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Vale: Lynn Bayonas
Australian Producer and Writer Lynn Bayonas has died, following a long battle with cancer.
Bayonas was Producer of children’s series The Saddle Club for Crawford Productions from 2001 – 2008 after a six year stint as a writer in Hollywood on Sunset Beach and Prime Time (US).
Screen Hub notes she started in the industry almost by accident, as a young Australian in London in the 1960’s, who became Orson Welles’ assistant, where she learnt the art of screen storytelling.
A 2002 profile in The Age notes Welles taught her about flexibility in storytelling, …
Talia’s shot at Fame
Talia Fowler, winner of So You Think You Can Dance Australia, has turned down a contract with the San Francisco Ballet company to take up a role in the upcoming stage production of Fame.
She will be joined by another finalist, Nigerian born Tim ‘Timomatic’ Omaji.
The revival of the stage show, based loosely on the feature film, is directed and choreographed by Dance choreographer, Kelley Abbey.
Other television faces in the cast include Andrew McFarlane (Underbelly, The Flying Doctors, The Sullivans) and veteran actor Brian Wenzel (A Country Practice).
The production also has a …
TV’s family values
Some years ago when he was Treasurer, Peter Costello suggested Australian families should have one baby for mum, one for dad and one for the country. Maybe he should have thrown in one for television too.
The traditional, nuclear family is disappearing from primetime television. Yet TV families are amongst our most popular genres.
If you step into the fictional suburb of Erinsborough today you will find great change from its origins. Under the roofs of Ramsay Street there is an array of family groupings: married couples, children, brothers and sisters, friends, step-parents, …
Vale: Charles “Bud” Tingwell
Veteran actor Bud Tingwell has died in a Melbourne hospital this morning after a battle with prostate cancer. He was 86.
Tingwell was considered to be the ‘grandfather’ of the Australian film and television industry. He has a wealth of film, television, theatre and radio achievements.
Tingwell became the youngest radio announcer in Australia when he was employed at Sydney radio station 2CH as a cadet, then joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941 and was sent to the Middle East as a photographic reconnaissance pilot.
He entered the film industry in the …
Gallery: Red Carpet Arrivals 2009
There were swine flu masks that look like they had met with the Bedazzler, see through tops, lots of slimming black, The Stig and possibly some Hollywood tape.
There was also a gaggle of media asking “who are you wearing” and “who is your tip to win?” (copy that never delivers so well by the time it makes it to print / on air). And there was more than a few media asking “who was that again?”
Once again they came from across Australia and New Zealand for the country’s premier Red Carpet …
When Chantal meets Simon & Maggie
If you remember the name Chantal Contouri this could be one for you…
In the 1970s Greek-Australian actress Contouri was a leading light on Australian soaps. Her most famous roles include Number 96’s notorious “panty-hose strangler” and the very poised Melina on The Sullivans.
She performed in Skyways, All the Rivers Run, Alvin Purple and Chopper Squad and also won a role on General Hospital.
These days she is more likely to be found preparing a Greek barbeque in her parents’ restaurant than in front of a camera.
On the ABC’s The Cook And The …
Who will make Logie’s Hall of Fame?
The Logie Awards are yet to announce who it will induct into its Hall of Fame.
Last year writer, performer and director John Clarke was given the honour, joining an elite list of those who have made an impact on Australian television. While the inductee is usually an individual sometimes programmes have been honoured including Play School, Neighbours and Four Corners.
It could also be awarded to someone behind the scenes. Hector Crawford was the first, while Ken G. Hall, James Davern, Reg Grundy, Bruce Gyngell and Sam Chisholm are also inducted.
Females are …
Vale: Reg Evans
The Herald Sun has noted the death of character actor Reg Evans, 80, in Victorian bushfires.
An English migrant, Evans was born in 1928, started in television in 1964 on Consider Your Verdict, and worked on many Australian series: Skippy, Division Four, Matlock Police, Power Without Glory, Homicide, The Sullivans, Skyways, Are You Being Served, Prisoner, The Flying Doctors, Snowy River, MDA, Seachange, Something in the Air and Blue Heelers.
His film career includes Mad Dog Morgan, Mad Max, Manganinnie, Women of the Sun, Gallipoli, Kitty and the Bagman, Strikebound, Evil Angels, …
20 to 1’s Greatest TV Moments
20 to 1 last night offered up its list of “Greatest TV Moments,” a roll call of the best ‘Made for TV’ moments from the last 50 years.
There were a lot of nostalgic, memorable moments on the list, which steered clear of news and sport. Those that made the list were constructs from drama, comedy, reality, lifestyle and current affairs. While the list was predominantly Australian, a few American, and one British moment also made the cut. Clearly television from other corners of the world was banished…
As with all the 20 …