AIF Boomerang July 2011

JUly 2011THEBOOMERANG

AUSTRAlIANS IN FIlM

click for cONTENTS

KWANTEN | Griff THE iNViSiBlE

THANkS JENNy cARRIllO

PAlM SPRINGS | WRAP UPAUSTRAlIA rockS THE PiEr

PIcS | BrEAkTHrouGH AwArdSPIcS | THE BEAVErPIcS | MoNTE cArlo

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THEMONTH

cONTENTSFrom the President

Reel Alerts

Ryan Kwanten | Griff the Invisible

Thanks Jenny Carrillo

Palm Springs Film Fest

Australia Rocks the Pier

Member Profile | Ann Fay

Pics | Breakthrough Awards

Pics | The Beaver

Pics | Monte Carlo

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The BoomeRAng

editorsSusie Dobson Michael Kelleher [email protected] DesignerSam [email protected]

Board of Directors Paula PaizesSusie DobsonRob MarsalaAndrew WarneTracey VieiraMichelle DayIan Sutherland

Cover | Griff the Invisible

news SubmissionsPlease email the Editor with any Australian or member film-related news or announcements. Australians in Film |2800 28th St, Suite 320, Santa Monica CA 90405 Tel: 310 452-5939 | Fax: 323 446-8724 www.australiansinfilm.org | [email protected]

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AiF Volunteers |We would like thank thefollowing people:

Sam Kramer, designer of the Boomerang and invitations

Alin Pilkington for IT supportmichael Kelleher for website design and IT support

Jenifer Sorensongreg CookIngrid BloomClaudia KeechSophie Scarf

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THEPRESIDENT

Dear Members & Friends,

My term as President of AiF comes to an end this month. It has been an honor to hold this position for the past two years and lead such an incredible organization ensuring the effective implementation of AiFs mission. It has been a time of growth and expansion with significant changes at Board level and in operations and I can confidently say that in its 10th year AIF has certainly come of age!

I would like to thank those members of the Board of Directors who have served during my Presidency (both past and present) and also those committee members and volunteers who have all worked so hard to fulfill AiFs mission. You are all extremely dedicated and are to be commended for all that you do for this organization on a purely voluntary basis.

When I started in this position two years ago I had two main goals. Firstly to ensure that as we continued to grow in stature our group would never lose its distinctive Aussie authenticity and culture, where the atmosphere is always relaxed and fun and sharing a few drinks and lots of laughs is paramount. And secondly to continue

our reach into the wider Hollywood community and enhance our industry position as the pre - eminent Australian entertainment organization in Los Angeles and the USA. I am satisified that both these goals have definitely been achieved!

We have over 800 members, a strong and dedicated Board of Directors, Board of Advisors, Executive Director and committed volunteers. We screen over 25 films a year, have now hosted seven successful Breakthrough Awards honoring Australias most up and coming in Hollywood and have established a much sought after scholarship in the name of the late Heath Ledger, which is a Hollywood launch pad for young actors. Underscoring all this is the continued support of our financial sponsors as well as almost every major Australian actor and filmmaker, whether living in LA or not, who each serve as an Ambassador of AiF and who consistently accept our invitations to attend our screenings and events and share their insight and success stories with all of us. I am very proud to be an Australian in Film!

Andrew Warne takes over as AiFs new President from August 1st and I

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move on to become Chairman of the Board. Andrew has served on AiFs Board of directors for over five years as a member of the Programming and IT/ Marketing Committees. Andrew is a journalist and entertainment news producer and a dedicated member of our team. I wish Andrew the best of luck in his new role and am confident he will make a great President of AiF

See you all at the next screening!

Best always,

Paula PaizesPresidentAustralians in Film

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Sony Pictures has acquired Shadow Runner, in a pitch for an action thriller that will star Chris Hemsworth. Judy Davis reunites with Woody Allen in his next film Bop Decameron, which he begins filming in Rome on July 11th.Davis has worked with the director on several films, and garnered a Best supporting Actress Oscar nod for her performance in Allens Husband and Wives.

Marvel Studios, which is in production on the Joss Whedon-directed The Avengers, is making a full commitment to Thor 2, with Chris Hemsworth reprising his role as the title hero.

Liam Hemsworth is in negotiations

rEElAlERTS

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to play one of the lead roles in the Vietnam era romantic drama indie based on a true story, AWOL. Also in negotiations to star alongside is Teresa Palmer. The film, which explores the anti-Vietnam war movement at the University of Michigan, is slated to shoot there this summer with helmer Danny Mooney, who will make his directorial debut. Barry Humphries, best known for his alter ego Dame Edna, will play the Goblin King in Peter Jacksons The Hobbit

Chris Hemsworth will get behind the wheel to star in the role of British Formula One driver James Hunt in Rush, the Peter Morgan-scripted drama that shapes up as the next directing effort for Ron Howard. Cross Creek Pictures is the backer, with Imagines Brian Grazer and Howard producing alongside Brian Oliver and Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.

David Raines was nominated for an Emmy award today for Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (one-hour) for Burn Notice. This is Davids second nomination for Burn Notice.

Judy Davis

Barry humphries

Teresa Palmer

Ash Revell, also an Aussie, has been nominated for an Emmy for best sound design (team) on the show Nikita.

Guy Pearce received an Emmy nomination for his performance in HBOs Mildred Pierce

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AuSTrAliANS iN THEATrESJUly|

JUly 22 THE TREE, Australian French co-production The Tree opens for a week only in Los Angeles at The Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd,West LA

Starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and directed byJulie Bertucccelli it was the official selection as the closing night film at Cannes in 2010.The Tree is a mystical drama of loss and rebirth in the Australian countryside.

JUly 22CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, Hugo Weaving

George Byrne PhotographyHeadshots & Portraiture in L.A.

646 309 3798

[email protected]

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GRIFFTHE iNViSiBlE

Australian actor Leon Fords first feature as director, Griff the Invisible opens in the United States on August 19. Dubbed a romantic, comedy-drama, Griff is a unique take on the superhero genre, displaying not only the acting talents of AIF 2010 Breakthrough Award Winner Ryan Kwanten but Sydney as a neo Gotham-like location.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010, and uses Sydney and certain buildings such

as Central Railway Station to create a backdrop at home in any comic book story

By day Griff (Ryan Kwanten) is an everyday office worker, in an everyday town. He lives a secluded life, bullied by co-workers (Toby Schmitz) his protective brother his only friend. By night Griff assumes his other identity, roaming the dark streets protecting the innocent and the vulnerable from the dangers that lurk in the shadows he is the hero.

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Increasingly concerned by Griffs eccentric behaviour, his brother (Patrick Brammall) attempts to draw him back into the real world. In doing so he introduces Griff to Melody (Maeve Dermody) an equally eccentric and charming girl. Fascinated by Griffs idiosyncrasies, which are equal only to her own, Melody begins to fall for Griff. As Griff is forced to face up to the realities of a mundane world, it is up to Melody to rescue him for the sake of herself,

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GRIFFTHE INVISIBLE

Griff and their love for each other. Director Leon Ford said the film is about the defenses we create as a child and how they can be carried into adulthood.

I think its about a guy who couldnt cope with reality the way most of us do, so he created when he was a kid another world where he was in control and as he grew up saw no reason to let that go, said Ford.So I suppose overall its saying when

we grow up why do we have to lose all the fun bits? And it doesnt necessarily mean he is insane it just means he held onto his other identity.

For lead actor Ryan Kwanten, his attraction to the part was personal.It was something that really went straight to the very core of what makes me, me. Ive always been very much a sort of sociophobe myself. I havent been particularly good with talking to people or in social situations, so