Father Geek here once again with Tamsin and her weekly column on what is happening in the world of cinema down in Australia and New Zealand. Sooooo dig in to...
The AICN DOWNUNDER REPORT #34
By Tamsin
UPCOMING FILM EVENTS IN OZ
By Tamsin
UPCOMING FILM EVENTS IN OZ
For those in and around Melbourne, don't forgot the Science Fiction Film Festival is almost upon us. The dates are 13th - 19th of June at the Kino Cinemas. Check out their web site for more info. By Simply Clicking Right Here.
PETER PAN NEWS
Children with an acting bug from around the world take note. Aussie director P.J. Hogan and casting agents for PETER PAN are seeking young talent for the upcoming feature being shot at Warner Bros. on the Gold Coast this year. They have set up an internet site in an attempt to find the best children from around the world.
"We know that Peter Pan as well as Wendy, John and Michael Darling are out there and we would like to find you. We know the Lost Boys are out there, too, and even if you audition for one of the other roles, we will keep you in mind for one of the Lost Boys" says the web site.
Check out the web site for more details: Just Click Here
MORE ANTI-GLOBAL RULE ONE NEWS
Producers from five English-speaking countries from around the world have united to fight the Screen Actors Guild's Global Rule One. Producers from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Britain have made the statement that they will "stand united in recognition that a healthy, sustainable film and TV industry is significantly dependent upon their relationships with domestic performers' unions". "SAG's attempt to expand Rule One outside of the United States is a direct threat to established collective agreements", their statement continued.
Aussie Guy Pearce has also spoken against the Global One Rule. In an interview with Melbourne's The Age newspaper, Pearce, who is a member of both SAG and the Australian guild, the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), has commented on SAG's "almost bullying behaviour." If applied to actors like himself who work in both Australian and American movies, Pearce noted, Global Rule One would prevent them from making films in their own countries for producers who can't afford the kind of budgets that Americans can. "If SAG is talking about having a stronghold over purely Australian films, then my reaction is, well, go away," Pearce said.
GRAND THEFT PARSON
Aussie Hugh Jackman is in negotiations to star in GRAND THEFT PARSON, as road manager Phil Kaufman who was accused of stealing the body of rock star Gram Parsons and cremating it in a California desert to honour the musician's dying wish.
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS
There are a number of Aussie actors in the latest LOTR including David Wenham (BETTER THAN SEX, MOULIN ROUGE), who will be playing the warrior Gondor, and Miranda Otto (THIN RED LINE, WHAT LIES BENEATH) who will play Eowyn. They will also star in the final instalment.
RABBIT PROOF FENCE controversy
The Australian Government were appalled by recent Miramax publicity for the release of Phil Noyce's RABBIT PROOF FENCE. Headline on the posters asked: "What if the Government kidnapped your daughter?" And were followed by: "It happened every week in Australia from 1905 to 1971. The true story of a family that defied a nation." Some MPs have demanded Miramax withdraw the posters immediately and apologise to Australians. Mr Slipper, acting parliamentary secretary to Cabinet, stated: "Australian films being promoted overseas deserve a Hollywood-proof fence to protect them from tinsel-town tripe"
The film tells the story of Molly Craig and her two young cousins, removed from their family against their will, who walked 2000km home along a rabbit-proof fence after escaping from a settlement school. Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Minister Gary Hardgrave comment on the poster: "I'm disappointed at the sensational way in which the movie is being promoted in the US," Mr Hardgrave said. "The Federal Government considers that the practice of indigenous child separation, no matter how well-intentioned in its day, is a blemished chapter of our shared history. "However, this practice is not continuing today and I believe it is important for American audiences not to judge Australia by past practices."
TUDAWALI INDIGENOUS FILM AND VIDEO AWARDS
Indigenous actors were honoured this week at the Tudawali Indigenous film and video awards. Best Actress Award went to Deborah Mailman (SECRET LIFE OF US), and David Gulpilil was presented with the Best Actor Award for his performance in THE TRACKER. The event honoured the memory of one of Australia's first indigenous actors, Robert Tudawali who starred in Charles Chauvel's 1955 classic, JEDDA.
BENEATH CLOUDS, by Ivan Sen, won Best Long Format Drama and Best Cinematography was awarded to Allan Collins for his work on the film.
REVIEW: THE HARD WORD
With so many historical connections to convicts, it isn't surprising that the films we Aussies seem to do best are those with such a strong criminal element. THE HARD WORD is about trust, mateship and loyalty set within the world of crime. The majority of the characters in THE HARD WORD are caring and trustworthy which is completely necessary when you're a criminal working with the police to rob armoured cars containing thousands of dollars. This is why THE HARD WORD works so well. Apart from the exceptionally stunning performances from Guy Pearce, Joel Edgerton, Rachel Griffiths, and Damien Richardson, and a script which has a strong story peppered with hilarious moments and characters with great depth, apart from all that, the film works so well because we are presented with an alternative world, provided with the rules and watch what happens when those rules are broken. It is a prime example of how you can pretty much set a film in whatever scenario you like as long as you provide the audience with the rules and boundaries of the world at the beginning. Once you have the audience hooked in, you can pretty much take them anywhere. THE HARD WORD (originally titled BLOOD AND GUTS) definitely hooks you in from the start, takes you on a rollicking good ride and keeps you involved until the very end. Unlike the self-conscious LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, Scott Roberts' directing is stylish but understated and never irritating. The action sequences are razor-sharp with perfect timing from editor, Martin Connor. It is also wonderful to see cities Sydney and Melbourne featured so well. (Just a tip for those Aussie filmmakers looking for government finance: set it in two Australian cities and then you have double the chance.)
Highly recommend THE HARD WORD for anyone who loves a good yarn and wants to see some fantastic Australian actors at work (who may not be able to perform in films such as this in the future due to the imperialist actions of SAG and the 'Global One' rule).
To the Aussies out there: go and see THE HARD WORD and support your local industry. (This has been a public announcement proudly supported by Ain't It Cool News/Downunder Report).
p.s. Definitely agree with Clint from Moviehole last week when he said that Joel Edgerton will be the next big thing that Hollywood tries to steal from us. Just remember Joel, follow the footsteps of our past heroes Guy Pearce and Rachel Griffiths, and keep it real.
Here is some more info about THE HARD WORD from Clint at Moviehole:
L.A Confidential 2? The Hard Word 2? Moviehole talks to Guy Pearce and Damien Richardson
I caught up with Aussie icon Guy Pearce yesterday, in town to promote his latest film THE HARD WORD. Of many things we talked about the rumour of an L.A Confidential sequel, which he doesn't feel enticed to do. "I've heard that rumour a few times. But I don't think I'd be interested. I mean with a film like that, unless it's going to be better I won't touch it", Pearce also won't be following his Aussie comrades to roles in the next "Star Wars" movie." I wasn't in the first one or second one, and I can't imagine the third one could be any worse than the first one. But nah not for me", he laughs". And as for a Memento 2? "ha, ha wasn't the first Memento the sequel?" THE HARD WORD marks Guy's first Australian film in quite a while. "I didn't really come back to Australia to do The Hard Word, I came back because I live here, but I wanted to do The Hard Word because I ultimately was just moved by the script. I found it very funny, I enjoyed the combination of the two elements of the situation that the guys were in with the sense of humour that they had about it. I thought that was pretty Australian, and I think that Scott captured those characters pretty well, so when I read it I could totally imagine the scenario and probably adding to that, I wanted to, and are still wanting to, find more work in Australia and spend a bit more time at home".
Meantime, Guy's THE HARD WORD co-star Damien Richardson thinks it could be the start of a "Hard Word" franchise. "When we were on the way to the Melbourne premiere we were talking about the sequel (to THE HARD WORD), and how it would be set in Brazil. But we decided we better get this one out of the way first", he laughs. "But Australian's don't do sequels do we? Oh suppose we had the Max's, the Mick Dundee's." "Something that's happened to me in my career all along is I have stops and starts, and bits here and there. Not because I'm on a break but because I have no work - but I love writing, that's a passion. So that's what I'm working on. And hey, there's always Star Wars. I'm waiting for George to call me; I could be in the Jedi bar. I could be skulking around in a mask in the background Hunting down Ewoks or something". Next up, Richardson can be seen in a new horseracing comedy, alongside Jimeon and Jason Donovan. "I did HORSEPLAY, another Australian film, which is coming out later this year. Had 5 or 6 scenes in that, good little storyline. If it's a failure, It's not my fault", he laughs.
Both Interviews with Pearce and Richardson will be up on the site later today.
Clint Morris
www.moviehole.net
