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Pop CultureOctober 2, 2015

Television: New to Lightbox in October – Dancers, Freak Shows and Local Shorts

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A sponsored post listing the new shows to hit Lightbox this October, including a slew of local award-winning short films and the fourth freaky season of American Horror Story

The Mindy Project (throughout October)

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Seasons 1-3 arrived last month, but new episodes from season four of The Mindy Project will be arriving weekly to Lightbox in October. Following the shambolic life of gynecologist Mindy Lahiri, The Mindy Project is a beautiful union between rom-com and sitcom. With a passion for all things Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan and Sandra Bullock, our lead heroine is trying to live her life like the silver screen screwball she thinks she is. Whether it be through loud sequin tops, drunken speeches or sexy Crayola costumes, The Mindy Project is a colourful comedy vision that blends Broad City, 30 Rock and shades of Schumer. Click here to watch.

Show Me Shorts (Oct 1)

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Over 30 local short films have arrived on Lightbox this month, all of which have appeared in New Zealand’s premiere fancy film festival Show Me Shorts over the years. From snowmen to eel women, central Auckland to the middle of rural Canterbury – there are films from every corner of our weird little country. Here’s a primer list to get you started, or click here to dive on in.

The Secret Lives of Dancers (Oct 1)

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The local documentary series is a look behind the curtain at the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Following their national and international tours, The Secret Lives of Dancers cuts through the tulle to reveal the daily realities for some of New Zealand’s most accomplished ballet dancers. Like Black Swan, but not as scary.

Sleepy Hollow S2 (Oct 7)

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The second season in this modern reimagining of Washington Irvine’s spooky 1820 short story comes mid-month, promising more battles with supernatural demons that you can shake a decapitated head at. Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) and Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie) come up against their biggest foes – Moloch (Derek Mears) and Henry Parrish (John Noble), the Horseman of War. The gang must fight against them as they try to merge purgatory and the real world. Hope that doesn’t happen, that would be actual hell on earth.

Homeland S4 (Oct 8)

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The fourth season of Homeland has been critically revered as being “ fresh, important and relevant as yesterday’s news–or tomorrow’s news” (Newsday). This season the political thriller continues to mull over the complex involvement of the United States’ in the war on terror, explored through the eyes of those working in homeland security for the CIA. Starring Claire Danes, Damian Lewis and Mandy Patinkin, this Emmy award winning drama functions “terrifically as both a thriller and a commentary on our post-post-9/11 world.” (HitFix)

AHS: Freak Show (Oct 13)

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The fourth season in Ryan Murphy’s skin-crawling anthology is Freak Show. Set in Florida in the early 1950s, the series follows the performers in one of the last remaining freak shows in the country. There’s conjoined twins, a bearded woman and even a woman with three breasts. At their helm is Elsa Mars, the ringleader of Fräulein Elsa’s Cabinet of Curiosities, played by the inimitable Jessica Lange. But not all is well in the sleep tent of oddities – there’s a terrifying clown-faced serial killer on the loose and the authorities are pinning it on the freak show. A very confronting, often terrifying examination of life on the fringe of society. Hell of a lot of good musical numbers too.

Masters of Sex S3 (Oct 15)

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An ‘50s period drama based on the lives of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, American pioneers in human sexuality research. Approaching it’s complex titular subject with sophistication and humour, it’s a fascinating chronicle of both the personal lives and pivotal experimental work of two people that changed modern society. Season three jumps forward to 1966 as Virginia and William reveal their groundbreaking test results to the world.


 

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