In 1976, a young director set out to make a rock music take on the Wizard of Oz. John Safran speaks to those behind Oz: A Rock’n’Roll Road Movie about everything that went wrong
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Before the ABC ran commercials for Q&a and Bananas in Pyjamas between shows, they ran meditative interludes – waves crashing against rocks, hot air balloons drifting through the clouds, that sort of thing. This is how the director of Oz: A Rock’n’Roll Road Movie, Chris Löfvén, got his start. At 14 years old, he darted around Melbourne with his 16mm camera, licked a stamp and posted the footage to the television station. They liked it and ran it.
Chris’s first job out of high school was working for director Fred Schepisi (who’d go on to make The Devil’s Playground and The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith...
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Before the ABC ran commercials for Q&a and Bananas in Pyjamas between shows, they ran meditative interludes – waves crashing against rocks, hot air balloons drifting through the clouds, that sort of thing. This is how the director of Oz: A Rock’n’Roll Road Movie, Chris Löfvén, got his start. At 14 years old, he darted around Melbourne with his 16mm camera, licked a stamp and posted the footage to the television station. They liked it and ran it.
Chris’s first job out of high school was working for director Fred Schepisi (who’d go on to make The Devil’s Playground and The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith...
- 8/13/2022
- by John Safran
- The Guardian - Film News
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is planning a series of Twitter ‘watch parties’, encouraging audience to stream a selected title at a set time and discuss it online, alongside special guests. The series kicks off May 16 with a screening of Halloween (2018), involving director David Gordon Green and Jamie Lee Curtis. On May 23, former Nasa Astronaut Scott Kelly will host a screening of Apollo 13, followed by a screening of The Breakfast Club on May 30.
Endemol Shine Group (Esg) has sold a raft of programming to Plex, which the ad-funded streamer will carry in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Shows that form part of the deal include Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, Bananas in Pyjamas, City Homicide, Deal or No Deal and MasterChef. Peaky Blinders will also be made available on Plex in Italy and Spain. Kasia Jablonska, Esg’s head of digital distribution and monetization, said: “Plex is a unique platform,...
Endemol Shine Group (Esg) has sold a raft of programming to Plex, which the ad-funded streamer will carry in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Shows that form part of the deal include Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, Bananas in Pyjamas, City Homicide, Deal or No Deal and MasterChef. Peaky Blinders will also be made available on Plex in Italy and Spain. Kasia Jablonska, Esg’s head of digital distribution and monetization, said: “Plex is a unique platform,...
- 5/12/2020
- by Tom Grater and Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Simon Cowell gave his 'X Factor' judges a ''serious'' pep talk - while Rita Ora was dressed as a banana. The music mogul called his fellow panellists to his dressing room to discuss the programme after the Halloween episode, and the mood of their intense discussions was lightened by the 'R.I.P.' hitmaker's fancy dress outfit. Judge Nick Grimshaw recalled: ''We went in his dressing room after the show. It was Halloween and we were all going out afterwards. No one had a costume except Rita, who was going as Bananas in Pyjamas. ''We went in there and it was really funny for a...
- 11/19/2015
- Virgin Media - TV
Andy Warhol had a knack for turning unmistakably mundane items like soup cans and Coca-Cola bottles into pop art icons. But there is perhaps no other reappropriated grocery item better than Mr. Warhol's beloved banana.
It graced the cover of a Velvet Underground album and has fetched nearly $100,000 at auction. It's safe to say the screen printed piece of fruit has become nearly as famous as its eccentric maker.
To celebrate the banana -- and what would have been Andy Warhol's 85th birthday -- a group of 22 contemporary artists gathered to put their best spin on the slender yellow fruit. From Frank Correa to Izzie Klingels, the selected artists and designers paid tribute with plenty of appearances by Andy, Edie, Bananas in Pyjamas, naked women and other psychedelic imaginings.
Commissioned by Société Perrier (the organization that made their very own Andy Warhol water bottle), it's a delightful homage to the pop art king.
It graced the cover of a Velvet Underground album and has fetched nearly $100,000 at auction. It's safe to say the screen printed piece of fruit has become nearly as famous as its eccentric maker.
To celebrate the banana -- and what would have been Andy Warhol's 85th birthday -- a group of 22 contemporary artists gathered to put their best spin on the slender yellow fruit. From Frank Correa to Izzie Klingels, the selected artists and designers paid tribute with plenty of appearances by Andy, Edie, Bananas in Pyjamas, naked women and other psychedelic imaginings.
Commissioned by Société Perrier (the organization that made their very own Andy Warhol water bottle), it's a delightful homage to the pop art king.
- 8/6/2013
- by Katherine Brooks
- Huffington Post
It's been more than a decade since the 1990s ended, yet the Internet can't seem to go a day without a reminder of the neon slap bracelets that may have been banned from your school.
Yes, we get it. Times are tough and there's comfort in reflection, but enough is enough.
Below, a final goodbye to the 90s to end the nostalgia once and for all. (We're not kidding. There are 1990 items below.)
1. Scrunchies
2. "The Wild Thornberries"
3. Dawson and Joey
4. "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys"
5. Mr. Feeny
7. MTV playing music videos
8. Snick
9. The premiere of "Freaks and Geeks"
10. Levar Burton
11. "Daria"
12. "Arthur"
13. "The Powerpuff Girls"
14. "Smart Guy"
15. Comedy Central globe logo with buildings
16. "The X-Files"
17. Rosie O'Donnell
18. Bill Nye
19. "Dawson's Creek"
20. The Mighty Ducks"
21. "Are You Afraid of the Dark"
22. Cornholio
23. Rachel Green
24. Tim Allen
25. "All That"
26. "Beverly Hills 90210"
27. "Step by Step"
28. "The Ren & Stimpy Show"
29. "The Famous Jett Jackson"
30. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
Yes, we get it. Times are tough and there's comfort in reflection, but enough is enough.
Below, a final goodbye to the 90s to end the nostalgia once and for all. (We're not kidding. There are 1990 items below.)
1. Scrunchies
2. "The Wild Thornberries"
3. Dawson and Joey
4. "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys"
5. Mr. Feeny
7. MTV playing music videos
8. Snick
9. The premiere of "Freaks and Geeks"
10. Levar Burton
11. "Daria"
12. "Arthur"
13. "The Powerpuff Girls"
14. "Smart Guy"
15. Comedy Central globe logo with buildings
16. "The X-Files"
17. Rosie O'Donnell
18. Bill Nye
19. "Dawson's Creek"
20. The Mighty Ducks"
21. "Are You Afraid of the Dark"
22. Cornholio
23. Rachel Green
24. Tim Allen
25. "All That"
26. "Beverly Hills 90210"
27. "Step by Step"
28. "The Ren & Stimpy Show"
29. "The Famous Jett Jackson"
30. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
- 7/29/2013
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
The most popular branded Facebook page in Australia is for Bananas in pyjamas, according to a new report from digital media agency Online Circle.
The classic kids TV show’s Facebook page comes out ahead of the likes of Pringles, MasterChef, Coca Cola, Neighbours, KFC and McDonald’s with 1.765m fans for the month of October.
Both TV shows and snack foods lead the field in raw growth numbers, growing well over 150,000 more Facebook fans than the category with the next highest growth – booze brands, the report finds.
Source: Online Circle
In terms of engagement, the telco industry is ahead – this is driven primarily by Vodafone and Telstra’s 24-hour support services, Online Circle reckons.
The world’s most famous brand, Coca-Cola, leads in the way in the soft drinks sector on Facebook.
Pizza maker Domino’s, which is known to use Facebook as a customer feedback channel, leads the way in fast food,...
The classic kids TV show’s Facebook page comes out ahead of the likes of Pringles, MasterChef, Coca Cola, Neighbours, KFC and McDonald’s with 1.765m fans for the month of October.
Both TV shows and snack foods lead the field in raw growth numbers, growing well over 150,000 more Facebook fans than the category with the next highest growth – booze brands, the report finds.
Source: Online Circle
In terms of engagement, the telco industry is ahead – this is driven primarily by Vodafone and Telstra’s 24-hour support services, Online Circle reckons.
The world’s most famous brand, Coca-Cola, leads in the way in the soft drinks sector on Facebook.
Pizza maker Domino’s, which is known to use Facebook as a customer feedback channel, leads the way in fast food,...
- 11/23/2012
- by Robin Hicks
- Encore Magazine
The finalists have been announced for the Australian Writers’ Guild awards – or Awgies.
Wish You Were Here is up for best feature film, along with Last Dance and Not Suitable For Children.
The Slap and Underbelly: Razor are up for best TV mini-series.
The short list in full:
Telemovie Original
Beaconsfield – Judi McCrossin
Mabo – Susan Smith
Television Mini-series – Adaptation
The Slap – Emily Ballou, Alice Bell, Brendan Cowell, Kris Mrksa with Cate Shortland
Underbelly: Razor – Peter Gawler, Michaeley O’Brien, Felicity Packard and Jeffrey Truman
Television Mini-series – Original
Only one nomination and the winner will be announced on the night.
Television – Series
Spirited: If You See Her Say Hello – Alice Bell
Offspring: Episode 206 – Michael Lucas
Spirited: Living In Oblivion – Ian Meadows
Spirited: I’ll Close My Eyes – Jacquelin Perske
Television – Serial
Home & Away 5437- Louise Bowes
Home & Away 5391 – Fiona Bozic
Neighbours 6231 (Jim’s Death) – Pete McTighe
Comedy...
Wish You Were Here is up for best feature film, along with Last Dance and Not Suitable For Children.
The Slap and Underbelly: Razor are up for best TV mini-series.
The short list in full:
Telemovie Original
Beaconsfield – Judi McCrossin
Mabo – Susan Smith
Television Mini-series – Adaptation
The Slap – Emily Ballou, Alice Bell, Brendan Cowell, Kris Mrksa with Cate Shortland
Underbelly: Razor – Peter Gawler, Michaeley O’Brien, Felicity Packard and Jeffrey Truman
Television Mini-series – Original
Only one nomination and the winner will be announced on the night.
Television – Series
Spirited: If You See Her Say Hello – Alice Bell
Offspring: Episode 206 – Michael Lucas
Spirited: Living In Oblivion – Ian Meadows
Spirited: I’ll Close My Eyes – Jacquelin Perske
Television – Serial
Home & Away 5437- Louise Bowes
Home & Away 5391 – Fiona Bozic
Neighbours 6231 (Jim’s Death) – Pete McTighe
Comedy...
- 7/11/2012
- by Robin Hicks
- Encore Magazine
The nominees for this year's Awgie awards include the scribes behind local films such as The Sapphires, The Eye of the Storm, Wish You Were Here and TV programs such as Mabo, Beaconsfield, and Underbelly.
Battling in the feature film adaptation category will be Judy Morris. The Eye of the Storm, starring Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davies, and The Sapphires from Keith Thompson and Tony Briggs. Michael Lucas has also been nominated for his first original feature, Not Suitable for Children while Last Dance by Terence Hammond and David Pulbrook and drama Wish You Were Here, written by Kieran Darcy-Smith and Felicity Price, have also been nominated.
Among television nominees, the team of writers behind The Slap and Underbelly: Razor have been nominated as well as Susan Smith for indigenous telemovie Mabo, and Judi McCrossin for Beaconsfield. Michael Lucas was also nominated for the television series Offspring while three scripts...
Battling in the feature film adaptation category will be Judy Morris. The Eye of the Storm, starring Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davies, and The Sapphires from Keith Thompson and Tony Briggs. Michael Lucas has also been nominated for his first original feature, Not Suitable for Children while Last Dance by Terence Hammond and David Pulbrook and drama Wish You Were Here, written by Kieran Darcy-Smith and Felicity Price, have also been nominated.
Among television nominees, the team of writers behind The Slap and Underbelly: Razor have been nominated as well as Susan Smith for indigenous telemovie Mabo, and Judi McCrossin for Beaconsfield. Michael Lucas was also nominated for the television series Offspring while three scripts...
- 7/10/2012
- by Staff reporter
- IF.com.au
The Big Bang Theory triple play helped give Nine a strong result in the top ten shows on Wednesday night.
The three episodes of the American sitcom placed sixth, ninth and tenth for the network across the five city metro markets, according to preliminary results from Oztam.
The first episode, which placed sixth, was also the number one non-news or current affairs show for the evening.
Nine didn’t manage to take the night’s top spots however. Seven News won the night with 1.14m followed by Today Tonight on 1.07m.
Nine News came second on 1.04m and A Current Affair taking 0.95m.
ABC News rounded out the top five with 0.92m viewers while Ten’s highest rating show was The Biggest Loser in seventh place with 0.88m viewers.
A repeat of Talkin’ ’bout Your Generation was Ten’s second highest rating show with 0.66m viewers.
For Sbs, Wildest Africa...
The three episodes of the American sitcom placed sixth, ninth and tenth for the network across the five city metro markets, according to preliminary results from Oztam.
The first episode, which placed sixth, was also the number one non-news or current affairs show for the evening.
Nine didn’t manage to take the night’s top spots however. Seven News won the night with 1.14m followed by Today Tonight on 1.07m.
Nine News came second on 1.04m and A Current Affair taking 0.95m.
ABC News rounded out the top five with 0.92m viewers while Ten’s highest rating show was The Biggest Loser in seventh place with 0.88m viewers.
A repeat of Talkin’ ’bout Your Generation was Ten’s second highest rating show with 0.66m viewers.
For Sbs, Wildest Africa...
- 4/5/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Last night saw the series finale of Excess Baggage, Nine’s celebrity fatcamp show that was ignominiously booted off Nine and onto Gem.
Obviously it’s not fair to compare the show’s performance on Gem to the main free to air channels. So let’s see how it did against the rest of the shows on digital last night. Here are the shows that beat it:
The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Two A Touch Of Frost Two The Royal Neighbours Spicks And Specks-Ev Doctor Who-ev The Simpsons Thurs The Simpsons The Big Bang Theory -Ev Timmy Time-am The Pajanimals-ev In The Night Garden-ev Bananas In Pyjamas-Pm Friends -Ev TX3 Driver Dan’S Story Train-ev Mike The Knight-am Roary The Racing Car-am Spicks And Specks: Comedy Special-ev Microscopic Milton-am Miffy And Friends-pm Fun With Claude-pm Play School-Am The Whole Nine Yards Play School...
Obviously it’s not fair to compare the show’s performance on Gem to the main free to air channels. So let’s see how it did against the rest of the shows on digital last night. Here are the shows that beat it:
The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Two A Touch Of Frost Two The Royal Neighbours Spicks And Specks-Ev Doctor Who-ev The Simpsons Thurs The Simpsons The Big Bang Theory -Ev Timmy Time-am The Pajanimals-ev In The Night Garden-ev Bananas In Pyjamas-Pm Friends -Ev TX3 Driver Dan’S Story Train-ev Mike The Knight-am Roary The Racing Car-am Spicks And Specks: Comedy Special-ev Microscopic Milton-am Miffy And Friends-pm Fun With Claude-pm Play School-Am The Whole Nine Yards Play School...
- 3/30/2012
- by mumbrella
- Encore Magazine
The first winners of the newly renamed Kit Denton Disfellowship, previously the Kit Denton Fellowship, have been named as Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan whose writing credits have included Big Bite, Hamish & Andy and The Mansion.
The announcement was made at tonight’s Australian Writers Guild Awgie Awards held in Sydney.
Other winners included The Secret Life Of Us writer Kris Mrksa who picked up the Foxtel Fellowship, Chris Lilley who was recognised for his contribution to comedy and films Snow Town and Burning Man.
The Awgie winners:
2011 Kit Denton Fellowship
ForCourage and Excellence in Performance Writing
Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan
2011 Foxtel Fellowship
Fellowship awarded in recognition of a significant body of work in television.
Kris Mrksa
2011 Richard Lane Award
For Outstanding Service and Dedication to the Australian Writers’ Guild
Ian David
2011 Dorothy Crawford Award
For Outstanding Contribution to the Profession
Currency Press
2011 Fred Parsons Award
For Outstanding Contribution...
The announcement was made at tonight’s Australian Writers Guild Awgie Awards held in Sydney.
Other winners included The Secret Life Of Us writer Kris Mrksa who picked up the Foxtel Fellowship, Chris Lilley who was recognised for his contribution to comedy and films Snow Town and Burning Man.
The Awgie winners:
2011 Kit Denton Fellowship
ForCourage and Excellence in Performance Writing
Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan
2011 Foxtel Fellowship
Fellowship awarded in recognition of a significant body of work in television.
Kris Mrksa
2011 Richard Lane Award
For Outstanding Service and Dedication to the Australian Writers’ Guild
Ian David
2011 Dorothy Crawford Award
For Outstanding Contribution to the Profession
Currency Press
2011 Fred Parsons Award
For Outstanding Contribution...
- 9/23/2011
- by Tim Burrowes
- Encore Magazine
ABC4Kids has received an audience share of 45 per cent among 0-4 year olds in August, up by 10 per cent on last August.
ABC4Kids broadcasts on ABC2 from 6am to 7pm daily, increased from 8am to 1.30pm.
As a result the channel is, for both Fta and Paytv channels, the top daytime channel among pre-schoolers, with the animated series of Bananas in Pyjamas the top ranking program among all Fta digital channels on Friday 26 August. It was the Banana’s highest weekday performance, with a five city average of 284,000 since launching on Monday 2 May.
In fact, on Friday 26 August, ABC4Kids had nine of the top ten programs across the digital free to air channels.
ABC TV’s Controller of Children’s, Tim Brooke-Hunt said in a statement, “We are thrilled that the extended broadcast hours for ABC4Kids on ABC2 have been so quickly and enthusiastically embraced by our audience.
ABC4Kids broadcasts on ABC2 from 6am to 7pm daily, increased from 8am to 1.30pm.
As a result the channel is, for both Fta and Paytv channels, the top daytime channel among pre-schoolers, with the animated series of Bananas in Pyjamas the top ranking program among all Fta digital channels on Friday 26 August. It was the Banana’s highest weekday performance, with a five city average of 284,000 since launching on Monday 2 May.
In fact, on Friday 26 August, ABC4Kids had nine of the top ten programs across the digital free to air channels.
ABC TV’s Controller of Children’s, Tim Brooke-Hunt said in a statement, “We are thrilled that the extended broadcast hours for ABC4Kids on ABC2 have been so quickly and enthusiastically embraced by our audience.
- 9/1/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Having just watched The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, I’m in the mood for something slightly more uplifting than watching small children being murdered at the hands of their own fathers in an ironic twist of fate that I may have just spoiled for anyone who hasn’t yet seen it. Ah well, it’s not exactly the most cheery of films anyway, so maybe choose something else from the Pyjama canon of works – perhaps Bananas in Pyjamas or something like that. Anyway, rambling isn’t getting me anywhere, so I’m channeling the spirit of movie merch nostalgia once again to try and cheer the whole ruddy miserable world up. And with that in mind, this week’s cornucopia of merchandising magic comes courtesy of a phenomenal Joker action figure from Sideshow, a set of incredible Art Nouveau posters from a bona fide legend-in-the-making artist and a winning blast from the past from Tiger Electronics...
- 8/31/2011
- by Simon Gallagher
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Two suspects have been charged over the alleged theft of the iconic costumes from hit kids' TV show Bananas In Pyjamas.
The famous banana outfits, named B1 and B2, were stolen from the Adelaide headquarters of Australian TV network ABC on Sunday. They were later recovered and returned to their rightful place.
A 24-year-old man from Royston Park and a 23-year-old woman from Mount Barker, in the Adelaide Hills, were arrested in connection with the alleged break-in. They have now been charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass, theft and property damage and bailed to appear at the Holden Hill Magistrates Court on 12 August, according to the Australian Associated Press.
The famous banana outfits, named B1 and B2, were stolen from the Adelaide headquarters of Australian TV network ABC on Sunday. They were later recovered and returned to their rightful place.
A 24-year-old man from Royston Park and a 23-year-old woman from Mount Barker, in the Adelaide Hills, were arrested in connection with the alleged break-in. They have now been charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass, theft and property damage and bailed to appear at the Holden Hill Magistrates Court on 12 August, according to the Australian Associated Press.
- 6/22/2011
- WENN
There is so much television content generated around the world that if a program is to have a fighting chance in the marketplace, it needs a distributor who knows what they’re doing. Miguel Gonzalez spoke with a number of experts about what’s selling, and what they need to do to get the interest of broadcasters.
Each television program needs a good distributor in order to travel the world. Production companies and networks entrust their creations to these experts, and they discussed their current challenges
with .
Endemol Worldwide Distribution represents product such as Packed to the Rafters and Home and Away (Seven Network), Hi-5 (Nine Network), Bananas in Pyjamas (ABC) and Southern Star’s Rush and Rescue: Special Ops, in addition to all international Endemol brands. While the company has positioned Australian content in a number of countries, it has found resistance trying to place home grown drama in...
Each television program needs a good distributor in order to travel the world. Production companies and networks entrust their creations to these experts, and they discussed their current challenges
with .
Endemol Worldwide Distribution represents product such as Packed to the Rafters and Home and Away (Seven Network), Hi-5 (Nine Network), Bananas in Pyjamas (ABC) and Southern Star’s Rush and Rescue: Special Ops, in addition to all international Endemol brands. While the company has positioned Australian content in a number of countries, it has found resistance trying to place home grown drama in...
- 10/5/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
The Australian Writers’ Guild has announced the nominations for the Awgie Awards.
Beneath Hill 60, Lou, Animal Kingdom and the still unreleased Griff the Invisible compete for best original feature screenplay, while Rush dominated the TV series category with three of its episodes going against one of Spirited. Underbelly’s second and third series monopolised the mini-series adaptation category.
The ceremony will take place at Peninsula, Melbourne, on August 20.
The nominees are:
Television: Series
Rush Ep 210 – Armoured Car by David Caesar and Adam Todd Rush Ep 208 – Boy in the Bush by Michelle Offen Spirited – The Man Who Fell To Earth by Jacquelin Perske Rush Ep 222 – Water by Adam Todd
Television: Mini Series Adaptation
Underbelly: The Golden Mile by Peter Gawler, Greg Haddrick, Kris Mrksa and Felicity Packard Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities by Peter Gawler, Greg Haddrick, Kris Mrksa and Felicity Packard
Television: Serial
Home and Away Ep...
Beneath Hill 60, Lou, Animal Kingdom and the still unreleased Griff the Invisible compete for best original feature screenplay, while Rush dominated the TV series category with three of its episodes going against one of Spirited. Underbelly’s second and third series monopolised the mini-series adaptation category.
The ceremony will take place at Peninsula, Melbourne, on August 20.
The nominees are:
Television: Series
Rush Ep 210 – Armoured Car by David Caesar and Adam Todd Rush Ep 208 – Boy in the Bush by Michelle Offen Spirited – The Man Who Fell To Earth by Jacquelin Perske Rush Ep 222 – Water by Adam Todd
Television: Mini Series Adaptation
Underbelly: The Golden Mile by Peter Gawler, Greg Haddrick, Kris Mrksa and Felicity Packard Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities by Peter Gawler, Greg Haddrick, Kris Mrksa and Felicity Packard
Television: Serial
Home and Away Ep...
- 6/22/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
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