Posts filed under 'Miscellaneous'
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:
Russia – 4 December 2008
France – 24 December 2008
Germany – 25 December 2008
Sweden – 25 December 2008
Finland – 26 December 2008
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
March 18th, 2008
20th Century Fox has set an American release date for Australia – 14 November 2008.
So far it does not appear that Australia will undergo a simultaneous worldwide release in all countries. As with all dates, it may be subject to change. However, with this confirmation from the studio the countdown (for USA release) can begin!
Sources: Box Office Mojo, Coming Soon
February 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
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
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
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