David Tennant: new project | awards | Decoy Bride review | Tree Fu Tom update | DVD easter egg

David Tennant To Perform Silver: Return To Treasure Island
David Tennant has been confirmed as the actor to perform Silver: Return to Treasure Island, written by Sir Andrew Motion, the official audiobook sequel to the Robert Louis Stevenson classic. David Tennant is a perfect match for the book having won numerous Best Actor Awards for his role as the tenth incarnation of The Doctor in Doctor Who, appeared in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and played the title role in the acclaimed RSC production of Hamlet.

Author Sir Andrew Motion, a former Poet Laureate and Chair of the Man Booker Prize judges, comments: 'I'm completely delighted David Tennant's reading Silver. I honestly can't think of anyone I'd rather hear do it.'
Dominic White, Head of Publishing and Commerce at W F Howes Ltd (leading Leicestershire based audiobook publisher) comments: 'David Tenant really conveys the thrills of an ocean odyssey. This is the making of a modern classic in spoken word form.'
W F Howes Ltd, audiobook publishers, are creating exclusive downloadable and CD editions for retailers (Whole Story Audiobooks imprint) and libraries (Clipper imprint), released on the 15th March.

Source: Book 2 Book

David Tennant and Catherine Tate are among the Whatsonstage Awards theatre success stories
Catherine Tate wasn’t just celebrating winning best supporting actress in a play for her turn in Season’s Greetings - another National Theatre production – last night. Her collaboration with fellow Doctor Who alumnus David Tennant in Much Ado about Nothing was voted theatre event of the year and best Shakespearean production, beating the Globe’s rival staging of the same play in this category by only four per cent of the vote.

Read more at Radio Times

The List reviews The Decoy Bride

 Read the whole article at The List

Glasgow Film Festival 2012: Writer Sally Phillips & Director Sheree Folkson discuss The Decoy Bride
Co-writer/actor Sally Phillips (Smack the Pony) and director Sheree Folkson (A Royal Scandal) discuss their feature film The Decoy Bride, which was screened as part of the Great Scots strand at the Glasgow Film Festival 2012.

Bridget Jones meets Local Hero in this fizzy romantic confection that features a sparkling screwball comedy performance from Kelly Macdonald. Hollywood star Lara (Alice Eve) and her writer fiancé James (David Tennant) are desperate for a quiet romantic wedding far from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. The tiny Scottish island of Hegg seems ideal but the media are soon descending in their hordes. A cunning plan is devised to stage a fake wedding and throw them off the trail. Local lass Katie (Macdonald) is the decoy bride but nothing goes entirely as expected in an entertaining romp with echoes of I Know Where I'm Going.

 

Tree Fu Tom
The BBC have released more details of their forthcoming children's animated series, Tree Fu Tom, which will feature the vocal talents of Tenth Doctor David Tennant and Seventh Doctor companion Sophie Aldred.

Former Doctor Who stars David Tennant and Sophie Aldred voice the lead characters Tom (Aldred) and Twigs (Tennant) in the new multi-platform fantasy action adventure series, Tree Fu Tom coming to CBeebies in March. Aimed at four to six year olds, Tree Fu Tom is set in an enchanted world where movement creates magic. Tom appears to be a normal eight-year-old boy but putting on his magic belt and performing a special sequence of magic action-movements (known as Tree Fu) transforms him into a tiny but mighty magical super-hero. Using a Tree Fu spell, Tom is transported into a wondrous enchanted kingdom in a tree called Treetopolis, inhabited by sprites, bugs and naughty fungi – the ‘Mushas’. Here he meets his faithful sidekick Twigs, a silly and energetic Acorn Sprite. Tom and Twigs are inseparable as they become embroiled in amazing, action-packed adventures, which always lead to trouble, impending disaster and catastrophe. When events run beyond their control it is only with help from the audience performing Tree Fu moves, that Tom can create spectacular Big World Magic and save the day!

All of the Tree Fu magic moves that children are encouraged to copy are developed from therapeutic techniques that are used to help children with movement disorders like Dyspraxia, but are designed to assist and enhance the development of all participating children at a crucial time in their growth. Controller of CBeebies, Kay Benbow, says: “We have a fantastic cast on this show, who work brilliantly as a team. Their rapport permeates through to the programme reflecting the characters as a group of friends working together. We are delighted to have David on board as part of the team. The physical energy in his performance works so well for animation and his sense of fun and cheeky humour will delight the older CBeebies audience.”

Sally Payne from the Dyspraxia Foundation adds: “The Dyspraxia Foundation is delighted to have been involved in Tree Fu Tom since the early days of its development and believe that all children, not just those with dyspraxia, will both enjoy and benefit from making Big World Magic come to life!”

Tree Fu Tom is a co-production between CBeebies In-House Production and FremantleMedia Enterprises. Jackie Edwards and Alison Stewart are the executive producers for the BBC, and Sander Schwartz and Bob Higgins for FME. The animation will be done by the BAFTA Award winning Blue Zoo Animation. Tree Fu Tom was created and is being produced by Daniel Bays. FME will distribute Tree Fu Tom outside of the UK and manage all other ancillary rights globally.

Source: News in Time and Space

Doctor Who 2009 Specials Easter Egg - Infinite Quest DVD Extra: David Tennant as pirate Dr. Vile
An Easter Egg aficionado has shared the following instructions on how to find this extra treat on the DVD:

On the Main Menu screen hit the arrow button to highlight "Extras" and then click up. It will highlight an area on the TARDIS Control Console. Click Enter, and it will play a DVD Extra of David Tennant recording the scene where he is acting like he's a pirate named Dr. Vile. Not hugely entertaining, but it was cool to find. :) 

Source: The Easter Egg Archive

Scottish stars support SCIAF for Lent

Susan Boyle flipped pancakes for charity during the weekend. The Britain’s Got Talent star took part in a special cooking event with school children to raise awareness of the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (Sciaf) and its Wee Box, Big Change campaign. This is the second year Boyle has taken part in the campaign, and her mother collected donations for the charity until she died at the age of 91 in 2007.

The campaign sees people give up their favourite treats for the 40 days of Lent, and putting their money in a “wee box” for Sciaf to assist in charity work across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
“Sciaf and its work with people living in poverty in developing countries is really close to my heart and always has been,” said Boyle. "I’m happy that I’m now in a position to help them more than I used to be able to.
“It’s going to be really tough giving up chocolate for Lent again, so it was great to tuck into a small feast with the young people today. It’s been great fun and I know every penny raised from the Wee Box, Big Change campaign will help people in need.”

Also supporting the campaign this year are Robert Carlyle and The Proclaimers.

“Sciaf helps some of the poorest people in the world to work their way out of poverty,” said Robert Carlyle. "They give a hand up, not a hand out, providing practical help such as seeds, tools and training so that people can feed themselves and their families, not just today but in the future. “This Lent I’m giving up coffee and putting the money I save into my WEE BOX. Please join me. Give up something for Lent and put what you would have spent into your SCIAF WEE BOX. Together we will change the lives of some of the poorest people in the world.”

Read more at Look to the Stars
SCIAF's official site is here

For those of you on Twitter, you may be interested to know that the official Twitter for ABC's Once Upon a Time announced this week that "Rumplestiltskin himself is now on Twitter. Follow @robertcarlyle_"

Millie Innes up for yet more Awards

GAMTA part-time Musical Theatre student Millie Innes' run of success is looking set to continue well in 2012 with her nomination for a Young Scot Award as well as Best New Scottish Actor for the Scottish Variety Club Awards!

Millie has been with GAMTA for several years now and is a student within the Part-Time Musical Theatre School. Most recently with GAMTA, she played the role of Miranda Munro in the 2011 production of the original musical On The Line.

Read more at Glasgow Academy Musical Theatre Arts

Marianna Palka interviewed about "Spoonful" at Sundance 2012

Marianna Palka, star of the Sundance Short Film Spoonful, chats with Susie Oliver while attending the Midwest Film party.

 Marianna Palka and Jason Ritter Co-creators of "Morning Knight, Inc."



Source: Daily Motion

Kevin McKidd is donating album proceeds to charity

Kevin McKidd is donating everything he makes from a forthcoming album of traditional Scottish songs to the Save The Children charity.

The actor, who plays chief of surgery Dr Owen Hunt on TV drama Grey’s Anatomy, rented a house with friends, including music producer Nick Lloyd Webber, close to his birthplace in Elgin, Scotland, to record 29 numbers — although he told me just 15 tracks made the final cut on the LP known as the 'Speyside Sessions'.

McKidd has lived in the valley district of Los Angeles with his wife and two children for five years while shooting the hit hospital drama, but he likes to return to his native land as often as he can.

When I saw him in downtown LA on Wednesday, he told me - in between signing autographs for teenage girls - that the songs on the album include Charlie Is My Darling, John Anderson, My Jo and Both Sides Of The Tweed. But what about Mull of Kintyre?

‘We only considered songs over 100 years old,’ McKidd said, laughing as he mildly dissed the song Paul McCartney and Denny Laine wrote in the late Seventies. 'It wasn’t ancient enough!’

The actor has been busy shooting new episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, which is about to plunge him into a highly controversial storyline - but you won’t get any spoilers from me.

Read more at Daily Mail

Ewan McGregor: TV appearance | rumoured new film | Trainspotting sequel update

Ewan McGregor will be a guest on 'Live! With Kelly' on one of two episodes to be co-hosted by comedian and actor Martin Short on March 8 or March 9.

Read more at Digital Spy

Sir Jackie Stewart wants Ewan Mcgregor for racing movie
Hollywood bosses are eyeing a biopic of motor racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart - and the track ace wants Ewan Mcgregor to play him on-screen.  

Brokeback Mountain producer Bill Pohlad is preparing to shoot the movie, which will focus on Sir Jackie's friendship with his Formula 1 protege Francois Cevert, who was killed in a track accident in the U.S. in 1973. Triple world champion Sir Jackie has read a draft of the untitled film's script and has given the greenlight for the project - and he's recommending Pohlad signs up fellow Scot MCGregor to play him in the movie.

The retired racer tells The Sun, "The relationship that Francois and I had was probably unique in that we were such good friends while, at the same time, racing against each other even though we were in the same team. This has been picked up by a very good film-maker in Bill. He has worked with some very big stars and he is a friend of mine. I've known him since about 1971. He wants to do it and we have agreed. "Clearly we won't be in it, it has to be actors. I don't know who will be playing me - but Ewan MCGregor would be an awfully good choice."

Source: Contact Music

Ewan McGregor: 'Trainspotting' Sequel Not Happening
As amazing as it would be to see Begbie, Renton and Sick Boy continue their drug-induced Trainspotting adventures, Scottish leading man Ewan McGregor has unofficially nixed it -- he's never even seen a script for the hypothetical movie.

While doing press for the upcoming Salmon Fishing in the Yemen at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall, McGregor addressed the possibility of starring in a sequel to the movie, which was based on the novel by Irvine Welsh.

"I was always a bit loathe to do it, because Trainspotting is so important for me," said McGregor. "And it was such an amazing film that still stands up today. I think making a sequel to it is almost a dangerous thing to do. You don't want to damage the reputation of the original film if you make a lesser version."

Upon reflection, McGregor briefly considered the semantics of creating the film now, over a decade after its original release in 1996.

"That said, it could be interesting because it's been so long, and the book is set 10 years later," he said, referring to Welsh's follow-up to Trainspotting, titled Porno. As for his aging since the mid-'90s?

"I still look very, very young, and that would be a big problem," he joked, laughing.

Another novel by Welsh ("Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance") has been adapted into a Canadian film, Ecstacy, which just wrapped shooting and is slated for release this year. Welsh is currently writing a prequel to Trainspotting, titled Skagboys.

Source: Huffington Post

Elaine C Smith persuades Susan Boyle to appear in musical

Susan Boyle is to make a guest appearance in the stage show charting her rise to fame. The Britain's Got Talent star has agreed to appear at the end of I Dreamed a Dream, which stars Elaine C. Smith as the singing star.

Elaine told the Sunday Mail: "Susan has become a great pal and I'd do anything for her. "We are similar in many ways - two Scottish lasses from mining villages who were supposed to get married, have kids and be quiet. "But Susan and I didn't quite turn out like that. I'm so honoured to be able to tell the story of her amazing life."

Susan added: "I am thrilled to be part of the musical and I'm looking forward to stepping on stage.
"It is an honest portrayal of my life and has been a cathartic process to be involved in."

The show will examine Susan's early life in Blackburn, West Lothian, and show what has happened to her since she became famous. Elaine said: "We are aiming for a Billy Elliot-style story which tells the rags-to-riches tale of Susan's life. When I first read the script to Susan, she got upset but then she said, `You've made me cry...but you've made me smile more'."

The musical will be the first time that Susan has been part of a nationwide tour. Her management team hope it will pave the way for a worldwide concert tour. Elaine says: "It is about trying to get Susan ready for the next stage in her career. "There's a big part of Susan's story still to be told."

Source: STV

Billy Connolly: 'Troubles' film restored | New role in Eric Idle's 'What about Dick?'

A fly-on-the-wall documentary which shows Billy Connolly on tour in Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles is to be screened at the Glasgow Film Festival. Big Banana Feet was made in two days during Connolly's 1975 tour of Ireland. The only remaining copy of the programme is in an American film archive which has been restored and brought back to Glasgow for the screening.

See a clip on the BBC website or watch the full interview of Billy Connolly in conversation with film-maker David Peat at BBC

Billy Connolly to star in new Eric Idle production 

Stand-up comedian Russell Brand will take the titular role in former Python Eric Idle's latest musical, What About Dick?. Set in the early 20th Century, the production is to be presented as a radio play with the cast reading from scripts. It will run for just 4 nights in April, from the 26th to 29th, and will also star Tracey Ullman, Billy Connolly, Sophie Winkleman, Eddie Izzard and Tim Curry. Jane Leeves, a former (Benny) Hill's Angel but better known for the role of Daphne in long-running US sitcom Frasier, will also appear, and Idle himself will act as narrator.

Written by Idle with his long-term musical collaborator John Du Prez, the story is described as a "farcical romp" that follows Oxford student Dick as he studies philosophy and gynaecology; Izzard's character is the inventor of the vibrator. A previous version of the production was staged in a similar form in 2007. Idle told the Los Angeles Times that he and Du Prez have spent the last 5 years re-writing the scripts and adding more songs to the show. He added: "It's essentially the same idea as before, but the part of Dick got bigger - if I'm allowed to say that."

Idle also confirmed that What About Dick? will be recorded for release as a 'concert film'.

Source: The British Comedy Guide

Irvine Welsh’s Ecstasy makes blissful leap to big screen at Glasgow Film Festival

STV caught up with stars Adam Sinclair and Olivia Andrup along with director Rob Heydon at the UK premiere of Irvine Welsh’s Ecstasy to find out more about the movie which centres around Edinburgh’s nightclubbing scene.

Watch the interview at STV

Pamela Stephenson to interview Billy Connolly and Alan Cumming in 'The Fame Report'

Psychologist Pamela Stephenson is to present a brand new one-off documentary about fame and celebrity for More 4. In an age when children no longer aspire to a profession but instead want to be celebrities, fame has become one of the most sought-after states on the planet - but only those who have achieved it understand its impact and now More 4 aim to look into the world of fame.

In The Fame Report, Stephenson examines the reality of being famous, its psychological impact and effect on key relationships for those in the public eye - through her own expert analysis and interviews with individuals who have attained fame on a global scale. The celebrities interviewed in the film include Oscar winner Tatum O'Neal, former Spice Girl Mel C, The Devil Wears Prada star Stanley Tucci, actors Alan Cumming and John Hurt, and comedian Billy Connolly - who is of course Pamela's husband.

Channel 4's Commissioning Editor, Emma Cooper says: "Pamela is uniquely well-qualified to examine fame, not only has she experienced the trappings of celebrity as an actress, comedian and star of Strictly Come Dancing, she is she is also one of very few people in the world to have researched fame's psychological effects with academic rigour. The celebrities she interviews speak with unprecedented candour about the highs and lows such elevation can bring - providing a fascinating insight into how people experience fame."

For her doctoral dissertation, Stephenson interviewed 20 celebrities, developing fascinating and original theories about how individuals are affected by, for instance, the loss of privacy which comes from being well-known and the effect fame can have on someone's relationships - even with themself.

 Glasgow-based production company Finestripe Productions are making this one-off one-hour documentary for transmission this April on More 4. The Producer and Director is Michael Waldman and the Executive Producer is Sue Summers.

 Source: ATV Today

The New Brave Trailer is Here!

Disney's Pixar has released, via iTunes Movie Trailers, an all-new trailer for their upcoming Brave. Check it out in the player below!

Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, the animated adventure features the voices of Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson and Robbie Coltrane.

In the film, opening in 3D and 2D US theatres on June 22, Merida (Macdonald) is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (Coltrane). Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Wise Woman (Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it's too late.



Read more at ComingSoon.net

Weekly schedule for Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Mo 2/27: Eric Idle, Sarah Paulson

Tu 2/28: Dr. Mehmet Oz, Carrie Keagan

We 2/29: Tom Lennon, Phil Plait

Th 3/1: Henry Winkler, Jay Baruchel

Fr 3/2: Dennis Miller, the Light Brigade

David Tennant: interviews / charity ad / Pirates! / photo exhibition

Tree Fu Tom: Sophie Aldred and David Tennant voice new CBeebies series
Interview with David Tennant about his role as Twigs
Twigs is Tom’s best friend and sidekick – he goes everywhere with him and is the comic heart of the show. This tiny acorn sprite is like the wide-eyed, fun-loving, free-spirited and seriously silly child in each of us.
Could you tell us who you play?
I play Twigs, who is Tom’s best friend. Twigs lives in Treetopolis and he’s a tree sprite. He’s very small, he’s sort of based on an acorn and he can retract himself into an acorn whenever he’s frightened. But he’s a little anarchic, he’s a little crazy and he’s quite loud.
Could you sum up TFT and why parents should encourage their children to watch it?
I think TFT is imaginative, inventive, exciting, really good fun and it looks beautiful. It looks like no expense has been spared and I can’t wait to see all the finished episodes as everything I have seen so far has been a visual feast. It’s an incredible wonderful thing that we have channels like CBeebies that devote so much time and effort and skill to telling wonderful stories.
Why did you decide to take the role?
Animation is a fascinating area from an acting point of view because it’s not really like anything else because you are only providing a portion of the performance. That’s very inspiring and it forces you to do things in a different way – to tell stories through your voice. As an acting challenge it was very appealing.
I think you always want to tell good stories and when you are doing something for children you are always so aware of how formative those stories will be. I was hugely formed by stories I was told as a child whether that was in a book, the cinema, theatre or television and probably television more than any medium is what influenced me as a child and formed my response to literature, story-telling and, therefore, the world around me.
Can you tell us about Tree Fu and Big World Magic?
There are points in every story where Big World Magic is required and Tom gets the viewers to go through moves with him and that sends the magic through to him. The idea being that the real world can influence the Treetopolis world through the Tree Fu moves.
Tree Fu Tom encourages movements designed to help all children particularly including those with Dyspraxia – can you tell us more about that?
I would never have imagined that a programme like this could be used in this way to help combat Dyspraxia. It will be fascinating to see if it does have a positive effect. The children will certainly have a good time trying!
How did you arrive at Twigs’ voice?
It’s sort of my voice but up an octave really. He’s smaller and lighter so the voice had to be higher. Also there’s a thought that for pre-school audiences you want to use higher registers in your voices. I believe that the young audience hears higher voices better.
How do you gauge your performance for the audience?
I feel very un-practiced in performing to an audience this young so I am very happy to be led by other people working on the show. Like getting the level of jeopardy right, what is enough to be exciting but not too much to be alarming. When you’re older you want to be scared because you understand more where the boundaries between fantasy and reality are and I suppose they are more blurred the younger you are. It’s fascinating to work with people who completely understand that audience. I’ve really enjoyed trying to understand that world.
I don’t think I have ever done anything for this age of children before, a pre-school audience. Generally speaking we don’t have vivid memories of that age and what influenced us yet clearly they are hugely formative years and it’s really important that we can create television of a high quality for that audience. I think the shows you remember are from when you were a bit older. But I think the programmes you watch when you are that young, when you are still learning about how the world works are really important. It’s very exciting to be involved in something that speaks to that audience.
Sophie Aldred (who plays Tom) has previously played Doctor Who’s assistant and you have played The Doctor but in this the roles are reversed, how does that feel?
Sophie and I had never met before so we didn’t have any previous dynamic but I suppose that you can infer a dynamic from previous roles that we have played. As an actor you just fit in with whatever the dynamics of the characters are so she plays the hero and I’m the annoying sidekick.
You, Tim, Samantha and Sophie all recorded Tree Fu Tom in a booth together – how was that?
What’s great about the four of us being in a booth together is that you can work off each other and you can be inspired by something that someone else does and you can collectively move something in a different direction.
Who’s the most animated in the booth?
Probably me! I do find it hard not to dance around a bit! Twigs is quite active so it’s hard to contain that. It’s not very helpful in the final edit if you knock a script off but sometimes you just have to go for it!
Source: BBC

David Tennant to star in radio drama Love Virtually
The former Doctor Who star will feature opposite Emilia Fox in a tale of email romance.
A wayward email sparks a case of “online adultery” in a new Radio 4 Afternoon Drama starring David Tennant and Emilia Fox.
When Emmi (Fox) mistakenly sends an email to Leo (Tennant), romance quickly blossoms, and the two begin a shared secret life far removed from their day-to-day existences.
The problem is, Emmi is married – but does a virtual affair count as cheating? To what extent does the relationship rely on fantasy? And is it even possible to fall in love with someone you’ve never met?
Tennant fans will no doubt be answering "yes" to that last question as they make a date with David...
Afternoon Drama: Love Virtually, by Austrian novelist Daniel Glattauer, airs at 2:15pm on Thursday 8 March on BBC Radio 4.
Source: Radio Times

David Tennant - Sport Relief 

David Tennant is appearing in a trailer for Sport Relief on BBC television.
 
Sport Relief is a biennial charity event from the team who run Comic Relief. It combines sport and entertainment to raise money to help vulnerable people in both the UK and the world's poorest countries.
It started in 2002 and in 2012 Sport Relief is during the weekend Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th March.
Since Saturday 11th February David Tennant is being shown in trailers on BBC television for Sport Relief dressed as a large ketchup bottle!
Read more and watch the trailer at David Tennant on Twitter

Brilliant new featurette about the making of Aardman Animations’s ‘The Pirates! Band Of Misfits’
A brilliant new featurette for Aardman Animations’ family adventure The Pirates! Band Of Misfits has been released this week, including commentary from writer Gideon Defoe, British actors Hugh Grant and David Tennant, and producer Julie Lockhart about how the film was created and just how long it took to make this beautifully crafted 3D stop-motion animation.
Read more and watch the featurette at BritScene

 Final call: intimate moments of actors backstage

For the last 25 years, top actors – from Colin Firth to Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett to David Tennant – have allowed theatrical photographer Simon Annand into the private sanctums of their dressing rooms, capturing them as they prepare to go on stage. This series focuses on the final 30 minutes before curtain-up, known behind the scenes as 'the half': a time for sinking into character, touching up makeup – or having a Diet Coke break.
• The Half is on show at the Idea Generation gallery in Shoreditch, London, from 24 February
Source: The Guardian

James McAvoy: movies updates

Movie updates:

• Filth resumed shooting on 13 Feb and there have been several set photos and observations shared online.

The James McAvoy Message Board share photos and comments from the set here and here. 

More on set pics from Deadline News and Scotsman  

• Welcome to the Punch is rumoured (via Twitter) to be screened at the Berlin Film Festival, according to someone on the James McAvoy Message Board 

• More about the X-Men:First Class sequel 

MTV News recently caught up with the sequel's screenwriter Simon Kinberg at the première of his latest film, "This Means War," where we discussed his plans for Magneto, Xavier and the rest. 

"I don’t know what the title is going to be but certainly I’m working on the sequel to 'X-Men: First Class' right now," Kinberg said. "I’m going to be writing and producing it, I’m starting now, with Matthew Vaughn directing." 

When asked about what he enjoys most about incorporating so many characters into the story, Kinberg first emphasized his fanboy-ness, along with excitement to further explore the many layers of Magneto and Charles Xavier. 

"I’m a huge X-Men fan. I grew up loving the comic books and it was really exciting to be able to do the origin story of Xavier and Magneto, and getting those two actors, [James] McAvoy and [Michael] Fassbender, were really amazing," he said. "So being able to explore those characters with actors of that quality will be exciting a second time around, and doing some things unexpected with those characters, which is the plan." 

Kinberg went on to say that while they're still in the early stages of story-planning, the second film will likely involve a lot more Magneto. 

"That’s what was so cool about the first one and what we want to continue," Kinberg said of exploring the supervillain's tortured beginnings. "Magneto becomes the villain ultimately of the franchise but he’s a much more complicated character as a young man. He’s someone you sympathize with, you care about you root for even though might not necessarily agree with his methods, you understand his philosophy." 

So with the sequel will Magneto still be bridging the gap between good and bad or will he be a full-on villain? 

"We’re still figuring that out. I think the truth is ultimately that because Michael is such an interesting actor, he’ll never be full-on anything. He’ll have a villainous side and he’ll have a sympathetic human side you’ll be able to relate but you’ll also be afraid of him. He becomes Magneto, he says 'Call me Magneto' at the end of the first movie." 

Watch the interview at MTV

Sean Biggerstaff: interview and music vid

Interview: Sean Biggerstaff, actor 

The Wicker Man musical is a strange concept, but for Sean Biggerstaff, it’s no more weird than the hysteria that met his best-known role, writes Susan Mansfield. Sean Biggerstaff laughs as he describes the process by which he joined the cast of An Appointment With The Wicker Man. “Read the script. Laughed a lot. Said yes. It was an absolute no-brainer. Turned up at work on the first day and it’s been a hoot and a holler ever since.” 

Biggerstaff, cast in the role of PC Rory Mulligan, a TV cop drafted in to help the Loch Parry Players stage The Wicker Man, has the straightest part in the show. 

“Much like Edward Woodward (in the original cult movie), who was quite a normal person finding himself in amongst all this madness and reacting to it, that’s the main part of my job as well. I joyously get to react to the great comic performances going on around me.” 

It’s now ten years since Biggerstaff, 28, made his last appearance as Oliver Wood, captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team in the Harry Potter movies, yet it is still the job for which he is best known. When his part was cut from the third film, an online petition gathered more than 50,000 signatures to the slogan “It’s the Wood that makes it good.” 

Now, eating a cheese toastie in the costume fitting room at the National Theatre of Scotland’s rehearsal space, he shakes his head as if he’s glad those days are over. 

“When you turn up in Leicester Square and there are 5,000 people screaming your name and holding placards, that’s just weird. It’s hard to find a place for it in your brain that makes any sense. I’m not really comfortable in that sort of situation.” 

Biggerstaff grew up in Maryhill, the son of a fireman and a community worker. When he was 14, he was spotted in Scottish Youth Theatre by Alan Rickman, who was looking for two Scottish boys to cast in his film of Sharman Macdonald’s The Winter Guest. Rickman was so impressed that he asked his own agent to represent Biggerstaff, leading swiftly to his casting in Harry Potter. The films did bring some opportunities, he says, some of which he turned down. 

“I’ve always been fussier than I can afford to be. I don’t just want to do whatever it takes to be successful, I want to do what I consider to be good stuff. If I’m not engaged in something, it doesn’t matter what it is and who’s doing it.” 

He comes across as very grounded, choosing to base himself in Glasgow, playing guitar in Glasgow-band Wrongnote: “It’s good to have a foothold in reality, a base somewhere that’s always been a base. Sharman Macdonald once said she needs life to write, she can’t write if she’s just in theatre all the time. I’m the same way, I think. I’ve always felt that if my life was all about the job, I wouldn’t be so good at the job.” He pauses. “That might be unutterable w*** – but I have just uttered it!” 

Biggerstaff has been acclaimed in independent films, such as Cashback, directed by Sean Ellis, and spent part of last year in Switzerland making a film about Mary Queen of Scots. Does it irk him that he’s still known for Harry Potter? “You’ll never hear me whingeing about it because it was the biggest thing since The Beatles, and to be part of that was a really rare and unique privilege. But for me, it was two tiny five-minute parts I did when I was 17, 18 – and I’ve done tour de forces that no-one’s ever seen or remembers.” 

The “proudest moment” on his CV is Consenting Adults, a BBC4 movie about the Wolfenden Committee whose report, in the 1950s, led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Britain. Biggerstaff played Jeremy Wolfenden, the gay son of the committee chairman (played by Charles Dance). “He was a dream to play, and I had the feeling that we were documenting something that was genuinely important.” 

He doesn’t mention that he won a Scottish Bafta for the part. When I do, he looks sheepish. “Yeah. Uhuh. To be brutally honest, I like that people like it, but having a bit of metal on a mantelpiece doesn’t really make that any better. Awards are weird. I think giving actors awards is quite a silly business.” He stops, looking uncomfortable. “No offence to the people at Bafta Scotland, who I know and like.” 

 An Appointment with the Wicker Man marks his return to the stage for the first time since 2005 when he appeared in Sharman Macdonald’s The Girl with the Red Hair, at the Lyceum, and his first musical since his days in Scottish Youth Theatre. “That’s the interesting thing about being an actor. I would never think, ‘I want to do a musical,’ but I’m having a perfectly nice time. It’s a bit of a cheat – you can step in and get the thrill without actually having to put the years of slog in to be successful at it!” 

Source: Scotsman

 

Nice & Sleazy Open Mic: Sean Biggerstaff  
Sean Biggerstaff from Wrongnote performing in the basement bar at Nice N Sleazy's in Glasgow. The Acoustic Open Mic Night there every Monday is skilfully hosted by Gerry Lyons to create a friendly welcoming vibe - highly recommended as a night out. Of this performance, Sean says "the song is Serve You by the late Chris Whitley who is, subjectively, the greatest artist who ever lived. You should listen to him doing it!" 

 

Source: YouTube

Martin Compston: Filth and Piggy updates

Role to dye for 
Sweet Sixteen star Martin Compston is a real action hairo — as he sports a bleach blond 'mohican' on the set of new movie Filth. The 27-year-old, how he usually looks, below, showed off his barnet during a break in filming of the flick — based on a book by Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh — in Pollokshields, Glasgow.

The movie also features James McAvoy. Locks like it'll be a hit... 

Source: The Scottish Sun

 

Metrodome Secures U.K. and Irish Distribution for 'Piggy' 

Metrodome has penned U.K. and Ireland rights for Piggy, an intense U.K. thriller starring Paul Anderson. The British distributor, listed on the U.K. stock exchange, picked up the title during the EFM. Anderson stars alongside Martin Compston, Neil Maskell and Louise Dylan and the project is written and directed by Kieron Hawkes. 

It details the story of a young man whose brother's murder sends him into a downward spiral of violence and revenge. 

The deal was negotiated by head of acquisitions Joel Kennedy and U.K. producers Fulwell 73's Leo Pearlman. The film is being repped at the EFM by Genesis Film Sales. It is produced by Pearlman and Danny Potts. 

Source: Hollywood Reporter 

Also reported by Variety

The Decoy Bride: set visit and review

The Decoy Bride: a Scottish screwball comedy to savour 

This week a new comedy featuring two of Scotland’s biggest stars premières in Glasgow. Lee Randall visited the set during filming, and talked to its writer and director about their experiences.

Streamers fly from the towers of Caerlaverock Castle, and the walkway traversing its moat is draped in heraldic silks, the better to welcome a blushing bride and her groom. There’s a car parked outside surrounded by cameras and lights. David Tennant (Doctor Who), Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire), Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) and Sally Phillips (Miranda, Smack the Pony) scramble out of the car. Then get back in, and scramble out again – over and over and over. It is mind-numbingly boring for those not involved in the filming, and desperately stressful for those who are, not least because a line of clouds is slowly moving towards the bright blue overhead. When Macdonald loses a false eyelash, a triage team springs into action as swiftly as paramedics. 

Welcome to the set of Decoy Bride. It’s 2010, and a small group of media people have been invited to Dumfries and Galloway to watch the filming and grab a few minutes with some of the actors between takes. All profess to be delighted to talk, but they keep getting whisked away to perform, and Alice Eve (Sex and the City 2, Starter for Ten) is in a three-hour make-up session to transform her into an old hag. Every now and then locals assemble at a respectful distance, muttering, “Isn’t that Doctor Who?” Despite having handing in his TARDIS keys, Tennant – toweringly tall, reed thin, mind-blowingly cute – patiently stops for autographs and smiles for photos with awestruck kids. 

Movie-making is slow. So much time has now passed since that day that Tennant has married and fathered a daughter, Phillips has recently given birth to her third son, and Macdonald has all but relocated to the United States, enjoying the huge success of Boardwalk Empire, the series created by Martin Scorsese. The film’s script, co-authored by Phillips and Neil Jaworski, was begun seven years ago, when Phillips was pregnant with her first child. This time-frame, she assures me, is par for the course. 

 The Decoy Bride – which is finally released next month, with its première at the Glasgow Film Festival this Tuesday – is a joyous romp, a loving homage to the screwball comedies of the 1930s and 40s. It’s the story of “It Girl” actress Lara Tyler (Alice Eve), who falls in love with a best-selling novel, The Ornithologist’s Wife, and by extension, its author, James Arber (Tennant). After plans to marry in Paris are scuppered by the paparazzi, she decides they should trade vows on the “romantic” Hebridean island of Hegg, where his novel is set – blissfully unaware that her fiancé has never actually been there, and expecting to find every detail as recorded in the book. 

Read more at Scotsman

 

News or Rumour?  

Kelly MacDonald has been cast in “Queer” according to Coming Soon