SEPTEMBER 2003
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25 September 2003
'Empire' ATG Update
- Yesterday, UK magazine Empire
reported the following story called 'Alexander
The Greats' on its website detailing ATG features that will appear in
its November issue:
"The cinematic world is littered with the corpses of films that have suffered the ignominious fate of being released in the same year as another film on the same subject. Who now remembers Patrick Bergin's Robin Hood, or Kurt Russell's Tombstone? Well OK – we do, but you get the drift.
In this month's issue of Empire magazine Baz Lurhmann and Oliver Stone - the directors behind two Alexander The Great projects - do their best to explain why their movie will be the one that wins the hearts and minds of the filmgoing public.
Luhrmann, it seems, has some grand points of inspiration for his film; 'Its DNA belongs more to classical epics like David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia,' he explains to Empire 'You'll know it has come from us, but its cinematic language will be a different vernacular to that of the Red Curtain Trilogy.'
When told that Luhrmann was going for a Lean look, Stone's reply was as pithy as ever; 'I'm going to go for John Cassavetes
then... I can't do it the Lean way because I don't have that kind of budget.'
Speaking to Empire before filming began, Stone admitted to having the jitters about the project. 'I have that horrible feeling of pre-production,' he laughed. 'It feels like it's going to be a disaster!'
You can read the Empire's update on the Alexander The Great projects in the November issue of Empire magazine out on 26 September 2003."
Mouthy Moritz talks ATG
- On 21st September, Variety reported an article called 'Stone leaves no throne unturned'. The following day, Dark Horizons posted snippets from this article in its 'News' section.
"Alexander: Variety reports that shooting begins tomorrow on Oliver Stone's ancient epic, starting with a re-enactment of the Battle of Guagamela in 331 BC which marked Alexander's troops ending the rule of Persia. The fate of Intermedia now rests on this film, the production company spending between $150-200 million on the project making it the largest independent European production ever attempted. Shooting will continue in Morocco through til early November, then will move to London's Pinewood Studios for two months, followed by a short stint in Thailand in January where it will wrap...
In regards to the bisexual aspect Stone says "We won't overplay his sexuality or underplay it. But it is an important part of Alexander, a part of his life" whilst Borman hints at nothing controversial - "It is a minor aspect. I told Warner Bros., 'There's nothing you wouldn't see on 'Will & Grace'". The two are also happy that "Troy" next Summer will serve as a precursor of sorts to their film when it opens on Thanksgiving."
Dark Horizons (from Variety) also reports the following direct quotes from Intermedia chairman, Moritz Borman:
"Of the competing Luhrmann project, which won't turn a first draft in for a few weeks yet, Intermedia man Moritz Borman says "I'm long past caring about them. If Leo wants to play Alexander the Second Great, that's fine, and if somebody figures it is wise to spend $170 million or so to do another picture on Alexander before seeing ours, they should. I've seen stupider decisions."
Moritz Borman has made rather snide comments regarding Luhrmann's ATG before, but the above quotes are definitely his most callous yet. It's easy to see how media speculation is so easily generated when a head representative of Intermedia openly attacks another studio's project, especially when both films are in such early stages of production. As far as I know, Luhrmann has never expressed any negativity towards Stone's project, and I don't see why Mr Borman feels the need to be so disheartening.
'Midsummer's' returns to Sydney
- On a more positive note,
Luhrmann's production of A Midsummer's Night Dream is set to return to
the Sydney Opera House! This time round, it is not directed by Luhrmann,
but is still based on his 1993 and 1994 productions. The Sydney Morning
Herald has published the following article called 'Puck-er up'
detailing the new production:
"Fans of Baz Luhrmann's movies will find many familiar motifs in his production of Benjamin Britten's opera, A Midsummer Night's Dream.
They will recognise the sumptuous costumes as the work of his wife, Catherine Martin, who won an Oscar for her work on Moulin Rouge.
They will recognise the Indian theme that appears in Moulin Rouge. The production is set under the Raj in the 1930s.
And they will note the appearance of his signature red curtain, which Luhrmann has used to characterise the overtly theatrical and overblown style of all his films.
But what they won't see is Luhrmann.
He directed the production for the Australian Opera (now Opera Australia) in 1993 and again in 1994. But this third revival is being overseen by Julie Edwardson, who brings a calmer presence to the production.
"It's a very hothouse environment in the rehearsal room with Baz," says Tyler Coppin, who appeared as Puck in both productions and will reprise his role this season.
"It's like a million bumblebees buzzing around in a glass bottle, and you don't know where it's going, but there is certainly a lot of energy happening."
A Midsummer Night's Dream, a comedy about fairies, mistaken identity and people falling in love, brings together two of Luhrmann's great loves: Shakespeare and opera. It was his film version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet that brought him international acclaim.
His follow-up film, Moulin Rouge, was an opera in disguise. It took a classic opera plot - innocent young man falls for a courtesan, their love ruins them, she dies of consumption - and gave it a pop twist: La Traviata remixed by way of Elton John and Christina Aguilera.
Luhrmann has also long been involved in traditional opera. One of his early successes in Australia was his production of the Puccini opera La Boheme, which he developed for the Australian Opera in 1990 and recently took to Broadway.
A Midsummer Night's Dream was his follow-up. It was well received by critics and opera buffs, but never quite pulled in the crowds in the same way as La Boheme.
Edwardson says that's because of Britten's difficult score: there are no tunes you walk out humming.
"The music is probably the thing that the audience who are not regular opera-goers find the hardest to adjust to," she says. "With Baz's productions, he's really brought a new audience to opera, but it's still not going to be Chicago or something."
Edwardson made her debut with the company understudying Hermia in Luhrmann's 1993 production and was cast as Hermia in 1994. This time she will work with many of the people from the 2000 revival: Graham Pushee and Amelia Farrugia will again play Oberon and Tytania, with Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Lisa Harper-Brown appearing once more as Demetrius and Helena.
Edwardson has the strange job of making sure that, even with cast changes, the production is as faithful as possible to Luhrmann's original. There is a video of the 1994 production for her to work from, and she mines the memories of the original cast members who will appear again: Coppin, Michael Martin and Graeme Macfarlane.
"It changed quite drastically between 1993 and 1994, so I imagine if Baz had come in to do it again, it would be all different," she says. "Unfortunately, I don't have the artistic licence to do that."
Coppin says that Luhrmann approached the project with his usual obsessive perfectionism. He and Martin went to India, and came back laden with books and videos and photographs from which to build the look and feel of their show.
They pushed everyone to their creative limits, especially as they always started with the drama of the piece, rather than the singing.
"Opera singing is hard enough, but then Baz and CM [Catherine Martin] say: 'OK, now you're going to be covered in blue. And you're going to walk through water while you're singing. And then you're going to get in a fist fight. And you're going to be exhausted. And that's when you start singing your main aria.'"
Coppin says they could be a performer's worst nightmare, and rehearsals were often "absolute chaos."
"But all great art is built through chaos, someone said."
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Where: Sydney Opera House Opera Theatre
When: Wednesday to November 1
How much: $45-$195
Bookings: 9318 8200
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17 September 2003
Happy Birthday Baz!
- Today marks Baz Luhrmann's 41st birthday, and I'd just like to express my congratulations and well wishes to Baz and CM for the year ahead! :-)
Kidman to play Sarah Bernhardt
- Not only has it been
confirmed that Kidman will be the new face of Chanel No. 5, she now looks set to
portray Sarah Bernhardt in Steven Spielberg's upcoming project, The Rivals.
The Daily Telegraph's 'Sydney Confidential' has reported the following
article entitled 'Nicole
just can't say no':
"She won an Oscar for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf and was cutting an image of Lauren Bacall last week - now Nicole Kidman looks set to portray legendary French actor Sarah Bernhardt.
Kidman has held a series of private meetings with director Steven Spielberg who has convinced her to take on the role in The Rivals.
The film will focus on the bitter rivalry between Bernhardt and Italian stage star Eleonora Duse.
With Kidman's hectic schedule being blamed for her recent slimmer appearance, Confidential fears the flame-haired actor might just fade away under her current workload.
The much anticipated Cold Mountain, in which she stars opposite Jude Law, and The Human Stain will both be released later this year requiring plenty of promotional appearances around the world.
And that's not to mention the film festivals and Oscar campaigning which will boost her frequent-flyer points.
After she wraps up the New York shoot of The Stepford Wives, starring kookster Christopher Walken, she's slated to do Bewitched with Jim Carrey.
She's also signed on to play Leonardo DiCaprio's mother Olympia in Baz Luhrmann's Alexander The Great.
But perhaps the lure of working with Spielberg for the first time was irresistible to Kidman.
The film will tell of The Divine Sarah's professional and personal rivalry with Duse.
The pair would often appear in the same plays, on the same night, in the same cities.
And their competition wasn't restricted to roles - they also competed for lovers."
With so many projects laid out before her, one can only assume that Kidman has somehow put the time aside to shoot her role in Luhrmann's ATG. I personally hope she definitely fulfils the role and does not allow other commitments to interfere. However, since Kidman is so fond of Luhrmann, I am certain that she will not want to pass up on working with him again, especially in such an ambitious project! Moulin Rouge was ambitious in its own right, but ATG looks set to be Luhrmann's most impressive work yet.
On a separate note, it does seem somewhat ironic to me that Kidman is set to play Sarah Bernhardt. As Satine in Moulin Rouge, the character exclaims, "Do you really think I could be like the great Sarah?" while staring in awe at a photo of her heroine. And now it seems Kidman will be testing this statement for herself!
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9 September 2003
Luhrmann will NOT direct 'Footloose'!
- Baz Luhrmann to direct a remake of Footloose starring Britney Spears? This is the rumour that has been circulating around the internet for the past couple of days. What I thought was some kind of joke has somehow spread across the web, with The New York Post, The Sun and E! News all reporting related articles. However, any implications that Luhrmann was even considering such a project were completely unsubstantiated.
Normally, I would not report untrue or misleading rumours regarding Luhrmann or any of his projects on this site but, since this one has been circulated so widely, I thought I'd better lay this rumour to rest. Today, The Sydney Morning Herald, a publication that is a keen supporter of all things Baz, reported the following article called 'Hot news just hot air':
"Denials are
flying thick and fast from the Baz Luhrmann camp over the bizarre rumour that he
will direct pop tart Britney Spears in a remake of the cheesy 1984 movie musical
Footloose .
The rumour - instigated by a one-line item in a New York gossip column - quickly
went around the world last week and was greeted with either shock (Luhrmann fans
and movie fans in general) or joy (Footloose and Spears fetishists).
There is, inexplicably, a remake of Footloose in pre-production, with Chicago
producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron pulling the strings for Paramount. But it
seems highly unlikely that Luhrmann who is in pre-production for his Alexander
the Great project will be directing.
The whole story seems to have been based on wishful thinking, with Zadan and
Meron stating their movie would be in the style of Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge. One
and one, thus, makes three."
Stone's 'Alexander' Casting News
- Stone's film is set to begin filming on 22 September, and more casting announcements have been made over the past few days. On 7 September, the Glasgow Sunday Mail reported that Scottish actor, Rory McCann, has been cast as Alexander's 'right-hand man' after Stone saw him in a TV ad for 'Scott's Porage Oats'! The newspaper reported the following article called 'Rory's $1M for Alexander Epic Oat Stuff':
"PORRIDGE hunk Rory McCann is being paid $1million to star as Alexander The Great's right-hand man in Oliver Stone's new epic.
The strapping 6ft 6in Scots actor was cast after the director spotted him stripped to his vest in a TV ad for Scott's Porage Oats.
Rory will be working alongside Irish star Colin Farrell, who will play the great warrior, Angelina Jolie who plays Alexander's mum, Jared Leto and Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Rory starred in Channel 4's The Book Group as wheelchair-bound Kenny. Stone is responsible for classics like The Doors, JFK and Nixon.
His movie, called simply Alexander, is one of two blockbusters about the conqueror out next year.
Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann's Alexander The Great stars Leonardo Di Caprio. Rory is undergoing intensive training in a Moroccan boot camp alongside Farrell to get in shape for the film.
His agent Christian Hodell said: "It is a massive breakthrough for him.'' Both films will focus on his rampant sex life of the Greek-Macedonian warrior, who conquered much of the ancient world by the age of 28 and died aged 33.
Farrell will miss the birth of his first child to stay in Morocco.
He is expecting his first child with model Kim Bordenave who is due to give birth on September 12. Farrell described missing out on the birth as
"a pain in the ass'' but said : "The film is huge. I've been working on it for three or four weeks and it's very intense. There's a lot of horse work, sword work, shield work and a lot of studying tactics.''
In other casting news, Variety.com yesterday announced that Val Kilmer has signed on to play Philip, Alexander's father, which will put him opposite Angelina Jolie's Olympias. The article, called 'Kilmer's off to Morocco for 'Alex'', notes that Kilmer played the 'Lizard King' for Stone in The Doors and has now been called upon by the director to play the 'Macedonian king' in Alexander.
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1 September 2003
Baz and Dino in Venice
- At this year's Venice Film Festival, Dino De Laurentiis has been awarded a Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement. Today, The Washington Post published an article called 'Movie Mogul De Laurentiis Awarded Golden Lion', an extract of which reads:
"[Dino] is currently busy on a much-talked about film adaptation of the life of Alexander the Great which will star Leonardo DiCaprio as the emperor who conquered much of the world in the 4th century BC and Nicole Kidman as his mother.
Baz Luhrmann, who will direct the new movie, showed up in the lagoon city with De Laurentiis to join in the festivities.
"To do a work about a legend, on, I hope, a legendary scale, you need a legendary producer," the director of Oscar-winning "Moulin Rouge" said at a news conference.
De Laurentiis played down a reported battle with Oliver Stone, who is also getting ready to start filming his own version of Alexander the Great's life.
"We are not competing with Oliver Stone. He will make his, we will make ours," he said."
Stone on Luhrmann's ATG
- Last month, Oliver Stone's Commandante
screened at the Edinburgh Film Festival. On 23rd August, Stone was in
Edinburgh to take part in a press conference in which he discussed his latest
projects, including his upcoming Alexander. A member of the press came
out and asked, "With two Alexander projects being worked on just now, do you see (Baz) Luhrmann as a rival?"
The Z Review
reported Stone's reply as follows:
"Ours is going ahead in four weeks on three continents, and I think this is the biggest project of my life, there was no race for me the race was getting the script finished, I feel nervous and anxious, but we are closing the gap fast though!
It's a nice break from it to come to Edinburgh."
"It's a great story, I've been working on the script for so long. There are surface events, but you have to get into a theme and find the characters and take the shot."
"Baz's "Romeo and Juliet", is my favourite, it shows he can do something really extravagant and beautiful. I don’t know about his theme, I think it would have been different if they'd gone first with Leonardo."
"We've got Colin (Farrell), and I believe he's got true grit, he's very impressive, with a mercurial Irish temperament. In four weeks I’ll be able to tell you some more and hopefully by February I’ll be smiling!"
I had read that, if Luhrmann had begun filming his ATG as planned, then Stone probably would not have gone ahead with his own Alexander. I think Stone saying "I think it would have been different if they'd gone first with Leonardo" somewhat confirms this. However, when it was announced there would be a delay in the filming of Luhrmann's film, Stone decided to go fully ahead with his movie. He obviously believes that circumstances have given him a chance to get a head start and get his vision on the big screen after all. I think Stone realises that Luhrmann's film is going to be huge, and I can definitely understand how he could find this a bit intimidating, but he feels he has his own story to tell and he is going ahead to tell it. It will certainly be interesting to see how Stone's movie develops in the coming months.
The hunt for Alexander continues!
- Today, The Herald Sun published an article called 'Young Alexanders in the making' detailing how four boys from Melbourne have joined thousands in applying for the role of the young Alexander in Luhrmann's upcoming epic. It reports how Luhrmann announced a worldwide casting search in July and that "the film's producers have been flooded with applications from all around the world.". There is still no word about when a casting decision will be made for the role of the young Alexander the Great, but I expect we'll see further updates in the weeks to come.
Nicole the new face of Chanel?
- Over the past few days, rumours have been circulating that filming of Nicole Kidman's upcoming movie, The Stepford Wives, could be delayed. There are further rumours that Nicole Kidman could be the new face of Chanel, and that she might be jetting to Australia to work with Baz Luhrmann again to film a Chanel commercial. This news has been reported in the Denver Post, but remains unconfirmed.
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