Category: science fiction

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films popular culture science fiction TV

Good films

The secret river

How good do the previews look for this 2 part historical drama coming soon to the ABC? Adapted from the excellent book by Kate Grenville (shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize); directed by Daina Reid (Paper giants; Never tear us apart); stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Sarah Snook (who was amazing in the awesome sci-fi film Predestination) and Tim Minchin (always excellent). Convict  William Thornhill and his free wife Sal are transported to NSW in 1805, where conflict arises between the new settlers and local indigenous people and Thornhill is drawn into an horrific event that will change him forever. “The Secret River  is an epic tragedy in which a good man is compelled by desperation, fear, ambition and love for his family to participate in a crime of inhuman savagery. It allows an audience, two hundred years later, to have a personal insight into the dark heart of our nation’s foundation story” (Richard Finlayson, ABC).

https://abccommercial.com/contentsales/program/secret-river

 

Ex machina

Sci-fi thriller in cinemas now. Directed by author and screenwriter Alex Garland (The beach); stars Domhnall Gleeson and Alicia Vikander. A young programmer wins a competition to spend a week at a private retreat owned by the mysterious CEO of his company. He must then participate in an experiment interacting with and evaluating the human qualities of a beautiful female robot, to prove that AI (artificial intelligence) has been born. “Stylish, elegant, tense, cerebral, satirical and creepy” (Dan Jolin, Empire). Rated MA15+.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/

Review: http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/25/ex-machina-review-mark-kermode-alex-garland-vikander

 

Me and Earl and the dying girl

Comedy-drama based on the 2012 debut novel by Jesse Andrews. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon; stars Thomas Mann and Olivia Cooke. The film premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival to a standing ovation, winning the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award. Awkward high school student Greg befriends Rachel, a classmate with leukemia. He and his friend Earl make films in their spare time and decide to make a film for her. “Anyone who buys a ticket goes in fully expecting to cry….the surprise then is the laughter: the near-constant stream of wise, insightful jokes that make it so easy to cozy up to characters dealing with a tough emotional situation” (Peter Debruge, Variety). Opens June in the US.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582496/

http://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/sundance-film-review-me-and-earl-and-the-dying-girl-1201414455/

 

Tomorrowland

Sci-fi mystery adventure. Directed by Brad Bird; stars George Clooney, Hugh Laurie and Tim McGraw. An intelligent curious girl and a jaded inventor embark on a mission to unearth Tomorrowland, a place that exists in their collective memory. What they must do there changes them and the world forever. Plot details are sketchy, just the way Disney planned it, and no reviews are yet available. Intriguing…Rated PG. Opens 28 May.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1964418/

 

Absolutely anything

Sci-fi comedy. Directed and co-written by Terry Jones; stars Simon Pegg, Kate Beckinsale and the voices of all living Monty Python members – Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Eric Idle and also Robin Williams as the voice of Dennis the dog (sadly his last role). A disillusioned schoolteacher suddenly finds he has the ability to do anything he wants – an ability given to him by a group of power-crazed aliens (the Pythons) who watch him from space. Opens 22 October.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727770/

http://deadline.com/2015/04/monty-python-simon-pegg-robin-williams-comedy-absolutely-anything-1201413547/

 

Looking forward to seeing Matilda in Sydney, the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, based on the book by Roald Dahl with songs by the awesome Tim Minchin. “Gleefully nasty, an evening of unadulterated bliss” (The Guardian). “Easily the standout musical of the decade” (Sunday Times). “Hilarious, moving, glorious” (Daily Telegraph). And Les Miserables was superb.

http://au.matildathemusical.com/

http://www.lesmis.com.au/#

 

And then there’s Mad Max: Fury Road and The Avengers: Age of Ultron….too hard!

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150514-does-mad-max-take-it-to-the-max

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/15/movies/review-mad-max-fury-road-still-angry-after-all-these-years.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/avengers-age-of-ultron/review/

Categories
books films literature science fiction

Good novels for high school: Choices for English

Helen Sykes and Deb McPherson present regularly at conferences and are the authors of the popular book Choices for English: books, films and other texts that work (Cengage, 2009). An English teacher friend attended their presentation last November at the English Teachers Association of NSW Conference. They provided an excellent list of books for high school English classes – including plays, narrative apps, Shakespeare, picture books, graphic novels, poetry, historical fiction, alternative futures, thriller and fantasy, cross-curricular perspectives and stories of WW1.

 

Friend’s recommendations:

Man made boy by Jon Skovron – inventive and original offbeat romance and coming-of-age story about Boy, the child of Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride, who lives with his parents in a secret enclave in New York populated by other well-known monsters and freaks who perform for the public. Boy is also a hacker extraordinaire who lets loose his own monster. Exciting and humorous with many intertextual references. This book has great reviews – I want to read it!

 

We were liars by E. Lockhart – Yr 10+; unreliable teenage narrator; set in the wealthy US summer playground of Martha’s Vineyard. High interest for Yrs 9-10 with a clever plot and shock ending.

 

Shellshock by Justin Fleming – a play involving a turtle smuggled from Gallipoli that lives for 100 years. Good for Yrs 7-10.

 

Patient 12 by Kevin Summers –  comatose WW1 patient; a powerful examination of war and its effects on people (only 36 p.)

 

Book by John Agard – the history of written communications in autobiographical form, told by a book. Good as a Biography/Autobiography text.

 

Recommended class sets

The First Voyage by Allan Baillie. Penguin, 2014.

Joyous and Moonbeam by Richard Yaxley. Omnibus Books, 2013.

Loyal Creatures by Morris Gleitzman. Viking, 2014.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. Headline, 2014. (I really enjoyed this; great for Year 9+).

Razorhurst by Justine Larbalestier. Allen & Unwin, 2014.

Refuge by Jackie French. HarperCollins, 2013.

The Ship Kings series by Andrew McGahan. Allen & Unwin.

The Wall: A Modern Fable by William Sutcliffe. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. Allen & Unwin, 2014.

Wildlife by Fiona Wood. Pan Macmillan, 2013.

 

All the recommendations with detailed reviews:

 

Choices for English – Part 1:

http://helensykesreader.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/choices-for-english-etansw-conference.html

 

Choices for English – Part 2:

http://helensykesreader.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/choices-for-english-etansw-conference_9.html

 

NSW HSC Area of Study: Discovery – some related texts:

http://helensykesreader.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/nsw-hsc-area-of-study-discovery-some.html

Categories
films human rights popular culture science fiction Science resources

Good films

Some good films – excellent for sci-fi, physics, sociology, psychology, history and just for fun…

 

Interstellar

Currently screening. Directed by Christopher Nolan (Inception, Batman, The Prestige). Stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine. A team of explorers and scientists leave a resource-depleted Earth and travel through a wormhole in search of a new habitable planet. Physicist Kip Thorne, an expert in Einstein’s general theory of relativity, was the scientific consultant and executive producer, ensuring that depictions of wormholes and relativity were as accurate as possible. Computer effects artists based the visual effects on Thorne’s equations and their work provided Thorne with new insight into black holes that will lead to 2 scientific papers (one in astrophysics; one in computer graphics). Music score by Hans Zimmer.

4 and a half stars from David and 3 from Margaret. David: “…a tremendously exciting space adventure …and also a rich and thoughtful meditation on time and space and gravity”.

“Brainy, barmy and beautiful to behold … a mind-bending opera of space and time with a soul wrapped up in all the science” (James Dyer – Empire mag).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_(film)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816692/

https://interstellar.withgoogle.com/

 

The imitation game

Directed by Morten Tyldum. Stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley. Adapted from the novel Alan Turing: the enigma by Andrew Hodges. Based on the true story of English mathematician, logician and computer scientist Alan Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Bletchley Park, who helped crack the German Enigma code during WW2. As well as being a espionage thriller, the film follows  Turing’s life from school until his untimely death and how he was forced to hide his homosexuality. Opens 1 Jan 2015. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/?ref_=tt_rec_tt

Viewers are impressed, especially with Cumberbatch – an Oscar-worthy film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/reviews?ref_=tt_urv

 

Turing is credited as being the inventor of the digital computer, his body of work helped form the basis for artificial intelligence and he made major contributions to cognitive science, artificial life and mathematics. Turing’s story is tragic – in 1952 he was arrested and tried for homosexuality, which was then a criminal offence, and lost his security clearance. He was sentenced to 12 months of hormone “therapy” to “treat” his homosexuality and died in 1954, probably by suicide. Prime Minister Gordon Brown officially apologised in 2009 and Queen Elizabeth issued a formal pardon in 2013. The government however, will not provide posthumous pardons for the other 49 000 men also sentenced under the law.

http://www.alanturing.net/

http://www.turing.org.uk/

http://www.theguardian.com/science/alan-turing

 

Particle fever

Directed by Mark Levinson, the documentary was shot over 7 years. It follows the inside story of 6 physicists at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland and their discovery of the elusive Higgs boson –  the last undetected particle predicted by the Big Bang Theory. Reviewers have praised the film for making theoretical arguments comprehensible and for making scientific experiments thrilling – and for making particle physicists seem human! Women physicists also feature strongly. Opens 27 Nov 2014. 5 stars from the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/05/movies/particle-fever-tells-of-search-for-the-higgs-boson.html

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/particle_fever/

 

The 100 best sci-fi movies

An excellent site – chosen by sci-fi experts, filmmakers, sci-fi writers, film critics and scientists. Includes a summary, best quote, big idea and trailer for each film, with comments from the experts and other contributors. Good site for a class discussion on the top 10 etc Here’s some from the top 10 – Blade runner, Brazil, Metropolis, 2001, The terminator, Alien,  Star wars. Maybe you can guess #1? But Iron Man at #70?!

http://www.timeout.com/london/film/the-100-best-sci-fi-movies

Quick list: http://www.timeout.com/london/film/the-100-best-sci-fi-movies-full-list

 

Superhero comic book movies from now till 2019!

Superhero films with many crossover characters will fill cinemas over the next 5 years. Marvel/Disney has announced 9 movies and Warner/DC Comics has announced 10 interlinked superhero films. Get ready for Captain America 3, Ant-Man, Dr Strange, Thor 3, Black Panther, The Avengers 3, Batman vs Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash..…Includes Inhumans  – descendants of prehistoric genetic experiments who have lived apart from humans ever since using their own advanced technologies. Warner Bros also announced 3 Lego movies and 3 Harry Potter spinoffs – based on J.K. Rowling’s novella Fantastic beasts and where to find them. She is also writing the screenplays. Who will knock The Avengers and The Dark Knight from the top of the superhero box office charts?

http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/oct/30/superhero-comic-book-movies-cinemas

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-bros-announces-10-dc-741008

Categories
geography and global resources science fiction Science resources

How many things live on Earth?

RiAus

RiAus is Australia’s national science hub, promoting public awareness and understanding of science. Their email newsletter always has interesting user-friendly updates in the world of science: http://riaus.org.au/

 

“In 2011 the human population surpassed 7 billion people, but how does that compare to other animal species?

The combined population of our home planet is almost impossible to quantify. While the human population is in the billions, bacterial species measure in the quadrillion quadrillions!”

3 minute video: http://bit.ly/1ge4Jnc

Global Populations

RiAus have included some useful links:

Current World Population – Statistics from Worldometer

Population Fact Sheets – Fact sheets by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs

How many people have ever lived on Earth – Article from the Population Reference Bureau

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – Lists from International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

Endangered Species Population Number – http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/endangered-species/endangered-species-population-numbers/3596

Farm Animal Populations Continue to Grow – Article from World Watch Institute

 

The science of Doctor Who

RiAUS are also presenting this fun & interactive stage show (BYOD) around Australia from April to June 2014. Investigate time travel and teleportation, discover how the Tardis can be bigger on the inside and find out if regeneration is really possible.

http://riaus.org.au/doctorwho/?utm_source=newsletter20140411&utm_medium=newsletter20140411&utm_campaign=newsletter20140411

The universes of Doctor Who: http://riaus.org.au/articles/universes-doctor/

Categories
films human rights science fiction

Good films coming up

Some good current and future films that support various curriculum areas….

Hunger Games 2: catching fire

Critics say it is far superior to the first – a darker, more mature film. Katniss and Peeta are targeted by the Capitol after a rebellion in Panem. Director: Francis Lawrence. Stars Jennifer Lawrence. The finale will be in 2 parts – Nov 2014 and Nov 2015. Out now. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951264/ Review: http://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-the-hunger-games-catching-fire-1200820552/#

Blackfish

Documentary and psychological thriller about the consequences of keeping wild animals in captivity – a powerful and moving film that examines the case of Tilikum the killer whale at SeaWorld, who has been involved in 3 deaths since his capture in 1983. The film presents a solid case for the end of animal exploitation. Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite. Out now. http://www.sbs.com.au/films/movie/14822/blackfish http://www.theguardian.com/film/movie/155585/blackfish

Mr Pip

Based on the acclaimed novel by Lloyd Jones. Director: Andrew Adamson. Stars Hugh Laurie. Music by Tim Finn. Set in Bougainville in the late 1980s during the dispute between PNG separatists and foreign mining interests. A white man reluctantly accepts the role of community schoolteacher, where much of his curriculum is centred on reading aloud from the novel Great Expectations. The power of its prose has fateful implications for the future of all on the island. “A song of praise for the power (and danger) of literature” – Susan Wyndham, SMH. Out now. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/review/movie/mr-pip-20131104-2wxia.html The book: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/543873.Mister_Pip

Ender’s game

Based on the acclaimed novel by Orson Scott Card. Director: Gavin Hood. Stars Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield. A young boy is recruited by a military academy to help save the human race. I saw the film this week – it was quite powerful with lots of themes to discuss – suitable for age 10+ and high school. Opens 5 Dec.   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1731141/

The hobbit: the desolation of Smaug

The 2nd instalment in The hobbit trilogy. Director: Peter Jackson. Stars Martin Freeman. Bilbo, Gandalf and the dwarves continue their quest to reclaim their homeland from Smaug the dragon. They should be all right though, they seem indestructible! Opens 26 Dec. http://www.thehobbitblog.com/

Saving Mr Banks

Director: John Lee Hancock. Stars Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks. A behind-the-scenes look at the making of Disney’s 1964 film Mary Poppins, revealing the tension between author P.L Travers and Walt Disney, and their differing views on how the novel should be interpreted. Opens 26 Dec. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140373/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Review: http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/review/a521772/saving-mr-banks-review-tom-hanks-emma-thompson-make-mary-poppins.html

In 2014 and later…

Mandela: long walk to freedom

Based on the autobiography of Nelson Mandela. Chronicles Mandela’s life from his childhood to his election as president of South Africa. Director: Justin Chadwick. Stars Idris Elba. This will be a powerful and informative film – the trailer looks great. It received an unprecedented 8 minute standing ovation at the Toronto Film Festival. Opens Jan 2014. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2304771/ http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/05/showbiz/mandela-movie-long-walk-freedom/index.html

12 years a slave

Based on the 1853 book by Solomon Northup and his fight for survival, dignity and freedom. As a free black man from upstate New York, he was abducted in 1841 and sold into slavery in southern USA. After 12 years, he was freed after official intervention and related his story, which was then published. Director: Steve McQueen. Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt. Musical score: Hans Zimmer. Opens 30 Jan. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024544/

Review – “An essential look at man’s inhumanity to man”: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/12-years-slave-movie-review-article-1.1488866

Book – public domain, free online, including audiobook: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Years_a_Slave

Divergent

Based on the popular sci-fi novel by Veronica Roth, part of a trilogy. In post-apocalyptic Chicago, people are divided into 5 factions based on their personalities & virtues. A young woman discovers that she is Divergent and does not fit into any one faction. Can she stop the sinister plot brewing in this “perfect” society? Director: Neil Burger. Stars Shailene Woodley and Kate Winslet. Opens 20 March. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840309/

I, Frankenstein

Based on the graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux. Frankenstein’s creature, an intelligent evolved man (?!), is caught up in the modern world in a centuries old war between 2 immortal clans. Written & directed by Stuart Beattie. Stars Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy. Opens 27 Feb. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1418377/

Maleficent

Dark fantasy – the tale of Sleeping Beauty, told from the perspective of the evil sorceress Maleficent. Why did she put the curse on Princess Aurora? Director: Robert Stromberg. Stars Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning. Opens June 2014. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/first-look-angelina-jolie-as-maleficent-in-reworking-of-sleeping-beauty-myth-20131113-2xgkp.html

The giver

Based on the dystopian novel by Lois Lowry, winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal. In a seemingly perfect society without conflict or suffering, a young boy is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory and to learn from an elderly man – The Giver. As he learns the truth about his world’s past, he discovers the power of knowledge and faces difficult choices about his future. Director: Phillip Noyce. Stars Jeff Bridges, Katie Holmes, Meryl Streep. Opens late 2014.   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435651/

The book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Giver

Interstellar

Based on the theories of physicist Kip Thorne – a new intriguing sci-fi film co-written by Christopher & Jonathan Nolan. Director: Christopher Nolan. Stars: Matt Damon, Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway. A group of explorers travel through a wormhole and alternate dimensions, to the furthest reaches of our scientific understanding. Yay more Timey Wimey stuff! Opens Nov 2014. http://www.interstellar-movie.com/ http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=38606

Into the woods

Musical fantasy film based on the Broadway musical. In the world of Grimm’s fairy tales, a witch decides to teach important lessons to various fairy tale characters. Director: Rob Marshall. Stars Meryl Streep as the witch; Johnny Depp as the Big Bad Wolf, Emily Blunt as The Baker’s Wife. Opens Dec 2014.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Woods_(film)

Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

Based on the classic 1972 book by Judith Viorst. 11 year old Alexander experiences the most terrible day of his life but eventually learns that he is not alone. Stars Steve Carrell and Jennifer Garner. Opens Oct 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_and_the_Terrible,_Horrible,_No_Good,_Very_Bad_Day_(film)

Paddington

Live action film based on the books by Michael Bond about the lovable young bear from Peru who travels to London in search of a home and is adopted by the Brown family. Director: Paul King. Stars Colin Firth (as the voice of Paddington), Peter Capaldi, Julie Walters, Matt Lucas, Jim Broadbent and Nicole Kidman as an evil taxidermist. Opens Dec 2014. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1109624/ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nicole-kidman-grins-and-bears-her-evil-role-in-the-paddington-bear-movie/story-fni0cx12-1226753784881

Categories
geography and global resources Indigenous resources popular culture science fiction sociology TV

Good TV programs

Some great TV programs that support many areas of the curriculum….

Doctor Who 50th anniversary special: The day of the Doctor
ABC1 Sunday 24 Nov early in the morning! The ABC will simultaneously broadcast the 75 minute special as it goes live from the UK with a 7.30pm repeat. 87 Australian cinemas will also show it in 3D on the big screen. The special will star Matt Smith, David Tennant, John Hurt, Billie Piper and Jenna Coleman, and reveals the dangerous past of the Doctor. It is the longest running sci-fi TV show in the world and has 80 million viewers.

ABC iView has shown many episodes of recent Dr Who series ahead of the evening broadcast time. In the lead-up to the anniversary episode, iView will show 47 classic episodes featuring every Doctor from the first to the eighth, plus awesome monsters and favourite companions.

ABC2 is also showing specials on Sundays at 7.30pm, starting with Doctor Who explained (20 Oct) – everything you need to know about the Doctor – current, past or future. Other programs include The science of Doctor Who; The timey-wimey of Doctor Who; The women of Doctor Who; The destinations of Doctor Who. And you can watch all episodes from series 1-7 on ABC2 weeknights at 7.30pm. Something for everyone – if only we had more time hehe.
http://mumbrella.com.au/abc-simulcast-doctor-50th-anniversary-special-180854
Excellent recent trailer – 5 decades of The Doctor: http://metro.co.uk/2013/10/20/doctor-who-the-50th-celebration-trailer-doesnt-feature-the-day-of-the-doctor-footage-but-it-couldnt-be-any-better-4152398/

Ja’mie: private school girl
ABC1 – starts Wed 23 Oct 9 pm. The new 6 part mockumentary series chronicles the final 3 months of high school for 17 year old private school captain Ja’mie King…..and who hasn’t got a soft spot for rude, self-obsessed Ja’mie? Chris Lilley is a great actor, whether in male or female roles. This series features a sexting scandal, love interests and the possibility of being immortalised in bronze. Ja’mazing!
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/jamie-private-school-girl/
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/ja8217mie-private-school-girl-chris-lilley8217s-new-comedy-series-is-a-return-to-raunchy-fun-after-the-dark-angry-boys/story-e6frfmq9-1226731555319

The art of Australia
ABC1 Tues 22 Oct 8.30pm. Hosted by Edmund Capon, this 3 part series explores how art and artists helped to shape Australia’s national identity, from the colonial period to the present. The series interweaves the story of British, European and indigenous art traditions and includes the works of Lycett, Roberts, Streeton, Nolan, Boyd, Fairweather, Olsen and the Papunya movement.
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/master-strokes-that-set-the-artistic-landscape-20131020-2vv4d.html

Autopsy on a dream
ABC1 Sun 20 Oct 9.25pm. The controversial recently found 1968 BBC film that looks at the construction of the Sydney Opera House and the resignation of Jorn Utzon. Updated voice-over by original narrator Bob Ellis. Includes 30 minute prologue The dream of perfection, the story of the film plus interviews.
 http://www.abc.net.au/arts/blog/arts-desk/Autopsy-on-a-Dream-Sydney-Opera-House-131015/default.htm

Redfern now: series 2
ABC1 – starts Thurs 31 Oct 8.30pm – 6 parts. The follow-up to the acclaimed first series written & directed by indigenous Australians, exploring the lives of indigenous families in inner city Redfern, Sydney. Some of the characters return from season 1, including Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair, Leah Purcell. New additions include Ernie Dingo, Sibylla Budd and Steve Bisley. Directors include Beck Cole, Wayne Blair, Leah Purcell and Rachel Perkins. This series will once again provide powerful and moving stories and is an excellent resource supporting the ACARA Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures Cross-curriculum Priority.
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/event/redfern-now

Coast Australia
History Channel – starts December. Presented by Neil Oliver, with Australian experts – an Australian version of the acclaimed British series. The 8 part series explores stories and facts about our coastal history, people, archaeology, geography and marine life. And if you like Neil Oliver’s TV history series, then you will have a chance to see him in Australia in December with his History in the Making shows, bringing British and Australian history to life.
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2013/10/neil-oliver-coasts-to-australia-for-live-tour.html

The fatal shore
Looks like the book by Robert Hughes will finally be filmed. The 6 part dramatised documentary series will be hosted by Neil Oliver, with CGI-created re-enactments of epic events. Due 2014.
http://if.com.au/2013/07/17/article/The-Fatal-Shore-headed-for-the-screen/OTHQCXEJYH.html

Catch-up TV
ABC iView, SBS on Demand, PLUS7, ninemsn Video and now TENplay – these services are great for catching up on missed shows. Although programs cannot be saved and are not online forever, they are very useful for classes to watch – especially in schools that don’t have access to online digital video systems like ClickView.
The new TENPlay service plans to live stream the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and some shows can be accessed on TENPlay before they are broadcast locally. There are also rumours that US streaming giants Hulu and Netflix may launch locally.
Despite these options, Australians are still major TV pirates, leading the way with torrent downloads of the finales of Breaking bad and Game of thrones.
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/tenplay-tv-catching-up-on-catchups-20131009-2v6pj.html