DECEMBER 2007
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19 December 2007
Important Site Announcement
- I am sorry to announce that, a couple of days ago, my computer crashed and I've had to put it into a repair shop who can't guarantee it will be fixed before Christmas! Therefore, Baz the Great will not be updated for a short while. I am hoping to get my computer returned to me before the New Year, and I will get everything up to date as quickly as possible thereafter. In the meantime, please visit my affiliate website, australiamovie.net, for all the latest Australia movie news.
I hope to resume updating Baz the Great again as soon as possible, so please check back soon!
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15 December 2007
'Australia' Set Report!
- Further to my previous news update, where I reported that Elton John had interviewed Baz Luhrmann for his edition of Sydney's Time Out magazine, it has now been revealed that Elton actually visited Baz on the Australia set at Fox Studios! The Daily Mail yesterday reported the first ever set report from inside Fox Studios. The article reveals that Elton and partner, David Furnish, visited the set and were taken to a private room to watch around 10 minutes worth of scenes. They apparently said that 'Australia could become like Titanic on dry land'. It is also revealed that Elton might even write a love song for the film, although this is yet to be confirmed. Furthermore, on that particular day (Wednesday, 12 December 2007), it is reported that they were filming a ball scene set at Government House, which seems very likely to have been the same ball scene that was filmed on location at Strickland House back in May 2007. Also, a 'mammoth end-of-shooting wrap party' will take place today in advance of filming ending next week. Let's hope we hear news about the party in the days to come! :)
Elton John's on song to join Baz Luhrmann's Aussie epic
Daily Mail, 14 December 2007
Elton John would jump at the chance of writing a love song for Baz Luhrmann's
epic movie Australia. The singer-composer and his partner David Furnish visited
Luhrmann's set in Sydney on Wednesday and watched the film's leading lady Nicole
Kidman at work in the studio, filming a ball scene set in a stunning recreation
of the lush gardens of Government House in Darwin. (When the couple walked onto
the set, the film's band burst into Crocodile Rock in their honour.) I noticed,
though, that he and Furnish sat well away from the acres of real grass that had
been laid out. "That sod leaves a bit of an aroma," one crew member
commented, referring to the grass that had been carefully bedded down for a few
days. It did pong somewhat.
Australia is the biggest movie yet to be made in this faraway continent and it's a sweeping, yet ultimately intimate, tale join an of an aristocratic beauty, played by Nicole, who travels from England to visit her husband's sprawling ranch Faraway Downs in the remote northern outback. One way or another she meets a rough-hewn cattle drover, Hugh Jackman, who has his complex relationship with the landscape and locals. "It's a small movie that I'm just coming to grips with after nine months," Luhrmann joked. Then he added, more seriously: of delight Down "This film tests me as nothing else I've ever done." Indeed, after a day on set I can see the movie has Luhrmann's stunning visual imprint. Filming will actually end next week although a mammoth end-of-shooting wrap party will take place tomorrow for 700 cast and crew - plus their partners.
With Elton in
Sydney for the opening of the musical Billy Elliot, it was a perfect opportunity
for the singer to discuss what he might contribute to Luhrmann's film. After
watching footage on set, Elton, David and their two bodyguards were taken to a
private screening room to watch a ten-minute rough assembly of scenes. Both
Elton and David told me they loved what they saw and thought Australia could
become like Titanic on dry land. David said that Elton would run over hot coals
to be able to write a memorable love song for the mammoth £100million
production. Elton has film form, of course. He and Tim Rice won an Oscar for
their work on Disney's The Lion King, and scores of Elton's hits have been used
on movie soundtracks over the past three decades - including some on Luhrmann's
incredible Moulin Rouge movie.
The Daily Mail also reported more about their visit to the Australia
set in the following article. It gives further clues regarding the
Government House ball scene that was being shot that day, and reveals that
Nicole Kidman was wearing a red gown and that there were Chinese lanterns. The
setting sounds very similar to a scene that was shown in television clips
released by Yahoo News back in May 2007 when filming was taking place at
Sydney's Strickland House. The article appears to confirm that Luhrmann has been
shooting close-ups of this particular scene in the studio. The article also
reveals that the name of the event is the 'Mission Ball' and it actually takes
place in 1939, which will be near the beginning of the movie and years before
the bombing of Darwin. I therefore presume that the ball will take place before
the Drover and Lady Ashley embark on their cattle drive across the Australian
landscape.
Why Nicole Kidman's dreaming of a hot Christmas with the family
Daily Mail, 14 December 2007
Nicole Kidman glided up the grass-covered walkway in a red gown created by
Oscar-winning designer Catherine Martin, a gardenia tucked in her beautifully
coiffured hair and, on her feet, a pair of ... Birkenstock sandals. Of course,
they were out of shot, and it was easier for the actress to do multiple takes in
a pair of Birkies than in feet-killing stilettos.
The setting is 1939, and Nicole's character, Lady Sarah Ashley, is attending the
annual Mission Ball at Darwin's Government House. Scenes had already been shot
on location, but director Baz Luhrmann wanted to do close-ups in the studio,
hence the pongy grass underfoot. Completing the party mood were Chinese
lanterns, an 11-piece band and scores of extras (including the director's sister
Amanda, president of Baz's film company Bazmark, her hair in a Marcel wave and
wearing a glamorous gown).
Nicole is thrilled to be starring in Australia - but still can't quite believe she's playing a bloody Pom. "I'm in one of the biggest films to be made in my country, and I'm playing an Englishwoman. Can you believe it? I'm frightfully English," she said in her best cut-glass accent. The long shoot has taken the actress over vast reaches of Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
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12 December 2007
Elton John Interviews Baz!
- Any interview with Baz Luhrmann is always an entertaining read. However, Sydney's Time Out magazine has today published a special edition that was edited by Sir Elton John, and inside it features the following interview with Baz. It appears that the interview took place while Baz was on his way to the Australia set, but unfortunately there is no mention of the movie, except at the very end where he confirms that there will be a scene involving a crocodile...
Elton Interviews Baz Luhrmann
12 December 2007, Time Out
EJ: I've been to
Sydney countless times and I love everything about it. Baz, what is it about
this city that people such as ourselves respond so passionately to?
BL: Someone reminded me that I once likened Sydney to an arrogant lover: when
it's cold and rainy it can seem distant and a million miles away from anywhere.
But when it wants to, Sydney bats its eyelids, the sun comes out and it becomes
glamorous, sexy, fun and cosmopolitan. The amazing thing about Sydney is you can
be exceptionally urban all day but within minutes, living the beach life. Most
towns in Europe have a city centre or town square. In the US it's often the
mall. In Sydney it's the beach.
EJ: Is there a great
Sydney film I haven't seen?
BL: Such hard questions while I'm rushing to the set! Off the top of my head,
you probably haven't seen an old classic, which is very cute, called They're A
Weird Mob about Italian immigrants coming to Sydney in the '60s. I myself
remember living as a young actor in Kings Cross and thinking that Phil Noyce's
Heatwave caught the feeling of the city at that particular moment in time. The
same goes for Ray Lawrence's more contemporary Lantana. Also, I believe in the
'80s there was an interesting urban drama starring Judy Davis called Winter of
Our Dreams in which a young actor played her pimp. Whatever happened to him!?
[Ed: It's Baz in his biggest role since six eps of A Country Practice in the
80s!]
EJ: Is this city's
unique charisma too difficult to capture on film?
BL: I hope one day to make a film that uses the canvas of our city and its
unique and particular qualities, but at the moment my hands are somewhat full.
Soon…
EJ: The first time we
saw Moulin Rouge! - David [Furnish] and I came out completely shaken. What a
work of genius it is! But what was the first time you ever heard one of my
songs? Do you remember where you were and what you were doing?
BL: When I was a young boy growing up in country northern NSW I was on a
ballroom dancing trip with my parents and was lucky enough to win the 'latest
technology' - a portable cassette recorder! The first tape I ever bought was a
compilation called something like Ripper '73 on which I found a track called
Crocodile Rock which I played incessantly over and over and over again. I
distinctly remember pretending to be you - this 20th century Mozart - playing
the piano up the back of the tour bus.
EJ: It's always hugely
gratifying when a director chooses to feature one of my songs in a film. My
favourites have been 'Tiny Dancer' (Almost Famous), 'Amoreena' (Dog Day
Afternoon) and, of course, 'Your Song' (Moulin Rouge!). Can you tell me why
'Your Song' was chosen, what it evoked in you and how a song can transform for
the cinema?
BL: The truth is I was working with Anton Monsted, my music supervisor, in San
Diego and we were sitting in the Four Seasons Hotel. The piano player was
playing all the classics when suddenly he launched into what I have to say was a
rather 'piano bar version' of 'Your Song'. At the time my co-writer Craig Pearce
and I were developing the key musical idea of using contemporary music as text.
In that moment hearing 'Your Song' was definitely one of those moments where the
planets aligned, especially when I later played the original version. The whole
idea of Moulin Rouge! was to take true classic songs and for me "classic" means
art that is relevant no matter the time, no matter the place, and this is true
for 'Your Song'. Many people contributed classic songs to Moulin Rouge! but you,
Elton, were the first to believe in the idea and give your support. Without it
there probably would never have been a Moulin Rouge!. You led the charge for the
other artists to come aboard and be involved. Thank you!
EJ: Do you need any of
my songs for Australia?
BL: Well there is a scene in the film involving a crocodile…
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7 December 2007
2007 AFI Awards
- The Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards were held last night in Melbourne, and it was rumoured that Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman might take a break from filming Australia to attend. Unfortunately, Kidman, Jackman and indeed Baz Luhrmann were all absent from the Awards. However, it was a wonderful night for Australian film and television, with many other stars turning up to support the industry, including Geoffrey Rush, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, and Hugh Jackman's wife, Deborra Lee-Furness (pictured above). Congratulations go to Australia star, David Ngoombujarra, for winning the Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama award for his role in the SBS tv series, The Circuit. Click here to read an article from The West Australian, which was just one of the many articles reporting on the Awards.
David Gulpilil Update
- As reported in my previous news update, Australia star David
Gulpilil was hospitalised this week after falling ill on a plane. It has now
been confirmed that the actor is suffering from pneumonia, and let's hope he has
a speedy recovery. The West
Australian reported the following:
Gulpilil treated for pneumonia
The
West Australian, 6 December 2007
Acclaimed Australian actor David Gulpilil has pneumonia and is being treated at
a Sydney hospital. Initial reports indicated Gulpilil, 54, suffered heart
problems during a Qantas flight from Brisbane to Sydney on Tuesday night.
When the flight landed he was rushed to Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
where he underwent tests on Wednesday.
Gulpilil is working on Baz Luhrmann's film Australia.
Production spokesman Steve Newman said the actor was on his way to Sydney for a
series of close-up shots as part of filming.
"Doctors say the test results show David has pneumonia," Newman said.
"David does have an infection in his lungs. He has developed pneumonia and will
remain in hospital.
"What's important now is that David gets the rest and treatment that he needs."
A hospital spokesman said Gulpilil was in a stable condition.
His first film role was in the 1971 Australian classic, Walkabout.
He has starred in more than 26 films including Ten Canoes, Rabbit-Proof Fence,
Storm Boy and Crocodile Dundee.
Newman did not believe the actor's illness would delay production of Australia.
Baz Luhrmann's 'Australia' Mishap
- The Daily Telegraph
has revealed that Baz Luhrmann was injured on the set of Fox Studios during
filming of Australia. It was a minor foot injury, but a photo of him
being helped into a wheelchair last Sunday sparked rumours that things were a
bit more serious than they seemed! However, his publicist has confirmed that the
wheelchair was just a bit of fun, and it seems he is on the road to recovery. I
would also like to point out that accidents and reshoots do seem to be a common
occurrence when it comes to Baz Luhrmann films, however they always work out in
the end :) The article also reveals that they are currently shooting a number of
water scenes. Could these be in relation to the Darwin bombings? We know that
the Drover rescues children on a boat, and there is a lot of action at the
wharf. Will there be some underwater shots surrounding these events? We will
have to wait and see!
Baz Luhrmann's stage accident
The Daily Telegraph (Sydney Confidential), 6 December 2007
He's put his blood, sweat and tears into the Australia epic, now Confidential
can reveal how Baz Luhrmann has really put his back into the flick - and ended
up in a wheelchair in the process.
The Aussie director is understood to have been injured about 10 days ago on the
Fox Studios set of his labour of love, hobbling around with the aid of a walking
stick since.
With production on the local blockbuster already behind schedule, due to weather
delays and unexpected reshoots, Luhrmann has soldiered on with a noticeable
limp.
But a sneaky snap of the Moulin Rouge master being helped into a wheelchair by a
friend and wife Catherine Martin at the Park Hyatt hotel on Sunday apparently
isn't what it first seemed to be.
"That was just a bit of fun. He's still got a bit of a sore foot (from the set
spill), but the wheelchair was just him skylarking with a wedding party on the
day,'' his publicist, Maria Farmer told Confidential yesterday.
Studio spies reported yesterday Luhrmann is clearly on the road to recovery.
"He must be on the mend because he was leaping about the place wearing a
wetsuit. There are a number of water scenes they're doing at the moment which
explains that (outfit),'' the Australia insider said.
Luhrmann's trip up must have worried the film's bean counters, especially given
the director's track record.
His leading lady famously shattered her knee during the filming of Moulin Rouge
in back in 2000, which saw Kidman quit her role in the Jodie Foster-flick Panic
Room and resulted in two claims for delays and a massive $US3 million insurance
loss.
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5 December 2007
Kidman proud to be in 'Australia'
- People News has
revealed that Australia is the type of movie that Nicole Kidman has
dreamed of making since she was a child. The following article has some great
quotes, and reads as follows:
Nicole Kidman's Australian dream
People News, 3 December 2007
Nicole Kidman has revealed her new film 'Australia' is the movie she "dreamed of making" since she was a child. The Oscar winning actress is extremely proud to be a part of the romantic epic directed by 'Moulin Rouge' creator Baz Luhrmann and co-starring Hugh Jackman. Nicole, 40, said: "It's just extraordinary in epic-ness. This is the kind of film that I dreamt of making as a little girl. For 'Moulin Rouge' we did everything in the studio but for this we've been on location the entire time - in Darwin, up in Queensland and then camping out in tents in the middle of the desert."
'The Golden Compass' star also admitted one of the best things about working on fellow Australian, Luhrmann's World War II romantic epic was filming without a green screen - the industry term for working with computer generated images. She said: "Green screen is definitely not my favourite thing. I became an actor because I wanted to act with other actors. That's been the beauty of Baz's film - you are on location breathing the air, feeling the impact of the sunsets. With something like 'The Golden Compass' you really have to use your imagination, and it's a different challenge. But it's where movies are heading. 'Australia' is the last of a dying breed and this is part of the new wave."
Get Well Soon, David
- It has been widely reported
today that David Gulpilil, who will star in
Australia, was rushed to hospital last night after suffering a suspected
heart attack. Thankfully, he is now in a stable condition, and let us hope he
gets well soon.
David
Gulpilil rushed to hospital
Territory News, 5 December 2007
Territory movie
star David Gulpilil was rushed to hospital last night after suffering a
suspected heart attack on a plane. Gulpilil, 54, was met by an ambulance on the
tarmac at Sydney airport after complaining of chest pains during the flight. He
was taken by the ambulance to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital at Camperdown in
Sydney's inner west.
A Royal Prince Alfred spokesman last night confirmed the former NT Australian of
the Year was taken to the hospital. He said the screen star, who has been named
a living National Treasure, was in a stable condition. "He wanted us to let you
know that he was stable," the spokesman said. A Qantas spokeswoman would not go
into the specifics, only confirming there was a man who was unwell. "A passenger
did fall ill on a flight from Brisbane to Sydney," she said. She confirmed an
ambulance met Qantas flight QF553 when it touched down at Sydney at 8.45pm (AEDT).
A friend of the star's said last night Gulpilil was a known nervous flyer. One
of NT's most famous sons, Gulpilil has starred in many iconic Australian films
including the Territory film Ten Canoes. Born in Arnhem Land, Gulpilil set
Australia alight with his screen performances over a career that has so far
lasted almost four decades. Gulpilil made his film debut in 1969's Walkabout,
and soon followed that up with other scene-stealing roles in films such as Storm
Boy.
Gulpilil in hospital after falling ill on plane
The Australian, 5 December 2007
Actor David Gulpilil is in a stable condition today after suffering heart
problems on a plane. Gulpilil, 54, was met by an ambulance on the tarmac at
Sydney airport after complaining of chest pains during the flight last night. He
was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Gulpilil, who is working on Baz
Luhrmann's film Australia, fell ill on a Qantas flight from Brisbane, one of the
film's production staff said today. An RPA hospital spokesman said Gulpilil was
in a stable condition today. A Qantas spokeswoman confirmed a passenger fell ill
on flight 553 from Brisbane but said the plane was not struck by lightning, as
had been reported today. Gulpilil's first role was in the 1971 Australian
classic Walkabout. He has starred in more than 26 films including Ten Canoes,
Rabbit Proof Fence and Crocodile Dundee.
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