Archive for the ‘News’ Category

According to a recent article by the BBC, Michael Sheen, along with fellow Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce, have taken on new roles chairing the institution.

Their roles involve them representing the College at home and abroad. Michael Sheen recently represented the college during the unveiling of a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame for Richard Burton.

(source)

It seems very fitting that Welsh legend, Richard Burton, will be the focal point of St David’s Day in L.A.

Los Angeles’ St David’s Day Festival takes place at Barnsdall Art Park on Sunday – two days after the seven-times Oscar nominated actor’s star is unveiled on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

Following a campaign, the star will be laid on the Walk next to the one honouring the love of his life – Dame Elizabeth Taylor – and the world’s media from as far away as Russia and China are expected to attend the event which will feature a talk from fellow Port Talbot actor Michael Sheen.

Michael Sheen is a supporter of UNICEF’s efforts to fight child hunger. Last year, he participated in Soccer Aid, charitable football matches which raised money for UNICEF. Michael visited Chad to see how UNICEF is putting that money to use. Please click HERE for the full article.

Michael Sheen briefly upstaged Richard Burton at a gala event in New York for the launch of the American launch of the Richard Burton Diaries when he was surprised with an Honorary degree by Swansea University.

Although a generation apart, Richard and Michael hail from the same South Wales community of Port Talbot. Swansea University Vice Chancellor Professor Richard B Davies was on hand in New York to present the degree to Michael.

“These awards are conferred on individuals in recognition of outstanding achievement and contribution to the University or region,” he said. “Michael Sheen has achieved extraordinary success internationally. But he has never forgotten his roots and has found many ways to give something back to our part of the world. We are therefore delighted to honour him with this award.”

Michael said: “I’m thrilled to receive this honorary degree, particularly as it comes from Swansea, the city that I grew up closest to and where I had some of the happiest times of my youth. I am so proud to still be involved with so many groups and organisations in the West Glamorgan area and so to be honoured by Swansea University in this way is especially meaningful for me.”

The event was held at New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The one volume, 704 page diary chronicles Richard’s life, offering a unique insight into it, and was published last month in the UK.

The banks of the River Thames will play host to a three day event, starting on 18th October, where some of the nation’s best-loved authors and celebrities will host reading workshops and other activities designed to help children discover the thrill of reading.

Research has found that only 7% books are accessible to the almost 2 million blind and partially sighted people in the UK. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) are working towards changing that by highlighting the importance of reading in events like this. The event will have things for children to see, touch, smell and hear.

Michael has recorded quotes from well-known children’s books with will be played at the event. He said:

Reading and stories are such an important part of childhood; they’re what inspired me to write. It’s terrible to think that some people are denied this because they can’t see. I heard about RNIB’s work and wanted to get involved in Read for RNIB Day. We hope to inspire and encourage people to read and get involved in the campaign which raises funds for services such as RNIB’s National Library Service which offers books in alternative formats to blind and partially sighted people.

RNIB’s literary wonderland is free, and it opens 18th to 20th October 2012, 9am to 6pm at Cathedral Square, Hibernia Wharf, London Bridge, London SE1 9DA.For more information visit www.readforrnib.org.uk or call 0845 345 0054.

Canadian distribution company, Peace Point, has picked up several scripted series from indie production company, Grand Pictures. It hopes to sell them at MIPCOM, the world’s largest entertainment market held in Cannes each year, around October time.

They have also picked up twelve-episode sketch show Stew, six-part comedy series Fergus’s Wedding and one-off comedy School Run. Along with these, they have also acquired several feature films, including Dead Long Enough, a black comedy starring Michael Sheen.

This often overlooked gem from 2005 stars Michael Sheen as a dashing TV archaeologist who joins his brother on a stag night in Donegal, Ireland, where they last spent a holiday 16 years ago. Here old passions and love are reignited amidst the unlikely mix of an ex-local gun runner, a suspicious Garda and the British Army. This begins a sequence of misunderstandings and mishaps with hilarious consequences.

It was re-released by Bluebell films on DVD in the UK in September 2010. I hope it may now get a much wider release.