‘Boyzone,’ Series Charting the Price of Boyband Celebrity, Set at Sky Documentaries

‘Boyzone,’ Series Charting the Price of Boyband Celebrity, Set at Sky Documentaries – Global Bulletin

BOYS WILL BE BOYZ

As a seasoned connoisseur of the culinary world, I find myself utterly intrigued by this new show that pits trendy pub owners against Korea’s top white spoon chefs. The presence of legendary judges like Paik Jong-won and Anh Sung-jae from Mosu Seoul adds a layer of prestige and anticipation that has me on the edge of my seat.

Sky Documents has announced its intention to produce a three-part documentary series titled “Behind Boyzone“, delving into the ups and downs of the famous Irish boy band and ’90s pop phenomenon, Boyzone.”

As a devoted cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that after three decades, the extraordinary quartet comprising Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch, and Michael Graham, who have collectively sold over 25 million records worldwide, have granted me exclusive, behind-the-scenes access. In this intimate interview, they delve deep into their personal journeys within the band, shedding light on the highs and lows of their meteoric rise to global fame. They bravely confront the strained relationships and heartrending events that have left an indelible mark on their lives, families, and friendships.

“This film explores the significant milestones that molded Boyzone, delving into their periods of triumph and adversity under international fame. It also highlights how the relentless paparazzi scrutiny in 1990’s UK led Stephen Gately to openly declare his sexuality. Post a remarkable reunion in 2007, the band experienced an unfortunate turn of events when Gately passed away.”

The series was produced under the banner of Curious Films, and it was commissioned for broadcast on Sky Documentaries by Poppy Dixon, who heads their documentary and factual department, as well as Tom Barry, their commissioning editor. Tom Barry and Hayley Reynolds act as executive producers for Sky, with Hayley being the acting director of documentaries and factual. The series is directed by Sophie Oliver, while Dov Freedman and Charlie Russell serve as executive producers.

BUSAN JURY

Film director Mohammad Rasoulof, who lives in exile from Iran, has been appointed as the head of the jury for the ‘New Currents’ competition section at this October’s Busan International Film Festival. His notable works include “A Man of Integrity” (2017), “There Is No Evil” (2020) and his latest release, “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” which he showcased in Cannes earlier this year following his escape from Iran. Rasoulof previously served a prison sentence for speaking out against the government and was subsequently given an additional eight-year jail term in 2022.

The jury members also consist of Korean film director Lee Myung-se, Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu (known for “Soul Mate” and “Better Days”), Indian actress Kani Kusruti (famous for “Biriyaani” and the 2024 Sundance audience award-winning “Girls Will Be Girls”), and Vanya Kaludjercic, who is the festival director of the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

In the “New Currents” category, we welcome debut and returning Asian films. The judging panel will choose two winning entries, each of which will be awarded a prize of $30,000.

SCREENWRITERS’ SOIREE SELECTS SIX

For this year’s 17th Screenwriters’ Lab, India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) has selected six projects written in languages like Hindi, Urdu, and Maithili. These scripts cover diverse genres and were chosen out of more than 150 applications submitted from 21 different states.

Among the chosen projects are “I’ll Smile in September” by Aakash Chhabra, a film that previously featured at the 2023 Busan Asian Project Market, following the story of a brass band player seeking recovery from heartache; and “Mangal – The Holy Beast,” directed by Triparna Maiti, which portrays an elephant’s journey from captivity to divinity status. This project was showcased at the Annecy MIFA Pitch earlier this year and is scheduled for the 2024 Busan Asian Project Market.

Among the selected projects, we find Anuritta K. Jha’s “Hawa Mithai,” which tells the story of a village boy embarking on a magical adventure to consume the Sun; Anam Danish’s “Kalaa Kaali,” where a family grapples with a generational curse; Uddhav Ghosh’s “Konyak,” portraying tribal conflicts in Nagaland; and Piyush Srivastava’s “Piyush Ki Toh…Nikal Padi,” which offers humor through the tale of a man concealing his bedwetting issue from his in-laws.

As a cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that for the next five months, I’ll be part of an extraordinary three-part program. This unique opportunity pairs aspiring screenwriters like myself with esteemed mentors such as Marten Rabarts, Claire Dobbin, and Ritesh Shah. Throughout this journey, we’ll refine our scripts through tailored sessions and group workshops to make them truly shine. The grand finale? Pitching our projects to producers and investors at Film Bazaar 2024. It’s an honor to follow in the footsteps of past lab alumni like Ritesh Batra (“The Lunchbox”) and Konkona Sen Sharma (“A Death in the Gunj”). Here’s to creating magic on the silver screen!

CULINARY BATTLE

Netflix has announced that the debut of its Korean unscripted series titled “Culinary Class Wars” will take place on September 17. This show brings together an array of 100 talented chefs in a fierce culinary competition, pitting them against each other in the kitchen. The competitors include “black spoon” masters – home-meal restaurant chefs, trendy pub owners, and others – who face off against Korea’s top “white spoon” star chefs, such as Michelin-starred chefs, winners of culinary survival shows, and those who have made a significant impact in the culinary world. The show boasts two esteemed judges: Paik Jong-won, a renowned Korean restaurateur and national culinary mentor, and Anh Sung-jae, chef at Mosu Seoul, Korea’s only three-star Michelin restaurant.

The show is helmed by directors Kim Hak-min and Kim Eun-ji, penned by Mo Eun-sol, and brought to you by Studio Slam.

ADELAIDE ANNOUCEMENT

The Adelaide Film Festival has revealed the initial six movies to be shown during the October event, with “The Correspondent” set as the opening film on October 23. Directed by Kriv Stenders, “The Correspondent” stars Richard Roxburgh as Australian war correspondent Peter Greste who was detained and imprisoned in Cairo, Egypt in 2013 while working for broadcaster Al Jazeera.

Besides “All We Imagine as Light,” a Cannes Grand Prix winner by Payal Kapadia, the lineup includes “Nightbitch” directed by Marielle Heller featuring Amy Adams, the debut of Shalom Almond’s “Songs Inside” with music from inside a prison, Steve McQueen’s Apple Original film “Blitz,” and Zak Hilditch’s horror movie titled “We Bury the Dead.” The festival takes place from October 23 to November 3.

DOT PLOT

It was recently announced that Kim Dotcom, the creator of the file-sharing platform Megaupload, faces extradition to the United States, where he could be imprisoned for several decades due to charges of fraud and copyright infringement.

The story of Kim Dotcom is being adapted into a six-part television series titled “Kim Dotcom: An Unfolding Saga.” This narrative is penned by renowned British author James Payne, who has previously worked on shows like “The Window,” “Mr Selfridge,” and “Hooten & The Lady.” At present, the series is moving towards its casting phase. The production of this series is a joint effort between ZDF Studios and Boogie Entertainment. Robert Franke, ZDF Studios’ VP for drama, and Rolant Hergert, founder and producer at Boogie Entertainment, are serving as the executive producers.

“During the fall season, we’ll collaborate with our partners from New Zealand to refine the cast and find suitable filming locations in Auckland and its vicinity, including Dotcom’s impressive property,” stated producer Rolant Hergert. The project is expected to be finished by 2025.

TIGER APP

Celestial Tiger Entertainment, a company that operates Asian TV channels, recently introduced a new streaming app called CMGO for Chinese movies. This app made its entrance in Singapore, available on both Singtel and StarHub platforms, at a monthly price of S$6.98.

On CMGO, you’ll find a selection of top-tier films hailing from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Some exciting new and exclusive titles to look forward to on our platform are “I Did It My Way,” featuring Andy Lau, the action comedy “Rob n Roll” starring Aaron Kwok, as well as “The Goldfinger,” a film headlined by Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu-wai. Additionally, keep an eye out for the Hong Kong blockbuster “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In,” which will be joining our library later this year.

2024-08-20 17:48