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
Category Tags: Miscellaneous Press
January 26th is a day when everyone from the land down under can celebrate their country and nationality. No doubt this time next year will hold some interesting promotional events in store for us all. Already there is talk about how to best optimise the marketing possibilities using ‘Australia’ as a vehicle to reach untold masses of people.
“As its name suggests, the 20th Century Fox film is set against the vast sweep of the Outback, which - along with the country’s coastlines and cities - has been the focus for selling Australian locations to foreign film-makers for the better part of a decade. The marketing possibilities for the film have not been lost on iconic Australian companies such as Qantas and Telstra, as well as Tourism Australia, which is holding discussions with Luhrmann on the tourism opportunities stemming from the film.”
“We are seizing the day and saying it’s possible that a large-scale picture could be made here,” Luhrmann told The Australian newspaper, adding that no other market at the moment could assemble a local story, director, crew, stars and budgets on the scale of Australia - apart from the US.
source: abc.net.au
Category Tags: Baz Luhrmann Press
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
Category Tags: Appearances Hugh Jackman Media Nicole Kidman Press
It’s in the wind that Elton John may appear on the Australia soundtrack, but the film is also sure to prominently feature many indigenous influences and songs. Moviehole.net recently revealed information about the supporting role of David Gulpilil. He will feature as a character known by the name King George; “a magic man in his tribe, [which] requires the actor to sing a great deal of his role in several pivotal scenes.”
Gulpilil held great pride in showcasing this aspect of his heritage and commented, “Our tometic ancestors created the land in the dreamtime. Everything you see, including animals, tress, rocks and rivers were created in the dreamtime. Our ancestors called the land into life, giving names to places and animals through song. Our songs represent our stories and our connection to this land. Without our songs we would have nothing.”
source: Moviehole.net
image: Cameron Laird
Category Tags: Cast
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
Category Tags: Baz Luhrmann David Wenham Hugh Jackman Media Miscellaneous Press
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
Category Tags: Baz Luhrmann Hugh Jackman Media Nicole Kidman Press
It has been nine long months, but as of today Australia has finally completed principal photography. Baz Luhrmann and crew can now begin the next leg of their journey through post-production. The cast and crew all gathered together at Sun Studios, Alexandria on Saturday night (December 15th) to commemorate the occasion.
On December 16th Baz Luhrmann and cast member Brandon Walters were interviewed on the Sydney red carpet for Nicole Kidman’s latest release, The Golden Compass.
Baz Luhrmann commented, “I think last night [at the wrap party] there was a genuine, heartfelt feeling of having completed it. You know, that was really the great challenge and in the nine months the crew and every participant has been absolutely unflinching in their passion to see it through, so there’s an enormous sense of joy, actually. I mean, we have another big, big road to go, but there’s a great joy about having completed such a long project, and we are at the end of principal photography.”
You can view the rest of the interview in our multimedia section. As you’ll see, we think young Brandon will quickly gain many fans!
Category Tags: Appearances Baz Luhrmann Cast Media Nicole Kidman
