Posts filed under 'Miscellaneous'
The recent Horse Influenza within Australia [info] may have caused further delays in the shooting of Australia. For several days the transportation of horses has been prohibited, preventing movement of the movie’s animal stars from their holding areas to the shooting locations. However, as of Wednesday the ban has been lifted in Western Australia so hopefully things will continue to run smoothly.
On the lighter side of things, The Sun reports, that the generosity of Nicole Kidman has been at work on the set of Australia. She’s decided to pick up the tab on the coffee cart serving hot drinks to the 200-strong cast and crew each day. However this is no cheap round of drinks by any means. Often, set catering is poor but this cart served stunningly good coffee, hot chocolate and iced coffee — all at $3.50AU a cup. On just one day last week more than 1,000 cups were served, costing near $4,000 for the day. Last week’s bill was apparently approximately $17,000! The Sun reports they’ve now decided that in true Aussie fashion the next round will be Hugh Jackman’s shout. Hear Nicole talk about the coffee crew and more by visiting our multimedia section.
+ We’ve added a new video from the top end (Darwin) about Hugh Jackman, special effects and crocodiles.
+ Plus a new audio interview with Nicole Kidman on the way to the set in Kununurra.
source: The Sun
August 30th, 2007
On Sunday 5th August, Hugh Jackman arrived in Kununurra, Western Australia, to begin another phase in the epic filming of Australia. The following afternoon, Nicole Kidman arrived and all were ready to get the show on the road.
The small town of Kununurra is packed to the brim, with the local Kununurra Turf Club playing host to approximately 80 camper vans to house the film crew. Most of the filming will take place at Carlton Hill Station, with several surrounding locations to be utilised in addition.
Finally, stay tuned for potentially interesting competition details. The Age reveals that as part of a charity endeavour Nicole Kidman auctioned off a highly sought after lunch on the set of Australia to be had with Hugh Jackman and director Baz Luhrmann. Apparently the highest bidder was Australian woman’s magazine, New Idea. One would expect, or hope (!), that they will offer the lunch as prize in a future edition of their publication.
Sources: Abc.net.au, Kimberley Echo, The Age
August 7th, 2007
No one can gaurantee a movie will be an award-winning masterpiece based merely on size and scope of the project, just look at Oliver Stone’s Alexander after all! However when asked by the Townsville Bulletin whether this was his aim Baz indicated that he certainly was hoping to create something special; a love story surrounded and embellished by the vast beauty of the outback and the mayhem of wartime Darwin
“‘I can’t guarantee that [it will be a great Australian epic]. I’m reaching out. We’re all reaching out. I’ve got the best actors and the best crew. This is the Olympics of cinema and we are going for gold,” he said.
Parts of the movie being shot in Bowen are meant to represent Darwin in the 1920s-1940s. Bowen, with its long timber wharf and undeveloped esplanade, is providing the perfect place to build a faux Darwin waterfront. Yesterday he pointed to a spot near the wharf to be called Australia Point in the movie. It is here at Australia Point where the characters played by Nicole Kidman (Lady Sarah Ashley) and Hugh Jackman (increasingly known as DWNN: Drover With No Name) will meet for the first time in the film.
Earlier in the year australiamovie.net brought you exclusive pictures of proposed shooting sites in Bowen. We now have an update for you with the world’s first look at the film sets in the process of construction. Visit our gallery to see the full sized images. And over the next few days keep an eye on our media section for a video addition containing news of the Darwin shoot.
Finally, it is no secret that anyone with an interest in Australian history and/or the film industry is vying to be a part of this unique experience. Baz has embraced the enthusiasm shown by the surrounding towns, particularly in Bowen where Mr Luhrmann has said bus tours would be conducted from centres such as Mackay and Townsville. In an interesting move Mr Luhrmann went on to say that special days would be set aside during filming to allow tourists to watch production from public galleries.
sources: BowenGirl, Townsville Bulletin
April 4th, 2007
Making a movie always involves a lot of people to create the final product, but when Baz Luhrmann is involved and you throw about the word ‘epic’, you can garauntee involvement of …epic proportions. Own pre world war two trucks, cars or boats? You’re wanted! Experienced indigenous, male and female, stockmen and riders? You’re wanted! Chinese, Japanese, Aboriginal heritage?? Extras for the Darwin portion of the shoot? All wanted! Own a house in or near Bowen, Queensland? Urgently needed!
Find out how you can become involved in this history making movie…
During his latest visit to Bowen Mr Luhrmann revealed that he was still looking for extras including Chinese, Japanese, Aborigines, soldiers and experienced stockmen. “We need great soldiers, great cattlemen, people who can really ride. We need every shape and form that made up Australia at that time. We are looking for Aboriginal extras and we have to match them with the world we are creating in Darwin.”
The Bazmark team are desperately seeking young men with cadets, scouting or any form of marching experience as they are struggling to find enough extras to act as World War Two soldiers. When asked if he had contacted the Department of Defence to see if soldiers from Townsville’s Lavarack Barracks could be made available, Luhrmann said, “Actually I’ve got to say we have not clarified all of that yet, but I know Premier Beattie has been extraordinarily supportive and I’ve had several meetings with him”.
On a broader scale once all the casting is completed the town then has the problem of housing everyone involved in the filming.
“Accommodation is one of our great issues. We’re still looking for people who will rent out houses. We’re still looking for housing,” he said. He went on to say that Australia, because of its logistic demands, was becoming a collaboration between himself and the people of Bowen and to a wide extent, the people of Queensland. “It’s an enormous undertaking. It has to be a collaboration,” he said.
As if Bowen wasn’t proving a big enough task, after last weeks confirmation that shooting would take place at Darwin’s Stokes Hill Wharf the search for local Northern Territory extras will begin the process again. At this stage there are no specific casting dates set aside, however a major recruitment for extras will take place in May.
In the meantime, the film-makers are looking for pre-World War 2 vehicles and boats. If you have any, please call the NT Film Office on 08 8951 1162. They are also currently on the lookout for male and female Indigenous stockmen and riders. If you are interested, contact Lawrence Woodward on 0417 405 540. Please, do not call either of these numbers to be an extra.
Finally, to the Bowenites who missed out on attending auditions, we’re told that there’s a possibility of additional casting days to be held after easter, so it would pay to keep your ear to the ground!
sources: Townsville Bulletin, ABC Darwin
April 3rd, 2007
The search is now on for hundreds of Bowen people to be cast as extras for the Baz Luhrmann film, Australia, which is due to start filming in mid-May. 
The extras casting director and casting co-ordinator are in town this week and next scouting locals to be a part of background scene shots. They are looking for about 100 men to play World War 2 soldiers and other people to fill additional roles.
“We are looking for local men, women and children to be extras on our film and so I encourage Bowen residents to come along and register,” the movie spokesperson said.
“It’s a once in a lifetime experience to get yourself in what will be a great Australia film,” she said.
“There is one scene that requires one or more companies of soldiers marching, so if anyone has experience in the Army Reserve or Cadets, this would be beneficial because of their marching knowlege and skills.”
The spokesperson said that all nationalities were welcome to turn up to register at the Bowen Guide/Scout Hall (Wongabeena) This Friday and Saturday, and next Monday. (March 30, 31 & April 2nd)
“We are trying to recreate Darwin in the late 1930s and early 1940s and historical records indicate that Darwin was very much a multicultural society during that time,” she said.
“There were Caucasian, Chinese, Filipino, Aborigines as well as many other nationalities living there, and we want to recreate that multicultural flavour as closely as possible to mirror that period of time.”
“We will be needing people’s measurements, including their height, chest, waist, hip, shoe and hat size so that this information can be fed back to the costume designers.”
Residents are asked not to take photographs to the registration days because film staff will be on hand to take the required specified shots.
Friday registration is for adults 16 years and over, from 11am-5pm. Saturday is also for adutls, from 8:30am to 5pm, and Monday is registration for children aged 8-15 years, from 3:15 to 5pm.
“we will all be working hard to ensure that everyone taking part in the film has a great time,” the movie spokesperson said.
“That also means paying them appropriately and feeding them well while they’re on set,” she said.
SOURCES: BowenGirl, Article & Advertisement from March 28, 2007, Bowen Independent
March 28th, 2007
Today, the 26th of January, is Australia Day. Appropriately it also marks the birthday of Australia crew member Catherine Martin, to whom we send our best wishes!
As our Australia Day gift to you we have finally opened the site gallery! Obviously at this stage the collection of images is not enormous, however we do have a pretty good collection and more on the way!
As an enticement, like you need it, here is a hot off the press image of our two leads in a steamy lip lock, (previously mentioned) as shown by Hugh during the G’Day USA promotional video. View the bigger version and one other from the same evening in the Australia gallery.
Be sure to check it out. You can rate your favourite or worst images, send e-cards and more. Don’t forget to click on the intermediate images to view the bigger image in a pop up window where available!
January 26th, 2007
We’ve already put several names into the ring of male actors who may be on board for Australia, but here’s another! Bryan Brown, established legendary Australian actor (Gorillas in the Mist, Two Hands) is expected to be in Bowen (one of the shooting locations) at the same time as Kidman, Jackman and Luhrmann. Whether he will be in the cast or not has not yet been confirmed, although Baz has previously mentioned they were negotiating with a well established actor for the third lead, of course Jack Thompson also fits this description.
It is reported that, in addition to Brown, many of the confirmed cast and crew are expected to attend the Nicole Kidman Cup at Bowen’s Ben Bolt Park. It is hoped that either Nicole Kidman or Hugh Jackman will judge Fashions on the Field and that Kidman will be on hand to present the owner of the winning horse with the cup.
“Obviously we have to work around Baz Luhrmann’s shooting schedule, but Baz has said the stars would undertake some meet and greet activities while they were in Bowen”.
We can now offer further news to all those who have eagerly been inquiring as to how they can
become involved as an extra etc, in
Australia.
Representatives from Baz Luhrmann’s production company will be in Bowen approximately two weeks before filming begins. “They will advertise for extras and that will be the time for people to make contact.” It is advised that you only make contact during this period or your query will likely go unanswered due to the sheer wealth of interest.
sources: Townsville Bulletin
January 13th, 2007
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