August 2013 Archives

Here's the first episode of a new series from the Mouths of Babes (an Adrienne Wilkinson site) including Renee, Zoe Bell, Clare, William Gregory Lee, Vicki Pratt and others.

Renee posted on her Facebook page that schedule permitting, she will be at a couple of screenings of Beyond the Farthest Star when it opens on October 18,

"I am VERY excited that Beyond The Farthest Star is opening the weekend of October 18th and I will be attending a couple of the screenings. I will be sure to let you know once I have a better idea of what I can do, scheduling wise. It is an honest, emotional, beautiful film! If you want to see it, you have to make a reservation/campaign. Please read the Facebook page for more information.
Thanks heaps, Renee www.beyondthefartheststar.com"

Chat about this on ROC Chat http://talkingxena.yuku.com/reply/446017/Beyond-the-Farthest-Star-news#reply-446017

Renee announced on her Facebook page that this past weekend, Aug 24-25, she taught a Youth Filmmaking Intensive for kids in the Boys and Girls Club of San Pedro, California.  It was run by the organizers of the San Pedro International Film Festival.  There are now some photos up that include Renee.  She also said she will be at the San Pedro International Film  Festival October 4-6.

“Hi friends, I am teaching a Youth Film Intensive this weekend in San Pedro with the Boys and Girls Club of San Pedro, and loving the students, the Staff, and of course, the eccentric city itself. Check out our Facebook page for pictures as they come in... I will be all around our festival in October if you stop in to see a program. Cheers!! Renee
http://www.facebook.com/SPIFFEST”

Chat about this on ROC Chat http://talkingxena.yuku.com/reply/446065#reply-446065

The following was posted by Renee to her official Facebook Page

There is an official poster for THE USUAL, a Dawn Higginbotham short film Renee stars in as Mrs. Ford which has a release date of September 2, 2013 according to IMDb.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2758764/

ROC Chat discussing it:  http://talkingxena.yuku.com/topic/24554/Theres-a-new-short-film-listed-on-ROCs-IMDb-profile

2.  IMDb recently added the short film, STRANDED FROM AN ISLAND with Renee as director and executive producer.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3072288/

ROC Chat discussion about it (including discussion of the unusual wording of the title and thoughts about when and where the film might have been shot):  http://talkingxena.yuku.com/topic/24918/Renee-directs-a-new-short

IMDb is listing the movie Race To Judgment as being in Pre-Production and due for release in 2014. Renee plays the role of Mona Beyers.

The following is listed on IMDb Pro (and is subject to change):

In 1976, three years after the murder of young mother Dee McGuire, Michigan State Police Detective Lynn Kendall is thrown into the secretive, racist, and violent world of the Ku Klux Klan as he investigates the brutal murder of a 22-year-old black woman in a small Michigan town.

Inspired by a true story.

Will add more once info comes to hand.

Posted this yesterday on AUSXIP Twitter

We have @RealLucyLawless going to Dragoncon. What about Renee O'Connor? let Dragoncon know we want Renee as well! http://t.co/tWfJpRL1z7

— AUSXIP Network (@ausxip) August 7, 2013

LOS ANGELES (Burbank), CA

Introduction to Awareness Workshop with Renee O'Connor

Saturday, February 8, 2014. Los Angeles(Burbank), CA

Introduction to Awareness Workshop with Renee O'Connor (to take place Saturday of the convention, limited to a small number of attendees).

Based on the work of Mary Rocamora, a non profit school for adults, www.Rocamora.org
Awareness is the practice of paying attention to thoughts and emotions with sincere curiosity and withholding any judgments or expectations on what we are truly feeling. This two hour introductory class includes observing our conceptualizations of the Self, as a contrast to realizing our natural essence of Being love, compassion, and light.
The workshop price is $125. Bring a printed receipt with you.

Time to be announced.

Burbank Marriott Convention Center
2500 N. Hollywood Way. Burbank, California 91505
http://www.marriottburbankairport.com/

Click here to order

The following article is from the New Zealand Press (04 August 2013) on a possible Xena Resurrection. Lucy tweeted back in May 2013 that there was a possibility that Xena may be back:

Had an interesting call from a chap who wants to re-invigorate the #Xena brand. You guys may have started something. -- Lucy Lawless (@RealLucyLawless) May 23, 2013

But there's a lot of red tape around #XWP so don't get your knickers in a twist. It may come back in a different form. -- Lucy Lawless (@RealLucyLawless) May 23, 2013

You can follow all the possible Xena Resurrection News over on AUSXIP Xena Movie Site which has been tracking the rumours ever since the series ended.

Xena may yet rise from the grave.
New Zealand Media 08 August 2013

TV bosses in the United States are rumoured to be considering bringing back the cult show that turned Lucy Lawless into a worldwide pin-up and feminist icon.

And the Kiwi lead star knows how Xena: Warrior Princess Part 2 should kick off.

The original series ran for six years and 134 episodes until June 18, 2001. In the shock finale, Xena was slain and decapitated.

"The fans were always devastated that we cut Xena's head off. We thought we were telling a strong storyline and it was hilarious, but it broke their hearts," Lawless said.

With a possible relaunch in the air, she has mentally scripted a series-opening plot. "In my dreams it would be that Renee [O'Connor, who played Gabrielle] and I, and Ted [Raimi], who played Joxer, would come back and basically stick Xena's head back on her and go on a quest," Lawless said. "At the end you introduce this new Warrior Princess, hand it over and let them run with it. So we could put the family back together, give the fans what they want, reinvigorate the brand and hand it on to a new generation."

Lawless is amazed by the continued dedication of her fans. "They will show up wherever you go, which is lovely because people are more inclined to cast you - that is how it works in our business - that is currency.

"If you stick with the fans, Dave Dobbyn taught me, they will stick with you. You would be nothing without your fans."

Hundreds of fans have already booked tickets to see Lawless in the Auckland Theatre Company's production of Chicago, November 1-24, at Q theatre.

LUCY'S CLOWN IS REST HOME PRINCESS

Lucy Lawless may be adored by millions as the kick-ass heroine Xena, but the Kiwi screen queen was delighted to perform for a much smaller group of fans - residents of an Auckland rest home who she entertained as part of a court sentence.

In February, Lawless was sentenced to 120 hours' community work after having earlier pleaded guilty to illegally boarding an oil ship in Taranaki as part of an anti-mining demonstration in February 2012.

She has served her "time" by performing at the rest home, including in its dementia ward. "When you make a whole room of people who seem catatonic laugh or do their exercises . . . it was awesome. I loved it, it was like the best job I ever had. I do interpretive dance. All the nurses and helpers would goad me to be the class clown.

"The residents like some fresh energy coming in. I'd wear coloured pants and have flowers in my hair so they would have something daffy to look at."

Lawless continued to entertain residents after completing her community work. "It was an utter privilege and I remain in contact. I have a lot of friends there. I go back all the time."

She also welcomed residents to her family's Auckland home last month. "Instead of going around Cornwall Park in the rain it is better that they come [to my house] and have a cup of tea."

Lawless said the venue for her community work had opened up her eyes, and heart, to the plight of people affected by dementia.

"These are very accomplished people. They have all been somebody in their lives. But because of their immobility, they are not even able to probably go to their own children's homes because there are stairs. They can only do little outings."

She hoped others would follow her lead and visit local rest homes.

"If you have a few hours to kill every week, and you don't know what to do with yourself, go and visit. They are always up for it and it is so fun.

"These are young people in old bodies. They are delightful."

Source