Will Ferrell in Sydney for 'The Campaign' movie; Media appearance at Sydney Hyatt Hotel

'The Campaign' Plot...

In order to gain influence over their North Carolina district, two CEOs seize an opportunity to oust long-term congressman Cam Brady by putting up a rival candidate. Their man: naive Marty Huggins, director of the local Tourism Center.

Last night 'The Campaign' enjoyed it's Sydney, Australia premiere at Entertainment Quarter - Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney, and today 'Campaign' megastar Will Ferrell made a special media appearance for Sydney based press at the famous Sydney Park Hyatt, with beautiful Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House just a stone's throw away.

It's understood the actor later enjoyed lunch and drinks with a close group of friends and associates at the hotel.

'The Campaign', about two rival politicians who will stop at nothing to get elected, is directed by Jay Roach, the man behind comedies Austin Powers and Borat, as well as more serious political efforts The Recount and last year's Sarah Palin biopic Game Change.

Even though Ferrell had become known for his impressions of George W. Bush on Saturday Night Live over the years, and his 2009 Broadway show You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush - he says the former US president didn't influence his character in The Campaign, the venal, preening Cam Brady.

"We stole some things from actual political candidates and their behaviour but I don't know if that really informed this," he says. "The hair is really a tribute to John Edwards - he had the most beautiful hair in politics."

With 'The Campaign' campaign just about behind them, Ferrell and Galifianakis will go their separate ways. The Hangover Part III starts shooting in September, and although Galifianakis hasn't had a chance yet to look over the most recent iteration of the script, he thinks he and Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and company will be doing this one in Mexico. "Maybe. I think."

Meanwhile, Ferrell and his frequent writing and directing partner, Adam McKay, are readying their own sequel, Anchorman 2. Yes, after a long, long hiatus (the original was released in 2004), Ron Burgundy returns. They'll shoot early next year, when Steve Carell and Paul Rudd are available to reprise their roles.

"We're working on the script now," Ferrell reports. "Adam and I were philosophically just always resistant to the sequel thing. There are all these original ideas out there, but then you watch people make sequels and it seems like they're having a good time. So we caved."

"I'm looking forward to being in Anchorman 2," Galifianakis chimes in. "I got your text about being in it, thank you. . . . And I'm the lead?"

"That was a mistake," Ferrell says. "I was sending that to Zac Efron, and somehow it got sent to you."

"Is he nice?" says Galifianakis.

"He's great," Ferrell says.

The Campaign opens on August 9.

Director: Jay Roach

Writers: Chris Henchy (screenplay), Shawn Harwell (screenplay)

Stars: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis and Jason Sudeikis

Websites

The Campaign

http://thecampaignmovie.warnerbros.com

Sydney Park Hyatt

www.sydney.park.hyatt.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Will Ferrell in Sydney for 'The Campaign' red carpet event at Fox Studios

Plot...

In order to gain influence over their North Carolina district, two CEOs seize an opportunity to oust long-term congressman Cam Brady by putting up a rival candidate. Their man: naive Marty Huggins, director of the local Tourism Center.

Tonight 'The Campaign' enjoyed it's Sydney, Australia premiere at Entertainment Quarter - Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney.

'The Campaign', about two rival politicians who will stop at nothing to get elected, is directed by Jay Roach, the man behind comedies Austin Powers and Borat, as well as more serious political efforts The Recount and last year's Sarah Palin biopic Game Change.

Even though Ferrell had become known for his impressions of George W. Bush on Saturday Night Live over the years, and his 2009 Broadway show You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush - he says the former US president didn't influence his character in The Campaign, the venal, preening Cam Brady.

"We stole some things from actual political candidates and their behaviour but I don't know if that really informed this," he says. "The hair is really a tribute to John Edwards - he had the most beautiful hair in politics."

With 'The Campaign' campaign just about behind them, Ferrell and Galifianakis will go their separate ways. The Hangover Part III starts shooting in September, and although Galifianakis hasn't had a chance yet to look over the most recent iteration of the script, he thinks he and Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and company will be doing this one in Mexico. "Maybe. I think."

Meanwhile, Ferrell and his frequent writing and directing partner, Adam McKay, are readying their own sequel, Anchorman 2. Yes, after a long, long hiatus (the original was released in 2004), Ron Burgundy returns. They'll shoot early next year, when Steve Carell and Paul Rudd are available to reprise their roles.

"We're working on the script now," Ferrell reports. "Adam and I were philosophically just always resistant to the sequel thing. There are all these original ideas out there, but then you watch people make sequels and it seems like they're having a good time. So we caved."

"I'm looking forward to being in Anchorman 2," Galifianakis chimes in. "I got your text about being in it, thank you. . . . And I'm the lead?"

"That was a mistake," Ferrell says. "I was sending that to Zac Efron, and somehow it got sent to you."

"Is he nice?" says Galifianakis.

"He's great," Ferrell says.

The Campaign opens on August 9.

Director: Jay Roach

Writers: Chris Henchy (screenplay), Shawn Harwell (screenplay)

Stars: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis and Jason Sudeikis

Websites

The Campaign

http://thecampaignmovie.warnerbros.com

Entertainment Quarter

www.entertainmentquarter.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Will Ferrell: The Campaign - Australian Red Carpet Premiere

Will Ferrell: The Campaign - Australian Red Carpet Premiere, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Will Ferrell in Sydney for 'The Campaign' red carpet event at Fox Studios

Plot...

In order to gain influence over their North Carolina district, two CEOs seize an opportunity to oust long-term congressman Cam Brady by putting up a rival candidate. Their man: naive Marty Huggins, director of the local Tourism Center.

Tonight 'The Campaign' enjoyed it's Sydney, Australia premiere at Entertainment Quarter - Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney.

'The Campaign', about two rival politicians who will stop at nothing to get elected, is directed by Jay Roach, the man behind comedies Austin Powers and Borat, as well as more serious political efforts The Recount and last year's Sarah Palin biopic Game Change.

Even though Ferrell had become known for his impressions of George W. Bush on Saturday Night Live over the years, and his 2009 Broadway show You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush - he says the former US president didn't influence his character in The Campaign, the venal, preening Cam Brady.

"We stole some things from actual political candidates and their behaviour but I don't know if that really informed this," he says. "The hair is really a tribute to John Edwards - he had the most beautiful hair in politics."

With 'The Campaign' campaign just about behind them, Ferrell and Galifianakis will go their separate ways. The Hangover Part III starts shooting in September, and although Galifianakis hasn't had a chance yet to look over the most recent iteration of the script, he thinks he and Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and company will be doing this one in Mexico. "Maybe. I think."

Meanwhile, Ferrell and his frequent writing and directing partner, Adam McKay, are readying their own sequel, Anchorman 2. Yes, after a long, long hiatus (the original was released in 2004), Ron Burgundy returns. They'll shoot early next year, when Steve Carell and Paul Rudd are available to reprise their roles.

"We're working on the script now," Ferrell reports. "Adam and I were philosophically just always resistant to the sequel thing. There are all these original ideas out there, but then you watch people make sequels and it seems like they're having a good time. So we caved."

"I'm looking forward to being in Anchorman 2," Galifianakis chimes in. "I got your text about being in it, thank you. . . . And I'm the lead?"

"That was a mistake," Ferrell says. "I was sending that to Zac Efron, and somehow it got sent to you."

"Is he nice?" says Galifianakis.

"He's great," Ferrell says.

The Campaign opens on August 9.

Director: Jay Roach
Writers: Chris Henchy (screenplay), Shawn Harwell (screenplay)
Stars: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis and Jason Sudeikis

Websites

The Campaign
thecampaignmovie.warnerbros.com

Entertainment Quarter
www.entertainmentquarter.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr
www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

Wittsell 3: Using Palettes EP

Wittsell 3 was founded in 2010 and consists of three young gentlemen, who have become known to deliver a new kind of rock-hybrid, full of energy.

The core of the music lies in rock music, but inspiration comes from blues, reggae, and even funk.

With a distorted acoustic 12 string guitar and a greased up wah-pedal there will be no holding back when these gentlemen deliver!

The music has always been based on their ability to simply jam, which they've based their sound on. Funky drums, rooty bass and smart guitar-licks is the main goal, together with a big acceptance in just integrating improvised jams. This combined with an elaborate lyrics and melodic lead singing is coherent holding it together. With this first EP called Using Palettes, Wittsell 3 has the chance to show their potential. But, truth to be told, this is a band who is supposed to be seen live!

Gustav Hallberg - Drums

Per Rosqvist - Bass

Måns Rohde Wittsell - Guitars and Weissborn

Current location Malmö, Sweden

Age 21-22.

Tracks:

Temptations & Salvations

Scumbag Comeback

Using Palettes

The Horse and the Spider

Websites

Wittsell 3 Spotify

http://open.spotify.com/artist/4B7nAV7V6pqsOVd0DXP0i9

Wittsell 3 Reverbnation

www.reverbnation.com/wittsell3

Wittsell 3 Facebook

www.facebook.com/wittsellthree

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Brittany Cairns shines on and off stage

Ultra talented singer-songwriter Brittany Cairns continues to climb the ladder of success as she tours Australia, often supporting other artists from 'The Voice' fame such as Adam Martin.

Ms Cairns also continues to gather positive news media attention.

We have learned that Ms Cairns wants to use her gifted voice to be a positive role model for Australia's youth.

In less than a minute of Brittany Cairns' rendition of Sarah Bareilles' 'Gravity' on Channel 9's The Voice's blind audition, Seal 'oohed and aahhed', Joel Madden sat up to attention, Keith Urban leaned forward toward his button, Delta Goodrem closed her eyes in appreciation and the audience cheered.

This was a turning point as the 19-year-old living in the southern suburbs of Sydney tuned into a household name in Australia.

In recent months she's opened up to news media sharing much of her journey for all...

"Before the Voice", I went through a crisis, I didn't know what I was going to do. I remember praying about it and I said, "God if you want me to do something with music, it's got to happen this year".

"In September last year, a friend sent me a link to audition for The Voice. I originally said "No", then a couple of weeks later, I remembered what I'd prayed and I thought "I may as well give it a go". I never expected anything from it, but I knew if I was going to get anywhere it was going to be all God's doing."

The artist is also quite the social media hit having scored in excess of 2,400 'likes' on her Facebook fan page plus 13,720 Twitter followers, Brittany's 'Britter Critters' are nuts for this talent.

When 'The Voice' Australia aired earlier this year, it took down under by the horns, averaging TV ratings of two million.

The Voice saw four legendary recording artists—Seal, Keith Urban, Joel Madden and Delta Goodrem—become coaches to the aspiring singers. The show started off with a blind audition, where the coaches listened with their backs turned, so as not to be influenced by appearance. If they really liked what they heard, they hit a big red button, which swivelled their chair and invited the singer onto their 'team'. Each coach had 12 spots.

Favoured by the bookies early on to snatch the comp, Brittany's next peg on The Voice involved battling her new friend, Kelsie Rimmer. This witnessed Keith choosing Brittany to continue on, saying 'goodbye' to Kelsie.

'Kelsie and I were really close,' says Brittany. The pair still communicated and they recently performed an event together. Brittany also regularly chills with Taga Paa from Team Keith and Chris Sebastian from Team Seal.

Brittany has no sour grapes about not making it to 'The Voice' final.

"The improvements I've made in myself—musically and personally—are something I would have never had if I didn't do The Voice,' she reflects. 'I also got a little taste of what I could be doing with my life. Having younger girls Facebook messaging me and tweeting me about stuff is just so what I want to be doing with my life. I feel my calling is to mentor younger girls and that has always been separate to my love for music. Now I can see them working together as one."

Brittany is now focused to 'hone my gifts and do as much as I can with them'. She is still dedicated to her Britter Critters through social media—'I love them and I'm as much a fan of them as they are of me'—and is working hard at developing her career.

"Hopefully I will be releasing an EP at the end of the year," she says. "And while doing that, working on an album of original songs. The Voice was just the beginning."

With positive and talented role models such as Brittany Cairns and Adam Martin, Australia's entertainment industry looks to be in safe hands.

Brittany Cairns official website

www.brittanycairnsmusic.com

CinemaLive presents THE BIGGEST CINEMA DANCE PARTY IN THE WORLD Fatboy Slim LIVE FROM THE BIG BEACH BOOTIQUE

CinemaLive presents the Biggest Cinema Dance Party in the World.

CinemaLive is excited to announce they will be staging the Biggest Cinema Dance Party in the world.     As part of a unique cinema event, Fatboy Slim’s legendary Big Beach Bootique concert will be shown on one night only around the world.  This not to be missed performance will be seen around the world on Friday 31^st August at 9.30pm for one night only!

The 2012 Big Beach Bootique 5, is the latest edition in a series stretching through the last decade, and featuring the biggest spontaneous dance event the UK has ever seen.

Filmed in Brighton’s new Amex Stadium, it features a 600 square metre LED video wall, incredible laser and light show effects and thousands of dance music fans.

Fatboy Slim became known for launching the careers of a myriad of artists via his instantly infectious remixes including Groove Armada’s “I see you Baby”, “Brimful of Asha” and Wildchild’s “Renegade Master” …. But it was the release of his now legendary album “You’ve Come A Long Way Baby”, which sold 3 million albums worldwide, that catapulted  him to global stardom with international anthems such as “Rockafella Skank”, “Praise You” and “Right Here, Right Now” making the name Fatboy slim synonymous with the sound of a new global dance music generation. 

He is the winner of ten MTV Music Video Awards and has sold over 10 million albums worldwide.  He remains the most iconic pioneer in the history of worldwide dance music.

Today Fatboy Slim is one of the most revered and sought after DJs on the planet, playing to hundreds of thousands of adoring fans every week, from Ibiza to Rio, Tokyo to Perth.   His seminal video clip for “Weapon of Choice” took full advantage of Academy Award winner Christopher Walken’s dance background, and won 6 MTV Music Video Awards in one night.

Now Fatboy Slim himself is in cinema, in incredible 5.1 surround sound, with intoxicating, powerful visuals, creating a fantastic party atmosphere. Check it out at the following participating cinemas across Australia.

VIC – Hoyts Maribyrnong, Hoyts Victoria Gardens, Theatre Royal Castlemaine, Village Jam Factory, Village Southland, Village Knox, Village Karingal.

NSW – Hoyts Blacktown, Hoyts Broadway, Hoyts Warrawong (Wollongong), Event Cinema Macquarie, Event Cinema George St City, Event Cinema Parramatta, Greater Union Miranda, Greater Union Glendale.

SA - Greater Union Marion, Hoyts Tee Tree Plaza.

WA – Hoyts Carousel, Event Cinema Innaloo.

QLD – Birch Carroll & Coyle Cairns Central,  Birch Carroll & Coyle Maroochydore,  Birch Carroll & Coyle Pacific Fair,  Birch Carroll & Coyle Mt Gravatt,   Birch Carroll & Coyle Casuarina, Hoyts Stafford, Event Cinema Chermside.

ACT – Hoyts Woden.

CinemaLive is one of the world’s leading producers and distributors of premium alternative content for cinemas and big screen venues worldwide.  Parent company, The Shooting Star Picture Company, has been producing high quality concerts and events for almost 20 years and has a reputation for quality and global excellence.  HQ in the UK, CinemaLive delivers the very best music, cultural, comedy and family entertainment via satellite and hard drive to over 60 countries around the world.

Fat As Butter 2012 Lineup

THE BANDS

Good Charlotte [usa]
360
Grinspoon
Yellowcard [usa]
Wheatus [usa]
Mystery Jets [uk]
Marianas Trench [can]
Urthboy
Hungry Kids Of Hungary
Pond
Seth Sentry
The Rubens
Hunting Grounds
Rufus
Art Of Sleeping
Hey Geronimo
Kill City Creeps

THE DANCE

Yacht Clubs Dj’s [live]
Bombs Away
Rebecca And Fiona [swe]
Eiffel 65 [ita]
N-trance [uk]
Shockone
Nick Thayer
Feenixpawl
The Only
Tenzin
Dr Don Don
Jamxpress
Doctor Werewolf
+ Some surprises to be announced

Fat As Butter Festival – 22nd September 2012
The Foreshore, Newcastle

buy you tickets here http://www.oztix.com.au/

MOLLY MELDRUM JOINS FOXTEL’S ON AIR TEAM FOR THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES

Iconic music legend Molly Meldrum has arrived in London to join Foxtel’s colourful team of reporters for the LONDON 2012 Olympic Games. 

Molly, who is well acquainted with London having lived and worked in the city for many years, will file a series of stories that showcase his favourite places around town, and the memories behind these locations.

“I am thrilled to be over here again, working with Foxtel on the London Olympics.  I always forget just how much London has to offer, so it’s great to be able to rediscover one of my favourite cities.  And right now there is a real buzz about the place,” said Molly.

For his first assignment, Molly is reunited with UK television personality and fellow Foxtel reporter during the Games, Tania Bryer.  In 2005 Meldrum and Bryer co-hosted a FOX8 special covering the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, London.  Molly takes Tania to one of his favourite places to eat – a renowned black cabbies cafe at the Great Suffolk Street Taxi Centre in South London. 

Also now in London ahead of the Games is TV Week Gold Logie Award-winning comedian Rove McManus.  Rove will be filing one story a day for a segment called “Rove’s London” that will see him diving into London life, meeting locals and tourists from pubs to parties, to find out just how severe the outbreak of Olympic fever really is.

Rove will also be hosting Foxtel’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony alongside Matt Shirvington and Tracey Holmes. 

Foxtel’s other colour reporters include Triple M host and prolific sports fanatic Gus Worland and sports journalists Ben Damon and Will McCloy. 

Foxtel’s broadcast of the LONDON 2012 Olympic Games commences on Wednesday, July 25 at 7.00pm (AEST) with a half hour show, WELCOME TO LONDON, followed by live coverage of the Football later that evening. 

The colour stories will run across all of Foxtel’s eight dedicated channels throughout the Games.

Coverage commences Wednesday July 25 at 7.00pm AEST

The ARIA #1 Chart Awards return to centre stage

Awards event will launch the new look ARIA Charts website - ariacharts.com.au

One of the key events on the Australian music industry calendar, the ARIA #1 Chart Awards, returns on Friday August 10 to honour those local artists who achieved a number one single, album or music DVD from August 2010 to August 2012.

Media, industry and musicians alike will converge on one of Sydney’s hippest venues, The Ivy Sunroom, for the afternoon event, to celebrate the recipients of the ARIA #1 Chart Awards, witness some very special live acoustic performances and launch the revamped ariacharts.com.au site.  This year’s master of ceremonies will be the enigmatic TV/music identity Chit Chat, and helping to bring the Awards to life is the soon to be launched digital music streaming service, Songl.

In the period from August 2010 to August 2012, a selection of diverse Australian acts spent 61 weeks in the #1 position across the ARIA singles, album or music DVD charts.  This includes chart stalwarts such as Powderfinger, Guy Sebastian, The Wiggles, AC/DC, Hilltop Hoods and Missy Higgins, alongside newer names such as Gotye, Reece Mastin, Karise Eden, The Temper Trap, Drapht and Bliss N Eso.

Over this same period, 84 singles from Australian artists were awarded gold, platinum or multi-platinum status, whilst 73 individual Australian albums were accredited.

Dan  Rosen, CEO ARIA said “A number one on the ARIA Charts is a wonderful achievement for an Australian artist and we are excited to be able to honour this accolade at the ARIA #1 Awards. This year’s recipients are a mix of established and new artists across a  diverse range of genres, demonstrating the ongoing vitality of the Australian music industry. ”

Denis Handlin AM, ARIA Chairman and Sony Music Entertainment Chairman & CEO Australia & New Zealand, President Asia - “ARIA is delighted to stage the Number 1 Chart Awards in recognition of the amazing array of Australian artists that have topped the charts. In this highly competitive business, with releases from all around the world vying for the publics’ attention, one of the greatest thrills for an artist and their record label is to reach number one on the chart in the journey of building a long and successful career.

That is what defines us all as record labels and these artists deserve the spotlight of attention and recognition.” Major sponsor Songl will be entering the local market soon,  providing  music fans with access to the music they love anywhere, anytime and in the way they want to hear it.

“We’re thrilled to be supporting this year’s  #1 Chart Awards,  especially given the large number of Australian music artists that are right up there with the best of them at the moment,” said Mark Shaw, CEO of Digital Music Distribution. “Increasing the visibility and access to Australia’s most loved artists is what we’re all about so it’s great to be a part of an institution such as the #1 Chart Awards that recognise their music and talent.”

Set to be revealed at the event is the new look ARIA Charts website, www.ariacharts.com.au, which will provide an essential hub for fans, media and industry alike to source all the latest chart information.

Produced by MCM Media with site design by Igloo, it will include brand new features, better social integration and a renewed focus on video.  The launch of the website precedes the release of the ARIA Charts mobile app later this year.

MixFM Gets Up Close and Personal with Delta Goodrem

MixFM to host Up Close and Personal exclusive Delta Goodrem concert for Listeners

MixFM are thrilled to announce Delta Goodrem will perform an exclusive up close and personal concert for MixFM Listeners on Monday August 6 in the Darling Hotel at The Star, Pyrmont. 

Delta will perform her hits past and present including her hit single ‘Sitting on Top of the World’ and will also be performing her brand new single ‘Dancing with a Broken Heart’.  

Listeners can win tickets to this exclusive event by listening to Mix106.5’s Rosso & Claire in Breakfast and Ant & Sami in Drive on Mix101.1 Melbourne and Mix106.5 in Sydney weekdays from July 23.

ARN Content Director Duncan Campbell says “Delta Goodrem is an international superstar.  With so many hit singles on MixFM’s Play list, we are thrilled to have secured this Exclusive performance by Delta for our listeners”.

MixFM ‘s Up Close and Personal concert series has featured exclusive intimate performances with local and international superstars including Christina Perri, Jennifer Hudson, Lady Antebellum, Jessica Mauboy, James Blunt and Shannon Noll.

Delta Goodrem has sold in excess of 6 million units worldwide since signing her record deal at 15.  The 27 year old had her first # 1 single at 18, and has won many awards for her work including 9 ARIA awards, 13 #1 ARIA Chart Awards, 3 x MTV Awards,  Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award, 2004 Fave Music Act, 3 x World Music Awards, 1 x Logie, 1 x Mo Award.

ANTHONY LAPAGLIA, REBECCA GIBNEY & DIRECTOR P.J. HOGAN GO MENTAL!

It has been 18 years since the release of P.J. Hogan’s much loved classic Muriel’s Wedding and now his new anticipated Aussie film “MENTAL” starring Toni Collette, Rebecca Gibney and Anthony LaPaglia will hit cinema screens on October 4.

The film will officially Premiere over one weekend of MENTAL screenings, selected to close the 61^st Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) on 18^th August and open the 67^th Australian International Movie Convention (AIMC) the following night.

The film’s stars Rebecca Gibney and Anthony LaPaglia will be in attendance to support the launch of their touching home grown comedy. Co-star Deborah Mailman, talented newcomer Lily Sullivan and the young cast of girls in the MENTAL family will grace the carpet in Melbourne along with Writer/Director P.J. Hogan and producers Jocelyn Moorhouse and Todd Fellman. Anthony, Rebecca, Lily & P.J. will take the carpet once again at AIMC on the Sunday night.

Mike Baard, Managing Director of Universal Pictures has said: We are so delighted that P.J. Hogan has chosen to tell this unique, funny and life-affirming story and that we will be able to celebrate its first public performances at these two events over one weekend. We can’t wait for Australians to have another reason to call each other “mental”.

Mental reunites writer-director P.J. Hogan with his original leading lady Toni Collette for the first time since Muriel's Wedding. Mental follows the story of the Moochmore girls who are certain they all suffer from some kind of undiagnosed mental illness - because if they’re not crazy then they’re just unpopular. Their mother Shirley (Rebecca Gibney) - unable to cope with her demanding daughters and unsupported by her philandering politician husband, Barry (Anthony LaPaglia) - suffers a nervous breakdown. After Barry commits his wife to a mental hospital (telling his constituents that “she’s on holiday”) he finds himself alone with 5 teenage girls he barely knows. Desperate, he impulsively picks up a hitchhiker named Shaz and installs her in his home as nanny to his daughters. Also with an incredible supporting cast including Liev Schreiber, Deborah Mailman, Kerry Fox, Caroline Goodall and Sam Clark, Mental promises audiences an outrageous original comedy with heart.