded bomb disposal expert.
The script by Mordaunt and John Collee is based on the director’s experiences in the bomb disposal world in Asia and Africa. After being dismissed from Un forces following a failed mission in Afghanistan, Thomas gets a final shot at redemption when he’s sent to Angola, one...
The virtual Cannes Film Market is underway with a raft of titles driven by Australian talent being pitched to buyers either as pre-sales or completed films.
The slate includes Daina Reid’s Run Rabbit Run, Frances O’Connor’s directing debut Emily, Alister Grierson’s Bloody Hell, Christopher Nelius’ feature doc Girls Can’t Surf and Justin McMillan’s Sweet River.
In addition, Hanway is looking to sell worldwide rights to Kim Mordaunt’s Wildlands, a thriller to be shot in Africa starring Matthias Schoenaerts as Richard Thomas, a jaded bomb disposal expert.
The script by Mordaunt and John Collee is based on the director’s experiences in the bomb disposal world in Asia and Africa. After being dismissed from Un forces following a failed mission in Afghanistan, Thomas gets a final shot at redemption when he’s sent to Angola, one...
- 6/22/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Leanne Tonkes, Martin Sacks and Victoria Garrett.
Martin Sacks enjoyed working with director Victoria Garrett in her debut feature Don’t Tell so much that he was keen to collaborate with her again.
The actor had been mulling the idea of a film about a father and son relationship which is tested by an unforeseen tragedy, so he pitched the concept to Garrett early last year.
She immediately sparked to the idea and is now developing the project with Sacks, screenwriter John Ridley and producer Leanne Tonkes.
Sacks will play the lead, the father of two teenage sons who live in a small country town. He’s an ordinary man on an ordinary day until he finds his life turned upside down by an indiscriminate tragedy.
Susie Porter, Nathaniel Dean and Daniela Farinacci will play supporting roles.
For the key role of the 15-year-old son the producers are keen to find a fresh face.
Martin Sacks enjoyed working with director Victoria Garrett in her debut feature Don’t Tell so much that he was keen to collaborate with her again.
The actor had been mulling the idea of a film about a father and son relationship which is tested by an unforeseen tragedy, so he pitched the concept to Garrett early last year.
She immediately sparked to the idea and is now developing the project with Sacks, screenwriter John Ridley and producer Leanne Tonkes.
Sacks will play the lead, the father of two teenage sons who live in a small country town. He’s an ordinary man on an ordinary day until he finds his life turned upside down by an indiscriminate tragedy.
Susie Porter, Nathaniel Dean and Daniela Farinacci will play supporting roles.
For the key role of the 15-year-old son the producers are keen to find a fresh face.
- 1/19/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Sweet River.’
English actor Lisa Kay, Martin Sacks and Geneviève Lemon lead the cast of Sweet River, a psychological thriller which is now shooting in Byron Bay.
The screenplay by Marc Furmie and Eddie Baroo, based on an original story by the director Justin McMillan, is set in a fictional sugar cane town which harbours a dark secret.
The Brisbane-based Kay, who starred in Neighbours and Home and Away after moving to Australia, plays Hanna Montague, whose son Joey was abducted by a serial killer and is presumed dead.
Searching for his body, she moves in to a cottage on a sugar cane farm. John and Ellenor Drake, live in the neighbouring farmhouse and own the surrounding sugar cane fields.
Both women have something in common: Ellenor’s daughter lost her life in a bus crash which killed several other children. As Hanna investigates her son’s disappearance amid some unexplained encounters with the supernatural,...
English actor Lisa Kay, Martin Sacks and Geneviève Lemon lead the cast of Sweet River, a psychological thriller which is now shooting in Byron Bay.
The screenplay by Marc Furmie and Eddie Baroo, based on an original story by the director Justin McMillan, is set in a fictional sugar cane town which harbours a dark secret.
The Brisbane-based Kay, who starred in Neighbours and Home and Away after moving to Australia, plays Hanna Montague, whose son Joey was abducted by a serial killer and is presumed dead.
Searching for his body, she moves in to a cottage on a sugar cane farm. John and Ellenor Drake, live in the neighbouring farmhouse and own the surrounding sugar cane fields.
Both women have something in common: Ellenor’s daughter lost her life in a bus crash which killed several other children. As Hanna investigates her son’s disappearance amid some unexplained encounters with the supernatural,...
- 11/5/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Heartbeat actor Peter Benson died on September 6 after a short illness. He was 75.
He was known for playing the North Yorkshire-based drama's funeral director in all of the show's 18 series during its run from 1992 to 2010.
His character also ran a garage in the fictional town of Aidensfield and often got involved in disastrous money-making schemes with Claude Greengrass (Bill Maynard) and half-brother Vernon Scripps (Geoffrey Hughes).
Benson also made appearances in BBC comedy Blackadder as Henry VII, ITV 1980s soap opera Albion Market and more recently in two episodes of hospital drama Casualty.
Benson was a highly-skilled singer and dancer and an accomplished theatre actor. He and Maynard starred on stage together in a production of "Trinity Tales" in 1977.
He portrayed the title role in Shakespeare's "Henry VI" in a BBC television adaption of the play in 1983.
One of Benson's former Heartbeat co-stars Steven Blakeley, who played Pc Geoff Younger in the show,...
He was known for playing the North Yorkshire-based drama's funeral director in all of the show's 18 series during its run from 1992 to 2010.
His character also ran a garage in the fictional town of Aidensfield and often got involved in disastrous money-making schemes with Claude Greengrass (Bill Maynard) and half-brother Vernon Scripps (Geoffrey Hughes).
Benson also made appearances in BBC comedy Blackadder as Henry VII, ITV 1980s soap opera Albion Market and more recently in two episodes of hospital drama Casualty.
Benson was a highly-skilled singer and dancer and an accomplished theatre actor. He and Maynard starred on stage together in a production of "Trinity Tales" in 1977.
He portrayed the title role in Shakespeare's "Henry VI" in a BBC television adaption of the play in 1983.
One of Benson's former Heartbeat co-stars Steven Blakeley, who played Pc Geoff Younger in the show,...
- 9/9/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
Helen Fielding's first novel in 14 years, the latest from Meg Cabot's Size 12 series, a wine-steeped romance - there's lots to like about this fall's fiction lineup. Tell us what you think of our staffers' picks - and let us know what you're reading. Betsy Gleick, Executive Editor Her Pick: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding. I'm whipping through the new Bridget Jones book (out in the U.S. on Oct. 15. We're lucky here at People - sometimes we get to read things early). A huge spoiler is already out there, but you won't hear it from me.
- 10/4/2013
- by Kim Hubbard
- PEOPLE.com
You can't go high brow all the time. Whether it's a chick lit confection, a bodice-ripper or a zombie fest, just-for-fun books have their place. See what our staffers are unwinding with below - and let us know what you're reading. Caryn Midler, Video Producer Her Pick: Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham The Parenthood star's first novel definitely has a chick lit feel, which I usually avoid like the plague, but I've been whipping through it while drinking tea and eating cookies. I love the characters and the gritty setting, New York circa 1995 (no cell phones!) Even though I know where the story's headed,...
- 5/9/2013
- PEOPLE.com
The cast and crew of ITV1's 1960s police drama Heartbeat are currently filming an episode for the next series on location in Australia. Production of the Aussie special began on Monday and is expected to continue for two weeks. Regulars Joe McFadden, Clare Wille and Lisa Kay - who play PC Joe Mason, DS Rachel Dawson and Nurse Carol Cassidy respectively - are currently filming on the Gold Coast and hope that a spinoff could be in the pipeline. McFadden told news.com.au: "We were over in a really interesting place last week near Casino which hadn't changed much since the 1960s. Filming is going so well there is talk at the moment of perhaps doing a spinoff." He added: "I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I might be involved." Meanwhile, ex-Neighbours star Blair McDonough (more)...
- 9/10/2008
- by By Kris Green
- Digital Spy
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