Britannia High
Watched the first episode at www.itv.com/britanniahigh earlier and I’ve got to say I really enjoyed it.
What do you all think?
I’ve added a poll to gauge Skins fans opinions?
Filed under After Skins, Britannia High, Mitch Hewer | Comments (9)Mitch Hewer interview
Digital Spy has a new interview with Mitch Hewer about his role in ITV’s new drama ‘Britannia High’
That Mitch Hewer is a bit of a dark horse, you know. After graduating from Skins earlier this year, the young actor landed a part in ITV’s big new musical drama Britannia High (and spent some time revealing an entirely different side of himself, but that’s not for here). The new role is squarely in "triple threat" territory, requiring Mitch to act, sing and dance. How equipped was he for the challenge? And what on Earth is the deal with that curly new hairdo? We gave Mr Hewer a call to find out.
What’s Britannia High about?
"Britannia High is this new, edgy series which follows the lives of seven kids, their friendships and the troubles they go through at stage school. There’s a live episode at the end of the series, which has never been done before. I think it’s totally different from High School Musical, Fame and that era of dramas."What’s your character, Danny, like? He’s very different from Maxxie…
"He’s a lot different from Maxxie! Danny is very much the charmer, the ladies’ man of the school, the joker. He’s an all-round talent and a very accomplished musician who plays the piano to a very high standard. But he does have a problem which threatens his future at Britannia High, and it’s the last thing that any of the students want because they’re all there to be the best. You find out in episode two what it is."There are lots of song and dance numbers in the show. Are you a natural dancer?
"I’ve tapdanced since I was 11 years old. I always wanted to be a tapdancer and that’s all I ever wanted to be. I never dreamed of being an actor! [Acting] just kind of came along, which was a bit surreal for me."You had a big dance number in a church in Skins. Do you think that swung you this role?
"I don’t really know. Some people could say that. The only thing I know is that I auditioned like everyone else did and I prepped just as hard as everyone else had to prep. I guess the part of Maxxie in Skins meant I had a profile already, but I still had to have a seven-hour audition with Arlene [Phillips], which was quite tough."And is it you singing in the show too?
"Yes, it is. I never trained in singing, although I happened to go to a college in Bristol called SWADA (South West Academy of Dramatic Arts) when I was 16. But to me training is when you go to London and train."What do you make of the comparisons to High School Musical?
"I feel Britannia High is aimed at an older audience than High School Musical. Britannia High is more of a serious drama, with the music and dance on top. Also we have a reason to go into songs, because we’re at drama school."Were you happy with the way things ended for Maxxie on Skins?
"Well yeah, I guess so. It was quite a nice ending, going to London. I had an amazing experience doing Skins. It was the first acting I’d ever done in my entire life, so I had to learn on set for those two years. I had to keep my head screwed on and learn from the other cast."Have you stayed in touch with the cast since filming ended?
"No, unfortunately I haven’t. I guess we’ve all gone our separate ways. I don’t know if they see each other but I’m in Manchester so I’m quite far away from where I originally live. I don’t know if they’re working now. I haven’t got a clue."Was it your choice to overhaul your hair for Britannia High?
"It wasn’t my choice but I think it’s good for me as an actor to completely change my look. I don’t want to get stereotyped through my blonde hair. Maybe I’ll do a film next time and have crazy make-up on!"What are your career ambitions for the future?
"I’d love to be able to do a really good English movie. My dream is to go to Hollywood and see what happens over there. All I can do is work really hard because I’m sure there’s someone out there who has the same level of enthusiasm as me and can do the same stuff as me, if not better. I have to give it everything I have to get where I want, which is in LA doing Hollywood blockbusters."
Source: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a133096/mitch-hewer-britannia-high.html
Filed under After Skins, Britannia High, Interview, Maxxie, Mitch Hewer | Comment (0)Young actors find life after Skins
It was a bit of a shocker when the makers of hit series Skins announced that, with the exception of just a few characters, the entire cast was being axed at the end of the second series.
And so, Chris died of a brain haemorrhage, Maxxie and Anwar boarded a bus bound for London, Sid followed Cassie to New York and Michelle and Tony headed off to university.
But as they all sailed off into their respective sunsets, what has become of the teenage actors who were plucked from obscurity to star in the show?
The cast met up at the opening night of a new play in London’s West End starring one of their number, Welsh actress Aimee-Ffion Edwards - who played the ever-so-slightly deranged Sketch.
She’s now playing the character of Raggedy Anne in SH*T M*X, which is a bit like a south London based episode of Skins set on the stage.
She told Newsbeat: "Since Skins it’s been mental, things really changed in my life and I really wanted to do some theatre.
"I’m so glad I got the chance to do this because she’s a great character and it’s so different to Sketch.
"And it was good to play a Londoner so I don’t get typecast as the Welsh girl.
"I’d still like to do a bit of comedy or period, just something completely different."
But what have the other actors been up to?
Dev Patel
Dev Patel played the sex-obsessed Anwar in Skins. It was his first ever acting job and turns out he caught the eye of a certain British filmmaker called Danny Boyle, director of Trainspotting and 28 Days Later.
Patel takes the central role in Slumdog Millionaire, the story of an impoverished Indian teenager becoming a contestant on the Hindi version of Who Wants to be A Millionaire?
He said: "I was filming in India for four or five months, everyone was so passionate on set. The scale of it was so different.
"Working somewhere like Mumbai was so chaotic, there were different challenges every day and working with someone like Danny Boyle really whips your butt into shape."
The film was shown at the Toronto Film Festival and went on to win the Cadillac People’s Choice Award, voted for by audiences
He said: "I’m very proud of doing Skins, it put us on the radar. I wish I could have done it now that I’m more experienced as an actor."
Larissa Wilson and April Pearson
Sadly, not all of the cast have been so fortunate in their film choices.
April Pearson, aka Michelle, and Larissa Wilson who played Jal, both star in a new British horror film called Tormented.
It hardly treads new ground as a bullied teenager comes back from the dead to take revenge on his classmates.
It also stars teen heart-throb Alex Pettyfer from the Stormbreaker movie.
Nicholas Hoult and Joe Dempsie
The cast were largely inexperienced when they began work on the first series of Skins, with three notable exceptions. Joe Dempsie, Daniel Kaluuya and Nicholas Hoult.
Hoult’s most famous role prior to Skins was opposite Hugh Grant in About A Boy. Now he’s cranking it up a dramatic notch, starring opposite Kenneth Branagh.
He said: "I’ve got something called Wallander starting on BBC1 in a little bit. We got to go to Sweden to film it.
Surprisingly, Hoult admits he has barely watched either of the two series of Skins.
He said: "I watched about four episodes altogether, from the two series.
"In a few years time to look back on it would be nice but when you’re working on it and you know all the people, I never really enjoy watching the stuff that I’m in."
"It’s a little known fact that at any time of the day, Nicholas Hoult is on four different TV channels", joked Dempsie.
He has just finished working opposite Michael Sheen in the movie, The Damned United. It’s about legendary football manager Brian Clough’s 44-day reign in charge of Leeds United.
But did he have to brush up on his football skills?
Dempsie said: "The guy I’m playing is called Duncan McKenzie who was a bit of a showman and technically gifted, so it’s a good job I didn’t have to play an awful lot.
"We did some football training, but then they saw that we were all crap that they just used archive footage anyway."
Dan Kaluuya
Dan Kaluuya is one of the few former cast members who is still active with series three of Skins but now he’ll be working behind the scenes.
Kaluuya wrote one of the episodes from the second series and is writing another episode for the new characters.
He admitted that he doesn’t know if fans of the show will take to the new series
He said: "It’s a new generation, the kids that were in primary school haven’t seen the show and it should attract new fans.
"But the fans that loved the first two series? You just don’t know how it will be received. I’ve seen the rushes though and they’re very, very funny."
Outside of the writing, Kaluuya played the young Cass Pennant in the biopic of the former football hooligan turned author.
And taking a bit of a break from acting is Hannah Murray, known to Skins fans as the barking but sweet Cassie.
She’s done an episode of Miss Marple and is heading off to Cambridge University to study English.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/entertainment/newsid_7649000/7649427.stm via Skins Online
Filed under After Skins | Comment (1)First Britannia High single!
Here is the first Britannia High video:
Woo! Mitch can sing!
You can download the song here: http://www.britanniahigh.com/a/the-saturdays/index.php
The guy in the middle (can’t remember his name at the moment but he’s in the latest Attitude Magazine) is so the Maxxie of this show:
Introducing Britannia High
Britannia High BEBO page post some new pics and a video the show will be starting in the autumn on ITV
Mitch will be playing the role of Danny, you can see his BEBO profile here
Show Summary:
Danny, Lauren, Claudine, Jez, Lola and BB will be starting at the performing arts school Britannia High next term where they’ll soon learn how to be the best they can be. They will be learning as much about life, themselves and each other as they do about their singing, dancing and acting.
With term starting soon we want to know all about your summer holidays and what you are doing to get ready for the first day of school. This is the place to get all the gossip about Britannia High and the best tips for making the most of your holidays until term starts.
Slumdog Millionaire
Dev Patel’s new film Slumdog Millionaire is out soon. Here is a video and some pictures of him in it and at various premieres:
Former ‘Skins’ Star Dev Patel (’Anwar’) is now playing a new role of Indian teen ‘Jamal Malik’ in the story of how a impoverished Indian teen became a contestant on the Hindi version of “Who Wants to be A Millionaire?” — an endeavor made without prize money in mind, rather, an effort to prove his love for his friend Latika (Pinto), who is an ardent fan of the show.
Thanks to Victor from Skins Brasil
Via Skins Online
Filed under After Skins, Anwar, Dev Patel | Comment (0)Mike Bailey in 1066: The Kings of Middle Earth
Mike Bailey is going to be a new production called 1066: The Kings of Middle Earth, directed by Justin Hardy for Channel 4, he will be playing the role of Tofi.
A major 2 x 90 min drama doc, which explores the assumptions and misconceptions surrounding a pivotal moment in European history. The films follow a fellowship of ordinary men in extraordinary times. Betrayal, blood and battle, done the Hardy way. For Channel 4 2009.
SOURCE & SOURCE via Skins Online
Filed under After Skins, Mike Bailey, Sid | Comments (2)Kaya Scodelario [Effy] off to the Moon
Kaya, who plays Effy (Tony’s sister) will be joining an all star cast in a film called ‘Moon’.
Here is the synopsis of the film from IMDB:
Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is nearing the end of his contract with Lunar. He’s been a faithful employee for 3 long years. His home has been Selene, a moon base where he has spent his days alone, mining Helium 3. The precious gas holds the key to reversing the Earth’s energy crisis.
Isolated, determined and steadfast, Sam has followed the rulebook obediently and his time on the moon has been enlightening, but uneventful. The solitude has given him time to reflect on the mistakes of his past and work on his raging temper. He does his job mechanically, and spends most of his available time dreaming of his imminent return to Earth, to his wife, young daughter and an early retirement.
But 2 weeks shy of his departure from Selene, Sam starts seeing things, hearing things and feeling strange. And when a routine extraction goes horribly wrong, he discovers that Lunar have their own plans for replacing him and the new recruit is eerily familiar.
Before he can return to Earth, Sam has to confront himself and the discovery that the life he has created, may not be his own. It’s more than his contract that is set to expire.
Source: IMDB via Bloody Disgusting
Filed under After Skins, Kaya Scodelario | Comment (0)Aimee in Sh*t M*x
I just got an invite from Aimee (Sketch) to go and see her in her new stage role as Raggedy Ann in Sh*t M*x.
Details below:
Filed under After Skins, Aimee Ffion-Edwards | Comment (0)
CurvingRoad Presents
SH*T M*X
by Leo Richardson.Directed by Samantha Potter
Design: Kerry Bradley
Lighting: Natasha Chivers
Sound Design: Steve MayoBooking Information:
Mon – Sat 7:45 PM
Thurs and Sat Matinees 3PM
Preview Tue 30th Sept 7:45PM
Press Night Wed Oct 1st 7PMPricing:
Preview all seats £15.00
Matinees Thurs and Sat at 3PM, All seats £15.00
ALL OTHER TICKETS £22.50
Access Rate and Concessions £15.00Trafalgar Studios
14 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DY
www.theambasadors.com/trafalgarstudiosCast:
Aimee Ffion-Edwards (Skins) is Raggedy Ann
Jay Taylor (Donkey Punch) is Harry the Hottie
Steven Webb (History Boys) is Bent Ben
Leo Richardson is LB
Cassie Atkinson is Dirty DebbieRaggedy Ann is gagging to go out with LB, but he has a few guilty secrets. Dirty Debbie isn’t really helping matters, all she’s concerned about is finishing her first erotic novel. Maybe Bent Ben will find out what’s wrong, although he hasn’t been out much since Beyonce’s new film came out on DVD. And will anyone catch the eye of the elusive Harry the Hottie?
Welcome to being 17; Unrequited love, aspiration, desperation, experimentation and sexuality.
In a world where love is replaced with violence, maybe friendship is the most important thing…Sh*t-M*x was developed at the National Theatre Studio and also won the WriteNow! Festival at The Queens Theatre, Hornchurch.
More Britannia High Photos [Mitch Hewer]
Thanks to Victor from Skins Brazil for linking me to the photos:
(this guy is nice no?)
There are a few others here.
Filed under After Skins, Britannia High, Mitch Hewer, Pictures | Comment (1)
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