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April 2010
26 April
2010
Strictly
Ballroom Special Edition DVD
Back in February 2010, it was announced
(through a much-publicised press release) that a special
edition DVD of Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom
would be released on 6 April 2010. The DVD has a brand
new cover (pictured above) and seemed to be intended for
a US (Region 1) release. This news came as a bit of a
surprise, considering that the film has already been
released on Blu-Ray and DVD, including as part of the
Red Curtain Trilogy.
However, now 6 April has come and gone and I cannot find
this latest edition of DVD for sale anywhere online,
including the popular website
amazon.com. If
anyone has managed to obtain a copy of this DVD, please
e-mail me to
let me know where it is for sale so that I can post the
details here to share with other fans.
Baz Luhrmann has also previously indicated that he is
working on bringing Romeo + Juliet and Moulin
Rouge! to Blu-Ray either this year or next. Again,
if anyone has any further details, please feel free to
e-mail me.
The February 2010 press release for Strictly Ballroom
read as follows:
A Miramax Films
Release
STRICTLY BALLROOM
Studio:
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Synopsis:
From Baz Luhrmann – the director of the award-winning
hits Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge! – comes the
hilariously funny romantic comedy that’s sure to leave
you laughing, cheering and feeling great! It’s the
magical story of a championship ballroom dancer who’s
breaking all the rules, and his ugly duckling dance
partner. Together they make their dreams come true!
Strictly Ballroom Bonus Features Include:
- ALL-NEW “Strictly Ballroom: From Stage to Screen”
Brand new making-of documentary
- Design Galleries:
"Behind the Red Curtain" – Backstage Snapshots
"That’s Looking Good" – Production Design
"Dance to Win" – Promotional & Various
"Yesterday’s Hero" – Baz's Family Album
"Love Is in the Air" – Scott And Fran
- Deleted Scene
- "Samba to Slow Fox" – Dance Featurette
- Feature commentary by Director and Co-Writer Baz
Luhrmann, Production Designer and Co-Costumer Catherine
Martin, and Choreographer John (Cha Cha) O'Connell
STREET DATE: APRIL 6, 2010
Direct Prebook: February 9, 2010
Distributor Prebook: February 23, 2010
Rated: PG for mild language and sensuality.
Run Time: Approx. 94 minutes
Video: Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Subtitles: Spanish, French
'Bowen(wood)
couldn't be happier'
It's been almost 18 months since Baz
Luhrmann's Australia was released in cinemas, and
even longer since filming took place at various
locations across the country. Yesterday,
The Sydney Morning Herald posted an interesting
article about Bowen, the location that doubled for
Darwin in the movie, and the reporter explains how
special the town was back then, and still is now.
Personally, because I'm a proud Aussie,
I always support promoting Australia as a holiday
destination, so I've posted the entire article here, in
the hope that it may inspire movie fans to go and take a
look for themselves! :)
Simplicity one day - and the
next
The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 April 2010
Baz Luhrmann and co came to town, and left. Either way,
Bowen couldn't be happier, writes Neil McMahon.
For a time they called it Little Hollywood - or, to be
exact, Bowenwood, the name that adorned the town's water
tower in giant letters when Baz Luhrmann came to town.
You'd struggle to find a candidate less likely for that
accolade and that is not meant as an insult. It can even
be taken as a compliment, because Bowenites would agree
their town is hardly glamorous - and they're proud of
that.
So it becomes a curiosity. Why Bowen? The quick answer
is this: because Bowen is a little beauty, an
off-the-track gem whose beautiful beaches and low-key
charm made it worthy of popular discovery long before
Hollywood came calling. It was just that no one expected
that discovery to happen quite as it did - Luhrmann,
after a nationwide mission scouting locations for
Australia, telling the world that his $100 million
blockbuster would be filmed ... where?
Talk about casting an unknown; a town previously known
for its fine mangoes and not much else. But Luhrmann
fell in love with the place and the people, a collection
of north Queensland characters whose blend of civic
pride and gentle good humour offered his huge production
team a warm welcome and all the help they needed,
delivered with minimum fuss - and a recognition that, if
nothing else, it was going to be a whole lot of fun.
And for the town? A tourism boom? Maybe. Fun?
Definitely.
And what an adventure it turned out to be. I've visited
Bowen twice, once for a month in 2007 when it was
Hollywood Bowen, during filming, then again last year to
see how things had changed. And that is partly what
makes Bowen special: they hadn't. First impressions,
gathered when the town's harbour had been transformed
into 1940s Darwin and Nicole Kidman was a regular in the
local fish-and-chip shop, held true two years later.
I remember being gobsmacked by the town on my second day
there. (Day one was beers and rum - the town likes a
drink.) It was the middle of June, a glorious blue and
warm 28 degrees, a long way from the southern winter
blues. "Where's the beach?" I inquired of my hosts.
"Which beach?" came the reply. "There's a lot of 'em."
There are seven main beaches, as well as many small
coves and inlets that reward exploration. Armed with a
map and my hire car, I set off and without much effort
stumbled on paradise. That winter morning was passed
alone on a large, warm rock, in sole possession of an
isolated patch of paradise that had me gasping at the
setting - and my cleverness in finding it.
Bowen's like that, full of little discoveries that seem
to be secrets. The main beaches are all worth a visit,
depending on what you're looking for. Horseshoe Bay is
the most popular because of its proximity to hotels,
camp grounds and restaurants. During filming, it was the
backdrop for an endless series of paparazzi stakeouts of
Hugh Jackman, who regularly took his children
bodysurfing in the gentle waves.
Jackman was also a fan of the long and lovely Queens
Beach, where the rocks and small pools that cradle each
end of the five-kilometre stretch offer plenty of
diversions in the way of marine life.
Indeed, my big surprise was that Bowen's main assets are
all centred on the ocean. It was a surprise because
driving into town for the first time, you'd never guess
it. Above ground, this is fruit-and-vegie crop country;
below ground is mining territory. On approach there is
nothing to suggest the coastal beauty that awaits you.
But the town's official slogan - "Where the bush meets
the beach" - tells you all you need to know. The
countryside is an unexpected blend of the Australian
bush running against what most of us think of when we
hear the word "Whitsundays": beautiful beaches and
endless entertainment on or near the water.
Recreational fishing is popular and you can charter a
boat, join a group expedition or take it easy and go
group sailing. There are dozens of small islands to
explore offshore and bigger ones, too, if you go further
out - Bowen was once the departure point for Hayman
Island. Better still, far from the crowded and costly
reef trips elsewhere, the town is also ringed by coral.
I'm no diver but a tame snorkelling afternoon revealed a
jewel box of underwater glories. Cost? Zero.
The town is like that - it won't tax you financially or
physically. There's no frenetic resort activity here.
Bowen leaves you be. In many ways, it reminded me of the
seaside holiday towns of childhood - trips devoid of
pricey diversions aimed at satisfying our modern demand
to be constantly stimulated and entertained. You don't
go to Bowen for glamour, excitement, crowds, fine
dining, nightclubs - or an empty bank account.
It's that simplicity that made Jackman such an
enthusiastic convert. For the run of the shoot, Jackman
was an unassuming local hero (popping up on the beach,
at the pie shop, in the gym, taking his children to
school) and he told anyone who would listen that Bowen
was special because the locals didn't treat him as if he
was.
Even Kidman let down her guard, bopping with locals in
the pub, going to the movies at the glorious art deco
Summergardens cinema, chatting with locals in the fish
shop.
And I'd wager that in the end it's the locals you'll
remember long after you've gone. On my second visit I
was welcomed back like family, so what had disappeared
didn't matter. The film sets were torn down long ago,
the stars moved on and there was little sign that
Hollywood had ever been here. And that tourism boom?
Never happened, really.
But none of that was what made Bowen special in the
first place and besides, no one's fussed. A local
publican who did a few days' work as an extra on the
film, Scott McCormick, puts it this way: "Bowen never
needed defining by Hollywood. She had her mangoes, her
beaches and a spot on the map next to the Whitsundays.
She didn't need a billboard."
The message: Baz did his best but Bowen is still just
Bowen - and all the better for it.
TRIP NOTES
GETTING THERE
Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Blue fly from Sydney to the
Whitsundays' gateway airport at Proserpine, direct or
via Brisbane depending on the day of travel. Bus
services operate daily between Proserpine and Bowen, 80
kilometres away.
WHERE TO STAY
Horseshoe Bay Resort and Caravan Park, cabins from $59 a
night, phone (07) 4786 2564.
Palm View Holiday Apartments, from $95 a night, phone
(07) 4785 1415, see www.palmview.com.au.
Whitsunday Sands Resort, from $84 a night, phone (07)
4786 3333, see whitsundaysandsresort.com.
Coral Cove Apartments, from $210 a night, phone (07)
4791 2000, see coralcoveapartments.com.au.
FURTHER INFORMATION See tourismbowen.com.au.
11 April
2010
Bid to be an
extra in Baz's next film
Charitybuzz is giving one very lucky person the
opportunity to appear as an extra in Baz Luhrmann's next
movie! Charitybuzz raises funds for non-profit
organisations around the world through online auctions,
and bids are now open for this ultimate 'celebrity
experience'! Bidding runs until 29 April, but with an
estimated value of US$20,000, and bidding having already
reached over US$8,000, you'll need a lot of money
to be able to afford it!
Best of luck to whoever wins
this incredible opportunity, and well done to Baz
Luhrmann and Catherine Martin
for supporting a very worthy cause.
Unfortunately, the auction page does not reveal what
Luhrmann's next movie will be - it simply states that
Baz is "currently coming to a determination about
whether it will be a historical epic, a major musical
work, or a literary adaptation." The full description of
the auction reads as follows:
Make Your Silver Screen Debut as a Featured Extra in
Baz Luhrmann's Forthcoming Motion Picture and Much More!
With a track record like Baz Luhrmann and Catherine
Martin, this is surely to be the most glamorous
experience of the lucky winning bidders' life! From
Strictly Ballroom to Romeo + Juliet to Moulin Rouge to
Australia, Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin's
collaborations have produced some of the most iconic and
beautiful films of recent memory.
The successful bidder will appear as a featured extra in
Baz Luhrmann's next motion picture. Luhrmann intends to
shoot a new motion picture no earlier than 2011, and is
currently coming to a determination about whether it
will be a historical epic, a major musical work, or a
literary adaptation. Included:
* A part as a featured extra in Baz Luhrmann's
forthcoming motion picture (details to be announced);
* A specifically designed and fitted costume for this
part designed by double-Oscar winning production and
costume designer Catherine Martin, which will become the
property of the successful bidder once shooting has
wrapped;
* Behind the scenes/making of footage of the successful
bidder's time on set showing them being personally
directed by Baz Luhrmann;
* A mounted and framed costume design sketch of the
costume, signed by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin
Bid now to become a part of cinematic history!
Terms: Includes:
* A part as a featured extra in Baz Luhrmann's
forthcoming motion picture (details to be announced);
* A specifically designed and fitted costume for this
part designed by double-Oscar winning production and
costume designer Catherine Martin, which will become the
property of the successful bidder once shooting has
wrapped;
* Behind the scenes/making of footage of the successful
bidder's time on set showing them being personally
directed by Baz Luhrmann;
* A mounted and framed costume design sketch of the
costume, signed by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin
DOES NOT INCLUDE TRAVEL. LOCATION TBD.
Donated by: Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin
'Fantauzzo
goes from Baz to worse'
Vincent Fantauzzo recently posted an
article on his
website from the Sun Herald, in which he
speaks about how disappointing it was to miss out on
selection for this year's Archibald Prize. I have
reported about Vincent's plight in previous
news
updates, and I have recently added his stunning Baz
Luhrmann portrait (above) to the front page of my
website as a tribute to an incredible painting. It is a
great shame that the portrait missed out, but I'm sure
that fellow Baz Luhrmann fans wish Fantauzzo all the
best with his future projects! :)
Here is the transcript of the Sun Herald article:
Fantauzzo goes from Baz to worse
Sun Herald, March 2010
Baz Luhrmann is disappointed a portrait of him, painted
by Vincent Fantauzzo, did not get selected as a finalist
in this year's Archibald Prize. Fantauzzo, the artist
behind two highly commended Archibald Prize entries,
including 2008's Heath Ledger and 2009's Brandon Walters
portraits, was dismayed his work did not make the cut
this time around. His portrait of director Luhrmann,
captured on canvas burying his face in his hands, was
not successful in reaching the round of 34 finalists.
Fantauzzo says he and Luhrmann are incredibly
disappointed.
"I honestly thought this was the best piece I've ever
done," Fantauzzo says. "Baz was really pleased with the
painting and he's pretty disappointed too. I don't
understand the politics with the Archibald. I felt
really connected to this painting. Baz was so surprised
I caught him in this way and in this moment where
everything becomes too much."
Fantauzzo's portrayals of Ledger and Australia actor
Walters both won the People's Choice awards in their
entry years. The artist says he is most disheartened by
the fact he won't have a stab at this year's title.
"What sucks the most is I've developed a public
following and I don't get to share it with them again,"
he says. "I'm always suspicious about why certain works
don't get in. The criteria asks for a personality who is
respectful of the arts and contributes to the arts and
that is Baz. I'm really, really disappointed."
3 April
2010
New Tourism
Australia Campaign
Tourism Australia has launched a new
promotional campaign with the tagline "There's nothing
like Australia". It has been reported that Baz Luhrmann
is amongst many high-profile Australians who will help
promote Australia to the world.
The Courier Mail reported that Tourism Australia
has enlisted these Australians to share their favourite
holiday stories on video as part of their 'Friends of
Australia' campaign. The article gives a link to the
Tourism Australia website which features several
videos.
However, I did a search for 'Friends of Australia' and
watched the 9 minute video, however Baz Luhrmann's photo
is featured at around the 4 minute mark and that's it -
there is no actual footage of him sharing a story. I can
only presume that more videos will become available in
the weeks to come.
Baz Luhrmann was recently involved with
Tourism Australia and produced 'Come Walkabout'
commercials that coincided with the release of his 2008
movie, Australia. I loved these commercials, but
Tourism Australia has obviously decided to try again
with their promotional techniques and has embarked on a
brand new campaign.
Tourism Australia has also created a
'There's Nothing Like Australia'
website
where people will soon be able to upload their
Australian holiday photos. The website states that
"together we'll create a new tourism campaign to inspire
the world to come and see what makes an Australian
holiday like no other". Obviously, they are looking for
ideas and stories from anyone who has experienced the
wonders of Australia in order to help encourage more
people to visit our great land.
Luhrmann's
'Mad Indian Motorcycle Diary'
As reported in my previous
news updates,
earlier this year, Baz Luhrmann and Vincent Fantauzzo embarked on
an Indian journey, including a much-publicised Royal
Enfield motorcycle trip.
CNN Go has reported the following, which
contains diary excerpts from the rider-in-chief,
Kanwardeep Singh Dhaliwal, who blogged about their
adventure. The story is also accompanied by a
gallery of 13 photos from their trip, including the
above image, all courtesy of Royal Enfield.
Baz Luhrmann &
Vincent Fantauzzo's mad Indian motorcycle diary
When this conspicuously outfitted
pair of Australians rode their Royal Enfields through
Rajasthan, painting village walls along the way, the
local kids went bananas
Indian bike brand Royal
Enfield hosted Australian film director Baz Luhrmann on
his 10-day personal peace mission to India following
attacks on foreign, including Indian, students in
Australia. Accompanied by his painter pal Vincent
Fantauzzo, Luhrmann was treated to a maniacal road trip
round the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. Rider-in-chief
and part of the Royal Enfield tour team, Kanwardeep
Singh Dhaliwal, blogged about their incredible journey
on the Royal Enfield website [read the full diary at the
Royal Enfield website]. Here are the highlights.
On the 29th of January while I was waiting at the
airport I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
When Baz landed, he told me that he had never ridden a
bike before and had only received his driving license
three days ago. I had one hour to get him on a gorgeous
green Royal Enfield Classic 500 and onto the road.
Baz got on the bike, learned to shift through the gears
and brake well enough in the empty parking lot at the
airport. Though a bit shaky and slow at first (Indian
city traffic had its share to contribute) he gained his
composure as we reached the highway and were soon
cruising down the smooth road to Bikaner. By the time we
reached Sikar his confidence was soaring. Vincent has
been riding super bikes and motocross back in Australia
so he adapted very well to the Classic.
At Sikar we had a
renewed lease of confidence as we prepared to leave the
traffic behind and hit the smooth country roads of
Rajasthan. Vincent was eager to test the bike's
capabilities. He was pulling wheelies on the first day
itself and soon learned that a Royal Enfield was more
than just a highway cruiser. The duo also learned that
speed breakers could be fun too. As we reached Dundlod
by sundown, Thakur Randeep Shekhawat had a warm welcome
for us at his fort. Vincent started trying to drift here
in the hard sand.
The next day, during our morning ride through Mandawa,
we took plenty of pictures of the old painted havelis
and temples. But the highlight was their interaction wth
the kids. One of the reasons they were in India was
charity work for deaf kids. We took excellent pics of
the local children and our bikes. Vincent even did some
drifting in the dirt to their amusement. Soon we had to
ride out of there. We then went for a small ride over
broken, sandy terrain, on true blue Royal Enfield style
offroads, through the back yards of Mandawa. We rode
back to Dundlod by sunset. Baz and Vincent had a plan to
paint one of the walls of the fort. I'm sure Thakur
Randeep will cherish that painting for ever.
Next morning Baz and Vincent wanted to paint a village
wall as well. Initially the villagers couldn't figure
out what they were up to and passed smirks, but by the
time the picture started to appear they were all silent
and in awe. The next plan was to ride to Jaipur and
catch the evening flight to Delhi. But they were having
so much fun on their bikes that they wanted to ride
straight to Delhi, and so we did!
Midnight graphic
art intervention on a village wall in Rajasthan.This was
now a real ride with a distance of 260 kms and half a
day to cover it along a route that was unplanned. Most
of the route turned out to be excellent and worth riding
on again. We rode through some sand, tight village
gullies, broken roads, along bright yellow sunflower
fields, and great highways. This was now looking more
like a Royal Enfield ride. More riding, less stops, less
pics and total fun! Baz was getting better and proving
to be a decent rider, while Vincent was going all out
with drifting at corners, good speed offroading, jumps,
wheelies, burnouts and donuts, while the route stayed
beautiful and totally enjoyable.
Then as we caught
the highway 90 kms to Delhi, it got really cold,
extremely dusty and traffic seemed to be getting worse
with overtaking getting difficult and traffic jamming
the highways. Yet we rode on with a smile on our dirty
faces and with durt in our eyes. Baz exclaimed that this
was like a video game where every time you get used to
the adventure, a new levels starts. "You have now
reached level 10!". But this beats video games.
At the Delhi press
conference Siddhartha Lal, managing director, Eicher
Motors Limited, gifted Baz and Vincent a Royal Enfield
Classic 500 each with their names on the tanks. Baz
called it, "the most gorgeous looking bike I have seen"
while Vincent adjudged it "the most fun bike I have ever
ridden."
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