The six teams each received £30,000 of development funding.
Netflix, in partnership with non-profit Creative UK, has unveiled the six teams and projects selected for Breakout, the filmmaking programme launched to discover and support talented up-and-coming storytellers in the UK, with participants including Screen Star of Tomorrow Helen Simmons and children’s TV star and presenter Kim Tserkezie.
Emerging filmmakers are given the funding and opportunity to advance their debut feature into development with the partnership and support of Netflix. The selected teams comprise talent who haven’t yet made a feature but whose work has garnered industry or public attention.
Netflix, in partnership with non-profit Creative UK, has unveiled the six teams and projects selected for Breakout, the filmmaking programme launched to discover and support talented up-and-coming storytellers in the UK, with participants including Screen Star of Tomorrow Helen Simmons and children’s TV star and presenter Kim Tserkezie.
Emerging filmmakers are given the funding and opportunity to advance their debut feature into development with the partnership and support of Netflix. The selected teams comprise talent who haven’t yet made a feature but whose work has garnered industry or public attention.
- 4/6/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
‘Never work with children or animals’, the old showbiz phrase goes, but when filming Nativity! in 2009 not only did Martin Freeman and Marc Wootton have both children and animals to contend with, they were doing it all without a script. Like Debbie Isitt’s 2006 mockumentary romcom Confetti also starring Freeman and Wootton, Nativity! was largely improvised, but how did that work on set?
Nativity! is the story of a primary school teacher (Freeman) who tries to put on a Hollywood-worthy nativity play with help from his young-at-heart teaching assistant (Wootton). Confetti, which stars a host of British comedy talent including Julia Davis, Jessica Stevenson, Olivia Colman and Robert Webb, is a wedding competition in which Freeman played one of three grooms competing with their bride to win a house.
When speaking to The York Press about both projects, Freeman explained that Nativity! had more guidance for each scene than Confetti,...
Nativity! is the story of a primary school teacher (Freeman) who tries to put on a Hollywood-worthy nativity play with help from his young-at-heart teaching assistant (Wootton). Confetti, which stars a host of British comedy talent including Julia Davis, Jessica Stevenson, Olivia Colman and Robert Webb, is a wedding competition in which Freeman played one of three grooms competing with their bride to win a house.
When speaking to The York Press about both projects, Freeman explained that Nativity! had more guidance for each scene than Confetti,...
- 12/14/2022
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
Christmas on Mistletoe Farm is a children’s Netflix Christmas movie written and directed by Debbie Isitt starring Scott Garnham, Scott Paige, Kathryn Drysdale and Delilah O’Riordan.
An addition to the Christmas-themed catalogue that will entertain many a kid as they look forward to Yuletide.
Premise
A widower, father to four children, relocates together with his offspring to the countryside having inherited a farm. Life on the farm will require some adapting.
Christmas on Mistletoe Farm (2022) Movie Review
Without losing ourselves in cinematic criteria, we will point out that ‘Christmas in Mistletoe Farm’ is produced with the sole objective of being an uncomplicated feature for the young ones to enjoy the joy of the ever-nearing Christmas season, and get to see what life is like beyond the big city, where animals are ever present and amusing, and there are wonderful people everywhere.
No harm in that. They will have a...
An addition to the Christmas-themed catalogue that will entertain many a kid as they look forward to Yuletide.
Premise
A widower, father to four children, relocates together with his offspring to the countryside having inherited a farm. Life on the farm will require some adapting.
Christmas on Mistletoe Farm (2022) Movie Review
Without losing ourselves in cinematic criteria, we will point out that ‘Christmas in Mistletoe Farm’ is produced with the sole objective of being an uncomplicated feature for the young ones to enjoy the joy of the ever-nearing Christmas season, and get to see what life is like beyond the big city, where animals are ever present and amusing, and there are wonderful people everywhere.
No harm in that. They will have a...
- 11/23/2022
- by Veronica Loop
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
The industry body has been awarded £1million in National Lottery money through the BFI’s National Cluster Growth Fund.
Create Central has secured £2million of investment for the West Midlands film, TV, and games sector.
The industry body, set up in 2019, has been awarded £1million in National Lottery money through the BFI’s National Cluster Growth Fund to help deliver a long-term growth plan for the region’s screen businesses.
£500,000 investment has come in via the West Midlands Combined Authority (Wmca) and £500,000 from regional social enterprise Tin Smart Social.
The investment package will help support a two-year programme developed by...
Create Central has secured £2million of investment for the West Midlands film, TV, and games sector.
The industry body, set up in 2019, has been awarded £1million in National Lottery money through the BFI’s National Cluster Growth Fund to help deliver a long-term growth plan for the region’s screen businesses.
£500,000 investment has come in via the West Midlands Combined Authority (Wmca) and £500,000 from regional social enterprise Tin Smart Social.
The investment package will help support a two-year programme developed by...
- 4/23/2020
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
Reaching film number four in this series of British school Nativity films is news enough. Just how is anyone’s guess? If there is a festive formula to this screen silliness, it is that us Brits love to cheer on an underdog at this time of year – even if that means encouraging more of Mr Poppy or his relatives to leap out of the woodwork. No, Marc Wootton as the infantile teacher has not returned. Meet Simon Lipkin, his cousin, Jerry, this time around.
Brummie film-maker Debbie Isitt is back to tell us why we should all love the Midlands, or Coventry. How better than through the verses of a rock opera sung by adorable kids and a camp(er) TV institution that is Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood. Tongue firmly in cheek; just who is laughing at who, we might ask?
Those who got donkey-mares four years ago with Nativity 3: Dude,...
Brummie film-maker Debbie Isitt is back to tell us why we should all love the Midlands, or Coventry. How better than through the verses of a rock opera sung by adorable kids and a camp(er) TV institution that is Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood. Tongue firmly in cheek; just who is laughing at who, we might ask?
Those who got donkey-mares four years ago with Nativity 3: Dude,...
- 11/27/2018
- by Lisa Giles-Keddie
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Palme d'Or winner 'Shoplifters' achieves an impressive site average.
Today’s Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.28.
Rank Film (Distributor) Three-day gross (Nov 23-25) Total gross to date Week 1 Fantastic Beasts 2 (Warner Bros) £5.6m £22.0m 2 2 The Grinch (Universal) £3.3m £14,1m 3 3 Bohemian Rhapsody (20th Century Fox) £2.2m £39.0m 5 4 Robin Hood (Lionsgate UK) £1.0m £1.3m 1 5. Nativity Rocks! (eOne) £811,010 £831,519 1 Warner Bros
It fell by 54% compared to last weekend but Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald easily held on to the top spot at the UK box office this weekend (Nov 23-25) with a three-day gross of £5.6m and a total cume to date of £22m.
Today’s Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.28.
Rank Film (Distributor) Three-day gross (Nov 23-25) Total gross to date Week 1 Fantastic Beasts 2 (Warner Bros) £5.6m £22.0m 2 2 The Grinch (Universal) £3.3m £14,1m 3 3 Bohemian Rhapsody (20th Century Fox) £2.2m £39.0m 5 4 Robin Hood (Lionsgate UK) £1.0m £1.3m 1 5. Nativity Rocks! (eOne) £811,010 £831,519 1 Warner Bros
It fell by 54% compared to last weekend but Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald easily held on to the top spot at the UK box office this weekend (Nov 23-25) with a three-day gross of £5.6m and a total cume to date of £22m.
- 11/26/2018
- by Louise Tutt
- ScreenDaily
New openers include eOne’s ‘Nativity Rocks!’, Sony’s Girl In The Spider’s Web, and Lionsgate’s Robin Hood.
Warner Bros’ Harry Potter spin-off sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald took off with a strong £12.3m three-day opening last weekend at the UK box office.
While the takings were down on predecessor Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’s £15.3m opening in November 2016, the number still saw the film debut comfortably at the top of the chart and it will be tough to beat this weekend.
There are several new openers vying for the crown but no...
Warner Bros’ Harry Potter spin-off sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald took off with a strong £12.3m three-day opening last weekend at the UK box office.
While the takings were down on predecessor Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’s £15.3m opening in November 2016, the number still saw the film debut comfortably at the top of the chart and it will be tough to beat this weekend.
There are several new openers vying for the crown but no...
- 11/23/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
New openers include eOne’s ‘Nativity Rocks!’, Sony’s Girl In The Spider’s Web, and Lionsgate’s Robin Hood.
Warner Bros’ Harry Potter spin-off sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald took off with a strong £12.3m three-day opening last weekend at the UK box office.
While the takings were down on predecessor Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’s £15.3m opening in November 2016, the number still saw the film debut comfortably at the top of the chart and it will be tough to beat this weekend.
There are several new openers vying for the crown but no...
Warner Bros’ Harry Potter spin-off sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald took off with a strong £12.3m three-day opening last weekend at the UK box office.
While the takings were down on predecessor Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’s £15.3m opening in November 2016, the number still saw the film debut comfortably at the top of the chart and it will be tough to beat this weekend.
There are several new openers vying for the crown but no...
- 11/23/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Simon Brew Jan 16, 2018
Nativity Rocks! is set to land in cinemas in November...
Following three hit films and a musical version touring the UK at the end of last year, it turns out that there’s still more life in the Nativity series. For it seems as though a fourth film, by the name of Nativity Rocks!, is heading into cinemas this year.
The first Nativity is a charming Christmas movie, although we can’t say we were fans of the two sequels. Still, you can’t argue with the box office, and thus the new film is going to land in cinemas on November 23rd 2018. That's a week before the Wreck-It Ralph sequel arrives in British cinemas.
Debbie Isitt will be writing and directing again, with Nicky Ager on composer duties, and we’d assume that production will take place in and around the Midlands in the coming months.
Nativity Rocks! is set to land in cinemas in November...
Following three hit films and a musical version touring the UK at the end of last year, it turns out that there’s still more life in the Nativity series. For it seems as though a fourth film, by the name of Nativity Rocks!, is heading into cinemas this year.
The first Nativity is a charming Christmas movie, although we can’t say we were fans of the two sequels. Still, you can’t argue with the box office, and thus the new film is going to land in cinemas on November 23rd 2018. That's a week before the Wreck-It Ralph sequel arrives in British cinemas.
Debbie Isitt will be writing and directing again, with Nicky Ager on composer duties, and we’d assume that production will take place in and around the Midlands in the coming months.
- 1/16/2018
- Den of Geek
Simon Brew Apr 25, 2017
The Nativity movies make the jump to the stage this Christmas, and tickets are on sale now...
When director Debbie Isitt completed her Nativity trilogy of movies with 2014’s Nativity: Dude, Where’s My Donkey, the suggestion was that a stage musical would be next.
Turns out, that’s just what’s happening, and that the stage musical is currently in the workshop phase in Birmingham.
Isitt has adapted her films for the musical herself, and it’ll be touring the UK from October 2017 to January 2018. It’s a regional tour taking in Birmingham, Southend, Sheffield, Manchester, Plymouth, London and Leeds, and it’ll include a bunch of songs from the films.
The plot centres again on St Bernadette’s School, who are trying to put on a musical version of the Nativity story. However, there’s also the added incentive that a Hollywood producer is coming along to see the production,...
The Nativity movies make the jump to the stage this Christmas, and tickets are on sale now...
When director Debbie Isitt completed her Nativity trilogy of movies with 2014’s Nativity: Dude, Where’s My Donkey, the suggestion was that a stage musical would be next.
Turns out, that’s just what’s happening, and that the stage musical is currently in the workshop phase in Birmingham.
Isitt has adapted her films for the musical herself, and it’ll be touring the UK from October 2017 to January 2018. It’s a regional tour taking in Birmingham, Southend, Sheffield, Manchester, Plymouth, London and Leeds, and it’ll include a bunch of songs from the films.
The plot centres again on St Bernadette’s School, who are trying to put on a musical version of the Nativity story. However, there’s also the added incentive that a Hollywood producer is coming along to see the production,...
- 4/25/2017
- Den of Geek
Following the success of Nativity 3, the next stop for Nativity will, it seems, be the stage...
The third Nativity movie, Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey opened to £1.8m worth of business in its first weekend in the UK. That's the best opening of any of the Nativity films to date, coming off the back of a critical reaction that was not, well, on the positive side.
Yet in spite of the critical battering, the films continue to find an audience, and it seems that plans are now afoot to bring Nativity to the stage. On her Twitter account, the brains behind the Nativity films, writer/director Debbie Isitt, was asked whether there were any plans to transfer the films to the stage. "We have developed it already", she responded, adding that "hopefully it will open next Christmas".
As the Twitter conversation continued, she said that casting would probably take...
The third Nativity movie, Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey opened to £1.8m worth of business in its first weekend in the UK. That's the best opening of any of the Nativity films to date, coming off the back of a critical reaction that was not, well, on the positive side.
Yet in spite of the critical battering, the films continue to find an audience, and it seems that plans are now afoot to bring Nativity to the stage. On her Twitter account, the brains behind the Nativity films, writer/director Debbie Isitt, was asked whether there were any plans to transfer the films to the stage. "We have developed it already", she responded, adding that "hopefully it will open next Christmas".
As the Twitter conversation continued, she said that casting would probably take...
- 11/18/2014
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Screen International has teamed with BFI London Film Festival and British Council to present the UK Stars of Tomorrow – one of several industry events unveiled today.
The first Screen International UK Stars of Tomorrow at Lff dinner is to be held on Oct 14 during the BFI London Film Festival (Oct 8-19).
The event will bring together a selection of this year’s Stars of Tomorrow, including Aimee Ffion-Edwards and Phoebe Walller-Bridge, with casting directors, packaging agents, festival programmers, producers and financiers.
It will be preceded by a masterclass led by Us casting agent Deborah Aquila, whose credits include The Shawshank Redemption and TV series Dexter and The Shield.
The event is supported by British Council and Casting Society of America (Csa), and will be held in association with We Are UK Film.
The dinner is by invitation only and is not an open event.
Lff industry events
The 58th edition of the festival has restructured its industry...
The first Screen International UK Stars of Tomorrow at Lff dinner is to be held on Oct 14 during the BFI London Film Festival (Oct 8-19).
The event will bring together a selection of this year’s Stars of Tomorrow, including Aimee Ffion-Edwards and Phoebe Walller-Bridge, with casting directors, packaging agents, festival programmers, producers and financiers.
It will be preceded by a masterclass led by Us casting agent Deborah Aquila, whose credits include The Shawshank Redemption and TV series Dexter and The Shield.
The event is supported by British Council and Casting Society of America (Csa), and will be held in association with We Are UK Film.
The dinner is by invitation only and is not an open event.
Lff industry events
The 58th edition of the festival has restructured its industry...
- 10/1/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Screen International has teamed with BFI London Film Festival and British Council to present the UK Stars of Tomorrow – one of several industry events unveiled today.
The first Screen International UK Stars of Tomorrow at Lff dinner is to be held on Oct 14 during the BFI London Film Festival (Oct 8-19).
The event will bring together a selection of this year’s Stars of Tomorrow, including Aimee Ffion-Edwards and Phoebe Walller-Bridge, with casting directors, packaging agents, festival programmers, producers and financiers.
It will be preceded by a masterclass led by Us casting agent Deborah Aquila, whose credits include The Shawshank Redemption and TV series Dexter and The Shield.
The event is supported by British Council and Casting Society of America (Csa), and will be held in association with We Are UK Film.
The dinner is by invitation only and is not an open event.
Lff industry events
The 58th edition of the festival has restructured its industry...
The first Screen International UK Stars of Tomorrow at Lff dinner is to be held on Oct 14 during the BFI London Film Festival (Oct 8-19).
The event will bring together a selection of this year’s Stars of Tomorrow, including Aimee Ffion-Edwards and Phoebe Walller-Bridge, with casting directors, packaging agents, festival programmers, producers and financiers.
It will be preceded by a masterclass led by Us casting agent Deborah Aquila, whose credits include The Shawshank Redemption and TV series Dexter and The Shield.
The event is supported by British Council and Casting Society of America (Csa), and will be held in association with We Are UK Film.
The dinner is by invitation only and is not an open event.
Lff industry events
The 58th edition of the festival has restructured its industry...
- 10/1/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Martin Clunes and Catherine Tate headline the third Nativity film. Here's the full trailer...
Heading to cinemas this November is the final part of the Nativity trilogy, which once again sees the return of Marc Wootton's Mr Poppy. There's no Martin Freeman or David Tennant this time though, but instead Martin Clunes and Catherine Tate join the series. We also get a flash mob competition, a trip to New York, and some jumpers.
The film arrives in cinemas on November 14th, with Debbie Isitt once more writing and directing. Furthermore, the full trailer for the film has been released. Here's what's in store...
Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.
Movies Trailer Simon Brew Nativity 17 Sep 2014 - 07:16 Nativity 3: DudeWhere's My DonkeyDebbie IsettMartin ClunesMarc Wootton...
Heading to cinemas this November is the final part of the Nativity trilogy, which once again sees the return of Marc Wootton's Mr Poppy. There's no Martin Freeman or David Tennant this time though, but instead Martin Clunes and Catherine Tate join the series. We also get a flash mob competition, a trip to New York, and some jumpers.
The film arrives in cinemas on November 14th, with Debbie Isitt once more writing and directing. Furthermore, the full trailer for the film has been released. Here's what's in store...
Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.
Movies Trailer Simon Brew Nativity 17 Sep 2014 - 07:16 Nativity 3: DudeWhere's My DonkeyDebbie IsettMartin ClunesMarc Wootton...
- 9/17/2014
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Want to know what British films are coming out this month? Then look no further than our fabulous movie calendar...
Welcome to our new, regularly updated calendar of all the British movies due for release in UK cinemas over the coming months. So if you're keen to keep up-to-date on the latest in home grown cinema - from documentaries to dramas, and comedy horror to science fiction - this is the ideal post for you.
So here's what's coming up in the future.
12 September 2014
Pride
Director: Matthew Warchus
Cast: Bill Nighy, Dominic West, Andrew Scott
Details: A drama about a group of gay and lesbian activists donating to people in need during the 1984 miners' strike.
Jack To A King - The Swansea Story
Director: Marc Evans
Cast: Tbc
Details: A documentary about Swansea football fans.
19 September 2014
Night Will Fall
Director: Andre Singer
Cast: Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Bernstein
Details: A documentary...
Welcome to our new, regularly updated calendar of all the British movies due for release in UK cinemas over the coming months. So if you're keen to keep up-to-date on the latest in home grown cinema - from documentaries to dramas, and comedy horror to science fiction - this is the ideal post for you.
So here's what's coming up in the future.
12 September 2014
Pride
Director: Matthew Warchus
Cast: Bill Nighy, Dominic West, Andrew Scott
Details: A drama about a group of gay and lesbian activists donating to people in need during the 1984 miners' strike.
Jack To A King - The Swansea Story
Director: Marc Evans
Cast: Tbc
Details: A documentary about Swansea football fans.
19 September 2014
Night Will Fall
Director: Andre Singer
Cast: Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Bernstein
Details: A documentary...
- 9/12/2014
- by sarahd
- Den of Geek
New figures from the British Film Institute suggest a "breakthrough" over the past three years for female screenwriters, while the number of women directing UK independent films remains low. How well are women represented in this industry?
• Get the data
Under-representation of women in key creative and production roles in the film industry has been well-documented for many years. The latest figures from the British Film Institute (BFI), looking at female screenwriters and directors of UK independent films, provide a varied set of results.
According to the BFI, there has been something of a "breakthrough" over the past three years with the representation of female screenwriters in the top 20 UK independent films reaching 37%.
The BFI also break this figure down by profitable films, with profitability estimated from an indicator developed by the BFI research and statistics unit. Of the profitable UK independent films over the same period, 30% had a female screenwriter.
• Get the data
Under-representation of women in key creative and production roles in the film industry has been well-documented for many years. The latest figures from the British Film Institute (BFI), looking at female screenwriters and directors of UK independent films, provide a varied set of results.
According to the BFI, there has been something of a "breakthrough" over the past three years with the representation of female screenwriters in the top 20 UK independent films reaching 37%.
The BFI also break this figure down by profitable films, with profitability estimated from an indicator developed by the BFI research and statistics unit. Of the profitable UK independent films over the same period, 30% had a female screenwriter.
- 11/26/2013
- by Ami Sedghi
- The Guardian - Film News
★★☆☆☆ When Debbie Isitt's original Nativity! was released back in 2009, Martin Freeman and The Hobbit hadn't even been mentioned together in the same sentence. Now, several years after he and David Tennant were both attached to the role of Bilbo Baggins, Martin is off strolling through the mountains of Middle-earth while the former Doctor Who star is stuck halfway up a Welsh cliff with a bunch of children and a flying donkey in Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! (2012). Tennant plays Mr. Peterson, drafted in to replace Freeman's loveable teacher, whose retirement has left his lively Class 7 without any adult supervision.
- 11/19/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
What's the best way to shake off a wholesome image? Take your clothes off – as Daniel Radcliffe well knows. So why is the one-time boy wizard now saying no to nudity?
As London Fashion Week draws to a close, it seems a good time to ask what some of the finest actors are wearing this season. And the answer appears to be: nothing. From Scarlett Johansson's copious under-the-clothes scenes in Under the Skin to Jack O'Connell tackling the tackle-out, full-frontal shot with abandon in the prison drama Starred Up, the emphasis is firmly on what not to wear. One of the common factors in many acclaimed new films is a willingness to confront nakedness without the usual strategically placed prop to spare an actor's blushes. Blue Is the Warmest Colour grabbed headlines not only for scooping the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year, but for the explicit sex scenes between its stars,...
As London Fashion Week draws to a close, it seems a good time to ask what some of the finest actors are wearing this season. And the answer appears to be: nothing. From Scarlett Johansson's copious under-the-clothes scenes in Under the Skin to Jack O'Connell tackling the tackle-out, full-frontal shot with abandon in the prison drama Starred Up, the emphasis is firmly on what not to wear. One of the common factors in many acclaimed new films is a willingness to confront nakedness without the usual strategically placed prop to spare an actor's blushes. Blue Is the Warmest Colour grabbed headlines not only for scooping the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year, but for the explicit sex scenes between its stars,...
- 9/18/2013
- by Ryan Gilbey
- The Guardian - Film News
Game Night Aggregrate Films and Davis Entertainment are teaming to produce Mark Perez's ensemble dark comedy pitch "Game Night" at New Line.
Jason Bateman will produce and star in the story of a group of couples who get together regularly to play games. On this night, things get real and it becomes a murder mystery. [Source: Deadline]
Parkland Matt Barr ("Hatfields & McCoys") has joined the cast of JFK assassination ensemble drama "Parkland" which is set at Dallas' Parkland hospital in the hours following the fatal shooting of the President.
Barr will play surgeon Paul Mikkelson, a workmate to Zac Efron’s doctor character. The duo is in the trauma care unit when the wounded President is brought in. [Source: Deadline]
Belly Dancing for Beginners Sheridan Smith ("Quartet," "Hysteria") is to star in writer-director Debbie Isitt's new comedy "Belly Dancing for Beginners". An eight week shoot on location in Turkey begins in June.
Jason Bateman will produce and star in the story of a group of couples who get together regularly to play games. On this night, things get real and it becomes a murder mystery. [Source: Deadline]
Parkland Matt Barr ("Hatfields & McCoys") has joined the cast of JFK assassination ensemble drama "Parkland" which is set at Dallas' Parkland hospital in the hours following the fatal shooting of the President.
Barr will play surgeon Paul Mikkelson, a workmate to Zac Efron’s doctor character. The duo is in the trauma care unit when the wounded President is brought in. [Source: Deadline]
Belly Dancing for Beginners Sheridan Smith ("Quartet," "Hysteria") is to star in writer-director Debbie Isitt's new comedy "Belly Dancing for Beginners". An eight week shoot on location in Turkey begins in June.
- 2/7/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
British comedy writer and director Debbie Isitt, whose Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! was a British box office success story raking in nearly $16 million, is finalizing plans for Belly Dancing For Beginners, her next feature project. Isitt's latest has Sheridan Smith (Quartet) attached to star in the movie which details the story of woman who is persuaded to go on a mystery holiday in Turkey by her mother and sister after discovering her fiance in a compromising situation with another woman on the eve of her wedding day. The holiday turns out to be her recycled honeymoon with an
read more...
read more...
- 2/7/2013
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
News Simon Brew Jan 14, 2013
After the commercial success of Nativity 2, Nativity 3 is now on the way...
One of the hits of the Christmas season in the UK was the David Tennant-headlined sequel, Nativity 2: Danger In The Manger. Tennant took over starring duties from Martin Freeman, who led the original, and both films have proven to be commercial successes.
So much so that it's now been revealed that a Nativity 3 is in the words. Talking to the Birmingham Mail, director Debbie Isitt said that "as an independent, low-budget filmmaker who uses improvisation with young children, I could not be more thrilled about the chance to make a trilogy".
Isitt revealed that she's been asked by Entertainment One to make a third film in the series, and the Midlands-based director is excited by the opportunity. She's got one or two projects to fit in first, but the plan is to...
After the commercial success of Nativity 2, Nativity 3 is now on the way...
One of the hits of the Christmas season in the UK was the David Tennant-headlined sequel, Nativity 2: Danger In The Manger. Tennant took over starring duties from Martin Freeman, who led the original, and both films have proven to be commercial successes.
So much so that it's now been revealed that a Nativity 3 is in the words. Talking to the Birmingham Mail, director Debbie Isitt said that "as an independent, low-budget filmmaker who uses improvisation with young children, I could not be more thrilled about the chance to make a trilogy".
Isitt revealed that she's been asked by Entertainment One to make a third film in the series, and the Midlands-based director is excited by the opportunity. She's got one or two projects to fit in first, but the plan is to...
- 1/14/2013
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Peter Jackson and Ang Lee's blockbusters boost end-of-year box office, as Skyfall becomes first film to break £100m barrier
The winners
Delivering £11m between them, top titles The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Life of Pi both posted sensational holds, helping UK box office overall to achieve its fifth biggest weekend haul of 2012. With Friday-to-Sunday takings of £6.85m, The Hobbit rose by 15% over the previous frame, and is one of only two films in 2012 (the other is Skyfall) to gross £5m-plus in its third weekend of wide play. Life of Pi rose a startling 48% from its debut weekend, and has achieved a robust £10.7m after 11 days of release. Based on the impressive increase, it's reasonable to conclude that Ang Lee's 3D literary spectacle is enjoying strong word-of-mouth from audiences.
Life of Pi has already grossed more than all but one of the major contenders from last year's awards race: best...
The winners
Delivering £11m between them, top titles The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Life of Pi both posted sensational holds, helping UK box office overall to achieve its fifth biggest weekend haul of 2012. With Friday-to-Sunday takings of £6.85m, The Hobbit rose by 15% over the previous frame, and is one of only two films in 2012 (the other is Skyfall) to gross £5m-plus in its third weekend of wide play. Life of Pi rose a startling 48% from its debut weekend, and has achieved a robust £10.7m after 11 days of release. Based on the impressive increase, it's reasonable to conclude that Ang Lee's 3D literary spectacle is enjoying strong word-of-mouth from audiences.
Life of Pi has already grossed more than all but one of the major contenders from last year's awards race: best...
- 1/2/2013
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
Film about group of schoolchildren in a Christmas carol contest attracts huge crowds at box office despite savage reviews
It was described by one critic as a "Christmas turkey" and suffering from "abject lousiness" by another, but Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger is set to become the biggest British independent film of 2012.
Its critical drubbing has not prevented hundreds of thousands of parents and children from going to see the film about a class's chaotic journey to a carol competition.
Nativity 2, which stars former Doctor Who actor David Tennant, is the third most popular film this week after The Hobbit and The Rise of the Guardians. It is expected to make £9m by the end of the Christmas holidays.
In comparison the critically acclaimed film Shadow Dancer made around £1m at the box office in 2012.
The Telegraph's review described Nativity 2 as a film that "very young children might enjoy...
It was described by one critic as a "Christmas turkey" and suffering from "abject lousiness" by another, but Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger is set to become the biggest British independent film of 2012.
Its critical drubbing has not prevented hundreds of thousands of parents and children from going to see the film about a class's chaotic journey to a carol competition.
Nativity 2, which stars former Doctor Who actor David Tennant, is the third most popular film this week after The Hobbit and The Rise of the Guardians. It is expected to make £9m by the end of the Christmas holidays.
In comparison the critically acclaimed film Shadow Dancer made around £1m at the box office in 2012.
The Telegraph's review described Nativity 2 as a film that "very young children might enjoy...
- 12/22/2012
- by Conal Urquhart
- The Guardian - Film News
The followup to 2009's surprise hit Nativity! enjoys a straightforward delivery, holding off competition from Silver Linings Playbook, Gambit and End of Watch
The winner
It may not have been a hit with the nation's critics, but Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! proved comfortably the top new release at the UK weekend box-office, beating bigger-budget offerings starring Hollywood A-listers Cameron Diaz, Bradley Cooper and Jake Gyllenhaal. With an impressive opening of £1.61m, that's more than double the debut of the original Nativity! (£794,000) three years ago. Nativity! went on to accumulate £5.2m during its 2009 run, 6.5 times its opening, thanks to positive word-of-mouth among its target audience of families, and the natural tendency of Christmas-themed movies to sustain and build as the holiday approaches. A similar multiple would deliver a total above £10m for Nativity 2.
Debbie Isitt's original Nativity! flew relatively under the radar – the big festive movie...
The winner
It may not have been a hit with the nation's critics, but Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! proved comfortably the top new release at the UK weekend box-office, beating bigger-budget offerings starring Hollywood A-listers Cameron Diaz, Bradley Cooper and Jake Gyllenhaal. With an impressive opening of £1.61m, that's more than double the debut of the original Nativity! (£794,000) three years ago. Nativity! went on to accumulate £5.2m during its 2009 run, 6.5 times its opening, thanks to positive word-of-mouth among its target audience of families, and the natural tendency of Christmas-themed movies to sustain and build as the holiday approaches. A similar multiple would deliver a total above £10m for Nativity 2.
Debbie Isitt's original Nativity! flew relatively under the radar – the big festive movie...
- 11/27/2012
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
I missed Debbie Isitt's 2009 Nativity!, a partly improvised seasonal comedy about kids from various schools in the Midlands competing to win a prize for the best Nativity play. It must have been better than this inept sequel, in which some of the same performers (including Marc Wootton as a dimwitted, childlike classroom assistant) bring choirs from their schools to a Welsh castle to take part in a TV competition for the best Christmas song. The two principal teachers are now played by David Tennant in the dual role of twins, one an ambitious prig, the other a likable supply teacher. He gets "nul point" in both roles. The only laughs come from the film's title and Jessica Hynes as a ridiculously pretentious TV hostess. I missed Debbie Isitt's 2009 Nativity!, a partly improvised seasonal comedy about kids from various schools in the Midlands competing to win a prize for the best Nativity play.
- 11/25/2012
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
End of Watch | Silver Linings Playbook | The House I Live In | Gambit | Cinema Komunisto | Starbuck | Nativity 2: Danger In The Manger! | First | Lawrence Of Arabia | Ninja Scroll
End of Watch (15)
(David Ayer, 2012, Us) Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Anna Kendrick. 109 mins.
If there was anything left to do with buddy cop movies then this does it, adding a raw authenticity and almost Tarantino-esque banter to the proceedings. We're on patrol with an Lapd duo whose partnership verges on the homoerotic, and whose sense of duty knows no bounds – a big mistake when they come up against a Mexican cartel. It's exciting, fluent and heavy on the shaky-cam, but ultimately paints a simplistic world of heroic lawmen and caricatured bad guys.
Silver Linings Playbook (15)
(David O Russell, 2012, Us) Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro. 122 mins.
Against-type casting and unbalanced characters do much to disguise the conventional bones of this satisfying romantic drama.
End of Watch (15)
(David Ayer, 2012, Us) Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Anna Kendrick. 109 mins.
If there was anything left to do with buddy cop movies then this does it, adding a raw authenticity and almost Tarantino-esque banter to the proceedings. We're on patrol with an Lapd duo whose partnership verges on the homoerotic, and whose sense of duty knows no bounds – a big mistake when they come up against a Mexican cartel. It's exciting, fluent and heavy on the shaky-cam, but ultimately paints a simplistic world of heroic lawmen and caricatured bad guys.
Silver Linings Playbook (15)
(David O Russell, 2012, Us) Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro. 122 mins.
Against-type casting and unbalanced characters do much to disguise the conventional bones of this satisfying romantic drama.
- 11/24/2012
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
There’s a lot of negativity surrounding Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger, the sequel to 2009’s Nativity, and perhaps that’s understandable. The class from St Bernadette’s are back, and so is their classroom assistant Mr Poppy (Marc Wootton) – an overgrown man-child of a character who infuriates audiences with almost every breath. His irresponsibility knows no bounds.
He steals children away without permission to take them on a school trip, he encourages them to bring their baby brothers and sisters along for the journey, he has them perilously abseiling down the side of 200ft cliffs (really!), and just generally seems to put having fun above the health and safety of the children he’s tasked with looking after.
To say his position of responsibility stretches credibility is an understatement, but this isn’t a social-realist portrayal of a primary school classroom, it’s a magical Christmas jaunt,...
He steals children away without permission to take them on a school trip, he encourages them to bring their baby brothers and sisters along for the journey, he has them perilously abseiling down the side of 200ft cliffs (really!), and just generally seems to put having fun above the health and safety of the children he’s tasked with looking after.
To say his position of responsibility stretches credibility is an understatement, but this isn’t a social-realist portrayal of a primary school classroom, it’s a magical Christmas jaunt,...
- 11/23/2012
- by Joe Cunningham
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Goofy followup to 2009's Nativity!, which sees David Tennant as a supply teacher in a school trying to win a Christmas song competition
Debbie Isitt's followup to her popular Christmas comedy Nativity! from 2009 is silly, goofy and pretty groanworthy. But it is unpretentious and is, after all, aimed at very young children. David Tennant plays Mr Peterson, the nice new supply teacher at a chaotic school whose kids are keen to enter the Song for Christmas competition, encouraged by their crazy teaching assistant, Mr Poppy (Marc Wootton). But they're up against some nasty poshies from the nearby independent school, led by uptight Mr Shakespeare (Jason Watkins). The pupils are given loads of kids-say-the-funniest-things dialogue, there's the traditional "audition montage" and the whole thing is like a particularly unsubtle panto. Jessica Hynes has a nice cameo as the fading pop star Angel Matthews, who presides over the X Factor-style final.
Debbie Isitt's followup to her popular Christmas comedy Nativity! from 2009 is silly, goofy and pretty groanworthy. But it is unpretentious and is, after all, aimed at very young children. David Tennant plays Mr Peterson, the nice new supply teacher at a chaotic school whose kids are keen to enter the Song for Christmas competition, encouraged by their crazy teaching assistant, Mr Poppy (Marc Wootton). But they're up against some nasty poshies from the nearby independent school, led by uptight Mr Shakespeare (Jason Watkins). The pupils are given loads of kids-say-the-funniest-things dialogue, there's the traditional "audition montage" and the whole thing is like a particularly unsubtle panto. Jessica Hynes has a nice cameo as the fading pop star Angel Matthews, who presides over the X Factor-style final.
- 11/23/2012
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
After spending the previous evening on the Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger red carpet speaking to some of the on-screen talent from the seasonal sequel, we were lucky enough to spend some time speaking with director Debbie Isitt about her new film.
Debbie spoke about what made her want to return to a world packed with children, animals, improvisation and Mr. Poppy for a second time, and why she decided to make things even harder for herself this time around. She also gave us some insight into how she went about replacing Martin Freeman with David Tennant after he became unavailable due to shooting some tiny movie over in New Zealand. Nativity 2 hits cinemas this Friday!
Keep your eyes peeled for our review and more interviews with the cast of the movie tomorrow.
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The post The HeyUGuys Interview: Director Debbie Isitt Talks Nativity 2 appeared first on HeyUGuys.
Debbie spoke about what made her want to return to a world packed with children, animals, improvisation and Mr. Poppy for a second time, and why she decided to make things even harder for herself this time around. She also gave us some insight into how she went about replacing Martin Freeman with David Tennant after he became unavailable due to shooting some tiny movie over in New Zealand. Nativity 2 hits cinemas this Friday!
Keep your eyes peeled for our review and more interviews with the cast of the movie tomorrow.
Iframe Embed for Youtube
The post The HeyUGuys Interview: Director Debbie Isitt Talks Nativity 2 appeared first on HeyUGuys.
- 11/22/2012
- by Joe Cunningham
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The concluding part of our mammoth look at the sequels currently in the works...
Here's the rest of the list, from L through to Z. It's all continued from page one, here.
The Last Exorcism 2
Eli Roth oversaw the original The Last Exorcism, and he's producing the follow-up as well, which should be in cinemas by the end of the year. Ashley Bell returns to headline the film, which is being directed by Ed Glass-Donnelly.
Machete Kills
Danny Trejo is returning to play Machete, with Machete Kills heading into production by April. It’s unclear at the moment whether Robert Rodriguez will be directing this one himself, but at the very least, he’s producing and shepherding the project. Exepct a 2013 release.
Mad Max 4 and 5
This one’s had a troubled path. Mad Max: Fury Road was originally set to go before the cameras last year, and indeed,...
Here's the rest of the list, from L through to Z. It's all continued from page one, here.
The Last Exorcism 2
Eli Roth oversaw the original The Last Exorcism, and he's producing the follow-up as well, which should be in cinemas by the end of the year. Ashley Bell returns to headline the film, which is being directed by Ed Glass-Donnelly.
Machete Kills
Danny Trejo is returning to play Machete, with Machete Kills heading into production by April. It’s unclear at the moment whether Robert Rodriguez will be directing this one himself, but at the very least, he’s producing and shepherding the project. Exepct a 2013 release.
Mad Max 4 and 5
This one’s had a troubled path. Mad Max: Fury Road was originally set to go before the cameras last year, and indeed,...
- 3/16/2012
- Den of Geek
Production started last week on Nativity 2 - The Second Coming, the sequel to the successful 2009 family film Nativity!. Directed once again by Debbie Isitt, the film will shoot for six weeks in Coventry, North Wales and Stratford.
This time David Tennant heads the cast as new classroom teacher Mr Peterson. He is joined by Joanna Page and Sheridan Smith, and Marc Wooton, Pam Ferris and Jason Watkins have reprised their roles. Like the original film, Nativity 2 is once again about a school nativity play, but this time the children from St. Bernadette's get lost en route to a national singing contest.
An anxious teacher (David Tennant) starts a new job at an under-achieving school and quickly finds himself struggling to cope with a wild classroom assistant, a group of under-performing kids and his own very pregnant wife. He soon becomes embroiled in a madcap plan to enter a National 'Song...
This time David Tennant heads the cast as new classroom teacher Mr Peterson. He is joined by Joanna Page and Sheridan Smith, and Marc Wooton, Pam Ferris and Jason Watkins have reprised their roles. Like the original film, Nativity 2 is once again about a school nativity play, but this time the children from St. Bernadette's get lost en route to a national singing contest.
An anxious teacher (David Tennant) starts a new job at an under-achieving school and quickly finds himself struggling to cope with a wild classroom assistant, a group of under-performing kids and his own very pregnant wife. He soon becomes embroiled in a madcap plan to enter a National 'Song...
- 10/27/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (ScreenTerrier)
- ScreenTerrier
The British holiday comedy ‘Nativity!’ is being released in America on Cable Video on Demand on November 1, 2011. The family film, written and directed by Debbie Isitt, follows elementary school teacher Paul Maddens, played by Martin Freeman, as he’s put in charge of producing the school’s nativity play. Paul is competing against his arch rival Gordon Shakespeare, portrayed by Jason Watkins, who runs a fancy private school, for the best reviewed show in town. Paul tries to get ahead by saying his ex-girlfriend Jennifer, played by Ashley Jensen, a Hollywood producer, is coming to see his show. He adds that she’s going to turn the play in a film....
- 10/25/2011
- by karen
- ShockYa
With new entries becalmed in the chart before Avatar is unleashed, Robert Zemeckis's animated spectacle surges back to the top in its sixth week of release to become the gift that keeps on giving to Disney
The marathon runner
For the past four weeks, the top spot has been occupied by 2012, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Paranormal Activity. But now, five weeks after it first entered the chart at No 1, Disney's A Christmas Carol returns to the summit. It's rare for a film in its sixth week of release to be finding much favour with audiences; to dominate the market at this point is an exceptional result. Box-office takings for Robert Zemeckis's animated Dickens adaptation went up on its second weekend by 31%, and has subsequently enjoyed small week-to-week declines of 11%, 13%, 14% and 7%. The film has now grossed over £16m, compared with £12m for Zemeckis's Polar Express (a figure...
The marathon runner
For the past four weeks, the top spot has been occupied by 2012, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Paranormal Activity. But now, five weeks after it first entered the chart at No 1, Disney's A Christmas Carol returns to the summit. It's rare for a film in its sixth week of release to be finding much favour with audiences; to dominate the market at this point is an exceptional result. Box-office takings for Robert Zemeckis's animated Dickens adaptation went up on its second weekend by 31%, and has subsequently enjoyed small week-to-week declines of 11%, 13%, 14% and 7%. The film has now grossed over £16m, compared with £12m for Zemeckis's Polar Express (a figure...
- 12/15/2009
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
New releases Me and Orson Welles, The Descent: Part 2 and The Box fail to offer much opposition as Paranormal Activity leapfrogs into top spot in its second week
For distributors with a new release this weekend, the only solace to be grasped at was that their movie hadn't done as badly as someone else's. As executives gathered at the annual British independent film awards in London on Sunday night, the talk was of how all the new films targeting adult audiences had flopped – the only differences were the degrees of failure.
Flop #1
Bottom of the pile of wide releases was Me and Orson Welles, which failed to crack a £1,000 screen average on 187 prints. Comparisons with Zac Efron's recent hits 17 Again (£2.56m debut) and High School Musical 3 (£8.41m including previews) are hardly fair, but his latest film's £166,000 opening confirms widely held suspicions that his many young fans wouldn't show...
For distributors with a new release this weekend, the only solace to be grasped at was that their movie hadn't done as badly as someone else's. As executives gathered at the annual British independent film awards in London on Sunday night, the talk was of how all the new films targeting adult audiences had flopped – the only differences were the degrees of failure.
Flop #1
Bottom of the pile of wide releases was Me and Orson Welles, which failed to crack a £1,000 screen average on 187 prints. Comparisons with Zac Efron's recent hits 17 Again (£2.56m debut) and High School Musical 3 (£8.41m including previews) are hardly fair, but his latest film's £166,000 opening confirms widely held suspicions that his many young fans wouldn't show...
- 12/8/2009
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
The Twilight franchise may still be packing them in, but Oren Peli's low-budget shocker shows that big (and scary) things come in small packages, too
The winner #1
It's rare for a film to drop 63% from the previous weekend and it still be considered a good result. But you can certainly make that case with The Twilight Saga: New Moon. In other words, forget about the percentages, just focus on the cascade of cash. By any yardstick, more than £20m in 10 days is a big number. After just two weekends on release, New Moon is already the ninth-biggest hit of 2009, and will very soon overtake the likes of Monsters vs Aliens, Star Trek and The Hangover to land sixth place for the year. The original Twilight movie took less than £5m in its first 10 days, so the sequel is so far running at quadruple the pace of its predecessor. The...
The winner #1
It's rare for a film to drop 63% from the previous weekend and it still be considered a good result. But you can certainly make that case with The Twilight Saga: New Moon. In other words, forget about the percentages, just focus on the cascade of cash. By any yardstick, more than £20m in 10 days is a big number. After just two weekends on release, New Moon is already the ninth-biggest hit of 2009, and will very soon overtake the likes of Monsters vs Aliens, Star Trek and The Hangover to land sixth place for the year. The original Twilight movie took less than £5m in its first 10 days, so the sequel is so far running at quadruple the pace of its predecessor. The...
- 12/1/2009
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
Simply put, this is a first class British Christmas film for all the family and with tomorrow being the 1st December, there’s nothing better at the cinema to put you in the Christmas mood than Nativity!
Starring Martin Freeman (TV’s The Office and 2006’s ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’), it is the story of a primary school teacher who in an attempt to position (and defend) his school as one that is going places, exaggerates to an old school rival that his Hollywood connections are coming to watch his schools Nativity play that his is producing. This small white lie snowballs big time and before Freeman knows where he is, the local press, TV news and Council are aware of his ‘achievement’ and praise him for turning the school around.
His tall tale and the consequences it creates aren’t all down to Freeman but also from supporting actor Marc Wooton,...
Starring Martin Freeman (TV’s The Office and 2006’s ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’), it is the story of a primary school teacher who in an attempt to position (and defend) his school as one that is going places, exaggerates to an old school rival that his Hollywood connections are coming to watch his schools Nativity play that his is producing. This small white lie snowballs big time and before Freeman knows where he is, the local press, TV news and Council are aware of his ‘achievement’ and praise him for turning the school around.
His tall tale and the consequences it creates aren’t all down to Freeman but also from supporting actor Marc Wooton,...
- 11/30/2009
- by Lee Goodger
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Paranormal Activity (15)
(Oren Peli, 2007, Us) Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs. 86 mins
This movie's paranormal box-office activity in the Us has raised expectations sky high, but it sets out to do one thing – scare the pants off you – and does that horribly well. Tapping into our primal fear of things going bump in the night, especially while we're asleep, it gives you the shivers with little more than a grainy fixed-camera shot of a bedroom, as a regular guy tries to get to the bottom of his girlfriend's alleged haunting by trying to video their nocturnal disturbances. There's a certain amount of audience investment required. If you go in determined not to be scared, you probably won't be, but if that's the case, why buy a ticket in the first place?
Law Abiding Citizen (18)
(F Gary Gray, 2009, Us) Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Colm Meaney. 109 mins
A revenge thriller that tries so hard to be clever,...
(Oren Peli, 2007, Us) Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs. 86 mins
This movie's paranormal box-office activity in the Us has raised expectations sky high, but it sets out to do one thing – scare the pants off you – and does that horribly well. Tapping into our primal fear of things going bump in the night, especially while we're asleep, it gives you the shivers with little more than a grainy fixed-camera shot of a bedroom, as a regular guy tries to get to the bottom of his girlfriend's alleged haunting by trying to video their nocturnal disturbances. There's a certain amount of audience investment required. If you go in determined not to be scared, you probably won't be, but if that's the case, why buy a ticket in the first place?
Law Abiding Citizen (18)
(F Gary Gray, 2009, Us) Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Colm Meaney. 109 mins
A revenge thriller that tries so hard to be clever,...
- 11/28/2009
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
With or without that gruesome exclamation mark, it's hard to dislike this warm fuzzy hot-water bottle of a movie, which insists on packing every second with tinkling Christmas music and winsome kids doing their utmost to hoof it up like the pros. Martin Freeman does his everyman thing as Paul Maddens, a Grinch-esque primary school teacher charged with staging the annual nativity play, and who incautiously implies that his ex-girlfriend may jet in from her Hollywood studio job and sign the whole lot of them up. Of course, within seconds this piece of misinformation has made the local news, and soon Maddens is attempting to ride a bucking bronco of outlandish expectations and unrealisable ambition. Writer-director Debbie Isitt turns the seasonal-good-cheer generator up to 11, and shoehorns in every plotline possible – from a wacky trip to La to a kid who's desperate to prove he's not a loser. So much so that Nativity!
- 11/27/2009
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
If the poo and wee bit of the Christmas Brit-flick’s trailer made you feel like gagging, this excerpt with Martin Freeman should go some way to making you feel less sick, being as it is a) cute and b) featuring less of Marc Wootton’s insanely annoying classroom assistant, Mr Poppy.Reuniting Freeman with his Confetti director Debbie Isitt for more improvised comedy, Nativity! follows two rival primary school teachers’ attempts to put on a show-stopping Nativity play and get a five-star review from the local critic, played by love-him-or-throw-him-from-nearest-cliff comedian Alan Carr. Fed up with always coming second in the reviews, Freeman’s teacher tells a giant fib that his Hollywood producer ex-girlfriend (played by Extra’s Ashley Jensen) is coming to film his show, leading to a frantic amount of showing-off, backstabbing and all the other things associated with Christmas. In this scene, little pupil Bobby and...
- 11/25/2009
- EmpireOnline
Martin Freeman made his name in the The Office as the lovely Tim. Now he's playing another nice bloke in Nativity! So why is he so defensive about being typecast?
Martin Freeman is sitting opposite me in a London hotel, and he's being charming. He's already offered to fetch me some refreshments ("Well, if you were in my kitchen I'd get you a drink") and is responding to my questions with vigour, practically bouncing out of his chair as he talks.
We meet during his promotional tour for the film Nativity! It's billed as a "heartwarming and hilarious tale of the true meaning of Christmas" but don't worry – it's better than it sounds. Freeman plays Mr Maddens, a frustrated and frayed teacher at a bog-standard primary school who finds love, joy and personal redemption through directing the school nativity play. As you may expect, there are sing-along songs and cute...
Martin Freeman is sitting opposite me in a London hotel, and he's being charming. He's already offered to fetch me some refreshments ("Well, if you were in my kitchen I'd get you a drink") and is responding to my questions with vigour, practically bouncing out of his chair as he talks.
We meet during his promotional tour for the film Nativity! It's billed as a "heartwarming and hilarious tale of the true meaning of Christmas" but don't worry – it's better than it sounds. Freeman plays Mr Maddens, a frustrated and frayed teacher at a bog-standard primary school who finds love, joy and personal redemption through directing the school nativity play. As you may expect, there are sing-along songs and cute...
- 11/25/2009
- by Alice Wignall
- The Guardian - Film News
What does every school wish for at Christmas? For the nativity play to go off without a hitch, that’s what!
Nativity, the hilarious family comedy by writer/director Debbie Isitt stars Martin Freeman, Ashley Jensen, Ricky Tomlinson and Alan Carr and is coming to a theatre near you on 4th December 2009, so hows about unwrapping the trailer first?
Primary school teacher Paul Maddens decides to take on the biggest challenge of his life – staging his school’s musical production of the Nativity. Competing against his arch rival at the local private school for the coveted best reviewed show in town, the stakes are raised when a potential visit from a Hollywood agent sends everyone involved into a festive frenzy. Starring Martin Freeman, Ashley Jensen, Ricky Tomlinson and Alan Carr this fun-filled film has an abundance of festive sing-a-long cheer and will leave you grinning from ear-to-ear.
© Filmshaft.Com, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.
Nativity, the hilarious family comedy by writer/director Debbie Isitt stars Martin Freeman, Ashley Jensen, Ricky Tomlinson and Alan Carr and is coming to a theatre near you on 4th December 2009, so hows about unwrapping the trailer first?
Primary school teacher Paul Maddens decides to take on the biggest challenge of his life – staging his school’s musical production of the Nativity. Competing against his arch rival at the local private school for the coveted best reviewed show in town, the stakes are raised when a potential visit from a Hollywood agent sends everyone involved into a festive frenzy. Starring Martin Freeman, Ashley Jensen, Ricky Tomlinson and Alan Carr this fun-filled film has an abundance of festive sing-a-long cheer and will leave you grinning from ear-to-ear.
© Filmshaft.Com, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.
- 10/14/2009
- by Craig Sharp
- FilmShaft.com
If you’re a fan of Alan Carr, Martin Freeman or Ashley Jensen, then you’re going to love this! It’s a new British comedy directed by Debbie Isitt telling the story of an average school putting on their christmas nativity play to find out that ‘Hollywood’ are going to be there to watch…. sort of! It’s out November 27th so check it out during the Christmas holidays.
I’ve just watched the trailer and it looks really funny for kids and adults alike. I’ve embedded it below for your viewing pleasure.
Primary school teacher Paul Maddens decides to take on the biggest challenge of his life – staging his school’s musical production of the Nativity. Competing against his arch rival at the local private school for the coveted best reviewed show in town, the stakes are raised when a potential visit from a Hollywood agent sends...
I’ve just watched the trailer and it looks really funny for kids and adults alike. I’ve embedded it below for your viewing pleasure.
Primary school teacher Paul Maddens decides to take on the biggest challenge of his life – staging his school’s musical production of the Nativity. Competing against his arch rival at the local private school for the coveted best reviewed show in town, the stakes are raised when a potential visit from a Hollywood agent sends...
- 10/13/2009
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
• Martin Freeman, known for his role in “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” has signed on to star in Debbie Isitt’s British comedy “Nativity,” Variety reported earlier today. The film follows two English schools competing for the best nativity play.
• Actor Don Johnson returns to the big screen in “A Good Old Fashioned Orgy” and Disney’s family comedy “When in Rome,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Over the past years, the actor was busy starring on TV’s “Nash Bridges.”
• The Hollywood Reporter says Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg and Eva Longoria are just a few celebrities to show up in “Teenage Paparazzi,” a documentary by Adrian Grenier about this relationship with a young paparazzo.
• Imagi Intl. is moving ahead with “Tusker,” a computer-animated tale about an elephant’s adventure in India. The project was initially in development at DreamWorks Animation but got cancelled in 2005 (Variety).
• Actor Don Johnson returns to the big screen in “A Good Old Fashioned Orgy” and Disney’s family comedy “When in Rome,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Over the past years, the actor was busy starring on TV’s “Nash Bridges.”
• The Hollywood Reporter says Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg and Eva Longoria are just a few celebrities to show up in “Teenage Paparazzi,” a documentary by Adrian Grenier about this relationship with a young paparazzo.
• Imagi Intl. is moving ahead with “Tusker,” a computer-animated tale about an elephant’s adventure in India. The project was initially in development at DreamWorks Animation but got cancelled in 2005 (Variety).
- 8/11/2008
- by Franck Tabouring
- screeninglog.com
Fox Searchlight Pictures did not leave Cannes empty-handed: The distributor has acquired worldwide rights to the unfinished BBC Films/Wasted Talent production Confetti after screening 20 minutes of footage at the Cannes market, which concluded last week. Fox Searchlight president Peter Rice said the footage "was funny and bright and accessible, with a great comedy cast." Confetti is a mockumentary from writer-director Debbie Isitt. It features an ensemble of British comedy stars, including Martin Freeman (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), Jessica Stevenson (Shaun of the Dead), Stephen Mangan (Green Wing), Felicity Montagu (I'm Alan Partridge), Mike Leigh veteran Alison Steadman (Topsy-Turvy) and film rookie Jimmy Carr.
- 5/25/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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