Tabloid


Directed by:
David Blair (II)

Cast (in credits order):
Matthew Rhys (Darren Daniels)
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Natasha Fox)
David Soul (Harvey)
John Hurt (Vince)
Stephen Tompkinson

Produced by:
Mark Shorrock
Christopher Wheeldon


Matthew Rhys stars as Darren Daniels, a handsome, charismatic and deeply insincere television presenter whose hit show ‘Tabloid TV’ uncovers the darkest secrets of even the most virtuous celebrity guest. Such is the kudos of the show, that despite these personal revelations, star guests keep coming. Life is wonderful, the show’s ratings are high, until one fateful night when Darren is introduced to malevolent criminal, Vince (John Hurt), and is encouraged to take part in a kinky sex game with two stunning glamour models, the tables are finally turned and the joke is on Darren, who cannot escape the skeletons in his own cupboard.



ScreenIndia.com
April 27, 2001

TABLOID Falling star
     
     Matthew Rhys (Metropolis, Titus, The Graduate, Peaches) is Darren Daniels, a handsome, charismatic and deeply insincere talk show host whose show Tabloid TV uncovers the darkest secrets of even the most virtuous celebrity guest. Every celebrity is queueing to be seen on this Russian Roulette of talk shows despite the one-in-five chance of humiliation. Darren enjoys the high life, lives in an interior designed loft apartment and with one flash of that seductive smile has the world at his feet. Darren is a star.

However, fuelled by the increasing demands of his producer, Natasha (played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio of Perfect Storm, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Abyss) and legal advisor Radcliffe (played by Art Malik of Passage to India, True Lies, Clockwork Mice) to increase ratings and cut a deal with Hollywood, Darren spins out of control. One fateful, hedonistic night he is introduced to the malevolent Vince (John Hurt of (Champions, Elephant Man, Midnight Express, Night Train) and the tables turn on him.. Under the ever-watchful eye of the investigative tabloid Hack Lomax, (Stephen Tompkinson of Hotel Splendide, Ballykissangel, Brassed Off), even Darren cannot escape the skeletons in his cupboard.

Tabloid is a disturbing and dark satire on the world of celebrity TV and the ultimate consequences of uncontrolled ambition. Stars from the big and small screen will appear as themselves in the film adding to the public’s thirst for intrigue and glamour that has become the world of celebrity today.

Tabloid is written by Brian Ward and Martin Stellman, produced by Mark Shorrock and Ultimate Pictures UK and directed by David Blair. Executive producers are Keith Hayley, Robert Bevan and Charlie Savill. Finance is provided by Guy and Julia Hands. It stars Matthew Rhys, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, John Hurt, David Soul, Charlie Creed-Miles, Danny Dyer, Art Malik and Stephen Tompkinson.




People News
January 25, 2001

Tabloid TV Party

photo by Dafydd Jones Last night, the producers of the film Tabloid TV, starring Matthew Rhys as an amoral talk show host, hosted a party, footage of which will be intercut with the scripted celluloid. In the film, Rhys's show uncovers the darkest secrets of even the most virtuous guest. Celebrities queue up to appear on his Russian roulette of talk shows, despite the high chance of humiliation. Already on board for the film are Art Malik, John Hurt, David Soul, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Stephen Tompkinson and Gail Porter (although Billie pulled out after boyfriend Chris Evans assumed the film was about him). James Hewitt, who was careful not to be photographed next to the portrait of Diana, will play a character very like himself in the satirical film. The evening was in aid of the charities Rainforest Foundation and Survival for Tribal Peoples.




Guardian Unlimited
January 12, 2001

Newspaper darling and current squeeze of Chris Evans, Billie Piper, is set to make her acting debut in a forthcoming British film, appropriately named Tabloid according to the The Sun. The 18-year-old singer will apparently star alongside veteran actor John Hurt, TV presenter Gail Porter and Coronation Street actress Beverly Callard in the £5m tale about a television show which unearths celebrities' darkest secrets. An "insider" on the project told the paper: "As well as John Hurt we have Graduate stage star Matthew Rhys, who plays a Chris Evans-style megalomaniac chat show host so hopefully that will make Billie feel at home!"


The London Times
Martin Waller
January 23, 2001

Pair of Hands to target Television

Guy Hands, the Nomura financier, and his wife Julia are providing the cash for a film about the horrors of tabloid TV. Starring Matthew Rhys as a repellent talk show host, John Hurt and Art Malik, the film, working title Tabloid, is being shot at Teddington and around London. Hands has invited "the usual smattering of A list, B list and C list celebrities" (his words) to a party to celebrate it. The event will be filmed, and bits used in the eventual film, which is apparently one of those post-modernist things in which shots of real people are intercut with fiction.

The film, costing a reported £5 million, has already gained coverage in the, er, tabloids because of the non-inclusion in the cast list of a pop singer called Billie, now linked with Chris "Ginger Whinger" Evans, so someone on the PR side is doing their job.

But Hands's involvement has so far remained unsung. I wonder if his Midas touch will be enough this time. Small British films are usually a foolproof way to lose millions.





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