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Boom Time For Filming in Sydney - $60 Million in Movies

Sydney is on the cusp of a $60 million movie-making boom with a raft of new film and television projects to be shot in and around the city this year.

Naomi Watts will join US actor Robyn Wright to star in the highly anticipated movie The Grandmothers while the best-selling book Almost French will also be transferred to the big screen.

And Southern Star Entertainment is turning the cult 1980's Australian film Pubety Blues into a television series, which will be shot and produced around Sydney's beaches.

The new wave of films and television shows cames as Baz Luhrmann's 3D remain of The Great Gatsby moves into the production phase with key filming sequences completed. Figures from Screen NSW obtained show 14 film and television projects are schedulted to be made in NSW this year, generating around 3300 jobs.

About $143 million was generated from 48 local screen projects last year - up from $44.6 million produced from films and TV series made three years ago. Screen NSW Acting CEO Megan Simpson -Huberman said the industry was experiencing a revival with the help of the federal and state laws to make it easier and cheaper to film in the state.

Screen NSW has been very pro-active in reaching out to producers to let them know what funding is available, while films like The Great Gatsby, Happy Feet Two, Lego and Walking With Dinosaurs are sending a message to the world that we are a leading global film-making destination. The dollar is a challenge but films like The Great Gatsby have generated a lot of confidence in NSW.

The Grandmothers will be made by Andrew Mason of Hopscotch Features, French producer Phillip Carcassonne and internationally acclaimed director Anne Fontane whose last film Coco Avant Chanel won critical acclaim.

Watts, 43, will be joined by Wright and local actor Xavier Samiel, who got his Hollywood break with a role in the Twilight Series. Among other films to be shot locally include Almost French, a film about a chance meeting between a Frenchman and an Australian journalist in Paris. The film is based on the bestselling book by Australian author Sarah Turnbull.

Screen NSW provided $3.3 million towards the projects, which the state government believes will generate about 3300 jobs.
Arts Minister George Souris said the productions would result in almost $60 million being invested in the state's economy. "Once again Sydney is set to shine as the star of a big international film" he said. "Im delighted that The Grandmothers is to be made here in NSW by one of our top local creative teams."Both The Grandmothers and Amost French have enormous international audience appeal and will showcase NSW's filmmaking talent to the world"

Industry sources claim the filming of The Great Gatsby in NSW has reignited interest among international movie-makers in Sydney as a location.

Article by Linda SilmalisArticle source: The Sunday Telegraph 15/1/12

16 January 2012

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Andy's Got Talent - Auditioned

Byron Bay muso Andy Holm has reached the semifinals of Australia's Got Talent 2012

The 43 year old was one of 64 performers out of the 6000 who auditioned to make it through to the Melbourne semi-finals of the popular Channel 7 talent show which screened this week.

Andy performed original compositions during his audition and his heat in front of the celebrity judges, playing seven differnt instruments.

"You need at least two of the judges to send you through, all three judges sent me." he said

Andy's musical dexterity is even more impressive given that he suffered a life threatening motorbike accident in 2000. He spent a year in a wheelchair and a half on crutches.

Andy said the secret to success on TV talent shows was to understand their format and not be afraid to stand out. "You can't be boring for 20 seconds or you are gone. I came in the Byron rainbow colours, so I already stood out.

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