Australian Film Television and Radio School
Australia’s leading screen arts and broadcast school benefits from a beautiful Sydney campus and a deep pool of industry lecturers and close ties with the Australian film community. Notable alumni include multi-Oscar nominee Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), Phillip Noyce (The Quiet American) and Black Widow filmmaker Cate Shortland, plus a slew of esteemed craftspeople like Margaret Sixel (editing on Mad Max: Fury Road), David White (sound editing for Mad Max: Fury Road), Andrew Lesnie (cinematography for The Lord of the Rings) and Tony McNamara (best original screenplay Oscar nominee for The Favourite).
Beijing Film Academy
The USC of the world’s second-largest film industry, China’s most prestigious film school offers its graduates a wealth of industry ties to some of the country’s most prominent working actors and directors. Bfa also now has an undergraduate film program taught in English.
Australia’s leading screen arts and broadcast school benefits from a beautiful Sydney campus and a deep pool of industry lecturers and close ties with the Australian film community. Notable alumni include multi-Oscar nominee Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), Phillip Noyce (The Quiet American) and Black Widow filmmaker Cate Shortland, plus a slew of esteemed craftspeople like Margaret Sixel (editing on Mad Max: Fury Road), David White (sound editing for Mad Max: Fury Road), Andrew Lesnie (cinematography for The Lord of the Rings) and Tony McNamara (best original screenplay Oscar nominee for The Favourite).
Beijing Film Academy
The USC of the world’s second-largest film industry, China’s most prestigious film school offers its graduates a wealth of industry ties to some of the country’s most prominent working actors and directors. Bfa also now has an undergraduate film program taught in English.
- 8/11/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski, Alex Ritman, Scott Roxborough and Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This story about the best international film schools first appeared in the College Issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.
Australian Film, Television And Radio School
Sydney, Australia
“Aftrs was perfect because it was…practical,” says songwriter Christine Kirkwood, who graduated from Australia’s national screen and broadcast school after a six-month government program to train women in filmmaking. Her fellow alums include Gillian Armstrong and Phillip Noyce, who were in the school’s first graduating class in 1973, as well as Jane Campion, Cate Shortland and cinematographer Andrew Lesnie. Located near the Fox Studios in Sydney, the campus includes studios, post-production facilities and an extensive library.
Aftrs has a robust First Nations and Outreach program for indigenous students, and in early 2023 a new partnership with Industrial Light & Magic will allow the school to begin offering a two-semester Graduate Diploma in Visual Effects program. Other new offerings include a Screen Warriors program that will recruit,...
Australian Film, Television And Radio School
Sydney, Australia
“Aftrs was perfect because it was…practical,” says songwriter Christine Kirkwood, who graduated from Australia’s national screen and broadcast school after a six-month government program to train women in filmmaking. Her fellow alums include Gillian Armstrong and Phillip Noyce, who were in the school’s first graduating class in 1973, as well as Jane Campion, Cate Shortland and cinematographer Andrew Lesnie. Located near the Fox Studios in Sydney, the campus includes studios, post-production facilities and an extensive library.
Aftrs has a robust First Nations and Outreach program for indigenous students, and in early 2023 a new partnership with Industrial Light & Magic will allow the school to begin offering a two-semester Graduate Diploma in Visual Effects program. Other new offerings include a Screen Warriors program that will recruit,...
- 11/2/2022
- by TheWrap Staff
- The Wrap
Two decades after its release, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy remains a monumental achievement. Like "Star Wars," or "Jurassic Park" before it, Peter Jackson's trilogy adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary book was a blend of old-school cinematic techniques and new technological wizardry. The films used on-camera tricks like forced perspective and miniatures, but also state-of-the-art VFX and motion-capture technology in order to bring Middle-earth to life.
This is especially true of the fight scenes in the trilogy, which share a sense of scope with the epic movies of old like "Ben-Hur" or "Cleopatra" while still feeling modern.
While we wait for Prime Video to bring us the most expensive TV show ever with "The Rings of Power," it's time to revisit the #1 trilly and the golden standard for fantasy movie trilogies and what makes it great. There is one scene in particular which, even 20 years later,...
This is especially true of the fight scenes in the trilogy, which share a sense of scope with the epic movies of old like "Ben-Hur" or "Cleopatra" while still feeling modern.
While we wait for Prime Video to bring us the most expensive TV show ever with "The Rings of Power," it's time to revisit the #1 trilly and the golden standard for fantasy movie trilogies and what makes it great. There is one scene in particular which, even 20 years later,...
- 8/23/2022
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Click here to read the full article.
Australian Film, Television and Radio School
Australia’s preeminent screen arts and broadcast school benefits from a beautiful setting in one of the most pleasant parts of Sydney, as well as a wealth of industry lecturers and connections to the country’s working film and TV world. Notable alumni include last year’s Oscar best director nominee Jane Campion (Power of the Dog) and Black Widow filmmaker Cate Shortland, in addition to a slew of past Oscar nominees and winners in technical categories, like David White (sound editing for Mad Max: Fury Road), Andrew Lesnie (cinematography for The Lord of the Rings) and Tony McNamara (best original screenplay with The Favourite).
Centro de Capacitacion Cinematografica (Mexico)
Mexico’s most prestigious film school prides itself on the gender parity of its student body (a goal it first achieved in 2020) and its track record in turning out world-class professionals,...
Australian Film, Television and Radio School
Australia’s preeminent screen arts and broadcast school benefits from a beautiful setting in one of the most pleasant parts of Sydney, as well as a wealth of industry lecturers and connections to the country’s working film and TV world. Notable alumni include last year’s Oscar best director nominee Jane Campion (Power of the Dog) and Black Widow filmmaker Cate Shortland, in addition to a slew of past Oscar nominees and winners in technical categories, like David White (sound editing for Mad Max: Fury Road), Andrew Lesnie (cinematography for The Lord of the Rings) and Tony McNamara (best original screenplay with The Favourite).
Centro de Capacitacion Cinematografica (Mexico)
Mexico’s most prestigious film school prides itself on the gender parity of its student body (a goal it first achieved in 2020) and its track record in turning out world-class professionals,...
- 8/5/2022
- by Scott Roxborough, Etan Vlessing, Patrick Brzeski and Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In Theaters July 8 On Demand July 12 Ozploitation Classic Inspired Tarantino’S Death Proof Fair Game Shot by Oscar Winner Andrew Lesnie Dark Star Pictures is set to release Ozploitation classic Fair Game on the big screen across North America! A bonafide Aussie classic, one that would later inspire Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof, Fair Game …
The post Fair Game – Dark Star Pictures Releasing Oz-Classic in Theaters and on Demand July 8 appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
The post Fair Game – Dark Star Pictures Releasing Oz-Classic in Theaters and on Demand July 8 appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
- 6/21/2022
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
A young woman running an animal sanctuary in the outback takes her revenge on a trio of kangaroo hunters who terrorized her. Dark Star Pictures will release Mario Andreacchio's Ozploitation flick from 1986, Fair Game, in 'North American' cinemas on July 8th, digital on July 12th, with a physical release in August. The film's notoriaty includes being shot by Lord of the Rings cinematographer Andrew Lesnie and was an inspiration for Tarantino's Death Proof, as the pictures of our young heroine strapped to the front of a Ute would suggest. We've included a sketchy quality trailer below the announcement and official stills. Dark Star Pictures is set to release Ozploitation classic Fair Game on the big screen across North America! A bonafide...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 6/20/2022
- Screen Anarchy
This past weekend, the American Society of Cinematographers awarded Greig Fraser for his contribution to Lion as last year’s greatest accomplishment in the field. Of course, his achievement was just a small sampling of the fantastic work from directors of photography, but it did give us a stronger hint at what may be the winner on Oscar night. Ahead of the ceremony, we have a new video compilation that honors all the past winners in the category at the Academy Awards
Created by Burger Fiction, it spans the stunning silent landmark Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans all the way up to the end of Emmanuel Lubezki‘s three-peat win for The Revenant. Aside from the advancements in color and aspect ration, it’s a thrill to see some of cinema’s most iconic shots side-by-side. However, the best way to experience the evolution of the craft is by...
Created by Burger Fiction, it spans the stunning silent landmark Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans all the way up to the end of Emmanuel Lubezki‘s three-peat win for The Revenant. Aside from the advancements in color and aspect ration, it’s a thrill to see some of cinema’s most iconic shots side-by-side. However, the best way to experience the evolution of the craft is by...
- 2/6/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
(l-r) Luke Bracey with Mel Gibson. (Photo credit: Mark Rogers).
It was third time lucky when Mel Gibson signed on to Hacksaw Ridge in 2014, having been offered the film by producer Bill Mechanic twice before.
.I approached Mel in 2002, in 2010, and then again in 2014, which is the first time he said yes,. says Mechanic..
.He's the only one I approached twice. I guess in my mind he was always the perfect director for it. I just had to get it in his mind that he was the perfect director for it..
Before his third attempt, Mechanic brought on Randall Wallace, who wrote Braveheart, to take a pass at the script.
.Randall's changes were not earth shattering,. says Mechanic. .He won't be credited in the final screenplay. But I think it might have made it more appealing to Mel to read [that] Randy was working on it..
The WWII action drama is...
It was third time lucky when Mel Gibson signed on to Hacksaw Ridge in 2014, having been offered the film by producer Bill Mechanic twice before.
.I approached Mel in 2002, in 2010, and then again in 2014, which is the first time he said yes,. says Mechanic..
.He's the only one I approached twice. I guess in my mind he was always the perfect director for it. I just had to get it in his mind that he was the perfect director for it..
Before his third attempt, Mechanic brought on Randall Wallace, who wrote Braveheart, to take a pass at the script.
.Randall's changes were not earth shattering,. says Mechanic. .He won't be credited in the final screenplay. But I think it might have made it more appealing to Mel to read [that] Randy was working on it..
The WWII action drama is...
- 1/30/2017
- by Harry Windsor
- IF.com.au
An Australian melodrama is lifted by the work of its cinematographer, John Seale, who would later shoot the first Harry Potter film and Mad Max: Fury Road
The Australian film industry has a long history of grooming world-renowned cinematographers. Any conversation about great homegrown keen eyes – among them Oscar-winners Russell Boyd (Master and Commander), Dion Beebe (Memoirs of a Geisha) and the late Andrew Lesnie (Lord of the Rings) – ought to include veteran John Seale, best known for his Academy Award-winning work shooting The English Patient.
Related: Journey Among Women rewatched – savagery in racy revenge drama
Continue reading...
The Australian film industry has a long history of grooming world-renowned cinematographers. Any conversation about great homegrown keen eyes – among them Oscar-winners Russell Boyd (Master and Commander), Dion Beebe (Memoirs of a Geisha) and the late Andrew Lesnie (Lord of the Rings) – ought to include veteran John Seale, best known for his Academy Award-winning work shooting The English Patient.
Related: Journey Among Women rewatched – savagery in racy revenge drama
Continue reading...
- 12/26/2015
- by Luke Buckmaster
- The Guardian - Film News
John Seale (Mad Max: Fury Road), the late Andrew Lesnie (The Water Diviner) and Benjamin Shirley (The Pack) shared the prize for best cinema feature at the 2015 Nsw/Act annual awards for cinematography.
Seale also collected the Ross Wood senior judges award for 2015 best entry.
The prize for drama or comedy series and telefeature went to Jules O'Loughlin for Black Sails episode 16 and Bruce Young for The Code episode 4.
Steve Arnold ( JFK - Smoking Gun) and Dave Cameron (The Monster of Mangatiti) shared the dramatised documentaries gong.
The awards were presented on Saturday at the Sydney Masonic Centre hosted by Ray Martin, with Gillian Armstrong as guest of honour. The winners from each of the Acs branch awards will compete for national awards in Adelaide next year, where there is a gold tripod award for each category. From those, the Milli Award for Australian cinematographer of the year is selected...
Seale also collected the Ross Wood senior judges award for 2015 best entry.
The prize for drama or comedy series and telefeature went to Jules O'Loughlin for Black Sails episode 16 and Bruce Young for The Code episode 4.
Steve Arnold ( JFK - Smoking Gun) and Dave Cameron (The Monster of Mangatiti) shared the dramatised documentaries gong.
The awards were presented on Saturday at the Sydney Masonic Centre hosted by Ray Martin, with Gillian Armstrong as guest of honour. The winners from each of the Acs branch awards will compete for national awards in Adelaide next year, where there is a gold tripod award for each category. From those, the Milli Award for Australian cinematographer of the year is selected...
- 11/8/2015
- by Staff writer
- IF.com.au
2006 American Society of Cinematographers winners: Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on February 26, 2006. Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases * Dion Beebe, Asc, Acs for Memoirs of a Geisha Robert Elswit, Asc for Good Night and Good Luck. Andrew Lesnie, Asc, Acs for King Kong Wally Pfister, Asc for Batman Begins Rodrigo Prieto, Asc, AMC for Brokeback Mountain Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in TV movie/miniseries/pilot Alan Caso, Asc for Into the West/"Wheel to the Stars" (TNT) Thomas A. Del Ruth, Asc for Code Breakers (Espn) * Robbie Greenberg, Asc for Warm Springs (HBO) Jan Kiesser, Asc, Csc for Reefer Madness (Showtime) Bill Roe, Asc for Faith of My Fathers (A&E) Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Television Series (one episode) John Aronson for "Freefall"/Without a Trace (CBS) * Nathan Hope for "Who Shot Sherlock?"/CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) Jeffrey Jur, Asc for "Los Moscos"/Carnivale (HBO) John C. Newby,...
- 9/4/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Andrew Lesnie was remembered as one of Australia.s finest cinematographers and a warm and generous bloke at a celebration of his life and career on Sunday.
Dozens of collaborators and friends including Sir Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, Cate Blanchett, George Miller, Chris Noonan, Bill Bennett, Craig Monahan, Jack Thompson and Andrew Mason gathered to pay tribute to Lesnie, who died in April after a heart attack, aged 59.
Ray Martin hosted the event, Remembering Andrew, staged by the Australian Cinematographers Society at Event Cinemas Bondi Junction.
Video tributes from Russell Crowe, Bruce Beresford, Martin Freeman, Sir Ian McKellen, Barrie Osborne, Don McAlpine, Richard Roxburgh, Dean Semler and Peter Menzies Jnr, among others, were screened.
Among the clips of his work shown were The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (for which he won an Oscar) and other Jackson-directed films, The Water Diviner, Babe, Healing and Two If By Sea.
Dozens of collaborators and friends including Sir Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, Cate Blanchett, George Miller, Chris Noonan, Bill Bennett, Craig Monahan, Jack Thompson and Andrew Mason gathered to pay tribute to Lesnie, who died in April after a heart attack, aged 59.
Ray Martin hosted the event, Remembering Andrew, staged by the Australian Cinematographers Society at Event Cinemas Bondi Junction.
Video tributes from Russell Crowe, Bruce Beresford, Martin Freeman, Sir Ian McKellen, Barrie Osborne, Don McAlpine, Richard Roxburgh, Dean Semler and Peter Menzies Jnr, among others, were screened.
Among the clips of his work shown were The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (for which he won an Oscar) and other Jackson-directed films, The Water Diviner, Babe, Healing and Two If By Sea.
- 7/12/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Chris Thomson, one of the founding directors of the burgeoning New Zealand film and television industry in the 1960s, died in Sydney after a sudden stroke on July 1. He was 70.
Born in Wellington, Thomson directed the first ever drama to air on New Zealand television, A Game for 5 Players, followed by the series The Alpha Plan.
After relocating to the UK in the early 1970s, he worked as a director with the BBC before returning to Australia to direct acclaimed miniseries 1915, Waterfront and The Last Bastion and the feature films The Empty Beach, The Perfectionist and The Delinquents.
He also directed the first ever episode of A Country Practice in 1981. During his long career he worked closely with some of Australia.s finest performers and crew including Jack Thompson, Jacki Weaver, Bryan Brown, Greta Scacchi, Bill Hunter, Sigrid Thornton, Kylie Minogue, Ray Barrett, Andrew McFarlane, Bill Kerr, Lorraine Bayly, Noni Hazlehurst,...
Born in Wellington, Thomson directed the first ever drama to air on New Zealand television, A Game for 5 Players, followed by the series The Alpha Plan.
After relocating to the UK in the early 1970s, he worked as a director with the BBC before returning to Australia to direct acclaimed miniseries 1915, Waterfront and The Last Bastion and the feature films The Empty Beach, The Perfectionist and The Delinquents.
He also directed the first ever episode of A Country Practice in 1981. During his long career he worked closely with some of Australia.s finest performers and crew including Jack Thompson, Jacki Weaver, Bryan Brown, Greta Scacchi, Bill Hunter, Sigrid Thornton, Kylie Minogue, Ray Barrett, Andrew McFarlane, Bill Kerr, Lorraine Bayly, Noni Hazlehurst,...
- 7/2/2015
- by Matt Day
- IF.com.au
We look back at M Night Shyamalan's much-vilified fantasy movie, and ask if anything could have saved it...
“The Last Airbender is an agonizing experience in every category I can think of and others still waiting to be invented.”
So began Roger Ebert's review of The Last Airbender. It sounds harsh, but Ebert's half-star verdict was fairly representative of the tidal wave of criticism that engulfed director M. Night Shyamalan's most expensive and, ultimately, most derided film yet.
But unlike other misfires from Shyamalan, this wasn't based on his own original idea. It was the first of a planned trilogy based on the beloved Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender, which was hugely acclaimed for its visual sense, engrossing storytelling and lively, vibrant characters. What went wrong? It's almost harder to try and figure out what, if anything, went right.
The series, created by Michael Dante Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko,...
“The Last Airbender is an agonizing experience in every category I can think of and others still waiting to be invented.”
So began Roger Ebert's review of The Last Airbender. It sounds harsh, but Ebert's half-star verdict was fairly representative of the tidal wave of criticism that engulfed director M. Night Shyamalan's most expensive and, ultimately, most derided film yet.
But unlike other misfires from Shyamalan, this wasn't based on his own original idea. It was the first of a planned trilogy based on the beloved Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender, which was hugely acclaimed for its visual sense, engrossing storytelling and lively, vibrant characters. What went wrong? It's almost harder to try and figure out what, if anything, went right.
The series, created by Michael Dante Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko,...
- 6/7/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
In The Fellowship of the Ring, there is a moment prior to Bilbo’s birthday party and disappearance when he tries to justify his imminent departure to Gandalf. “I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread,” he muses. Naturally, when Peter Jackson turned his attentions to adapting J.R.R. Tolkien's other masterwork, The Hobbit, and announced that one novel would be fleshed out further and turned into an entire trilogy of movies, people turned around and thrust Bilbo’s words back at the filmmaker. “I feel thin, sort of stretched, like one novel adapted into three movies,” they joked. Well, the third movie is finally here, and while as entertaining and aesthetically pleasing as one might expect from Jackson and his talented team (including recently deceased cinematographer Andrew Lesnie), it does indeed suffer from that long-predicted flaw: it feels very stretched.
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- 5/26/2015
- by Lee Jutton
- JustPressPlay.net
Three hobbits and an elf walk into a bar… The Lord of the Rings cast have had a mini reunion.
Dominic Monaghan, who played Merry in Peter Jackson's film series, posted a picture of himself with Billy Boyd (Pippin), Elijah Wood (Frodo) and Orlando Bloom (Legolas) to Twitter earlier today (May 13).
3 hobbits and an elf spent a few hours laughing. Precious moments. My precious moments. #Lotr #becurious pic.twitter.com/waCipbmAlX
— Dominic Monaghan (@DomsWildThings) May 13, 2015
He added the caption: "3 hobbits and an elf spent a few hours laughing. Precious moments. My precious moments. #Lotr"
Since Lord of the Rings, Monaghan has starred in the likes of Lost and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Bloom recently revisited his role as Legolas for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
Lord of the Rings cinematographer Andrew Lesnie tragically passed away at the age of 59 recently.
Dominic Monaghan, who played Merry in Peter Jackson's film series, posted a picture of himself with Billy Boyd (Pippin), Elijah Wood (Frodo) and Orlando Bloom (Legolas) to Twitter earlier today (May 13).
3 hobbits and an elf spent a few hours laughing. Precious moments. My precious moments. #Lotr #becurious pic.twitter.com/waCipbmAlX
— Dominic Monaghan (@DomsWildThings) May 13, 2015
He added the caption: "3 hobbits and an elf spent a few hours laughing. Precious moments. My precious moments. #Lotr"
Since Lord of the Rings, Monaghan has starred in the likes of Lost and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Bloom recently revisited his role as Legolas for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
Lord of the Rings cinematographer Andrew Lesnie tragically passed away at the age of 59 recently.
- 5/13/2015
- Digital Spy
Jennifer Kent has won Best Direction in a Feature Film for The Babadook at the 2015 Australian Directors Guild Awards, held in Melbourne on Friday night.
The Awards celebrate the outstanding work of Australian screen directors over the past year, across 15 categories including film, television , Tvc and content created for the internet.
Other winners included Tony Krawitz for Best Direction in a TV Mini Series for episode five of Devil.s Playground and Matthew Saville for Best Direction in a TV Comedy for Please Like Me.
The ceremony, ordinarily held in Sydney, switched it up this year and took place at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.
Hosted by The Chaser.s Chris Taylor, the event honoured the 30th anniversary of Neighbours, with long-serving cast members Jackie Woodburne and Alan Fletcher in attendance along with Ariel Kaplan and Harley Bonner.
This year, the Adg presented both the Michael Carson Award and the Adg/DGA Finders Award.
The Awards celebrate the outstanding work of Australian screen directors over the past year, across 15 categories including film, television , Tvc and content created for the internet.
Other winners included Tony Krawitz for Best Direction in a TV Mini Series for episode five of Devil.s Playground and Matthew Saville for Best Direction in a TV Comedy for Please Like Me.
The ceremony, ordinarily held in Sydney, switched it up this year and took place at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.
Hosted by The Chaser.s Chris Taylor, the event honoured the 30th anniversary of Neighbours, with long-serving cast members Jackie Woodburne and Alan Fletcher in attendance along with Ariel Kaplan and Harley Bonner.
This year, the Adg presented both the Michael Carson Award and the Adg/DGA Finders Award.
- 5/11/2015
- by Emily Blatchford
- IF.com.au
The Railway Man.s Garry Phillips won the Gold Tripod for best feature at the Australian Cinematographers Society (Acs) national awards, an event dedicated to the memory of Andrew Lesnie. Phillips also got the Acs.s highest honour, the Milli Award, for which all Golden Tripod recipients were eligible.
Ben Nott received an award of distinction in the feature category for Predestination. Adam Arkapaw.s True Detectives episode 4 was feted for best telefeature, miniseries, TV drama or comedy, and Andrew Commis got the award. of distinction for Devil's Playground. Best dramatised documentary was Jim Frater.s The War That Changed Us episode 1. Joel Lawrence won the best international news award for Tsunami Anniversary. The audience at the awards, which were presented on Saturday night at Moma, stood for a minute's silence for Oscar-winner Lesnie, 59, who died last Monday. . National president Ron Johanson said, .We need to acknowledge the love and...
Ben Nott received an award of distinction in the feature category for Predestination. Adam Arkapaw.s True Detectives episode 4 was feted for best telefeature, miniseries, TV drama or comedy, and Andrew Commis got the award. of distinction for Devil's Playground. Best dramatised documentary was Jim Frater.s The War That Changed Us episode 1. Joel Lawrence won the best international news award for Tsunami Anniversary. The audience at the awards, which were presented on Saturday night at Moma, stood for a minute's silence for Oscar-winner Lesnie, 59, who died last Monday. . National president Ron Johanson said, .We need to acknowledge the love and...
- 5/3/2015
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
This week saw a number of sad losses in the entertainment industry. The singers of both “Louie Louie” and “Stand by Me” passed away this week, as well as Oscar-nominated screenwriter Don Mankiewicz, who was nominated for I Want to Live! Mankiewicz was the son of Herman J. Mankiewicz (Citizen Kane) and the nephew of Joseph L. Mankiewicz (All About Eve), and the father of John Mankiewicz (House of Cards). He was 93.
But perhaps most shocking was the loss of cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, who died suddenly this week at just 59 years old. Lesnie won an Oscar for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and he subsequently filmed all five of the remaining Lotr films and Peter Jackson’s King Kong and The Lovely Bones. Some of his more interesting credits are his work on Babe and Babe: Pig in the City. Lesnie’s last film however...
But perhaps most shocking was the loss of cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, who died suddenly this week at just 59 years old. Lesnie won an Oscar for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and he subsequently filmed all five of the remaining Lotr films and Peter Jackson’s King Kong and The Lovely Bones. Some of his more interesting credits are his work on Babe and Babe: Pig in the City. Lesnie’s last film however...
- 5/1/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
When Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy concluded last year, one thing above all that could be said for the three movies is they're absolutely gorgeous. That was a consistent exemption applied to Jackson's work over the past decade, actually. Whatever you think overall of King Kong, The Lovely Bones or that second Tolkien set, you have to admit they all feature extraordinary visuals. We have Australian cinematographer Andrew Lesnie to thank for those prevailing images, the specific likes of which we will sadly never see again. Yesterday, Lesnie died suddenly of a heart attack. While best known for his collaborations with Jackson, particularly his Oscar-winning work on The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the...
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- 4/29/2015
- by Christopher Campbell
- Movies.com
Academy Award-winning cinematographer Andrew Lesnie has died at the age of 59. Leslie was the cinematographer for Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, for which he won his first and only Oscar in 2002. He afterwards continued to shoot for Jackson, lensing "King Kong," The Lovely Bones" and "The Hobbit" trilogy. "Andrew Lesnie and Peter Jackson would giggle behind the camera together like the most mischievous pair of movie masters that I've seen," said film critic Harry Knowles, who visited the set of "The Lord of the Rings." Jackson's New Zealand production house, Weta Digital, posted their condolences on Facebook: "Our memories of Andrew will always be of a wonderful and caring person who looked out for the technicians around him, was keen to have a good laugh and keep everyone jollied along, even when things were at the most stressful for everyone." Ron Johanson, president of the Cinematographers Society in.
- 4/28/2015
- by Casey Cipriani
- Indiewire
If the name Andrew Lesnie doesn't ring a bell, his work will. He's the Academy Award-winning cinematographer behind all six Lord of the Rings films, as well as Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones and King Kong remake. He also served as the D.P. on I Am Legend and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and unfortunately he passed away Monday following a serious heart attack. He was 59. As announced by Australian Cinematographers Society, Lesnie's death comes after the cinematographer suffered from a heart condition for over the last six months. In addition to their announced plans to celebrate Lesnie's work during their 2015 Acs National Awards for Cinematography in Hobart this weekend, they had the following to say: Words cannot express the absolute feeling of loss, particularly for his immediate family. Andrew gave us many personal cinema moments, moments that will live with us forever, and yet he...
- 4/28/2015
- by Will Ashton
- Rope of Silicon
Oscar-winner, who worked with Peter Jackson on the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, most recently collaborated with Russell Crowe on The Water Diviner.
The unexpected death of Australian cinematographer Andrew Lesnie has sparked an outpouring of touching sentiment about his skills behind the camera, his huge contribution to his own and New Zealand cinema and also, from those who knew him, his decency and goodwill.
“After 17 years and eight movies together, the loss of Andrew is very hard to bear,” said Peter Jackson in a Facebook post this evening. He described him as “one of the great cinematographers of our time” and “an irreplaceable part of my family” who “always had my back”.
Jackson sought him out for the fantasy/adventure The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring because of the quality of his work on the Australian fairytale Babe. The New Zealand-based collaboration earned Lesnie the 2002 Academy Award for his cinematography...
The unexpected death of Australian cinematographer Andrew Lesnie has sparked an outpouring of touching sentiment about his skills behind the camera, his huge contribution to his own and New Zealand cinema and also, from those who knew him, his decency and goodwill.
“After 17 years and eight movies together, the loss of Andrew is very hard to bear,” said Peter Jackson in a Facebook post this evening. He described him as “one of the great cinematographers of our time” and “an irreplaceable part of my family” who “always had my back”.
Jackson sought him out for the fantasy/adventure The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring because of the quality of his work on the Australian fairytale Babe. The New Zealand-based collaboration earned Lesnie the 2002 Academy Award for his cinematography...
- 4/28/2015
- by Sandy.George@me.com (Sandy George)
- ScreenDaily
David Simon, creator of The Wire, has spent the night engaged in an online conversation about Baltimore. Also in today's roundup: Tilda Swinton and Chuck Close in conversation, Jonathan Rosenbaum on Mark Rappaport, David Bordwell on David Koepp, Harun Farocki on Michael Klier, interviews with Lech Majewski, Roy Andersson, Daniel Clowes and Ennio Morricone, essays on Georges Franju's Eyes Without a Face, Laura Mulvey, Orson Welles and Citizen Kane and John Schlesinger’s Darling, remembering cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, plus news of an unseen film by Manoel de Oliveira and more. » - David Hudson...
- 4/28/2015
- Keyframe
David Simon, creator of The Wire, has spent the night engaged in an online conversation about Baltimore. Also in today's roundup: Tilda Swinton and Chuck Close in conversation, Jonathan Rosenbaum on Mark Rappaport, David Bordwell on David Koepp, Harun Farocki on Michael Klier, interviews with Lech Majewski, Roy Andersson, Daniel Clowes and Ennio Morricone, essays on Georges Franju's Eyes Without a Face, Laura Mulvey, Orson Welles and Citizen Kane and John Schlesinger’s Darling, remembering cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, plus news of an unseen film by Manoel de Oliveira and more. » - David Hudson...
- 4/28/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
Sad news to report. Academy Award winning cinematographer Andrew Lesnie passed away suddenly, and has died at the age of 59. Born in Sydney, Australia, Lesnie went on to work closely with Peter Jackson as his Director of Photography on the three Lord of the Rings movies. He also went on to work on King Kong and The Hobbit trilogy, as well as I Am Legend, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Last Airbender and Russell Crowe's The Water Diviner most recently. He won the Oscar for Return of the King back in 2002. Lesnie was a beloved member of this industry, with many speaking out about him through social media (including even Ian McKellen as seen below). Details are not yet available about his death; he was only 59 years old. Here's a few of the tweets collected from Ian McKellen, Russell Crowe, James Wan + Eric Vespe on Lesnie:...
- 4/28/2015
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Andrew Lesnie, the Oscar-winning cinematography behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy and a longtime collaborator of director Peter Jackson, died Monday. A native of Sydney, Australia, Lesnie was said to have died from a heart attack. He was 59. A spokesman for the Australian Cinematographers Society, which inducted Lesnie into their Hall of Fame back in 2002, released a brief statement saying they’ve been "advised of the sudden death of Andrew." Lesnie’s family is said to make a statement, potentially later today. Hollywood is devastated by the news. According to News.com.au, members of Weta, Jackson’s special effects company, are said to be in mourning, while some of Lesnie’s co-workers have responded on Twitter. Russell Crowe, who worked with Lesnie on his directorial debut, The Water Diviner, called Lesnie "the master of the light," while Fantastic Four ...
- 4/28/2015
- cinemablend.com
Andrew Lesnie was a peerless talent. He died yesterday, leaving behind a legacy of gorgeous, epic cinematography.
"10 Phenomenal Shots From Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie" was originally published on Film School Rejects for our wonderful readers to enjoy. It is not intended to be reproduced on other websites. If you aren't reading this in your favorite RSS reader or on Film School Rejects, you're being bamboozled. We hope you'll come find us and enjoy the best articles about movies, television and culture right from the source.
"10 Phenomenal Shots From Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie" was originally published on Film School Rejects for our wonderful readers to enjoy. It is not intended to be reproduced on other websites. If you aren't reading this in your favorite RSS reader or on Film School Rejects, you're being bamboozled. We hope you'll come find us and enjoy the best articles about movies, television and culture right from the source.
- 4/28/2015
- by Scott Beggs
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Andrew Lesnie, the cinematographer on all six of Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings and Hobbit movies and an Oscar winner in 2002 for the seminal franchise kickoff The Fellowship Of The Ring, died Monday. He was 59. The Australian Cinematographers Society confirmed “the sudden death of Andrew,” according to Australian news outlets. The Aussie-born Dp’s most recent film was Russell Crowe’s directorial debut The Water Diviner, which debuted in the U.S. in a platform release…...
- 4/28/2015
- Deadline
Oscar-winning cinematographer Andrew Lesnie has died. The renowned Hobbit and Lord Of The Rings veteran was 59.According to reports, the Sydneysider suffered a heart attack on Monday. “We have been advised of the sudden death of Andrew,” said a spokesman from the Australian Cinematographers Society, adding that the family would issue an official statement in due course.Born in New South Wales in 1956, two decades before the emergence of the Australian film industry, Lesnie studied film and television in his home city before launching his career with a gig as camera assistant at the ABC, Australia’s equivalent of the BBC. From there he would go on to refine his skills across a variety of media, taking in short films, music videos, docs and commercials work.But it will be for his work on feature films that Lesnie will be best remembered, and specifically his work with Peter Jackson across his two Middle-earth trilogies.
- 4/28/2015
- EmpireOnline
Lord of the Rings cinematographer Andrew Lesnie has tragically passed away at the age of 59.
The Oscar winner died suddenly from a heart attack on Monday (April 27), according to a statement from the Australian Cinematographers Society.
Lesnie worked closely with Peter Jackson to bring Middle-earth to life across both the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. He won an Academy Award in 2002 for his work on The Fellowship of the Ring.
Lesnie also shot Jackson's The Lovely Bones and King Kong, along with blockbusters I Am Legend and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
His final film was Russell Crowe's directorial debut The Water Diviner. Crowe took to Twitter after news of Lesnie's passing broke to pay tribute to "the master of light".
Devastating news from home. The master of the light, genius Andrew Lesnie has passed on .
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) April 28, 2015
Lesnie also had a...
The Oscar winner died suddenly from a heart attack on Monday (April 27), according to a statement from the Australian Cinematographers Society.
Lesnie worked closely with Peter Jackson to bring Middle-earth to life across both the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. He won an Academy Award in 2002 for his work on The Fellowship of the Ring.
Lesnie also shot Jackson's The Lovely Bones and King Kong, along with blockbusters I Am Legend and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
His final film was Russell Crowe's directorial debut The Water Diviner. Crowe took to Twitter after news of Lesnie's passing broke to pay tribute to "the master of light".
Devastating news from home. The master of the light, genius Andrew Lesnie has passed on .
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) April 28, 2015
Lesnie also had a...
- 4/28/2015
- Digital Spy
The Australian Cinematographers Society will dedicate its annual awards to be handed out in Hobart on Saturday to one of its most esteemed members, Andrew Lesnie, who died on Monday.
Acs president Ron Johanson spoke for many when he told If today, .Andrew was one of our greatest cinematographers. It.s a huge loss. He leaves such a void..
Lesnie, who was 59, had been suffering from heart problems.. He won an Oscar for Best Cinematography in 2002 for Peter Jackson.s Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring and a BAFTA award in 2004 for Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
He shot The Hobbit trilogy and Jackson's King Kong and The Lovely Bones, a collaboration which spanned eight movies and 17 years.
On his Facebook page Jackson wrote, "Andrew created unforgettable, beautiful images on screen, and he did this time and again, because he only ever served what he...
Acs president Ron Johanson spoke for many when he told If today, .Andrew was one of our greatest cinematographers. It.s a huge loss. He leaves such a void..
Lesnie, who was 59, had been suffering from heart problems.. He won an Oscar for Best Cinematography in 2002 for Peter Jackson.s Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring and a BAFTA award in 2004 for Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
He shot The Hobbit trilogy and Jackson's King Kong and The Lovely Bones, a collaboration which spanned eight movies and 17 years.
On his Facebook page Jackson wrote, "Andrew created unforgettable, beautiful images on screen, and he did this time and again, because he only ever served what he...
- 4/28/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Oscar-winning Australian cinematographer Andrew Lesnie has died of a heart attack at age 59. Lesnie was Peter Jackson’s collaborator for fifteen years, and therefore has a significant authorship of the director’s exploration of Middle-Earth, in addition to his many other achievements. The Australian Cinematographers Society released a brief statement saying “We have been advised of the sudden death […]
The post ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie Has Died at 59 appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie Has Died at 59 appeared first on /Film.
- 4/28/2015
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
Andrew Lesnie, the cinematographer for “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, died on Monday after suffering a fatal heart attack. He was 59. The filmmaker from Sydney, Australia, won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on Peter Jackson‘s “The Fellowship Of The Ring” in 2002. A spokesman from the Australian Cinematographers Society said “we have been advised of the sudden death of Andrew” and that his family would make an official statement at a later time, according to News.Com.Au. Also Read: 'The Water Diviner' Review: Russell Crowe's Directorial Debut Isn't Just Another Vanity...
- 4/28/2015
- by Debbie Emery
- The Wrap
Andrew Lesnie, the Oscar-winning cinematographer who spent more than a decade collaborating with director Peter Jackson on the six Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, has died. He was 59. The Sydney native, who also worked with New Zealander Jackson on the remake of King Kong (2005) and The Lovely Bones (2009), suffered a heart attack Monday. Said a spokesman from the Australian Cinematographers Society: “We have been advised of the sudden death of Andrew,” adding that his family would provide an official statement later. Known for balancing technology with artistic considerations, Lesnie also shot Rise of
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- 4/28/2015
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Andrew Lesnie, the Oscar-winning cinematographer of the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" franchises, has reportedly died of a heart attack. He was 59. Initial reports surfaced late Monday night on Twitter and Ain't It Cool News' Eric Vespe confirmed the reports soon after. Lesnie's family is expected to make an official statement at a later time. Devastating news from home. The master of the light, genius Andrew Lesnie has passed on . — Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) April 28, 2015 Lesnie received his Academy Award for "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" in 2002, a towering achievement that represented a visionary new direction for epic filmmaking, courtesy of director Peter Jackson. He was then inexplicably passed over for nominations for "The Two Towers" and particularly the 11-Oscar sweeper "The Return of the King," each of them no less stunning (and indeed, part of an organic whole). Lesnie was behind the camera on...
- 4/28/2015
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
Beloved cinematographer Andrew Lesnie has died suddenly from a suspected heart attack at age 59.
Just as much as Peter Jackson, Lesnie was the man responsible for the look of "the Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" films, having worked as director of photography on all six movies in the two trilogies.
Leslie served as Dp on over forty films and series including "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," 2005's "King Kong," "I Am Legend," "The Lovely Bones," both "Babe" films, "The Last Airbender," "The Delinquents," "Spider & Rode," "Two if by Sea," "Doing Time for Patsy Cline," "Bran Nue Dae".
His most recent and now final film was Russell Crowe's "The Water Diviner" which is currently in cinemas in the United States.
Source: ABC Online...
Just as much as Peter Jackson, Lesnie was the man responsible for the look of "the Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" films, having worked as director of photography on all six movies in the two trilogies.
Leslie served as Dp on over forty films and series including "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," 2005's "King Kong," "I Am Legend," "The Lovely Bones," both "Babe" films, "The Last Airbender," "The Delinquents," "Spider & Rode," "Two if by Sea," "Doing Time for Patsy Cline," "Bran Nue Dae".
His most recent and now final film was Russell Crowe's "The Water Diviner" which is currently in cinemas in the United States.
Source: ABC Online...
- 4/28/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Turkey Dressing: Crowe’s Well-Intentioned Debut Ultimately Mundane
In the comparable tradition of Mel Gibson and Kevin Costner, actor Russell Crowe makes a big budget, historically relevant directorial debut with The Water Diviner, a World War I Australian drama. As penned by Andrew Knight and Andrew Anastasios, both writers accustomed to writing almost exclusively for television, the film’s significance is straightjacketed into a garden variety of manipulative clichés, replete with an unnecessary and oddly provoked romance that ends an otherwise workmanlike tale of woe on a sour note.
Beginning in 1919 Australia, well-digger Joshua Connor (Crowe) lives alone with his wife (Jacqueline McKenzie), using his powers of water divining (basically a concept where a stick or similar apparatus is used to steer a user toward a water source—often called water witching) to continue their idyllic farm. All is not well with the Connor’s, as he comes home to...
In the comparable tradition of Mel Gibson and Kevin Costner, actor Russell Crowe makes a big budget, historically relevant directorial debut with The Water Diviner, a World War I Australian drama. As penned by Andrew Knight and Andrew Anastasios, both writers accustomed to writing almost exclusively for television, the film’s significance is straightjacketed into a garden variety of manipulative clichés, replete with an unnecessary and oddly provoked romance that ends an otherwise workmanlike tale of woe on a sour note.
Beginning in 1919 Australia, well-digger Joshua Connor (Crowe) lives alone with his wife (Jacqueline McKenzie), using his powers of water divining (basically a concept where a stick or similar apparatus is used to steer a user toward a water source—often called water witching) to continue their idyllic farm. All is not well with the Connor’s, as he comes home to...
- 4/24/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Having worked with the likes of Ridley Scott, Ron Howard, Peter Weir, Michael Mann, and Darren Aronofsky, I would venture to say Russell Crowe may have picked up one or two directing secrets over the years. The Water Diviner shows us what the Aussie actor may have learned from some of these cinematic legends. Immediately visible are traces of Ridley Scott’s wide scope as well as Ron Howard’s knack for schmaltz. In his directorial debut, Crowe feels assured in his presentation of a heartfelt historical drama, but this confidence can’t make up for a story that feels a little tired and a presentation that leans towards superfluous melodrama.
Australian farmer Joshua Connor (Russell Crowe) travels to Turkey four years after the Battle of Gallipoli to look for his three missing sons whom are presumed dead. World War I may have ended but other obstacles still stand in...
Australian farmer Joshua Connor (Russell Crowe) travels to Turkey four years after the Battle of Gallipoli to look for his three missing sons whom are presumed dead. World War I may have ended but other obstacles still stand in...
- 4/23/2015
- by Michael Haffner
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Once upon a time, to cast Russell Crowe in a film was to immediately give the project a pedigree. He gave undeniable gravitas to period pieces like Cinderella Man and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, just a few years after getting three straight Best Actor Oscar nominations (and one win, for Gladiator). In the last few years, however, he has become a kind of Hollywood punching bag, mainly for his emotionless turn as Jor-El in Man of Steel and his fruitless attempt at playing Javert in Les Misérables. (His howlingly inept turn in Winter’s Tale is a footnote, since very few had the misfortune of seeing that abysmal drama.)
In a bit of good news, Crowe’s feature directorial debut, The Water Diviner, is a step in the right direction – even if it is a largely hit-and-miss affair. One can clearly see the influence of Crowe’s collaborators,...
In a bit of good news, Crowe’s feature directorial debut, The Water Diviner, is a step in the right direction – even if it is a largely hit-and-miss affair. One can clearly see the influence of Crowe’s collaborators,...
- 4/23/2015
- by Jordan Adler
- We Got This Covered
The Water Diviner
Written by Andrew Knight & Andrew Anastasios
Directed by Russell Crowe
Australia/Turkey/USA, 2014
Russell Crowe comes out swinging with his directorial debut, the ambitious wartime melodrama, The Water Diviner. While there’s no denying the clarity of his artistic vision, the unwieldy story eventually overwhelms him. The stunning visuals and strong performances can’t overcome the film’s mismatched halves, which ping between brooding character study and simplistic actioner. Ultimately, there’s much to like about this promising debut, but it lacks the emotional wallop that Crowe intended.
Struggling to survive the Australian dustbowl of 1919, Connor (Crowe) is a humble farmer who wanders the vast desert searching for unseen pockets of water buried beneath the surface. He’s remarkably adept at this ancient, some would say mystical art. What he truly seeks, however, continues to elude him; the final resting place of his three sons. The three boys,...
Written by Andrew Knight & Andrew Anastasios
Directed by Russell Crowe
Australia/Turkey/USA, 2014
Russell Crowe comes out swinging with his directorial debut, the ambitious wartime melodrama, The Water Diviner. While there’s no denying the clarity of his artistic vision, the unwieldy story eventually overwhelms him. The stunning visuals and strong performances can’t overcome the film’s mismatched halves, which ping between brooding character study and simplistic actioner. Ultimately, there’s much to like about this promising debut, but it lacks the emotional wallop that Crowe intended.
Struggling to survive the Australian dustbowl of 1919, Connor (Crowe) is a humble farmer who wanders the vast desert searching for unseen pockets of water buried beneath the surface. He’s remarkably adept at this ancient, some would say mystical art. What he truly seeks, however, continues to elude him; the final resting place of his three sons. The three boys,...
- 4/23/2015
- by J.R. Kinnard
- SoundOnSight
At least Russell Crowe is self-aware.
"It won't come as any surprise to you, but I'm completely comfortable when all the creative decisions are mine," says Crowe.
The Oscar-winning actor stepped behind the camera for the first time with The Water Diviner, a classically made epic about a father (Crowe) who travels from the Australian outback to Istanbul in search of the bodies of his three sons, who were killed at the Battle of Gallipoli. The story is at once an adventure tale, a drama, and a romance.
Inspired by Australian cinema's golden age directors like Peter Weir, Gillian Armstrong and Phillip Noyce, Crowe and his cinematographer, Oscar-winner Andrew Lesnie (The Lord of the Rings), weave together an intricate tapestry of striking visuals to both recreate the war and its aftermath.
Crowe talked with The Associated Press in Los Angeles recently about his foray into directing. The remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.
"It won't come as any surprise to you, but I'm completely comfortable when all the creative decisions are mine," says Crowe.
The Oscar-winning actor stepped behind the camera for the first time with The Water Diviner, a classically made epic about a father (Crowe) who travels from the Australian outback to Istanbul in search of the bodies of his three sons, who were killed at the Battle of Gallipoli. The story is at once an adventure tale, a drama, and a romance.
Inspired by Australian cinema's golden age directors like Peter Weir, Gillian Armstrong and Phillip Noyce, Crowe and his cinematographer, Oscar-winner Andrew Lesnie (The Lord of the Rings), weave together an intricate tapestry of striking visuals to both recreate the war and its aftermath.
Crowe talked with The Associated Press in Los Angeles recently about his foray into directing. The remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.
- 4/23/2015
- by Cineplex.com and contributors
- Cineplex
The immediate draw to The Water Diviner is to settle in for Russell Crowe's directorial debut. From the outside the story doesn't exactly inspire a "must see" attitude and, to be entirely honest, the film itself is passably mediocre. Not a great time at the movies, not a bad time, but simply a time. Crowe seems to be experimenting at times with his camerawork and a couple of curious zoom in close-ups caught me a little off-guard, but it's a good start with some of the editorial decisions seeming more defensive than anything else, attempting to ensure he had all his ducks in a row rather than getting too experimental with the overall final cut. On top of directing, Crowe also stars as the film's main character, Joshua Connor, an Australian farmer whose world is torn apart following the end of the Battle of Gallipoli. Four years after his three sons died in battle,...
- 4/22/2015
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Wamg has your free passes to the advance screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ The Water Diviner.
Academy Award winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator) makes his directorial debut on The Water Diviner, an epic and inspiring tale of one man’s life-changing journey of discovery.
Crowe also stars in the film as Australian farmer Joshua Connor, who, in 1919, goes in search of his three missing sons, last known to have fought against the Turks in the bloody Battle of Gallipoli. Arriving in Istanbul, he is thrust into a vastly different world, where he encounters others who have suffered their own losses in the conflict: Ayshe (Olga Kurylenko), a strikingly beautiful but guarded hotelier raising a child alone; her young, spirited son, Orhan (Dylan Georgiades), who finds a friend in Connor; and Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdoğan), a Turkish officer who fought against Connor’s boys and who may be this father’s only hope.
Academy Award winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator) makes his directorial debut on The Water Diviner, an epic and inspiring tale of one man’s life-changing journey of discovery.
Crowe also stars in the film as Australian farmer Joshua Connor, who, in 1919, goes in search of his three missing sons, last known to have fought against the Turks in the bloody Battle of Gallipoli. Arriving in Istanbul, he is thrust into a vastly different world, where he encounters others who have suffered their own losses in the conflict: Ayshe (Olga Kurylenko), a strikingly beautiful but guarded hotelier raising a child alone; her young, spirited son, Orhan (Dylan Georgiades), who finds a friend in Connor; and Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdoğan), a Turkish officer who fought against Connor’s boys and who may be this father’s only hope.
- 4/13/2015
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Russell Crowe's The Water Diviner is in the running for nine awards from the Film Critics Circle of Australia.
The Babadook and Predestination each scored eight nominations for the awards which will be presented on Tuesday 10 March in Sydney.
There are five nominations apiece for Charlie.s Country, Felony, The Rover and Tracks. Some 12 films released in calendar 2014 got nods.
Up for best film are The Babadook (producers Kristina Ceyton and Kristian Moliere), Charlie.s Country (Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr and Nils Erik Nielsen), Predestination (Paddy McDonald, Tim McGahan and Michael Spierig), Tracks (Iain Canning, Emile Sherman) and The Water Diviner ( Troy Lum, Andrew Mason and Keith Rodger).
Unlike the Aacta Awards, Crowe was nominated for best director alongside John Curran, de Heer, Jennifer Kent and the Spierig brothers.
Fcca president and ABC Radio host Rod Quinn said, .This year.s nominees show the diversity of the Australian...
The Babadook and Predestination each scored eight nominations for the awards which will be presented on Tuesday 10 March in Sydney.
There are five nominations apiece for Charlie.s Country, Felony, The Rover and Tracks. Some 12 films released in calendar 2014 got nods.
Up for best film are The Babadook (producers Kristina Ceyton and Kristian Moliere), Charlie.s Country (Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr and Nils Erik Nielsen), Predestination (Paddy McDonald, Tim McGahan and Michael Spierig), Tracks (Iain Canning, Emile Sherman) and The Water Diviner ( Troy Lum, Andrew Mason and Keith Rodger).
Unlike the Aacta Awards, Crowe was nominated for best director alongside John Curran, de Heer, Jennifer Kent and the Spierig brothers.
Fcca president and ABC Radio host Rod Quinn said, .This year.s nominees show the diversity of the Australian...
- 2/4/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Wellington, Nz. Perhaps it's the blustery winterish weather outside and the relative warmth and stillness inside the vast, canvas-covered tent/structure that give Sir Ian McKellen comfort. Maybe it's the lure of craft services dessert that give him cause to stay. Or maybe the venerable thespian is just in an introspective mood. Whatever the cause, as wind howls outside and various members of the "Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" crew scurry in and out of the door, accompanied by chilly gusts and intruding drizzle, McKellen holds court with a small group of reporters for nearly 45 minutes. Some of that time is spent on The State of Gandalf and the events that may or may not be on-tap for the third installment of Peter Jackson's second Tolkien-based trilogy, but far more of the interview is dedicated to deep reflection, delivered in the same authoritative and sonorous tone...
- 11/24/2014
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
As the Studio has done in the past with such epic film series as “Harry Potter” and “The Dark Knight,” Warner Bros. Pictures, in conjunction with New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), is once again treating über-fans to a movie marathon, this time in celebration of the highly anticipated finale of Peter Jackson’s blockbuster “The Hobbit” Trilogy.
On Marathon Monday, December 15—two days prior to the third and final film’s theatrical release—moviegoers in select theaters across North America can experience Middle-earth one last time, beginning with “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” followed by “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” and, a full 24 hours prior to its theatrical release, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.”
Tickets for Marathon Monday go on sale Friday, November 14 at 12:00 p.m. Est / 9:00 a.m. Pst, the same date and time as tickets for opening day of “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies...
On Marathon Monday, December 15—two days prior to the third and final film’s theatrical release—moviegoers in select theaters across North America can experience Middle-earth one last time, beginning with “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” followed by “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” and, a full 24 hours prior to its theatrical release, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.”
Tickets for Marathon Monday go on sale Friday, November 14 at 12:00 p.m. Est / 9:00 a.m. Pst, the same date and time as tickets for opening day of “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies...
- 11/14/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Warner Bros. Pictures has announced that it has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Academy Award winner Russell Crowe’s (“Gladiator”) directorial debut, from RatPac Entertainment, The Water Diviner, which the Studio will release in select U.S. theaters on April 24, 2015.
Starring Russell Crowe (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind) and Olga Kurylenko (Oblivion, Quantum Of Solace), The Water Diviner is an epic adventure set four years after the devastating battle of Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.
Australian farmer Connor (Crowe) travels to Istanbul to discover the fate of his sons, reported missing in the action, where he forges a relationship with the beautiful Turkish woman (Kurylenko) who owns the hotel in which he stays. Holding on to hope, and with the help of a Turkish Officer, Connor embarks on a journey across the country to find the truth about the fate of his sons. The Water Diviner is an extraordinary tale of love,...
Starring Russell Crowe (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind) and Olga Kurylenko (Oblivion, Quantum Of Solace), The Water Diviner is an epic adventure set four years after the devastating battle of Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.
Australian farmer Connor (Crowe) travels to Istanbul to discover the fate of his sons, reported missing in the action, where he forges a relationship with the beautiful Turkish woman (Kurylenko) who owns the hotel in which he stays. Holding on to hope, and with the help of a Turkish Officer, Connor embarks on a journey across the country to find the truth about the fate of his sons. The Water Diviner is an extraordinary tale of love,...
- 11/9/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Russell Crowe's directorial debut, The Water Diviner, will get a Boxing Day 2014 release in its home territory of Australia, distributor eOne confirmed as it debuted the film's official trailer on Wednesday. The trailer shows the film's broad sweep, with the fabulous Australian and Turkish landscapes shot by Andrew Lesnie (The Hobbit trilogy, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes). It primarily focuses on Crowe, who also stars in the film as Australian farmer Connor. In the film, he journeys from the Australian bush to Istanbul, Turkey, to discover the fate of his two sons, who were believed killed or
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- 10/1/2014
- by Pip Bulbeck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes director Matt Reeves talks about the making and ideas behind his remarkable summer blockbuster...
Interview
Nb: This article contains spoilers for 2011's Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes and mild ones for this year's Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes.
Imagine you're one of the bosses at 20th Century Fox. Then imagine that you have a date set for a sequel to your surprise hit sci-fi sequel, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes. That date is less than two years away, and your current director doesn't think he can have the film ready in time. He promptly departs.
So with the director's chair now absent, who do you give the project to?
The answer: Matt Reeves. When we sat down with him in a London hotel to talk about Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, we could immediately see...
Interview
Nb: This article contains spoilers for 2011's Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes and mild ones for this year's Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes.
Imagine you're one of the bosses at 20th Century Fox. Then imagine that you have a date set for a sequel to your surprise hit sci-fi sequel, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes. That date is less than two years away, and your current director doesn't think he can have the film ready in time. He promptly departs.
So with the director's chair now absent, who do you give the project to?
The answer: Matt Reeves. When we sat down with him in a London hotel to talk about Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, we could immediately see...
- 7/14/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
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