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Brian Watson's Daily Top 5 Picks: Friday

1. The Place Beyond The Pines stars Ryan Gosling as a stunt motorcyclist who turns to robbing banks to pay support for his illegitimate son and Bradley Cooper as the cop who becomes his deadly adversary. Fifteen years later their sons wind up at the same high school and the movie shapes up as an epic drama. Full marks to the teen actors Dane DeHaan and Emory Cohen but especially to Eva Mendes and Rose Byrne as their mothers.

2. Remember Bon Iver, the indie group whose eponymous second album enjoyed worldwide success two years ago and won two Grammy Awards? Many of their fans still prefer their first album, For Emma, Forever Ago (2008), which included their original version of “Skinny Love”. Imagine my surprise to find one of its tracks, “The Wolves (Act I and II)”, plays right through the end credits of The Place Beyond The Pines. The music supervisor certainly had good taste.

3. Another surprise this week was the name of Bart the Bear in the end credits of this week’s episode of Game of Thrones, “The Bear and the Maiden Fair”. Bart, an Alaskan Kodiak bear, appeared in many movies and TV shows before he died in 2000. This week’s Bart is another Alaskan Kodiak, born in 2000, raised by the same trainers, with a similarly long Hollywood career. If you haven’t already seen it, be prepared for his terrifying appearance in this week’s episode.

4. I’m excited about an ad on TEN for their upcoming show The Americans. A dozen or so episodes have been shown on the US FX network and the premise is intriguing. Keri Russell from Felicity and Matthew Rhys, who played the gay brother in Brothers & Sisters, are highly trained Russian KGB agents posing as a American couple in suburban Washington DC in the early 80s. Also in the cast are Richard Thomas, who won an Emmy as John-Boy in The Waltons, and Margo Martindale, who won an Emmy as the villain in season two of Justified. Critics say it’s a gripping spy thriller.

5. The Music Is You is a newly released tribute to John Denver. Artists including Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Amos Lee, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Dave Matthews perform his songs and the most successful tracks tend to be the biggest hits – some of the others are pretty forgettable. My favourite is “Leaving on a Jet Plane” with My Morning Jacket breathing fresh life into Peter, Paul and Mary’s hit.

Hansika Bhagani's Daily Top 5 Picks: Thursday

1. PolitiFact has launched in Australia, and in the lead-up to September's Federal election, is sure to get a workout. So far the site proves interesting reading, with some media commentators claiming some of the fact-checking is being selective. Find ex-SMH editor Peter Fray's new venture here.
2. Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution has gone global and this weekend there will be events to celebrate the chef's Food Revolution Day. You can participate by cooking and sharing your fresh homemade food at the Love Real Food Picnic at Centennial Park this Saturday. As the food revolution is all about fresh, homemade tucker – and being equipped to prepare it yourself – the organisers are challenging people to home-make "absolutely everything for their picnic loot – crackers, dips, thermos soups, salads, meats, home-made lemonades. EVERYTHING!! No packets."

3. It's taken eight long years but How I Met Your Mother has revealed the identity of Ted Moseby's wife and the "mother" of the series. Cristin Milioti showed her face for a fleeting minute in the season finale, buying a train ticket to Barney and Robin’s wedding in “Farhampton,” the show’s fanciful, fictitious stand-in for the East Hampton. Milioti will appear regularly next season, the show’s last, beginning in September.

4. The John Singleton/Gai Waterhouse saga has been given ample coverage in Sydney's daily papers but Four Corners on Monday night will be worth watching for exclusive insights and historical background. Marian Wilkinson reports on Four Corners, Monday at 8.30pm on ABC.

5. Head On Photo Festival opens tomorrow as part of Vivid Sydney. Head On is Australia's largest photo festival and the world's second largest festival. With over 200 events at 100 venues, the 2012 festival was a resounding success for everyone who participated: galleries and other venues, photographers, Head On partners and the viewing public and the 2013 festival is already looking like being even bigger!

Lauren Barripp's Daily Top 5 Picks: Wednesday

1. One by one, stars are arriving in the south of France for this year’s Cannes Film Festival, which is held from May 15-26. CEO of the invitation-only festival, Thierry Fremaux, describes the purpose of the event as a way to “draw attention to and raise the profile of films with the aim of contributing towards the development of cinema, boosting the film industry worldwide and celebrating cinema at an international level.” The president of the jury at this year’s event is director, Steven Spielberg.

2. Aussie comedian Rebel Wilson has landed herself her own TV series on the US Network ABC, called Super Fun Night. The series will revolve around three nerdy women friends on a "funcomfortable" quest to have "super fun" every Friday night. The show will be co-produced by Connan O’Brien.

3. Despite the predicted debut weekend sales of $US30 million, The Great Gatsby has outperformed expectations by taking $US51.1m on its opening weekend in more than 3500 cinemas across the United States. The movie, shot in Sydney, is directed by Baz Luhrmann and stars actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan.

4. The British Academy of Television and Film Arts Awards (also known as The BAFTAs) were held in London on Sunday night. Sheridan Smith won best actress for her role in Mrs Biggs, and my guilty pleasure, Made In Chelsea, won best reality or constructed factual show. As per any awards ceremony, the fashion stakes were high and as glamorous as ever, despite the typical wet British weather.

5. Olympic gold medallists and Celebrity Splash judges Matthew Mitcham and Greg Louganis will get a chance to show off their credentials as the pair have a chance to dive together during tonight’s grand finale which will air at 8.45pm on Channel 7.

 

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Monday
May142012

Duane Hatherly to lead LifeStyle for Foxtel

DateMay 14, 2012

Foxtel has announced Duane Hatherly has been appointed to the roles of General Manager, LifeStyle Channels and Head of Production, Foxtel effective from the completed acquisition of Austar by Foxtel, expected in late May.
Foxtel Executive Director of Television, Brian Walsh, said: “This is a well deserved promotion for Duane, an outstanding television executive who has demonstrated impressive qualities as a manager and an architect of channels in the general entertainment genre. He is an exceptional leader and has mentored many under his charge.
“Put simply, we could not have achieved the success we enjoy today without Duane's passion and commitment to Foxtel and Subscription Television.”
Hatherly began his career with Foxtel in July 1996, shortly after the company began operations. His tenure has seen him work across many broadcast divisions, including graphics, creative services, production and channel management. He was appointed to the role of Channel Manager for FOX8 in September 2004 and has led the channel to brilliant, top-rating success since. Over the last five years he has managed numerous channels including Bio, Arena, The Comedy Channel and 111 HITS.
In 2007 he began overseeing local productions acting as Foxtel executive producer on series such as Australia’s Next Top Model, Project Runway Australia, Rove LA, Dating in the Dark Australia, The Contender, SLiDE and Cricket Superstar.
Walsh continued: “I know Duane will continue to inspire as he leads the team at the LifeStyle channels, and I am especially delighted he will continue to direct the creative execution of all our local productions in his additional role as Head of Production, overseeing the productions for the combined new group.”
Hatherly said: “I am honoured to be given this exciting opportunity. Over the years The LifeStyle Channels have built an incredible brand in this country and their franchises continue to achieve stunning success. They are clear market leaders and I am looking forward to working alongside the group of talented people who have driven such amazing results.”
Further executive and structure announcements will be made following the completion of the sale of Austar to Foxtel.
Source: Foxtel

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