PODCAST: THE TEACHER’S PET

PODCAST: THE TEACHER’S PET

Chris and Lyn appear to have the perfect marriage. But when Lyn goes missing, dark secrets are buried. This is no fairytale, but a sordid story of strangely close twin brothers, teenage student lovers, and probable murder. 

MY VERDICT: This story is amazing for so many reasons, but mostly for the fact that someone could go missing for so long without anyone seemingly doing anything at all. It amazed me that the police took everything Chris Dawson said at face value and didn’t check even the easiest of evidence, like phone records to prove his story. One failure and story of incompetence or indifference after another will find you in equal parts frustrated and shocked by this story.

If I have any criticism it’s maybe that it’s an episode or two too long, and repeats information a little too often but the story is fascinating and ongoing, so I’m hoping for more updates in the future.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/the-teachers-pet

(There is a lot of information on the official website…)

GIRLS (2012–2017)

The character of Shoshanna wasn't supposed to be recurring, but creator Lena Dunham liked Zosia Mamet's performance so much that kept her on the show as a regular, because they saw potential for exploring the character thanks to Mamet's talent.

Adam Driver had to repeatedly fly back and forth between New York and London between seasons 3 and 4 to film Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015).

Jemima Kirke had to be convinced by Lena Dunham to take the role of Jessa, because Kirke didn't (and doesn't) have a long-term interest in acting, compared to her focus on her thriving career as a painter and artist.

All four main actress Lena Dunham, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet, and Allison Williams have famous parents in some regard. Lena Dunham's parents are photographer Laurie Simmons and painter Carroll Dunham. Jemima Kirke's parents are fashion designer Lorraine Kirke and rock musician Simon Kirke. Zosia Mamet's father is writer David Mamet and mother is actress Lindsay Crouse. Allison Williams's father is NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams.

Allison Williams has a clause in her contract for this show stipulating that she will not do any full nudity.

The four titular characters - Hannah, Marnie, Jessa, and Shoshanna - only appear together in twelve scenes over the entire series.

BOOK 161: DOWNTOWN OWL: A NOVEL: CHUCK KLOSTERMAN

Written by Chuck Klosterman, first published by Scribner in 2008. It is the author's first all-fictional publication.

In October 2012, Gettin' Rad Productions, the production company owned by Adam Scott and his wife, Naomi Scott, optioned the movie rights to Downtown Owl. “It’s lovely and moving and funny. We just thought it’s a really great story about people that I relate to but also small enough that it would make a good first film out of the gate for us," Adam Scott was quoted in The Hollywood Reporter. However, no further updates on the film project have been released since then.

Film School Rejects writer Neil Miller said, "This book is rich with unique and interesting characters and situations that would be perfect matches for a Coen-esque romp through 1983 rural North Dakota."

FILM 1504: ENEMY

TRIVIA: The cast signed a confidentiality agreement that doesn't allow them to speak and/or explain to the press the meaning of spiders in the movie.

According to the director, Denis Villeneuve, Javier Bardem was offered the lead role but the actor felt he didn't suit the character. Christian Bale was also offered the role and he wanted to do it but couldn't due to scheduling conflicts with other projects.

The quote which precedes the film's opening - 'chaos is order yet undeciphered' - is taken from the source novel 'The Double' by José Saramago.

FILM 1417: ARLINGTON ROAD

TRIVIA: The script for "Arlington Road", written by Ehren Kruger, was discovered when it won the Nicholl Fellowship Screenwriting competition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This film is only the sixth winner of the competition to actually be produced.

BOOK 138: CHARLOTTE STREET: DANNY WALLACE

Danny Wallace is a Sunday Times-bestselling author who lives in London. His first book, Join Me, was described as a 'word-of-mouth phenomenon' by The Bookseller and 'one of the funniest stories you will ever read' by the Daily Mail. His second book, Yes Man - in which he decided to say 'Yes' to everything - became a hugely successful film with Jim Carrey in the lead role.

His column in ShortList magazine reaches more than 1.3 million readers weekly. He was the PPA Columnist of the Year 2011 and the Arqiva Radio Presenter of the Year 2012 for his work as the host of the triple Sony Award-winning Xfm Breakfast Show with Danny Wallace. GQ magazine has called him: 'One of Britain's great writing talents'.

It all starts with a girl…

(because yes, there’s always a girl…)

Jason Priestley (not that one) has just seen her. They shared an incredible, brief, fleeting moment of deep possibility, somewhere halfway down Charlotte Street.

And then, just like that, she was gone – accidentally leaving him holding her old-fashioned, disposable camera, chock full of undeveloped photos...

And now Jason – ex-teacher, ex-boyfriend, part-time writer and reluctant hero – faces a dilemma. Should he try and track The Girl down? What if she’s The One? But that would mean using the only clues he has, which lie untouched in this tatty disposable...

It’s funny how things can develop...

MY VERDICT: I wasn’t sure what to expect from Danny Wallace having never read anything by him before so I’m not sure why I was disappointed, but I was.  This book was written by a comedian but I didn’t find it very funny.  I think the main character was a little too pathetic and grumpy to be sympathetic to or to enjoy.

It wasn’t a terrible book but it didn’t race through it like I thought I would and it was a little predictable so it didn’t keep me hooked. Such a shame as I was looking forward to enjoying it.