Father Geek here still playing catchup from the Book Tour travel and computer freezeup at Geek Headquarters that had me off line for about 8 days. Here's a belated but still cool report from Tamsin...
DOWNUNDER REPORT #25
NEWS
NEWS
o Nicole Kidman is in talks to star in the new Anthony Minghella film, COLD MOUNTAIN. She would play the character of Ada, the "sweetheart of a Civil War soldier who is heading back to North Carolina to see her." Apparently Minghella has also been in talks with Aussie Eric Bana (BLACK HAWK DOWN).
o London's Sun Newspaper launched a campaign last month to bring back NEIGHBOUR'S star and Kylie Minogue singing partner, Jason Donovon. Apparently offers from music publishers have been "flooding in". Jase is also about to star in a new low-budget British horror film, ALONE IN THE DARK, playing the character of Gary, an "Internet geek who helps American university students hunt for a missing man." The film will also star Rik Mayall and Marianne Faithful.
o Hugh Jackman's main squeeze, and star in her own right, Deborra-Lee Furneess, is about to make her directorial short film debut with STANDING ROOM ONLY. Starring Hugh , Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, the film, financed by Harvey Weinstein and Ron Perlman, apparently "takes a humourous look at waiting in line at a London theatre."
o First time feature film writer/director Abe Forsythe is about to start production on his film, NED, to be produced by Ocean Pictures. Forsythe, an actor from ALMOST GREENER, has directed a number of short films. NED is loosely based on the life of bushranger, Ned Kelly but "will not be entirely faithful to existing history."
o A new 11-part Japanese television drama series, THINKING OF YOUR TRUE LOVE, has just started production on the Gold Coast. The TV show is based on a real estate developer who spends most of his life trying to "avenge his first love's murderers". The show will be broadcast on Japanese TV station Telvision Asahi.
o An award winning New Zealand novel, CRIME STORY, has been adapted by filmmaker Larry Parr and production has just started in and around Wellington. The film is "an intimate contemporary tale of two different families." Parr has produced fourteen features over twenty years and his first feature as a director was the historical drama A SOLDIER'S TALE. CRIME STORY is produced by Charlie McClellan who was the visual effects producer for THE LORD OF THE RINGS.
o An "Ain't It Cool" reader suggested I check out the article on TONGA NINJA, "A new action-comedy by first-time director Jason Stutter which will touch your heart, after it's finished with your teeth, ribs, spleen and kneecaps." "It is the story of a Ninja who comes from the island of Tonga. Since his father was eaten by a fish, Sione has been brought up to follow the way of the ninja." It had its first screening at the February AFM. Check out more info on this film at www.nzfilm.co.nz
As long as it isn't as crappy as that horrible, horrible, KUNG POW: ENTER THE FIST. I definitely want those 81 minutes back!
o Orlando Bloom (LOTR) is apparently starring in the new Heath Ledger film about NED KELLY. To be directed by Gregor Jordan (BUFFALO SOLDIERS, TWO HANDS), the film is set to start shooting around Victoria in April.
o Currently in Post Production is SWAY, a film starring Susie Porter, Sarah Aubrey and Pippa Grandison. It is described as a coming-of-age story about a group of friends "looking for answers, [in a world where] they've been sold a life of quick fix instant gratification, but nothing seems to add up." For more info check out the website: www.swaythemovie.com
HERE IS SOME MOVEHOLE NEWS
Moviehole talked to Maya Strange about her role in Alex Proyas's upcoming GARAGE DAYS and the romantic comedy XX/XY opposite Mark Ruffalo.
"It's about a band in Newtown trying to make it happen, trying to score that first gig. It's also a love story. And a lot of other stuff happens along the way", Stange tells. "I play Kate, a young designer, who's a pretty funky chick, though she's probably the most straight of the group. I mean, she has her life pretty much together (at the beginning of the story) but things aren't going too well with them and she realizes she actually has a thing for the lead singer Freddy (Kick Gurry). It sends everything into a spin when she and Freddy have to work out whether to act on their feelings and risk fucking up things with the band", she adds.
"The really fun thing about Alex is that he is open to input, so I guess there was a feeling that we were doing it together. There is a great balance with Alex between clarity- he knows exactly what he wants- and openness- he is willing to check out anything we suggested and give it a go. For me this is the key thing in a director", explains Stange. "Plus, I just think he's a genius. I mean, there is all this crazy stuff in the movie that is pure Alex, and we can't really take any credit for it. His vision with the camera, his way of expressing directly through Images just blow me away. Really I was just happy to be in his movie, To be a part of it." Garage Days, also stars Pia Miranda and Kick Gurry, and luckily for Stange, they do the singing and the playing. "Kick sings, Pia plays the bass guitar. homebake was the most adrenaline filled, outrageously fun day of filming ever", she says. "We had such a brilliant time, we didn't want it to end. The cast and crew were unreal, and the nature of the project- comedy, rock and roll, and all that- made it a great world to inhabit, the characters are all so vivid, Alex was amazing, I just fell in love with the whole thing basically" says a besotted Stange. "We had a month of rehearsals which made a huge difference. It meant that by the time we were shooting we had laid all the foundations, we were so solid as a group, and the characters had really come into their own, the Rest was really just about enjoying the ride".
Next up for Stange is a Hollywood production called XX/XY. "xx/xy" is about three people in New York who meet at a party and attempt to have a threesome, that doesn't go so well. It's about the relationships that arise out of that night, and all the issues of trust and love and basically how screwed up and confused we are in relationships, how we can be so brutal each other. My character and mark Ruffalo's character get into this relationship but there is not a lot of trust of communication between them because of the way the whole thing started. it's a pretty cool movie, I think the director Austin Chick has done a great job. I think it comes out in the states around September this year, and hopefully it will come out in Australia after that", says Stange, whose also full of praise for co-star Mark Ruffalo (You Can Count On Me). "He blew me away. That was a really intense experience because of the nature of the project, and because I think mark is one of the best actors around at the moment, he is seriously good. And it was such a pleasure working with him also because of who he is as a person. I would love to do it again". Clint - Moviehole
AND THIS...
STAR WARS EPISODE II star Joel Edgerton appeared on TV's Rove Live to discuss his role of Uncle Owen, and the biggest bombshell he let rip was that he will be returning for EPISODE III. "If I go out and buy ALL the toys when they come out...they might give me a BIGGER role in Episode 3", Edgerton added. "But yes im playing Lars, the one from episode 4 who gets killed by the stormtroopers". "Like a dream come true", says Edgerton. "I had all the toys when I was a kid. I was like 6 years old watching Return of the Jedi and now im like working a part with Darth Vader, of sorts".
On Lucas, he said "He's great. The only thing is, sometimes I would walk up and ask him if he liked the way I did that scene or something, and he'd say (Edgerton doing his best Lucas impersonation) Sure, Sure". Edgerton confirmed he's leaving his series, The Secret Life of Us, to join Lucas and the team as they promote the film in America.
Rove then asked about Jar Jar Binks. "Yes he is (in it)", Edgerton says. "I'll see what I can do (about getting him out of Episode III)". Edgerton confirmed that his character will probably be an action figure too. "They scanned me. I looked on the computer and I was this white figure, I looked cool, and then they added the colour...and awww", he says. "But in some ways Star Wars is like one big commercial for the toys, a mass marketing campaign...so it might like ok, but I haven't seen it. Maybe they could do action figures - say 'the arses' of the Star Wars figures".
