Michael Hurst Now

MICHAEL TO DIRECT BECKETT'S HAPPY DAYS

Michael will direct Samuel Beckett's Happy Days for Silo Theatre, starring Robyn Malcolm and Cameron Rhodes. At Herald Theatre 20 August-18 September 2010.

Click here to book.

From the Silo Theatre website:

"Life. She’s up to her neck in it.

Amidst blazing light and scorched grass, Winnie is half-buried in a mound. Still she greets each day with a smile, rummaging around in her handbag, applying makeup, brushing her teeth and nattering away to her husband. She’s always got a loaded revolver stashed away should it all get too much. Hers might not be the ideal life, but should a happy day come her way she’ll seize it with both hands. Buried slowly beneath the mire of an indifferent universe, Winnie offers the bravest response possible. She persists.

In Happy Days, Samuel Beckett’s luminous simplicity and boldly imaginative vision deals with existence in a world where existence has ceased to exist. Ironic, funny, despairing and courageous".

JENNIFER ON THE GOOD WORD

Jennifer will be discussing a favorite book on The Good Word on Saturday, 3 July at 9:10 pm on TVNZ 7. The episode will be repeated on Sunday 4 July at 10:10 am, Tuesday 6 July at 9:10 pm, and Wednesday 7 July at 10:10 am and 2:10 pm.

MICHAEL TO CREATE, STAR IN SHORT FILM FOR TEXAS RADIO BIG BEAT BOUTIQUE COMPETITION

Michael is creating a short film for the Texas Radio Big Beat Boutique "My Window" competition, which will be shown in their shop window on Ponsonby Road from 1-22 August 2010. Click here for more information.

JACK IN RADIRADIRAH

Michael and Jennifer's oldest son Jack features in a segment of the new TV3 sketch comedy show Radiradirah. The show premiered on 21 May; Jack will be in the segment called "The Parables of Young Jesus" beginning with the second episode on 28 May. The eight-episode series is being shown Friday nights at 9:30 on TV3. Watch Jack's latest episode (2 July) here.

The cast of "The Parables of Young Jesus" (Jack on right)

From the makers of bro'Town, Radiradirah stars Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Taiko Waititi, Madeliene Sami, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Jermaine Clement, John Clarke, Rhys Darby.

JENNIFER A GUEST PANELIST ON "THE PANEL"

Jennifer was a guest panelist on "The Panel" on Radio New Zealand National on Monday 21 June. Listen online here (scroll down) or here for podcast.

SPARTACUS TO AIR IN NEW ZEALAND

Spartacus: Blood and Sand will air in New Zealand beginning in August 2010 on the Box, Sky TV channel 5. Click here for full announcement.

SPARTACUS AT COMIC-CON

Starz press release:

"Beverly Hills, Calif. – June 16, 2010 – Fresh from a triumphant first season on the Starz original series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, stars Andy Whitfield (Spartacus), Lucy Lawless (Lucretia), John Hannah (Batiatus), Viva Bianca (Ilythia), and Executive Producer and Head Writer Steven S. DeKnight will appear on a panel at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, July 23. The day ends with a Spartacus-sponsored late night 'Wrath of Con' party where the stars will be in attendance". Read the full press release here.

MICHAEL TO DIRECT ONE EPISODE OF SPARTACUS PREQUEL

Starz has announced that they will make a 6-episode Spartacus prequel, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, focused on the House of Batiatus. The prequel will allow a continuation of the show while its star, Andy Whitfield, continues treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. John Hannah (Batiatus), Lucy Lawless (Lucretia), Peter Mensah (Doctore), Manu Bennett (Crixus), Antonio Te Maioha (Barca), Nick E. Tarabay (Ashur), and Lesley-Ann Brandt (Naevia) will recreate their roles in the prequel, which will air in January. More info here. Michael will direct one of the episodes.

Spartacus is currently showing in the U.S., Canada, Netherlands, and South Korea, and on 12 April, Starz announced distribution deals for the UK (on Bravo beginning 25 May), Latin America (on LAPTV's MovieCity Pack), Central Europe (on HBO), and Japan (on Star channel). They are also close to having deals completed in the remaining major European markets including Spain, Germany, France and Italy. Read the press release here.

Michael directed ep. 1.5 "Shadow Games," 1.9 "Whore," and 1.12 "Revelations," as well as the splinter unit (a few scenes) for episode 1.13.

See the Spartacus: Blood and Sand website for an episode guide, information on cast and characters, downloads, etc.

MICHAEL DIRECTED LEGEND OF THE SEEKER

Michael directed 7 episodes of American tv show Legend of the Seeker: 1.8 "Denna," 1.10 "Revelations," 2.2 "Baneling," 2.12 "Hunger," 2.17 "Vengeance," and 2.21 "Unbroken," and he guest starred in 1.13 "Revenant". The first season is available on dvd in the US, and season 2 will be released on 28 September 2010.

In NZ, the first six episodes of season 2 have been shown on Prime, but it is not currently being shown. Sky has said it will resume later in 2010.

Michael directing Legend of the Seeker

27 April 2010 Following months'-long rumors that Seeker would not get a third season, yesterday producer Mike Sussman tweeted, "The quest is complete. Thank you so much to our amazing cast, crew & all our fans, it's been an awesome two years. Will miss you all". However, a fan-driven campaign is trying to get the show renewed; see saveourseeker.com. The fandom has now created the video below:

In the commentary on the episode "Denna," Jessica Marais (who played Denna) talks about working with Michael:

"Michael Hurst is the director of this amazing episode . . . and he was the most enthusiastic, incredible director to work with, he has such a sense of drama and build and character, and he had really done his research. He knew the books and the characters, you know, inside out"."I think that was actually one of the last scenes that we shot. It's so funny trying to sort of grade a performance and you hardly ever work to sequence in this industry, and really trying to remember--and I guess that's again testament to Michael, he always made sure we knew exactly where we were and what had just happened."

"So Michael Hurst . . . the other thing where I think he's just perfect, I think the scenes are so well edited as well, and he's really had a sense of building".

BITCH SLAP NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD
Michael appears in the American feature film Bitch Slap starring as Gage, a notorious underworld kingpin. The film also stars Julia Voth as Trixie, Erin Cummings as Hel, and America Olivo as Camero. Michael's Hercules co-star Kevin Sorbo also appears, with cameos by Xena co-stars Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor. See our Bitch Slap page here. The film is now available on dvd.
Behind-the-scenes deleted scene: Michael meets the Lancaster P.D.
The dvd includes the very entertaining 90 minute documentary Building a Better B-Movie, in which the producers talk about the genesis of the film and the people involved, and there are interviews with the actors and lots of behind-the-scenes footage. Check out some screen captures from the doco here. The dvd also includes two commentaries, one by the three actresses and the other by the producers.
	Bitch Slap is an exploitation film--with a healthy dose of comedy; a "thinking man’s throwback to the “B” Movie/Exploitation films of the 1950’s-70’s as well as a loving, sly parody of the same. Bitch Slap mixes girls, guns, outrageous action and jaw-dropping visuals with a message… don’t be naughty! Stunts are coordinated and performed by Xena stunt double Zoe Bell, and the film was written and produced by Eric Gruendemann and Rick Jacobson; Jacobson also directed. You can follow Bitch Slap on Twitter, see the official Bitch Slap website, or the BitchSlapMovie channel on You Tube.

Q THEATRE PROGRESS

The official groundbreaking for Q Theatre was held on 10 December 2009. The picture below was taken 10 January--the old warehouse is gone! It's great to see progress on this project that has been a focus for so many in the Auckland theatre community, including Michael and Jennifer, ever since the Watershed Theatre was torn down in 1996. Read the history of Q Theatre here; and check out the pics here of the cement slab being poured on 27 May!