Well, we’re back, and just in time by my watch as in less than an hour it is about to tick over to November 26th, the day many of us have been waiting for!
I’d like you all to take a brief moment to read this important news update. Almost two weeks ago the fever-pitch surrounding this majestic film grew so large that our site drained our webhost of power. Needless to say this did not make them happy. Essentially, our site was so popular that we were forced to close!
How did we re-open? With the outlay of A LOT of money, we’ve been able to upgrade to a server of our own. This means we will be able to host lots more content and hopefully handle all the wonderful visitors that this film can throw at us.
However, when I say that it cost a lot of money, I mean A LOT! It was a tough decision, pay the high price or just let this amazing site and source of information from over the last two years disappear? With so much passion and commitment to this movie, we elected to keep the site open, however we’re opening up the money jar and hoping that our visitors will help out where they can.
If you like visiting our page for anything at all, our on the ball news, forum, our massive picture gallery or extensive video and audio archive please consider making a donation. We have set it up through the ultra secure and trustworthy PayPal and it can be done in the click of a button.
Any donation is really greatly appreciated, and please spread the word that we’re back in business and let others know of our plight or we may be forced to close for good!!
To lighten the mood, australiamovie.net is so prominent that its closure was even featured in this news story on TV…albeit as part of a crazy conspiracy theory to do with the film’s ending!! …
Due to the recent and unscheduled downtime of this site, we need to get everyone caught up with some videos that came about during this time. Here’s a quick re-cap of some important TV appearances and online footage! Please let your friends and fellow fans know that we’re back!
The TV talkshow circuit is about to undergo an all Australian invasion. Most proximate is an Oprah special with Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman in studio and Baz Luhrmann via satellite. Be sure to watch the episode on Monday, but if you can’t wait that long, here’s a small teaser video.
NOVEMBER:
10th - Oprah: Hugh and Nicole (with Baz via Satellite)
20th - The Tonight Show [Leno]: Hugh
21st - Jimmy Kimmel: Baz
24th - The Late Show [Letterman]: Nicole
28th - The View: Nicole
DECEMBER:
4th - Jimmy Kimmel: Hugh
5th - The View: Hugh
SITE UPDATES:
- Check out our collection of wallpapers
- Plenty of new magazine scans and hi res screencaps in the gallery
- Nicole Kidman on Kiss.FM with Ryan seacrest in our multimedia section
- If you’re attending a screening, or interested in talking about the film, please join our forum!
The CNN network have aired another great feature on Australia. This time as part of the Scene By Scene documentary.
Scene by Scene is a groundbreaking two part documentary, about the diverse and vibrant film industry across the Asia Pacific region.
The 7 minute segment on Australia featured a candid Luhrmann talking about aspects of filming on location, and the very real affects it had on cast and crew. Not only are we treated to Luhrmann’s insights, but we’re also given a glance at a new scene featuring dialogue with David Wenham and passionate embrace between our two leads Drover and Sarah. “They’re damn sexy together. I want burning passion…and they’re on fire,” comments Luhrmann when talking about Jackman and Kidman’s on screen chemistry.
Check your local listings for re-runs of Scene By Scene on CNN, or visit our multimedia page to download the video.
Also take a look in our stills gallery for a bundle of new images!
Richard Flanagan, Australia script contributor is the featured subject of ABC tv show, Australian Story.
The program seeks to make Australians, in their diversity and individuality, more understandable to others. In this episode Richard talks about writing, campaigning to protect Tasmanian forests, and working with Baz Luhrmann on the keenly awaited ‘Australia’.
View a sample of Monday’s episode here, in which you’ll see Baz Luhrmann himself talking about his time spend with Flanagan.
Australian Story is televised on ABC (Australia) Mondays at 8.00 pm and repeated on Saturdays at 12.30 pm. Some episodes are broadcast on their website, so keep an eye out.
The official big sell of Baz Luhrmann’s epic Australia began in the US on October 23rd with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman recording an exclusive episode with daytime TV host Oprah Winfrey. The Aussies flew to Winfrey’s studios in Chicago, with Jackman apparently excited about making his first appearance on the show. Earlier speculation said the internationally renowned chat show host would fly to Sydney to stage her own showcase on local soil, however due to other commitments it wasn’t to be.
A show that reportedly will be making the journey is the team at Good Morning America. It is speculated that they will film an entire weeks worth of shows on location in Australia. Other shows expressing interest in visiting down under include, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show and British morning program GMTV.
Those living in the USA wanting to catch something on their TV right now, tune in to Today [Oct 28th] at 7am on NBC and you’ll catch an interview with Nicole Kidman.
For the ever-busy Kidman and Jackman, their talk show taping with Oprah triggered a 10-week worldwide press push of Australia, which will see them launch the much-anticipated movie in Los Angeles, Sydney, London and Paris.
+ In site news: Be sure to check out the massive additions to our gallery!
Tourism Australia and the internationally renowned film-maker Baz Luhrmann and his team have created a new sophisticated destination campaign to make Australia the ‘must visit’ destination for travellers around the world.
Aussies, tune in to A Current Affair tonight to see Baz discuss his vision for the campaign, or view it at ACA online.
And catch the Today Show tomorrow morning (view here) for your first look at the two cinema and television ads which will be shown around the world over the coming months.
To see the ads, and to download supporting information and background on this fully integrated campaign for Australia, visit tourism.australia.com.
NOVEMBER:
The 7 minute segment on Australia featured a candid Luhrmann talking about aspects of filming on location, and the very real affects it had on cast and crew. Not only are we treated to Luhrmann’s insights, but we’re also given a glance at a new scene featuring dialogue with David Wenham and passionate embrace between our two leads Drover and Sarah. “They’re damn sexy together. I want burning passion…and they’re on fire,” comments Luhrmann when talking about Jackman and Kidman’s on screen chemistry.
To see the ads, and to download supporting information and background on this fully integrated campaign for Australia, visit