Baz Luhrmann
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| Baz Luhrmann | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 17, 1962 Herons Creek, Australia |
Baz Luhrmann (born Mark Anthony Luhrmann on September 17 1962) is an Oscar-nominated Australian film director. His films are distinguished by their flamboyant and colourful theatricality.
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[edit] Biography
Luhrmann was raised in Herons Creek, a tiny rural settlement in northern New South Wales, where his father ran a petrol station and a movie theatre, both of which would influence his son's filmmaking career. He attended St. Joseph's Hasting Regional School, Port Macquarie 1975-1978. His nickname was given to him due to a perceived resemblance to the character Basil Brush.
Luhrmann married Catherine Martin, the production designer on all of his films, on January 26 1997. They have two children, Lillian Amanda Luhrmann and William Alexander Luhrmann.
Lurhmann received Directors Guild of America and Golden Globe nominations for Best Director - Motion Picture for his work on Moulin Rouge!, but was snubbed for an Oscar nomination for directing. He did receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
[edit] Films
After theatrical successes, including the original stage version of "Strictly Ballroom", Luhrmann moved into film, and has directed three so far:
- Strictly Ballroom (1992), starring Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice
- Romeo + Juliet (1996), starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes
- Moulin Rouge! (2001), starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor
These three films are now formally marketed as 'The Red Curtain Trilogy'.
[edit] Future Projects
Luhrmann is scheduled to begin production in March 2007 of Australia, an "outback epic" starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. The $130 million feature, financed by 20th Century Fox, will tell the story of an English aristocrat, played by Kidman, who settles on an Outback station in the 1930s and becomes romantically involved with an Outback drover, played by Jackman. The pair are caught up in the bombing of Darwin during World War II. Australian writer Stuart Beattie is also involved in the project. Russell Crowe was once scheduled to star in the film but is no longer involved.[1][2]
Luhrmann was working on a biographical film about Alexander the Great, tentatively starring DiCaprio and Kidman, but the release (and subsequent box office failure) of Oliver Stone's film on the same subject in 2004 has cast doubt over whether the project will be completed.
[edit] Influences
Luhrmann has stated Italian grand opera as a major influence on his work including the Moulin Rouge!. He has also listed other theatrical styles like Bollywood films as having had an influence on his work like Moulin Rouge!.
[edit] Other work
- In 2003 Luhrmann brought his critically acclaimed production of Puccini's La Boheme to the Broadway theatre stages of New York City. Originally produced in Sydney in 1993, once in New York it eventually garnered 7 Tony Award Nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Direction (Luhrmann), Best Orchestrations (Nicholas Kitsopoulos), Best Costume Design (Catherine Martin) and won for Best Set Design (Catherine Martin), Best Lighting Design (Nigel Levings), and the special award for Excellence in Theater (Principal Ensemble Cast).
- In 2004, Baz Luhrmann directed a lavish multi-million-dollar commercial for Chanel N° 5 titled N° 5 the Film, starring Nicole Kidman and Rodrigo Santoro.
- Luhrmann is also credited with a 1999 UK number one single entitled "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)".
- He directed a video for John Paul Young's Love is in the Air which was re-released to coincide with the release of Strictly Ballroom (in which the song was featured prominently).
- He orchestrated the re-election campaign of former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating.
- Luhrmann was appointed an Ambassador for the Australian Theatre for Young People in 2005.
[edit] External links
- Baz Luhrmann at the Internet Movie Database
- Bazmark - Official Baz luhrmann website containing links and previews.
- Craig Armstrong (Composer for Romeo + Juilet and Moulin Rouge)
- Baz the Great! - Baz Luhrmann fansite containing news updates and movie information.
- N° 5 the Film as 17 MB mov
- short making of N° 5 the Filmda:Baz Luhrmann
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