Father Geek here with Ms. Tamsin and our fave crazed keyhole peeker Norman to present the new AICN-Downunder Column for this week... Hope this Ned Kelly flick sees projector light. Ol' Father Geek has had a great, original copy of Ned's autobiography (written in prison while awaiting the hangman)since the late 1960's and I recently re-read it after viewing my new copy of the Mick Jagger film on DVD. I've also heard... The the very 1st Aussie Motion Picture was on the Kelly Gang? I'd love to get a copy of it (in ANY format) somewhere. I love old historic films on aborted revolution attempts...
Here's Tamsin with her part of this week's column...
DOWNUNDER FILM REPORT AIN'T IT COOL NEWS
News
Word is that Steve Irwin, otherwise known as "The Crocodile Hunter," is planning a feature, COLLISION COURSE, in which he will play himself but incorporate a cast and narrative-driven plot. Brisbane-based producer John Stainton, who originally conceived "The Crocodile Hunter" concept with Irwin in 1992, confirmed that the project is going ahead but indicated that its packaging is bound to be delayed in light of recent world events. "At the moment, we're treading water to see what happens, so in the short term the film is on hold, but in the long term, it will happen," he said. MGM owns the rights to the script and will handle distribution on the film, an MGM spokeswoman confirmed. Sources said Arnold Rifkin and Bruce Willis' Cheyenne Prods. also are associated. Stainton said the film will be made entirely in Australia. (Blake Murdoch)
Beyond Films, Australia's largest film sales agent, is shuttering its Los Angeles office after 10 years, effective Dec. 1. The "reconfiguration" means the departure of Richard Guardian, who came on board as vp international sales in February 2000. Beyond's longtime general manager Gary Hamilton will take on all additional duties. "We were finding most of the sales we were doing have been happening at the (trade) markets, so I'll become even more involved there and spend more time in the U.S.," Hamilton said. He added that Beyond's New York office -- part of the group's TV sales division -- will be a resource for him while still providing an American presence. (Blake Murdoch)
I was just sent a press release regarding the establishment of Beyond New Zealand to be launched at MIPCOM.
Here is the official Press Release:
Beyond International Limited (ASX-BYI) and New Zealand1s largest television production company, South Pacific Pictures (part of the Chrysalis Television Group of the UK) have formed a joint venture to establish New Zealand1's first independent distribution company.
The new company, called Beyond New Zealand, will be headquartered in Auckland and managed by Mr John Barnett. It will provide a gateway to the international television marketplace for New Zealand producers.
Beyond New Zealand1s role will be to source third party programming from the untapped but vibrant New Zealand production sector with Beyond Distribution representing the rights internationally through its offices in London and New York.
Ellen Lovejoy, Beyond Distribution1s Director of Sales & Marketing says: 3 Producers in New Zealand have had limited access to the international marketplace. We will be working with South Pacific Pictures to provide this service for New Zealand1s independent producers.2
John Barnett, Managing Director of South Pacific Pictures adds: "A growing number of New Zealand companies are producing a range of programmes which could find places in international schedules."
Producer Jane Scott (LANTANA, SHINE) will produce the new romantic comedy by writer Jan Sardi (SHINE) called LOVE'S BROTHER. A co-production between Australia and the UK, LOVE'S BROTHER will feature Aussie actors Rose Byrne (THE GODDESS OF 1967), Adam Garcia (BOOTMEN, COYOTE UGLY) and American Giovanni Ribisi (SAVING PRIVATE RYAN)
THE MAN WHO SUED GOD
Director Mark Joffe (SPOTSWOOD, COSI) will be available to take questions online at www.incinemas.com.au on Wednesday October 10 at 1pm (US WEST COAST Oct 9th 8pm, US EAST COAST 11pm) about his new Oz film starring Billy Connolly and Judy Davis called THE MAN WHO SUED GOD. THE MAN WHO SUED GOD which is a romantic, comedy starring Judy Davis and
Billy Connolly. Connolly plays a man who decides to sue God after his fishing boat is destroyed by lightning and his insurance company refuses to pay, declaring it an Act of God.
Only news this week. Swamped with work and an inability to access my email account.
Tamsin
tamsin@aintitcoolmail.com
Father Geek back... This time with Norman's part of the Downunder Column...
Nice to be back after a crazy week of moving into a new house and getting a new job.... Meanwhile, let's get down to it...
GARAGE DAYS
A tasty GARAGE DAYS interview with director Alex Proyas popped up at davewarner.com (website of the film's co-scribe Dave Warner) this week, and if you're interested in the work of Proyas I highly recommend checking it out. Highlights from my POV included Proyas' admission that GARAGE DAYS is possibly his most accessible work; "a film with a lot sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll...". He's editing footage from the first part of the shoot, which will re-convene for eight days during the Homebake Festival in December. Proyas also goes into quite some detail about the "organic" rehearsal process, which was videotaped and then used as a guide to provoke edits and spark new material. Proyas then goes on to say that on his return to Australia he was pretty disappointed with the calibre of local screenwriters, which in turn led him to the novelist and ex-musician Dave Warner. (Look harder, Alex! Like here!) Proyas also reveals that he hopes to make another of Warner's screenplays, DRILL IT.
GAWAIN THE PRICK IN RAZOR EATERS
Local filmnews webmaster Gawain McLachlan (filmnet.org.au) has followed in the steps of Harry and done a film cameo - the low-budget horror/sci fi RAZOR EATERS by director Shannon Young. McLachlan plays a dickhead cop in a service station and even has a few lines. Director Young made a little money go a long way in the thoroughly fun STYGIAN and I look forward to telling you more about RAZOR EATERS as it moves through post.
HEATH DONS THE TIN LIDS (AGAIN)
Brief reports this week that Heath Ledger is to star in a Ned Kelly biopic. For readers unaware of Kelly, he's a legendary figure in Australian history; a "bushranger" whom history has treated kindly and with romance. Kelly was arrested (and later executed) after a gun battle in rural Australia that has assumed the weight of national myth, as he went down under fire wearing an ominous, iconic suit of armour. No news yet whether Ledger has been nabbed for the biopic based on Peter Carey's recent TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG (reportedly helmed by Anthony Minghella) or whether this is in fact a competing Kelly project. More as it comes.
SKASE SETTLES ON DATE WITH THE PUBLIC
LET'S GET SKASE, a fictional story about a real-life figure - the scoundrel entrepeneur Christopher Skase, who fled Australia for Spain just as he was facing court - has settled on an October 18 release date. The project had seemed headed for trouble after Skase upped and died last month, but advance word from two recent sneaks is reportedly positive.
GO GO GADGET SEQUEL
Do you care? Well, some Aussies do - mainly because a few of them are likely to end up with some work on the INSPECTOR GADGET sequel. Gee, wonder whether they'll cast an Australian in the lead role... hmmm.
SWIMMING UPSTREAM
Director Russell Mulcahy (HIGHLANDER) is set to go on SWIMMING UPSTREAM, based on the book of the same name by Tony Fingleton. It's an auto-biographical tale of a man struggling to become an Olympic swimmer despite an alcoholic swimmer and seems to be an attempt by Mulcahy to broaden his genre tag. The Australian shoot is set to start in November.
NO NO JAR JAR
Not really local news, but as it was reported in a local paper and then replicated by Dark Horizons... Anthony Daniels has reportedly said that ATTACK OF THE CLONES will be a Binks-free zone, "[he's] as good as gone".
ECHOES OF SEPTEMBER 11
News just out this week that several American projects - film and TV - due to be filmed in Australia have been shelved or postponed. No specific projects or studios have been mentioned yet. Ausfilm's LA rep David Pratt feels that this is just a case of (understandable) studio jitters though, and that the situation will hopefully improve over time.
Some rool interesting projects up coming, and as always it'd be lovely if you all out there let us know about them ahead of time. Send us your Scripts, sneaks, shooting reports... Annnnnnnd get the global BUZZ on your projects started...
Norman Gunston out...
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