SEPTEMBER 2006

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30 September 2006

Epic update from Chairman of Fox

- Tom Rothman, Chairman of 20th Century Fox, has given an interview to IESB.net on upcoming movies for Fox Studios, and I am happy to report that the interviewer asked a couple of questions about the progress of the Australian Epic.

IESB: What is going on with the Baz Luhrman film?

TR: It's moving forward, it's gonna go in February or March in Australia with Baz, Nicole [Kidman] and Hugh Jackman. So it's an epic picture, doesn't have a title right now, and it's Baz really moving into a new genre, very sweeping but naturalistic.

IESB: How soon before we start hearing about some new casting announcements?

TR: I don't know probably not until after the first of the year. There are a lot of very interesting secondary parts, a lot of really cool character parts but, the heart of the movie is Nicole and Hugh. It's African Queen or Giant or Out of Africa, the story centers on the adventure and romance between the two of them.

These comments are very exciting indeed. Rothman confirms the movie is moving ahead, and will begin shooting in February or March 2007. He also says Luhrmann will be moving into a new genre that is "very sweeping but naturalistic". I must admit, I am a bit dismayed to read that we might not hear any more casting announcements until after the New Year, but we'll have to wait and see about that. As we already knew, it will be Kidman and Jackman who are the "heart" of the movie, and it seems that the story will focus on their romance, and also their adventures through the Australian landscape. However, it is great to read there are "a lot of very interesting secondary parts", and I look forward to hearing more about these in the weeks and months to come.

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27 September 2006

Crowe's "charity work" comments

- There has been much speculation across the web over the past couple of days after publication of the below article. We all know that Russell Crowe was originally slated to play the male lead in Luhrmann's Australian Epic. And we all know that he was replaced by Hugh Jackman back in June. But now, he has been quoted as saying he doesn't do "charity work" for major studios, and this has caused more media flurry.

Actor Crowe doesn't "do charity work" for studios
By Michelle Nichols, 25 September 2006

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Actor Russell Crowe said on Monday he quit an epic movie about the Australian outback co-starring Nicole Kidman because he doesn't do "charity work" for major studios.

The New Zealand-born Australian actor had been scheduled to star in the as-yet untitled film directed by Baz Luhrmann, but dropped out and was replaced by another Australian actor, Hugh Jackman, in June. At the time, no reason for the cast change was announced.

"I just didn't want to work on that movie in the type of environment that was being created because of the needs of the budget," Crowe told reporters while promoting his new movie, director Ridley Scott's "A Good Year," in New York.

"I do charity work, but I don't do charity work for major studios."

The Luhrmann movie was due to begin production this month, but has been pushed back to February because of scheduling conflicts and budget debates with 20th Century Fox, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

A spokesman for 20th Century Fox had no immediate comment.

Media reports have put the budget for the ambitious film at between $150 million and $175 million.

Luhrmann, director of the hit musical "Moulin Rouge," has described the film to Australian newspapers as a sweeping romance in the same vein as "Gone with the Wind" and on the scale of David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia."

He said the film would be set in Australia from the mid-1930s leading up to the Japanese bombing of the tropical northern city of Darwin in World War Two.

Crowe and Kidman were scheduled to have starred together in another Australian movie, based on the novel "Eucalyptus," but the project collapsed last year because of difficulties with the script.

"It will come around when it's supposed to come around," Crowe said of filming a movie in Australia.

"The unfortunate thing about the way the media works these days, before the idea is even really solidified in people's heads it's already front page news. The film business is very complicated."

This Reuters article was based on a story from The Hollywood Reporter. Since these articles were released two days ago, numerous articles have appeared all over the web in various forms. However, all articles appear to focus on Crowe's comments about not doing charity work. There is now speculation that Crowe left the project for money reasons. Indeed, some publications only just seem to have realised that Crowe has left the project! Many articles are also saying that production was due to begin this month, but has been postponed until February. This is actually old news, as we have known for a many months now that production will begin next year.

As far as I know, Crowe left the project after disagreements with the studio. The media implied that he had demanded script approval, but Crowe denied this and said he was surprised at the studio's decision. He said at that time,  "My reps stand by their efforts in trying to make this work ... we did not disengage, Baz and Fox did." Obviously, Crowe's departure was controversial. However, these latest comments seem to have perhaps been taken out of context. I just can't believe he would hold such a grudge against this project. I know the circumstances of his departure were not the best, but Crowe always spoke passionately about the project and says he still admires Luhrmann. It would be a shame if he did leave because of his pay packet, but I will remain open minded about these latest comments and still admire Crowe for publicly supporting the project during the months he was involved.

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25 September 2006

Jackman talks about Epic

- Hugh Jackman has today revealed some further information about the Australian Epic in The West Australian. Below is the relevant extract from the newspaper article, where Jackman reveals that a production workshop is set to take place in Sydney in December. I assume that this workshop will take place at the House of Iona, as was done with the principal cast of Moulin Rouge. Jackman also reveals that he has done costume fittings, and is starting to do horse riding training in preparation for doing his own stunts in the film. Jackman's comments can be seen as further confirmation that pre-production of this film is moving along nicely. :)

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24 September 2006

Happy Birthday Baz!

Congratulations to Baz Luhrmann who celebrated his 44th birthday on 17th September 2006!

Ronald Harwood article

- Yesterday, The New York Times reported an interesting article about scriptwriter Ronald Harwood, who has collaborated with Luhrmann on the screenplay for the Australian Epic. The article briefly mentions his involvement with the film, and can be found here.

You Tube Videos

- I have recently been informed of several fantastic videos that are available to watch for free on You Tube. The videos are four sections from the 'Making Of' documentary of the Chanel No 5 film, and also the video to the excellent Luhrmann hit, 'Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen'. Feel free to check them out using the links below.

Chanel No 5 Film
Chanel Making Of Film #1
Chanel Making Of Film #2
Chanel Making Of Film #3
Chanel Making Of Film #4
Chanel Making Of Film #5
Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) Video

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16 September 2006

CM speaks about Aussie Epic

- As reported in my last news update, it has been very quiet these past couple of months regarding news of Luhrmann's Australian Epic. However, it is clear that the project has been progressing behind the scenes. As previously reported, Luhrmann apparently came to Glasgow this week to meet with Craig Armstrong to discuss the film score, and today, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported an excellent article with direct quotes from Catherine Martin regarding the project.

Style mistress puts epic designs on the table
Sydney Morning Herald, Andrew Hornery, September 16, 2006

Inside the fortress-like walls of film designer Catherine Martin and director husband Baz Luhrmann's $10 million Darlinghurst mansion Iona, conversation goes in a flash from can can skirts and baby vomit to cattle breeds and the outback.

Martin and Luhrmann are in pre-production of their epic $100 million yet-to-be-titled film, an outback romance about a cattle farmer (Hugh Jackman) and a wealthy woman who inherits a cattle station (Nicole Kidman) in the years leading up to the World War II bombing of Darwin.

"Budget-wise, logistically and in terms of the story, this film is a hundred times more ambitious than Moulin Rouge. It will be completely different in style … There will be a more naturalistic element to it … no singing and dancing … Well, not yet at least. It will definitely have Baz's thumbprint on it but it is an epic in the tradition of epics," Martin said.

Next Tuesday at a Nokia dinner party to launch a new phone, Martin, who created the look of Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom and Romeo+Juliet, will unveil the first clue as to how the new film will look, by designing a special table inspired by the film.

"There is a very loose association between the film and the table. It will be inspired by the outback … And yes it will hopefully be glamorous on the night, but at the moment it's a bit more outback than glamour," Martin said.

"It also times in well with a range of homewares I'm working on which will hopefully launch next year."

For years Martin chose to let husband Baz bask in the spotlight. Then she won an Oscar for Moulin Rouge, soon followed by a Tony for her work designing Luhrmann's version of La Boheme for Broadway. These days even her closest friends, such as Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch, Collette Dinnigan and Kidman, are public figures. Martin admits she has learnt to become friends with fame, or as she describes it, "the devil".

Martin says having "fabulous" child care and a studio below her home makes it possible for her to combine full-time work and motherhood.

"We have two small children (daughter Lilly, 3, and six-month-old son William) and sometimes it's so frantic my eyes are popping out … I could be arguing about something ludicrous with a three-year-old, taking the kids to swimming lessons and be thinking about a colour for a costume all at once.

"Having children has given me a better taste for work … They make me try harder."

I believe this is the first time we've had direct quotes from CM regarding the Australian Epic. Indeed, it's been a while since we've had direct quotes from anyone involved with Bazmark. I am very happy to hear that CM will be working on the Epic. I always assumed she would be, but I was wondering how she would manage with their two young children. It is great to know she will be fully involved.

I am also intrigued by the news that CM has designed a special table inspired by the film. I really hope that someone at the Nokia dinner party will snap a photo and post it on the web! Also, this is the first I've heard of a homewares collection designed by CM. I can only assume that the collection will be released in Australia, but we will have to keep an eye out for any further details. As always, if anyone has any further information, or if anyone is lucky enough to be attending the Nokia dinner party, please feel free to contact me.

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10 September 2006

New Screenwriter for Aussie Epic

- It has been very quiet these past couple of months regarding the progress of Baz Luhrmann's Australian Epic, but it does seem that things have been progressing behind the scenes, and the movie is still moving ahead.

Last month, it was revealed that  another screenwriter has been hired to collaborate on the script. The news was reported in the following article:

Baz's epic 'a joy' for novelist
The Australian, 19 August 2006

Tasmanian novelist Richard Flanagan is the latest, and possibly last, screenwriter to collaborate on Baz Luhrmann's untitled Australian epic.

Twentieth Century Fox and Bazmark Film announced that the author of Gould's Book of Fish and The Sound of One Hand Clapping, is working on the final draft of the romantic historical epic starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

Flanagan joins Luhrmann's other collaborators, Collateral's Stuart Beattie and The Pianist's Ron Harwood on the project.

Luhrmann and Flanagan have recently consulted in northern Australia.

"I've wanted to work with Richard Flanagan for a long time, and apart from his tremendous story-telling skills, he has an extraordinary ability to illuminate character through his gift of language, description and Australian vernacular," Luhrmann said.

Flanagan's happy too. "It's a great joy working with someone of Baz's talent," he said. "We share a passion for this land and its people, and I think our time in the remote north, meeting its people and hearing their stories, has helped in laying the basis for a uniquely Australian movie that may just charm the world."

The film, set in the years leading up to World War II in the Top End, will begin shooting early next year. The epic begins in the mid-1930s and concludes with the February 1942 Japanese bombing of Darwin and the exodus south, known as the Adelaide River Stakes.

Flanagan's next novel, The Unknown Terrorist, will be published later this year.

Luhrmann and Armstrong to discuss Epic

- Today, an excellent Craig Armstrong article was reported in The Scotsman called A New York Symphony. The article is mainly about Armstrong's work on the soundtrack for the movie, World Trade Center, but it also mentions his work with Luhrmann. In particular, there is mention of Armstrong and Luhrmann meeting in Glasgow this week to discuss what appears to be the Australian Epic. The article features the following paragraph:

"How different from his working relationship with Luhrmann, who is coming to Glasgow this week to discuss a new project with Armstrong. The flamboyant director always travels to Glasgow when the duo are working on a film together, peering over Armstrong's shoulder while he works so that the composer eventually has to order him to go and do circuits of Kelvingrove Park."

This is a very exciting development. We have known for some time that Luhrmann wants Armstrong to work on the soundtrack for his upcoming Australian Epic, but this is the first I've heard of an actual meeting. There is footage of Luhrmann and Armstrong walking around Kelvingrove Park in the extra features on the Moulin Rouge DVD. I currently live in Glasgow, and have always wondered if Luhrmann would return to collaborate with Armstrong on another film. I will be keeping an eye out for the duo this week, especially around Kelvingrove Park! :) If anyone has any further information, please feel free to e-mail me.

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