Television news: Aussie Oscar duo out as Academy names new producers for 2017
New blood for Oscars
Australian television producer David Hill and American filmmaker Reginald Hudlin are out as Oscar producers, replaced by producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed De Luca and Todd would produce the 89th annual Academy Awards, planned for February, 2017. Hill, who is a former chief of Fox Sports, and Hudlin had tried to bring storytelling to the Oscar telecast, and to cut the amount of time spent with long speeches. De Luca and Todd said they were "deeply honoured" to be producing the film industry's night of nights.
Q&A special edition
The industry lobby group Screen Producers Australia will stage a second special edition of Q&A, tied to SPA's annual Screen Forever conference in Melbourne. The special edition will be hosted by radio broadcaster Virginia Trioli and will feature industry experts tackling issues facing Australia's production sector. The lineup includes Hoodlum's Tracey Robertson, Ten general manager Russel Howcroft, film producer Bruna Papandrea, Playmaker's David Taylor and screenwriter Benjamin Law. Screen Forever runs from November 15-17 at the Crown Conference Centre in Melbourne. For more information, see screenforever.org.au.
Australian Ninja Warrior host Rebecca Maddern with contestants, husband and wife team Zac and Amanda. Credit:Steven Siewert
Maddern takes on Ninja Warrior
Nine has named The Footy Show's Rebecca Maddern as host of its local adaptation of the life competition series Ninja Warrior. The format, which is based on the Japanese television series Sasuke, sees competitors traverse an obstacle course. The US version is nine years old and, to date, only two competitors have successfully completed the course. Nine is describing the local version as "the ultimate television event to hit our screens in 2017". Nine says it has had 3000 applications for the series and culled that to a list of 250 competitors. Australian Ninja Warrior will be produced by Endemol Shine Australia for the Nine Network and will launch in 2017.
Scandi noir's rising Sun
SBS has fast-tracked its new acquisition, the Swedish crime thriller Midnattssol (Midnight Sun) and will launch the series on its SBS on Demand service on December 1. The series, which is produced by the team behind the iconic Scandi noir series The Bridge, was one of the hottest properties at this year's Mipcom television market, held last month in Cannes, France. Midnight Sun stars French actress Leila Bekhti and Swedish actor Gustaf Hammarsten; they play investigators delving into a crime in the small Arctic town of Kiruna, where the sun does not set. The series will air on SBS in early 2017.
David Hill on the red carpet ready to bring the world the Oscars in 2016.Credit:Coleman-Rayner
Michael Idato is a Senior Writer based in Los Angeles for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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