Father Geek here, and its the weekend so its once again time for our report from the otherside of the world and our man downunder,Latauro...

I’m not into politics. I’m into survival.

AICN-DOWNUNDER

Arnie has a state. That kills me.

(Disclaimer: AICN-D reserves the right to make fun of California, right up until the moment we vote in Paul Hogan as Prime Minister and Yahoo Serious as Treasurer... which, given the current state of things, could be next Thursday.)

NEWS

* Johnny Bartlett, Nouveau Zealand Mega-Spy, has told us of some rumours circulating around the twin islands. It seems there’s a strong possibility that many of the LORD OF THE RINGS cast will return for additional filming next year. Why? Won’t RETURN OF THE KING have already been released? Seems the extra footage may be used in the DVD Extended Edition for ROTK. Could this be more footage for the ending that fans are beginning to sweat about? The scouring of the Shire? Or could it be for a larger LOTR box set, the Tom Bombadil sequence that Jackson said (pre-FOTR release) he’d love to go back and film? You don’t need prompting to begin rabid speculation – so get talkbacking!

* Abi Tucket (“The Secret Life Of Us”) will star in SUBSONIC, a ‘modern gothic romance’ written by Phillip Marzella (something called LOW-FAT ELEPHANTS)), with production design by Michelle McGahey (PETER PAN, STAR WARS III, M:I-2, THE MATRIX). It begins shooting soon in Melbourne’s underground. I’m guessing they’re not talking about Parliament Station...

* Supertoyslast has noticed a report up on the BBC Website. To quote Grant Naylor Productions: "Red Dwarf - The Movie may be shot in Australia. Preliminary design work is currently underway and shooting is slated for May 2004. Crewing up has not yet begun.” Given the amount of time they’ve spent talking and planning this film, we’re going to be standing in line with tickets in hand and still be skeptical about its filming chances. File under “maybe one day” for now.

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS

STIGES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The makers of upcoming local flick A BULLET IN THE ARSE (named after a Robert Frost poem, I believe) have written in to let us know that the film will be playing at the afore-mentioned festival in Spain. If you’re one of AICN-Downunder’s many Spanish readers, you should begin the pilgrimage to Barcelona for the December 4 screening.

SCREEN PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE

At Fed Square this November, delegates will have the pleasure of hearing words talked by Michael Donovan, producer of BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. He will discuss the international potentials and successes of non-fiction filmmaking, as well as the stories behind the making of COLUMBINE.

BOX OFFICE

The White-Wash All-Stars took the top spot, proving that with a good marketing budget you can do just about anything. PIRATES is showing off a well-deserved power of stay, though it’s nothing (yet) compared to FINDING NEMO, which just refuses to move. More power to it.

Here's this week's winners...

• 1. LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN
• 2. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL
• 3. FINDING NEMO
• 4. BAD BOYS II
• 5. FREAKY FRIDAY

RELEASED THIS WEEK

British sleeper hits strike formula, Australia + crime = thank God nothing big’s being released this week, Sam Neill freaks out New Zealand women.

Here they arrrrrrrrrr...

• CALENDER GIRLS
• GETTIN’ SQUARE
• PERFECT STRANGERS

UPCOMING BIOPICS

- Nicole Kidman will play Cate Blanchett playing Katherine Hepburn in a making of/science fiction film set behind the scenes of Scorsese’s upcoming THE AVIATOR, in THE AVIATRIX

- Universal have optioned the rights to the life story of a blonde overweight Japanese man who overcame his facial disfigurements to win a beauty pageant, with the hope of signing Tom Cruise

- Sylvester Stallone says he will give equal weight to “his rise to Governor, as well as the allegations of sexual harassment” when he plays Arnold Schwarzenegger in the TV movie PRESSING THE FLESH

Peace out,

Latauro

downunder@aintitcoolmail.com