Archive for September, 2007
While filming in Kununurra in early September 2007, the two leading stars of Australia attended the inaugral NAIDOC Ball, which stunned the locals and made the event one of the most high profile gatherings of the year. Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban were the first to arrive, followed by Hugh Jackman and Deborra Lee-Furness (pictured with local resident Kenneth Torres). “It started off fairly low-key but suddenly everyone started whispering and pointing at the door and people realised Nicole was in the room,” said local resident Nathen Dyer. “At first, they weren’t sure whether to go up to them but when a few people introduced themselves, everyone rushed over hoping to shake hands.”
Sources: Kenneth Torres, The West Australian
September 28th, 2007
David Wenham, fellow cast member Hugh Jackman and wife Deborah Lee Furness all recently attended the Prince of Whales Hospital Gala Charity evening at Sydney Town Hall. No stranger to such charitable causes, Jackman also donated his signed bushman’s hat, used in filming Australia, to the black-tie Starball event held at the Westin Hotel last Saturday.
The cast of Australia have recently celebrated two birthdays, those of director Baz Luhrmann and David Wenham. We’re told Luhrmann celebrated his 45th birthday on September 17th by treating the film’s cast and crew to muffins and coffee, then apparently remained working at the studio until late. He did however make time to share a birthday cake with his wife and two children.
According to the Daily Telegraph, after hanging in Outback pubs while on location, the cast of Australia chose a restaurant with one of the most spectacular Sydney Harbour views for a bonding session on Tuesday night; likely a small birthday gathering? Leading lights Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman joined director Baz Luhrmann at Circular Quay noshery Cafe Sydney. Jack Thompson, Bryan Brown and David Wenham also scrubbed up for the private dinner. “It was probably the first time the cast had been out socially,” a film spokesman said. But it wasn’t a late night, with the cast having to be up early to shoot final interior scenes at Fox Studios yesterday.
sources: Daily Telegraph
images: defamer.com
September 27th, 2007
Australiamovie.net previously reported about the potential affects horse flu quarantine restrictions would have on the Australia Kimberley shoot. Soon after our reports the Sydney Morning Herald followed with a brief mention alleging there were infact no delays as a result of horse confinement. If the restrictions didn’t pose a problem before unfortunately the ABC is reporting that they certainly have now, with the move from Western Australia back to New South Wales. As of last week more than 30 horses from the cast were still in Kununurra, a fortnight after filming ended, because of interstate quarantine procedures regarding the Australian outbreak of horse flu. Producers were allegedly desperately trying to obtain a permit that would allow up to 12 “star horses” to be transported to Fox Studios in Sydney for filming to continue.
Horse trainer John Peel has told ABC National Rural News, the biggest challenge is keeping the animals cool in Kununurra’s 40 degree heat.
“The weather is getting very warm, so we’ll try and get them hosed down during the day. …They’re not used to this heat up here. It’s just a waiting game and we’ll go with whatever we’ve got to do to get these horses home - especially out of this heat now - and we certainly don’t want to be here when the wet season starts.”
Meanwhile, many locals were lining up with their trailers to claim some unusual ‘memorabilia’ in an attempt to make the best of the situation. Robert Wainwright was one of the first of the on the scene and said he will use his trailer load to grow some star-quality tomatoes.
“I heard it on ABC news this morning that there was a big heap of horse dung for gardens and somebody said this morning that it’s from Nicole’s horses, so it must be good stuff,” he said.
Hopefully the transportation has since been resolved. In the meantime, the film’s human stars are shooting at Sydney’s Fox Studios this week.
sources: ABC News, ABC Rural News, Sydney Morning Herald.
September 22nd, 2007
Iconic Australian actor Jack Thompson gives us a sneak peek into his involvement on Baz Luhrmann’s highly anticipated epic Australia.
By Jim Mitchell for Filmlink.
Baz Luhrmann’s Australia has undoubtedly sparked the most media coverage of any local production in recent memory, from blanket coverage as the production moves from location to location, to journalists trying to scam their way on set for a closer look at stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and a now infamous shot of the aforementioned Kidman having her posterior squeezed by none other than Aussie veteran actor Bill Hunter’s in character of course.
The cast list is a cavalcade of well known Australian actors, including David Wenham, David Gulpilil, Ben Mendelsohn, John Jarratt, Ray Barrett and Barry Otto. The film also sees local legends Bryan Brown and Jack Thompson in their first film together since Bruce Beresford’s 1980 classic Breaker Morant.
Jack Thompson is clearly enjoying the Australia experience. Complete with bushy moustache and more than a 5 o’clock shadow, Thompson is in a jolly mood after having spent the past few weeks shooting interior scenes at Fox Studios in Sydney. This represented an unscheduled stop in production after rain flooded the set of the lavishly recreated homestead featured in the film on a property in Kununurra, in Western Australia’s East Kimberly region. “I’ve been flat out,” says Thompson in his instantly recognisable voice as he does double duty promoting his next film December Boys. “It’s just a joy really. It’s a lot of fun to be a part of this living thing that’s emerging. It’s just such a huge picture, and there are such breaks between my involvement. My role is certainly a major support role, but it’s not the lead hero and heroine. It’s really their tale, so we turn up when appropriate, and you’re often sort of sitting around. This happens more as you do supporting roles as you’re waiting for the next location.”
In case you’ve been living under a rock and don’t know the plot, Australia sees Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) of the English aristocracy travel to a pre World War 2 Australia to rescue her outback cattle station from the grip of cattle barons with the help of a local drover (Hugh Jackman). They embark on a cattle drive which will lead them to Darwin, which is in the throes of a bombing by Japanese forces, and also, inevitably, to love.
While Thompson won’t elaborate too much on his character, he is prepared to give a brief outline. “It’s good fun; he’s a fun character. I couldn’t wait to get into it. He is the station book keeper and accountant, who has an occasional drinking problem,” says Thompson in the English-edged accent he’s presumably using for the film. “He’s certainly not a drunk.”
What follows is a mini master-class in accent and elocution. It’s slightly English but it’s not really English; it’s actually the accent of a well educated, privately educated Australian of the ’40’s. It was the “ABC radio” [accent] of that period,” explains Thompson of his character’s accent. “[My character] might have spent a bit of time in the bush, so there’s a bushy edge to him, but when he’s talking with Nicole’s character, it’s “Me Lady”. He recognises that she is titled, so you speak correctly; you don’t want to be taken for a colonial fool!”
Thompson, who has in recent times mixed work in local and Hollywood productions, seems to be in his element at the moment with a string of local projects to his name. Apart from Australia, he’ll next be seen alongside Daniel “Harry Potter” Radcliffe in December Boys, which will be followed by Ten Empty from thesp-turned-director Anthony Hayes (Look Both Ways). He can also currently be heard narrating the documentary series South Side Story (about Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court’s buy-out of the South Sydney Rabbitohs) on the ABC. Of working overseas, Thompson simply says, “It’s hard to leave Australia when you’re an Australian.”
Australia is set for release next year.
September 18th, 2007
Another leg of the Australia production has come to a close. On September 6, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman left Kununurra where they have been shooting for the last month.
As seen right, Perth Now reports that the pair hugged each other goodbye at the town’s airport on Thursday night before boarding separate flights. The rest of the 300 strong cast and crew wrapped up over the weekend.
Film publicist Edwina Wenkart said filming in the Kimberley had been arduous at times, but rewarding.
“We were filming at Digger’s Rest (station) this week in some very remote locations where you had strong winds and lots of sand and dust,” she said. “We were camping in tents out there and everyone would finish for the day covered in dust. …But it was very beautiful out there with the emus and horses, and we built up a really strong sense of camaraderie.” Ms Wenkart said Kidman and Jackman had “been amazing throughout, working really hard and supporting each other”.
Road trains carrying sets and other equipment are undergoing the three-day trip to Sydney, where the next phase of filming is due to start at Fox Studios. This third stint in Sydney is the last block scheduled for the shoot, with the movie’s primary stars speculated to wrap late October, early November.
source: Perth Now
September 10th, 2007
Australian residents highlight those TV Guides because the channel 9 lifestyle and recreation program Getaway will be featuring a story on…Bowenwood! Yes the small town of Bowen, Queensland is the focus of the crew’s holiday retreat for the week. Proof that the shooting of Australia has already attracted plenty of outsider attention and put this picturesque town on the map, likely the first of many features. Be sure to watch the show as it’s quite possible that we’ll get some on set sneak peeks and info!
International visitors, don’t frett, we aim to get a video or transcript etc online.
WHAT: Getaway
WHERE: Channel 9
WHEN: Thursday September 6th, 7:30pm
** Check local listings
September 2nd, 2007
