Dramas in The Shire

Southern Highlands' fans: Miriam Margolyes,Nicole & Keith,Leo DiCaprio, Lady Renouf,Lord McAlpine. Arnie

James Fairfax

The Southern Highlands is undoubtedly the most beautiful and desirable country property in Australia. It's green gentle rolling hills, just a 2 hour drive from Sydney are home to numerous celebrities like Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes, superstar Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban who call the former Governor's retreat Bunya Hill their country base, Fairfax publishing scion James Fairfax along with numerous Eastern Suburb's residents who have hobby farms there. The late UK Conservative Party heavyweight Lord McAlpine called the Shire home as did the late Lady Renouf for some years and even the ex-California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a representative to look for a suitable property while last year film heartthrob Leo DiCaprio declared it was his favourite spot in all the world.

Three years ago publisher Jane King decided the local newspaper scene needed a bit of shake-up, moved there with her family and produced a Southern Highland's version of her Eastern Suburbs free newspaper LatteLife. Her son Cristian King who manages the three King newspapers took on the job of reporting on local council affairs and was soon ruffling some very important feathers out of their complacent stupor.
                                                                                                       

Bunya Hill

But a few weeks ago Latte Life's advertisers found an anonymous old-style Poison Pen Letter landing on their doorsteps alleging all sorts of scurrilous goings-on. To show there were no hard feelings all the advertisers decided to step up their support for the newspaper and many delivered the letters to the local cop shop. Now the Australian Federal Police has stepped in to forensically examine the offending missives.

Cristian King

Meanwhile manager Christian King- defending himself -succeeded in having an attempted Apprehended Violence Order from a local councilor thrown out of court and is also suing a councilor for defamation.

And to show he has no hard feelings, Cristian has now put himself up for election in the Wingecarribee Shire Council which if successful could see him as Australia's youngest Councilor. Ex-Wingecarribee Mayor Julie Arkright  has stepped into the breach to take over Cristian's council reporting.
I'm told the local coffee shoppes and pubs are abuzz with chat on the matters with many viewing it as the most exciting series of events to have happened in the area in decades!
# Whispers occasionally does some work for LatteLife Newspapers.

Even more exciting news

If the thought of Jerry & Rupert's nuptials hasn't given you a heart starter, this news surely will:

As exclusively reported in LatteLife Newspaper - Southern Highland's edition ( which Whispers and the office cat proudly contribute to) the beautiful little town of Berry may become the home of superstar Leo DiCaprio:
    

"DiCaprio announces move to Berry NSW

Leonardo DiCaprio in a post Oscar magazine interview said that he was, “tired of the Hollywood lifestyle” and that he wanted to “live in a place where people were just people and whose sincerity you didn’t have to question”. He recently visited Berry while scouting out a film location with Martin Scorsese and, according to Scorsese, “Leo immediately fell in love with the relaxed lifestyle and the small town feel of Berry and that whole area and was telling everyone that he was going to move there.”

“I’ve accomplished a lot in my career and I feel like I just want to slow down a little bit and moving to a town like Berry in such a beautiful location full of beautiful people in a beautiful country is exactly what I want in my life right now,” DiCaprio said “I’m not giving up my career, I just want to move to a place that feels so different than what I’ve been used to all my life. For me, that place is Berry.” Here at LatteLife we think Leo needs to scout further South and move to Berrima or Bowral."

DiCaprio would join such names as Nicole Kidman and Miriam Margolyes and the late Lord McAlpine who all chose to spend most of their time in Australia's most beautiful rural retreat. And Berry? We can only think of actor Max Cullen who is a resident. Max is currently on tour with Warren Fahey in their hugely successful Dead Men Talking tour about Australia's legendary poets & writers Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson

Studio City opening

Whispers thinks this is the most handsome photo of Leo DiCaprio who picked up a cool $12M to attend the opening of the new James Packer Macau casino Studio City. Accompanying Leo were Martin Scorcese, Robert de Niro and Mariah Carey who also sang at the opening. Our exclusive pics come from Adam Zammit who as Director of Live Entertainment and Events put the night together. Along with a 6000 seat arena ( Madonna will sing there in February next year) and the Pacha Nightclub Zammit is launching the multi-million dollar House of Magic. What fun !

Another Triumph for Baz Luhrmann

The critics were always going to be waiting with baseball bats for Baz Luhrmann's latest film. Baz has become one of those directors they just love to hate even when his flicks- the last they laid into, Australia -are still a financial hit.
But The Great Gatsby really has confounded them especially in the USA where the viewing public has taken Luhrmann's Gatsby to heart. To date the $180M epic has reaped in $312M at the box office, most of that in the USA. Audiences love it and while much of that can be put down the star power of Leo DiCaprio, now Hollywood's most bankable movie star of all time, it's a credit to Luhrmann that he could actually get DiCaprio, the most chased actor in the world. DiCaprio has made no secret of his loyalty to Luhrmann ever since he acted in Romeo &Juliet which sealed his star status.

But Luhrmann has another, notch to add to his belt. Since he first announced his plans to film F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel, which sold poorly during the author's lifetime, sales have been climbing. For the last 5 years now the book has remained in Amazon's top 100 all time best sellers. Take a bow Baz!

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.

Gatsby's Garbo

MEET GORGEOUS actress/model  Kasia Stelmach who attended the Myer fashion show last Thursday.

The Shuttle's spy disguised as a potted Aspidistra on the 3D set of The Great Gatsby at Fox Studios tells us Kasia stars in the flick.
 The rumour is that she plays the exotic movie star Greta Garbo although mysteriously she is listed as 'Geraldine Peacock-Prada Woman'  Prada Woman ?. Did they have Prada in the twenties?.
 Kasia has appeared in one previous film, a shortie called Grace Of Others in 2011. We reckon Kasia has a big future ahead so she is now officially a Social Shuttle Discovery (well OK, the Shuttle's and Baz Luhrman's!)

 *Talk filtering out the set of Baz Luhrman's fabulous production says the movie's $120M plus budget  has been exhausted recreating New York and the Hamptons and Warner Bros have put their foot down, refusing to fund Baz who wants to re-film some scenes with Leo DiCaprio and Tobey McGuire, hence the release date of the movie being pushed back to 2013.
                                  **************************************
 


Wolverine AKA Hugh Jackman currently residing in Sydney while he films The Wolverine around town has sent us a pic of himself just fitting into his Knox Grammar (very posh) School blazer.

We've uncovered a school pic of Hugh in that very jacket.
Wasn't he handsome even then !

No Oldies For Capt Clive !

Wacky billionaire Clive Palmer said today pensioners would be banned from his replica Titanic 2 when it sets sail. Palmer has teamed up with a Chinese corporation to build the boat and take to the high seas with a floating casino on which only 'people like us' will be allowed onboard to gamble.

Clive is reported as saying :""We'll be in international waters, so we can probably stop pensioners from coming without breaching any legislation,
"There will be some sort of screening to make sure the people who do go there are people who can afford to go there."I think third class we'd have to have questions about, wouldn't we?"

So that means any ship-board romances between first class  and third class ala Jack Dawson & Rose is out and by the time Titanic 2 is launched hopefully the Shuttle will be a pensioner and be barred from the tub.

Titanic-How It Sank

Krug & Sushi at the Park Hyatt

The Park Hyatt Hotel celebrated it's $60M recent makeover with a swish party on Tuesday evening.

Amber Keating in Louis Vuitton

Nestled beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge and directly opposite the Sydney Opera House, the Park Hyatt clearly has the premier location of any Sydney inn and it's the home away from home for most visiting celebrities.
But what was with the report in a Sydney tabloid newspaper today that implied that while the Star casino (possibly Australia's most ghastly looking building) served Krug champagne for it's glitzy launch last year, the Park Hyatt settled for photographs of the French tipple ?. Perhaps the journo was pre-occupied with the dramas about his newspaper's parent company unfolding in the Leveson Inquiry in the UK.

Not only was the Krug flowing freely at the Park Hyatt, it was '98 vintage which doesn't come cheap. There were buckets and buckets of the stuff and the Shuttle knows as we could only look on in sheer envy, reduced as we are to sipping mineral water because of a course of anti-biotics.

If the service at the Park Hyatt's launch party is anything to go by, it's position as the hotel of choice for superstars (and other mortals) will remain un-matched. The hotel had flown in chefs from around the world including two to prepare superb sushi, and with a series of rooms serving up various cuisines, this was one of Sydney's most memorable parties.

Bridget & Louise Abbott

Jo Ferguson & Catriona Rowntree

As for Star, which the Tele helpfully informs us attracted the likes of Leo DiCaprio, Stevie Wonder and others of that ilk to it's launch late last year, they forgot to mention the millions of dollars paid out to the slebs or in DiCaprio's case, the entire floor of it's hotel they laid on gratis for Leo's staff to live in while he filmed The Great Gatsby. Or of the Star's private jet that was laid on for DiCaprio's exclusive use during his stay. Even then he only turned up to the launch party for an hour or so and stood sullenly in a corner scowling at the media.

 Sipping Krug at the Park Hyatt : Hon Bruce Baird, Amber Keating, Kerri Anne Kennerley, gossip writers Jo Cassamento and Ros Reines, Catriona Rowntree, Sandra Sully and two new entrants to the social scene, Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's daughters Bridget and Louise Abbott.

                      the view from the Park Hyatt's bar

Lots Of Movie Stars!

Next Monday brings the long awaited premiere in Bondi of A Few Best Men, the latest offering from Stephan Elliott (left) whose career has enjoyed something of roller-coaster ride since picking up an Oscar for his 1994 success Priscilla Queen of The Dessert.

The movie stars Xavier Samuel, Kris Marshall, Kevin Bishop and Olivia Newton-John and the word is Olivia puts in a great performance as the mother-of-the-bride in the love romp and the ‘wedding- goes-wrong’ comedy set in the Outback.

Ann Dexter-Jones and Alan Cumming

Now that Beach Haus regular Leo DiCaprio has departed these shores (he’ll be back early February to wrap up filming on The Great Gatsby), Sydney is devoid of Hollywood stars when usually, with such glorious summer weather we could expect at least 3 or 4 stars to be hanging around town

Its' the opposite in New York with the town chock a block. 

Darren Criss and Susan Sarandon

Last Monday Glee star Darren Kriss was the guest of honour at a shindig at The Darby hosted by Alan Cumming, Parker Posey, Lily Rabe, Andrew Rannells and Jordon Roth The party was to celebrate the Broadway debut of Darren in "How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying."

Stacey Keible and George Clooney

Naomi Watts

The following night at Cipriani 42nd Street recent Sydney visitor George Clooney received the Best Actor for The Descendants at the National Board of Review Gala with Tilda Swinton receiving Best Actress for her role in We Need To Talk About Kevin while Christopher Plummer was awarded best supporting actor for The Beginners, and Shailene Woodley received best supporting Actress for The Descendants.
It won’t be the last you hear of The Descendants. Get ready for the flick to pick up a few Oscars.

No bash worth its salt in New York is complete without the USA’s top society snapper (and Social Shuttle pal) Patrick McMullan who has sent us some great snaps from both nights.

All New York photographs  by Patrick McMullan (c) www.patrickmcmullan.com

No Invites To Bill Gate's Party

New Year's Eve on Sydney Harbour is always a great event with the spectacular midnight fireworks.

One of the world's richest men Bill Gates is hosting a party at his rented Point Piper mansion but it will  be mainly a family affair with just a handful of invited guests. Although the Shuttle has seen the guest list and the catering arrangements-it's a fairly modest affair considering Gates is worth a reputed $59B. Will his neighbour Leo DiCaprio attend is the big question?. He's been invited.

The Island Bar

The Lord Mayor's party is always one of the best spots to be, located at the Sydney Opera House with a great view of the bridge and it's happenings. The Shuttle has passed on it though over the past few years. Getting there is like an expedition once the local roads are closed off and you pick your way through the tens of thousands of people streaming to the Opera House forecourt. It takes ages and leaving is likewise.

 In fact getting a spot anywhere on the harbour foreshore usually means grabbing your spot by early afternoon.

There are two bashes though that should be pretty special. The Island Bar, the brainchild of Julian Tobias will be hosted an amazing dinner with plenty of champagne to get you through the night. Book at their website but there are just a few tables left.

Bondi Icebergs supremo Maurice Terzini will be catering for the You Only Live Once party inside the Opera House at the Northern Foyer with it's views straight over to the bridge. Tickets are $695 each and entertainment will be from The Godfathers of House and Frankie Knuckles with as much beer, wine, cocktails and champagne as you can drink. Book here. But hurry.
Over at Glebe island and under the Anzac Bridge there is a major party that will have uninterrupted views to the bridge fireworks and entertainment from Guy Sebastian and Pseudo Echo. They've built a village with fantastic raised seating for a great view and there will be non-stop food and drinks. Tickets are from $198-$598 with a variety of transport methods thrown in. Bookings here.

And there are still a few VIP Marquee tickets at $495 left at Glebe Island and the return of Boy George and Culture Club. Not to be missed.

For those under 40 who have never heard of Culture Club- here is taster :

Leo DiCaprio's New Sydney Neighbour-Bill Gates.

The world's second richest man Bill Gates and his family are in Sydney and have settled in for a month's holiday in a grand Point Piper mansion.

Gates is staying just 6 doors away from Hollywood star Leo DiCaprio who is in Sydney to film Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby (in glorious 3D). Leo also has an entire floor at the newly renovated Star Casino where his entourage stay. That floor has been provided gratis by The Star management in return for DiCaprio turning up for the odd party now and then. They throw in the corporate jet as well for Leo's use.

Neville Crichton

Gates and family have now been spotted at several Sydney restaurants including Matt Moran's Aria on Tuesday night  and today he leaves for a few days of sunshine at Hamilton Island .

The Tuscan style mansion that Gates is renting for a reputed $25000 a week belongs to luxury car entrepreneur, New Zealander Neville Crichton. With an underground garage, a spa, a pool and a private beach and jetty, the villa has everything one could desire.

The Ferrari HQ minus tram shed

Neville Crichton has also scored another property victory. Two years ago he spent $4M on his new Waterloo headquarters where one can pick up a new Ferrari or Maserati for some loose change.

the vanished tramshed

Crichton has had an ongoing battle with the local council over a rather dilapidated tram shed that sat right at the front of his glistening new glass and steel showrooms. Locals insisted it should be heritage listed but in a city where so many glorious sandstone convict era buildings have bitten the dust, the tram shed was just an eyesore.

Over the past few months the council demolished half the building, leaving a bizarre half section remaining with a plaque on it. Just a month ago the entire thing finally disappeared leaving Neville Crichton's entrance free of obstructions.

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)

The Great Gatsby-Spot the Bloopers

Jeff Duff

While the News Corp Daily Telegraph is bringing the world exclusive snaps from the set of The Great Gatsby and tales of Leo DiCaprio's weekly new handbag girlfriend, the Shuttle's on-set spy has been supplying us with a few tidbits.
As we exclusively reported a few weeks ago, the singer Jeff Duff has been cast in the movie as a friend of Jay Gatsby (apparently director Baz Luhrmann has been telling friends that Duffo-as he was once known-exemplifies the sort of eccentric character Baz aspires to).

Now we have noticed a glaring gaff spotted in a series of snaps from the set, that were featured in the UK Daily Mail (courtesy of News Corp). The originals can be seen here and we re-produce a couple of screen shots.
 No, it isn't the beat-up about Tobey McGuire looking very smart in 1920's gear topped with a boater and wearing a pair of 2011 Nikes. (our spy says the snaps were taken as Tobey wandered around in between takes and he had slipped of his movie shoes).
It's the series of splendid 1920's automobiles.

Each one of them is a right hand drive vehicle and of course, in the USA cars are left hand drive.

Is this a first for the fans of movie mistakes who scour the flicks and to date, have clocked up as many as 600 similar mistakes in the Harry Potter movies, over 300 in Pirates Of The Caribbean and about 260 in just one Lord of The Rings film?.
It makes the famous scene from 1959 Ben Hur where a trumpeter is spotted wearing a modern watch pale into insignificance.
Perhaps the viewers will never notice. But then again, The Great Gatsby is being filmed in glorious 3D.