September 2010 Archives   Spartacus on Itunes + Extras Included By MaryD on September 22, 2010 7:19 AM Spartacus Blood and Sand DVD and Blu Ray is being released today including on Itunes - see the screen capture attached. Click on the image for the larger pic There are three extras you get on Itunes - Behind the Scenes - 14.54 minutes - Spartacus Kill or Be Killed A collection of Spartacus' greatest hits (as well as cuts, slashes, chops and rips. With exclusive commentary from the series producers and cast - 15:46 minutes - Spartacus A Legend Re-Imagined - 4:03 minutes Click here to access the Itunes version (ONLY AVAILABLE TO US ITUNES CUSTOMERS) Star's Loss Raises Question Over Spartacus Series By MaryD on September 21, 2010 8:08 AM This is an interesting article about how much the show costs to produce. Wellington, Sept 20 NZPA - The withdrawal of British actor Andy Whitfield from playing title role in the proposed second season of US cable television show Spartacus has raised questions over future plans for the TV series, which has contributed millions of dollars to Auckland's movie-making industry. "The future of Starz's Spartacus series is now in doubt," reported an industry website which specialises in news on ending television series, tvseriesfinale.com. Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in March and, after treatment, was declared cancer-free in May. He was training hard to get back into filming, but has now been advised by his doctors to resume aggressive treatments immediately. In a statement, Whitfield said: "It's with a deep sense of disappointment that I must step aside from such an exceptional project as Spartacus and all the wonderful people involved." Spartacus was renewed for a second season even before the first started airing, but when filming of the second season was postponed so Whitfield could undergo treatment, Starz ordered a prequel called Spartacus: Gods of the Arena which focuses on co-stars Lucy Lawless and John Hannah. Whitfield was supposed to return to shoot Spartacus next month, but Starz Media managing director Carmi Zlotnik, said: "We will address our programming plans at some later date." The prequel is still filming in west Auckland and will screen in the United States in January. The second series which has been contracted was expected to air next September. Reuters reported the first series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, cost more than $US2.74 million ($NZ3.76m) for each of the 13 hour-long episodes filmed over 149 days from March 31 last year. Though Spartacus benefited from New Zealand rebates of 20 percent of what was spent here, executive producer Rob Tapert -- who along with Sam Raimi produced the cult hit Xena: Warrior Princess -- admitted at one stage he had to ask Starz for more money. That first series was the highest-rated show on cable in the coveted adult audience aged 18-49 years on 12 of its 13 Friday screenings. The series features Whitfield as the title character, a Thracian fighting to return to his wife after being sold into slavery at a gladiatorial school, run by the deceptive Lucretia (Lawless) and her power-hungry husband Batiatus (Hannah). The show also features New Zealand actors Antonio Te Maioha, Manu Bennett and Craig Parker. Source Send A Message of Support To Andy By MaryD on September 19, 2010 6:51 PM As we have all read, Andy Whitfield has been stricken once again with cancer resulting in needing treatment and bowing out of Season 2 of Spartacus. This page has been set up to provide a way for fans to leave their support to Andy. Lesley-Ann Brandt (Naevia) will be taking these messages with her when she goes to see Andy and his family in a week’s time. I’m quite sure Andy knows how much the fans love him but your words of encouragement will help him through the difficult times ahead. Please leave your message below. If you would like to send Andy a video message, please post on YouTube and post a link to the YouTube site. All messages will be moderated. Once again this site will be up for a week so Sunday to Sunday 26 September 2010. Lesley-Ann will take the messages with her and present them to Andy. Click here to leave message Please spread this message far and wide; let's show how much we love Andy! More Photos of Lucy and Rob at the ITM Fishing Awards 28 August 2010 By MaryD on September 17, 2010 7:47 PM As reported back on 2 September 2010 Lucy and Rob went to the ITM Fishing Media Awards 2010 in NZ on 28 August 2010. Rob is very a passionate fisherman. The Fishing Media Awards will be televised in New Zealand on TV3 on 30 October at 5:00 pm.   Photo Link #1 Photo Link #2   There are now two more pictures of Lucy and Rob (in addition to the photos below) You can purchase pictures taken of Lucy and Rob. The photos were taken by PORTRAIT PHOTOS - Jess Burges - Exposure Photographics. To purchase, email: jess@exposurenz.co.nz $15 each for 5x7 + $2.00 p/p Click on the thumbnail to take you to the larger image on their Facebook page. Click here to view album and purchase pics   The following report is from Voxy.co.nz with a Lucy and Rob quote: Inaugural Fishing Awards Shuns Glitz Fishing isn't regarded as the most glamorous vocation in the world, but the stars came out to walk the red carpet for the inaugural ITM Fishing Media Awards at the Copthorne Hotel & Resort in the Bay of Islands recently. The flashy evening was put together by Matt Watson and his ITM Fishing Show team to mark their 150th episode. "We have been to many different award shows over the years. The ITM fishing show awards were without a doubt the funniest, most enjoyable evening's worth of award presentation entertainment we have ever attended. Matt and the team presented a top notch show that perfectly highlighted their fantastic series". "We are eagerly awaiting the second annual ITM Fishing Media Awards." LUCY LAWLESS & ROB TAPPERT (sic) I've sat through some boring awards nights with wanky speeches and out of control egos over the years, but the ITM fishing media awards was a breath of fresh air, real awards, real people...what a night... I even got to meet Lucy Lawless... she is a hottie. ROGER FARRELLY - The Rock The ITM Fishing Media Awards will screen as an hour long feature on TV3 Saturday October 30 at 5.00pm. Related Articles - Rob and Lucy in Herald on Sunday 05 September 2010 Reported by Barbara Davies ‘Spartacus’ Creator Says Viewers See More on Disc By MaryD on September 16, 2010 8:27 AM ‘Spartacus’ Creator Says Viewers See More on Disc - Home Media Magazine If there’s one advantage to TV series on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” creator and executive producer Steven S. DeKnight said it’s that all the gore and nudity cut to make episodes work for TV get put right back in. “The sexual content especially was a little too much for Starz,” he said. “Look for more orgy scenes and a gladiator with a large endowment.” Fans of the series will find that and a lot more when Anchor Bay Entertainment releases the first season of the series on DVD ($59.97) and Blu-ray Disc ($79.97) Sept. 21. “We have a ton of bonus features — lots of on-the-set stuff, a commentary with almost every episode,” Knight said. “I’m most excited to see it in 1080p.” The DVD and Blu-ray sets will both have featurettes about the history behind “Spartacus,” make-up effects, actors training to be gladiators, along with the commentaries, episodes with enhanced digital effects, bloopers and trailers. The Blu-ray gets an exclusive four “Director’s Cut Extended Episodes,” selected by executive producer Rob Tapert. “For those scenes cut, sometimes it’s just because of pacing or we had too much footage,” DeKnight said. “A lot of the way the show looks is because of Rob.” Besides the added gore and violence, DVD and Blu-ray also give people who’ve missed episodes a chance to watch them all concurrently. “Each episode got better as the season went along, and we picked up more viewers along the way,” DeKnight said. While Knight praised all the actors in the series, he saved special praise for the man who plays Spartacus himself, Andy Whitfield. The actor was treated for Stage 1 non-Hodgkin lymphoma earlier this year. “We looked high and low to find Spartacus,” DeKnight said. “We were lucky to find him.” Source The Evil Dead Blu-Ray - Chance To Win Editions By MaryD on September 8, 2010 7:01 AM Anchor Bay is teaming with CraveOnline to give five lucky readers the chance to win newly-released editions of both Evil Dead and Hatchet on Blu-ray. Evil Dead, Sam Raimi's iconic classic was just released on Blu-ray August 31st! The new edition features two brand-new hi-def transfers personally supervised and approved by Sam Raimi and an all-new audio commentary featuring Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert and Bruce Campbell. Also included is a Limited Edition DVD packed with 3 hours of original bonus features! Hatchet, the 2006 slasher film, will be presented in an HD unrated director's cut that features an all-new audio commentary with writer/director Adam Green and Victor Crowley himself, Kane Hodder! To enter the contest, simply send an e-mail to silas.lesnick@craveonline.com with EVIL DEAD/HATCHET CONTEST in the header before September 15th. Be sure to include your full mailing address. Limit one entry per person. Rob and Lucy in Herald on Sunday 05 September 2010 By MaryD on September 5, 2010 5:32 PM The Herald on Sunday newspaper today (05 September 2010) has a photo of Lucy and Rob attending the ITM Fishing Awards on 28 August 2010. They wrongly describe Lucy has not knowing anything about fishing (Lucy is a keen fisherman). Rob and Lucy both attended the awards and Lucy presented an award. The Fishing Media Awards will be televised in New Zealand on TV3 on 30 October at 5:00 pm. Click on the thumbnail for the larger scan You can purchase pictures taken of Lucy and Rob from this event (not the photo above). The photos were taken by PORTRAIT PHOTOS - Jess Burges - Exposure Photographics. To purchase, email: jess@exposurenz.co.nz $15 each for 5x7 + $2.00 p/p * Lucy Photos from The ITM Fishing Media Awards 2010 - Award Presentation * Lucy & Rob at The ITM Fishing Media Awards 2010 on 28 August 2010 Spartacus Season 1 Episode 4 The Thing in the Pit - Edited Version By MaryD on September 5, 2010 2:32 PM Spartacus Season 1 Episode 4 The Thing in the Pit. Edited Australian Version Reviewed by MaryD Having performed shamefully in the arena against Crixus, Spartacus is forced to fight in the Pits. Batiatus, determined to profit from Spartacus, may be at risk if his debts aren’t repaid. Here are my thoughts of the episode. I didn't review the unedited version way back in Feb so I don't have notes to compare this version with that but I'm going from memory (please correct me if I'm wrong) Read Review In A Time of Ancient Gods, Warlords and Kings.... By MaryD on September 5, 2010 8:44 AM In A Time of Ancient Gods, Warlords and Kings.... Written by MaryD In the time of ancient Gods, Warlords and Kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero...and we found her..actually we found two of them! The story goes back to March 1995 and not September 1995. It goes back to a time of gods and kings and to the legendary Hercules. Xena was born on Hercules on 13 March 1995. We all know what happened; we know the history but because I'm writing a 15 year tribute...we go down memory lane. Read More Lucy & Rob at The ITM Fishing Media Awards 2010 on 28 August 2010 By MaryD on September 2, 2010 7:26 PM Lucy and Rob went to the ITM Fishing Media Awards 2010 in NZ on 28 August 2010. Rob is very a passionate fisherman. The Fishing Media Awards will be televised in New Zealand on TV3 on 30 October at 5:00 pm. You can purchase pictures taken of Lucy and Rob. The photos were taken by PORTRAIT PHOTOS - Jess Burges - Exposure Photographics. To purchase, email: jess@exposurenz.co.nz $15 each for 5x7 + $2.00 p/p Click on the thumbnail to take you to the larger image on their Facebook page. The following report is from Voxy.co.nz with a Lucy and Rob quote: Inaugural Fishing Awards Shuns Glitz Fishing isn't regarded as the most glamorous vocation in the world, but the stars came out to walk the red carpet for the inaugural ITM Fishing Media Awards at the Copthorne Hotel & Resort in the Bay of Islands recently. The flashy evening was put together by Matt Watson and his ITM Fishing Show team to mark their 150th episode. "We have been to many different award shows over the years. The ITM fishing show awards were without a doubt the funniest, most enjoyable evening's worth of award presentation entertainment we have ever attended. Matt and the team presented a top notch show that perfectly highlighted their fantastic series". "We are eagerly awaiting the second annual ITM Fishing Media Awards." LUCY LAWLESS & ROB TAPPERT (sic) I've sat through some boring awards nights with wanky speeches and out of control egos over the years, but the ITM fishing media awards was a breath of fresh air, real awards, real people...what a night... I even got to meet Lucy Lawless... she is a hottie. ROGER FARRELLY - The Rock The ITM Fishing Media Awards will screen as an hour long feature on TV3 Saturday October 30 at 5.00pm. Reported by Barbara Davies and Julie H Spartacus DVD & Blu Ray Promo Video - Behind The Scenes By MaryD on September 1, 2010 9:03 AM Hot off the presses from Starz/Anchor Bay is a video promoting the Spartacus DVD & Blu-Ray release with a brief look at the extras   Read More Archives