The Aussie actor starring at New York Fashion Week

 Ed Oxenbould & Olivia DeJonge

 New York Fashion Week, one the highlights of the social calender in the Big Apple is in full swing. Among the 200 designers showing are Australian locals Dion Lee, Zimmerman, Rebbecca Valance and Bec & Bridge. Another Aussie has also taken centre stage with the director M.Knight Shyamalan ("The Sixth Sense") premiering his new low budget flick The Visit in NY to co-incide with the fashion galas.
The Visit is the "terrifying story of a brother and sister who are sent to their grandparents' remote Pennsylvania farm for a week long trip." 
And starring in the film with Olivia DeJonge as one of the teenagers is young Melbourne actor Ed Oxenbould who at just 14 years old is a veteran of local TV shows like Puberty Blues and Underbelly. Made on a budget of just $5M The Visit has already taken over $50M at the box office and looks set to launch Oxenbould on a US film career.
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Also a box office success and almost rivalling The Visit has been Joel Edgerton's The Gift with serious talk of Edgerton picking up an Oscar this year at the Academy Awards. The Gift was written, directed and starred Edgerton.
right : Cate Blanchett & Joel Edgerton at the Sydney Theatre Co
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# And we have broken a few records ourselves here at Careless Whispers & the Social Shuttle with a staggering  13,200,379 views on Google!




Below is a clip from The Visit 

Joel Cleans Up

The UK newspaper Guardian has said this of Aussie actor and director Joel Edgerton's new film The Gift : "One of the moment’s men to watch is Australian actor Joel Edgerton. After writing last year’s Ozpocalypse thriller The Rover, he writes and stars in this feature-directing debut.". Oher reviews :
"The Gift Lives Up to the Term 'Psychological Thriller' while the respected websie Rotten Tomatoes says :"Just when we think we know where The Gift is going, we're surprised. And then surprised again.".
And the US box office looks like agreeing with Edgerton's $5M flick taking well over $12M on it's opening weekend. Not bad for the ex-Bondi boy and Whisper's pal. Below is a clip

Baz Does It Again

We reckon Baz Luhrman and Catherine Martin (she did the costumes) have another hit on their hands : the stage version of Baz's original 1992 film hit Strictly Ballroom.
The show opened last night at the Lyric Theatre at that bastion of poker machines and roulette tables Star Casino.

Lots of celebs were on hand- Jack Thompson, Joel Edgerton and the much loved  Kylie Minogue. But where was Paul Mecurio the star of the film ?. If he was there we didn't spot him.

What can we say about Strictly ? It has heaps of colour and  movement, lots of gaudy frocks, fabulous dancing and of course terrific music ( lots of ABBA) and it's bound to end up in London and New York.
The standing ovation at last night's performance would tend to confirm this.

Baz Keeps The Party Going

 

Erica Packer, Baz Luhrmann & Neil Perry

Baz Luhrmann has a huge hit on his hands with The Great Gastby and has thrown yet another shindig to celebrate.
                                                                  Gatsby is cleaning up at the box office : to date the flick has grossed over $147M well on it's way to covering the $180M cost and it still doesn't open until this Wednesday in Australia , one of the world's most lucrative markets. This will be his most successful production to date and will give a huge boost to the local film market- it was shot entirely in Sydney around Paddington, Manly and Birchgrove.

The success also vindicates the decision by the NSW state government to invest $40M in the film.
All this was yet another reason for Baz and wife Catherine Martin to host another swell dinner at Neil Perry's Rockpool Bar & Grill, a cavernous restaurant with marbled lined walls and a balcony fora full orchestra to .serenade guests.
Right : Ricky Martin with Baz and (below) with Catherine Martin.

Gatsby Rules !

Baz Luhrmann and The Great Gatsby bandwagon rolled into Sydney tonight for the Australian premiere and it was a huge hit with the audience.

The film's stars flocked to the Hoyts Cinema Complex in Moore Park, right next door to Fox Studios and Centennial Park where much of the movie was filmed. All that was missing was Leo DiCaprio who had other filming commitments but there were heaps of movie stars to keep hundreds of fans screaming their heads off and defying the pelting rain.
Forget what the critics say : Gatsby is a visual feast and a joyous romp through The Roaring Twenties. It's the first 3D film that the Shuttle has been able to sit through comfortably. Catherine Martin's sets and designs are sensational, over the top and there really is never a dull moment in this flick.
No-shows but reported elsewhere as attending : Ricky Martin, Seal and Kate Ritchie.

Gatsby fever strikes

The modelling Stenmark twins                                       Lachlan & Sarah Murdoch braved the rain

the brolly brigade at The Great Gastby

Baz Hits Paydirt !

Baz Luhrmann's latest offering, the 4th interpretation of The Great Gatsby may have been receiving less than stellar reviews but it's a runaway box office success.

Gatsby opened in 3535 cinemas across the USA on Friday and raked in over $51M just behind Iron Man 3's $71M for the weekend ( Iron Man has made almost $1B to date). This is a major success for Baz and the estimated $180M Gatsby budget should be re-couped in no time once the movie receives it's world-wide release. And various government mandarins both State and Federal who put money into the film will be breathing a huge sigh of relief.

The Shuttle's spies disguised as Aussie tourists in New York say the film seems to be particularly popular with young females- no doubt because of Leo Di Caprio but there is a real buzz about Joel Edgerton's performance. And the Gum Leaf Mafia are having fun playing spot-the-Sydney location posing as Connecticut.

Gatsby opens in Sydney on the 22nd of this month with all the film's stars on hand and an after party for 1000 guests at Fox Studios.

Indigenous Wins at ACCTA Awards

It was what the world was screaming out for-another set of film awards !

Miranda Tapsell,Deborah Mailman,Jessica Mauboy                           & the original Sapphires

Host Russell Crowe and Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) President, Geoffrey Rush, were joined on stage by  Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman to honour the year's best achievements in Australian film and television at the 2nd AACTA Awards Ceremony, held at the new The Star Event Centre in Sydney.
 
Since premiering in Cannes in May 2012, the toe-tapping musical drama The Saphirres, about four Aboriginal girls who formed a singing group in the 1960s has picked up awards all over the world and has become box office gold.
 Tonight saw The Sapphires take home six AACTA Awards - Best Film, Best Director (Wayne Blair), Best Lead Actress (Deborah Mailman), Best Lead Actor (Chris O'Dowd), Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Mauboy) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Keith Thompson, Tony Briggs)
 
 The thriller Wish You Were Here won the award for Best Original Screenplay for husband and wife creative team writer/director Kieran Darcy-Smith and writer/actress Felicity Price. Antony Starr also won Best Supporting Actor for his enigmatic performance in Wish You Were Here.

Young German actress, Saskia Rosendahl, received Best Young Actor for her lead performance in the Australian made German language film Lore, directed by Cate Shortland.
A special highlight of tonight's AACTA Awards Ceremony was the presentation of the Byron Kennedy Award to the late filmmaker, animator and artist Sarah Watt (1958 – 2011), accepted on her behalf by her son, Clem McInnes .

Jessica McNamee,          Megan Gale,          Essie Davis     Gemma Arteton,         Brooke Satchwell,    Lucy Durack & 'Taxi'

It was that sort of night !

Russell compared

Hugo was there

Joel Edgerton and new love Lexi Blake

 

Jack Thompson : confirmed luvvie

Cate Blanchett Leaves Behind Drama at the STC

With Cate Blanchett's contract up at the Sydney Theatre Company her husband Andrew Upton has been re-appointed as Artistic Director but there are rumblings amongst the ranks with claims of nepotism.

Giorgio Armani with Cate at the STC

Upton and Blanchett jointly ran the STC producing critically acclaimed productions that received  plaudits around the world including their A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Liv Ullmann and staring Cate as Blanche DuBois being declared the best ever presentation of the play by the New York Times and the Washington Post.

The City News is reporting that local playwrights and actors are not happy and do not accept that the board of the STC has fully searched the world for a replacement for Upton.
" Are we seriously meant to believe after searching the globe for someone to replace Cate and Andrew the best possible person happens to be already working at the STC and it happens to be Andrew? " says an anonymous source .

Liv Ullmann,Cate & Joel Edgerton at the Sydney Streetcar premier

One of  the complaints is about Upton's "black box" minimalist productions that feature black walls and street clothes rather than costumes and a preference for overseas' plays instead of local plays.
 STC's General Manager Patrick McIntyre is quoted as saying " the STC Board had always wanted Mr Upton and Ms Blanchett to stay, and only looked for a replacement because “Cate and Andrew … were contemplating moving overseas“When [this] changed, the Board asked Andrew if he would reconsider and stay on … The Board absolutely believes he is the best person for the job.”
 When Blanchett and Upton took over in 2007 the STC was ailing financially and Blanchett was able to attract big time sponsors like Giorgio Armani who flew into town for two opening night performances and the critical acclaim the pair's productions have received have revived the financial fortunes of the Australia's premier theatre company.

Grin And Bear It!

Robert Redford at Sundance

A BIG THUMBS UP  for actor Nash Edgerton's short film Bear which premiers today at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Utah. The Sundance Festival was created in 1978 and the actor Robert Redford is chairman,.

Directed by Edgerton, Bear stars Nash with Teresa Palmer and Warwick Thornton. Below is a clip from the film which was produced by Lauren Edwards and John Polson of Tropfest fame.

Joel & Nash

 Nash Edgerton's credits are possibly longer than his brother and fellow actor Joel Edgerton who has now finished working on The Great Gatsby. Nash has worked as a stunt double in umpteen Aussie productions and on Gatsby, stands in for brother Joel.

### Michelle Williams, the mother Heath Ledger's baby daughter Matilda Rose has been nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in the film My Week With Marilyn.

It's Raining Men

Joel & his Great Gastby look

The Sydney Opera House-splendid in the sunshine, gloomy in the rain. It bucketed down tonight at GQ’s Men Of The Year Awards.  We didn’t let that stop us attending yet another red carpet shindig where nice statuettes are handed out at another excuse for a celebrity turn out.

Maybe not quite as celeb heavy as the UK awards in October with Johnny Depp, Keith Richard, Duran Duran and Bradley Cooper, or the LA awards with winner Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, and Michael Fassbender.

We did have Jack Thompson, Alex O’Loughlin, Rachel Taylor and this year’s Man Of The Year-Joel Edgerton who is currently filming in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby (in glorious 3D) around Sydney.

Xavier Samuel at GQ

Jay-Z

Rachel Taylor

Speaking of which-I wish Baz would choose his dates better when filming around Centennial Park (which is standing in for Long Island in the movie). Last Saturday, trying to get to Paspaley Pearl’s Polo In the Park was a nightmare with streets blocked off and hundreds of sightseers hoping to glimpse Leo DiCaprio (he was only there on Thursday but you can catch him bike riding through Centennial Park in the afternoons. But not in 3D)

Baz Sets Us Right

First pic of Joel in 'Gatsby'

A missive arrives from Baz Luhrmann's production office for The Great Gatsby being filmed at Sydney's Fox Studios starring Leo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton.

It says that yes indeed, many of the cars used in the film are right hand drive-as the Shuttle reported last week- as they were sourced locally although 2 magnificent Dussenbergs were imported from the USA for the film. However when the movie is released, all the vehicles in the film will, by the magic of modern film techniques, appear to be driven on the correct side IE: left hand drive. Thank God. After all, it will be screened  in glorious 3D.

# A local paparazzi tells us a tale of encountering Leo Di Caprio at Bondi Beach a week ago taking a walk along the promenade with an entourage in tow. DiCaprio had lunched with co-star Tobey McGuire at Icebergs.

As the  snapper snapped away at Leo, causally dressed in shorts, sandals and baseball cap, a female minder hissed at him :"why don't you get a real job?"
The photographer retorted "why don't you?". Apparently Leo found it most amusing !

A Home For Leonardo DiCaprio

IT WOULD BE churlish to publish the address, particularly as we are sworn to secrecy.
We can tell you it is in Sydney's Easter Suburbs and no further than a ten minute drive from Fox Studios. Is it on the harbour?. That would be telling but water can be accessed from the house (that leaves the Harbour and ocean beaches)

Isla Fisher

We're talking about the new home for the next few months for Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio who will arrive on these shores any day now to begin filming Baz Luhrmann's 3D epic  The Great Gatsby.

Fear not though-there will be ample opportunity to see DiCaprio around town as some of the film will be shot in various locations in Sydney. At Fox Studios, Luhrmann has built massive sound stages to resemble 1920's New York and 6 vintage vehicles have been imported with left hand drive for authenticity.

Also arriving soon to co-star in the movie-Isla Fisher, married to Sacha Baron Cohen (she met him at a Sydney party in 2002), Spiderman's Tobey McGuire and English actress Carey Mulligan.

DiCaprio reprises the role of Jay Gatsby which was played by Robert Redford in the 1974 version of F.Scott Fitzgerald's book while Mulligan plays Daisy Buchanan, a role taken by Mia Farrow opposite Redford. Jason Clarke and Joel Edgerton also have roles.

Leo as J.Edgar Hoover

Quite what Fitzgerald would have thought of his book being turned into a 3D film is any one's guess but DiCaprio is undeterred by Luhrmann's last rather droll production, Australia which went to video soon after release. He has only praise for Luhrmann after starring in Baz's 1996 Romeo & Juliet and is probably the big name-he's box office gold-needed for another Lurhmann production.

And the producers of bio-pic J.Edgar in which DiCaprio plays the legendary cross dressing founder of the FBI, J.Edgar Hoover have released the first pic of Leo in the role.

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"talk to the hand "..Joel Edgerton and Susan Sarandon at a party in Sydney

 JOEL EDGERTON is one of the hardest working actors in Australia and with Gatsby-it will make 8 productions in which he has major roles awaiting release.
The Thing, a blockbuster Sci-Fi epic in which an alien craft is discovered at a research station in the Antarctic, is due for release during the Christmas holiday season and the word is that his acting in the Disney production The Odd Life of Timothy Green, due for release next year will bring high praise.

Here is a trailer for The Odd Life of Timothy Green,:

Cate Blanchett Snubbed !

Update : after a polite slap across the wrists from the awards committee we must point out that 'Streetcar' and Paul Charlier has been nominated in the Sound Event section.
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In a puzzling move actress Cate Blanchett has been completely overlooked in the nominations for the most prestigious Australian theatre awards, the Helpmann Awards.

Liv Ullmann, Cate & Joel Edgerton

The awards are named after one of the world's greatest ballet stars, Sir Robert Helpmann who was born in a remote country town in South Australia in 1909. When his mother noticed his tendency to dress in her clothes and dance about with great agility, his parents actively encouraged his artistic talents. Eventually he became one of the most renowned dancers appearing in and choreographing ballets from London and New York to Moscow.

Sir Robert Helpmann

At the announcement for the award nominations which will be presented at the Sydney Opera House on September 6th, Cate's "A Streetcar Named Desire" didn't receive a mention. Streetcar was not only an artistic success in Sydney, Blanchett's production which was directed by Liv Ullmann and starred Cate and Joel Edgerton in the main roles was hailed throughout the USA when it toured there as one of the all time great productions of Tennessee Williams' play, earning the Sydney Theatre Company a much needed $3.5M in profit.

As Artistic Director since 2008 Blanchett, along with her husband Andrew Upton has been guiding the fortunes of the Sydney Theatre Company ( STC) and has revived the company with a number of noted talents for it's 12 productions each year including Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Steven Soderbergh and William Hurt.Cate was also responsible for attracting designer Giorgio Armani as the theatre companies major sponsor.

The Helpmann Awards , one motto being "ensuring the Awards are the most prestigious awards in the industry and the highlight of each Season." ironically has nominated a host of artists who trained at the STC including Neil Armfield and Robin Nevin.

# trivia moment : In 2007 the Social Shuttle attended the premiere of the film 'I'm Not There' at the then new Sydney Theatre Company Theatre in which Blanchett gives a stunning performance as Bob Dylan.

After introducing the movie with a small speech stating she had not yet seen the film, Cate Blanchett left the stage and took a seat next to the Shuttle with Upton and proceeded to narrate various anecdotes to her husband as the film ran.
A woman sitting behind reached over and tapped her on the shoulder and said "could you please keep the noise down-I'm watching Cate Blanchett on screen and can't hear a word she is saying !"


## Channeling Mystic Meg earlier tonight we advised 4 paparazzi not to bother attending a function at the State Theatre which would feature Don Spencer, father-in-law of Russell Crowe who was expected to attend. "Our crystal ball says he won't be there", we said. Russell and wife Danielle can always be relied on to support Don in his ventures. And so it came to pass as the following tweet says:

russellcrowe

Got that flu coming on feeling?Both our boys were sick last week, so bound to happen.Need an early night,not a late one on the giggle juice.3 hours ago
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At tonight's Young Chef Awards (not to be missed-buckets of Bollinger and fine food) the Shuttle happily informed Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson MP that despite the doom and gloom mainly emanating from the Murdoch media in their campaign to bury Prime Minister Julia Gillard, that Labor will be returned or govern with a 3 seat majority but that could be made up of independents/Greens.. I think we made his night. And that too will come to pass. Trust me.