Answer Baz Luhrmann’s question…
Strictly Ballroom is one of those movies that will always remind me of my adolescence. I think my first crush may have been Paul Mercurio in that tight white singlet and floppy hair. And for a young girl with two left feet, it was quite encouraging to see daggy Fran being transformed into a graceful Ballroom dancing champion with a hundred times more flair than her bleached blonde competitors.
Baz Luhrmann was the writer and director of that classic Aussie movie and it was pretty clear he was destined for big things. He went onto film a remake of the Shakespeare’s classic Romeo & Juliet, thrilled us all with the singing dancing fun of Moulin Rouge and put our country on the big screen with Australia.
Now Baz is looking for a new project and wants your help. He’s asked the Answers community:
Check out this video of him asking the question.
Don’t forget to Answer!
Caitlin
Community Manager
Subscribe
Firstly, Baz, congrats on Australia – it was your best film yet, so brilliant!
I’d love to see your take on Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. I think it’s about time some of them had more “modern” films, and with your set and musical background, I’m sure you’d do them justice!
Please tell my Grand Fathers story.
He was a tail gunner in a Lancaster bomber in he RAAF in Europe.
He was shot down over denamrk and was the sole survivor of his plane.
he was found by some locals and hidden away for a month before being captured by the gestapo.
after a year in various prison camps he escaped and was found by brittish soldiers and was sent back to england, however on route to while in the bac of a troop transport truck , a german fighter plane straffed the ruck and was one of only a few surviviors.
I don’t like you directing movies. Moulin Rounge was the most boring first hour of a movie I can ever recall. Best thing is to retire. I’m sure we have good talent in Australia.
The story of the two Queensland brothers who went to New Guinea. One stayed and built and empire and the other returned to Australia. I can’t remember their names but the ABC did a show about them and I think thier story needs to be told in more detail.
Quite simple really….
1. Keep it simple. Ditch the hype and pizzaz!!!!
2. Never use Nicole Kidman again. I realise that she’s a friend of yours but you need to discover a new fresh talent. Nicole is now a box-office liability.
3. Tell a classic Australian yarn that has been ignored, e.g.:
– The Eureka Stockade; or
– a re-take on the Gold Rush era (including Chinese immigrants); or
– do a thriller based on the mythical ‘Yowie’; or
– The pearl trade in Broome; or
– Trugganini, the last Tasmanian aborigine.
In short, get back to story-telling and fight the Hollywood influence to ‘sensationalise’ the story. Do a low-budget film and discover new Australian talent both in front of and behind the cameras.
Re-discover what it was that made you want to make films in the first place.
Hope this helps.
How about a spy called Matahari or Madame Du Barry? They are both almost entirely a creature of their age but totally unlike the “Scarlet Woman” described by some of her malicious contemporaries and later historians. They could be one of us woman with slightly above average beauty and talent, a character that we all could relate. Ordinary women that have extraordinary life not solely because of their physical attributes (though that helps) but because of their extraordinary spirit and strength of character.
Dont make another. Just dont, please.
As long as it has Hugh Jackman in it
What a hunk!!!!!!!!!!!
Baz,
Why not combine tragedy with ultimate success featuring the enrichment and diversity of the Australian culture and its people, especially new arrivals to this country.
The hero would be a Aslyum Seeker washed up on a sandy beach north of Broome in a handmade canoe. His luck in being found alive by a local man who had a love of the sea, people and music and eventually became friend and mentor to this brave young man.
Apart from a natural shyness, the goodlooking twenty year old had a voice that would stop you in your tracks.
The adventure of this man, his foray into the Australian Talent Quest, the people he meets, the friendships he forges.
The final scene brings the house down with his singing talent and the ultimate prize of winning against all odds.
I really loved Strictly Ballroom and Moulin Rouge, however, Australia was terrible and I thought was a poor reproduction of Gone With the Wind (especially the acting).
So, perhaps any type of story with relatively unknown actors who are fresh and talented and not posed and studied. I think Australian or English stories have so much richness to them that they need substantial actors to tell the stories.
Good luck Baz.
there was an Australian Bushranger Thunderbolt he was married to an Aboriginal gin I think her story should be told she sounds like she was amazing incredibly intelligent and full of mischief who adored this outlaw.
Stories are in history books of her dobbing him in to the law when she was cranky with him and then helping him escape. They believe that it was due to Thunderbolt’s relationship with the aborigines that he had the longest bushranging career of any bushranger. It is also hard from hysterical records to prove who Thunderbolt was as both Frederick Ward and his cousin did everything together. My thoughts have always been that it was both of them and when one got shot the other took off with the loot and retired.
This is a story that would highlight how much the aboriginal people have contributed and assisted the non idigenous and also allow some fun along the way and show the strength of their woman.
It really should be told from her perspective and not his.
If I could write the story I would because I think within it is an amazing true story that would reach out to all and show the heart of these amazing people and highlight the intelligence of their culture.
After all you have to admit that us whiteys were nearly starving in the colony despite the fact the aborigines had survived off the land for 2000 years is pretty funny and instead of realising this and finding out how we ignored the obvious. Doesn’t make us look to smart and I think it is time we showed the world that side of this country and gave these people the respect they are due and especially there woman. Also aren’t movies for woman the flavour of the month in Hollywood?
please please do a movie about the origins and ultimate success story against all odds that is the ‘Sydney gay and lesbian mardi gras.’
i can’t imagine anyone else making this story.
Bazza,
How about a modern retelling of James Joyce’s ‘Ulysees’. I get exiting thinking about what you could do with this.
I don’t think there is another director he could make the story more appealing.
look forward to seeing it.
Because Baz is a grand story teller, I imagine he could do wonders with Cleopatra or Marie Antoinette. If he wanted to be more obscure and tell some little known stories, he could perhaps do Truganinni or Boedicea. Either way, I am sure it would be epic.
Any of Wilbur Smiths novels would work. Parochial movies about Australia don’t sell overseas strongly anymore. You still have to turn a profit to pay for the labour of love type movies.
I would love to see some mythology happening! Like an ancient Greek or Roman story. Or perhaps Indian, something like Ramayan or Mahabharata. I am inspired in this by the musical production put on in Moulin Rouge with the courtesan and sitar player…….awesome costumes!
We have seen Baz do Paris, Australia and the Miami-esque “Verona Beach”. Would love to see another Shakespeare production but set in its time. Especially Othello, that would be awesome. Lots of strong emotions in there.
Please just give it away. Your movies have been bl**dy shockers to date.
Baz,
Australia was amazing. i dont think you need us telling you what to do, you have the talent to recognise a good story and to portray if magically.
i look forward to your next production.
A biopic, about himself.
How about a film about Black Ceasar, the first Australian bushranger. Or one about the Brooke family who led a swash buckling, thrill a minute life to become the White Rajahs of Sarawak
How about telling the story of Captain James Cook? There have been a few mini series over the years but never a movie. Someone like Russel Crowe would be ideal. Captain Cook did so much more than just his voyage to Australia. He also tried to find the North West passage and his voyages around the Pacific and his attempt to get to the Antartic just need to be put in film. He was probably the greatest explorer ever and his life story needs to be told . He is very under rated and I can’t think of anyone better to do Cook’s journeys and life justice.
I think Bas should take a break from making films and concentrate on the real success story in his life and support his wife with costume design, after all – the oscars cant be wrong
What century are you living in Rosemary Lee? Good idea for a story but they are aboriginal women not GINS!!! Very derogatory word for an indigenous woman!
I don’t really mind what you do next time, some of the above comments have fantastic ideas though. Just please, please, please don’t use Nicole Kidman ever again. Friend or no friend, she killed Australia. mind you, so did all the hype!
My story…a thriller/drama, working title, ‘The Devine Inheritance’ about a, ‘A slave becomes the master of his destiny.’ I have a feature script available and it would be an absolute honor if you would be willing to take a look at it.
Dear Bazz,
Ironic isn’t it I have been putting together an idea for a little while to send you .I have even made a Squatters Chair for you to kick back and read the book about it.
This is a true Australian story about how North Queensland was opened up .
It is a story of huge amounts of Gold of mateship of extreme hardship, in some of the most rugged country in our vast land.
It’s a story of cannibalism and massacres of the Merkins (the local black tribe)
who were described as 6′ Bronzed warriors who took a liking to eating Chinese who turned up on the Gold fields in their tens of thousands.
Of Opera Houses and Champagne flowing in the streets.
It is a story of untold wealth and squandering of same.
It is a story of The River of Gold…
The Palmer River Gold Rush and Cooktown it’s servicing port.
Hard to believe but true nonetheless
In the early 1870′s an Irish Explorer by the name of
James Venture Mulligan set out from Croydon in North Queensland prospecting for gold.What he found
was a prospect so rich that people flocked from around the world to get their share.
In my opion it’s the Greatest Australian story ever told and it’s all true.
A friend of mine took me there several years ago I could not understand why I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
My mum our family historian found out recently that one of my family ansestors were with Mulligan on many of his prospecting trips.
It must just be in my genes.
If you send me a contact address I will send you a book on the Palmer River and a great chair to read about it.
Kindest Regards
Brad Falconer
How the Rudd Government socialised , stuff up and bankrupted Australia for the next two generations
I don’t care what film he makes as long as it does not have the self righteous sickly , smarmy looking overrated Nicole Kidman.
how about having a look at the min min light mystery….or aboriginal mysticism…now that is some scary shit!!!!!
Imagine pissing someone off and having them sing you to death….
If not then the diaries of Anne Frank is a classic….go for something that is teaching history.
Good Luck
Something different what all your previous films have been… They have mostly been a drama and love stories… Stretch your imagination as a director, and maybe choose an action of some sort… Look at J.J.Abrams, and look at what he is doing. Compete with him!!!
Daniel
Australia – its title didnt do it justice, i think you shouldve named it “the japs that bombed darwin during ww2″ or “the origins of the first darwin settlement (feat a chinese maid and a REALLY Racist croatian bar man) in darwin who were begining to accept aboriginals” – so what about melbournes gold rush or the snowy mountains or cookes, botany bay? fact australia was to cliche and long. (didnt need the kangaroo scene)
Maybe you should consider darth vader vs robocop?
or, the last samurai part 2 (make sure tom cruise feats AND dont forget nicole kidman) or maybe perhaps AMERICA – feat a bear, a golden axe, a teepee, thunder, spirits and throw in some smoke.
instead of retelling stories in your films, why dont you create one from new. sorry thats why your asking the public for fresh ideas, you aint got any.
To bring the tragic story of the last aboriginal Trugannini to the attention of Australia
Dear Mark,
There are a couple good choices that you could choose from.
* Vietnam War
*the gold rush
It also depends on what style you want todo. I could really see you making a remake of the Vietnam War, or the Gold Rush.
However I believe that you are an Auteur Director and have a certain style of flare about you. Your most common motifs and symbolisms are
.Fast paced shots are a common narrative device
.High key lighting, spot light and bright lurid colours are used predominantly in Luhrmann’s movies.
.unique style of dialogue that makes his work differentiate from other directors. Both music and poetry are used to speak through his characters.
So its up to you. Do something that will make you proud of what you are doing. Something that you can look back on and be like “Hey can you believe I directed this”
Good Luck with anything you do. Your an Australian and Im proud to see you make anything about this country.
Shawn H.
none…he should totally stop making films after his cringe worthy wishy washy tacky AUSTRALIA
Strictly Ballroom was excellent
Romeo and Juliet was inspirational
Moulin Rouge, couldn’t make it past the first 20 minutes, although many have said they liked it.
Australia, not even going to bother!
So what did the first two have that the last two lacked?
Was it the timing? There were a lot of great films in the mid to late eighties, such as Bliss, and Dead Poets Society and then when the nineties came, you struck the world with Strictly Ballroom, which was quirky and exactly the story audiences were after. So in that case it was the right story for the right time, the trick is knowing that without the advantage of hindsight.
R&J was one of the greatest love stories ever told with the English language’s best script writer with such a depth of talent at your disposal that failure was not an option. On the other hand, Australia was hollywooded up the ring hole and therefore had nothing to offer Australian audiences. In other words you made a story about our country in a way that did not appeal to our method of storytelling. Furthermore, you made Australia in such a way as to appeal to an American audience, but they’re not going to care because it wasn’t about America. You can’t hedge your bets like that. Have vision and don’t sell it out.
My advice is stick to the small theatres, the small ponds, tell the local stories with the insignificant consequences. Did the world care if Paul Mercurio won the local dance comp? No, but the audience did. Look at Bliss, a story of one man that had no impact beyond his own immediate life, but we cared for him. There are other directors to save the one ring, or save the republic from the sith lord, or save the Lakota from the invading armies. You don’t have to paint the Sistine chapel for it to be worthwhile painting, you don’t have to paint the last supper to paint something important.
Ignore Hollywood. Stay away from grandeur and most definitely stay away from four months worth of media hype. Stop trying to tell the world’s greatest story, and just tell a story. Move away from all the people that talked you into telling the audience what to think, and allow them to experience things for themselves. Don’t tell us it’s going to be bigger than Ben Hur, just make it, release it and earn back your reputation.
. Please Baz. You have had a good run. For the love of god, take our tourism tax dollars, and find a nice tax free safe haven.
BUT.
If you insist on more work, how about not trying to continually out do yourself. Why not try and make a film with a small budget, say 2 million, rather than relying on massive budget tricks and gimmics
Please,please, dont touch any more Australian History. Stick to musicals or find a stronger approach so the Americans at least can work out whats going on and us Aussies can really be proud.
I’d like to make “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde with you, hopefully incorporating some of the modern version by Will Self.
The language of the story is so rich and full of lavish visual imagery that would suit your style of film-making. It is an amazing and quick read.
It’s a story about vanity and excess and the ultimate downfall of innocence. It has suspense, a thrilling twist and some brilliant commentary on the nature of art.
Every version, I have seen has been a poor attempt at creating Oscar Wilde’s world of sordid characters. Of all the directors, I believe that you’d be the best person to direct it, with my input of course.
I think Baz should do something about Anne Frank. Anne is the voice of the 20th century about world war 2
I would influence you to stop copying everyone else’s stories, ideas, ‘highlights’, peaks and musical motifs.. all your films are rip offs (not homages) of something else. Where is YOUR voice, YOUR vision? Is it possible to show us something we HAVENT seen before (ie La Boheme, an Australian epic, a Shakespeare play).
Something with a psychological spine, not just a whole lot of climaxes with nothing in between. Perhaps something ‘universal’.. with RESTRAINT Baz. Less is often so much more. You’ve done high camp and melodrama enough now..
Last year ‘Lars and The Real Girl’ was the most subtle and beautiful film about the risks and defences each of us carries around intimate relationships.
‘There Will Be Blood’ was a metaphor on the West’s great ‘religions’: oil, money and the Church.
If you want to remain with your camp style, what about something on contrasting gay and straight relationships: marriage, family, commitment.. and the underlying similar desires of both.. everyone wants the same thing.. love, belonging, closeness.
Read Oprah’s Humanitarian Award acceptance speech. THAT is what binds us all together..
Mr Luhrmann. I think you should tell a story about destined love. A small town country boy working in the sheering sheds and working on his family’s farm, hard working kind of guy and one day out of the blue he wakes up with a strange feeling like he’s going to have a good day very soon. Then theres a big city girl whoes a hard worker, she’s out trying to get work but people keep truning her down, she’s treated bad and lokked at as though she’s not worth a cent, then one day she wakes up with the exaxct same feeling like she’s going to have a good day very soon in the near future. Now these two live completley different lives and have no idea that one another exists until one day the guy wakes up and he goes to work but his feeling is getting stronger and with all the money he’s saved up he decides to go to the big city and see what it’s like for a change, just go there to get away from work because he’s feeling good about himself since along time. The girl on the other hand wakes up that very same day and she gets ready for work, same deal with the feelings, it’s alot stronger now and she’s feeling good about herself since along time so she decides to go a different way to work, instead of taking a taxi she walks, while she’s walking she slips down a stair way, she tries to get a hold of something but it’s too wet so she’s free falling down a couple of steps, as she’s falling the small town country guy is walking by and he catches her in his arms, she looks at him to say thanks and at that moment theres a conection, he walks her to her work and as they’re walking they get to know eachother and their feelings are growing as they speak. They get to her work and he decides to stay and waits until she gets finishes for the day, that night they have dinner together and they make love at his motel room, he stays for a few days and when it’s time to leave they say goodbye and he leaves, as he leaves she starts to cry and he for the first time in his life he sheds a few tears, then he remember back to what his mother once told him when he was growing up, “Son some day you’ll find a girl and you’ll know then and there that she is the one for you, but dont ever let her go, your heart will tell you who the rigth one is for you”. The guy is half way home and decides to go back for her, by this time he is out of money and has no way of transport to get back there so he walks almost twenty four hours just to be with her once again. When they are reunited they find a job together and they gte married. They live happily ever after
Well,I think the next film he does should be about a gifted movie director with fantastic ideas and a loyal band of film stars in tow who is trying to “re-invent the wheel” when it comes to major block busters,but no matter how hard he tries the veiwing public just does not want to see those kind of movies right now.A 4hr epic about that would be hard to miss/watch.Good luck Baz you got talent just alittle misdirected
I Would like Baz to Make his next Movie based on the Storm that wiped out Darwin on Christmas Day 1974″ Tracy” This is a compelling account of Tragedy which was heart – wrenching for every Australian. I remember the day as my sister was in Darwin when Cyclone Tracy Hit.
Do a movie about gay guys who marry women as a cover because they think its more socially acceptable than to state what everyone already knows. You obviously would direct and Hugh could be the lead
Baz, please spare us anything like the insipid and stereotypical and sickening dross that was Australia, HOWEVER mate you nailed it with Strictly, and why not work on something such as all the wonderful immigrants we do have with great music etc that you did so well in M.Rouge, Italy meets Greece meets China etc, what a goldmine of material and ideas that really is what you do best
Baz,
Australia was the first movie of yours that i watched and I loved it.
Please retell the story of Brokeback Mountain, except retell it as a musical.
thanks.
How about exploring the concept of dong something new and original.Find a great script that is out there somewhere waiting to be directed in your unique style Align yourself with some talented writers not studio moguls.
You dont need a massive budget to make a great film. ie Strictly ballroom !
Just make a film that has some emotional substance
is evocative and daring.
How about a simple story of a high functioning autistic lad who learns to cope with the sensory onslaught of reality using his imagination and obsession with pirates.
You’d have two realities to play with there, the blander, safer world of the normal folks and the intense hyper-colour/sound/movement world of his perception.
You’d have the drama of his family doing the best they can to have him fit in and function in the normal world juxtaposed with the spectacular carnival of confusion that is his perspective, that he can only bring to cohesion with the use of his imagination.
eg: A daunting crosstown bus ride becomes a swashbuckling adventure as the other passengers become pirates and buccaneers fighting for possession of the vehicle etc.
He could fall in love with an autistic girl who has used the same device to deal with the world but instead of pirates, she has ninjas.
Then you’ve got the drama of their respective families trying to protect them both from the very independence that they had been teaching them all of their lives by trying to keep the young lovers apart.
Two hearts against the world against reality as we know it.
Ignore your detractors, Baz. Keep making movie magic and entertaining those of us who love films with romance, spectacle, music, and good “old-fashioned” story telling.
My first suggestion, a remake of the film Lili (that launched Leslie Caron in 1953) and which was based on the book by Paul Gallico, The Love of 7 Dolls”. Other books of his worth reading/considering include “The Lonely” and “The Snow Goose”.
My second suggestion would be “Lollipop Shoes”, the sequal to Chocolat by Joanne Harris. It has the same elements of mystery, magic and romance.
how about CRAPOLLA the story of nichole kidmans acting career
At the moment there is to much drama in everyone’s lives. Like world financial problems. People losing there jobs, homes and everything they own. On the News we hear about people being murdered, killed in wars and thousands of people dieing in natural disasters. There are thousands of people starving to death and dieing from deceases.
There are a lot of good war, history, and crime movies out there already, but at the end they can leave you feeling depressed. Live is much like that already
What I like to see is a movie that takes me away from all that. Something that makes me laugh and feel good. Movies tend to go in cycles so I think it’s time to bring back movies like Back to the Future and Romancing the Stone . A movie that has action romance, a bit of science fiction and a lot of laughs.
I think also the key to success is to film the movie using 3 country’s. USA, AUS and the UK.
For example: 3 or 4 people in there early 20′s meet and make friends. They decide to travel to each of the new friends country and what they encounter is different cultures, sense of humor and miss communication of words. Other example: In the USA they would say things like.. “Hi I ‘m Randy” ..”I root for that team”. If you said that here you will get a laugh.
Laughter is what we all need at the moment.
Thank you for reading my reply.
Kind regards from Noelene
Why? I forgot to mention why I’d like to see that, well because every time autism is explored in film/TV it is always done from the point of view of the observer not the participant. It’s aways about “Oh look at poor quiet disassociated Johnny. I wonder what is happening in his silent world” Puke-fest or what? Autistic folk are quiet on the outside because the part of the brain that filters the sensory input doesn’t work properly so they are constantly bombarded by all of the information their senses send them and it’s all coming in at high volume.
How often do you notice the sound of electricity humming down the cables as you walk past them on the street. And do you even notice the smell? If you haven’t then electricity smells a lot like what biting down on aluminium foil tastes like. Imagine trying to carry on a conversation with someone whilst your brain is delivering screamingly loud messages of all the information that your body is sensing? No wonder autism doesn’t come with a chatty disposition.
Also, so many of the treatments/therapies offered to “Help” autistic folk assimilate are about breaking down the coping barriers put up by the “Patient” to make sense of the world.The therapists and carers misunderstand the autistic experience and thus work to have the autistic person emulate normal behaviours instead of working with the strange behaviours that enable them to cope.
I think a film that explores this could be beautiful and beneficial to us all. And I think, Mr. Luhrmann, that the only people in the world that could do justice to the autistic experience in the medium of film are you and/or Terry Gilliam.
Why not make a movie about “pigeon” Jandamarra who was an aborigional “ned kelly” in the Kimberlies and led the police a merry chase for some time,used to disappear into caves ,fooling the poilice who followed him…../
Id really like to see a film written about Scott Clarks grandfather that would be brilliant. Im sorry Scott your grandfather lived through all that you must be very proud of him. Yes would definitly love to see a film about that.
Australia was a big bomb. This fool should first pay back the australian public the $200,000,000 he spent on this turkey. And for all those naive fools just check this link:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/entertainment/why-youre-footing-the-bill-for-luhrmanns-australia/2008/12/13/1229189419276.html
You should do a movie called ANZAC stories.
5 or 6 stories about War veterans and there families. Including my grandfather Hedley Deverell who served in Gallipoli, France and Belgium wounded a number of times, met the future King of Great Britian in a Hospital while recuperating from wounds and returned to Australia after the the war.
love your movies baz, i rekon baz to have a go at the katherine knight story of her killing her defacto .she is never to be released.youll will have to check the gory bits i wont post them on here .she was from aberdeen in n.s.w thanks baz
Shantaram !!!!!!!!
A complete change ! something gritty and contempry a modern day real aussie story that has universal appeal.
Forget remakes and musicals.
Johnny Depp was said to have bought the rights to SHANTARAM by Gregory D. Roberts/ Aussie ex Crim who made his way to India.
I cant find any updates any where for production, nor has Greg visited his website for years.
So please consider this as your next film project, your partner would do amazing things with sets and costumes.
There is plenty of money in India to finance a large film like this. If Depp is not available what about Russell Crowe ?
This is sort of a modern day Papillon.
If you do this film please give me a job !!??
I am dying to get back to India !
And I really do have some great skills to offer.
Thanks Baz
prefer he did’nt make anymore films, there all shockers
Hi, I’ve seen each of your movies and loved all of them. I love your unique style and the way you pictures make me feel. There is a novel called White Gardenia by Belinda Alexandra. I don’t know if itis suitable for adaption to the screen but I would love to see it. I Picked the book up on a discount rack to make up the rest of a book voucher I had one. This story moved me to tears. I loved it.
Dean Koontz would have to be my favourite writer and I would love to see one of his adapted to screen. My favourite is “Cold Fire”, My husband’s is “Night Chills” Both of these have a solid storyline and are very unique.
Ah Baz! Congratulations on all of your movies. You have a wonderfully unique and recognisable style in cinema – somewhat fantastical perhaps? With Roger Ebert in mind, I’d like to see you develop the inspirational aboriginal myths, legends & dreamtimes touched on in ‘Australia’. Bring this culture and its appreciation for the land to the cinema so the world can understand, appreciate and learn from it.
A new film on the life of Vlad the Impaler would put the current vampire movies to shame. I love Twilight but I need something darker too and with your eye for lavish scenery and costumes it would be amazing!
It would be fantastic to see you revisit the ‘Alexander the Great’ movie you were working on and avoid all the mistakes Oliver Stone made…
Working on Australia must have been a great practice run for a film of this scale;)
I dunno about Leonardo as Alexander though..I’d go an unknown who is the same age Alexander would have been at the time.
(oh yeah, and also has a better hairdo than that of Colin Farrell in Oliver Stones version!)
How about a good Ozzie story about Banjo Paterson. The title would be simply “Banjo.” Hugh Jackman would make a good ‘Banjo.’
Anything other than what you’ve been doing. Cut the boredom Baz
Baz should tell the story of a schitzophrenics battle with cancer. At the end of the story you realize that the cancer was all in the schitzophrenics mind but the things he learned while dealing with his own mortality were all real. The moive should star Paul Hogan.
I’m sure whatever you decide to film – it will turn out great as long as Nicole is not in it. She used to be OK, but seems more concerned with having her face wrinkle free rather than put any expression/emotion in her roles.
Blackbirding
A superhero movie. Nuff said. Do something lowbrow and universal for a change. Action movies speak volumes to every demographic. Done with Luhrmann flair, it could be mindblowing.
Hi Baz. There is a great story about The Bunurong people( Aboriginal Traditional owners of area south of Melb) In theEarly 1800′s Bunurong women were kidnaped by sealers and taken to Tasmania. There is a lot to be told, cheers.
Hi Baz,
I loved Australia, but I think for your next movie it would be great to use Sydney as part of the backdrop.
I have an idea about a screenwriter who lives in Sydney — the writer wrote a love story that broke box office records and is up for multiple Oscars including best screenplay. One of the main plot points is that this man lives with Agoraphobia and is being blackmailed to write these films for another man that takes credit for them, of another take is that the man despite being paid a lot of money for his scripts lost the love of his life to cancer and that he lives in a mediocre flat because he gives most of his money to charity, and when it comes time for the Oscars chooses to watch them on tv from the social comfort of his lounge — ultimately the story is about the man finding himself again, learning to love again and coming full circle. I believe there is a strong character arc in there.
I lived with a brain injury and depression and despite this I still believe anything is possible —
By the way I thought Romeo and Juliet was incredible.
Good luck Baz
one of the dreamtime stories
NONE. He’s a show man and Kidman’s not even attractive..nevrer was never will be. Just has money is all.
If you want a TOP STORY Baz then contact me. I would be mad to place my idea here! This is a sincere response.
About CHILD ABUSE.. A simple story just like HUSEYIN UZMEZ case in Turkey. How this old columnist Huseyin Uzmez can think he can get away with his abuse because he has good relations with the ruling religious party. How these little poor girls are becoming victims of rich muslim men under the rule of sheriat….
How these old Muslim men can think they have the right to marry girls who are only 8 years old. (like in Swat Valley, Afganistan nowadays or any Islam underdeveloped country governed by sheriat rules.) How these kids are being SOLD to these old men…
In this way your movie can help to bring forth one of the heartbreaking problems of the world. And maybe your movie can change what is happening now to the best benefit of these little innocent girls.
Australia, was so boring, could hardly understand the peoples accents ( and I am Australian born and bred), lost interest in first 20 minutes even with the lovely Hugh Jackman.
Strictly Ballroom, your best piece of work–just brilliant.
Romeo and Juliet, a great spin on a celebrated classic.
Moulin Rouge, not bad, not good.
Ditch Nicole she can not act, try Cate Blanchett instead ( I hear she is a lovely lady) stay clear of any so called ”actors” from Home and Away, Neighbours or All Saints.
Maybe a movie about Michael Hutchence.
Just avoid Nicole Kidman, i have seen better acting at my 4 year olds kindergarten play
The saying ‘everybody’s a critic’ has never rung more true than in these comments. yes, everybody is entitled to their opinion and have the right to voice it. i suggest, however, that you learn the art of delivering your ‘opinion’ in a civilised and eloquent manner. i believe that your comments will then receive the acknowledgement it deserves.
having said this, i would like to congratulate baz on his efforts in the movie industry over the years. my favourites are strictly ballroom, romeo and juliet and moulin rouge. the movie industry is a very difficult industry to succeed in due to the large amount of diversity in people’s preferences for movies. it’s the same in any entertainment industry where people expect a good performance for the money they’ve paid. unfortunately, as life goes, you can’t please all the people all the time so any person brave enough to attempt to entertain the millions of people across the world deserves at least a pat on the back for ‘giving it a go’ whether it’s a success or not.
now that i’ve had my say on the matter…i return to the reason for this posting…suggestions for baz’s next movie…i think that he should try something that takes him outside his ‘comfort zone’…like a thriller or a horror…not the mindless, plotless blood-guts-and-gore type but something like the story of ‘frankenstein’ or ‘dr jekyll and mr hyde’.
are you up for the challenge baz???
Hi,
I have seen your movies. And they are really nostalgic and reminds of older days (good or bad). Moulin Rouge was France and Australia was Australia, forgotten lost times but many things in current affairs of today.
I think next is the time to answer or atleast ponder the question of Germany. Lost time but remembered today. In many ways, everyday, in most places, everywhere in the world. The cause and effect of all conflicts today.
NOSTALGIC AUSTRIA / GERMANY from REAL ARISTOCRATS to World War 2. The disappearance / death of HITLER. Was he really killed or did he disappear. Is he still there or his shadow is lurking in somewhere today.
GR8 Work Baz. Keep it up. And get high on this one. Real nostalgic mystery.
Hi Baz,
I would love to make a movie that tells a story of a rock star and instead of shown in cinemas, it could be shown in outdoor stadiums and end in a rock concert – live. After a major world tour, the movie/rock concert could be released to smaller cinemas.
I have a script in mind if you are interested.
Anna.
Quite simple.
Make a film about the “White Pages”: Several thousand people but no action detected yet.
Or something about “Saving water in the Pacific”…
“Penguins in the Sahara”?????
“Midsummer Night’s Day at the Northpole”
Hi Baz’s assistant. How about you forward this idea on to Baz’s personal secretary:
Combine Port Arthur with Anzac Day… You have a killer who works at the Post Office, and who’s father and uncles and grandfather were all war veterens in different wars/conflicts and were sort of overly identified with the Anzac legend and stuff like that… but this main character has seen truths about war and conflict that most people don’t see or suspect…
and every April this main character comes a little unstuck with all the fuss over Anzac Day. He works in the Dead Letter Office at the Post Office and in the graveyard shift he opens letters that don’t have the complete correct address and in April many of them concern Anzac Day.
He has an apartment in a new residential tower in one of the capital cities that he inherited from his father/grandfather (super fund, whatever), and this apartment is right on the Anzac Day parade route…. his father taught him how to shoot when they went pig hunting…. the deeper story in this story is totally unexpected but once it is it becomes obvious… Cheers from Berlin, Germany… great place for ideas, btw…
Baz, firstly can I say as an Aussie Actress my congratulations, the films you have directed are among my absolute favorite films, you have done a fantastic job so thank you for all the inspiration.
I’ve always wanted to make a movie and I believe there aren’t that many films that actually stand out anymore. And honestly why bother if it’s not extraordinary?
I encourage you to find something so different, so amazing it takes the world by storm.
So how could I influence a story?
Love stories are my favorite Romeo & Juliet classic Shakespeare, Moulin rouge was just phenomenal.
So I would have to hope from your next film comes another romance but I would direct it about dreams maybe Marilyn Monroe’s story or someone influential.
I’m sure you would hit it right on the head but inspiration is the hardest to find especially when you don’t want to settle for anything less than great.
“He is my life, my love, my air, how can I breathe without him? It’s like I can’t take in the air, like my lungs have failed me. We are one; I’m broken when he’s not here. I never planned for this.” A quote from my book because that’s something I want to see; a romance that just captures us.
I have an original idea for an Australian comedy set in a gold mine – Mary Jane Gold Mine – nearly all australian cst in mind with the exception of Billy Connolly ( honorary aussie lol ).
Interested/ will write a synopsis k.
Barry
Hello Baz
You haven’t ventured into sci-fi yet. I would dearly love my favourite book Magician by Raymond Feist made into a movie, and with your beautiful work, this would be a stunning masterpiece….
The story of George Johnston and Charmaine Clift.
It may only be a tele movie but i think its time to get back to basics Baz. Good Luck
Well, how about do a story about the gallipoli and make sure it is really simple (so in other words. Explains what it its, how it started/ happen, different views on peoples lifes at home and at war) OOOHOOOHOOOH use hugh jackman again especially how he looked in australia HUNK!
Hello Baz! I just want to say , you are my true hero. I want to become a director like you, but I know I can’t because you create magic with your work. You create something beautiful and you are just SO creative, its not funny. I was firstly very entertained by Strictly Ballroom, which gave us all an incite into the crazy world of dance, but yet I fell in love with cinematography and the passion behind it all. I fell head-over-heels for Romeo+Juliet. It is my favourite movie. Leonardo captivates a naive, young, but growing, maturing man throughout the movie and his love for Claire Danes, was just beautiful. Your symbolism is unbelievable. I love how there’s a story behind every graphic and you’re iconography is amazing. When I saw Moulin Rouge, I just fell in love with the penniless sitar player and the “not-so-glamourous” life of the bohemian culture. I loved how how you covered the TRUTH.BEAUTY.FREEDOM.LOVE and was loved how it was a recurring theme in the movie. The colours in the movie, you just captivated the true, rich culture of the bohemia. When I saw Australia, seeing as I’m from South Australia, I was talking to my mother about when I lived up near the border of the Northern Territory, in a small Aboriginal town called Oodnadatta, I was determined to make a change in the health and wellbeing of the Aboriginal up there, that needed it of course and requested it. I was so appauled at the government refusing to say sorry and when he did, I felt a slight change in the air. It was like giving closure to someone who’s just realized their lost son has passed. It was as if one spirit had returned home. I was still concerned that the story of the Stolen Generation hadn’t been told clear enough. So when you made Australia, I just fell in love with your understanding of your country and its history. I know a lot of people would have really appreciated your understanding. When I saw Australia, the colours of the outback. The dusty earth, the dark blue skies, it was like visiting a new country. It was like my eyes had been closed. This country we live in, is not ours. It is a beautiful present which we have been fortunate to be able to call our home. The Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders and the white Australians.
So about making a new movie. That is a hard one. I believe only you, Baz can work your magic. We’re not the magician.
x Love Darcy Simper-Brown
15 , Adelaide, South Australia
I agree that Marilyn Monroe’s story or Dracula (Vlad the Vampire) would be both lovely choices for you.
My other options:
-Something based on the tales of 1001 arabian nights. Could make a wonderful scenery and a wonderful script, mixing the visuals of the stories and the main love story, both your specialties.
In case you don’t know it:
A Persian king is cheated on by his new bride. He executes her and in revenge to the female genre, -asuming all women are like her-, he plans to marry one girl per day and kill her the next morning. So he does for a long time, until one of his wifes turns out to be smart. She tells him a different story every night, leaving it unfinished, so the king will have to wait for the next day to know the ending, therefore cancelling the execution. Then, she immediately starts another one, and so on, for 1001 nights.
At the end she is left with no stories to tell but he finally cancels the execution because he has really fallen in love with her storyteller.
The stories have erotism, love, adventures, poems, magic, history, comedy…
The script might be a bit challenging, but
I really believe this would be a masterpiece if it turned out right. I know you can!
barbiloop@hotmail.com