NOVEMBER 2005
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30 November 2005
More Oz epic news articles
- It seems the Northern Territory media are getting excited about the prospect of Luhrmann shooting his Australian epic there, and rightly so! The following article has been posted online today (tomorrow's date in Oz!) There's not really any new information regarding the film itself, but it's still an interesting read:
Major film on local station
The Kimberley Echo, 1 December 2005
"Coolibah Station, east of Timber Creek, is reported to be the location for a major film shoot involving Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman.
Milton Jones' Coolibah station has been in the news recently as one of the 'hot spots' that Kimberley Toadbusters have been concentrating on in their battle to stop the advance of the cane toad.
It is also the home to a crocodile farm.
The movie to be shot there next year is reportedly a romance, more interesting when it is considered that Crowe and Kidman were once reported to be dating.
Academy Award-winning director Baz Luhrmann will film the epic...
... Crowe and Luhrmann have not confirmed that Coolibah Station will be the venue for the movie shoot, but the NT News reported that it believed the station would host 300 crewmembers for three months of filming.
The budget for the movies is reported to be more than $40 million.
The film is set in the 1930s with Kidman playing the target of Crowe's
affection"
Also, The Australian today reported an article entitled 'More than a flash in the pan' regarding the AFI Awards, and at the end of the article it reads:
"At a press conference last week ahead of the AFI awards, Russell Crowe confirmed that he and Nicole Kidman have been cast in what is expected to be the next film project for director Baz Luhrmann.
Although Luhrmann has stopped short of confirming when the film might be made, he did say that he "would be delighted if Russell and Nicole were to be involved in the Australian epic", and he is hopeful that the right conditions will come together to allow production to begin early in the new year."
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28 November 2005
New Australian epic page now online!
- The flurry of activity surrounding the project over the past week has prompted me to finally create a section on this site dedicated to Baz Luhrmann's Australian epic. The film still has no title, and it still has not been confirmed by Luhrmann. But after Crowe reportedly confirmed his involvement in the movie last week, I have decided to go ahead and summarise the speculation surrounding the film to date. The page will be constantly updated as further information becomes available about this much anticipated project!
AFI Awards: Part 2
- Sydney Confidential today reported the following article, which features the quotes from Russell Crowe reminding Nicole Kidman to remember her sunscreen next year :-) The article also clears up something said by Hugo Weaving on the night of the AFI Awards regarding the failed Crowe/Kidman film, Eucalyptus. It's clear to me that he was only joking around, but it seems he had to explain himself in the Australian media!
Eucalyptus leaves bitter taste
From Sydney Confidential
28nov05
"It was the most anticipated Australian film in years and it seems the wounds of the failed Eucalyptus project haven't healed yet.
Under host - cum stage bouncer - Russell Crowe, crisp, brief speeches that steered clear of controversy were the order of the night at Saturday's AFI Awards in Melbourne.
That was until Hugo Weaving hit the stage and tried a line that didn't work quite as he expected.
After Crowe introduced Nicole Kidman, who presented Weaving's Best Actor award via video, Weaving quipped: "Hey Russ, you and I and Nic nearly got to work together".
The audience at the Docklands studio thought it was a veiled dig at Rusty's role in the collapse of the controversial Eucalyptus, which was to star all three but fell apart earlier this year.
Crowe last week denied he had been involved in the canning of the film, saying "it was not through my actions the film closed down".
Weaving yesterday also hosed down speculation he was having a shot at the Oscar winner.
"I realised as soon as I said it, it might have come out wrong," Weaving told entertainment writer Michael Bodey yesterday. "I didn't mean anything - there was nothing in it at all."
Afterwards, Crowe alluded to his next film with Kidman for Baz Luhrmann, to be filmed in the Northern Territory and Sydney next year.
"Thanks Nicky. See you next year. Don't forget your sunscreen," he said."
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27 November 2005
AFI Awards
Photos from AAP
- The 2005 Australian Film Institute Awards were held on Saturday, 26th November, and it was a night of many revelations.
Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin attended the event (pictured above), and both presented awards throughout the night.
The big star of the night was Russell Crowe, who reportedly saved the event and made it a success, as the following article from the UK
Guardian reports:
Crowe flies to Aussie films' rescue
Mary Colbert in Melbourne
Sunday November 27, 2005
The Observer
"Oscar winner Russell Crowe has often been portrayed as a belligerent loudmouth, not averse to a scrap. But in Australia he has become a hero after reinventing himself as saviour of the national film industry and a beleaguered rugby league club - and becoming the next Rhett Butler.
Just days after appearing in a New York court to be fined for throwing a phone at a concierge of the city's Mercer Hotel, he has delighted fellow Australians by - along with tycoon Peter Holmes à Court - paying off the debts of the South Sydney team, then saving Australia's equivalent of the Oscars.
In an extreme makeover of a ceremony that had lost its glamour, and even struggled to secure TV coverage, Crowe this weekend hosted the two consecutive nights of the Australian Film Institute Awards (AFIs). His presence saved the event and the country's leading commercial network, Nine, rushed on board.
Before the gala, Crowe revealed that he and his friend and fellow Aussie Nicole Kidman, who have never collaborated on screen, have been signed to star in Baz
Luhrmann's next movie - a romance based on Gone with the Wind to be shot in 2006.
The actor also admitted he had been persuaded to host the AFIs after being told they would
collapse without him.
'When I won my first AFI award for Proof, it meant so much to me, it was time to give something back,' he said. 'Right across the board, creatively in Australia we have to be very careful to protect what we have.'"
I have also read that Crowe hosted the awards free of charge - now how's that for commitment to the Australian film industry?
The above article also makes a coy remark comparing Crowe to Rhett Butler, the leading male character from
Gone With The Wind. The article also says that Luhrmann's film will be "based on" this film. I don't believe it will be based on
GWTW - I believe the film has merely been compared to it within media circles in terms of the epic nature of the project. Luhrmann's works are always unique, and there is no way this is going to be
a GWTW remake!
There were also a couple of exciting revelations at the AFI Awards regarding Luhrmann's Australian epic.
1. As reported in the article above, "Before the gala, Crowe revealed that he and his friend and fellow Aussie Nicole Kidman... have been signed to star in Baz Luhrmann's next movie."
2. Nicole Kidman presented Hugo Weaving with an award via satellite from Baltimore, and at the end
of Hugo's speech Crowe says, "Well done Hugo. Thanks Nicky! See you next year, don't forget your sunscreen!"
(Thanks to Spectacular Spectacular for the above
quote. Check out their Baz forum for
discussion of Luhrmann's Australian epic!)
As this film looks more and more likely to go ahead, I will now be creating a
new page dedicated to the Australian epic, which I hope to have completed in the
next few days :-)
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26 November 2005
Australian epic location info
- The updates continue regarding Luhrmann's Australian epic. The Northern Territory News today posted the following article on its website, which details the most location information to date.
Crowe, Kidman to film NT movie
By Eric Tlozek
26nov05
"Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman, who were once reported to be dating, are to star in a romantic movie shot in the Territory.
Academy Award-winning director Baz Luhrmann will film the Gone With The Wind-style epic at a Territory cattle station...
...Crowe and Luhrmann last night remained tight-lipped about where their historical film would be shot.
But the Northern Territory News understands Coolibah Station near Timber Creek will host 300 crew members for three months of filming.
Stokes Hill Wharf in Darwin also is expected to be used.
The film budget is believed to be more than $40 million.
Alice Springs-based location scout Chris Tangey said Luhrmann had considering the Red Centre as a base.
Picturesque Glen Helen Gorge, 130km from Alice Springs, had been one of three locations in the running. Mr Tangey said the project would be the biggest film ever shot in the Territory.
"There will be a huge infrastructure set-up that's never been attempted in Australia before," he said. "Baz insisted it had to all be real and authentic."
The film will be set in the 1930s and Kidman will play Crowe's love interest in what has been described as a Gone With The Wind-style epic."
According to this
article, Northern Territory filming could take place at Coolibah Station near
Timber Creek, Stokes Hill Wharf in Darwin, and perhaps even Alice Springs. An
article from The Australian a couple of days ago (featured below) also
said properties near the town of Cootamundra, in central NSW, may be used.
The above article also reports the film will be set in the 1930's, which ties in with the speculated World War 2 theme. The article further states that the movie's budget is believed to be "more than $40 million". I think this means Australian dollars, which wouldn't really be very much for a film of this calibre. I think the budget will be a little more generous than this? Even so, this article gives a lot of interesting location information. I am beginning to believe that the film could involve Darwin's role in World War 2, but we'll have to wait and see if I'm on the right track! :-)
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25 November 2005
More on the Australian epic...
- Following yesterday's news update, I have been searching the web today for further tidbits, as each Australian article seems to contain different snippets of information! First of all, the following article has been posted today on ABC News Online:
Luhrmann eyes NT cattle station for next epic
"A remote cattle station south of Darwin could be the backdrop of a new Australian epic being planned by movie director Baz Luhrmann.
Darwin film producer Simon Manzie has told the ABC he helped scout out a number of Territory locations for Luhrmann's company.
But he said he is not aware any decision has been made.
Australian actors Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman have reportedly signed up for the as yet unnamed film."
Also, I have found a further direct quote from Russell Crowe in today's Daily Telegraph article entitled 'Rusty turns on the charm':
"He confirmed plans to star opposite Nicole Kidman in a Baz Luhrmann film next year. Asked what genre the film would be, he replied: "Magnificence, is that a genre?"
It has also been confirmed that both Russell Crowe and Baz Luhrmann will be attending the Australian Film Institute Awards this weekend. Perhaps they will get together for a little chat before or after the show? If you are able to watch the awards, feel free to e-mail me if there is any relevant news! :-)
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24 November 2005
Australian epic: Russell confirmed?
- The Australian media today reported that Russell Crowe has "confirmed" his involvement in Luhrmann's Australian epic. The most detailed article I could find was from The Australian newspaper, which features direct quotes from Crowe regarding the project, including his description of the film as "magnificent".
For further news about Russell Crowe, I highly recommend that excellent fansite, The Prose and the Passion. The site features a page dedicated to Luhrmann's upcoming Australian epic here, including the fabulous colour image of shown above! :-)
Another chance for Rusty and Nic to co-star
Sophie Tedmanson
November 25, 2005
"EUCALYPTUS may have fallen over, but Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman will team up again for a new Australian movie directed by Baz Luhrmann.
Crowe confirmed the casting ahead of his role hosting this weekend's Australian Film Institute awards in Melbourne.
The film is rumoured to be a Gone With The Wind-style Australian epic and Luhrmann is believed to have already scouted locations, including a cattle station south of Darwin and properties near the town of Cootamundra, in central NSW.
Crowe would not say much about the film except that it was "magnificent", that it would be financed by Fox and that it would not be shot in Victoria.
When asked if he and Kidman's characters would be romantically involved, Crowe smiled and said: "Could be."
Luhrmann was not available for comment yesterday, but in September he told The Australian he was close to deciding which of three film projects he was working on would become his follow-up to Moulin Rouge.
A spokeswoman for Luhrmann said he was working on "three epics": Alexander the Great, "the Australian epic and the European epic".
"At the moment, he is working on the Australian and European epics in parallel," she said.
"He would be delighted if Russell and Nicole were to be involved in the Australian epic."
Crowe and Kidman, who are close friends but have never made a movie together, were last set to star in the film version of Murray Bail's Australian novel Eucalyptus, which was postponed indefinitely days before shooting was to begin in February.
Kidman is currently in the US filming the horror movie The Visiting, while Crowe has returned from filming Ridley Scott's A Good Year in Europe for his first gig as host of an awards ceremony."
The above article features a couple of direct quotes from Luhrmann's spokesperson, although I'm not sure if these are current or from back in September. And still no word Luhrmann himself!
Furthermore, a number of Australian locations for the film have been suggested throughout the year, but the latest articles indicate the film will not be shot in Victoria. It looks likely that filming will take place in the Northern Territory and New South Wales.
As always, let's hope we hear more about the project soon! :-)
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22 November 2005
Chanel No. 5 Film is back!
- I was sitting watching television last week when I saw it - the return of the Chanel No. 5 film! It was the 30 second edited version which has been shortened for television, and I am happy to announce it is now showing again in the UK. Also, coincidentally or not, it was exactly one year ago last week that the film was first shown on British television.
I have now discovered that the film has in fact returned for the 2005 Christmas season, and it is currently being shown all over the world! Keep an eye out for the film being shown on prime time television, and also the print ads and posters in stores, on bus shelters, and in magazines. The film has obviously been very successful for it to return for a second year running, so congratulations to all involved! :-)
Aussie Epic speculation continues...
- As the year begins to draw to an end, we continue to await confirmation from Baz Luhrmann regarding his next project...
In an article dated 12 September, The Australian reported "Luhrmann expects to make an official announcement about his intentions in the next two months." However, this time frame has now come and gone. Meanwhile, rumours have continued to circulate that his next project will be an Australian romantic epic, but still no official word from Baz.
Furthermore, as previously reported here last month, on 27 October, The Daily Telegraph speculated that the Australian epic "draws on a true story from World War II focused in the Northern Territory and featuring a major cattle drive (which Luhrmann researched during the Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive this year) and big love story. A Lawrence Of Australia, if you will."
And most recently, on 20 November, The Daily Telegraph featured the following snippet:
"The good news is that Kidman will be back in Sydney early next year.
She's rumoured to be shooting another film with Baz Luhrmann, who directed her in Moulin Rouge, and her co-star will reportedly be Russell Crowe.
It's one of two screen productions Luhrmann is said to be working on.
He hinted at the Kidman-Crowe project last month in a speech at a dinner in Sydney for members of the Australian Theatre for Young People."
I had not previously realised that Luhrmann had mentioned the Australian project at his ATYP dinner last month. Hopefully this means his plans for the epic are currently being put into action. We can only hope that he makes some kind of statement before the New Year. We've been waiting all year for official news, let's hope we're not made to wait until 2006!
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