Director Luke Sparke has announced the casting for his upcoming sci-fi horror feature Primitive War, based on the novel by Ethan Pettus. Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Jeremy Piven has been given the lead role, alongside Tricia Helfer, SAG Award Nominee Ryan Kwanten and Nick Wechsler. Together, they’ll be playing US soldiers in 1968 who have been sent to a remote region of Vietnam. They’re an elite recon unit known as Vulture Squad and they only get handed the toughest assignments. All they know is a Green Beret platoon has gone missing in the area, and they’ve been sent to investigate and possibly retrieve them. What they don’t expect, but who possibly could…was that this was the region of 1968 Vietnam that had dinosaurs in it. Well, no wonder we lost. Primitive War will also star Anthony Ingruber, Aaron Glenane, Carlos Sanson Jr
The post Jeremy Piven,...
The post Jeremy Piven,...
- 4/5/2024
- by Peter Paltridge
- popgeeks - film
Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), Nick Wechsler (The Boys), Anthony Ingruber (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), Aaron Glenane (Danger Close), Carlos Sanson Jr (Legacies), Ana Thu Nguyen (Mortal Kombat 2), Adolphus Waylee (Nautilus), Richard Brancatisano (The Messenger), Marcus Johnson (Talk to Me), and Jake Ryan have all signed on to star in writer/director Luke Sparke’s sci-fi horror film Primitive War, Deadline reports. An adaptation of Ethan Pettus’ sci-fi military book series, the film will be set during the Vietnam War and feature American soldiers facing off with dinosaurs!
The story follows an elite recon unit known as the Vulture Squad. In 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War they are sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone. Dinosaurs have been let loose in the jungles.
The story follows an elite recon unit known as the Vulture Squad. In 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War they are sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone. Dinosaurs have been let loose in the jungles.
- 3/29/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Writer/Director Luke Sparke is adapting author Ethan Pettus’ sci-fi military novel Primitive War, pitting soldiers against dinosaurs…in 1968?! Per Deadline, the sci-fi horror film is lining up a rather robust cast.
Jeremy Piven, Tricia Helfer, Ryan Kwanten and Nick Wechsler (“The Boys“) are set to headline Primitive War.
The dino horror film follows “an elite recon unit known as the Vulture Squad, who, in 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War that is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone. Dinosaurs have been let loose in the jungles.”
Anthony Ingruber, Aaron Glenane, Carlos Sanson Jr, Ana Thu Nguyen (Mortal Kombat 2), Adolphus Waylee (Nautilus), Richard Brancatisano (The Messenger), Marcus Johnson and Jake Ryan also star.
“I was captivated by the imagery surrounding Ethan’s book and the story it told. I’ve worked hard...
Jeremy Piven, Tricia Helfer, Ryan Kwanten and Nick Wechsler (“The Boys“) are set to headline Primitive War.
The dino horror film follows “an elite recon unit known as the Vulture Squad, who, in 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War that is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone. Dinosaurs have been let loose in the jungles.”
Anthony Ingruber, Aaron Glenane, Carlos Sanson Jr, Ana Thu Nguyen (Mortal Kombat 2), Adolphus Waylee (Nautilus), Richard Brancatisano (The Messenger), Marcus Johnson and Jake Ryan also star.
“I was captivated by the imagery surrounding Ethan’s book and the story it told. I’ve worked hard...
- 3/27/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jeremy Piven, Tricia Helfer, SAG Award Nominee Ryan Kwanten and Nick Wechsler are set to headline Primitive War, Luke Sparke’s sci-fi horror adaptation of Ethan Pettus’ sci-fi military book series.
The film also includes actors Anthony Ingruber, Aaron Glenane, Carlos Sanson Jr, Ana Thu Nguyen (Mortal Kombat 2), Adolphus Waylee (Nautilus), Richard Brancatisano, Marcus Johnson and Jake Ryan.
Primitive War follows an elite recon unit known as the Vulture Squad. In 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War they are sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone.
The film also includes actors Anthony Ingruber, Aaron Glenane, Carlos Sanson Jr, Ana Thu Nguyen (Mortal Kombat 2), Adolphus Waylee (Nautilus), Richard Brancatisano, Marcus Johnson and Jake Ryan.
Primitive War follows an elite recon unit known as the Vulture Squad. In 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War they are sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone.
- 3/27/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
"I thought I made it clear: nobody steals from me and gets to live!" Roadside Attractions + Lionsgate have revealed an official trailer for an action thriller titled Bring Him To Me, an Australian production made by the Australian filmmaker Luke Sparke of Sparke Films. Set for release in the US later this month to watch on VOD at home. "When is it too late to turn back?" is the tagline. Under orders from a ruthless crime boss, a getaway driver must battle his conscience and drive an unsuspecting young crew member to an ambush. But there is a long drive ahead for them both... Bring Him To Me stars Barry Pepper, Rachel Griffiths, Jamie Costa, Sam Neill, with Liam McIntyre and Zac Garred. This has a very nice gritty look and feel, at least it isn't half bad, despite being such an eclectic mix of ideas and actors all packed into one crime film.
- 2/6/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Up next from director Luke Sparke (Occupation) is the underground horror movie Scurry, and Variety shares a first look this morning (above) along with some fresh information.
Of particular note, the film “was shot in real time in a one-shot take.”
“The film tells the story of two strangers (Jamie Costa and Emalia) who find themselves trapped underground when their city is attacked by a monstrous threat.”
The official plot synopsis continues, “Badly injured and with limited resources, they must navigate a treacherous, narrowing tunnel in hopes of finding an exit before they bleed out.
“Fear and desperation consume them as the threat closes in and they soon discover they have more to fear than each other.”
Tom Evans (Bring Him to Me) wrote the screenplay.
Umbrella Entertainment has acquired the rights to Scurry for Australia and New Zealand, with Film Mode Entertainment handling the worldwide sales rights on the upcoming film.
Of particular note, the film “was shot in real time in a one-shot take.”
“The film tells the story of two strangers (Jamie Costa and Emalia) who find themselves trapped underground when their city is attacked by a monstrous threat.”
The official plot synopsis continues, “Badly injured and with limited resources, they must navigate a treacherous, narrowing tunnel in hopes of finding an exit before they bleed out.
“Fear and desperation consume them as the threat closes in and they soon discover they have more to fear than each other.”
Tom Evans (Bring Him to Me) wrote the screenplay.
Umbrella Entertainment has acquired the rights to Scurry for Australia and New Zealand, with Film Mode Entertainment handling the worldwide sales rights on the upcoming film.
- 11/1/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Umbrella Entertainment Snaps Up One-Shot Horror Film ‘Scurry’ for Australia, New Zealand (Exclusive)
Umbrella Entertainment has snapped up Luke Sparke’s one-shot horror feature “Scurry” for Australia and New Zealand.
Starring Jamie Costa (“Kenobi: A Star Wars Story”) and Emalia (“Paper Dolls”), the film tells the story of two strangers who find themselves trapped underground when their city is attacked by a monstrous threat.
“Badly injured and with limited resources, they must navigate a treacherous, narrowing tunnel in hopes of finding an exit before they bleed out,” reads the logline. “Fear and desperation consume them as the threat closes in and they soon discover they have more to fear than each other.”
The film, which is directed by Luke Sparke (“Occupation”), was shot in Queensland, Australia, in real time in a one-shot take. It was written by Tom Evans (“Bring Him to Me”) and is currently in post-production.
A first look will debut at AFM. Film Mode Entertainment is handling worldwide sales rights.
Starring Jamie Costa (“Kenobi: A Star Wars Story”) and Emalia (“Paper Dolls”), the film tells the story of two strangers who find themselves trapped underground when their city is attacked by a monstrous threat.
“Badly injured and with limited resources, they must navigate a treacherous, narrowing tunnel in hopes of finding an exit before they bleed out,” reads the logline. “Fear and desperation consume them as the threat closes in and they soon discover they have more to fear than each other.”
The film, which is directed by Luke Sparke (“Occupation”), was shot in Queensland, Australia, in real time in a one-shot take. It was written by Tom Evans (“Bring Him to Me”) and is currently in post-production.
A first look will debut at AFM. Film Mode Entertainment is handling worldwide sales rights.
- 11/1/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Roadside Attractions and Samuel Goldwyn Films have acquired U.S. rights to “Bring Him to Me,” a mob thriller starring Barry Pepper (“Saving Private Ryan”) and Sam Neill (“Jurassic Park”).
The film will open in select theaters and on digital on Jan. 19, 2024.
Written by Tom Evans and directed by Luke Sparke, “Bring Him to Me” centers on a mild-mannered getaway driver (Pepper). His conscious is tested when his mob boss asks him to collect a young and unsuspecting new crew member, known as Passenger (Jamie Costa), one week after a violent robbery. The driver must battle his conscience as he takes the passenger to an uncertain fate. The cast also includes Rachel Griffiths, Liam McIntyre and Zac Garred.
“My goal with ‘Bring Him to Me’ was to bring a talented team together to make a suspenseful and action-packed film that explores loyalty and moral dilemmas,” Sparke said in a statement.
The film will open in select theaters and on digital on Jan. 19, 2024.
Written by Tom Evans and directed by Luke Sparke, “Bring Him to Me” centers on a mild-mannered getaway driver (Pepper). His conscious is tested when his mob boss asks him to collect a young and unsuspecting new crew member, known as Passenger (Jamie Costa), one week after a violent robbery. The driver must battle his conscience as he takes the passenger to an uncertain fate. The cast also includes Rachel Griffiths, Liam McIntyre and Zac Garred.
“My goal with ‘Bring Him to Me’ was to bring a talented team together to make a suspenseful and action-packed film that explores loyalty and moral dilemmas,” Sparke said in a statement.
- 10/26/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Jeremy Piven, who won three Primetime Emmy awards for his performance on the HBO series Entourage, and Jamie Costa, best known for his impression of Robin Williams in the 2021 viral video Robin, have signed on to star in the supernatural action movie Fight for Your Life, which Luke Sparke (Occupation: Rainfall) will be directing from a screenplay he wrote with Tom Evans.
Piven will be taking on the role of a soldier who wakes up in a mysterious cell and is forced to face an onslaught of deadly opponents in an ever-changing fight arena – his only goal being to survive long enough to return to his daughter.
Fight for Your Life is coming our way from Sparke Films, and pre-production is underway in Australia, where sets are already being built.
Sparke had this to say about the project: “Fight for Your Life places Jeremy in a morality battle with himself...
Piven will be taking on the role of a soldier who wakes up in a mysterious cell and is forced to face an onslaught of deadly opponents in an ever-changing fight arena – his only goal being to survive long enough to return to his daughter.
Fight for Your Life is coming our way from Sparke Films, and pre-production is underway in Australia, where sets are already being built.
Sparke had this to say about the project: “Fight for Your Life places Jeremy in a morality battle with himself...
- 5/19/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Multistory Media Bolsters Entertainment Team
ITV Studios label MultiStory Media has bolstered its entertainment team. Simone Haywood has been promoted to Creative Director for MultiStory London, while Jon Cahn has joined as Executive Producer and Zinia Scroggs has been appointed Series Editor. Haywood was previously Head of Factual Entertainment, steering shows such as Scared of the Dark for Channel 4, BBC Three’s Project Icon, Big Flower Fight for Netflix and Come Dine With Me for Channel 4. Reporting to Chief Creative Officer Ana de Moraes, she will work with Ceri Aston, Creative Director at MultiStory North. Cahn most recently worked on the Danny Dyer-hosted, celebrity show Scared of the Dark, with other credits including Channel 4’s Sas: Who Dares Wins and Married at First Sight. Scroggs is currently working on Project Icon with previous credits inlcuding BBC Three’s Glow Up. “Simone is fearless about breaking new ground and...
ITV Studios label MultiStory Media has bolstered its entertainment team. Simone Haywood has been promoted to Creative Director for MultiStory London, while Jon Cahn has joined as Executive Producer and Zinia Scroggs has been appointed Series Editor. Haywood was previously Head of Factual Entertainment, steering shows such as Scared of the Dark for Channel 4, BBC Three’s Project Icon, Big Flower Fight for Netflix and Come Dine With Me for Channel 4. Reporting to Chief Creative Officer Ana de Moraes, she will work with Ceri Aston, Creative Director at MultiStory North. Cahn most recently worked on the Danny Dyer-hosted, celebrity show Scared of the Dark, with other credits including Channel 4’s Sas: Who Dares Wins and Married at First Sight. Scroggs is currently working on Project Icon with previous credits inlcuding BBC Three’s Glow Up. “Simone is fearless about breaking new ground and...
- 3/22/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow and Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Australian filmmaker Luke Sparke is set to direct the epic adventure Shadow Chasers for Steve Lee Jones’ Bee Holder Productions and Matthew Shreder’s Concourse Media. A fall shoot in Australia is planned as casting gets underway.
Shadow Chasers is a modern and fresh take on Charles Dickens’ most famous works, including notable characters like Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley. The story is an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride when these characters team up with Oliver Twist and a young Dickens himself to save Old London from imminent destruction. The script is written by George Mahaffey, who is the scribe behind recently completed Bee Holder spy thriller Chief of Station starring Aaron Eckhart.
Related Story Sam Mendes & Audible Team For Charles Dickens Adaptations; ‘Oliver Twist’ Up First Related Story Alec Baldwin & Olga Kurylenko Board Spy Action Thriller 'Chief Of Station' For Bee Holder & Concourse Media Related Story 'Axis Of...
Shadow Chasers is a modern and fresh take on Charles Dickens’ most famous works, including notable characters like Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley. The story is an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride when these characters team up with Oliver Twist and a young Dickens himself to save Old London from imminent destruction. The script is written by George Mahaffey, who is the scribe behind recently completed Bee Holder spy thriller Chief of Station starring Aaron Eckhart.
Related Story Sam Mendes & Audible Team For Charles Dickens Adaptations; ‘Oliver Twist’ Up First Related Story Alec Baldwin & Olga Kurylenko Board Spy Action Thriller 'Chief Of Station' For Bee Holder & Concourse Media Related Story 'Axis Of...
- 2/6/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Up next from director Luke Sparke is the mob thriller Bring Him to Me, and today brings some distribution news plus two first-look images from the film.
Sam Neill and Barry Pepper (Crawl) star in Bring Him to Me, and we’ve learned that Myriad Pictures has acquired North American and the rest of world sales rights (excluding Anz) and will feature a first look at the film at EFM in February.
Meanwhile, Rialto Distribution has picked up the Australia/New Zealand rights.
In Bring Him to Me, “Under orders from a ruthless crime boss, a getaway driver must battle his conscience and drive a young and unsuspecting passenger to an uncertain fate.”
Written by Tom Evans, it’s interesting to note (via the press release) that the script was inspired by the traumatic scene in Martin Scorsese’s Casino in which Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) unwittingly turns up for...
Sam Neill and Barry Pepper (Crawl) star in Bring Him to Me, and we’ve learned that Myriad Pictures has acquired North American and the rest of world sales rights (excluding Anz) and will feature a first look at the film at EFM in February.
Meanwhile, Rialto Distribution has picked up the Australia/New Zealand rights.
In Bring Him to Me, “Under orders from a ruthless crime boss, a getaway driver must battle his conscience and drive a young and unsuspecting passenger to an uncertain fate.”
Written by Tom Evans, it’s interesting to note (via the press release) that the script was inspired by the traumatic scene in Martin Scorsese’s Casino in which Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) unwittingly turns up for...
- 2/2/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: Rialto Distribution has acquired Australia/New Zealand rights to mob thriller Bring Him To Me, which Myriad will be selling at the upcoming EFM.
Directed by Luke Sparke (Occupation), Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under) and Liam McIntyre (The Flash) star in the film whose script is inspired by the traumatic scene in Martin Scorsese’s Casino in which Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) unwittingly turns up for a meeting in a cornfield and things go south.
Today, we can reveal first images for the movie, which is now in post-production.
In the movie, under orders from a ruthless crime boss, a getaway driver must battle his conscience and drive a young and unsuspecting passenger to an uncertain fate. Script comes from Tom Evans.
The film also introduces actor Jamie Costa, who made social waves in 2021 with a portrayal of Robin Williams...
Directed by Luke Sparke (Occupation), Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under) and Liam McIntyre (The Flash) star in the film whose script is inspired by the traumatic scene in Martin Scorsese’s Casino in which Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) unwittingly turns up for a meeting in a cornfield and things go south.
Today, we can reveal first images for the movie, which is now in post-production.
In the movie, under orders from a ruthless crime boss, a getaway driver must battle his conscience and drive a young and unsuspecting passenger to an uncertain fate. Script comes from Tom Evans.
The film also introduces actor Jamie Costa, who made social waves in 2021 with a portrayal of Robin Williams...
- 2/1/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Tim Pocock, Dan Ewing, Ben Chisholm, Sophie Don, Felix Williamson, John Reynolds | Written and Directed by Luke Sparke
I was surprised that Devil Beneath managed to stealthily fly under my radar, I’m a fan of both monster movies and of writer/director Luke Sparke. It took me about five minutes to realize why I hadn’t heard anything about it, it’s not a new movie.
Devil Beneath is Sparke’s first feature Red Billabong, which he shot in 2016, edited down from an hour and fifty-three minutes to an hour and a half and given a new score. While I was disappointed that it wasn’t a new film, I had been meaning to rewatch Red Billabong since the Occupation films were released but never got around to it. And while I remembered liking it, I also remembered it being a bit longer than it needed to be,...
I was surprised that Devil Beneath managed to stealthily fly under my radar, I’m a fan of both monster movies and of writer/director Luke Sparke. It took me about five minutes to realize why I hadn’t heard anything about it, it’s not a new movie.
Devil Beneath is Sparke’s first feature Red Billabong, which he shot in 2016, edited down from an hour and fifty-three minutes to an hour and a half and given a new score. While I was disappointed that it wasn’t a new film, I had been meaning to rewatch Red Billabong since the Occupation films were released but never got around to it. And while I remembered liking it, I also remembered it being a bit longer than it needed to be,...
- 1/31/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
From the director of Occupation Rainfall comes the brand new giant monster movie Devil Beneath, an Australian feature that was released in the US by Vertical Entertainment today.
Watch the official Devil Beneath trailer below for a peek at the film’s super-sized monster. It’s a bit hard to see, but it looks pretty cool and it’s certainly massive in size and scale!
You can watch the film on Digital outlets now.
In director Luke Sparke‘s movie, “Two estranged brothers come together and discover old family secrets after inheriting their grandfather’s property. As their friends start to go missing, they fear they are being stalked by a creature lurking in the shadows.”
Dan Ewing, Tim Pocock, Jessica Green, Sophie Don, Ben Chisholm, Alex Becconsall, Damien Bryson, Philippe Deseck, Col Elliott, Gregory J. Fryer, Yutaka Izumihara, Emily Joy, Selina Kadell, John Reynolds, John Sparke, James Straiton, and Felix Williamson star.
Watch the official Devil Beneath trailer below for a peek at the film’s super-sized monster. It’s a bit hard to see, but it looks pretty cool and it’s certainly massive in size and scale!
You can watch the film on Digital outlets now.
In director Luke Sparke‘s movie, “Two estranged brothers come together and discover old family secrets after inheriting their grandfather’s property. As their friends start to go missing, they fear they are being stalked by a creature lurking in the shadows.”
Dan Ewing, Tim Pocock, Jessica Green, Sophie Don, Ben Chisholm, Alex Becconsall, Damien Bryson, Philippe Deseck, Col Elliott, Gregory J. Fryer, Yutaka Izumihara, Emily Joy, Selina Kadell, John Reynolds, John Sparke, James Straiton, and Felix Williamson star.
- 1/13/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Released in it’s native Australia over 6 years ago and finally coming out here in North America! Luke Sparke’s Bunyip creature feature and first film Red Billabong has now been re-dited, re-mixed, re-scored, and obtained by Vertical Entertainment! The film has also been retitled to The Devil Beneath …
The post The Devil Beneath – Art + Release Details! appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
The post The Devil Beneath – Art + Release Details! appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
- 12/29/2022
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
Among the first batch of projects I wrote about when I first joined Arrow in the Head back in 2015 was an Australian creature feature called Red Billabong, which was described as being like “an Australian Jurassic Park“. The movie was released in its home country back in 2016, but never managed to make its way over to the U.S. But its North American fortunes are changing now, as the film has been acquired by Vertical Entertainment and they’re planning to give it a digital release in North America on January 13th. Red Billabong has been re-edited, re-mixed, re-scored, and retitled for this new release. It’s now going by the title Devil Beneath.
A press release notes that Devil Beneath has nothing to do with The Devil Below, another movie Vertical released last year.
Luke Sparke made his feature writing and directorial debut with this action thriller creature feature,...
A press release notes that Devil Beneath has nothing to do with The Devil Below, another movie Vertical released last year.
Luke Sparke made his feature writing and directorial debut with this action thriller creature feature,...
- 12/28/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Barry Pepper takes the lead in feature film “Bring Him to Me,” which is now shooting in Queensland, Australia, under director Luke Sparke (“Occupation Rainfall”). The picture is a mob thriller written by Tom Evans and which also stars Sam Neill and Rachel Griffiths.
Under orders from a ruthless crime boss, a getaway driver must battle his conscience and drive a young and unsuspecting passenger to an uncertain fate. Evans’ script was inspired by the traumatic scene in Martin Scorsese’s “Casino” in which Nicky Santoro (portrayed by Joe Pesci) unwittingly turns up for a meeting in a cornfield and things go South.
“I’ve been fascinated by morally gray stories like ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Drive,’ so when presented with the chance to dive deep into the underworld, I couldn’t resist bringing my own flavor to the genre, toeing the lines of film noir and graphic novels,” said Sparke.
Under orders from a ruthless crime boss, a getaway driver must battle his conscience and drive a young and unsuspecting passenger to an uncertain fate. Evans’ script was inspired by the traumatic scene in Martin Scorsese’s “Casino” in which Nicky Santoro (portrayed by Joe Pesci) unwittingly turns up for a meeting in a cornfield and things go South.
“I’ve been fascinated by morally gray stories like ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Drive,’ so when presented with the chance to dive deep into the underworld, I couldn’t resist bringing my own flavor to the genre, toeing the lines of film noir and graphic novels,” said Sparke.
- 12/7/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Barry Pepper is set to star in horror film “Scurry” from “Occupation Rainfall” director Luke Sparke.
Film Mode Entertainment is launching world sales at Cannes.
“Scurry” sees two injured strangers — a family man and a criminal — trapped underground while the city above is attacked by a monstrous threat. Bleeding and with no resources, their only hope is to make it out of a treacherous tunnel before time runs out.
Carmel Imrie, Carly Sparke and Luke Sparke are producing the feature while Zac Garred and Alex Becconsall are co-producing.
Clay Epstein, Geoff Imrie and Luke Sparke are executive producing.
“Scurry” is a Film Mode Entertainment and Sparke Films production.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Luke and the Sparke Films team on yet another stellar feature film that raises the genre bar as well as the project’s commercial viability around the world,” said Epstein. “The addition of Barry Pepper and his adept talent,...
Film Mode Entertainment is launching world sales at Cannes.
“Scurry” sees two injured strangers — a family man and a criminal — trapped underground while the city above is attacked by a monstrous threat. Bleeding and with no resources, their only hope is to make it out of a treacherous tunnel before time runs out.
Carmel Imrie, Carly Sparke and Luke Sparke are producing the feature while Zac Garred and Alex Becconsall are co-producing.
Clay Epstein, Geoff Imrie and Luke Sparke are executive producing.
“Scurry” is a Film Mode Entertainment and Sparke Films production.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Luke and the Sparke Films team on yet another stellar feature film that raises the genre bar as well as the project’s commercial viability around the world,” said Epstein. “The addition of Barry Pepper and his adept talent,...
- 5/19/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment and Luke Sparke’s Sparke Films have just announced the next feature films in the sci-fi action thriller Occupation: Rainfall franchise, Occupation: Rainfall Chapter 2. With the Cannes market in full swing, they’ve announced that the film will star Jeremy Piven (Judgment Night), Casper Van Dien, Tricia […]
The post ‘Occupation: Rainfall Chapter 2’ – Casper Van Dien and Danny Trejo Join Sci-Fi Sequel appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
The post ‘Occupation: Rainfall Chapter 2’ – Casper Van Dien and Danny Trejo Join Sci-Fi Sequel appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
- 5/17/2022
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
Jeremy Piven, Casper Van Dien, Liam McIntyre and Tricia Helfer among cast.
Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment has boarded Occupation: Rainfall Chapter 2, the next instalment in the alien invasion franchise from Sparke Films, which will star Jeremy Piven, Casper Van Dien, Tricia Helfer, Liam McIntyre and Danny Trejo.
Australian filmmaker Luke Sparke returns to direct from his original screenplay and plans to start pre-production after Cannes ahead of a third quarter start of principal photography in Australia.
Chapters 2 and 3, the third and fourth entries in the series after 2018’s Occupation and Occupation: Rainfall in 2020, will film back-to-back on a custom-built LED volume stage.
Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment has boarded Occupation: Rainfall Chapter 2, the next instalment in the alien invasion franchise from Sparke Films, which will star Jeremy Piven, Casper Van Dien, Tricia Helfer, Liam McIntyre and Danny Trejo.
Australian filmmaker Luke Sparke returns to direct from his original screenplay and plans to start pre-production after Cannes ahead of a third quarter start of principal photography in Australia.
Chapters 2 and 3, the third and fourth entries in the series after 2018’s Occupation and Occupation: Rainfall in 2020, will film back-to-back on a custom-built LED volume stage.
- 5/17/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Film Mode Entertainment has inked a multi-project distribution deal with Australian director/producer Luke Sparke’s company Sparke Films.
Among the titles Film Mode will represent worldwide are Sparke’s upcoming projects “Weapons of Choice,” an adaptation of John Birmingham’s World War Two trilogy “Axis of Time” and “Primitive War,” a horror feature franchise based on Ethan Pettus’ book series.
Film Mode will also handle worldwide sales rights for “Occupation: Rainfall 2” and “Occupation: Rainfall 3” – the third and fourth films in Sparke’s franchise – as well as a number of other projects still in development.
“Occupation: Rainfall 2” and “Occupation: Rainfall 3” are currently in pre-production and will be announced in advance of Cannes.
Sparke and Film Mode owner Clay Epstein previously worked together on “Occupation: Rainfall” (pictured above), which starred Ken Jeong and Jason Isaacs. Film Mode sold the feature, which is the second in the Occupation franchise, to dozens of...
Among the titles Film Mode will represent worldwide are Sparke’s upcoming projects “Weapons of Choice,” an adaptation of John Birmingham’s World War Two trilogy “Axis of Time” and “Primitive War,” a horror feature franchise based on Ethan Pettus’ book series.
Film Mode will also handle worldwide sales rights for “Occupation: Rainfall 2” and “Occupation: Rainfall 3” – the third and fourth films in Sparke’s franchise – as well as a number of other projects still in development.
“Occupation: Rainfall 2” and “Occupation: Rainfall 3” are currently in pre-production and will be announced in advance of Cannes.
Sparke and Film Mode owner Clay Epstein previously worked together on “Occupation: Rainfall” (pictured above), which starred Ken Jeong and Jason Isaacs. Film Mode sold the feature, which is the second in the Occupation franchise, to dozens of...
- 3/15/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
For actor Zac Garred, starring in the long-awaited and much-delayed Australian Gangster was like “going to a really cool party and not being able to tell anyone about it”.
The Roadshow Rough Diamond series, written and directed by Gregor Jordan, premieres tonight on the Seven Network some three years after it was shot, with delays due to legal reasons.
Inspired by true events, Alexander Bertrand leads the show as Pasquale “Pas” Barbaro, who grew up in an organised crime family. He is released from jail, but not before making an enemy of fellow inmate and Brothers For Life member, Mohammed “Little Crazy” Hamzy (Rahel Romahn).
The newly-freed Barbaro is not concerned about playing it safe or hiding in the shadows. He is, however, concerned about looking good on Instagram.
The supporting cast includes Steve Bestoni, Louisa Mignone, Karla Tonkich and Salvatore Coco.
Given legal sensitivities, when he speaks to If,...
The Roadshow Rough Diamond series, written and directed by Gregor Jordan, premieres tonight on the Seven Network some three years after it was shot, with delays due to legal reasons.
Inspired by true events, Alexander Bertrand leads the show as Pasquale “Pas” Barbaro, who grew up in an organised crime family. He is released from jail, but not before making an enemy of fellow inmate and Brothers For Life member, Mohammed “Little Crazy” Hamzy (Rahel Romahn).
The newly-freed Barbaro is not concerned about playing it safe or hiding in the shadows. He is, however, concerned about looking good on Instagram.
The supporting cast includes Steve Bestoni, Louisa Mignone, Karla Tonkich and Salvatore Coco.
Given legal sensitivities, when he speaks to If,...
- 9/13/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Given the WWII setting of author John Birmingham’s Axis of Time book trilogy, it’s fitting that filmmaker Luke Sparke became inspired to work on a television adaptation while working on a project detailing the same era.
While he read the first book, Weapons of Choice, upon its release in 2004, Sparke told If it wasn’t until he came across the series again at Brisbane Airport while en route to join the costume and wardrobe department on mini-series The Pacific in 2007 that the potential of the subject matter dawned on him.
“I picked it up and read it on the plane and couldn’t put it down,” he said.
“That’s when the gears starting turning that it would make a good TV show, but at the time I wasn’t in any position to create one.
“I kept the book, which is the copy I am using to do all my notes in.
While he read the first book, Weapons of Choice, upon its release in 2004, Sparke told If it wasn’t until he came across the series again at Brisbane Airport while en route to join the costume and wardrobe department on mini-series The Pacific in 2007 that the potential of the subject matter dawned on him.
“I picked it up and read it on the plane and couldn’t put it down,” he said.
“That’s when the gears starting turning that it would make a good TV show, but at the time I wasn’t in any position to create one.
“I kept the book, which is the copy I am using to do all my notes in.
- 9/13/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Exclusive: John Birmingham’s World War II alternate history book trilogy Axis of Time is set for a television adaptation.
Luke Sparke, the Australian writer/director behind the sci-fi feature franchise Occupation, has optioned the rights via his Sparke Films banner and will write the adaptation.
Weapons of Choice, the first book in the series was published by Macmillan in 2004, and the trilogy deals with a radical rip in the fabric of time when a technologically advanced naval task force from the near future is accidentally transported back through time to 1942, landing in the middle of WWII.
The series will feature all three books, including Designated Targets and Final Impact.
The project is a collaboration between Sparke and co-writer Jay Thames, who appeared in Sons of Anarchy. Carly Imrie and Carmel Imrie will produce, alongside Trimax Media’s Alan Glazier (Get Smart) and Zachary Garred (Occupation Rainfall).
The books begin...
Luke Sparke, the Australian writer/director behind the sci-fi feature franchise Occupation, has optioned the rights via his Sparke Films banner and will write the adaptation.
Weapons of Choice, the first book in the series was published by Macmillan in 2004, and the trilogy deals with a radical rip in the fabric of time when a technologically advanced naval task force from the near future is accidentally transported back through time to 1942, landing in the middle of WWII.
The series will feature all three books, including Designated Targets and Final Impact.
The project is a collaboration between Sparke and co-writer Jay Thames, who appeared in Sons of Anarchy. Carly Imrie and Carmel Imrie will produce, alongside Trimax Media’s Alan Glazier (Get Smart) and Zachary Garred (Occupation Rainfall).
The books begin...
- 9/3/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney to give Marvel superhero film the widest release since UK cinemas reopened in May.
After a delay of more than a year, Disney has finally released Marvel superhero adventure Black Widow in the UK and Ireland, and will deliver the territory’s widest theatrical release since cinemas began reopening in May.
The comic book adaptation, starring Scarlett Johansson and directed by Cate Shortland, opened in 622 venues in the UK on Wednesday (July 7) – two days ahead of the US – and generated £1.2m of its first day of release. The takings were impacted by England’s win over Denmark in the...
After a delay of more than a year, Disney has finally released Marvel superhero adventure Black Widow in the UK and Ireland, and will deliver the territory’s widest theatrical release since cinemas began reopening in May.
The comic book adaptation, starring Scarlett Johansson and directed by Cate Shortland, opened in 622 venues in the UK on Wednesday (July 7) – two days ahead of the US – and generated £1.2m of its first day of release. The takings were impacted by England’s win over Denmark in the...
- 7/9/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Stars: Jason Isaacs, Temuera Morrison, Ken Jeong, Daniel Gillies, Dan Ewing, Jet Tranter, Mark Coles Smith, Trystan Go, Ken Jeong, Izzy Stevens, Dena Kaplan, David Roberts, Vince Colosimo, Katrina Risteska | Written by Luke Sparke, Dale Dye, Felix Williamson | Directed by Luke Sparke
Released in 2018 the Australian alien invasion film Occupation caught a lot of people off guard with the amount of action and the quality of the effects it produced on a low budget. Now the sequel Occupation: Rainfall is here, the success of the original allowing it the luxury of a $25,000,000 dollar budget. That’s about one-tenth of the Hollywood blockbusters it’s competing with. Can it hold its own against the competition, or is resistance to the Disney Empire futile?
Occupation: Rainfall picks up two years after the original and things aren’t going well for humanity and their alien allies. And we can see why right from the start,...
Released in 2018 the Australian alien invasion film Occupation caught a lot of people off guard with the amount of action and the quality of the effects it produced on a low budget. Now the sequel Occupation: Rainfall is here, the success of the original allowing it the luxury of a $25,000,000 dollar budget. That’s about one-tenth of the Hollywood blockbusters it’s competing with. Can it hold its own against the competition, or is resistance to the Disney Empire futile?
Occupation: Rainfall picks up two years after the original and things aren’t going well for humanity and their alien allies. And we can see why right from the start,...
- 7/7/2021
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Temuera Morrison, Ken Jeong and some rubbery aliens team up in an Australian movie with some seriously impressive visual effects and an outrageously cliched script
It is tough to gauge what is worse about this Australian action sci-fi effort: the outrageously cliche-riddled script by writer-director Luke Sparke, or the way Sparke seems to have encouraged his cast, which includes authentically good actors such as Temuera Morrison and Ken Jeong, to deliver epically poor performances. However, credit where credit is due: on some very specific technical levels, Sparke and his collaborators have made something that looks like it had a vastly bigger budget than the Aus$25m (£13m) it’s claimed to have cost. The producers certainly got a real bargain with the visual effects, which have been deployed to create some genuinely ominous-looking alien spacecraft that have invaded Earth. These spacecraft are helmed by rubbery looking aliens with whooshy lightsaber-style...
It is tough to gauge what is worse about this Australian action sci-fi effort: the outrageously cliche-riddled script by writer-director Luke Sparke, or the way Sparke seems to have encouraged his cast, which includes authentically good actors such as Temuera Morrison and Ken Jeong, to deliver epically poor performances. However, credit where credit is due: on some very specific technical levels, Sparke and his collaborators have made something that looks like it had a vastly bigger budget than the Aus$25m (£13m) it’s claimed to have cost. The producers certainly got a real bargain with the visual effects, which have been deployed to create some genuinely ominous-looking alien spacecraft that have invaded Earth. These spacecraft are helmed by rubbery looking aliens with whooshy lightsaber-style...
- 7/6/2021
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
To celebrate the release of Occupation: Rainfall, we sat down with Daniel Gilles – one of the film’s stars – to find out all about the sci-fi action thriller.
Known to many for his turns in The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Spider-Man 2 (more on that later), Gilles takes a break from vampires and spiders to tackle aliens in this explosive sequel. Picking up after its predecessor, the follow-up sees Gillies as Wing Commander Hayes who is plunged straight into the waging war between the remaining human race and the aliens who want to make Earth their new home. The actor tells us of the challenges in playing such a role, the physical elements of the film amongst all the CGI, working with director Luke Sparke, and what fans of the first film can expect from the sequel, including co-stars Ken Jeong and Jason Isaacs.
We also spoke to him...
Known to many for his turns in The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Spider-Man 2 (more on that later), Gilles takes a break from vampires and spiders to tackle aliens in this explosive sequel. Picking up after its predecessor, the follow-up sees Gillies as Wing Commander Hayes who is plunged straight into the waging war between the remaining human race and the aliens who want to make Earth their new home. The actor tells us of the challenges in playing such a role, the physical elements of the film amongst all the CGI, working with director Luke Sparke, and what fans of the first film can expect from the sequel, including co-stars Ken Jeong and Jason Isaacs.
We also spoke to him...
- 7/6/2021
- by Scott Davis
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The sequel to the Aussie alien invasion movie Occupation. Two years after aliens land on Earth, survivors from Sydney, Australia, fight in a desperate war as the number of casualties continue to grow. Release date: June 11, 2021 (USA) Director: Luke Sparke Distributed by: Monster Pictures Film series: Occupation Screenplay: Luke Sparke Cast: Dan …
The post Occupation: Rainfall – Invading Theaters Soon!! appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
The post Occupation: Rainfall – Invading Theaters Soon!! appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
- 5/8/2021
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
"Something big is coming..." Saban Films has debuted a new official US trailer for an Australian sci-fi action thriller titled Occupation: Rainfall, from filmmaker Luke Sparke. This is a completely different trailer than the UK trailer we posted last week. Two years after aliens land on Earth, survivors from Sydney, Aus., fight in a desperate war as the number of casualties continue to grow. It's described as "Avatar meets Star Wars meets Independence Day," and I'll be damned if it doesn't have that kind of feeling in these trailers. From the VFX team behind The Last Jedi and Blade Runner 2049, Sparke's Occupation: Rainfall is a new "sci-fi action epic with an all star cast." Temuera Morrison co-stars with Ken Jeong, Jet Tranter, Dan Ewing, Lawrence Makoare, Daniel Gillies, Dena Kaplan, and Jason Isaacs. Bring on the rain! I just hope this is as kick ass as it looks! It could go either way,...
- 4/30/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Signature Entertainment has launched a new trailer for the sci-fi action movie ‘Occupation Rainfall’.
Described as Avatar meets Star Wars meets Independence Day and from the VFX team behind ‘The Last Jedi’ and ‘Blade Runner 2049’. The film focuses on the events after an intergalactic invasion of Earth, where survivors are fighting back in a desperate ground war, the resistance uncovers a plot that could see the war come to a decisive end for mankind. With the alien invaders hell-bent on making Earth their new home, the race is on to save the planet.
Written and directed by Luke Sparke, the film stars Jason Issacs, Temuera Morrison, Ken Jeong and Daniel Gillies (The Originals).
Also in trailers – There is something horrifying lurking at night in trailer for dark comedy ‘Werewolves Within’
The film hits UK cinemas and Premium Digital 9th July. Trailer ahoy!
The post Aliens are hell-bent on taking...
Described as Avatar meets Star Wars meets Independence Day and from the VFX team behind ‘The Last Jedi’ and ‘Blade Runner 2049’. The film focuses on the events after an intergalactic invasion of Earth, where survivors are fighting back in a desperate ground war, the resistance uncovers a plot that could see the war come to a decisive end for mankind. With the alien invaders hell-bent on making Earth their new home, the race is on to save the planet.
Written and directed by Luke Sparke, the film stars Jason Issacs, Temuera Morrison, Ken Jeong and Daniel Gillies (The Originals).
Also in trailers – There is something horrifying lurking at night in trailer for dark comedy ‘Werewolves Within’
The film hits UK cinemas and Premium Digital 9th July. Trailer ahoy!
The post Aliens are hell-bent on taking...
- 4/23/2021
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
"Bring the rain." Signature Entertainment in the UK has unveiled the official UK trailer for an Australian sci-fi action thriller titled Occupation: Rainfall, from filmmaker Luke Sparke. Two years after aliens land on Earth, survivors from Sydney, Australia, fight in a desperate war as the number of casualties continue to grow. It's described as "Avatar meets Star Wars meets Independence Day," which is a hell of a marketing pitch for a film that definitely won't live up to any of those (sorry not sorry). From the VFX team behind The Last Jedi and Blade Runner 2049, Sparke's Occupation: Rainfall is a new "sci-fi action epic with an all star cast." Temuera Morrison co-stars with Ken Jeong, Jet Tranter, Dan Ewing, Lawrence Makoare, Daniel Gillies, Dena Kaplan, and Jason Isaacs. This does have some massive VFX sequences, which is quite impressive, but the mash-up of unoriginal sci-fi ideas seems to be its biggest drawback.
- 4/22/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
In a remarkable result, four Australian films – The Dry, Penguin Bloom, High Ground and Occupation: Rainfall – took home almost 50 per cent of the national box office last weekend.
The four titles together totaled $3.5 million, or 47 per cent of the total B.O of $7.5 million.
Such a strong local showing speaks to a variety of factors: the paucity of product from the US, good word-of-mouth and strong marketing campaigns by distributors.
The four titles’ performance is also a hopeful sign for the other Aussie films due in coming weeks, including documentary Wild Things (Potential Films), released this Thursday; dramas Long Story Short (Studiocanal) and Unsound (Filmink Presents) due on February 11; and Wayne Blair and Nel Minchin’s doco Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra (Icon) on February 18.
“With few Hollywood/international productions entering the market over the coming weeks, I expect this to continue for some time,” Village Cinemas national film programming manager Geoff Chard tells If.
The four titles together totaled $3.5 million, or 47 per cent of the total B.O of $7.5 million.
Such a strong local showing speaks to a variety of factors: the paucity of product from the US, good word-of-mouth and strong marketing campaigns by distributors.
The four titles’ performance is also a hopeful sign for the other Aussie films due in coming weeks, including documentary Wild Things (Potential Films), released this Thursday; dramas Long Story Short (Studiocanal) and Unsound (Filmink Presents) due on February 11; and Wayne Blair and Nel Minchin’s doco Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra (Icon) on February 18.
“With few Hollywood/international productions entering the market over the coming weeks, I expect this to continue for some time,” Village Cinemas national film programming manager Geoff Chard tells If.
- 2/1/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Monster Pictures will release sci-fi Occupation: Rainfall, written and directed by Luke Sparke, January 28, 2021 on 120 screens.
The follow up to 2018’s Occupation picks up two years into an intergalactic invasion of Earth where survivors in Sydney, Australia are fighting back in a desperate ground war. As casualties mount by the day, the resistance and their unexpected allies uncover a plot that could see the war come to a decisive end. With the alien invaders hell-bent on making Earth their new home, the race is on to save mankind.
The cast includes Ken Jeong, Daniel Gillies, Dan Ewing, Dena Kaplan, Temuera Morrison, Mark Coles Smith, Jet Tranter, Lawrence Makoare, David Roberts, Vince Colosimo, Zac Garred, and Trystan Go, as well as Jason Isaacs as the voice of Steve the alien.
Produced by Carly and Carmel Imire, and co-executive producer Todd Williams, The film features VFX by Creative Cupids, Fin and a range of independent artists.
The follow up to 2018’s Occupation picks up two years into an intergalactic invasion of Earth where survivors in Sydney, Australia are fighting back in a desperate ground war. As casualties mount by the day, the resistance and their unexpected allies uncover a plot that could see the war come to a decisive end. With the alien invaders hell-bent on making Earth their new home, the race is on to save mankind.
The cast includes Ken Jeong, Daniel Gillies, Dan Ewing, Dena Kaplan, Temuera Morrison, Mark Coles Smith, Jet Tranter, Lawrence Makoare, David Roberts, Vince Colosimo, Zac Garred, and Trystan Go, as well as Jason Isaacs as the voice of Steve the alien.
Produced by Carly and Carmel Imire, and co-executive producer Todd Williams, The film features VFX by Creative Cupids, Fin and a range of independent artists.
- 12/9/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Exclusive: Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment has beefed up its sales slate as the American Film Market gets underway in its virtual form.
The company has acquired world rights on the hybrid live-action/animated family comedy Ollie. In development, the pic will star Mario Lopez (Saved By The Bell) alongside skateboarder and musician Tony Alva. Story follows Cj, a 13-year-old by who is having a tough time at his local skatepark. His life takes a dramatic, adventurous and positive turn when he is befriended by Ollie, a skateboarding bulldog who was just fired from his watchdog job.
Lopez will produce and voice the character Ollie. Also producing are Mark Roberts via Roberts/David Films, along with Lorena David. Clay Epstein is executive producing.
Film Mode has also boarded international rights on comedy Last Call alongside BondIt Media Capital. The pic features Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Taryn Manning (Orange Is The New Black...
The company has acquired world rights on the hybrid live-action/animated family comedy Ollie. In development, the pic will star Mario Lopez (Saved By The Bell) alongside skateboarder and musician Tony Alva. Story follows Cj, a 13-year-old by who is having a tough time at his local skatepark. His life takes a dramatic, adventurous and positive turn when he is befriended by Ollie, a skateboarding bulldog who was just fired from his watchdog job.
Lopez will produce and voice the character Ollie. Also producing are Mark Roberts via Roberts/David Films, along with Lorena David. Clay Epstein is executive producing.
Film Mode has also boarded international rights on comedy Last Call alongside BondIt Media Capital. The pic features Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Taryn Manning (Orange Is The New Black...
- 11/10/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Dan Ewing in ‘Love and Monsters.’
Dan Ewing makes his Hollywood debut in Paramount Pictures’ comedy-adventure Love and Monsters, which follows humans who were forced underground after giant creatures took control of the land.
Formerly known as Monster Problems, the Queensland-shot film directed by South African-born Michael Matthews stars Dylan O’Brien as Joel Dawson, who reconnects over the radio with his high school girlfriend Aimee (Jessica Henwick).
Aiming to rekindle their romance, he ventures out to find her, battling all the dangerous monsters that stand in his way.
Ewing plays Cap, a former naval officer who is giving Aimee and members of her colony sanctuary at sea. “My character has seen the brutal horrors of what these creatures are capable of and offers the colonists a real chance at survival,” the former Home and Away star tells If.
“Very Noah’s Ark. He also puts a great spanner in the works for Joel.
Dan Ewing makes his Hollywood debut in Paramount Pictures’ comedy-adventure Love and Monsters, which follows humans who were forced underground after giant creatures took control of the land.
Formerly known as Monster Problems, the Queensland-shot film directed by South African-born Michael Matthews stars Dylan O’Brien as Joel Dawson, who reconnects over the radio with his high school girlfriend Aimee (Jessica Henwick).
Aiming to rekindle their romance, he ventures out to find her, battling all the dangerous monsters that stand in his way.
Ewing plays Cap, a former naval officer who is giving Aimee and members of her colony sanctuary at sea. “My character has seen the brutal horrors of what these creatures are capable of and offers the colonists a real chance at survival,” the former Home and Away star tells If.
“Very Noah’s Ark. He also puts a great spanner in the works for Joel.
- 9/30/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Exclusive: Dark Sky Film has picked up U.S. distribution rights to Tribeca drama-horror My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To. The deal was negotiated by Ryan Kampe on behalf of Visit Films and Greg Newman on behalf of Dark Sky Films. The film follows two mysterious siblings who find themselves at odds over care for their frail and sickly younger brother. Starring are Patrick Fugit, Ingrid Sophie Schram, and Owen Campbell. Pic is written and directed by Jonathan Cuartas. Producers are Patrick Fugit, Kenny Riches, Ian Peterson, Anthony Pedone, and Jesse Brown. Visit Films is continuing international sales during the virtual Toronto market. Newman said, “My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To features standout performances and as a talented first time filmmaker, Cuartas is one to watch. We’re thrilled to be bringing this film to U.S. audiences.”
Jason Isaacs has joined the cast...
Jason Isaacs has joined the cast...
- 9/17/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Occupation: Rainfall’ Dop Wade Muller and Luke Sparke.
Aiming to cash in on the anticipated global success of Occupation: Rainfall, filmmaker Luke Sparke is developing a raft of features and TV series spanning horror, drama, time-travel and comedy.
The writer-producer-director is assembling a team of writers on these projects, all of which he intends to shoot in Australia.
“On Occupation: Rainfall I had an amazing team working with me and I’m excited to keep moving forward with them,” he tells If.
The sequel to his 2018 sci-fi thriller Occupation will have its world premiere at Monster Fest in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, followed by a cinema release via Monster Pictures.
The slate includes Blitzkrieg, a World War 2 thriller about a group of bomber pilots who crash land in Germany and must survive the horrors they find, and The 34th Battalion, which will follow four friends from Maitland in...
Aiming to cash in on the anticipated global success of Occupation: Rainfall, filmmaker Luke Sparke is developing a raft of features and TV series spanning horror, drama, time-travel and comedy.
The writer-producer-director is assembling a team of writers on these projects, all of which he intends to shoot in Australia.
“On Occupation: Rainfall I had an amazing team working with me and I’m excited to keep moving forward with them,” he tells If.
The sequel to his 2018 sci-fi thriller Occupation will have its world premiere at Monster Fest in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, followed by a cinema release via Monster Pictures.
The slate includes Blitzkrieg, a World War 2 thriller about a group of bomber pilots who crash land in Germany and must survive the horrors they find, and The 34th Battalion, which will follow four friends from Maitland in...
- 8/16/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Occupation: Rainfall.’
Luke Sparke’s Occupation: Rainfall, the sequel to his 2018 sci-fi thriller Occupation, will have its world premiere at Monster Fest in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
The festival, which runs from October 29 – November 1, will provide the launch platform for the cinema release handled by Grant Hardie’s Monster Pictures.
Ken Jeong, Daniel Gillies, Temuera Morrison, Dan Ewing, Trystan Go, Zac Garred, Mark Coles Smith and Dena Kaplan star in the sequel which picks up two years later as survivors of the intergalactic invasion of Earth fight back in a desperate ground war.
As casualties mount, the resistance and their unexpected allies uncover a plot that could see the war come to a decisive end.
Sparke tells If a launch date is yet to be set, given the closure of Victorian cinemas and capacity limits on cinemas in other states, but he expects it will open soon after Monster Fest.
Luke Sparke’s Occupation: Rainfall, the sequel to his 2018 sci-fi thriller Occupation, will have its world premiere at Monster Fest in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
The festival, which runs from October 29 – November 1, will provide the launch platform for the cinema release handled by Grant Hardie’s Monster Pictures.
Ken Jeong, Daniel Gillies, Temuera Morrison, Dan Ewing, Trystan Go, Zac Garred, Mark Coles Smith and Dena Kaplan star in the sequel which picks up two years later as survivors of the intergalactic invasion of Earth fight back in a desperate ground war.
As casualties mount, the resistance and their unexpected allies uncover a plot that could see the war come to a decisive end.
Sparke tells If a launch date is yet to be set, given the closure of Victorian cinemas and capacity limits on cinemas in other states, but he expects it will open soon after Monster Fest.
- 8/13/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Zac Garred in ‘The Seance.’
While most actors around the world are having an enforced rest due to the pandemic, Zac Garred is in demand. After shooting the horror film The Seance in Pennsylvania, the LA-based actor is heading to Montana next week for the drama Zero Road.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunities as it has been a sad state of affairs here in the Us,” says Garred, who first went to LA for pilot season in 2014. “I had a few mates in the industry who had to bail and head back to Australia.”
In first-time director/producer Chance Sanchez’s Zero Road he is cast as Josh, a fat drug dealer described as a 1990s boy band reject.
The semi-autobiographical tale centres on a gifted teen who struggles to survive poverty while supporting his mother who suffers from a meth addiction.
The cast includes Jackson Rathbone (Jasper...
While most actors around the world are having an enforced rest due to the pandemic, Zac Garred is in demand. After shooting the horror film The Seance in Pennsylvania, the LA-based actor is heading to Montana next week for the drama Zero Road.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunities as it has been a sad state of affairs here in the Us,” says Garred, who first went to LA for pilot season in 2014. “I had a few mates in the industry who had to bail and head back to Australia.”
In first-time director/producer Chance Sanchez’s Zero Road he is cast as Josh, a fat drug dealer described as a 1990s boy band reject.
The semi-autobiographical tale centres on a gifted teen who struggles to survive poverty while supporting his mother who suffers from a meth addiction.
The cast includes Jackson Rathbone (Jasper...
- 7/13/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Trystan Go and Dan Ewing in Occupation: Rainfall.
Writer-director Luke Sparke always intended to shoot Occupation: Rainfall, the sequel to his 2018 sci-fi thriller Occupation, in three blocks.
However lengthy delays in the second and third blocks resulted in fresh additions to the cast in Jet Tranter, Mark Coles Smith, David Roberts and Dena Kaplan.
Tranter (Tidelands) took over from Stephanie Jacobson as a key leader on the human resistance who tries to end the war with aliens.
Coles Smith is a commando with Roberts as another resistance leader and Kaplan as a fighter pilot.
They joined the previously announced cast of Dan Ewing, Temuera Morrison, Ken Jeong, Daniel Gillies, Lawrence Makoare, Vince Colosimo, Trystan Go, Zac Garred, Kat Risteska, Ben Chisholm, Erin Conner, Izzy Stevens and John Reynolds.
Filming wrapped in December after delays caused by a dispute with the Meaa. “With the film being so big, we always planned...
Writer-director Luke Sparke always intended to shoot Occupation: Rainfall, the sequel to his 2018 sci-fi thriller Occupation, in three blocks.
However lengthy delays in the second and third blocks resulted in fresh additions to the cast in Jet Tranter, Mark Coles Smith, David Roberts and Dena Kaplan.
Tranter (Tidelands) took over from Stephanie Jacobson as a key leader on the human resistance who tries to end the war with aliens.
Coles Smith is a commando with Roberts as another resistance leader and Kaplan as a fighter pilot.
They joined the previously announced cast of Dan Ewing, Temuera Morrison, Ken Jeong, Daniel Gillies, Lawrence Makoare, Vince Colosimo, Trystan Go, Zac Garred, Kat Risteska, Ben Chisholm, Erin Conner, Izzy Stevens and John Reynolds.
Filming wrapped in December after delays caused by a dispute with the Meaa. “With the film being so big, we always planned...
- 1/6/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Exclusive: Film Mode Entertainment has unveiled the first teaser for sci-fi action pic Occupation: Rainfall (check it out below). This is the sequel to 2018’s Occupation which won the Australian Screen Industry Network’s Best Feature prize. Luke Sparke is director on both titles.
Rainfall is currently in production and features Ken Jeong, Daniel Gillies, Temuera Morrison (Aquaman), Dan Ewing (Occupation), Aaron Jeffrey (Wolverine), Zac Garred, Charles Mesure and Trystan Go.
The story is set two years into an intergalactic invasion of Earth, while survivors fight back in a desperate ground war. As casualties mount by the day, the resistance and their unexpected allies uncover a plot that could see the war come to a decisive end.
Pre-sales include Scandinavia (Smile), Cis (Paradise), Pan Asian Pay Television (Fox Network), South Korea (Scene & Sound), Middle East (Eagle Films) and Taiwan (Moviecloud). Film Mode is repping world sales...
Rainfall is currently in production and features Ken Jeong, Daniel Gillies, Temuera Morrison (Aquaman), Dan Ewing (Occupation), Aaron Jeffrey (Wolverine), Zac Garred, Charles Mesure and Trystan Go.
The story is set two years into an intergalactic invasion of Earth, while survivors fight back in a desperate ground war. As casualties mount by the day, the resistance and their unexpected allies uncover a plot that could see the war come to a decisive end.
Pre-sales include Scandinavia (Smile), Cis (Paradise), Pan Asian Pay Television (Fox Network), South Korea (Scene & Sound), Middle East (Eagle Films) and Taiwan (Moviecloud). Film Mode is repping world sales...
- 5/16/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
To celebrate the home entertainment release of Occupation which will be available on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download 21st January 2019, we have a copy of the Blu-ray up for grabs, courtesy of Altitude Film Entertainment!
War of the Worlds Aussie-style, as small-town residents fight alien invaders in a slam-bang sci-fi epic packed with dazzling effects and bug-eyed beasties.
Luke Sparke follows up his hugely enjoyable action-horror Red Billabong with a no-nonsense alien invasion epic that mixes Red Dawn into Independence Day for an explosive burst of Ozploitation sci-fi entertainment, that has proved such a big hit in cinemas down under that a sequel is already being filmed.
Sparke has assembled the cream of the crop of Australian acting talent, with Dan Ewing (joined by fellow Home and Away stars Stephany Jacobsen and Rhiannon Fish) swapping the safety of Summer Bay for a small town invaded by aliens; also appearing is Temuera Morrison,...
War of the Worlds Aussie-style, as small-town residents fight alien invaders in a slam-bang sci-fi epic packed with dazzling effects and bug-eyed beasties.
Luke Sparke follows up his hugely enjoyable action-horror Red Billabong with a no-nonsense alien invasion epic that mixes Red Dawn into Independence Day for an explosive burst of Ozploitation sci-fi entertainment, that has proved such a big hit in cinemas down under that a sequel is already being filmed.
Sparke has assembled the cream of the crop of Australian acting talent, with Dan Ewing (joined by fellow Home and Away stars Stephany Jacobsen and Rhiannon Fish) swapping the safety of Summer Bay for a small town invaded by aliens; also appearing is Temuera Morrison,...
- 12/28/2018
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Kristen Condon and Rob Stanfield in ‘Landfall’
It was a big weekend for Travis Bain’s Landfall, the saga of a young couple trapped inside their beach house by three armed fugitives during a severe tropical cyclone, which won multiple awards from two organisations.
The thriller was named best feature and took the prizes for best director, Vernon Wells as best actor, Kristen Condon as best actress and Tony Bonner as best supporting actor at the Oz International Film Festival in Melbourne.
Bain was named best director and Samantha van der Sluis was awarded the certificate of highest achievement in the best composer category at the Australian Screen Industry Network (Asin) Awards in Cleveland near Brisbane.
“I’m feeling supremely humbled, blessed and grateful. This year is my 20th anniversary as an indie filmmaker and this is a bloody great way to celebrate it,” Bain said on social media.
Rob...
It was a big weekend for Travis Bain’s Landfall, the saga of a young couple trapped inside their beach house by three armed fugitives during a severe tropical cyclone, which won multiple awards from two organisations.
The thriller was named best feature and took the prizes for best director, Vernon Wells as best actor, Kristen Condon as best actress and Tony Bonner as best supporting actor at the Oz International Film Festival in Melbourne.
Bain was named best director and Samantha van der Sluis was awarded the certificate of highest achievement in the best composer category at the Australian Screen Industry Network (Asin) Awards in Cleveland near Brisbane.
“I’m feeling supremely humbled, blessed and grateful. This year is my 20th anniversary as an indie filmmaker and this is a bloody great way to celebrate it,” Bain said on social media.
Rob...
- 12/2/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Lisa McCune and Peter Helliar in ‘How to Stay Married.’
Lisa McCune and Daniel Gillies are the final additions to the cast of Luke Sparke’s sci-fi thriller Occupation: Rainfall.
Shooting in the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Sydney, the Snowy Mountains and Alice Springs, the sequel to Occupation sees the survivors of an intergalactic invasion fight back in a desperate ground war.
In her first film role since Josh Lawson’s The Little Death, McCune plays the military commander in charge of ground forces in the Sydney siege. The Los Angeles-based Gillies is a hard-line military leader that will do whatever it takes to win the alien war.
Temuera Morrison, Dan Ewing, Stephany Jacobsen, Aaron Jeffery, Zac Garred, Izzy Stevens and Trystan Go reprise their roles, joined by Crazy Rich Asians’ Ken Jeong, Lawrence Makoarely, Vince Colosimo and Tamala Shelton.
“Daniel has been on my radar for a few years now.
Lisa McCune and Daniel Gillies are the final additions to the cast of Luke Sparke’s sci-fi thriller Occupation: Rainfall.
Shooting in the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Sydney, the Snowy Mountains and Alice Springs, the sequel to Occupation sees the survivors of an intergalactic invasion fight back in a desperate ground war.
In her first film role since Josh Lawson’s The Little Death, McCune plays the military commander in charge of ground forces in the Sydney siege. The Los Angeles-based Gillies is a hard-line military leader that will do whatever it takes to win the alien war.
Temuera Morrison, Dan Ewing, Stephany Jacobsen, Aaron Jeffery, Zac Garred, Izzy Stevens and Trystan Go reprise their roles, joined by Crazy Rich Asians’ Ken Jeong, Lawrence Makoarely, Vince Colosimo and Tamala Shelton.
“Daniel has been on my radar for a few years now.
- 11/4/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Daniel Gillies (The Originals and Vampire Diaries) has been added to the cast of the Australian sci-fi sequel Occupation: Rainfall, which also includes Ken Jeong, fresh from this year's smash hit Crazy Rich Asians.
Jeong and Gillies join the stars from the first film, Occupation, including Temuera Morrison (Aquaman) and Dan Ewing.
Occupation: Rainfall — directed by Luke Sparke, who helmed the first installment and shot in locations across Australia — picks up two years into an intergalactic invasion of Earth, with a group of survivors in Sydney fighting back in a desperate ground war.
Clay Epstein’s Film Mode ...
Jeong and Gillies join the stars from the first film, Occupation, including Temuera Morrison (Aquaman) and Dan Ewing.
Occupation: Rainfall — directed by Luke Sparke, who helmed the first installment and shot in locations across Australia — picks up two years into an intergalactic invasion of Earth, with a group of survivors in Sydney fighting back in a desperate ground war.
Clay Epstein’s Film Mode ...
- 11/4/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Daniel Gillies (The Originals and Vampire Diaries) has been added to the cast of the Australian sci-fi sequel Occupation: Rainfall, which also includes Ken Jeong, fresh from this year's smash hit Crazy Rich Asians.
Jeong and Gillies join the stars from the first film, Occupation, including Temuera Morrison (Aquaman) and Dan Ewing.
Occupation: Rainfall — directed by Luke Sparke, who helmed the first installment and shot in locations across Australia — picks up two years into an intergalactic invasion of Earth, with a group of survivors in Sydney fighting back in a desperate ground war.
Clay Epstein’s Film Mode ...
Jeong and Gillies join the stars from the first film, Occupation, including Temuera Morrison (Aquaman) and Dan Ewing.
Occupation: Rainfall — directed by Luke Sparke, who helmed the first installment and shot in locations across Australia — picks up two years into an intergalactic invasion of Earth, with a group of survivors in Sydney fighting back in a desperate ground war.
Clay Epstein’s Film Mode ...
- 11/4/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Izzy Stevens and Temuera Morrison in ‘Occupation Rainfall.’
Four weeks into the 12-weeks shoot on Occupation: Rainfall, writer-director Luke Sparke declares the sequel will be four times bigger in scale and ambition than the original Occupation.
The filmmaker is delighted with the performance of Ken Jeong, who has filmed his role as an American character who holds the key to the mystery of the rainfall.
Sparke was happy to encourage the Crazy Rich Asians and Hangover star to improvise, observing: “We let him loose to ad lib. He brings his unique style to the role, a very dry character. He had the crew in stitches at times.”
Co-written by Sparke and Felix Williamson, the sequel picks up two years after the intergalactic invasion of Earth as survivors in Sydney fight back in a desperate ground war. As casualties mount, the resistance and their unexpected allies uncover a plot that could...
Four weeks into the 12-weeks shoot on Occupation: Rainfall, writer-director Luke Sparke declares the sequel will be four times bigger in scale and ambition than the original Occupation.
The filmmaker is delighted with the performance of Ken Jeong, who has filmed his role as an American character who holds the key to the mystery of the rainfall.
Sparke was happy to encourage the Crazy Rich Asians and Hangover star to improvise, observing: “We let him loose to ad lib. He brings his unique style to the role, a very dry character. He had the crew in stitches at times.”
Co-written by Sparke and Felix Williamson, the sequel picks up two years after the intergalactic invasion of Earth as survivors in Sydney fight back in a desperate ground war. As casualties mount, the resistance and their unexpected allies uncover a plot that could...
- 10/24/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘Lords of Chaos.’
The organisers of Monster Fest aim to parlay the brand into a theatrical distribution gateway for Australian and international genre films.
Monster Films has successfully trialed the concept with Mandy, Panos Cosmatos’ neo-noir horror movie which it sub-licensed from Madman Entertainment.
Next year the distributor will release Luke Sparke’s Occupation: Rainfall, a sci-fi thriller which stars Crazy Rich Asians’ Ken Jeong, Temuera Morrison, Dan Ewing, Stephany Jacobsen, Aaron Jeffery and Zac Garred.
Monster’s Grant Hardie developed a relationship with Sparke after staging sold-out special event screenings for Occupation.
“We want to turn the Monster Fest brand into a legitimate theatrical pathway with a cinema network consisting of as many locations as we can secure to build audiences,” Hardie tells If. “Genre films are under-represented in cinemas.”
While he has no titles lined up to release apart from the Occupation sequel, he is open to talking to producers.
The organisers of Monster Fest aim to parlay the brand into a theatrical distribution gateway for Australian and international genre films.
Monster Films has successfully trialed the concept with Mandy, Panos Cosmatos’ neo-noir horror movie which it sub-licensed from Madman Entertainment.
Next year the distributor will release Luke Sparke’s Occupation: Rainfall, a sci-fi thriller which stars Crazy Rich Asians’ Ken Jeong, Temuera Morrison, Dan Ewing, Stephany Jacobsen, Aaron Jeffery and Zac Garred.
Monster’s Grant Hardie developed a relationship with Sparke after staging sold-out special event screenings for Occupation.
“We want to turn the Monster Fest brand into a legitimate theatrical pathway with a cinema network consisting of as many locations as we can secure to build audiences,” Hardie tells If. “Genre films are under-represented in cinemas.”
While he has no titles lined up to release apart from the Occupation sequel, he is open to talking to producers.
- 10/11/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
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