Eva Rinaldi Photography: December 2012

December 20, 2012

Hugh Jackman, Tom Hooper, and Sir Cameron Mackintosh touch down in Sydney

Les Miserables: Sydney, Australia media call Thursday...

News...

Hugh Jackman, Tom Hooper, and Sir Cameron Mackintosh touch down in Sydney on the final stop on the Les Misérables international promotional tour.

The group will mark their arrival with a group Photo Call at Hickson Road Reserve, The Rocks with the Sydney Opera House a fitting backdrop ahead of the film’s Australian Premiere Friday 21st December.

Fellow cast member Russell Crowe will join the group at the film’s Australian Premiere on Friday 21st Dec at The State Theatre.

News...

The screen adaptation of 'Les Miserables' is being discussed as potential Oscar worthy and its mega star, 'Our' Hugh Jackman has warmly welcomed the buzz as recognition of how hard it is to transform a musical to the screen, no matter how good the material.

The star-studded film version of the stage musical debuted to critics at screenings in New York, London, Los Angeles and Sydney last weekend and it did very well, with many standing ovations and strong reviews.

Popular show business website Showbiz.com advised Jackman was a sure contender for the best actor Academy Award for his role as Jean Valjean, the ex-prisoner who creates a successful new life for himself.

The Universal Studios flick, directed by Tom Hooper who won an Oscar for 'The King's Speech', also features fellow Aussies Russell Crowe as Jackman's nemesis Inspector Javert and leading lady Anne Hathaway as Fantine.

Jackman said he had not seen the final cut until the Sydney viewing and he was "pretty blown away by it".

"I think everyone understands that musical movies are probably the Mount Everest of movies," he told ABC TV.

"There's so many elements that need to come together. Les Mis has so much pedigree, not only in world literature, but as probably one of the most successful stage musicals of all time.

"So there was a lot at risk, but I loved it, I really loved it."

The stage version has been seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries to date and in 21 languages around the globe, and is still breaking box-office records in its 27th year.

Jackman, who made his name on the stage but is best known for his role as Wolverine in the "X-Men" movie series, said his latest role, set against the backdrop of 19th century France, was the hardest of his career so far.

"There's no doubt that of all the things I feel I can do, this demanded more than anything," he said.

"As a pedigree of work, it's probably higher than anything else I've been in. The director, the ensemble, it was certainly one of those projects that felt like a once in a lifetime event."

It makes the early Oscar buzz all the more satisfying for the Sydney-based star.

"I would love nothing better than for the film to get recognised because I know how hard everyone worked and what was at stake, and we all know how musicals, when they don't come out well, can stink to high heaven," he said.

"So, any kind of positive buzz, of course I'm happy."

Stay tuned to Media Man, Music News Australia and the official Les Miserables and Universal Pictures websites for updates.

Les Miserables official website

www.lesmiserablesfilm.com

Les Miserables official website (Australia)

www.lesmiserablesmovie.com.au

Universal Pictures Australia

www.universalpicturesaustralia.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

December 18, 2012

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey movie premiere: Sydney, Australia

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey movie premiere: Sydney, Australia...

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' enjoyed its Sydney, Australia red carpet movie premiere at George Street Event Cinemas tonight.

A crowd of hundreds of general public and dozens of media welcomed in the popular film franchise.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a 2012 fantasy film directed by Peter Jackson. It is the first of a three-part film adaptation of the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, to be followed by The Desolation of Smaug and There and Back Again, due for theatrical release in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

Promo:

Set in Middle-earth 60 years before The Lord of the Rings, the adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug.

Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of 13 dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of ingenuity and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities… A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield.

Also reprising their roles from The Lord of the Rings in The Hobbit trilogy are: Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Ian Holm as the elder Bilbo; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; and Andy Serkis as Gollum.

The international ensemble cast of the trilogy also includes Manu Bennett, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Barry Humphries, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott and Aidan Turner.

The screenplay for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro. Jackson is also producing the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.

Storyline:

Bilbo Baggins is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever ... Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities

A younger and more reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out on a "unexpected journey" to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of Dwarves to reclaim a their stolen mountain home from a dragon named Smaug.

Summary: Many entertainment commentators including the Media Man agency think that 'The Hobbit' may be one of the best and most popular movies in Australia for 2012, despite the late release in the year. One for the whole family, and both casual and die hard fans should love it.

Special thanks to everyone who helped make tonight such a big success. See you at the movies again soon.

Director: Peter Jackson

Writers: Fran Walsh (screenplay), Philippa Boyens (screenplay), Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson

Actors: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitrage, Andy Serkis (Voice), Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving.