source: The Sun-Herald
February 6, 2005
Nicole and Russell's new home among the gum trees
By Christine Sams
The 'old' homestead at Belligen.
Welcome to Russell and Nicole's new office.
The dusty pink cottage, set in the hinterland near Bellingen in northern NSW, will be the workplace of Australia's two Oscar winners when filming for Eucalyptus starts this week.
Kidman and Crowe are expected to arrive in Bellingen in the next day or so, amid tightened security and a buzz of anticipation among locals.
"The people here are all pretty chuffed there's a movie coming to town," said Bellingen helicopter pilot Terry Walker.
"The town likes it for the money, that's our main reason," said Melissa Nolan, 27, who was born and bred at Bellingen.
But she said she would be thrilled to meet actors the calibre of Kidman and Crowe.
Kidman, who is expected to have her two children with her, is believed to have rented an Italian-style villa normally used as a guesthouse.
The property is near the village of Gleniffer, 10 minutes from the set.
Local real-estate agents said Kidman may be paying more than $10,000 a week for the accommodation but the actual sum remains top secret.
Meanwhile, Crowe will enjoy an extraordinary journey to the Eucalyptus set each day.
He is paying an Armidale-based helicopter pilot to fly him five minutes over the mountains from his home at Nana Glen.
Crowe's route takes in the spectacular Never Never Falls before flying over the tree-covered escarpment into the valley below.
Unveiled for the first time (it has previously been covered by tarpaulins), the set is centred on a rustic-looking farmhouse, with the surrounding land scattered with fake rocks and a ready-made veggie patch.
As part of the specially constructed buildings - which feature two separate verandas and staircases - there are skylights and side access areas for film crews.
The set also features a large towering fake tree which is covered in vines and topped off by a turret-shaped structure. The tree also has spiral wooden steps on the outside and appears to be hollow inside.
Apart from constructing the set, crew members have been busy tightening security around the farm with up to three lines of fencing.
Meanwhile, Bellingen is preparing to be besieged by media and locals are already joking about the arrival of the paparazzi.
"Everyone's saying they'll probably be camped up in the scrub," said Mr Walker. "They'll probably be paying the locals to get onto properties or even the adjoining properties," he said.
Source: metro.co.uk
Friday, February 6, 2009
Filming on Ridley Scott's ill-fated movie Nottingham will finally begin this spring, according to Mark Strong.
Mark, who will play Guy of Gisbourne in the revisionist Robin Hood tale, said cast and crew had been given a start date.
"We've been waiting all last year but it's pretty much ready to go at the end of March beginning of April," he said.
Filming was slated to being last year but was apparently put off until the leaves in the location doubling as Sherwood Forest were green enough.
According to rumours, filming was further delayed to allow star Russell Crowe to lose enough weight.
Mark added that the script has also changed since its beginning. "There was an identity swap between the Sheriff of Nottingham and Robin. This has slightly changed now. There is a case of mistaken identity but it's more (about) Russell's Robin, than the Sheriff," he said.
But Mark remained tight-lipped about who would be playing Maid Marion, to replace Sienna Miller who was originally mooted to play the part. "I've heard rumours but I can't tell you. I'll get in trouble," he said.
Source: sandralee.com.au
Russell Crowe confirms talks to star in A Star Is Born
By Sandra Lee
February 6, 2010
Russell Crowe - to star in A Star Is Born?
It's true. Russell Crowe has been approached to star in the remake of A Star is Born with multi-Grammy winner Beyonce.
"Having a casual chat about it; nothing definite," Crowe told me in a email on Friday. "Very casual conversation at producer Billy Gerber's request."
The Los Angeles Times reported this week that Warners Bros resurrected the project after Beyonce restated her interest in the movie the studio previously released in 1976. The '70s version starred Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.
Gerber produced the 2008 gritty drama Gran Torino, which starred Clint Eastwood as a disgruntled war veteran intent on cleaning up his neighbourhood.
Crowe, a three-time Best Actor nominee at the Academy Awards and one-time Oscar winner, is currently in Sydney between films. He recently completed the thriller, The Next Three Days, a remake of the 2008 French film Pour Elle. Crowe plays a husband who breaks his wife out of jail after she has been sentenced for a murder she didn't commit in the film directed by Paul Haggis.
But before that hits the big screen, fans can see Crowe as a broody, rugged Robin Hood in the as-yet untitled film that re-teamed him with director Ridley Scott, who directed Crowe to a Best Actor Oscar in the brilliant Gladiator. Hood is due to be released in May.
The remake of Star would be a perfect fit for Beyonce, who hasn't exactly set the world on fire in her previous cinematic outings. The natural born singer, who picked up several awards at the 2010 Grammys, has reportedly been interested in the film for some time.
In the film, a movie star (possibly Crowe if talks with Gerber result in him signing on the dotted line) helps a young singer/actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism start to disrupt his own career.
Meanwhile, in other news from the Crowe household, the actor's wife Danielle Spencer's second album, Calling All Magicians will be released within days and is already garnering great press in the United Kingdom as well as Australia.
Her producer Tony Visconti (he's worked with Bowie and Morrissey) said he got on board with the petite performer after hearing her voice. "This is the best album I've worked on in years," he told reporters. Her first single, Just a Thought, is "too beautiful for words," he said.
Now that's a compliment.
