Not Such Happy Feet 2

Every time the Shuttle has encountered film director George Miller over the past few years he has been wearing his 'lucky shirt'- a black silk number with three embroidered red peppers. Sadly it looks like his luck is waning of late.

After the brilliant success of the Oscar winning Happy Feet, the charming cartoon film about penguins, it's successor Happy Feet 2 has opened  in the USA with dismal takings of only $22M which doesn't bode well for it's future success.

Most reviewers are praising the 3D effects in the kid's movie but the bad box office takings are creating spin off damage. It's rumoured around 200 staff will be laid off at Miller's Sydney animation studios based in the magnificent art deco Metro Theatre in Kings Cross.

Further rumours are flying around that Miller's new Mad Max movie Fury Road could be in trouble. The flick is the fourth in the series and will star Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron. The first three shot Mel Gibson to international stardom .  
Fury Road has already had some major hick-ups with an 2003 starting date with the late Heath Ledger in the lead role being cancelled followed by shooting in Namibia being post-poned because of the Iraq invasion.

Now pre-filming which was to start in a few weeks outside Broken Hill where many scenes from the first 3 films were shot has been abandoned.  Recent and unusually heavy rains have transformed the desert which doubled as a post nuclear war terrain into a green paradise !.
Location managers are desperately looking for a similar area in Australia. They could always try Maralinga in SA which is a real-life post-nuclear frontier. Seven giant nuclear bombs and hundreds of smaller ones were exploded there between 1955 and 1963 making it the most nuclear bombed country on the planet. 

Kerri-Anne Lashes Out

Kerri-Anne

Jo Cassamento & Ronan Keating

It was fairly gloomy day yesterday- grey skies and intermittent rain. The atmosphere outside perhaps reflected that inside at the chic Darlinghurst restaurant Spic I Am where around 40 friends and production staff gathered for a farewell lunch for TV's daytime queen Kerri Anne Kennerley who has been dumped after a nine year run at Channel Nine.

Spice I Am owners Padet Nagsalab and Sujet Saenkham are pals of Kerri-Anne and the restaurant's chef had appeared many times on her programme. They laid on a sumptuous Thai banquet and champagne for the crew to drown their sorrows.

But things took are a dramatic turn when Kerri-Anne heard of one guest who had been invited-the top columnist from the Sunday Telegraph Jo Cassaamento. It seems Jo had a written a piece about Kennerely in the past which she didn't like.

A hapless publicist was dispatched to telephone Cassamento and rescind the invitation to lunch. The Shuttle gathers the publicist received a right royal roasting from Jo. I'm sure we'll read all about this Sunday !

As for Kerri-Anne, rumours are that there is already an offer in the pipeline from another network. Not that she needs the work. Hubby John Kennerley, who with partners started Littlewoods Pools in the UK is loaded.

Reece Mastin's Victory

When the Shuttle encountered X-Factor contestant Reece Mastin 5 weeks ago at Sony's Wharf4Ward charity fundraiser at the Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo we asked him if he was going to win. "No" was the answer.

Britain's biggest selling tabloid agrees with the Shuttle

But just as with young Jack Vidgen who won Australia's Got Talent, we already knew what Reece did not, and what a handful within a tight circle did. Sony Music was so convinced that the ex-Scunthorpe lad would pick up the gong, plans were already in place to set Reece's career into high gear the day after the contest ended.

And so it came to pass. Sony are banking on the 17 year old (his birthday is today) to become a major world-wide rock star and they are pulling out all the stops. As of today, his first release Good Night is the number one itunes download. His album will be released on Dec 9th. Listen below to Good Night:

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)

Geoffrey Rush In Drag-and he's Brilliant!

Our favourite Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush is appearing as Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest and he's brilliant!.

Rush is receiving rave reviews and is being compared favourably with previous notable efforts, the two Queens of the stage  Dame Edith Evans and Dame Judi Dench.


The Australian's Chris Boyd says "Geoffrey Rush does something far more interesting and exhilarating in the role. He plays Lady Bracknell perfectly straight. There's not the slightest hint of travesty in his performance, nor is there any obvious striving for effect. Rush is engrossing to watch and, of course, to listen to"

Anne-Marie Peard  in The Age says : "It's gorgeous and fun and the joy of watching our Geoffrey is worth a leg cramp.And none frock up more magnificently than Rush. Treating the text like music, he doesn't miss a beat or a grace note and his restrained and refreshingly straight Lady B lets her power comes from more than her age and position. "

The Melbourne Theatre Company's Importance of Being Earnest plays until the 14th January 2012 and is almost sold out.
Rush to their website now : www.mtc.com.au   and put your name down for tickets !

Royals and Aristos

Chance Lodge

Few guests at photographer Susie Hagon’s book launch last week at the Wagner Gallery knew who the lady in black was although her companion, Hal Salter from Melbourne  in his jaunty red jacket and shoes is a regular sight at racetracks around the country.

Hal Salter & The Duchess of Welbergen

She was the grandly titled Her Grace Stephanie Alesandra Duchess of Welbergen who was visiting from Goornong near Geelong in Victoria where she has recently set up home with her husband David Martin.

Stephanie is a former New York stockbroker born in San Francisco and what a home she has settled in-it’s the imposing mansion with the Roman columns, known as Chance Lodge that comes with a horse stud and until recently, was the home of The Voice, John Farnham

John sold up in 2009 for a reputed $2M and sadly a fire in 2010 gutted the house which the Duchess is now about to set right.

The Voice

As Stephanie recently told the Bendigo Advertiser :“I’m very excited to rise to the challenge,” Stephanie says on renovating and re-decorating the landmark six-bedroom homestead. “It’s going to be absolutely stunning when it’s done, although I know it’s a lot of work.

Stephanie met her first husband while at University in Greece. She eloped with Rudolf Van Welbergen, the duke and married at 19.

Unfortunately the union only lasted 2 years and her mother-in –law frowned on Stephanie because of her ‘commoner’ status. All that is about to change as she and David become Chance Lodge’s master and mistress with no doubt, the grand property becoming the social focal point of the town.

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Mary & Frederick of Denmark at Bondi's Sculpture by The Sea

Zebras by The Sea

One former commoner who has become a great hit is HRH Princess Mary of Denmark. She and husband Prince Frederick attended Bondi’s Sculpture By The Sea today and spent a couple of hours wandering amongst the strange objects, chatting to locals and accepting the odd posy of flowers from little girls.

The Full Monte

TWO late arrivals at the Mother Of All Balls last week had all eyes swivelling in their direction.
Not just because one was the ample bossomed party girl Sharon Sargeant who became something of an Internet star in India when her picture from the same event last year was featured in the Times Of India newspaper, but it was also her seemingly new partner, an inscrutable looking gentleman in a rather magnificent robe that drew many comments

Even the Shuttle, well used to seeing the world's most famous private eye Frank Monte around town was momentarily fooled and thought Sargeant had found a new paramour.

Monte's superb disguise  fooled all, particularly as he wandered the room nodding and saying hello to various friends who looked perplexed at the sight of the stranger greeting them.

It was possibly the best costume of the night. According to one guest  the ball's mastermind actress Rachel Ward voiced that opinion whilst her husband, actor and producer Bryan Brown noted that the cloak Monte wore would be ideal for a feature film he had in mind.

Monte's robe was an amazing original Emperor's gown from the Shang Dynasty (3000 years ago) which normally hangs in a case on a wall in his New York office.

"When I heard that the theme was Shanghai Chic I thought it was the prefect outfit even though Shanghai didn't actually exist when this ceremonial gown was created. I bought in Paris 25 years ago and it was authenticated by the National Palace Museum in Taipei. They've said when the time is right, they would love to add it to their collection of Chinese antiquities which is the best in the world."

Until then, Monte is having the cloak crated and shipped back to New York,.

There are over 20 sponsor marquees at today's Polo In The Park at Centennial Park but most action is expected to be happening around the Paspaley Pearls tent. The event has become increasingly popular since it began in 2006.
Brisbane held the first matches last week followed by Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
All eyes will be on the star attraction- handsome young Argentinian player Baron Jakob Von Plessen.

In The Houses Of The Muses

Martin Browne, Susie Hagon,Ross Steele

Photographer Susie Hagon has published her second book of photographs: In The Houses Of The Muses.

It’s a collection of portraits of Australian identities and scenes from Alexandria in Egypt where Susie has been involved in the project Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the ambitious scheme to re-build the fabled Royal Library of Alexandria reputedly burnt to the ground by Julius Caesar in 48BC.

The project was the brainchild of Egyptian noble and Alexandrian born Prince Lorenzo Montesini, or to give him his full title : Prince Giustiniani, Count of the Phanaar, Knight of Saint Sophia and Baron Alexandroff.  

Hal Salter

John & Caroline Laws

A launch party organised by French language expert Professorr Ross Steele was held at the Wagner Gallery in Paddington and drew a diverse crowd including racing identity Angela Belle Sweeney, Prince Lorenzo, social figures like Robert Hampshire and Glen Marie Frost, renowned winemaker Brian McGuigan, artist Kerry Lester, folk song expert Warren Fahey, Caroline Laws (Susie’s mum ) and her step-father radio tsar John Laws. Antique dealer Martin Browne did the honours and launched the book.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (by Susie Hagon)

Kerrie Lester

Angela Belle McSweeney

Contact the Wagner Gallery on 02)9360 6069 or go to Susie’s website to enquire about copies of the book.

Mother Of All Balls

Rachel Ward and husband Bryan Brown

Actress Rachel Ward's Mother of All Balls annual event has raised over $3M now for the YMCA and is becoming so popular that larger and larger premises are needed each year.

Held at Royal Randwick Racecourse this year, the huge function centre easily held the 450 guests who attended. With the theme- Shanghai Chic, a 1930s 'Paris of The East' atmosphere was re-produced.

Food by top chef Luke Mangan and excellent champagne from Nicholas Feuillatte (still the top selling champagne in Paris and billed as the "Australian champagne'-vineyard owner Nicholas divides his time between his French chateau, a Tangier palace and a magnificent Sydney harbour side penthouse) and some excellent wines from a new label, Eagle Rest.

Silverchair's Chris Joannou & Laura Csortan

Anthony Minichiello & Terri Biviano

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Earth to Channel Nine News !

The photographer Alison Jackson (who you have just discovered) as featured first on the Shuttle over 12 months ago and as recently as 4 weeks ago is not American-she is British, born in Hampshire.

here's Alison's film of Charles & Camilla's yoga session..see lots more at her youtube channel

Broadway Has A New Aboriginal Star.

Gospel singer Olive Knight at home in the Kimberleys

Hugh Jackman's one man show 'Hugh Jackman, Back On Broadway" opened last Thursday in New York with a glittering opening night guest list including Donna Karan, Mandy Patinkin, Wendi Deng Murdoch and Hamish Bowles.

Olive Knight, an Aboriginal gospel singer from the Wangkatjungka community has swapped the dusty plains of the Kimberley for the bright lights of Broadway after being invited to perform in Hugh's one-man show.

 Olive has taught Jackman to sing the chorus of Somewhere Over the Rainbow in a traditional Aboriginal language and the segment with the cast (including Hugh) and Olive speaking in Walmarjari received a standing ovation.

Artemis,Packer, Picasso and Obama

Shanthini Naidoo & Ros Packer at the Picasso show

She was at the Art Gallery of NSW last Friday taking in the Picasso exhibition- Ros Packer, the widow of the late media mogul Kerry Packer who passed away in 2008. On the same day a remarkable sculpture was being loaded on a ship bound for Australia where it will arrive on December 27^th.

A report has emerged claiming Ros may have been the purchaser of the giant bronze sculpture by British artist Nic Fiddian-Green which has recently been on display at Goodwood Racecourse.

Titled Artemis after the Greek god, its name has now reverted to the original name given it by the artist: ‘I Look Beyond for a Distant Land’.

The Midhurst & Petworth Observer newspaper says the 40ft high piece is on its way to Australia where it has been “bought by the widow of an Australian media mogul who had strong links with the equine world. She has collected work by Mr Fiddian-Green for the past 15 years.”

Kerry’s grave is at his beloved property Ellerston in the Hunter Valley where there is already some of the artist’s work and it's believed the sculpture will overlook his resting place.

Artemis

Nic Fiddian-Green

Son James Packer who inherited Kerry’s $6B fortune and was recently entertaining Tiger Woods, Shane Warne and Elizabeth Hurley at his Crown Casino in Melbourne has undertaken extensive renovations at Ellerston including installing a new Olympic size swimming pool, upgrading the private Polo field , building several guest cottages and landscaping the gardens.

Meanwhile Ros Packer will be in Canberra today to attend a reception for the US president Barack Obama.

Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?

Mel B & Stephen Belafonte

Brynne Edelsten

Here they are-Who Magazine's 'Sexiest People'. Presented at a red carpet party at the Grand Hall at Sydney University. Plenty of good looking people but the only original thing about this bash was the superb location.

Breathless PR persons rushed yet another soapy star to be interviewed on the subject of being a 'sex symbol'. No wonder guests were fleeing after about 40 minutes.

One guest who looked rather pale and snatched the taxi the Shuttle was headed towards was Melbourne medical entrepreneur Geoffrey Edelsten and his Las Vegas born wife Brynne Edelsten who appears regularly on red carpets in sparkling outfits. Maybe Geoff had other matters on his mind such as a slight problem with the Taxation Office.

Here are a few of the guests and you can see the full list .here

Samara Weaving (Hugo's little girl)

Rhiannon Fish & boyfriend

Jodi Gordon

Rikki-Lee Coulter

Dr Geoffrey & Brynne

God Save Us From Pompous Gits : Dawkins, Hitchens, Fry

A regular reader has forwarded a YouTube piece (below) in which the increasingly tiresome Stephen Fry interviews nutter Richard Dawkins who (the reader) believes decimates the concept of 'respect' and believes we should publish it. We have. It's real thigh slapping stuff.

There is a madness that encapsulates the navel gazing stuff being churned out by the disciples of New Atheism who are threatening to descend upon Melbourne in 2012 en masse to flog more books encourage enlightened discussion in their crusade against organised religion.

Recently Dawkins, author of one of the dreariest tomes in recent years The God Delusion refused to debate Christian theologian William Lane Craig (probably a pointless task) and explained his reasons in this nonsensical spirited piece in The Guardian.

One of Dawkins oddest reasons was that Craig apparently supported God's (whoever that is) decision to slaughter the Canaanites, a tale from the Bible, that may or may not be true, (or a fable as Dawkins would call it) but which Dawkins quotes from ad infinitum. Dawkins declares Craig an "apologist for genocide".

Oddly, Dawkins is more than happy to share a stage with bore writer Christopher Hitchens who openly supported via numerous editorials, the invasion of Iraq- an atrocity he called "a war to be proud of" in which at least 113000 have died with official figures (according to Wikileaks) of civilian deaths at 1300 but possibly far more and with over one million Iraqis displaced. That was a war that George Bush Jr claimed : "God Told me to end tyranny in Iraq". Maybe some genocides are more equal than others.

Confused ?. So am I.

'A Celebration Of Reason' will take place in Melbourne on 13th to 15th April 2012. You can book tickets here but hurry, the ranks of Atheists are already splitting into different religious factions.

Kathy Lette-Swinging from The Chandeliers

Today is Kathy Lette is 53 and she plans to celebrate her birthday with hubby Geoffrey Robertson QC at London's Savoy Hotel where she says she will be "swinging from the chandeliers".

Kathy has been telling the London Evening Standard about her recent encounter with a would be handbag snatcher in London's East End:
"I think adrenaline kicked in. He grabbed it, but I wasn't going to let him have it, so I fought back, I grabbed it back from him. The handle broke, but at least I got it back.
"I just held on for grim death. I couldn't really give chase afterwards because I had my high heels on. Taking a woman's handbag, it is like you are violating her very body.
"From now if I walk in the East End the only handbag I will carry will be in the form of the arm of a really burly bloke."

Kathy had been on her way to a literary event when the mugger struck and attempted to bag the Moschino handbag. As the writer says :
"You don't come between an Australian woman and her handbag".
PS : Kathy's first husband was Kim Williams who has just become the overlord of News Corp in Australia.