Father Geek here with another late week edition of our column by Tamsin from the land before time... but I've got a couple of bits on downunder filming that came directly to me here in Austin, Texas at our World Geek Headquarters Barbedwire Surrounded Compound...
As for the remake of Peter Pan, supposedly Peter has already been chosen. A report from elijahfan.com say the Elijah Wood will play Peter. Elijah Wood will be doing other movies, including Try Seventeen, already completed, Mort The Dead Teenager, Thumbsucker, and of course, Peter Pan.
Chatty Patty
Father Geek back, that was an interesting little bit of info, Chatty, thanks. I think that could work really well. Now here's this on the MATRIX...
There has to be some joy to backpacking and staying in hostels for 3 months with stinky backpackers, and this is one of them: a guy from Melbourne (who shall remain nameless) in my hostel works in the army during the day. he's up from Melbourne on leave, filming as an extra in the Matrix Reloaded. to top this off, another guy in exactly the same room was involved with the costumes, although he revealed almost nothing bar a few colours...
The extra was very vague about what's going on, although I do know the following:
* Keanu Reeves is staying in Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, where I have spotted him on several occasions in the park, he drives a black porsche.
* plot details: Tank has 2 children, verified by the costume design bloke
* there is a scene where the main ship rushes towards Zion followed by the robot jellyfish things, and the crew are torn between using the anti-weapon thing or not, as this will damage Zion.
* Castleraigh Street was sealed off as the film production crew landed a helicopter in the street.
Sorry there is no more detailed details. The extra has been filming 14 hour days, doing one major fight scene involving a large army all in robed outfits.
bestwishes... phil
Cooooool! Well, its time for ol' Father Geek to make way for our...
DOWNUNDER REPORT #39
by Tamsin...
COAST TO COAST
Aussie Judy Davis has joined with Richard Dreyfuss to star in a new film for Showtime, to be directed by Paul Mazursky. Davis and Dreyfuss will star in COAST TO COAST, as a couple who take a cross country trip to attend their son's wedding.
WIN A DATE
Aussie Robert Luketic is in the final stages of discussions with Dreamworks to direct the romantic comedy WIN A DATE, about a young West Virginian girl who wins a date with one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors. Then, surprisingly, her longtime best friend declares his love for her at the last minute...
It sounds a little like "Fan-atic" meets "Some Kind of Wonderful"
ROCKY HORROR SHOW
Another Aussie director, Stephan Elliot (PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT)is planning a telepic THE ROCKY HORROR BIRTHDAY in honour of the film's 30th year anniversary. Richard O'Brien has signed on as a consultant.
TRAVELLING LIGHT
A new Australian film, TRAVELLING LIGHT, starring Pia Miranda will begin shooting in South Australia next month. TRAVELLING LIGHT is set in the 70s and is about two sisters who dream of escaping the 'burbs.
KING KONG
There has been reports that Peter Jackson will follow up his trilogy with a remake of KING KONG, with a tentative release date of 2005.
UP FOR GRABS
There is a fight for movie rights to Australian, David Williamson's play, UP FOR GRABS, which is currently starring Madonna on the West End. Word is that Madonna's production company is eager to secure the rights but there have been a number of "better offers" from other players.
MOVIEHOLE INTERVIEW...
Aussie FX Girl spills the beans on THE HULK, MIB 3 and a MASK 2 (?)
In our interview with "Men in Black 2" effects whiz, Karen Ansel today, we discover just what "The Hulk" might be using in terms of special effects.
"Kind of (CG). He's done using SS. The Shading on the body brings translucent colours to the surface of the skin. That's then brought together with some CG", she explains. "The stuff I've seen...Ang Lee and Eric Bana are doing great..."
"I did the Giant Worm sequence (for MIB 2). The Worm that eats the subway car at the start of the film, and then pops up again at the end of the film.
I loved the first "Men in Black" movie. It and "La Strada" are two of my favourite movies - yes, nice variety - and so I welcomed the chance to work on this one. Barry Sonnenfeld was a director I liked too. I felt he did a great job with the first "Men in Black" especially what he did with the Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Linda Fiorentino characters. That's how usually choose my projects - If the Director is someone I like, if their stories are good and the effects are good, then I usually agree to sign on. But in my world, effects must always come first before story". "It was ILM Organized. Basically you do some rough 2D art it then is constructed into 3D and then into the initial animation. We then do movement tests and build sequences around it. The train itself (which the worm chases)is a combination of rigged set ties and real train footage. The background plate was footage of real subways plus CG as well"
Ansel, who is originally from Australia got started in the industry when she was a member of a band. "I started out in Australia. I was in a band and I use to enjoy making their music videos and playing with electronics so I slowly progressed towards doing computer animation. It was a long journey that started back in 1982. 11 years ago I moved to the states to work on films, and got my first job with "The Mask". I then got to work on "Mission: Impossible" and then Jabba the Hutt for George Lucas's re-release of the original "Star Wars" trilogy. After that I freelanced - I did some work for Peter Jackson (The Frighteners) and a lot of work on the movie "Flubber". There was some really good training over there; Australia has a very different trade. But now you'll find American guys saying just how wonderful the Australian crews are."
Ansel says Men in Black is one of her favourite movies and won't need to have her arm twisted to do MEN IN BLACK 3, but she says THE MASK 2 is looking less and less likely. "I''ve heard things but nothing concrete", she says. "Jim Carrey's fee is too big".
the full interview is at www.moviehole.net
THE NEXT BIG THING
Starring BABE'S Magda Szubanski, THE NEXT BIG THING, is the first of three upcoming films to be produced by April Films. ALTER EGO and I LOVE FAST CARS, are also part of the April Films' production slate, both written by Helen Bandis and film critic/lecturer Adrian Martin.
THE NEXT BIG THING was also written by Magda and is the story of "a fashion designer who believes he can transform an overweight woman into a media idol - 'the next big thing'". The film will be primarily shot around Australia but may also feature some overseas locations.
MATA HARI
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Aussie Cate Blanchett has joined director Robert Altman for the HBO film, MATA HARI. Blanchett, Altman's first choice, will play WWI spy Mata Hari in the film which is expected to run at 3 hours.
MATRIX
"The most complicated sequence ever put on film", as dubbed by Producer Joel Silver, took place last week in Sydney's city area. The 14-minute action sequence involved closing several streets in central Sydney while a low-flying helicopter, with a mounted camera attached, flew through several streets and landed in Martin Place. More filming is planned for the next three weeks.
Australian actor Hugo Weaving was reported as saying the film's directors, brothers Andy and Larry Wachowski, were "talking about the role of the camera being changed enormously". It wasn't known which of the sequels, RELOADED or REVOLUTIONS, the shoot was for.
