MARCH 2007

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31 March 2007

Bowen abuzz with excitement!

- As reported in my last news update, extras casting sessions for Australia are being held in Bowen this weekend, and I have heard that hundreds of people have been trying out. Best of luck to everyone who is lucky enough to get involved! Obviously, there has been a lot of buzz in the local media, and the following article highlights the level of excitement in Bowen at the moment! :)

Bowen prepares for movie role auditions
The Daily Mercury, 30 March 2007

It's the biggest thing to happen to Bowen since the mango – and residents are in there for the pickings. Bowenites are practising their walks, their talks and their charismatic smiles in the hope of snagging a part as an extra in Baz Luhrmann's latest blockbuster-to-be, Australia. Auditions begin today to find the hundreds of extras needed for the film. It's not quite the same as a starring role (Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman have already snaffled those honours) but plenty of people are putting their hands up for a part as one of 100 marching foot soldiers or a multitude of town folk and the opportunity to grace silver screens across the world. To recreate 1930s Darwin, scouts will also be seeking out people to play Japanese, Chinese and Aborigines. "I don't think I'd make a very good Japanese pearl diver," hospitality worker Gary Times said. "But I'll definitely be trying out for something – just to say Nicole and I starred in a film together."

And it's not just starry-eyed amateur actors looking to cash in on the glamour and be part of the $130 million production. As construction on the facades that will be the film's Chinatown escalate, the rest of the town is beginning to get excited about the film and the opportunities it represents. Stores are offering 'Baz burgers' and other paraphernalia in the hope of cashing in on an increased number of visitors who will visit the town in the hope of seeing a red carpet star during the filming. "Business is starting to be very clever about cashing in on the hype around the movie," Bowen Mayor Mike Brunker said. "It's going to be a fantastic thing for Bowen – it's already put us in the spotlight. The print media and TV stations are already arriving and Sunrise is talking about coming up for broadcasts – as well as the international coverage. If the stars like Bowen as much as we do, they might even buy real estate here and if the film is the kind of blockbuster Baz Luhrmann says it will be this could go on for years."

At this stage, crews are not filming; they are constructing all the necessary elements to turn the town into bustling 1930s Darwin. However, Mr Brunker said the big-name stars would begin to arrive in mid-May. And although there are no confirmed sightings of Kidman or Jackman yet, there are plenty of rumours to suggest they are not far away. Whispers they'll be staying on the LazyZ luxury cruiser moored at Abel Point are beginning to circulate and there are reports of an Airlie Beach restaurant receiving orders for a massive $4000 worth of top-end seafood (including a request for the very best locally caught coral trout, Spanish mackerel and prawns, oysters, calamari and southern crayfish, flown in with a $80/kg price tag). The film follows an English aristocrat (Kidman) who finds herself unexpectedly in the north of Australia from the mid 1930s until the bombing of Darwin.

Carlton Hill to be 'Faraway Downs'

Click here to visit the website for Carlton Hill Station

- The Sydney Morning Herald reported the following interesting tidbit in its Private Sydney section today. It has revealed that the Carlton Hill station in Kunumurra in the The Kimberleys will be the location where Lady Ashley's homestead will be built. We already know that the cattle station that Lady Ashley inherits will be called Faraway Downs, and now we know the location where these scenes will be filmed.

Rainman
Sydney Morning Herald, 31 March 2007

Baz Luhrmann had other things besides phantom pregnancies to worry about this week while checking out locations for Australia in Kununurra. It's been a particularly dry wet season there, but in the days before Luhrmann arrived the heavens dumped 30 millimetres of rain on the parched plains, making it virtually impossible for Luhrmann to visit the Carlton Hill station where the mythical Faraway Downs homestead will be built in the lead-up to the shoot. It's chopper access only for the next week at least.

More from David Wenham

- During the past week or so, David Wenham has been very talkative about his upcoming role as Neil Fletcher. In yet more interviews for his current release, 300, Wenham has talked more about Australia:

David Wenham fit for Spartan role
The Herald Sun, 31 March 2007

... In saying that, Wenham didn't think twice when the script for Australia, Baz Luhrmann's follow-up to Moulin Rouge!, landed in his lap. "It's not as though there are a huge array of incredible scripts that I would like to be involved in . . . it's really rare that I read a script and think 'I'd love to do that'," he said. "But there is only one Baz Luhrmann. I'm incredibly excited to go on this adventure. "There is no downer or negative in this film. To be involved in any project that Baz directs . . . you would give your left foot if you had to." Wenham will portray station manager Neil Fletcher in the film, alongside Oscar winner Nicole Kidman and Jackman. Set in northern Australia before World War II, Australia is a romantic tale of an English aristocrat (Kidman) who inherits a sprawling station and reluctantly makes a pact with a drover (Jackman) to protect it from a plot to steal it. While Wenham admits there may be pressure on Luhrmann for the film to succeed on an international scale, he isn't feeling the heat. "It's going to take us places I have never been in Australia," he said. "Australia is a phenomenally beautiful country and every time I go away and come back it never ceases to amaze me. "It's incredible, so I am looking forward to it." Australia is likely to keep Wenham in the country for the rest of the year, and the father of one has no qualms with that.

The star of David
The Sunday Telegraph, 31 March 2007

But Diver Dan and Faramir may soon be consigned to the past, for some fans at least, thanks to Wenham's role in Baz Luhrmann's upcoming epic, Australia. Set in the 1930s and '40s, the film will tell the story of an English aristocrat (Nicole Kidman) who inherits a huge Northern Territory cattle station, her journey across the country with an enigmatic drover (played by Hugh Jackman) and their subsequent experience of the bombing of Darwin in 1942. Wenham will play the film's antagonist, station hand Neil Fletcher, who plots to relieve the aristocrat of her inheritance.

With filming commencing in locations around the country only this month and the release date not expected until at least the latter half of next year, the buzz surrounding the film is akin to that of the Second Coming. "Well, it's going to be the biggest Australian film ever made," says Wenham, who first worked with Luhrmann on Moulin Rouge!  "He asked me if I'd like to be involved and, after considering his offer for all of about two seconds, I said I was in." Working with the cream of Australia's acting talent also has its appeal. "Nicole and Hugh may be megastars, but they're also terrific people, so it will be great to do this project with them," says Wenham, who starred alongside his friend Jackman in Van Helsing and worked with Kidman on Moulin Rouge!  "Actors in the States have openly said they'd give their left arm to be involved in this project, but Baz was adamant that he wanted to make a big Australian film with an Aussie cast and crew."

Hooking up with Jackman and Kidman in Sydney just before Christmas to read through the script, David recalls that excitement levels among the starry cast were high. "Nicole was like, 'I want to do this film now!'" laughs Wenham, who says the vibe on set will be similar to that of a high-school reunion. "We're all really looking forward to spending at least the next five months at home in Australia," he says. "Nic and Hugh, I know, are especially thrilled about it. We were talking about it at the read-through and neither of them could believe they’d be home for such an extended period. It's a definite bonus."

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28 March 2007

Bowen Extras Casting Sessions!

- It had previously been reported that Bazmark would not be advertising for extras in Bowen until a couple of weeks before the Bowen shoot was set to begin. However, I can now reveal that extras casting sessions are set to take place this weekend! :)

Very special thanks to BowenGirl for providing the above scans from today's edition of the Bowen Independent. Click on each picture above to view a larger image - both scans feature all the information you will need to apply! If you have difficulty viewing the scans, basic details are as follows:
Register at Bowen Guide/Scout Hall - all nationalities welcome:
Friday, 30 March 2007 - Adults 16 years+ - 11am until 5pm
Saturday, 31 March 2007 - Adults 16 years+ - 8:30am until 5pm
Monday, 2 April 2007 - Kids 8 - 15 years - 3:15pm until 5pm

Best of luck to everyone who is lucky enough to be able to be able to apply, and please feel free to contact me if you are able to attend any of the extras casting sessions. :)

'Australia' filming to be done in Darwin?

- The Ninemsn.com website is currently showing a video clip entitled 'Baz In Darwin'. The clip is a segment of Australian television show, the Today show. It is dated today, and the Baz segment of the video begins at approximately 1 minute, 28 seconds. The spoken dialogue is as follows:

Richard Wilkins (host):
Baz Luhrmann has been up in the Northern Territory. There was talk that Baz wasn't actually going to be shooting in Darwin but he's given it the thumbs up. It appeared that the Darwin scenes for the movie Australia were all to be shot in the Queensland town of Bowen which of course has got a deep harbour similar to Darwin, but Baz was in Darwin and you can see this vision of him up there yesterday taking some little digi cam vision of some of the locals and a bit of Hollywood hitting Darwin. Very exciting and that wharf, the big iconic wharf in Darwin, the Stokes Hill Wharf will feature prominently in the movie. That's the harbour that Nicole Kidman will land in on a Catalyna plane, playing an English woman who comes to Australia inheriting a big property, falling in love with a stockman by the name of Hugh Jackman. And of course the background of the Japanese bombing of Darwin. It's shaping up as a true epic and it's great to see Baz getting out meeting the locals and telling us what's going on.

Sarah (co-host):
And showing the world how beautiful Australia is, and parts of Australia they don't always see, you know, in Darwin and places like that.

Richard:
Yeah, well, it's going to be a real showcase for Australia, with a lot of the droving scenes in Western Australia, and of course Darwin, Queensland and head office here in New South Wales. It's not called Australia for nothing.

Sarah:
When do they start shooting?

Richard:
They start shooting next month, the end of next month, and the Darwin scenes June, July.

This is the first I've heard of shooting taking place in Darwin itself! There was no quotes from Luhrmann, just discussion between the television presenters, but there was footage of Baz Luhrmann on Stokes Hill Wharf in Darwin talking and taking photographs with Aboriginal people. Could it be that he has chosen to film some of the Darwin scenes here after all? Hopefully there will be confirmation of this soon!

Hugh Jackman on horseback!

- Here's a great picture of Hugh Jackman as he practices his horse riding skills at a course in Sydney. As reported in my last news update, Jackman and his family are now in Sydney and will be setting up home there for the duration of the Australia shoot.

Hugh riding high Down Under
Sydney Confidential, 28 March 2007

Aussiewood hunk Hugh Jackman is riding high in the saddle and back in his home town. The Boy from Oz - Down Under for Baz Luhrmann's upcoming epic Australia - has been pulling on his boots for a refresher horseriding course in Centennial Park since arriving at the weekend.  No doubt Jackman - to play Nicole Kidman's cowboy love interest in the flick - is keen to brush up on his horsemanship before galloping off to north Queensland when filming starts next month.  But the X-Men star won't be riding out of town completely - he is expected to set up camp in the Harbour City with wife Deborra-Lee Furness and children Oscar and Ava while the movie is made.  Although Jackman might want to ditch the helmet and aviators - he looks like a US police trooper.

David Wenham speaks 'Australia'

- Meanwhile, David Wenham has been very talkative about Australia over the past couple of days and has revealed lots of interesting tidbits of information about the production in the following articles:

Wenham trades gore for Luhrmann's outback adventure
The West Australian, 28 March 2007

Soon we'll see David Wenham as a Spartan warrior in the bloodstained epic 300. Next year, in Baz Luhrmann's project Australia, he'll be playing a cattle station manager. This is the kind of diversity craved by the Australian actor, who has made his name in roles ranging from Diver Dan in SeaChange to Faramir in The Lord of the Rings. For Wenham, a seasoned professional who chooses his roles wisely, playing station manager Neil Fletcher alongside Oscar winner Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman was a no-brainer.  "It's tricky ... it's really rare that I read a script and think I would love to do that," the 41-year-old actor said in Sydney while promoting 300, the ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC.  "There is only one Baz Luhrmann, there's no one you can compare him too, he's unique. I am incredibly excited to go on this adventure. "There is no downer or negative involved in this film. To be involved in any project that Baz directs ... you would give your left foot if you had to." Set in northern Australia before World War II, Australia is a romantic tale of an English aristocrat (Kidman) who inherits a sprawling station and reluctantly makes a pact with a drover (Jackman) to protect her new property from a plot to steal it. Hesitant to give too much away, Wenham alluded to a tale of back-stabbing, lies and deceit when asked about the film.  "I play a guy who manages a cattle station. It's a very, very large cattle station and without giving too much away. He likes it so much he wants the cattle station for himself," Wenham said. "Nicole and Hugh's characters may also have something to do with that."

Saddling up for big role
The Daily Telegraph, 29 March 2007

... Next up Wenham takes on another, similarly daunting challenge - trading spear and shield for a saddle and a parched landscape thanks to a starring role in the upcoming Luhrmann project, due to begin shooting in early May. "I'm a good horse rider. I'm using this project to turn good into great. The one thing I've never got on top of - and I am going to see somebody about, I have an appointment this week with Mr Horse Whisperer - I never feel like I have a total connection with the animal. This man can apparently achieve this in a two-hour period, so I look forward to that.'' According to Wenham, Luhrmann wants his actors to select the horse that fits their character. Co-stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman are both accomplished riders. Wenham says he is excited to be part of one of the biggest and most ambitious film projects ever to be undertaken in Australia. "Just before Christmas we rehearsed for a couple of weeks and then did a reading. It was terrific to actually sit around the table and hear this story come to life with some fantastic actors involved and Baz at the helm.'' Wenham is reluctant to say too much about emerging reports that he might be the villain of the piece. "Maybe,'' he grins. "Let's just say it's more likely than not.''

From old church halls to Hollywood blockbusters
The Australian, 29 March 2007

... Just to mix the comic book and fantasy characters, Wenham begins training and rehearsals today with Nicole Kidman and Jackman for Baz Luhrmann's upcoming romantic epic, Australia. Unlikely as it sounds, Wenham's value in Hollywood will rise as he goes bush with Luhrmann for six months. "It's not a bad thing, actually." Wenham said. "To be involved in the biggest blockbuster in the world currently, and then going into Baz's next film, my agent likes that. That you're not available makes you attractive, and especially if you're not available because you're working for Baz Luhrmann with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman." Not that there are any expectations associated with the $100million-plus Australia, which will be shot in Sydney, the Whitsundays and the Kimberley. "No, that's good," he smiled. "It's a small independent film that you're obviously aware of because you hunt these things down, but nobody knows this film is happening in Australia and it will be sight unseen until we're finished."

As we can see, there have been many great quotes from Wenham, who is obviously very excited about the opportunity to star in the film! However, his very last quote perplexes me, "It's a small independent film that you're obviously aware of because you hunt these things down, but nobody knows this film is happening in Australia and it will be sight unseen until we're finished." Small and independent?' I think not! 'Nobody knows this film is happening in Australia?' I don't think so! Somehow, I think David Wenham was using a large degree of sarcasm here! I don't think Australia will be a 'sight unseen' for much longer! ;)

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25 March 2007

Hugh Jackman in Sydney

- Production of Australia is getting really close now! According to the article below, Hugh Jackman arrived in Sydney today, and Nicole Kidman is expected to arrive next week to begin rehearsals:

Jackman in Oz for new movie with Kidman
7News, 25 March 2007

Aussie actor Hugh Jackman flew in from the US this morning to prepare for his new movie with Nicole Kidman. The star, and his actress wife Deborah Lee-Furness, had a bite to eat and did some shopping in the rocks with their two adopted children Oscar and Ava. Shooting for his new film, Australia, begins shooting next month. Nicole Kidman is expected to arrive in Sydney for pre-production on the film next week.

Nicole Kidman to arrive next week?

- The above article states that Kidman is expected to arrive in Sydney next week for pre-production on Australia. However, the exact date that Kidman will arrive in Sydney is yet to be determined. Other recent articles have also indicated that Kidman will be arriving in Australia soon, but articles such as the below have reported she won't arrive until Easter:

Keith, Nicole to spend more time in Oz
The West Australian, 20 March 2007

... Following his promotional duties, Urban said the couple would return to Australia in April for Easter, with Kidman expected to stay on to begin production on Baz Luhrmann's epic Australia, co-starring Hugh Jackman. Kidman's Australian publicist Wendy Day said she would be based here for at least six months. "She is really looking forward to making an Australian film in Australia and also seeing a bit of the Australian outback, which she hasn't been able to do because of her overseas commitments," she said.

Whatever date Kidman may be arriving, it should hopefully be within the next couple of weeks and we know that she is really looking forward to the movie shoot. The following article further highlights this, and also mentions that the costumes as designed by Catherine Martin are set to be "lavish and stunning":

Kidman an 'excited schoolgirl'
Sydney Morning Herald, 26 March 2007

Nicole Kidman was held up by work commitments in the US last week, so couldn't accompany hubby Keith Urban back to Oz. But insiders say it won't be long before the Oscar winner arrives back on our shores. Kidman will be here soon to begin working on her new film, Australia, under the guidance of Baz Luhrmann.

Friends of Kidman say she's thrilled about finally returning Down Under to make another feature film (it's been years since she was here in a professional capacity, working on Moulin Rouge!). "Honestly, she sounds like an excited schoolgirl," said a source close to Kidman. "She can't wait to come back here and make this movie." Kidman was terribly disappointed when Eucalyptus - the small-budget film opposite Russell Crowe - didn't work out.

While few clues have surfaced about Baz Luhrmann's script for Australia, the Kidman insider said "it's an adult's film, a beautiful script, an emotional, lovely story". Under the watchful eye of dual Oscar winner Catherine Martin, the costumes are said to be lavish and stunning.

Bombs Over Darwin Official Site

- The stunning painting entitled 'Bombs Over Darwin' was painted by Australian artist James Baines in 1992, the year which marked the 50th anniversary of the first bombing of Darwin during World War II. Baz Luhrmann's Australia will feature one of the Japanese bombings, and the painting gives us an idea of what kind of scenes we are likely to expect in the movie. I have already featured information about this painting on my History of Darwin page. However, I have now been informed that the official 'Bombs of Darwin' website has just been launched. The website is stunning and well worth a look - click here to check it out!

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18 March 2007

Bryan Brown and David Wenham on Australia

- This week, both  Bryan Brown and David Wenham have spoken about their roles in Australia. As we know, Brown will play King Carney, and Wenham will play Neil Fletcher (further details can be found on my Cast and Crew page).

On 15 March 2007, a number of regional Australian newspapers reported an article about another Bryan Brown project, and featured some brief comments from Brown regarding Australia, as follows:

"And then he'll head off to play a major role in Baz Luhrmann's big-budget epic Australia, appearing alongside Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman as "a bloke who owns most of Western Australia". "When you have to decide to give your time to something, you have to ask yourself if it's going to be really interesting," said Brown. "I'm always surprised at what triggers me to move on something. But the joy I get out of it is telling Australian stories and playing Australian characters."

David Wenham has spoken about Australia in a couple of interviews this week. First of all, a fan has transcribed on Live Journal an interview he did at a One Ring Celebration in California (in relation to his role as Faramir in the Lord of the Rings movies). The interview was held on 10 March 2007, and a couple of questions related to Australia:

Q: 300 rocks. What are your other projects?
A: After this weekend here, which is fabulous, go to London for 300 premier. Then back to Australia, Baz Lurmann's Australia with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, a big epic romantic adventure set in Australia in the late 30s, early 40s.

Q: Is the new Baz Lurhmann movie going to be a musical?
A: Not a musical, actually. The first three films that Baz did, he calls his Red Curtain trilogy, three films in that style, always adamant he was going to change. Suffice to say it's extremely ambitious, the biggest film ever to be shot in Australia. Not a war picture, a romantic adventure, set during Japanese invasion of northern Australia, not many people even know it happened.

According to the above, Wenham is heading back to Australia after the 300 London premiere, which was held on 15 March. Therefore, it looks like Wenham might be in Australia next week. As reported in my previous news update, Hugh Jackman is also expected to arrive in Australia next week. This indicates that there will be further rehearsals for Australia before filming actually begins. This is backed up by what Wenham has said in an interview in the April edition of Filmink magazine:

"After a little probing, Wenham reveals that his next port of call after Marrakech will be Baz Luhrmann's next project, a pre-World War 11 epic starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and currently carrying the working title of Australia. Wenham has a week's workshop as soon as he gets back from Marrakech followed by several more before the film is due to shoot in mid-2007. "I worked with him on Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge in workshop situations – it’s a creative experience," says Wenham of Luhrmann. "Baz comes physically with a script, which is then worked-shopped and deconstructed, and we can improvise stuff around it."

As we know, David Wenham played Audrey in Moulin Rouge, However, I do not remember Wenham being in Romeo + Juliet, and can only guess that he was at some point going to be involved. Nevertheless, it would appear that Wenham has had experience in workshops for two of Luhrmann's previous films, and therefore knows what to expect in the Australia rehearsals. It would seem that several rehearsals are set to take place before the actual movie shoot, which suggests that all of the film's stars will be in and out of Sydney over the coming weeks. Let's hope we hear more news soon! :)

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11 March 2007

Australia filming to begin next month?

- There is still some confusion over exactly when and where filming of Australia will begin. We have known for some time that the movie shoot was supposed to begin next month, but we are still not exactly sure what date or what location. A recent article about Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's holiday stated that "the couple scheduled the reunion ahead of his world tour and her work on Baz Luhrmann's Australia epic, which begins filming in Queensland next month." This would suggest that the movie shoot will begin in Bowen. However, it has previously been reported that filming in Bowen has been pushed back to begin in mid-May.

One thing we do know for sure is that Hugh Jackman will be in Sydney on 19 April to perform at a birthday party, as detailed in the article below. The article states that he will be working on Australia at the time of the party, which perhaps suggests that the movie shoot will begin in Sydney? The article also says that Jackman is arriving in Australia next week, which implies he may already be starting preparation for the movie shoot?

The article also reveals a new location where filming of Australia will take place. Carnarvon is a town in Western Australia. I can therefore only assume that filming will begin in Sydney next month, then move on to Bowen in Queensland, and then across the country to Carnarvon and Kunamurra in Western Australia.

Hugh to star at Fox Bash
Herald Sun, 11 March 2007

04 March 2007

Nicole Kidman Talks Australia

- Nicole Kidman attended the Oscars last week and was quizzed about Australia by a reported for the Daily Mail. Kidman commented that in seven weeks, she would be "riding horses and chasing young bulls". Seven weeks brings us up to the end of April, which is when filming was originally set to begin in Bowen. However, it has previously been reported that filming there has been delayed until mid-May. Will filming commence at another location before moving to Bowen? We are still unsure about the actual shooting schedule, but now that we have entered March, we are bound to find out more about this really soon :) The Daily Mail article reads as follows:

Kidman follows the herd
By Baz Bamigboye, 2 March 2007, Daily Mail

Nicole Kidman laughed and said she won't have much need for a Balenciaga gown when she's rounding up cattle in the outback.  "In seven weeks I'll be riding a horse and chasing young bulls," Nicole told me when we ran into each other on the Oscars red carpet. Fittingly, Nicole was wrapped in a swathe of dramatic red, specially created for her by the House of Balenciaga.

The actress told me she'd been preparing for months to shoot Baz Luhrmann's epic World War II-era movie Australia, which will film on location. Nicole will play an English aristocrat who travels to Australia after she inherits a cattle station the size of Belgium. Hugh Jackman stars with her as an Aussie cattle baron who comes to her aid when rival ranchers attempt to thwart her. They then drive 2,000 cattle across country and, on the way, witness the two Japanese bombing raids on Darwin in 1942.

Nicole picked up a few horse tricks a year ago, but the film was put on hold when Russell Crowe withdrew from the project after problems over the size of his pay cheque. Over the past 12 months, Nicole told me, she has learned how to round up cattle — and castrate young bulls. "I don't know if I'll have to do that, but it's best to be prepared," she said. Australia will shoot for five months and go on release next year.

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