Poldark remake for BBC One

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Robin Ellis played Poldark, alongside the late Angharad Rees as Demelza
This six episode reboot of the 70′s series was written by Debbie Horsfield. Set in late 18th century Cornwall, Ross Poldark returns home from war, looking forward to a joyful reunion with his family and his beloved Elizabeth. Instead he discovers his father has died, his home is overrun by livestock and drunken servants, and Elizabeth, believing Ross dead, is engaged to his cousin. Ross must start from scratch, forging a completely new path for his life – one that takes him in exciting, unexpected and hazardous directions. Mammoth Screen is producing with Polly Hill, Debbie Horsfield, Rebecca Keane, Karen Thrussell and Damien Timme serving as executive producers.

Courage, New Hampshire – May 27th (4 hr mini)

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Well 2013 has already been an amazing year for Colony Bay and for our groundbreaking period drama Courage, New Hampshire!

The show has attracted a huge grassroots audience and now, as many of you may know, Colony Bay has a national broadcast partner, INSP!  The Inspiration channel has a potential broadcast reach of 73 million viewers. Wahooo!

“We are very excited to make this announcement,” said INSP Senior VP of programming, Doug Butts. “Original scripted dramas are going to play a significant role in INSP’s future programming strategy. Courage, New Hampshire is an outstanding addition to our already strong programming line-up.”

“With the overwhelming success of period shows like Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, North & South, etc., audiences will find Courage, New Hampshire equally compelling,” Butts said. “Courage, New Hampshire fits perfectly with the INSP brand.”

INSP ranks among the fastest growing basic cable networks in America, and at Colony Bay, we are proud to now call it home for the holidays.

Humpty Dumpty

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Humpty Dumpty was a colloquial term used in fifteenth century England describing someone who was obese. This has given rise to various, but inaccurate, theories surrounding the identity of Humpty Dumpty. The image of Humpty Dumpty was made famous by the illustrations included in the ‘Alice through the looking glass’ novel by Lewis Carroll. However, Humpty Dumpty was not a person pilloried in the famous rhyme!

The History and Origins of the Rhyme
Humpty Dumpty was in fact believed to be a large cannon! It was used during the English Civil War (1642 – 1649) in the Siege of Colchester (13 Jun 1648 – 27 Aug 1648). Colchester was strongly fortified by the Royalists and was laid to siege by the Parliamentarians (Roundheads). In 1648 the town of Colchester was a walled town with a castle and several churches and was protected by the city wall. Standing immediately adjacent the city wall, was St Mary’s Church. A huge cannon, colloquially called Humpty Dumpty, was strategically placed on the wall next to St Mary’s Church. The historical events detailing the siege of Colchester are well documented – references to the cannon (Humpty Dumpty) are as follows:

June 15th 1648 – St Mary’s Church is fortified and a large cannon is placed on the roof which was fired by ‘One-Eyed Jack Thompson’

July 14th / July 15th 1648 – The Royalist fort within the walls at St Mary’s church is blown to pieces and their main cannon battery ( Humpty Dumpty) is destroyed.

August 28th 1648 – The Royalists lay down their arms, open the gates of Colchester and surrender to the Parliamentarians

A shot from a Parliamentary cannon succeeded in damaging the wall beneath Humpty Dumpty which caused the cannon to tumble to the ground. The Royalists, or Cavaliers, ‘all the King’s men’ attempted to raise Humpty Dumpty on to another part of the wall. However, because the cannon , or Humpty Dumpty, was so heavy ‘ All the King’s horses and all the King’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again!’ This had a drastic consequence for the Royalists as the strategically important town of Colchester fell to the Parliamentarians after a siege lasting eleven weeks. Earliest traceable publication 1810.

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First Look At NBC’s ‘Dracula’

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Upfronts 2013: First Look At NBC’s ‘Dracula’

By Patrick Munn

One of NBC’s numerous drama series for the 2013-2014 season is Dracula, a re-telling of the famous story which is being co-produced with the UK’s Sky Living. The drama hails from Cole Haddon and Carnival films and stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Want to know more about Dracula? TVWise presents a first look at the new series.

Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors) stars in this provocative new drama as one of the world’s most iconic characters. It’s the late 19th century and the mysterious Dracula (Rhys Meyers) has arrived in London, posing as an American entrepreneur who wants to bring modern science to Victorian society. He’s especially interested in the new technology of electricity, which promises to brighten the night — useful for someone who avoids the sun. But he has another reason for his travels: He hopes to take revenge on those who cursed him with immortality centuries earlier. Everything seems to be going according to plan… until he becomes infatuated with a woman who appears to be a reincarnation of his dead wife. Victoria Smurfit (About a Boy), Thomas Kretschmann (King Kong), Jessica De Gouw (Arrow), Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Mr. Selfridge), Nonso Anozie (Game of Thrones) and Katie McGrath (Merlin) also star.

NBC’s Trailer For Dracula Follows Below:

There is also a Dracula Film, starring Luke Evans, which debuts Aug 8, 2014

REIGN (2013 fall)

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Upfronts 2013: First Look At The CW’s ‘Reign’

Created by Stephanie Sengupta & Laurie McCarthy and produced by CBS Television Studios, Reign is one of a number of new drama series ordered by The CW for the 2013-2014 season. The series stars tells the previously unknown and untold story of Mary Queen of Scots’ rise to power when she arrives in France as a 15-year-old, betrothed to Prince Francis, and with her three best friends as ladies-in-waiting.  Want to know more about Reign? TVWise presents a first look at the new series.

Hidden between the lines of the history books is the story of Mary Stuart, the young woman the world would come to know as Mary, Queen of Scots. Queen of Scotland since she was six days old, the teenage Mary is already a headstrong monarch; beautiful, passionate, and poised at the very beginning of her tumultuous rise to power. Arriving in France with four close friends as her ladies-in-waiting, Mary has been sent to secure Scotland’s strategic alliance by formalizing her arranged engagement to the French king’s dashing son, Prince Francis. But the match isn’t signed and sealed, it depends more on politics, religion and secret agendas than affairs of the heart. Prince Francis is intrigued by the fiery Scot, but like most young men, he resists the idea of settling down into marriage, especially when he has a history with a lady of the court and his own point of view on the wisdom of an alliance with Scotland. Still, an attraction between Mary and Francis is ignited. Further complicating things is Bash, Francis’ roguish half-brother, who has a history of his own: despite his illegitimate birth, Bash is his father’s favorite. And now that Bash has caught Mary’s eye, a royal triangle may be forming. While at French Court, fierce foes and dark forces conspire to sabotage Mary’s marriage to Francis and even threaten her life, until a mysterious shrouded guide becomes her ally. With danger and sexual intrigue around every dark castle corner, Mary rallies her ladies-in-waiting and steels herself, ready to rule the new land and balance the demands of her country and her heart.

Dragon Pearl – An Adventure Film

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DragonPearl2013

THE DRAGON PEARL starring Sam Neill, Louis Corbett,  Jordan Chan….  Josh (Louis Corbett) and Ling (Li Lin Jin) thought they were in for a boring vacation with each of their parents at an archaeological dig in China. It turns into an adventure of a lifetime when they discover a mournful dragon trapped deep inside a mystical temple. According to ancient legend, the dragon is missing its life force, a sacred pearl that is hidden away in a secret chamber. Josh and Ling must battle evil forces (and some very skeptical parents) in their heart-stopping journey to return the magical pearl to its rightful owner.

 

 

Richard Madden will star as Cinderella’s Prince

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Disney Casts ‘Game of Thrones’ Actor as ‘Cinderella’s’ Prince

Richard Madden - P 2013
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Richard Madden

Richard Madden will star in the studio’s live-action pic opposite Lily James and Cate Blanchett.

Disney has found its prince in a Game of Thrones king.

Richard Madden, who plays Robb Stark on the HBO drama, has been cast in the studio’s upcoming live-action Cinderella.

The film, directed by Kenneth Branagh, stars Downton Abbey’s Lily James in the titular role and Cate Blanchett as her wicked stepmother.

The Cinderella project was set up at Disney in May 2010 in the wake of the studio’s success with Alice in Wonderland, the live-action adaptation of the Lewis C. Carroll book that starred Johnny Depp.