Posts filed under 'Hugh Jackman'
The February 2008 edition of Vanity Fair magazine features a two page spread on Australia. The issue (on some news stands now) includes a beautiful new photograph by James Fisher and a small summary of the film to wet the appetite of cinemagoers for the new year.
Luhrmann tells us to expect a film with, “big emotion, big comedy, big stars, big stories and big landscapes.”
The Vanity Fair article goes on to say, this journey through Australia’s enchanting topography brings about Lady Sarah Ashley’s gradual renewal, as does the scorching romance between her and her fellow rider. If the image attached is any indication of the heat, we’re in for something special!
If you visit our gallery you can view several new scans and stills, including the aforementioned spread in Vanity Fair.
Many thanks to Narrows101, Olivia and ProjectMugetsu for donating images.
image: James Fisher
January 8th, 2008
Previously we mentioned that David Wenham was distributing ‘How To Vote’ flyers for the labor party on election day. David stated that in addition to social policy the local labor candidate had, “won his support because ‘the current government’ had done nothing for the arts.”
With the Rudd government now at the helm of Australia, stars such as Cate Blanchett, Baz Luhrmann and Hugh Jackman have become unofficial policy advisers to the new Arts Minister. Peter Garrett, ex-front man of Australian rock band Midnight Oil and newly assigned Arts Minister, recently dropped by the set of Australia to seek advice from some of the biggest players in the business on how to bring blockbuster films back to the country.
“I was able to spend some time talking to Baz and the crew and to Hugh as well on set,” Mr Garrett said. “We talked about the project and I said that I really did want to have a fresh view and really energetic approach to seeing the film industry reach its full potential. …I’ve been speaking before and after the election with directors, writers and film-makers and I see a real possibility of a resurgence in film coming.”
Mr Garret recognises that Australia has some of the finest talents in terms of directors, actors and writers, however their skills are all too often being exported to make big budget projects overseas, instead of at home in Australia. It is the new Art Minister’s aim to provide the right framework to make it possible for more home-grown projects in the future.
Visit the production gallery to view the full sized image of Mr Garret on set with Baz and Hugh.
sources: The Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph
December 23rd, 2007
With the final shots of Australia in the can, Bazmark Films II have now released several new still shots from the feature film. To view them (as seen left) in full simply visit our ever-growing gallery.
The stench of cow manure lingering in the air, their faces smeared with dirt and bodies drenched in sweat, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman finally dimmed the lights on outback Australia yesterday, after a gruelling nine-month shoot; wrote The Courrier Mail.
For the better part of ten years Kidman and Luhrmann have brainstormed and dreamed of making such an epic. For this reason it’s understandable that seeing a large phase of it come to completion would create mixed feelings. Nicole Kidman said while she was looking forward to a break over Christmas, the anxiety of the curtain finally falling on the film hit her during a dream on the eve of her final scene. “Last night I was crying in a dream and I think it was a bit of anxiety about finishing,” she admitted. “I am very ingratiated having done this film. I have wanted to do it since I was 14 and I didn’t know what it was, but I knew there was something.”
Meanwhile, on set, looking buff for his Wolverine role beginning in three weeks, leading man Hugh Jackman will film his final scene today. “If you could tick any box off a job, this has got every box ticked,” he said, adding it felt “surreal” to finish. “Part of me doesn’t want to let this go. It’s probably the best movie I’ve ever worked on. It’s hard to let go of.”
When asked about the length of the shoot Baz Luhrmann denied breaking the blockbuster budget, but joked; “It’s a secret - I don’t want you to tell anyone - but I’m not on schedule.” “[However] someone said the other day, as far as epics go, not anything particularly out of the ordinary. Not fast. Not slow.”
And what of the pressure to deliver a hit movie? “The expectations are enormous, the pressure of that (is) not comfortable,” he said. “Will this film be a success? I do not know. Could it be that almighty mistake that one is bound to do at some time? Possibly but … we’ll do everything we can to make it as good as we possibly can.”
sources: Sydney Morning Herald, Herald Sun, Courier Mail
images: Bazmark Films II - James Fisher
December 20th, 2007
Veteran actor and supporting cast member Jack Thompson is featured in a three page spread of the Women’s Weekly magazine, January 2008 edition. The article gives an overview of his works and Jack discusses how he’s built a career not only in Australia, but now in the American industry.
Though he’s recently been working in America, Jack returned to Australia and walked straight into a major supporting role on the set of Baz Luhrmann’s latest movie. He has just completed studio work on the film in which he plays cattle station book keeper Kipling Flynn. “He’s very different to anything you have seen me play in the past,” Jack said. “Baz has pushed me a little here and a little there, and we have created this extraordinary book keeper, a drinker who is somewhere between a total tragedy and a struggling spirit. There’s a comic edge to him, too. It’s been very exciting.”
When listening to Jack or anyone involved in the making of Australia, you sense this immense feeling of pride and accomplishment to be a part of the film. Jack added, “Baz is attacking this film on a fabulous scale. Perhaps it will see a revival for the Australian film industry. I was talking to Hugh Jackman and I said I was amazed at the scale of the production and that I thought it would be a landmark Australian film. And he leaned over and whispered, ‘Yeah. And you know what? We’re in it’. “
To read the entire article, you can view scans at the Australia discussion forum here
source: Women’s Weekly
December 18th, 2007
Stocktake. It’s the end of November, the country of Australia is under new leadership, David Wenham was seen out and about assisting the Labor party on voting day, Hugh Jackman has been keeping that physique of his in tip top condition by frequenting Sydney’s Bondi Beach and Nicole Kidman has been jetting between countries to promote forthcoming films The Golden Compass and Margot At The Wedding. How do we know all of this? The wonderous australiamovie.net forum of course!
So, has filming finished? The answer is no! It’s a hard question to answer, what with the last leg of filming taking place behind locked doors at Sydney’s Fox Studios, however in a recent radio interview with Ryan Seacrest on KIIS FM Nicole has revealed a wrap date for Australia! You can download the interview in our multimeda section.
So, um, I’ve been making a film in Australia for the last nine months and we finish on the 21st of December, so, I can’t wait [for the time off].
With 20th Century Fox & Hugh Jackman’s pending film, Wolverine, barking at their heels we’re pretty sure the Bazmark team will stick to this date. …but don’t quote us on that!
November 29th, 2007
Both Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman are racking up the frequent flyer miles as they fulfill obligations in America in between filming commitments on the set of Australia.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Kidman and Jackman are working full-time at Fox Studios in Moore Park to complete filming. Both are expected to remain in Sydney until the end of next November, when filming is scheduled to finish. Despite industry speculation that Luhrmann was running behind schedule and beyond budget on his spectacular film, reports from the set suggest otherwise. “The studio is happy,” one insider said, adding the Hollywood heavyweights behind the film had been pleased with the progress of the movie.
In other news, add Aaron Pedersen to the growing cast list for Australia. Though the local identity’s latest role is on tv police drama City Homicide during the show’s downtime he has remained in Sydney after landing a role in the star-studded film.
sources: Sydney Morning Herald, Herald Sun
October 22nd, 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
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