MAY 2007

 ________________________________

29 May 2007

More Australia Photos!

- Celebrity Gossip has posted four images of Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman on horseback from shooting on 25 May. In one of these shots, Jackman is seen smoking a cigarette, which fits in nicely with his 'rough hewn' drover character! Also, photographer Cameron Laird's website has been updated with even more photos from the set, the latest ones being of young Brandon Walters cracking his whip on horseback yesterday! :)

'Making of Australia' Video

- Click here to check out a fantastic video from the Bachelor of Digital Innovation program at Central Queensland University. The video is available to view on You Tube and runs for six minutes. The description of the video reads, "Take a peek behind the scenes of Baz Luhrmann's romantic epic Australia, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Set in 1940s Australia, the film is being shot on location in Bowen, Queensland. Highlights of this video include the landmark Bowenwood sign, stars going through their paces, and the much anticipated droving scene in which hundreds of shorthorn cattle stampede through the streets." Special thanks to 'cqumackay' for pointing it out. If anyone has any other images or videos from filming in Bowen, please feel free to contact me.

Bowen Buzz Continues

- The Townsville Bulletin's Bowenwood page continues to keep us updated with all the latest news from the town. The most recent story revolves around the fate of the cattle who have featured so prominently during the movie shoot. It  is reported here than only around 200 cattle will make the journey to Kununurra, with the rest being sold off. The next article gives details of some of the war trucks that will be used in the film, and the other two articles are all about Saturday's Bowen Seafood Festival, where six lucky event goers were lucky enough to win the opportunity to meet Hugh, Nic and Baz himself! :)

Brief stardom
Townsville Bulletin, 30 May 2007

Bowen's famous cattle may end up as hamburgers. Currently they're living a life of luxury _ they have drovers by their side 24 hours a day, sprinklers to keep them cool and they're led by Hollywood royalty Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Location manager Mary Barltrop said they had to be the best looked-after steers in the country. "I'm surprised they're not in the make up trailers every day," she said. "But they have been doing a wonderful job of kicking up lots of red dust. There's 700 odd cattle there so watching them is like a tsunami of cattle." On their days off they can be seen lazing around the mangroves along Quay St either munching on grass or wallowing in the mud. But Ms Barltrop said they shouldn't get used to their relaxing lifestyle anytime soon. "After filming ends they will be having a couple of weeks holiday out at pasture to let them get over their hectic schedule," she said. "Then we're taking about 200 up to Kunanara with us in July and the remaining 500 will be sold." She said there were no details yet on when the cattle would go to auction.

The large mob have played a major part in the epic movie, creating a cattle stampede. Ms Barltrop said there were some members of the crew who would not be upset to see them go. "We have an off-set cattle yard where some of the cattle are being kept that are right near where some of the crew are staying," she said. "They've been coming into work bleary-eyed because the cattle have kept them awake all night with their loud mooing." The long-horned beasts are now working on overtime. They were due to finish filming last Friday but Ms Barltrop said she had her fingers crossed filming with the cattle would be over tomorrow.

War trucks' starring role
Townsville Bulletin, 29 May 2007

Townsville World War II trucks rumbled into Bowen yesterday, ready for their movie debut. The set of Baz Luhrmann's Australia will begin undergoing a transformation today into a militarised 1940s Darwin. Four antique military trucks – a military ambulance, a GMC, a Studebaker US6 and an International – arrived yesterday on the back of semi trailers. Military and Historic Vehicle Club of Townsville vice-president Col Feather made the trip down with the trucks, along with some fellow club members. The men will play the drivers of the vehicles when they join the 400-odd extras being used during military scenes early next week. Mr Feather will be behind the wheel of the military ambulance, which he has spent years restoring, with the help of his uncle Lyle Smith and some mates. He said the final paint touches had only been added to the vehicle on Monday. But it had come a long way since it was found abandoned. "Twenty years ago it was pulled out from its resting place at Mt Molloy," he said. "I'm glad everyone will get to see how good it looks now it's been brought back to the original look." Another one of his vehicles appearing in the movie, the Studebaker, has already made its movie debut in The Thin Red Line that was filmed in the 1990s.

'Keith Urban' wins race
Townsville Bulletin, 28 May 2007

Keith Urban was all beady eyes and threatening claws at this weekend's first ever Bowen Seafood Festival. Keith Urban the mudcrab that is. It seemed right that he should take out this year's first Nicole Kidman Cup crab race and he did it in style. Although fellow racers Hugh Jackman and John Howard put on a good show it was Keith that took the lead and won the race. Sadly, all 12 competitors will end up in the cooking pot - even winner Keith. On Saturday about 5000 people turned out at Hansen Park for the inaugural festival. Fresh seafood was the order of the day, with people munching on fresh prawns, fish and even the poor mudcrabs. Although passing rain put a damper on the day at times, families, visitors and Australia film crew alike turned up at the festival. Six lucky event goers will even be given the chance to meet the stars of Baz Luhrmann's movie, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and the director himself. Queensland Seafood Industry representative and event organiser Terry Must said the crowd turnout 'beat all expectations'. "We thought the fishing classic was big but the turnout was fantastic," he said. "It was programmed to run between 11am and 7pm and at 11.30am all the car parks were full. I think some of the food outlets had to run for more tucker at 1pm. We had a shower of rain and we thought that would thin out the crowd but people kept coming. All the stallholders are rapt and served close to 1000 people each. It will be bigger and better next year."

Raffle winner meets stars
Townsville Bulletin, 30 May 2007

When Dianne Dalton heard her name had been drawn to meet the stars of Australia she didn't get her hopes up. There are two Bowen women with the same name and with her luck she didn't think it would be her. But when she received a call to confirm her win she was over the moon. "We heard from one of Megan's friends from school that they announced my name," she said. "But I thought `let's not get too excited until we hear from the movie people'." Only days later she received the call that she and five friends had the opportunity to meet with director Baz Luhrmann, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Mrs Dalton said her husband Bruce and 16-year-old daughter Megan would accompany her but she had yet to decide the remaining three people. She entered the competition at last Saturday's Bowen Seafood Festival where free raffle tickets were being handed out for people to win the chance to meet the stars. Mr Dalton said his wife was not the luckiest person and she deserved the win. "She said it was the only thing she had won since winning a frozen chook at a country dance when she was a teenager," he said. "When she heard she won she was so excited and she was ringing everyone but no one was answering their phone." The lucky six have the opportunity to personally meet the stars and director of Australia and pose for a photo with them. Mrs Dalton said she couldn't wait for the meeting that was yet to be set. "It's very, very exciting and I just can't get over it," she said. "My mother's excited and she's 81. I think they're going to be very nice people."

Interviews with Merle and Mike

- Earlier this month, Who magazine interviewed pie shop owner and local legend Merle Jochheim, and the town's always enthusiastic mayor, Mike Brunker. The interviews appear in the 28 May 2007 edition of the Australian Who magazine. The following transcripts are from the Who website, and are actually dated 17 May:

Nicole and Keith Drop in to Bowen's Jochheim's Pies
The shop honours the stars in town to shoot Australia by creating a Hunky Jackman pie, Baz Baguette & Nicole Petit

As the cream of Australia's film industry converge on the small Queensland town of Bowen to film the Baz Luhrmann epic Australia, the locals are over the moon playing host to such stars as Nicole Kidman, her husband Keith Urban, Hugh Jackman and of course the director himself, Baz Luhrmann. WHO spoke to local businesswoman Merle Jochheim, about the buzz that's hit Bowen.

I wanted to ask you about the famous pies you have in the shop as well as your famous customers.
We want them all to be able to come and go without all the photographers following, and it's common knowledge now (we weren't letting on) but both Nicole and Keith popped in for a cup of coffee.

When was that?
Yesterday, just pulled up and came in.

Did they buy any of your pies?
No, Nicole's more into healthy food, which we thought. We actually named some pies after Hugh Jackman. A Hunky Jackman pie. We've got chunky crossed out and we've got a Hunky Jackman Pie, which is just hunky, chunky meat. And we've got a Baz Baguette with Baz written in flour on the baguette. And then we've got a Nicole Petit biscuit, which she loved. She thinks that's lovely. She tried one. And we've got the Kid Mango Cheesecake. It's rather like her, it's creamy, she has the most beautiful complexion. Her skin is just beautiful. We're thrilled that they're living in Bowen and we're thrilled that they can come and go and we hope they can do this more often. They've got such long days, they're there from six in the morning to six in the afternoon. Very long days. It's beautiful weather, a little bit warm, but it's beautiful and everything's looking so gorgeous.

Do you think Nicole and Keith came into the shop because they had heard about your celebrity pies and biscuits?
They probably heard about us because we kind of met Baz Luhrmann when he was looking for a site for the movie. I didn't know who he was and I just gave him a talk and told him how wonderful the town was and he really had a nice feeling about the town. He didn't tell anybody he was in town and I didn't even recognise him. And then he came back and we've had contact with him and the crew ever since. Since they've been building the sets from the last two months, the crew from the gardeners to the top managers, they've been fantastic and just blended into the town. And so has Baz Luhrmann. He's made sure that with the Bowen people, he has really looked after everyone. We're thoroughly enjoying it. It's just so good for the town and at last everyone knows where Bowen is. We don't have to say we're half way between Townsville and Mackay.

How long did Nicole and Keith stay in shop?
Just like an ordinary couple, just a chat and pick up the coffee, waited for the coffee and drove off again. He had coffee. They both had coffee. She likes a coffee. Honestly they were just... If you couldn't see their faces you wouldn't have known (who they were). They just stood at the counter and chatted while the coffee was being made. She was going to work.

What did she say about the Nicole Petit?
She thinks it's lovely, she thinks it's really, really nice. She's quite proud of it, makes us proud of it. Because we wanted something nice that wasn't offensive or stupid and tried to get something to blend into her looks.

I heard you were considering the Steak and Kidman Pie?
Yeah, we were toying with that. That was the sort of thing we were toying with. We wanted it to be something just nice.

Hollywood Comes to Bowen for Baz Luhrmann's Australia
WHO speaks to Bowen Mayor Mike Brunker about the buzz that's hit the town since the arrival of Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman & Baz Luhrmann

As the cream of Australia's film industry converge on the small Queensland town of Bowen to film the Baz Luhrmann epic Australia, the locals are over the moon playing host to such stars as Nicole Kidman, her husband Keith Urban, Hugh Jackman and of course the director himself, Baz Luhrmann. WHO spoke to the Mayor of Bowen, Mike Brunker and local businesswoman Merle Jochheim about the buzz that's hit Bowen.

It's great you have a town full of people.
Oh shit, yeah, no worries about that.

How are the townspeople coping with the influx?
Well it's been on the go for a while obviously. People have been expecting things to happen when the construction started and the cows all turned up and they've just been waiting for the movie to start. And now she's into it. There's the old Baz [Luhrmann] buzz alright. It's all happening.

How did the cattle run go?
Good. Last Saturday we sat around for a couple hours waiting for it to happen. There were 600 or 700 people in the street. They ran overtime a bit, it was supposed to start at 3pm and eventually by 5, no-one had moved but then the whips were cracking. It was good.

Are the cast and crew enjoying the local tourism or is it all work, work, work for them?
Obviously since they've just started they have a lot of work, work, work. I think they have a six-day week so they have Sunday's off. It would be a good opportunity to get around the town and have a look at the beaches.

What could they do on their day off?
There are a lot of beaches they can have a look at, obviously have a look around the region. The first couple of weeks, because they are working they might not want to go anywhere. We're having a seafood festival on the 26th May and on June 3rd it's Queensland Week and, the Premier (Peter Beattie). For first time they're going to celebrate Queensland Week outside of Brisbane.

You've had meetings with Baz [Luhrmann], how did they go? What was he like?
He's a bit of a character. He's been true to his word up to now, everything he's said he's delivered on, which was good. We had to give him some hints, not hints, but some direction on infrastructure in the early days. But he's been good.

How long will the cast and crew be in town for?
About six weeks. Once all the media stuff dies down they'll be able to get around the town a bit more freely and once they settle in they'll find that we're around. A lot of media were let in (on-set) yesterday which a couple of the guys reckon they'll tighten up today but they gave them a good look yesterday and then hopefully they'll sort of die off and go away.

Have you met Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman or any of the big stars?
I was standing in line with Keith Urban in the tucker tent yesterday when we went for lunch. All the cast and crew get into together. Keith went back to the trailer with Nicole but everyone else is mingling together with the extras and volunteers. It's a family environment.

Where is the film location exactly?
It's straight down the end of our main street. Herbert Street, on our esplanade. There's the sea —a little park and then the sea. And there's a big vacant block of land there. We were in the process of running with developers to go in there but they've held off until the movie's been done. They were just very lucky that all the planets lined up and that it was still actually there. You wouldn't think there would be such vacant blocks of land beside a jetty, on the front beach. They were very lucky.

When did Baz Luhrmann first consider Bowen as a location?
Over 12 months ago. Baz came to town six months ago when he first had a good look at it.

Where are the bulk of the cast and crew staying?
All in town, a mixture of motels and houses. The stars are in town and that's probably one thing we stipulated in the early days — that the community is giving up a lot of stuff in the main street and are being inconvenienced so we would like to see the stars stay in town. Houses have been vacated for them. Some of them (residents) were asked if they wanted to go on holidays and they could have their holiday paid for them and the stars have a nice home.

Have you seen Nicole and Keith together?
Oh, on the set together.

Are they still looking like the honeymoon couple?
Very much so.

It's great that Keith has time to be with her...
I think with their jets and everything it's only a couple of hours flight and when he's had his Sydney concert, I think he'll be back again.

Next Stop: Kununurra

- When filming wraps in Bowen at the end of June, it will move on to Darwin for a few days during July, and then across to Kununurra, which is patiently waiting for its time in the media spotlight. According to the following article, there is already a lot of interest in the area, and deservedly so, because filming of Australia will take place there from late July! :)

Film provides tourism drawcard for Kununurra
ABC News Online, 28 May 2007

Tourism authorities in Kununurra, in northern Western Australia, are reporting a surge of interest in the region ahead of the filming of Baz Luhrmann's new film Australia. The Kununurra Visitor Centre says it is already fielding a significant number of enquiries about the epic starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Scenes for the film are due to be shot around Kununurra from late July, with about 300 cast and crew expected to converge on the town. The centre's general manager, Peter Grigg, says the movie is likely to continue to be a tourism drawcard once it is released. "I know what it's done for New Zealand with the Lord of the Rings trilogy," he said. "I'm not saying the same thing will happen here, but I know that every little town that's had one of these movies made in it has reaped a whole heap of benefits." The centre's reported a big increase in patronage, with just under 90,000 people visiting the facility throughout 2006, up from 64,000 in 2001. Numbers through the centre's doors are predicted to exceed 92,000 this year.

_______________________________

27 May 2007

More Australia Photos!

- Check out the above image taken by photographer Cameron Laird of Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman on horseback! This photo was taken on 24 May, and it was the very first image I'd seen of the actors on horseback together. Visit Cameron's wonderful Australia Movie Gallery for many more images of the stars taken during the movie shoot.

- Just Jared has today posted more images of Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman on horseback - Click here to check them out. Just Jared also reported, "Nic has definitely becoming more daring and is living on the edge lately. She insists on doing all the stunts, which is pretty amazing," said horse trainer Craig Emerton recently. "Nicole had 750 cattle bearing down on her and with her whip cracking, she’s just performed amazingly. I’ve told her if she wants to quit acting, we can make her into a horse-riding champion." Just Jared also posted many more images of Nicole and Hugh on horseback on 24 May 2007 - Click here to check them out.

Darwin Shoot Video

- NKU has posted a video from the Australian television show, Nightline, shown on Channel 9 and dated 22 May 2007. The video details what will happen during the Darwin shoot, and also reveals an expected release date of November 2008. You must be a member of the website's message board to download the video, so if you're unable to access the video, don't worry, as I have done a complete transcription of the audio right here :)

The video reports that filming in Darwin will start in late June. However, with filming expected to continue in Bowen until the end of June, this seems to be a few days out. Also, we already know from the information reported by The Sydney Morning Herald in my last news update that, "Filming will start at Darwin's Stokes Hill Wharf on July 2 to 5, when Kidman is shot arriving in Australia from England in a Qantas flying boat. It will resume on July 10 and 11, after the real life working wharf is made to look as it would have a couple of hours after the bombing occurred." The video also reports that the total screen time of the Darwin shoot will only be around 5 minutes, whereas the previous article reported 5 - 10 minutes. Whatever the case, the city will of course still play an important role in the film. It is also very exciting to hear from the video that shuttle buses will be operating to take movie fans to the end of Stokes Hill Wharf to watch the filming! :)

Also, a number a people have e-mailed me recently regarding Darwin extras casting. I have been searching everywhere for information regarding this, but all we know at the moment is that they will require volunteers and around 200 extras for the shoot. There's been no further details released as yet. I would probably recommend to anyone interested to perhaps try contacting your local newspapers, or even the Darwin Council. If you find any information regarding extras casting in Darwin, please contact me.

Transcript of 'Nightline' Video - 22 May 2007

Nightline Presenter - "Filming in the top end will begin late next month with hundreds of Darwin residents in line for cameo roles rubbing shoulders with the stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman."

Bowen Reporter, Justin O'Brien - "Three weeks into filming and the residents of Bowen, Queensland, are already feeling the benefits of our movie, Australia."

Male Bowen spectator - "We're standing here watching them make a movie. We're standing on the set, and that's just bloody fantastic."

Reporter - "Set in the Northern Territory and described as an Aussie epic version of Gone With The Wind, when cameras start rolling on Stokes Hill Wharf in late June, it's hoped the movie will sell Darwin and the Top End to the world."

Phillip Roope, Location Supervisor - "Basically, Lord of the Rings was made 6 years ago. Every year since that was made, tourism to New Zealand has gone up 20%."

Reporter - "The Government has chipped in AU$200,000, as well as incentives like shutting down construction at the waterfront to satisfy film makers. Of the final cut, it's believed only 5 minutes of the movie will have been filmed in Darwin."

Carl Wood, Location Manager - "No matter how much is shot here, or how much is shot elsewhere, Darwin is a star and the Top End is a star."

Reporter - "Shuttle buses will transport tourists, locals and movie fans to the eateries at the end of the wharf, where producers say they'll get a close up look at the movie being made."

Producer - "This is an epic film."

Reporter - "Volunteers and a lucky 200 are needed for movie extras. Once completed, Australia is due to be released in November 2008."

Partying in Bowen

- A lavish party took place in Bowen's Grandview Hotel last night, with 400 cast and crew and Bowen volunteers partying the night away. Local resident, BowenGirl, who has kindly supplied many location photos to this website, was lucky enough to be among the privileged few who attended the bash. She was lucky enough to meet Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Hugh Jackman, and Catherine Martin. She also watched as Baz Luhrmann and Nic got up onstage and talked about how well the movie shoot is going. It seems that everyone is having a great time during filming, and it's so wonderful to hear that it's been a really good shoot! The following article also gives details of the party, with further details about how the town of Bowen has been transformed for the shoot:

Nic and Hugh throw party
The Daily Telegraph, 27 May 2007

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman threw a lavish private party for the cast and crew of the $130 million outback epic Australia last night. Kidman's husband Keith Urban was expected to make an impromptu appearance as the main musical attraction. The celebration, at a local pub in north Queensland, capped off an action-packed week for the stars, whose gutsy performances on horseback have been praised by director Baz Luhrmann.  As these exclusive photographs show, Kidman is revelling in her role as an English aristocrat who inherits a cattle farm.  "She insists on doing all the stunts, which is pretty amazing,'' said horse master Craig Emerton, who has been training Kidman and Jackman since April.  In a scene reminiscent of the buffalo stampede in Dances With Wolves, hundreds of cattle thundered down the main street last week, led by Kidman on horseback.  "Nicole had 750 cattle bearing down on her and, with her whip cracking, she's just performed amazingly,'' Emerton said.  "I've told her if she wants to quit acting, we can make her into a horse-riding champion.''  Last night Kidman charmed more than 400 cast and crew, as well as Bowen volunteers, who crowded into the Grandview Hotel for the invitation-only celebration. A crew member said: "Nicole is having a ball at the moment and she loves filming in Australia. She and Hugh just wanted to say thanks to everyone involved in the film''. "It's a chance to relax and let their hair down for the first time,'' he said.  Crates of champagne were ordered in to toast the night, which was to culminate in Urban taking to the stage.  Among those partying were Bryan Brown, David Wenham and Ben Mendelsohn. Kidman has confided to the crew that she is enjoying the action scenes and it was a delight to have her husband and son, Connor, 12, on set.

The Queensland coastal town of Bowen, where a third of the film will be shot, has been dramatically transformed into 1938 Darwin. Bitumen roads have been replaced with red dirt, the sea air is thick with the stench of cow dung and horse manure and modern buildings have had panels added for the wartime era. Each day, locals line the streets, waiting patiently in the heat for the treacherous cattle drives. But as Bowen comes to terms with its newfound national fame, the town is awash with wild rumours that Kidman, her horse-riding efforts notwithstanding, might be pregnant. "Ludicrous, absolutely not true,'' a close source said. One clear fact in a swirl of rumour is that motels, hostels and even caravan parks are booked out. Locals have started billeting visitors in their homes, the retirement village is offering beds and the CWA is also cashing in, renting out its hall. Jochheims Bakery is doing a roaring trade, with even Keith Urban popping in to try a Hunky Hugh pie and a Kidmango White Chocolate Cheesecake. He has also been spotted riding his Harley Davidson motorbike around the district. While Kidman's personal bodyguard is always close, the film stars are trying to mingle with locals. Kidman popped into the local pub on Wednesday night for the State of Origin. Jackman took his son for a swim at Horseshoe Bay and David Wenham posed for photos while buying groceries at the local supermarket. "We're all star-struck,'' said Scott McCormick, who is among hundreds of locals employed as extras.  "I did a mammoth 16-hour day but I don't mind. There's a lot of waiting around,'' Mr McCormick, 27, said. In his role as a drover he said he's swallowed plenty of red dust. "When the cows are going past they shovel all this red dust so it looks like there are a couple of thousand cows stampeding. I was coughing up plenty of dirt by the end.''

The world's paparazzi have been camped in the small Queensland town for the past two weeks.  While they have snared plenty of photos of Kidman and Jackman filming on set, what they desperately want is the big-money shot of Kidman with her husband. The photo would command a price tag of at least $100,000, said photographer Cameron Laird. "If we got Nicole and Keith hand in hand on the beach or riding down the main street of Bowen the price would be enormous,'' he said. A photo of Nicole with son Connor, 12, would also demand ferocious bidding. But with Connor set to return to the US - and his father Tom Cruise - tomorrow, time is running out.

And here's another similar article about last night's party and the movie shoot in general, which also reveals that there will be no filming done today. No filming was done last weekend either, and so I would presume the shoot won't start up again now until Monday. Let's face it, after all the activity this week, I think the cast and crew definitely deserve a well-earned rest! :)

Bowen Shoot: Days 8 and 9

More Info - Bowen Shoot

- More articles about the Bowen shoot have been reported over the past few days. This first one gives some great character information, including the revelation that Bryan Brown will be playing a "bad bastard"! LOL! ;)

Hugh, Nicole waiting for love
News.com.au, 26 May 2007

It has been dubbed Gone with the Wind meets Out of Africa. And while there has been plenty of action, so far there has been no sign of the raunchy love scenes promised by screen siren Nicole Kidman.  The Aussie Oscar winner laughingly told The Courier-Mail how keenly she was looking forward to "more than a kiss" with co-star Hugh Jackman in the $130 million Baz Luhrmann outback epic Australia. But just two weeks into filming in Bowen and her English aristocrat character Lady Sarah is clearly yet to be seduced by the "rough-hewn" charm of the outback stockman. Both Hollywood heart-throbs have, however, been wooing the ever-increasing crowds flocking to "Bowenwood" with some consummate displays of horsemanship. Some of the more dramatic scenes shot in the main street this week involved Kidman and Jackman getting into a heated argument with self-proclaimed "bad bastard" and cattle baron Bryan Brown. Both parties exchange words before the two Sydneysiders wheel their mounts and gallop off through a mob of cattle into a cloud of dust.

Jackman looks the part with his two-week-old beard, sweat-stained shirt and cowboy hat. But the Hollywood hunk admits it has been a steep learning curve trying to master the art of riding like a ringer, mustering cattle and tossing steers. "I have been taking tips from some of the best in the trade," the X-Men star said. Veteran Cape York stockman Neville Hutton, who built the old-fashioned wooden cattle yards in the Bowen film set, said he had offered Jackman some advice about how to carry himself off as a cattleman. "He looked like a yuppie when I first saw him," said the Normanby station ringer, 58. "He needed to toughen up a bit."

Veteran actor Brown said he was relishing his "dark" role as a powerful cattle baron. "I like playing a bad bastard," he said. The supporting cast of Australia reads like a who's who of veteran Australian actors. There's Brown, Jack Thompson, David Wenham and Bill Hunter, John Jarratt and Arthur Dignam, Bruce Spence and Barry Otto. Top indigenous actors feature, too, with David Gulpilil and son Jamie, as well as David Ngoombujarra in the period film set in the Northern Territory during World War II. A long time ambassador for Australian film, Brown believes this project may be the next big thing for the local industry. "There are no guarantees with movies," Brown said on radio. "But this might just nail it on the head and thrill a lot of people."

This article from The Townsville Bulletin's Bowenwood page reports that another set for the Bowen shoot is currently being constructed on the foreshore, which reveals that nuns will be coming ashore in a row boat! I'm not sure how that will fit into the plot of Australia, but it is certainly an interesting tidbit of movie information! :)

New addition to set
Townsville Bulletin, 26 May 2007

Another addition to the Australia set is being constructed on Bowen's foreshore.  A church and schoolyard is being erected on Quay St, a fair distance from the rest of the set. Bowen local Graeme Beverly has an earthmoving business and is helping build the addition. "What happens is they have nuns come ashore from the jetty in a row boat," Mr Beverly said. "The reason they chose this location is because you get unobstructed 180 degree camera views of the jetty all the way around to the church and school," he said. Mr Beverly said he didn't know whether the A-listers would make an appearance on the set – but he did know that, two weeks into filming, business in Bowen was booming. "Nothing is being done in halves," he said.

Adorable Brandon!

- Check out this adorable new picture of young Brandon Walters who, as we already know, was hand-picked by Baz Luhrmann to play the character of Nullah in Australia. The picture was accompanied by the following article, which recaps what Baz Luhrmann has already said about young Brandon in an earlier interview here which was reported back on 17 April 2007:

New face of Australia
Sydney Morning Herald, 27 May 2007

At the age of seven, Brandon Walters beat leukaemia. At age 11 he is the face of Australia - a young boy plucked from obscurity to star alongside Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in one of this country's biggest film productions. Brandon, 11, was chosen by director Baz Luhrmann for one of the pivotal roles in Australia after a nationwide search for an indigenous boy to perform alongside the film's Hollywood superstars. "He's a very capable young man with a natural cinematic chemistry," said Luhrmann, who hand-picked Walters for the role. Brandon had never heard of Kidman or Jackman nor left Western Australia before being earmarked for the blockbuster film. His mother, Janie Wright, says her son auditioned for the role of a young Aboriginal horseman after being spotted with his father at the local pool by a casting director. "We got a letter from the director [Luhrmann] saying he was very, very interested in him," Ms Wright told The West Australian. "He didn't know who Hugh Jackman was and he didn't know Nicole Kidman," she said. The boy, who was living with his family in an Aboriginal community near Broome, is untrained as an actor but is now immersed in filming in the north Queensland town of Bowen. "The demands of filming extend over a six-month duration which is a big challenge for an 11-year-old boy with no previous acting experience," said Luhrmann, in a statement provided by his publicist. "In the end it was the incredible support that surrounds him in the form of his family, his school and the larger Broome community that was the final deciding factor." Luhrmann spent time with Brandon and his family at the community near Broome, with locals saying he listened to traditional camp-fire stories and Brandon play the harmonica. Brandon then attended film workshops at Sydney's Fox Studios with other indigenous boys, before being chosen for the role. He is now in Bowen, learning horse riding and singing, and being schooled on set. Brandon has been spotted happily mixing with Jackman, Kidman and her son, Connor, and has been accompanied to the set by his own family from Western Australia. He will travel with the big-budget production to Darwin and Western Australia in late June and July.

_______________________________

23 May 2007

Cameron Laird Website

Check out Cameron Laird's fantastic website with an Australia Movie Gallery featuring over 140 exclusive images from the Australia set (and counting!) Cameron Laird is a very talented photographer whose photos have appeared in various news sources and websites. New photos are added to his website daily, and today he has added exclusive pictures of Bryan Brown in costume as King Carney. Cameron's photos are available to buy or view online. He also has a fantastic blog about his onset experiences. I would definitely recommend keeping an eye on his website over the weeks to come! :)

Bowen Shoot: Day 7

- Special thanks to Bowen Womun for providing some fantastic photographs from yesterday's Bowen shoot. Check out more images on my Bowen Location Images page. She has also revealed what happened during yesterday's filming, which was Day 7 of the Bowen shoot: "Filming today was mostly in the upstairs of the Qld Transport building - Carney Cattle Company. There were people on the verandah nearly all day. There was lots of movement around the cattle yards below with many old vehicles and lots of oriental people. The cattle were set to run around 5pm but due to overrunning of some helicopter filming this morning they ran out of time. Apparently all the cameras etc were removed at some point for the helicopter's aerial photos and that went on longer than planned. So the cattle will do their thing tomorrow. The crowds were big in anticipation too which was a shame". There was also the following article reporting about yesterday's shoot in The Townsville Bulletin:

Kidman's son stole show
Townsville Bulletin, 23 May 2007

There was no sign of Nicole Kidman yesterday but her son Connor turned a few heads. The young Mr Cruise spent a second day horsing around on the set of his Mum's movie, after flying back into Bowen with Nic on Monday after she took a weekend off. Wearing a stack-hat, and proudly perched on a well-groomed stallion, young Connor followed the other horses up Herbert St, smiling and waving at locals and photographers to signal the end of filming. "I'm having a great time," Connor said. The child's appearance late in the day was the highlight of a tedious day on set. On-lookers were forced to peer through the windows of the Grand View hotel in hope of glimpsing the stars. A helicopter hovering above the set late in the day took aerial shots of the set. But little has changed after the first week of filming, with the scene still depicting 1939 Darwin. However, a pewter soldier now adorns a rock statue in the centre of town, outside the Grand View Hotel, a symbol of the film's progression toward re-enacting World War II. On set yesterday, the dust was flying as Hugh Jackman sent herds of heifers through their paces. The strapping star spent a second day in the saddle cracking the whip. But dozens of fans barely got a glimpse of the main man, with filming taking place well back from the renowned viewing platform at the Grand View Hotel. Massive propeller fans were used to blow up tonnes of dust that had been dumped on the street, to create the illusion of stampeding cattle. But the swirling dust created a smoke screen, through which the stars of the movie were barely visible.

Darwin Shoot Information

- The Sydney Morning Herald has today reported an interesting article about the production. The article confirms that the final scenes of the movie will feature the destruction caused by the first of the World War II bombings of Darwin. The article also includes lots of great quotes from Bazmark's location manager, Phillip Roope. The article reports the filming dates for Darwin, and that they are looking for 300 extras to participate. It is also revealed that the scenes shot at Stokes Hill Wharf are expected to be included for around five to ten minutes in the final movie.

Movie sheds light on first ever attack
The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 May 2007

It's being billed as Australia's biggest ever movie, but Baz Luhrmann's "Australia" may also shed new light on an often forgotten episode in Australian history. The outback blockbuster will climax with Japan's bombing of Darwin 65 years ago - Australia's first attack on home soil. "It draws attention to a lot of people about what happened up here during war time and the heritage of World War II we have here," said Brian O'Gallager, from the Northern Territory chief minister's department of major projects. At least 243 people were killed and hundreds more injured in Darwin during Japanese bombing raids on February 19, 1942. The first 40-minute raid badly damaged the town, demolishing eight ships including the destroyer USS Peary with the loss of 91 seamen, and all but one of Darwin's warplanes. The destruction will form the backdrop for the final scenes of the film, when Hollywood superstar Nicole Kidman wanders Darwin wharf after driving 2,000 cattle across the Top End. "There is action aplenty," said Bazmark location manager Phillip Roope. "It's an epic, that's all I can say."

Australia centres on an English aristocrat, played by Kidman, who becomes the proprietor of a cattle station before World War II. She enlists the help of a "rough-hewn" drover, played by Hugh Jackman, in a fight against cattle barons who plot to take over her land. The plot also involves a young Aboriginal child who is rescued from a mission. Speaking at a media briefing with two of the movie's producers in Darwin this week, O'Gallager said the NT government had contributed $200,000 to the project. "It will promote Darwin and the Top End to an international audience and I do think it will really boost our tourism industry, both immediately and with longer term strategic growth," he said. Construction costs, hiring machinery, accommodation and meals for the crew would also provide a welcome injection of funds to the local economy, he said. Roope said the movie had the potential to do for the Top End what Lord of the Rings did for New Zealand six years ago. "Tourism has increased 20 per cent there every year since then," he said. "If an iconic film works it has the ability to kick start something that can generate a lot of interest and a film of this size will generate a lot of international interest. "It is set in a place that is seen as very exotic to people in America and Europe."

The movie also has the potential to shed light on one of the most overlooked incidents in Australian history. This year Darwin commemorated the 65th anniversary of the bombing. But while it was a big affair in the Top End, the anniversary of the Japanese raids rated only a passing mention elsewhere in Australia. Despite this, the producers believe it will soon become part of the national consciousness, after moviegoers are treated to a visual account of the first time bombs fell on Australia. Roope said the movie - describing it as "Gone With The Wind meets Out Of Africa" - was the largest ever attempted by an Australian director with an Australian production company. It is expected to hit the big screen late next year. "This is the biggest Australian film ever, the amount of equipment, the scope of the film, the locations ... it's something that Australia has never attempted before," Roope said. "The north of Australia is a new and exciting frontier and one of the last in the world," Roope said of the film, which is expected to cost $US100 million ($A122.2 million).

Filming will start at Darwin's Stokes Hill Wharf on July 2 to 5, when Kidman is shot arriving in Australia from England in a Qantas flying boat. It will resume on July 10 and 11, after the real life working wharf is made to look as it would have a couple of hours after the bombing occurred. Stokes Hill Wharf will remain open for business throughout the filming. "At the moment we are just starting a bit of the construction process. We're just dressing the edge of the wharf so that from water level it looks like things are going on in a wharf as they would have in 1939," Roope said.

The production company is looking for 300 extras to fill the five to 10 minutes of screen time expected to be included from the wharf filming in the final movie. "The ethnic mix that was Darwin then and Darwin now," Roope said. "Baz is interested in doing things in the real place. The story was conceived up here and he has always, ever since his first trip to the wharf, seen it as a really important part of the story." Filming has already started in the north Queensland coastal town of Bowen, which will portray 1930s Darwin. Luhrmann - whose hits include Moulin Rouge, Romeo And Juliet and Strictly Ballroom - also plans to shoot in Western Australia's unique Kimberley region near Kununurra in late July. But the film begins and ends in Darwin, with what Roope describes as the "mystery of the aqua waters".

_______________________________

21 May 2007

ABC North Queensland Radio Interview

- ABC North Queensland Radio interviewed me live on air at just after 5:45pm local time today. I would like to thank the producer for getting in touch with me, and the presenter, Nicole Dyer, for a fun and fantastic interview. The radio station will be sending me an MP3 of the interview shortly, but for now please feel free to read the complete transcript that I have posted here.

Highlights included Nicole asking what is the first thing I would say to Baz if I met him. I said I'd ask him Hugh Jackman's character's name, and even she admitted that their spies on the ground in Bowen haven't been able to find that out yet! Also thanks to Nicole for supporting this website, at one point even saying, "Oh look, if Baz is listening. Hugh Jackman may be listening. Nicole Kidman, anybody could be listening. Please tap Baz on the shoulder and say get on to this woman's website, because she's dedicated it just to you Baz." :)

Bowen Shoot: Day 6

- Just Jared has today posted more photos from the set, which was Day 6 of the Bowen shoot, and we can see that both Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman have had a costume change. Nicole Kidman took her young son, Connor, to visit the set, and she was pictured horse riding in a new outfit. Hugh Jackman was also pictured horse riding in a change of costume - darker trousers and a long drover's coat. Check out Just Jared for more images.

The Townsville Bulletin's Bowenwood page has also posted more articles today, including the following one about Nicole Kidman on horseback in the streets of Bowen:

Bowen Photos

- Thank you to site visitors who have been e-mailing me with location photos of Bowen. Today I have posted six more photos on my Bowen Location Images page, with special thanks to Baz and Shaz, and Judy, for sharing their images! If you are lucky enough to be living in Bowen right now, or if you are lucky enough to visit, please feel free to contact me if you have any images or news that you would like to share.

_______________________________

18 May 2007

ABC North Queensland Radio: Tune in Monday!

- The producer of 630 ABC North Queensland Radio has e-mailed me and kindly asked me to do an interview! My radio interview will take place at 5:45pm (Queensland time) on Monday, 21 May 2007. I will be chatting with presenter, Nicole Dyer, about what inspired my website and my interest in Baz Luhrmann, and of course Australia! It would be great if as many Australian site visitors as possible could tune in and listen. I am hoping to obtain a transcript of the interview that I will post here at a later date.

ABC North Queensland have an excellent website, which currently features the below story about the Bowen shoot. Breakfast presenter, Michael Clarke, managed to have a quick chat with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, which is available to hear on the site. Mr Clarke has also posted some fantastic images from around Bowen, including the first ever shots of the t-shirt that the volunteer movie guides are wearing around town! The front of the t-shirt has a map of Australia with the names of the film's locations highlighted in red, with the words 'Australia Volunteer' over the image. And the backs of the t-shirts (pictured below) read 'Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in Baz Luhrmann's Australia - Coming to a town near you - Sydney, Darwin, Bowen, Kununurra, Sydney".

Baz buzz at Bowen
ABC North Queensland, 17 May 2007

North Queensland has certainly caught the "Baz Buzz". The quiet seaside town of Bowen has been transformed into Bowenwood with director Baz Luhrman and crew shooting the new movie "Australia". For the next 6 weeks, the tropical town is one of the most important film sets in the world, playing host to stars Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. Much of Bowen's famous beachfront has been taken over for the film, which is a epic love story set before and during World War Two. The streets are covered in red dust, new buildings have been erected and Bowen is now doubling as 1930s Darwin. Hundreds of locals have signed on as extras, and more are playing the role of volunteer guides who tell tourists all about the sets and shooting schedules. Residents say the movie has put the community on the international map and will be a significant boost to the economy for some time to come. And while the stars of the film have been working very hard, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman have found the time to take a break and mix with fans. The ABC's Michael Clarke was there, and took some photos and even interviewed the Hollywood actors.

Bowen Shoot: Days 4 and 5

- The Townsville Bulletin has today featured even more articles about the Bowen shoot on its fantastic 'Bowenwood' page. One of the articles reports on the happenings of today's shoot (18 May 2007), which was Day 5 of filming in Bowen:

Most a-peeling job on set
Townsville Bulletin, 19 May 2007

It may not be the most glamorous job in Baz Luhrmann's Australia, but it is certainly the most a-peeling. Linda Granat has been employed by Bazmark Films to help peel hundreds of fruit and vegetables for the cast and crew of the epic Aussie film while it is being shot in Bowen. At $15 an hour, it was an offer the 21-year-old Swedish backpacker couldn't refuse. "It will definitely leave a lasting memory of my trip to Australia," Ms Granat said. Crew walked up and down Bowen's main street yesterday hoping to find peelers for the mystery job. While many said yes to helping out tomorrow night, they were all clueless as to the reason for the strange request. "I asked them why they needed so many people and they said it was to help the cast and extras," Ms Granat said. "We still don't know where we're needed tomorrow night. They said they would call."

Thank you, CM!

- The Daily Telegraph appears to have been the first media publication to mention the involvement of the fantastic Catherine Martin (aka CM). As with Baz's previous films, she is the production and costumer designer for the movie, and she has already been given praise for Hugh Jackman's much adored drover costume! :)

Making magic with Hugh
Daily Telegraph, 19 May 2007

She collected an Oscar for making Moulin Rouge the visual spectacular it was and it's nice to see Catherine Martin is weaving her magic again on the set of Australia. Very, very nice in fact. As production and costume designer on her husband Baz Luhrman's latest flick, it's Martin who deserves the plaudits and another Academy Award for putting Hugh Jackman in a pair of moleskins and boots. And a tight shirt, too. No wonder his co-star Nicole Kidman is going ga-ga over the scripted love scenes. "I hope we do more than just kiss, he's a hunk," she said on set this week.

________________________________

16 May 2007

New Nic and Hugh Photos!

- Just Jared has today posted even more fantastic photos of Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman on set in Bowen. It looks like this website is going to be revealing photos from the Australia set on pretty much a daily basis! I reckon Just Jared has to be the best website on the net for onset photos at the moment! The two photos seen above feature full length behind shots of the main stars. Visit Just Jared for even more images!

Nicole Kidman Radio Interview

- Click here to listen to a fantastic radio interview with Nicole Kidman by Australian radio station, 2DayFM. The interview is currently featured the top of the page and is called 'Nicole Kidman Live From The Makeup Chair'. She mentions Australia throughout the interview, and reveals some great information. Kidman is hoping the movie will be a "love letter" for the country, and that Baz and her have wanted to do the project for a long time. She said the shoot will take around 6 or 7 months - after Bowen they will head to Darwin, then the Kimberleys, and then back to Sydney again. She also reveals that she bought a Nicole Petite biscuit, and a Baz Baguette, from Merle Jochheim's bakery in Bowen! Most excitingly, when asked if she is going to have to kiss Hugh, she replied, "Of course! Well, it's a love story, I hope we do more than kiss! It's important!"

Volunteers Meet Nic and Hugh!

- Well done to the lucky volunteers who got to rub shoulders with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman today! The stars went for quick walk during the shoot to say hello to people watching the filming. They even took the time to sign autographs and pose for photographs. The Townsville Bulletin has posted the following article on its excellent 'Bowenwood' page, as well as the above photo.

You're Kidman, is that Hugh?
Townsville Bulletin, 17 May 2007

Murphy's Law struck in Bowen yesterday.  A professional photographer with a massive telephoto lens who had staked out the set of Baz Lurhmann's Australia all day, left for 20 minutes to answer a phone call from his boss. In that 20 minutes, the film's stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman – in period costume – decided to go for a quick walk to say g'day to those who had taken the time out to watch their movie being made. Meanwhile, the film's local volunteers, who had been filling in visitors on the daily occurrences of the production, were awarded with a chat and a photo with the stars. The Australian actors even signed autographs. "The first thing Hugh said to me was 'thank you for being a volunteer'," said Lorraine Maltby, one of the lucky few to have her photo taken with the actors. "It was lovely to hear him say `g'day mate' to everyone, and then ask them whether they wanted their photo taken. "It was just so nice to see. Both of them (Hugh and Nicole) were so friendly and happy to be here." Another volunteer, Cristian Lenske, had a large group shot of all the helpers taken together with the stars. Mr Lenske, who works in his parent's newsagency, said it was amazing to see the pair in real life. "And all of a sudden Nicole and Hugh walked straight towards us."

Bowen Shoot: Day 2 (15 May)

- The Townsville Bulletin has today revealed that an official movie shooting schedule has now been released with a rough plan of the next six weeks of filming set to take place in Bowen. (How I'd love to get my hands on that schedule, lol!) The following article features lots of great information about the shoot that will take place over the next few days, and also reveals that Bryan Brown will be wearing a fat-suit for his role as King Carney!

Rolling, action, rumour
Townsville Bulletin, 16 May 2007

Interest remained strong as day two of filming for Baz Luhrmann's epic Australia got under way in Bowen yesterday. Hundreds of locals milled about outside the Grand View Hotel hoping to rub shoulders with Nicole and Hugh yesterday afternoon, after a well-sourced whisper spread that the stars would make an appearance at the end of filming. Disappointment was clear when the duo had failed to show by 7pm - well after the rumoured time of 5.30pm. But Hollywood was hard at work until well after dark, re-shooting takes of both Nicole arriving in 1938 Darwin, and Hugh's character fighting in a rowdy pub brawl. An official movie schedule, released yesterday, outlines a rough plan of the next six weeks of filming in Bowen.

Today will centre on perfecting the scene where Lady Sarah Ashby arrives in Australia and meets Hugh. It will be the third 12-hour day of filming the same scene, with shooting scheduled from 6am to 6pm. Australia volunteer tour guide Ivan Roberts said a helicopter may have been used to aid effects in the first three days of filming, but there was no activity in the sky yesterday. But tomorrow, the action will move from the Territory Hotel to the Pearl Cinema. The stars will have a late night, with shooting taking place from noon until midnight. Speculation is mounting that Keith Urban will return to Bowen after performing in Sydney for an impromptu performance at the Grand View Hotel on Thursday night. Friday will see an all-night filming session, from 4pm to 6am on Saturday, before the stars take a break for the weekend. Mr Roberts said a crane would be used to dump water over Nicole during filming at the Pearl Cinema on Friday, to re-create a tropical downpour. Next week, actor Bryan Brown will don a fat-suit for his role, as filming moves to Carneys Corner at the intersection of Dalrymple and Herbert streets, where Brown's character is attempting to claim Nicole's cattle and property.

And once again, today has seen even more Australian media articles posted online, all highlighting the excitement in Bowen. Here's just a couple:

Nicole, Hugh and a cast of thousands
Daily Mercury, 16 May 2007

The lights are up, the cameras are rolling and there is definitely no lack of action in the once sleepy town of Bowen. The rumour mill has gone into overdrive since filming began this week on Baz Luhrmann’s new project, Australia, with paparazzi lurking around every corner and hundreds of keen spectators lining the streets to catch a glimpse of the action. The Grandview Hotel has become the unofficial viewing platform for the film – not to mention the town hub for film gossip and star sightings. One onlooker said female lead Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban had reportedly been spotted at local bakery Joachim's early yesterday morning, while her male counterpart Hugh Jackman supposedly took some time out at a local gym. Other spectators were more focused on the film's impressive sets with one woman saying "it's amazing what they’ve done to this place, just amazing". Some even speculated at the chance of Nicole Kidman's husband returning to the town for a surprise concert at some point in the near future. But not everyone was thrilled with the Hollywood invasion, with many in the crowd voicing their annoyance at the paparazzi who have hit the town in force. "One guy actually snuck on set yesterday and took some photos before he got kicked off, so now they've increased the security threefold," said another photographer, who did not wish to be named. One youngster on a school trip was also less than impressed with the film set, telling a friend he was upset that he couldn’t actually make out any of the stars. But for the majority of onlookers, Hollywood fever was rife, despite the distance between cast and crew and eager fans yesterday. "They can't stay all the way over there all the time," one optomistic onlooker said. Bowen resident Tracey Morton, who got a sneak peek at the stars last Sunday, said the town was truly coming alive now that the stars had arrived in the region. "It's pretty exciting – the whole thing didn't really bother or interest me until I saw Nicole and Keith the other day – now it’s like it’s really hit," she said. "My husband is a plumber and he's actually at the set right now fixing the hot water in Baz Luhrmann's motorhome – I can’t wait until he gets home to tell me about it." And with just under two months of filming remaining in the coastal town, there are sure to be plenty more stories yet to come.

Bowen abuzz over Baz's vision
News.com.au, 15 May 2007

Locals are calling it the "Baz buzz". The film industry is calling it the biggest punt in Australia's cinematic history. Baz Luhrmann's latest film, Australia, has moved production - and brought intense levels of excitement - to Bowen, in north Queensland, after shooting in Sydney. Luhrmann has taken with him two of Hollywood's biggest stars, Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman (and her husband, Keith Urban), and the biggest film production ever seen outside the walls of Australia's three major film studios. Bowen's moment in front of the camera began yesterday with a traditional "welcome to country" ceremony for Kidman, Jackman and the rest of the cast and crew by Birri Gubba Juru tribal elder Jim Gaston before shooting began. Bowen Mayor Michael Brunker has watched Luhrmann and the director's Academy Award-winning designer wife, Catherine Martin, transform his coastal town into 1940s Darwin.  And he's seen his townsfolk burst with enthusiasm. "I think people will calm down after a week or so," he said yesterday. "But everyone's excited now that Nicole and Hugh are here. It's been like having a baby really; 12 months ago we were just talking about it and the conception of the idea. The set started going up, but until the stars arrived the big stars had been the 400 to 500 short-horn cows that have been practising up and down the main street." Luhrmann has brought a David Lean-style scale and major Hollywood budget, estimated to be $US100 million ($120 million). The romantic epic stars Kidman as Lady Sarah Ashley, an English aristocratic who follows her husband to his Australian cattle station, crossing the country with a drover, played by Jackman.  Luhrmann told The Australian his vision could presage a future where the nation's biggest stars regularly returned to work here with Hollywood studio money. "We may fail but in the end what this production symbolises is a different kind of future for the Australian film industry," he said. That future has already seduced Bowen.

________________________________

15 May 2007

Hot and Sweaty Hugh!

- Yesterday, we saw the first images of Hugh Jackman's drover outfit, and today we have the pleasure of checking out pictures of 'hot and sweaty' Hugh in a movie brawl!

Sweaty Jackman in action
Daily Telegraph (Sydney Confidential), 16 May 2007

Fist fights - if only make-believe - broke out on the film set of outback epic Australia yesterday. Hollywood hunk Hugh Jackman could clearly be seen sporting several bloody cuts on his face after a bar-room brawl in the opening scenes of Baz Luhrmann's $130 million film. Jackman's character meets his love interest, played by Nicole Kidman, as he crashes through a window. There was no sign on set of Kidman, who earlier stopped at the local bakery with husband Keith Urban before he flew out for the second leg of his national country music tour began in Sydney last night.

Lady Ashley meets the Drover

- Just Jared today posted some fantastic images of another scene, which presumably will take place very shortly after the fight sequence. Just Jared reports, "In this scene filmed in Bowen, Australia on Tuesday, Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) leaves her hotel where a man was seen mishandling her luggage. The cattle drover character (super sweaty Jackman) rushes to the rescue and kindly returns Lady Ashley’s luggage back to her… including her bra! Always a gentleman…" Check out the Just Jared website for other pictures from yesterday's shoot!

So it would appear that the opening scenes of Australia will feature Lady Ashley encountering the drover after he crashes through a window of the Territory Hotel and knocks over her luggage! They then meet for the very first time when he returns items of her luggage, including her bra! LOL! Not exactly the way I imagined the movie opening, I have to admit. However, we have known for some time now that Baz Luhrmann had always planned on involving some comedy elements in this movie, and this scene looks like it will be a total classic! :)

More Production Articles

- The Australian media is all over the Australia movie shoot, and I think it's brilliant that the Australian media is being so supportive of the project. I do realise that publications in other countries have hardly mentioned it, but it's early days yet, and I'm sure that international exposure will increase as the movie shoot progresses. It might be that international interest will not really peak until nearer the time the movie is eventually due to be released. But in the meantime, we can thank the Aussie media for keeping us fans so well informed! The following are more articles with yet more interesting tidbits about the production. And remember, if you see any other relevant movie information or articles that you would like to see posted on this site, please feel free to contact me :)

Everyone's in a lather
Excerpt from Townsville Bulletin, 15 May 2007

Rain down on Nic
Movie talk from Bowen has it that Nicole will be rained on this Friday night. Apparently she will be in the open air picture theatre built on the set and rain will pour down from the boom of a crane dangling above the movie theatre. And as for the handsome old pub The Territory Hotel? It burns down at the end of the movie.

Australia: The movie now in progress
Excerpt from Homes Worldwide, 15 May 2007

Australia is set to be the largest production in Australian film history, with a record budget of A$100 million and crew of 300. Filming in Darwin will begin from 2 July 2007 for around two weeks; Stokes Hill Wharf is the main location there. Bowen, in north Queensland is being made over to look like 1930s' Darwin; the bulk of the filming is taking place in WA and Queensland. The cattle station scenes will be filmed near Kununurra, and Beatrice Hill near Adelaide River will be a location for floodplains and buffalo scenes.

Bowen in Hollywood limelight for Luhrmann flick
ABC News Online, 15 May2 007

Bowen locals in north Queensland are enjoying the spotlight as the filming of Baz Luhrmann's movie Australia continues to draw the crowds. Yesterday's first day of filming brought in tourists from around the world wanting to catch a glimpse of Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Volunteer guide John Warby says it is great to be so close to the action. "Baz Luhrmann and his crew have just been fantastic in the way that they've approached the public," he said. "They don't want to exclude the public at all, they want to include everyone as far as they can, we're standing on the set there. There's not many places where you can do that, when a major movie like this is being made, is there?"

'Nicole Kidman Cup' cancelled
Courier Mail, 15 May 2007

An A-list race meeting dubbed the Nicole Kidman Cup has been cancelled due to a fashionably late entrance by stars involved in a new Baz Luhrmann epic. The Bowen Turf Club had planned a one-off race meeting this month to coincide with filming in the coastal town of Australia, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Kidman was to have presented the winning trophy and Jackman to have judged the Fashions on the Field after Luhrmann promised the stars would attend the Bowen meet. But the stars did not arrive in time for the May Day event and, because of rules preventing two clubs from holding races on the same day, the next meet cannot be brought forward from its scheduled July date.  Bowen club vice-president Cyril Vains today said it was a shame.  "I think there are some very, very disappointed people but there's nothing much we could do," Mr Avens said.  "It would have been marvellous."  He said other "spoilsport" clubs would not change their events.  Bowen Shire Mayor Mike Brunker said locals now hoped to lure the famous pair to a meet-and-greet at a planned seafood spectacular on the town's foreshore. "We'd be hoping someone can come," he said. "Everyone's excited, it's a bit of a buzz around the place - the Baz buzz we call it." The small coastal town has been excited about the chance of meeting the Hollywood actors as Jackman, and Kidman - accompanied by husband and country music singer Keith Urban - donned period costumes and began filming.

Filming starts in Bowenwood
ABC North Queensland, 14 May 2007

The first day of filming for Baz Luhrmann's latest project Australia began today and already locals have been star spotting. Nicole Kidman has arrived in town with husband Keith Urban and was snapped checking out the new set in the local paper. 630 ABC's Peter Mitchell was in Bowen on the weekend snooping around the set himself, and he managed to get some photos from behind the fence.  He checked in with Michael Clarke on the Breakfast Show this morning, but hadn't spotted any of the big stars. He said lots of people were walking around the town and trying to get a sneak peak of the set. "The cattle have been doing rehearsals of the run down the main street and onto the wharf today," he said. But he said the cattle were not enjoying themselves as much as the onlookers.  "They've been expressing their opinion rather forcefully on the street. Some of the local business people are not all that happy about it," he said. The streetlights and signs have all been changed to a period style for the filming, and a lot of red dirt was brought in to make the street more authentic. 630 ABC's Paula Tapiolas had a chat to Bowen Mayor Mike Brunker this morning about the buzz around town. He said he missed Nicole's arrival because he was at the footy game, but would have lunch with her on the set tomorrow. Mr Brunker said the big stars were staying in houses rented off local residents. "We had to fit 400 people in, that's cast and crew together," he said. He said backpackers and tourists had been flooding into the town, and even joining in on the action. "I met some Korean backpackers who are going to be extras, playing Japanese people," he said.

________________________________

14 May 2007

First Photos of Hugh Jackman as the Drover!

- It's the photos that Hugh Jackman fans have been waiting for! We have already seen Jackman dressed in a white tuxedo during scenes being shot at Strickland House. However, today his 'drover' look has been revealed! And he is looking very 'rough hewn' indeed! We also see Nicole Kidman dressed in her period costume for the first time, and doesn't she look fantastic! I first saw the images reported by the Townsville Bulletin. The publication has set up a fantastic 'Bowenwood' page where it would appear that all stories regarding the Bowen shoot will be posted from now on. It features several local articles and a photo gallery of 44 images from the shoot so far, including shots of Baz on set and even his director's chair! I would highly recommend keeping an eye on this site over the weeks to come!

Just Jared has also posted some very impressive full-length photos of Hugh Jackman in his drover's costume, as well as some close-ups of stunning Nicole Kidman dressed in period costume. Check out many more photos on the Just Jared website!

Filming begins in Bowen!

- Filming of Australia began in Bowen today (Monday, 14 May 2007), and the Daily Telegraph reported the following article about day one of the shoot. The article also gives some further information about Hugh Jackman's character (although alas, his character name is still yet to be revealed!)

Nic's outback movie magic
Daily Telegraph, 15 May 2007

Watched by husband Keith Urban, a costumed Nicole Kidman joined a rugged-looking Hugh Jackman yesterday for shooting of the $100-million outback epic, Australia. The north Queensland town of Bowen was transformed into 1938 Darwin for the scenes, which feature Kidman, who plays an English aristocrat, arriving in Australia for the first time. Star-struck locals watched as director Baz Luhrmann, Jackman, Kidman, Urban and 400 cast and crew took part in a Aboriginal "welcome to country" ceremony.

Jackman, who was dressed in period costume with a three-day growth and cowboy boots, won fans by posing for photos with the baby of a local couple. The X-Men star lived up to his reputation as a good guy of Hollywood, shaking hands and admitting he was yet to relax into the laid-back north Queensland lifestyle. Asked if he had time for a beer, Jackman reluctantly admitted he was too busy. "That would be nice, that would be great, but they are working me hard," he said. Jackman's character is a hard-working, hard-drinking, brawling ringer. The actor, producer and Boy from Oz stage star won fans as he posed for photos cradling the baby of a local Aboriginal couple.

Luhrmann told more than 400 cast and crew gathered for the mid-afternoon ceremony he felt a special "magic" in the air. "We have a big creative challenge ahead," said the director of Moulin Rouge, flanked by his stars. "But we can all see and feel how this is a really pristine spot, and cinema needs magic, and this place feels very magical to us," he said.

Transformed into 1938 Darwin, the seaside end of Bowen is dominated by hundreds of cattle, a huge set of rough-hewn wooden stockyards, a hotel, pearling luggers, brothel, Chinese opium den and market garden, all built from scratch over the past six weeks. Sunshine Coast retiree Rowan Stanley, 63, who has been cast as one of three government officials, gushed about meeting Kidman. "She is beautiful, lovely, and even after she walked past a dozen or so times in different takes she was still gorgeous," he said. Bowen Mayor Mike Brunker said he auditioned for the role of fire truck driver but was "too fat with not enough hair". "I got the cut, I'm too busy any way," he said. "But now standing on the set I have hairs standing up on the back of my head. "To see how realistic it looks is amazing."

The following two articles give information on Kidman's arrival in Bowen, as well as the spot in the Darwin set where Lady Ashley and Jackman's drover will meet for the very first time:

Welcome to Bowenwood
Townsville Bulletin, 14 May 2007

It was the moment all of Bowen had been waiting for. The excitement was palpable when Hollywood superstar Nicole Kidman arrived in Bowen late yesterday with country music star husband Keith Urban in tow. Secrecy and speculation surrounded the arrival of the A-list stars ahead of filming for Baz Luhrmann's epic film Australia, which starts in Bowen today. But there was no mistaking golden girl Nicole as she was whisked away from Bowen Airport and taken for her first tour of the set, which had been specially created to resemble pre-war Darwin. Looking elegant and relaxed in a subtle cream knee-length dress, cardigan and flat sandals, Nicole smooched and cuddled with husband Keith as they wandered along the balcony of the `Territory Hotel'. The couple were driven along the newly laid red-dirt road before they got out of the car near the cattle yard and entered the Territory Hotel about 5pm. After looking over the interior, Nicole and Keith appeared on the side balcony, where they casually chatted and surveyed the town. Moments later, the distinct rumble of cattle could be heard as hundreds of cows were ushered back into their pen at the centre of the set for a special cattle run for Nicole's benefit. Clearly delighted with the sight, Nicole casually waved to fans from her vantage point on the front balcony. She and Keith smiled and touched as they watched the cattle come in. It was a fitting introduction for Nicole – to both the set and to Bowen. The Territory Hotel is also where Nicole's character Lady Sarah will meet co-star Hugh Jackman for the first time in the film. According to volunteer movie tour-guide Gloria Halloran, Lady Sarah will walk up Bowen's wharf wearing a beautiful gown with her hat to one side. But when Lady Sarah strides in to Darwin there is no strapping Hugh waiting – just a lot of noise from the Territory Hotel, where a pub brawl is going on.

Kidman starts filming
Courier Mail, 14 May 2007

Nicole Kidman began work on the Baz Luhrmann-directed Australia today after jetting into Bowen yesterday. Kidman dressed in period costume for her first scenes in the $100 million-dollar blockbuster. Yesterday, Kidman flew into the north Queensdland town and was whisked off by a security team in a scene fitting of an action-packed Hollywood blockbuster. Burly security guards bustled the movie mega-star and her husband Keith Urban into four-wheel drives with blacked out windows to avoid a small welcome party waiting at the airstrip of the north Queensland town after her jet touched down about 3.30pm.  The couple arrived in the town for the start of filming today of the Baz Luhrmann outback epic, Australia, after spending the night in Brisbane where the Caboolture-raised country music singer Urban played his first home concert in two years. They were driven directly to a stately Queenslander on the outskirts of Bowen which will become home over the next few months of filming. Nearly 100 volunteers have been recruited from the ranks of star-struck locals to help co-ordinate the flood of sightseers flocking to the new film set.

Before the shoot began, 'Bowenwood' fever had obviously reached fever pitch in the town over the past few days, and there were a multitude of articles reported by the Australian media. Each one reveals tidbits about the production, and also photos, so I have featured several articles below. Further down the page, I have also included updates regarding Darwin, Strickland House and Camelot, so scroll down if you'd like to skip to these! :)

Beach filled with vehicles
Townsville Bulletin, 12 May 2007

Bowen's main beach could be mistaken for a military base. More than 45 ex-army vehicles are rolling into town to be a part of the multimillion-dollar Baz Luhrmann epic Australia. The truck that Hugh Jackman will drive in the film has been transformed from an old wreck into a 1930s supply truck. Sydney-based action vehicle supervisor Geoff Aylor is in Bowen with his team putting final touches to the cars and trucks that will feature in Australia. He said Jackman's car had been basically rebuilt. "The truck is virtually a '42 model that has been made to look like a '38 model," Mr Aylor said. "We have two trucks that are exactly the same in case something goes wrong with one. But not only that, they can also use one car to film a scene while the other is being used for filming in another location."

Mr Aylor said cars would be streaming in from all over the place to be in the movie. "Some are coming from the Blue Mountains, Dubbo and we've also got a lot coming from Mackay and Townsville as well." Mr Aylor said while some cars were undergoing final touches, others were doing test drives along the town's main street. "The Northern Territory Police truck was in a chook shed full of rats before being transformed into what it is now," he said. Mr Aylor said he had been providing his vehicles for films for about 12 years. "We've had cars in Superman Returns, Stealth, South Pacific, Thin Red Line and we were recently up in Port Douglas for Fool's Gold," he said. "It's very satisfying seeing them go from old rust buckets into what they are now," he said. Once all the vehicles were ready to go, Mr Aylor said there would be no slowing down. "It will be hectic keeping up with Baz. He's fantastic to watch because he knows exactly what he wants – he's all over it," Mr Aylor said.

Baz's crew roll in
Townsville Bulletin, 12 May 2007

Filming of Baz Luhrmann's epic Australia will start on Monday and Bowen is filling up with cast and crew. Hundreds of crew members as well as body doubles touched down in Proserpine yesterday before driving to the film's set in Bowen. One woman had a striking resemblance to Hollywood superstar Nicole Kidman and is believed to be her body double. The crew arrived on a private charter plane from Sydney and will be based in Bowen for the next six weeks. Australia unit publicity officer Edweana Wenkart said the remaining crew that had arrived were excited to finally be on location. "We've basically moved the entire production office from Sydney to Bowen and we'll be making sure everything is in order to start filming next week," Ms Wenkart said. "People are just starting to find their feet and feel at home because we will be here until the end of June."

Film director Baz Luhrmann said as final days of filming wrapped up in Sydney, there was palpable excitement in Bowen.  "The one thing we already feel, and in fact have felt from the day of our first visit, is that the citizens of Bowen and the outlying areas are making this film together with us," Luhrmann said. "So it's something we're all looking forward to (filming in Bowen) – and not just because we want to escape the Sydney winter." Those already in Bowen have spent about six weeks perfecting the set as well as rehearsing in time for filming to begin. The town's foreshore has been transformed into 1930s pre-war Darwin with existing buildings undergoing major face-lifts and red dirt spilt on bitumen roads. In the lead-up to filming, a doubles dress rehearsal, without the A-list cast, will be held today. Nicole Kidman and her co-star Hugh Jackman are expected to arrive in Bowen by tomorrow, before filming begins on Monday.

Moo-vie stars
Townsville Bulletin, 11 May 2007

Bowen's usual smell of ocean spray was replaced with the out of place aroma of cattle manure yesterday morning. Excited onlookers rose early to watch Baz Luhrmann's real 'moovie' stars in dress rehearsal down the town's main street as the sun rose on his new movie, Australia. The director, who arrived on a Jetstar flight at Proserpine Airport about 7.45 last night, is expected to start filming on Monday. About 700 cattle trotted down the main street of Bowen yesterday, led by body doubles for the movie's stars, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, on horseback. George and Herbert streets were blocked off with electric fences to guide the cattle through their paces, flanked on either side by Aboriginal stockmen. Extras, dressed in their cowboy best, watched the procession in readiness for filming next week. Bowen local Robert Johnson took his son Jacob along to watch the once-in-a-lifetime experience of a cattle run down the main drag. "Jacob was very excited, I don't think he's seen cattle before unless it's at the show," he said. "Actually, to tell you the truth, I think it's the same for me. It's not a sight you often see in the middle of town."

Kidman set for action in $100m epic
The West.com.au, 11 May 2007

Baz Luhrmann's hugely awaited outback epic Australia shifts into top gear at the weekend as cast and crew of the $100 million production descend on the north-eastern Queensland town of Bowen. For the past month stars Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Brandon Walters, the 11-year-old Broome cancer survivor who was thrust into the limelight when he won the coveted role of an Aboriginal musterer, have been rehearsing in Sydney. Much of that time was spent mastering their horse-riding skills in preparation for the production. The serious business of realising Luhrmann's long-held dream of a lush Gone With the Wind-inspired romance about an English aristocrat (Kidman) who inherits a cattle station just before the outbreak of World War II begins on Monday. Bowen, 200km south of Townsville with a population of 8500, has been transformed by the production, the most expensive movie production in Australian history (rivalled only by George Miller's Happy Feet). Luhrmann's crew and an army of locals have been working round the clock to recreate 1940s Darwin, building a picture theatre, police station, hotel, brothel, shantytown and stockyards for the 750 cattle which will have a starring role. The Luhrmann juggernaut is expected to roll into Kununurra for the Kimberly leg of the movie towards the end of July.

Baz's Australia comes to life
Daily Telegraph, 10 May 2007

It was a mere six weeks ago that work began on the massive set, with the challenge of turning a corner of Bowen, Queensland into 1940s era Darwin. With filming due to begin on Monday, the set is currently a flurry of activity - with dozens of workmen hurrying to and fro carrying anything from shop signage to drink containers for the 750 head of cattle making an appearance in the film. On Saturday director Baz Luhrmann will arrive for a dress rehearsal and see the completed set for the first time. The film's location manager, Carl Wood, gave local paper the Townsville Bulletin, a personally guided tour of the set of Luhrmann's new epic movie Australia - starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Wood also shared details of how the production crew has battled for 40 days and nights to create an entire town, including a picture theatre, police station, hotel, brothel, shantytown and stockyards. This morning the large herd will thunder through the streets to rehearse for their starring role. The set has become its own tourist attraction, with tourists and locals making slow drive-bys to catch what glimpse they can behind the wire fences. Soon the fencelines will be moved further back from the set to allow filming to begin.

Although Bowen traditionally boasts beautiful sunny weather, Mr Wood said work crews had been set back by a few days of wet weather. Now everyone is buckling down to finish the final touches before the movies stars arrive on set for the first day of filming. Everywhere you look there's tradesmen painting stonework on buildings, men hauling signage on to modern-day pubs and bales of hay being strewn across the cattle yards. Mr Wood said every meticulous detail of the set was carefully planned and all modern finishings and embellishments hidden or pulled down. Things you would never have thought of need to be covered to truly resemble a 1940s Darwin. Even the street lights have been replaced with more traditional fittings. Authentic looking stone buildings are actually made from plaster that have been cleverly painted and moulded to look like real stone. The bitumen road and even driveways of nearby residents will be covered in red dirt, reminiscent of the Northern Territory. Mr Wood said the dirt had been carefully mixed to find the right colour. It wa