THEBOOMERANG AUSTRALIANS IN FILM
Outback Love Story: “Samson and Delilah” Aussies To Watch: Alice Parkinson Countdown to the Globes and SAGs “Avatar” & “Imaginarium” Pics JANUARY 2010 JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG nomination for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year. Tell your family, tell your friends, what the heck - tell your dog! The more people that get to know about and get to see this film, the better.
From the Editor
This month you’ll see a snapshot of AiF board member Jenny Cooney and Executive Director Sophie Scarf. We’re also doing a little talent spotting of our own, and have added a column called “Aussies To Watch”, this month featuring the accomplished actor Alice Parkinson.
Dear Members and Friends
A quick introduction to me - I’m fortunate enough to have found a As we welcome in the new year I’d place in this wonderful film like to thank Shannon Dunn who has industry in a number of capacities. left quite a legacy with her work on My baptism came by way of my this publication. There’s no doubt founding of Australia’s Inside Film that Shannon’s commitment to Magazine and the Inside Film bringing you Australians In Film in Awards. I now work as a writer and print and online deserves much producer and run my own kudos and praise. Shannon will be a consultancy providing Public hard act to follow. Relations and Communications advice to the Motion Picture A day after taking on the role of Association (Asia Pacific), and contributing editor I picked up the Australian-based film and television phone to a few Australians I know organisations. working in the industry to find out any news they could tell me for I hope my contribution to “The Boomerang” – I’m still taking Australians in Film helps in some notes! I always knew that we small way to the promotion of all Australians punch above our that is worth celebrating about weight, but I’m now in awe of the Australian film and our wonderful sheer breadth and quality of films filmmakers. and programs that Aussie talent is involved in. Not only that, but our Have a terrific twenty ten. industry is so chokkas full of such swell people, that it makes each Stephen Jenner and every day a pleasure. We’re kicking off the year with an exclusive profile on Warwick Thornton, the tremendously successful writer, director and cinematographer of “Samson and Delilah”. Since winning the Camera D’Or at Cannes, the awards have flowed thick and fast for Warwick, and we’re happy to applaud him every step of the way. With nomination polls for the Academy Awards set to close on 23 January, we’ve high hopes to see “Samson and Delilah” come up trumps with a
PS. Do you have a background in journalism or publishing and love the idea of promoting the best in Australian film? Then help us out as a contributing editor. For more information, please contact AiF Executive Director Sophie Scarf at sscarf@australiansinfilm.org
Contents 3. 4. 8. 9.
From the President News AFI Awards Feature: Outback Love Story Interview with Warwick Thornton, writer and director of “Samson and Delilah” 14. Meet Your AiF Jenny Cooney Sophie Scarf 16. Aussies To Watch Alice Parkinson 17. Screenings and Events “Avatar” “The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnasus” Photos by Getty Images 20. Rear Window
Who’s Who at AiF 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 Editor & Designer Stephen Jenner editor@australiansinfilm.org Cover Warwick Thornton, Writer/Director of “Samson and Delilah” on set in Alice Springs. With thanks to Producer Kath Shelper who provided the beautiful photographs 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
JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
From The President
Happy New Year! Dear Members and Friends
We are also always grateful to AiF sponsors whose support ensures we can continue to offer the high level of programming that we offer to you. Stacey Testro International has just re-upped its Gold Sponsorship for another two years, and Ausfilm has increased its sponsorship from Silver to Gold Level and has also signed on for another two years. Thank you to both of these sponsors for their continued and generous support of AiF.
Welcome New Members A warm welcome to our new members and a special Happy New Year to you. We hope you enjoy being a part of Australians In Film. • Ginette Hillman • Stephen Factor • Andrew Cunningham • Toby Moore • Michelle Moore • Loring Guessous • Stephen Humphries • One Tusk Productions • Michael Krulik
A Happy New Year to you all. I trust that you are arriving back to work rested and ready for another terrific year of AiF screenings and events.
Coming up on January 11 is the G’Day USA hosted screening of “Beautiful Kate”, directed by Rachel Ward and starring Ben Mendelsohn, Bryan Brown and Rachel Griffiths. Some lucky AiF We ended last year with members will get the chance to megapic “Avatar” and what a go to that screening and way to top off an amazing year reception. Stay tuned on email of events. Without question, the for further details. In addition movie is outstanding and James there are many other great Cameron is a genius. But, for programs being offered during me, my greatest pleasure was to Australia Week in January. If witness star, Sam Worthington, interested, go online to happily autograph at least 20 www.australiaweek.com. boxes of Fox Studios’ supplied 3D glasses for most of the preThis month our newsletter is teen boys in the audience and being edited by Stephen other AiF members. His natural Jenner, founding editor of style, generosity and Inside Film Magazine in accessibility just warms my Australia. Welcome and thank heart and makes me an even you to Stephen, who will be bigger admirer of this Australian contributing editor to the actor whom AiF deservedly newsletter. honored last year as its “2009 Breakthrough Winner in Film”. Wishing you all a prosperous Like Sam, most of our 2010, and looking forward to Ambassadors do truly give back, another great year for AiF. by attending our screenings and talking to us about their films Warmest wishes, and their process, and we really are grateful to them and very Paula Paizes proud!
Rachel Ward’s “Beautiful Kate” will screen on January 11. Above: Maeve Dermody, Ben Mendelsohn and Sophie Lowe during the film’s screening at the Sydney Film Festival in 2009
AiF Events Calendar Date
Event
Features!
Feb 4th
“Blessed” Screening
+ Q&A with AFI Best Actress Frances O’Connor
Date TBC
“Alice In Wonderland ” Screening
Stars Aussie actor Mia Wasikowska
JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
News Strong Aussie Presence at Sundance Six Oz Films Make The Cut Six new Australian films have been selected for the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, including “Animal Kingdom” - see Page 5, the digital 3D documentary “Cane Toads: The Conquest” from writer/director Mark Lewis, and the musical road-movie “Bran Nue Dae” from director Rachel Perkins. Shorts screening at the Festival include Shorts “Glottal Opera” by Director John Fink, ”My Rabit Hoppy” by Writer/Director Anthony Lucas, and “Young Love” from Writer/ Director: Ariel Kleiman. “The Perfect Host” Plays Park City at Midnight “The Perfect Host”, produced by AiF sponsor Stacey Testro will screen at Park City at Midnight. Directed by Nick Tomnay and written by Tomnay and Krishna Jones, the cast includes David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Helen Reddy, Nathaniel Parker. Warwick Wilson (Pierce) is the consummate host. He carefully prepares for a dinner party, the table impeccably set for 8:30pm. John Taylor is a career criminal. He’s just robbed a bank and needs to get off the streets. He finds himself on Warwick’s doorstep posing as a friend of a friend, new to Los Angeles, who’s been mugged and lost his luggage. As the wine flows and the evening progresses, we become deeply intertwined in the lives of these
Stacey Testro’s thriller “The Perfect Host” secured a midnight spot at Sundance
two men and discover just how deceiving appearances can be. Sundance says of the film: “With outstanding performances by David Hyde Pierce and Clayne Crawford, co-writer/director Nick Tomnay takes us on a suspense-filled ride where nothing is as it seems. “The Perfect Host” is a slippery psychological thriller that exposes true human nature and reveals just how far we’re willing to go to satisfy our needs.” Watts In “Mother& Child” Naomi Watts stars in the US Premiere of “Mother & Child” from director and screenwriter Rodrigo García. In the film, the lives of three women—a physical therapist, the daughter she gave up at birth three decades ago, and an African American woman seeking to adopt a child intersect in surprising ways. The cast includes Samuel L. Jackson, David Morse, Annette Bening, and Amy Brenneman. Curran Scribes “The Killer Inside Me”
Australian writer and director John Curran has written “The Killer Inside Me” for director Michael Winterbottom. Deputy Sheriff Lou Ford is a pillar of the community in his small Texan town; patient, polite and well liked, until he starts killing people. The cast includes: Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Simon Baker, and Elias Koteas. “In Treatment” Actor With “Kids” Australian Actor Mia Wasikowska stars with Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right” which premieres this month at Sundance. Piccirilli Plays Lonely Librarian Oz actor Michael Piccirilli, stars in “Obselidia” which has been selected for the US Dramatic Competition. He plays George, a lonely librarian who believes love is obsolete until a road trip to Death Valley with a cinema projectionist called Sophie teaches him otherwise.
JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
News all of the hype and excitement of Sundance I just need to make sure that the decisions I make are made carefully. I don’t want to just leap into something like some excitable kid.” Law Joins Ledger Scholarship Panel British actor Jude Law will join a judging panel to help keep the legacy of his late, dear friend Heath Ledger alive. Law will judge the winner of the Guy Pearce stars in “Animal Kingdom”, to screen at Sundance Australians In Film 2010 Heath Ledger Scholarship, along with “Animal Kingdom” To Play director Spencer Susser and casting agent John Papsidera, Sundance stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who cast Ledger as The Joker in “Animal Kingdom”, the debut Natalie Portman and Rainn “The Dark Knight”; Gregor feature film of writer / director Wilson. Jordan, who directed Ledger in David Michôd and produced by The acceptance of “Animal two of his earlier films “Ned Liz Watts (“Home Song Kingdom” and “Hesher” into Kelly” and “Two Hands”; casting Stories”, “Jewboy”, “Little Sundance 2010 continues David's agent Ann Fay; and Susie Fish”), has been accepted into relationship with the festival Dobson, Chair of Australians In the World Cinema Section of which began in 2008 when his Film. The Scholarship is the much respected Sundance short film “Crossbow” (which he supported by the Ledger family, Film Festival 2010. wrote and directed) was invited Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Due for national release in to screen along with two other Baz Luhrmann, Rachel Griffiths Australia through Madman shorts he co-wrote, Nash and Ledger's former fiancee Entertainment in May 2010, Edgerton's “Spider” and Michelle Williams. "I am “Animal Kingdom” is a powerful Spencer Susser's “I Love Sarah delighted and honoured to do psychological drama set in Jane”. In 2009, the festival also what I can to keep Heath's Melbourne's criminal landscape screened David's short film legacy alive," Law said. "He was featuring an all star ensemble “Netherland Dwarf”. a brilliant actor and a wonderful cast including Ben Mendelsohn, man and it is only fitting that As David prepares to head off to Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, this scholarship has been Sundance this month, he said in Luke Ford, Jacki Weaver, developed in his name.” a call to AiF Sullivan Stapleton and that he is introducing James Frecheville. giving serious In addition to “Animal consideration Kingdom”'s success, David to the next Michôd has had a double dose step in his of good news having co-written career: the independent US feature “Whatever I “Hesher”, which has been do next is invited to screen in Sundance really a 2010's US Competition. crucial “Hesher” was co-written with decision. With Jude Law to judge next winner of AiF Heath Ledger scholarship
JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
News
Danny Huston and Mel Gibson star in “Edge of Darkness”, released on 29 January
Gibson On The Edge Mel Gibson will feature in “Edge Of Darkness” released on 29 January. The feature is directed by Martin Campbell (“Casino Royale”) and was co-written by Aussie Andrew Bovell along with William Monahan. Mel plays homicide detective Thomas Craven, who investigates the death of his activist daughter and uncovers not only her secret life, but a corporate cover-up and government collusion that attracts an agent tasked with cleaning up the evidence. Gibson’s daughter is played by Australian actress Bojana Novakovic. Viking Saga For Mel Speaking of Mel, he is set to star with Leonardo DiCaprio and direct an as yet to be titled period drama set in the world of Viking culture. William
Monahan, once again, will write the script. Graham King will produce with Mel and Tim Headington in a co-production between King’s GK Films and Gibson’s Icon Productions. Shooting is expected to begin fall, 2010. Aussie Vampire Dawn Other Australians featured in releases this month are the Speirig Brothers who have codirected “DayBreakers” which stars Ethan Hawke, Sam Neil, Claudia Karvan, Isabel Lucas and Willem Dafoe. The film releases 8 January. “Leap Year” Releases Su Armstrong is the Executive Producer of comedy romance “Leap Year” which stars Amy Adams and also releases on 8 January. Former AiF administrator
DON’T BE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD... ADVERTISE IN THE BOOMERANG
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
Martha Goddard, has won both the $20,000 Kenneth Myer Fellowship and the $10,000 Foxtel Award at the Australian Film Television and Radio School graduation. She was applauded for her “exceptional talent” and “intelligent curiosity”. The Fellowship includes an attachment in the US with Emmy Award winning writer/ director Joss Whedon (“Dollhouse”). Congratulations Martha, we knew you were destined for great things! Producer Rebecca Yeldham claimed victory in the International Documentary Associations 2009 Distinguished Feature category with “Anvil! The Story of Anvil”, while Australian film “Salt” took home the prize for Distinguished Short category during the Awards’ ceremony in Los Angeles on December 5.
AiF member, actor and filmmaker Trilby Beresford produced the short film “Possessions”, whose subject is the Peter Booth painting “Man with a Bandaged Head”. JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
News
Sam Worthington to present at Golden Globes
Aussies Are Golden Nicole Kidman and Sam Worthington (“Avatar”) have been announced as presenters at “The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards” on Sunday 17 January.!The show, hosted by Ricky Gervais (ok – you’ve gotta have at least one Pom), will be broadcast live coast to coast on NBC (5 to 8 pm PT, 8 to 11 pm ET). Nominated Aussies this year include Simon Baker “The Mentalist”, Rose Byrne “Damages” and Toni Collette “United States of Tara”. Fingers and toes crossed. SAG Tags Baker And Collette With just under a week to recover from the Golden Globes, Simon Baker and Toni Collette will spruce up for the SAG Awards, going to air on 23 January. Baker is again nominated for male actor in a TV drama series for his hit show “The Mentalist”. He’s up against nominees Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”), Hugh Laurie (“House”), Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”) and Bryan Cranston
(“Breaking Bad”). Collette is nominated for female actress in a comedy TV series category for United States of Tara and will go head-to-head with Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), Edie Falco (“Nurse Jackie”), Christina Applegate (“Samantha Who”) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“The New Adventures of Old Christine”). Former “Home and Away” star Ryan Kwanten is also in the hunt for a SAG ensemble prize with the cast of his vampire TV drama “True Blood” nominated against tough competition from the ensemble casts of “Mad Men”, “The Good Wife”, “Dexter” and “The Closer”. Sam I Am Just how bright can Sam Worthington’s star burn? With “Avatar” wowing audiences worldwide, the Aussie actor’s forthcoming projects will be keenly awaited. The next likely release is John Madden’s “The Debt”, set in 1965 about three young Israeli Mossad agents on a secret mission capture and kill a notorious Nazi war criminal. In May, Sam teams up with Kiera Knightley in the smaller-scale drama about infidelity in “Last Night”, before returning to the epic theatre of Greek myth as Perseus in “Clash of the Titans”. “Tomorrow” On Sched For Beattie Stuart Beattie’s Directorial Debut “Tomorrow, When The War Began” wrapped production at Fox Studios Australia on 18 December after shooting through November and December, first on location in New South Wales and then in the sounds stages of Fox Studios. The film is based on a series of best selling books by Australian author John Marsden.
“Tomorrow” follows the escapades of eight unlikely high school teenagers who band together when their country is invaded and their families are taken captive. Oz Conductor Grammy Nom AiF member composer and
Simon Baker: nominated for “The Mentalist”
conductor Tim Davies has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition for his piece “Counting to Infinity”. It’s been a big year for Tim, conducting the scores for “God of War 3” (Game, 2010), “Dear John” (2010), “Couples Retreat”, “Date Night” (2010), “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”, “The Lightning Thief” (2010) and orchestrations or arrangements for “State of Play”, and “Sex and the City 2” (2010). Dancing Her Way To The Top In December 2009, Australian professional dancer Kym Johnson won “Dancing with the Stars” with her partner Donny Osmond. JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
AFI Award Winners
The “Samson and Delilah” team
The “Balibo” team
The crowd favourite “Samson and Delilah” surfaced to win Best Film at the Australian Institute (AFI) Awards, pipping to the post a quality group of nominated films in a strong year for Australian cinema.
“Beautiful Kate”. Best Original Music went to Christopher Gordon, for his work on “Mao's Last Dancer”.
Russell Crowe took the crown for Australia’s Best Actor internationally, for his work on “State of Play”, while Toni Collette, pictured here, received her award for Best Actress in “United States of Tara”.
Most Popular film, according to the readers of Australia’s Murdoch-owned papers, went to “Mao's Last Dancer”, accepted by “Shine” producer Jane Scott.
Best Feature Length Documentary went to Scott Hicks and Suzanne Preisler for “Philip Glass”. Robert Connolly scored Best Adapted Screenplay for “Balibo”, which has recently been banned by the Indonesian government, although brave journalists have risked jail time screening the film to the many curious. Best Lead Actor was Anthony LaPaglia and Best Supporting Actor was Oscar Isaac, both again for “Balibo”. Frances O'Connor was the Best Lead Actress for “Blessed”, and Rachel Griffiths was Best Supporting Actress for Rachel Ward’s
Toni Collette
Frances O’Connor
“Australia” of course, scored Highest Grossing Film.
The Byron Kennedy Award went to Ray Brown, a key grip known to many from his thirty-odd years in the industry. He talked passionately in memory of those technicians who have lost lives on film sets. “Samson and Delilah” gave Marissa Gibson and Rowan Macnamara the joint Young Actor Award. It also gave Best Screenplay and Best Direction to Warwick Thornton. The Best Film Award was presented by Baz Lurhman and his young “Australia” star Brandon Walters.
Maeve Dermody, Bryan Brown & Rachel Ward JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
OUTBACK
It took Warwick Thornton one day to fly from Sydney to Cannes to accept his Camera D’Or for “Samson and Delilah”. That’s three days less than the time he regularly spends behind the wheel of a loaded up Toyota going “bush” to Alice Springs, dead centre of Australia’s expansive outback. I spoke to the muchtravelled director from an edit suite at Soundfirm at Fox Studios Australia. When did you study at film school? 1993 to 1996. I enjoyed it. It was like a great big toy shop for a cinematographer. It was playtime. I met Galois there, who cut “Samson and Delilah” and pretty much everything I do. Darran Fulham our designer. He designs on big European and Hollywood films. He did “The Bourne Identity” and “Blood Diamond”. Some hopeful filmmakers come to LA and are never seen again? When I was at film school a lot of the cinematographers would come for the one-year course and
LOVE
straight after try to get a green card and go straight to LA - and you’d never hear of them again. You know? Never. They’d disappear completely into the ether. But, there are Aussies everywhere. If you keep your Aussie network, you’ll always find someone to help you out. Like the Australian Rebecca Yeldam, who produced “The Motorcycle Diaries”, who is really lovely, and runs the LA Film Festival in-between making all of those amazing films. Wow, I thought – you are a good person to know!
Are you a stills photographer as well as a cinematographer? Bridget Ikin and John Maynard [distributors of “Samson and Delilah”] gave me a lovely little Leica which I carry around in my top pocket, and I’ve only just started taking photographs of everything. I use big still cameras as light metres and to show directors things, and for the occasional story-boarding. When you are on an aeroplane going to LA for a meeting or Europe somewhere going to a film festival, you just don’t carry this [the Leica]
around. Now I just use my Leica and I have thousands of pictures. And it’s on automatic, so I just shoot. No focusing, no exposure. It’s happy-snapping.
Some of the shots in “Samson and Delilah” are almost static, but never really static? “Samson and Delilah” is all handheld. As an audience member it is like you are just standing there with them, do you know what I mean? It’s hand-held, but it’s very static. It’s not like long lens, spraying around, heightening the emotion, which is generally how you think of hand-held. This film uses a point of view hand-held. You just set a frame, so that you have barriers for the actors to work in, and then let them use the frame and like them to come up to the camera and go away from the camera, and go from left to right or right to left, to the edges in a sense. I much prefer to have a fantastic performance in a static frame than to have the kind of scene where the director, the cinematographer and the editor are creating the performance through the use of the camera and all that JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
STORY
kind of other stuff. I much prefer to have a simpler frame and make them work much harder. If you want a fast-paced scene, get the actors to have that energy and pace, rather than you cut it faster. For this film, that kind of worked.
show, it was all about fast pacing and frenetic camera work. Yeah! Get the actors to create verité, rather than use the camera. If you’ve only got one lens and you have to get a close up, get the actor to walk up to the lens! (laughs). Then get them to create the editing in a sense.
Have you always thought like that? No, you know, my whole idea is that the director You’re currently “I’ve changes to suit the story. I working on a never been don’t have theories. I come documentary? up with them for the script, there - I Yes, this one is and completely change haven’t been called “Art tack. The next script I’m to space!” and Soul”. writing – it’s all technoIt’s a documentary grades and blue-screen, and series of three one it’s going to have fast-cutting hour eps on contemporary pace and I’m going to use the camera in that way and the editing Aboriginal art. So, straight after Cannes, I had five days off, then in that way. But for “Samson and just basically loaded up the Toyota Delilah”, I don’t think that would and the crew and went straight off have made it a better film. into the Western desert. So it was gorgeous, you know. One minute you are on the red carpet; the next Your assessment makes me think you are sitting around a camp fire of “Mad Men”, the television with swags cooking a stew. series, where the camera stays still a lot of the time and it’s all about performance, which was How do you adjust to that? unusual because up until that
I sort of designed it that way. I just get the hell out of the madness and I like that. I love moving between fiction and non-fiction. I love that idea. I get sick of drama. I just want me and my favourite sound recordist go off into the bush and make something that you have no control over – where you are working with an old lady or an old man and they tell you what to do. You’ve talked a lot about the fact that “Samson and Delilah” is based on personal experience and personal observations. Yes, I kind of write from there. I’ve got a lot to write about and a lot to say personally that I’ve seen out there in the desert in Alice Springs. It’s quite a confronting film, and if someone was to say to me - That’s not true - I’d say well, I’ve seen it personally. It had to come from that place. I don’t think I’d be in the right place if I tried to write some kind of science fiction film, because I don’t understand it, I’ve never been there – (laughs). I haven’t been to space! A lot of people are fantastic at that. So I just need that total one-to-one experience to write truthfully. This JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
Samson and Delilah is my first film, so I’m still learning. I’m still working out what the f_ _ _ is going on, and where do these stories come from and how to develop them. How did you get to that point where you physically sat down and started to write “Samson and Delilah”? I’m petrified of the blank page. There are people who have an idea, a genre and maybe one or two
kangaroo, the phone – that came in second drafts. Audiences get that satisfaction from the structure of a feature film, bookends, mirror images, and metaphors… And connections. Hollywood likes to keep the audience one step ahead. They use the mirror image to give the audience a ‘comfortability’ - to allow them to
community. It gives a feeling of going on that journey and not knowing what is going to happen. It’s happening real time. So, eventually you sat down at home with a computer… No, I sat down with a pen and paper. I’ve only just learned how to switch a computer on, let alone use Final Draft. I only got a phone two or three weeks ago. I had a phone for a while, but I threw it in the bin. No-one ever rang. Steven Speilberg didn’t call so I threw it in the bin! So, I wrote on paper because you can carry a piece of paper around, and keep writing. And I got my wife, who is a Final Draft wiz and a great bullshit detector of bad scenes, to transcribe it. My idea of a screenplay is: “Scene 1: Samson wakes up, starts to sniff glue.” But my wife will embellish that a bit. “Scene 1: Dawn. The sun rises slowly. The blues turn to gold...” You know? I don’t write anything like that. She does, which is fantastic for me.
What sort of working relationship do you have with your producer, Kath Shelper? She appears to be ideas for characters and they just say “I know something that you present during every part of the start and they don’t know where don’t know, Russell Crowe, or process? they are going. That would just whomever it might be”. A lot of Absolutely. Right from the freak me out. That’s way too hard. that work is written that way. It’s I have to have beginning, middle an interesting way to work. You can beginning. Every film I’ve made with her, she’s there. “I’ve had an and end, characters, where they make people kind of dribble, in a idea...” I’ll say, and she’ll say come in, where they leave, how Thai massage kind of way! It’s a “Great. Write it.” She’s such a good the whole thing finishes in the back formula that they’ve worked out friend, family. We bounce things off of my head before I sit down and that works really well. Audiences each other, get feedback and stuff. write it. And if you added up the are very comfortable with it. She calls her job “Producing and days that it took to write “Samson Ego Management,” and that makes and Delilah”, there was probably a lot of sense to me. only about four or five days. There’s one shocking moment that the audience never sees coming. She must cost a fortune! So you had it all in the back of It became a form and style of mine your head - the shots, the Well she said, I’m going to want that whenever Samson and Delilah perspectives? 20% if it keeps going this way. I say meet anyone, or anything happens “Absolutely. You just keep finding I had the sequences. The music, to them, it happens to the the $20 million we need and I’ll vaguely was there. I wanted to audience at exactly the same time. keep giving you the 20% of have Troy Cassar-Daley. I had So, it’s a sense of realism. We don’t whatever you pay me!” Charlie Pride in the beginning and set up anything. We don’t for at the end. Pretty much all of it. example see the brother driving in But there’s a whole lot of stuff in the red car to pick them up. How do you find working with a “Samson and Delilah” that reverts There’s only one moment when we small crew? back, like the kangaroo, him with do that, and that is when we cut the kangaroo, her with the back to the phone in the JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
Samson and Delilah Incredibly easy. I grew up in documentary so I’m pretty much used to doing everything myself. So for someone else to do it, it’s a luxury. But, I’ve been to the other extreme of having 120 people on set all asking What’s for lunch?
What are we doing? It’s just painful. And as far as money goes, it’s incredibly excessive. But with a small crew, working harder is so much more fun for me.
home and I cook. It’s how I unwind. If someone fed me, I’d just be lying in bed going “ah um ah”. Whereas chopping, cooking - is a total wind down. And then I’m tired and I can sleep. I really enjoy that. And it’s respect for them, for what they’ve
done that day, and what they’ve created. I’m always happy on set for someone to suggest how something might work. I believe that I have an idea of what I want. And I have an incredibly clear idea of what I don’t want, but Is it good because you have a something that is better is direct relationship with every one incredibly exciting… When people of those people? suggest things I listen and I go “Wow, that’s a great idea. Let’s do You know, I don’t choose crew for that.” I’m really happy to listen. their CVs. I choose them for whether I get on them. I don’t care I’m not an auteur, or control freak, but I do know what I want. whether or not they worked on “The Matrix”. I choose them if I think I’d like them in my home and cook dinner for them. Or go to the Did Marissa and Rowan have ideas to contribute? pub with them. That’s much more important to me. And of course, if Yeah, yeah, they did. There were you choose those kind of people, scenes in the film where we I it’s almost like you’re going on a needed them to get from A to B, long weekend holiday, rather than and Rowan would say, “I’m going to making a film, because you are do it this way,” and I’d go “Ok, all surrounded by wonderful creative right. That makes sense. Do it that nice human beings, and that is way.” A 120 strong crew, with much more important and much trucks lined up down the road, more fun. would have scared the hell out of them. There was a approximately 11 people on the crew at any one Are you a good cook? time, which is really nice and Oh yeah, absolutely. On every film I calming for them. Whereas a big crew for their first film would try and cook for the whole crew. I love doing that. And cooking for me have, I think, really hurt them. is – you put in 12 hours a day, I go
I understand there were a few members of the public around when you were shooting the Supermarket scene? Yeah, there were a few people buying late night chocolate cakes and things, and that really freaked them out while they were trying to act. We did have some trouble in the supermarket scene because they were getting embarrassed. So, I quietly explained that millions of people are going to watch you on the screen, so you really have to – get over it. The thought that some stranger is going to watch you act that came as a bit of a reality check for those two. “Oh, shit, that’s right. Millions of people are going to watch us. Strangers are going to pay to sit and watch us.” Now they’ve experienced the film with audiences from all over the world. Do you think that has changed them? Yes. They’ve grown up real fast. Rowan was petrifyingly shy around strangers. Not around us. And he’s sort of opened up much more, where he can go on stage and accept his own bloody awards! They’ve found themselves part of a filmmaking and film watching experience. Is it a big education for them? Well, they come from a different world. You know, Rowan’s favourite film is “Transformers”. Nothing compares to it. “Samson and Delilah” doesn’t compare to it. But that’s cool! That’s what he likes. Bruce Willis is his favourite actor, from the “Die Hard” series. Do you think international audiences, that is – audiences that are distanced geographically from Australia, see the film differently to local audiences? I think you are right. People do have a connection. There are Samson and Delilahs on every corner of the streets in LA or NY. They might not be Aboriginal, but they are neglected, in trouble, on drugs – all that kind of stuff. And I think people see that connection. JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
Samson and Delilah We talk about teenage love when we want to get the film out there, and people easily connect with that. Everyone remembers their first love. How awkward and gawky and annoying it was. So I think audiences around the world connect to that stuff. The indigenous side of it. People don’t understand it. They are fascinated by it. Some people think that “Samson and Delilah” was real not a script. They thought we came across this community and found two kids and started filming them! [laughs]. That’s annoying, but a kind of compliment in a sense. Isn’t that part of the reason that you’re doing this? To start people talking? Absolutely. That’s why it’s realist, hand held. If you start chucking in cranes and helicopter shots, you’re in a different world. I didn’t want the audience to drop out of the journey. Your film has been nominated as Australia’s official Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film. This year, you may get a lot of attention. Hollywood might start offering you scripts. How do you think you might respond to that? You know at the moment I’ve got a five-year plan of what I want to do. I’ve got drafts of scripts of new films. None of them financed. So, I’m busy. At the moment, I’ve got one that’s being released, one that is being cut, even though it isn’t a feature.
Year
Event
Result
Award
Recipient
2009
Art Film Festival
Won
Blue Angel
Feature Film
2009
Australian Writers Guild
Won
Awgie Award
Warwick Thornton
2009
Australian Writers Guild
Won
Major Award
Warwick Thornton
2009
Cannes
Won
Camera D’Or
Warwick Thornton
2009
Inside Film Awards
Won
Showtime Best Film Award
Warwick Thornton/Kath Shelper
2009
Inside Film Awards
Won
Best Actress
Marissa Gibson
2009
Inside Film Awards
Won
Best Actor
Rowan McNamara
2009
Inside Film Awards
Won
Best Director
Warwick Thornton
2009
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Won
Best Feature Film
Kath Shelper
2009
AFI
Won
Best Feature Film
Kath Shelper
2009
AFI
Won
Best Direction
Warwick Thornton
2009
AFI
Won
Young Actor Award
Marissa Gibson/Rowan McNamara
2009
AFI
Won
Members’ Choice Award
Kath Shelper
So, if a “Hobbit”-type film was put in front of you to direct, and it was due to start shooting in six weeks, do you know how you would deal with something like that? No, it’s never happened, so I don’t know how to deal with that. I’ve already got what I want to do. But hell, if a good script came along, I’d take it. Absolutely. A good story is a good story. One day that might arise. The script will dictate whether Warwick Thornton is interested. JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
Meet Your AiF Which Australian interview subjects would you most like to have around your dinner table? How big is the dinner table? I find most of the Aussies more interesting than the average Hollywood stars but maybe I'm biased! For starters; Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Naomi Watts, Simon Baker, Rachel Griffith and to make things really interesting, throw in Russell Crowe! Describe the work you do for the AiF Board Member, Program Committee Chair and Hollywood Foreign Press Golden Globes Association Member Jenny Cooney with Nicole Kidman I am the chairperson of the TV committee, TV and film star all year around and so I am in charge of which TV shows also a level of awareness with many and stars meet with the HFPA for of the celebrities, so they get to press conferences throughout the know you better, which opens more year and am able to help make sure doors also. I was the first U.S. our membership keep people and editor of Empire magazine in the shows on their radar when it comes UK when it launched, which was an to considering them at voting time. exciting time, and in 2005 I was During the planning of the Golden Where do you call home? awarded the International Media Globes Show, which is co-produced I am originally from Melbourne, Award by the Publicists Guild of by Dick Clark Productions and the lived in Sydney for a year and America. My long personal and Hollywood Foreign Press moved to Los Angeles 22 years ago. professional relationship Association, I am part of I live in Venice as a good Aussie with Nicole Kidman a small team of HPFA who needs to be near the ocean! starting as the first who handle all the “To make things journalist to ever seating, one of the really Do you come from a creative interview her when she toughest jobs in interesting, background? was 15! - has also Hollywood throw in Russell I got my BA in Journalist at allowed me to be able to as Melbourne University and always Crowe!� write many big cover everybody wanted to be a journalist, and feel stories with her in wants a seat in that very fortunate that unlike most of England and Australia room and the Beverly my friends, I actually make my throughout her career, including Hilton ballroom is not that big! It's living doing the thing that I got my last year's Australia Women's also tough but fun playing with the degree in! Journalism is my first Weekly world exclusive interview jigsaw puzzle of just who shouldn't love and unlike most people I meet with her for the release of sit at the same table as who and in Hollywood, I don't have a book Australia. who might want to sit with who. proposal or script lying around We know of many romances that waiting to change my life. Describe a day in the life of Jenny began and ended in that room. Cooney Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford What have been the pivotal points Every day is different. Sometimes I met at the Globes and of course in your career? am writing, sometimes I am when you have names like Angelina Joining the Hollywood Foreign Press interviewing but it includes Jolie, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Association 20 years ago opened a watching a lot of TV and movies Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman all in lot of doors for me in terms of and spending a lot of time at the the mix for awards at various access to Hollywood celebrities. Four Seasons in Beverly Hills where times, it becomes a really delicate Voting for the Golden Globes the majority of the HFPA press balancing act to make sure there guarantees you access to exclusive conferences are held. aren't any awkward moments for press conferences with every major execs!
Jenny Cooney
JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
Meet Your AIF Sophie Scarf
How was your holiday break back home in Aus? Fabulous! But not long enough – holidays never are – especially when you are in Sydney at Christmas time. It is always great to be home with my family for whatever duration of time.
to meet plenty of Australians to keep my homesickness at bay.
The Board of Directors of Australians in Film are also a huge perk to my job. They are all How did you come to take the incredibly position of Executive Director at successful in their AIF? own careers here I studied Art History, Theatre and in Los Angeles and Film at Boston College and moved I am really to NYC to focus on acting and fortunate to be continue my studies at The Lee working with such Strasberg Theatre Institute. I moved to Los Angeles two years ago accomplished people in a variety and was looking for a job that of fields. I am would keep me stimulated and learning an within the realm of the industry. enormous amount The position at AiF has done that from them, they and more. I have already had the are always very chance to meet and work with supportive of me many great Australians who have and the job is successfully set up their lives here mostly a lot of in America. fun.
AiF Executive Director Sophie Scarf
What do you like about your job? Describe a day in the life of I have been living in the States on Sophie Scarf and off for the past My days vary but generally eight years and have involve liaising with board established a great “..I am most members and volunteers of looking forward array of friends, to the Heath AiF, taking meetings, most of whom are Ledger organizing screenings and American. I wasn’t Scholarship” events, developing aware of just how sponsorships, and assisting many Australians with the newsletter. I also like to were living here - I think squeeze in a swim or time at the subconsciously I was making a gym. I love to read books and as particular effort to assimilate to the American culture and avoid the many scripts as possible before I pass out at the end of each day! Aussie crowd. However, as I get older I long to go home more frequently and be surrounded by my friends and family. Working for AiF has given me a large platform
events lined up, but I am most looking forward to the Heath Ledger Scholarship. We have had so many great applicants this year, it will be tough for the judges to decide the winner.
Follow Us On Facebook Australians in Film has it’s very own Facebook page. Stay in touch with all the latest AiF screenings, events and photos and meet your fellow AiF fans.
What are you looking forward to for AIF this year? AiF has a massive year ahead with plenty of fantastic screenings and JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
Aussies To Watch Alice Parkinson
2009 has been a memorable one for Australian actor, Alice Parkinson. In the last twelve months audiences have got to see her in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and Bruce Beresford’s “Mao’s Last Dancer”, and now she’s back on set, shooting the 3D cavediving thriller “Sanctum” on Australia’s Gold Coast. We caught up with Alice during a break between takes.
each other. We’ve also been doing a lot of rock climbing, and a lot of physical training with the other characters.
How did you break into acting? On paper I started a little later than actors that we all know and love. I had a couple of other lives before I went to VCA [the Victorian College of Arts]. I did an How did you come to get a part on Honours “Sanctum”? Degree in Well, they were looking for this English and particular woman for quite some I’ve been time as far as I understand, and Alice Parkinson: Photo thanks to Alice Parkinson & RGM traveling they just couldn’t find her, because around the she is quite an interesting boyfriend, who’s played by Ioan world, getting the life experience combination of things. They needed Gruffud - the gorgeous Ioan that I am now so grateful to have. someone – and I’m sounding Gruffud. Gorgeous, inside and out! I’ve always wanted to be an actor. I incredibly arrogant as I speak! – actually got into acting school in who sounds amazing. She sounds What is like working with Director England when I was eighteen, but I like a super woman: She’s smart, Alister Grierson? come from not a wealthy family she’s fit, she’s funny, she’s Quite a few times I’ve come up with a lot of kids, and I simply sarcastic, she doesn’t with suggestions, and he’s could not afford to go. It was take s_ _t from anyone. so ready to listen which is heartbreaking and it took me quite “My co-star One of the actors on very flattering. It’s such a a few years to get over that. describes her as great environment to the film – my co-star, Perhaps if I’d come from a wealthy one of the describes her as one of work in. You immediately family my life would have been the hottest tomboys on hottest feel respected as different, but I’m kind of thrilled the planet, and um, tomboys on the an actor. that I didn’t and that I did it the I’m happy to take that hard way. planet...” tag! [laughs] I don’t It sounds like the know if I’m pulling it perfect job? What type of characters are you off, but I’m giving it a For me it is always about the interested in playing? long, hard shot. The [audition] director. I’ve got to say, on this I like to really stretch myself. I get tapes were shown to James film, the group that Alistair has put I often get a lot of intense Cameron, who said: You’ve got to together, in terms of the casting is characters - fairly tough kind of hire this girl. So, I feel very just a gift. It’s an absolute gift. All roles. I like characters that have a privileged and lucky to have got of us get on so well. Our natural lot of layers to them: strong, this job. I play Victoria Elaine, an personalities are quite similar to complex, intelligent women who American. I’m not sure what she our real characters, so it’s a real perhaps can be a little unstable at does for a living, but I believe she blessing. We all get on like we’ve times. does something pretty highknown each other for years. I did You’ll see Alice Wilkinson next in powered and intense. I picture her my dive training with [fellow cast the HBO series “The Pacific”, from as some kind of lawyer, and I’m member] Rys Wakefield, which was Executive Producers Steven assuming that’s how I met the fantastic because we got to know Speilberg and Tom Hanks. JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
Avatar Excitement ran high at the Australians in Film screening of “Avatar” on 17 December at the Zanuck Theatre on the Fox Studios lot. Aussie star Sam Worthington generously fielded questions from fans, and spent time chatting with kids keen to say hello to the man taking Hollywood by storm.
L to R: Paula Paizes, Sam Worthington, Susie Dobson, Jenny Cooney
Dichen Lachman
Young fans enjoy chatting with Sam after the screening
Sam signs an “Avatar” poster - it won’t be the last!
Isabelle Hollywood JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
Avatar
Sam Worthington & Paula Paizes Wally Mariani & Sam Worthington
The DIY Network’s Karl Champley (2nd from right) with friends
Sam makes one little “Avatar” fan a happy chappy JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnasus
Graeme Fay, Chris De Cure, Regina Khart, Carlos Martel, Jacqui Martel, Sergio Espinoza
O n Tu e s d a y D e c e m b e r 8 , Australians in Film in association with Nike Sportswear and Flux hosted a special advance screening of Terry Gilliam's “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus� to support the AiF Heath Ledger Scholarship. Delighted guests were served complimentary Tim Tams, hot coffee drinks from Longshot Coffee Bar and beverages courtesy of Belvedere Vodka and Coopers.
Rob Eric, Michael Williams, Michael Hauser, Matthew Passmore
Andrew G and his wife Noa
Carl Baker, Greg Cook
Jorg Wallrabe, Susie Dobson, Alejandro Leal
Nicholas Bishop, Kate Woods, Daniel Bennett Michael Cameron (enjoying a Coopers beer), Ed Wilkinson, Mrs Cameron
Ari Hatzis, Adam Marvel, Nick Apostolopoulos
Coopers... and more Coopers JANUARY 2010
THEBOOMERANG JANUARY 2010
Rear Window 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
Australian Artists On Show
AiF Member and hard-working volunteer Greg Cook joins fellow Australian artists in an exhibition on January 21 (6-10pm) at the Bleicher/Golightly and Hamilton Galleries. The exhibition is part of Australia Week, a multi-organizational ambassadorial event involving Australian celebrities, industry and cultural leaders, and features an exploration of Australian culture, environment and ethos through the eyes of Australian artists living abroad. Artist Greg Cook subtly blends iconic Australian nature and folklore iconography with Los Angeles environments. Curator Contact: Om Bleicher, om@bgartdealings.com or Leigh Hamilton, (310) 451-9983 For more information on Australia Week 2010, please visit www.australia-week.com.! JANUARY 2010