INSIDE
MEL GIBSON'S BACK ON SCREEN AUSTRALIAN FILMS SHINE IN PALM SPRINGS AUSSIE FILM & TV NEWS
FROMTHEPRESIDENT and in the case of Toni, she went on to win the Golden Globe! Huge congratulations from all of us! Last month, we also screened Mel Gibson's latest drama “Edge of Darkness”. On February 4, we screen “Blessed” starring Frances O'Connor and Miranda Otto and on March 4th we screen “Alice in Wonderland” in 3D. This stars AIF Breakthrough Awards winner Mia Wasikowska along with Johnny Depp. Can't wait!
Dear Members and Friends , Another Australia Week in LA has come and gone, with AIF members having the opportunity to attend a screening of “ Beautiful Kate”, the directorial debut of Rachel Ward. Both Rachel and husband Bryan Brown, who appeared in the Film, were in attendance, as well as many government and film representatives from South Australia, where the film was shot. Once again, AIF partnered with Australia Week to assist with the Black Tie Gala. This year, AIF Ambassadors, Toni Collette and Simon Baker were honored. It was a spectacular evening, with the highlight being Nicole Kidman and hubby Keith Urban, serenading Simon Baker with their own rendition of Men at Work's “Land Down Under”. It was spontaneous, light hearted and just good fun and I am sure will be remembered by all for years to come! I would like to especially acknowledge my fellow Board members Jenny Cooney Carrillo and Rob Marsala for their tireless efforts in relation to this event and of course the Australia Week Committee who consistently create a week of fun and fresh events to showcase our wonderful country and all that it has to offer. In addition to Australia Week, during this years Awards season, both Toni and Simon have garnered Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild nominations
Finally, we know that a number of you were dissappointed that AIF had to cancel its Christmas party in December because of bad weather. We have decided to reschedule and have Christmas in July! So watch out for details on that. A big thank you to Paul HoeghGuldberg, of Vox+Associates, who volunteered his time to design the newsletter this month. There is a lot of work involved and he has done a great job. And thank you to our new volunteer, Michael Kelleher, for his IT consulting and ongoing work with AiF. Warmest wishes,
Paula Paizes
CONTENTS 1. 2. 4. 6. 7. 8. 10.
From the President News Center Stage meet members Robert Taylor and Steve Newman Mel Gibson returns to acting Edge of Darkness Screening Australian Films Shine in Palm Springs Reel Alerts
W H O ’ S W H O AT A i F President
Paula Paizes
Vice President David Pratt
Chairman of the Board Susie Dobson
Treasurer & Secretary Rob Marsala
Board Members
Jenny Cooney Carillo, Michelle Day, Andrew Warne, Megan Worthy
Executive Director Sophie Scarf
THE BOOMERANG Editors
Susie Dobson and Sophie Scarf editor@australiansinfilm.org
Design
Paul Hoegh-Guldberg www.voxassociates.com
Cover
Mel Gibson in “Edge of Darkness” courtesy of Warner Bros.
News Submissions
Please email the Editor with any Australian or member film-related news or announcements.
Australians in Film
2800 28th St, Suite 320 Santa Monica CA 90405 Tel: 310 452-5939 Fax: 323 446-8724 www.australiansinfilm.org administrator@australiansinfilm.org
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NEWS
G’DAYUSABALL Toni Collette & Simon Baker
AUSSIE’S IN THE LIMELIGHT
DAYBREAKERS Directed by Spierig Brothers Starring Sam Neil & Isabel Lucas & Claudia Karvan Release date: January 8, 2010
EDGE OF DARKNESS Grant Bower & Georgina Whitford
Directed by Martin Campbell Starring Mel Gibson & Bojana Novakovic Release Date: January 29, 2010
Mel Gibson
NEW MEMBERS
Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban
Roxanne Melloway Mark Goellnicht Belinda Gosbee Paul Gilchrist Stef Dawson Ramin Niami Gordon Burger Kurt Oldman Paul Pirola
AiF UPCOMING SCREENINGS Thursday February 4 2010
BLESSED
Starring AFI Winner for Best Actress Frances O'Connor
Mel Gibson is in talks to star in Universal Pictures spy thriller COLD WARRIOR to be directed by “Lethal Weapon” writer, Shane Black.
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT starring Aussie Mia Wasikowska has been purchased by Focus Features for US distribution at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The film also stars Annette Bening and Julianne Moore.
Frances O’Connor
Thursday March 4 2010
ALICE IN WONDERLAND Starring Mia Wasikowska 2
NEWS
JUDELAWJOINSTHEHEATHLEDGER SCHOLARSHIPJUDGINGPANEL
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CENTERSTAGE MEMBERPROFILE
STEVENNEWMAN Sophie Scarf caught up with the AiF member and Marketing Committee volunteer recently.
Q: Who do you most admire?
A: To make this one a little easier to answer I'll contain it to who I most admire within the entertainment business. That person would probably have to be Hugh Jackman who I worked with on "Australia". I rarely meet people who have
up against formidable competition and admitted that I couldn't compete with their credits. But he remembered me when I was a junior publicist at Fox and told me how impressed he was with my enthusiasm for what I did. Based on that passion I landed the job. It hasn't ever let me down.
Q: Where were you born and raised? A: I was born in New York City and lived there until my family migrated to Melbourne, Australia when I was 12 years old. Q: How did you get involved in your current career? A: I was working part-time as an usher for Hoyts Cinemas while attending Melbourne University. One day I was approached about a position that has become available in the Hoyts Advertising Department. I accepted the position and spent 2 years with Hoyts before leaving for Los Angeles where I accepted a position in the Marketing Department at Twentieth Century Fox. Q: If you weren't in your current career what would you be doing? A:
I was lucky enough to fall into the entertainment industry while still attending university so I haven't had to give any serious thought to another career. I was really into my Psych sub-major at uni and still find the idea of working as a the rapist very appealing.
achieved that level of success and still retain their goodness as a human being. That man has achieved superstardom and yet is still incredibly kind, generous and supportive to everyone he is around. Plus he has a fantastic sense of humor.
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
Q: What are you working on at the moment? A: I'm working on the film "What's Wrong With Virginia" directed by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black in his directorial debut and starring Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Emma Roberts and Aussie newcomer Harrison Gilbertson.
A: I think the secret of my success has been the passion that I've had for what I do. I was once up for the unit publicist's position on a film Mel Brooks was producing. I had only a few film credits at the time and was up against a couple of pros who had long lists of credits. I mentioned to Mr Brooks that I was aware of being 4
CENTERSTAGE MEMBERPROFILE
ROBERTTAYLOR Writer and AiF member Robert Taylor answers some questions this month.
Q: Where do you call home? A: I've lived in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Coolangatta/Tweed. I lived most of the nineties in London. So home is where the… I don't know really. I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be than Los Angeles.
Q: Do you come from a creative background?
A: My father was in radio and television: 2DU (Dubbo!!), 5AD, 6PR, 3UZ - Top 40 when he was younger; talkback as he got older. In the '60s he hosted IMT in Melbourne a couple of times when Graham Kennedy was on vacation. He also hosted an IMT-type show on Channel 7 in Adelaide. It aired twice-weekly: one airing was called “Tonight With Taylor”, and the second was the unfortunately titled “Taylor's In Town” - or TIT for short. His best mate in the '60s was Bert Newton, so it was a pleasure meeting Matt Newton at the Australians in Film screenings last year.
The film premiered at Cannes which was a highlight and received a standing ovation at the second screening. When we came out of the cinema the poster had been bannered: “Due to Public Demand - A Third Screening will be held.” These were all priceless moments and I hope every screenwriter has a similar experience.
Q: Who has been instrumental in helping you achieve your career goals? A: Producers Nigel Odell and David Redman. Karin Altman at The AFC has been a big supporter for a long time. In the very early days I wrote a monumentally awful screenplay and sent it to Philip Adams. Despite the appalling quality Phil called me in for a meeting and spent an hour giving sage advices. A truly great Australian, Philip.
Q: Do you have any screenplays out and about?
Q: How long have you been in Los Angeles? A: We (my wife Juliet and I) came for six months in 2004 and we've been back for two and a half years now. Damn, it's gone quick!
Q: What have been the pivotal points in your career?
A: I have two original screenplays under option. One is with David Redman and Michel Shane (Catch Me if You Can & I, Robot), and the other is with Nigel Odell and Gareth Wiley who won a Golden Globe for Best Picture for Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona, as well as Match Point.
A: My first paid gig, which was adapting a Frank Hardy novel (never produced unfortunately). My first successful AFC application (never produced unfortunately!) My first produced feature, Muggers, and the AWGIE nomination for Best Original Screenplay. 5
FEATURE
MELGIBSONRETURNS TOACTING
Mel Gibson, Bojana Novakovic, Martin Campbell & Graham King on the set. After a seven-year absence in front of the camera, Mel Gibson returns this month to star in EDGE OF DARKNESS, a thriller directed by Martin Campbell. We were fortunate to have him join members and VIPs of Australians in Film for a sold-out screening and Q&A at The Landmark in West LA the night before the film opened nationwide. Gibson plays Thomas Craven, a man driven by grief and searching for the truth after his only child, Emma, is gunned down by a bullet the police believe was meant for him. Shattered by his daughter's sudden death, the veteran Boston police officer is looking for answers and will take onor take down-anything or anyone in who stands in his way. His daughter is played by young Australian actress Bojana Novakovic, who, like Gibson is a NIDA graduate, but whose casting was not a result of the gum leaf mafia at work according to Gibson, but simply because director Martin Campbell felt she was right for the role. A relaxed and chatty Gibson gave insights to moderator Andre Warne and the audience about his acting process, future projects and what its like returning to acting after directing two films of his own. “Part of the reason,” he didn’t act for so long, Gibson said was he felt like he was “getting
stale”. Coming back now, he hopes he has added “nuances” the vengeful character may not have had without this renewed pleasure for acting. In one scene, Craven witnesses the terrible death of his daughter. When asked by a member how he prepares for such an emotionally wrenching scene, he told the crowd that for him, “It starts with breathing.” He finds the breath that emotion creates and starts his performance there. Another member wondered if Gibson had considered making a film in Australia (his last work was acting in 1995’s MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME). Agreeing it was a good idea, but not on his horizon for now, he talked enthusiastically and amusingly
with his 1st and 2nd ADs from Apocalypto, which is set in a Mexican prison and his Viking project with Leonardo DeCaprio. Generously taking questions beyond “last question” Gibson was clearly comfortable in a room that included friends and colleagues of his, as well as Australians in Film members. Gibson said he hopes audiences will like the film and welcome his return as an actor. Australians in Film members certainly did. The film now holds the record for quickest screening
Mel Gibson, Bojana Novakovic. to sell out. The entire theatre was filled in less than two days. Special thanks to Mary Hunter and Warner Bros and Mark Gooder and Icon Productions for arranging the screening. EDGE OF DARKNESS is based on the award wining BBC miniseries and was filmed around Boston.
Ray Winstone about his next projects, acting in THE BEAVER directed by his good friend Jodie Foster, HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION, co-written
Directed by Martin Campbell, the screenplay is by William Monahan & Andrew Bovell and co-stars Ray Winston & Danny Huston.
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EDGEOFDARKNESSSCREENING
Mel Gibson
Andrew Warne, Sophie Scarf, Mel Gibson, Susie Dobson
Paloma Felisberto of Protea Group International and Mel Vivien Flitton & Mel
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FEATURE
AUSTRALIANFILMSSHINE INPALMSPRINGS Report from Palm Springs International Film Festival:
By Katherine Tulich
I had the privilege of being invited to be a member of the FIPRESCI jury at the International Palm Springs Film Festival in January. FIPRESCI is the international board of film critics, and a select group of film journalists from around the world came to the Festival to award the FIPRESCI prize for Best Foreign Film. We view the official Best Foreign Language Films which are submitted from around the world for consideration for this year's Academy Awards. While the only home grown film in our list was the sublime “Samson and Delilah”, ( we chose as our winner the intriguing and inventive Swedish film, “Involuntary) it was an appropriate year to have an Aussie member on the jury as this year's festival for the first time presented a major focus on Australian cinema. January 9 was pronounced “Australia Day” at the Festival with a gala event screening (with
BryanBrown & RachelWard Rachel Ward, Bryan Brown, Aden Young and directors, Ana Kokkinos, Warwick Thornton, Robert Connolly and Tom Murray. Over the course of the two week festival nine Australian films ( many were US Premiers) were screened (Samson + Delilah, Blessed, Beautiful Kate, The Balibo Conspiracy, Lucky Country, Last Ride, In My Father's Country, My Year Without Sex and a newly restored version of the 70s classic, Wake in Fright) to record attendances.
AnthonyLaPaglia & RobertConnolly G'Day USA) of Sarah Watt's comic but touching “My Year Without Sex” starring Sacha Horler and Matt Day. Many Australian stars attended including Anthony LaPaglia, Frances O'Connor,
Ana Kokkinos whose film Blessed, made it US premier in Palm Springs was thrilled at the response. “It was great to see the US audience connect so strongly to the film and found it such a mov-
ing experience. They all felt this was an important film that US audiences should see.” The idea to feature Australian films began in Cannes when Festival programmers saw “Samson and Delilah”. Says Festival Director, Darryl Macdonald: “Then throughout the year we kept seeing all these exceptional Australian films. Out of all the countries we could have highlighted we all agreed that Australia had by far the strongest year.” The Festival's embrace of Australian cinema reflects a widely held international opinion that this past year has been one of Australia's best years for cinema, reflecting a new vibrancy and robust storytelling. “What really struck me is the diversity in terms of subject matter and the freshness to them, “says Darryl Macdonald.” There really feels like there is a revitalized approach to story telling. To me it reads like a new approach.” With Samson and Delilah's win of the prestigious Camera d'Or at Cannes last year, a record number of 17 Australian features screening at the past Toronto Film Festival and this year's focus at Palm
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FEATURE Springs, the international embrace of our recent cinema exports could not come at a better time. With their difficult subject matters (“Samson and Delilah's” realistic portrait of contemporary teenage Aboriginal life, suburban incest in “Beautiful Kate”, a mother recovering from a brain aneurysm in “My Year Without Sex”, troubled teens and their mothers in “Blessed”) there has been heated debates in Australia recently that the industry is not providing the bonafide box office winners and audience pleasers of the past. The debate was very much on the mind of many of the Australian film attendees I spoke to at the
Katherine Tulich & Friends Festival. Bryan Brown was particularly blunt in his summation.” I think it's the media that has a problem, not the films. It's a great year for Australian films,' he told me. “I think it's a mature industry and we tell stories that other people aren't game to tell. We are a very bold cinema.” Rachel Ward who makes her feature writing and directing debut with “Beautiful Kate” a complex take on family dysfunction which stars Brown, Ben Mendelsohn, Rachel Griffiths and hot newcomer Sophie Lowe, agrees. “If they think our films our tough they should some of the films coming from other countries, “she says. Ward was thrilled with the film's response at the Festival. “We really love the Palm Springs audiences. They don't muck around here. If they don't like a film, they'll walk out,” says Ward. “With our film they were gripped
FrancesO'Connor, DarrylMacdonald & AnaKokkinos and engrossed as you would hope them to be.”' “I think all serious films get a rough time these days,” says Ana Kokkinos. “It's an increasing global problem, and smaller numbers of people are going to see these films, but it doesn't mean we should abandon them. Australia has had a number of films that break out and are hugely successful and we celebrate those but it's also important to make films that are culturally relevant and reach a different audience” For Warwick Thornton, Palm Springs had been the last festival stop after a very busy year for his multi award winning film, “Samson and Delilah” which was short listed for the Academy Awards Foreign Language category. He feels box office receipts should not be Australian film's prime directive. “My idea of Australian cinema is cultural maintenance
LaPaglia, star of the “The Balibo Conspiracy” which also proved to be a Festival favorite. “This has really been a slow burn movie, and festivals like this have really been keeping the momentum going on it.” “I think this has created a very visible platform for Australian cinema in the US. We had a number of buyers here and a highlight package like this can really garner their attention,” says Festival Director, Daryl Macdonald. Expect the Palm Springs Film Festival to continue its love affair with Australian cinema in future festivals. Says Macdonald: “We are great fans of the Australian cinema and would be thrilled to feature Australian films as part of our program every year.”
Australian Gala Atmosphere not box office. We're fighting Hollywood in many ways to keep our language, our accents and our stories on the screen. That's so much more important than money,” he says. “Word of mouth is everything with a film like ours” says Anthony
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REELALERTS Samson & Delilah Makes History Yet Again Warwick Thornton's SAMSON & DELILAH makes history as the first Australian film short listed on the road to Oscar glory in the Foreign Language Film category. It is one of nine films nominated from sixty-five eligible films. The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010.
NCIS: Los Angeles
Hunk of Burning Love
Dion Bebee & fellow Aussie Oscar winner Eva Orner.
Focus on Dion AiF Board of Advisor Dion Beebe has been nominated for Best Cinematography for his work on NINE by the American Society of Cinematographers.
Hugh Jackman has beaten Sam Worthington and Eric Bana to the top of a new list of Aussie hunks. We partnered with movie tickets website Fandango.com and asked thousands of film fans to pick their favorite Aussie sex symbol as part of a new campaign, and Jackman was the clear winner. Simon Baker, Chris Hemsworth, Ryan Kwanten and Jesse Spencer, Juliam McMahon Alex O'Loughlin and Adam Garcia all made the top 10.
Squared Away
There's No Business Like Show Business The ICG Publicists will honour Aussie TV producer Shane Brennan with its small screen showmanship award. Brennan is the executive producer of NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles.
Berlin Bound Four Australian films have been selected for the prestigious 60th Annual Berlin International Film Festival. Features are Patrick Hughes' RED HILL, Rachel Perkins' BRAN NUE DAE, FRANSWA SHARL, directed by Hannah Hilliard and short film First Contact.
Apparition has acquired North American rights to the thriller THE SQUARE directed by Nash Edgerton and starring Joel Edgerton. AiF screened THE SQUARE in October 2008.
Seek & You Will Find AiF Member Brett Coutts landed a guest role in LEGEND OF THE SEEKER. Congratulations!
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REARWINDOW
AiFSPONSORS
AiF Sponsors
We greatly appreciate the involvement and support of our sponsors. You or your organization can become a sponsor of Australians in Film. We’d be happy to talk to you to see we can tailor AiF to best benefit your company. Contact Executive Director Sophie Scarf for more information. Email sscarf@australiansinfilm.org or phone 310 452 5939
AiF AMBASSADORS Gillian Armstrong•Simon Baker•Eric Bana•Cate Blanchett•Bryan Brown•Rose Byrne•Toni Collette•Abbie Cornish Russell Crowe•Roger Donaldson•Deborra Lee Furness•Melissa George•Mel Gibson•Rachel Griffiths•Scott Hicks Barry Humphries•Hugh Jackman•Nicole Kidman•Anthony Lapaglia•Baz Luhrmann•Robert Luketic•Jacqueline McKenzie•Julian McMahon•George Miller•Kylie Minogue•Radha Mitchell•Poppy Montgomery•Olivia Newton John Phillip Noyce•Frances O’Connor•Miranda Otto•Guy Pearce•Richard Roxburgh•Geoffrey Rush•Fred Schepisi Naomi Watts•Hugo Weaving•David Wenham•Sarah Winter
AiF BOARD OF ADVISORS Kym Barrett•Stuart Beattie•Greg Coote•Bruce Davey•Richard Francis-Bruce•Dean Semler
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