The film has not yet been completed in post-production, let alone hit our cinema screens, but one of the actors involved, Jack Thompson, has so much faith in the project that he’s declared it one of Australia’s best films ever.

Though the film remains tightly underwraps, and we’re yet to see so much as a trailer, the cast and crew have been privy to a special 12 minute preview. From this sneak peak, it’s clear to have had a profound affect on Jack,

“They are breathtaking. I cried, I laughed,” Thompson said.

“I was knocked out by it. I am so proud of it and I know we’re involved in a major Australian film, one of the great Australian films.”

“Just the very scope of it, the heart of it.”

Thompson was in Brisbane on Wednesday for the launch of the 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards, to be held on the Gold Coast in November, where he was named patron.

source: Courier Mail

Category Tags: Cast Press

The latest instalment in the Set To Screen podcast series is now available to download. Visit the Apple Set to Screen website, or update your iTunes podcast subscription, and this time you’ll be taken on a behind the scenes journey with Catherine Martin, aka CM.

Two time Academy Award winner, for her memorable design work in Bazmark musical Moulin Rouge!, Catherine Martin takes us on a journey behind the scenes of Australia’s production design. See all the work that takes place before the filming even begins, costume and landscape sketches, mock up sets and more.

Of course, as with the others, this podcast is accompanied by an exclusive competition with the opportunity to win some great prizes. This round you’re presented with the opportunity to create your own promotional poster using provide graphics.

Read more about CM in our Crew Biographies here.

View 76 new screencaps from the latest podcast in our exclusive and extensive gallery.

Category Tags: Crew Media Site News

Just as things were quiet an overwhelming wave of promotional footage, images and competitions are sprung upon us. Read the details below to discover a fantastic series of podcast videos for students and film buffs alike. Unrolled with this series of podcasts came the official Australia website, australiamovie.COM, and a whole bundle of new press shots. Our gallery has been updated to include not only press stills, but almost 100 quality screen caps from the first two Set To Screen Videos!

The current competition for photography is due May 5th, so get cracking!

Learn moviemaking from a master. Great movies are full of adventure, and Australia, the next film from Oscar-nominated director Baz Luhrmann is no exception. But making a movie is an even bigger adventure - an adventure in creativity - and with the Apple Set to Screen Series, you can be a part of it.

Every few weeks through to October, a new podcast episode from Baz and his production team will introduce you to another aspect of moviemaking, starting with on-set still photography, then moving on to costume design, cinematography, scoring, and more. You’ll get insights from the artists at work on Australia, watch them in action, view footage the rest of the world hasn’t seen yet, and follow along as the movie comes together.

Here’s where you come in. Five of the episodes arrive with something extra: a creative challenge for you. Each time one of these episodes is released, you’ll have three weeks to complete the challenge and post it to the Apple Student Gallery. If your project is one of the best (10 from high schoolers and 10 from college students), you’ll win an iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod touch, or a MacBook Pro. And if your work is chosen as the most creative of all, you’ll be going on yet another kind of adventure—a trip for two to Australia. Five challenges mean you’ve got five chances to win.

Oh, and one more thing. Submit the top project for the final challenge, and Baz himself will plan your trip to Oz, meet you there, and take you along on the promotional tour for the film in the U.S. Your project will even be included on the DVD release of Australia.

Start your journey now. Subscribe to the Set to Screen Series, and iTunes will automatically download each new episode that’s posted. Once you’ve watched an episode, come back here to check out the notes about the featured member of the production team, and - if there’s a challenge for that episode - get all the details you’ll need to participate. So start exploring your creativity. You could wind up anywhere, even Down Under.

Category Tags: Baz Luhrmann Crew Hugh Jackman Media Nicole Kidman Press

Dear Students,

All the best,
Baz Luhrmann

Visit Apple’s Set To Screen page to find out more!

Category Tags: Baz Luhrmann Media

Channel 10 News Australia has featured a story on the horses of ‘Australia’ [download video here]. Angela Bishop reported that 19 specially trained horses from the film, many of those used by the lead actors such as Kidman, Jackman and Walters, are moving on to the next phase of their life, looking for new homes and ready to be auctioned off!

All the details for the auction taking place Saturday 5th April 2008 are available via Melross.com.au. The site includes a bevy of detail including images of the relevant horses and a great write up detailing their journey through the film making process.

“The horses were asked to accept stock whips, flapping tarpaulins, jumps, umbrellas, microphone booms, fire, explosions and were exposed to many other strange experiences that they would encounter in their new jobs as movie stars. Each horse was schooled to fit its actor’s character and extensive training was given to the cast at Fox Studios in Sydney to acquaint them with their new mounts.”
“Now, with filming finished, you have the opportunity to buy an animal that has done and experienced it all. What’s more, you will own a horse that for time and eternity will be featured in what promises to be one of movie-making’s epic stories, directed by the genius Baz Luhrmann. “

If you’re looking for a particularly famous ride, keep your eye on these 6 horses,Taffy , Stormy (Sand Storm), Roy (Jannsen Rob Roy), Buddy (Colonel Jet Setter), Bucky (Rosebrooke Hot to Glo) and Bindi (Strathmua Ballini), which were instrumental in key scenes of ‘Australia’. However, in the event that the producers require to re-shoot a particular scene these horse will be needed and therefore delivery will be delayed until the re-shoot takes place or the 30 September 2008 whichever is the earlier.

Happy Bidding, let us know if you’re a successful buyer!

Category Tags: Media Miscellaneous

With the new baby she’s expecting due in a few months’ time, Nicole Kidman spent Easter Sunday dusting off her parenting skills. Juggling the care of her sister Antonia’s two eldest children, Lucia and Hamish Hawley, and her Australia co-star Brandon Walters, the mum-to-be certainly had her hands full, guiding the youngsters to an early morning church service yesterday.
After beating leukaemia at the age of seven, the 11-year-old will make his big-screen debut in Baz Luhrmann’s epic. Hand-picked by the Moulin Rouge director for a pivotal role in the outback drama, he has charmed his celebrity co-stars, especially Kidman.
“She’s really taken Brandon under her wing. She and Hugh (Jackman) have looked out for him and eased him through the whole film-making process,” a set source said.
After church, the West Australian boy was welcomed back to the leading lady’s Darling Point home for lunch. On Saturday, the lucky lad was shown the Harbour sights during a cruise aboard the Oscar-winner’s luxury boat.

source: Article by Sydney Confidential’s Holly Byrnes

Category Tags: Cast Media Nicole Kidman Press

Further unconfirmed dates are filtering out from various sources in dribs and drabbs. However, via 20th Century Fox we can confirm a November 13th release for Australians and six weeks later the Brits get their moment with a December 26th release in the UK.

The Internet Movie Database has also listed a string of dates to follow:

At this early stage it’s still fair to say that nothing’s set in stone, so these are of course subject to change. However we doubt the film will hit our screens much later as a November/December release puts it in prime positioning for Academy Award consideration.

sources: Internet Movie Database, 20th Century Fox

Category Tags: Miscellaneous