Tropfest Opens In Sydney, Australia

Australian actor / director / producer John Polson will produce a multi-million dollar film tribute to Sydney in the last half of this year, with many of Australia’s best-known and respected Oscar award winners keen to get in on the action.

The news came to light today - open day of Tropfest Sydney.

Polson has confirmed a number of Aussie actors are signed for his 'ode to Sydney' - with the list said to contain Russell Crowe, Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchett.

"It won’t be a huge time investment, but in the end it will feel like some of Australia’s best talent got together and made a film, which can only be a great thing," Polson said.

"It will happen in the second half of 2012," said Polson. "It’s a film which is a series of short segments that are all set in Sydney that are made either by people who live in Sydney, who love Sydney or who are from Sydney."

"We’ve put together a dozen of the most exciting film names, certainly in Australia, but also around the world. It’s a pretty incredible list," Polson said. "I mean, look at the talent we have here - people either born here or living here - and yet no-one’s ever really tapped into that."

It was a big day for Polson, with his Tropfest opening - a celebration of 20 years of the iconic short film festival.

It's estimated that about 150,000 people saw the event live, with the Sydney leg taking place at The Domain, and the forecast of rain (which got heavier as the night went on) didn't appear to dip the crowd.

Recognized as the largest short film festival in the world, Tropfest is also praised for "its enormous contribution to the development of the Australian film industry by providing unique platforms for emerging filmmakers through its events and initiatives, and new and expanded audiences for their work."

Finalists...

KITCHEN SINK DRAMA

THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS

THE MISTAKE

RGB

PHOTO BOOTH

ONE THING

MY CONSTELLATION

MIN MIN

MATCHBOX BROTHERS

LEMONADE STAND

JACK & LILY

“I’M FREE TO BE ME”

HOW MANY MORE DOCTORS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?

BOO!

ALICE’S BABY

Nicole Kidman Appears At Tropfest 2012...

Having flown back to Australia this past week with her family, Nicole Kidman stepped out for an appearance at the Tropfest 2012 short film festival in Sydney.

The 45-year-old actress was smiling a lot as she journey through the arrivals area, then onto the black carpet and beyond.

Websites

Tropfest (Australia)

www.tropfest.com/au

Tropfest

http://www.tropfest.com/

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Australian Open Of Surfing; Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia; The Living End Rocks

The inaugural Australian Open of Surfing has hit Sydney, Australia via Australia' home of surfing - Manly Beach.

In excess of 100,000 people are expected to have embarked on Sydney's Manly Beach by the end the nine-day event. Today it looked like 150,000 were at Manly Beach.

Make no mistake - this is Australia biggest surf, skate and music festival combo.

The weather has been changeable throughout the event, but today was blue skies all the way.

Locals supported home grown surfers such as Cooper Chapman, a 17-year-old from Narrabeen.

The youngster came into the competition as a wildcard entrant and surfed one-on-one with world number-two Joel Parkinson.

“I’ve always looked up to (Parkinson), he has been one of my favourite surfers for a long time,” Chapman told the Manly Daily.

Surfing is just one of a number of cool activities.

Skaters (skate board riders) as young as eight, as well as international pro, have been competing for $US50,000 ($47,000) in prize money in the Beach Bowl skate bowl.

The nine-day Australian Open of Surfing has been declared a success by organisers, sponsors and supporters, including the state government's Destination NSW program.

"It brings the best of surf, skate and music to the harbour city, embracing youth culture and promoting the unique energy of Sydney's outdoor lifestyle," says the Minister for Tourism, George Souris, eyeing an extra $6 million tourism boost.

The Manly extravaganza is based on the US Open of Surfing, a week-long celebration of surfing, skating, BMX, fashion, art and lifestyle held annually at Huntington Beach, California.

"It's just huge there. Attracts about a million people," says Jason Haynes, the general manager of surfwear company Hurley, principal co-sponsor with Billabong of the Manly event.

His expectations in Manly are more modest. "We're just getting started. We'd be pleased with 100,000," Haynes says. "So far it ticks all the boxes in terms of location, weather, waves, community support."

The Australian Open - which has been several years and a "substantial", though undisclosed, budget in the making - has been booked initially into the calendar for three years.

"We want it to be part of the calendar. We hope families will book their holidays in Australia round the event," says Bob Hurley, the company's chairman and founder. He also hopes to attract more top male surfers.

Top line music performers are also sharing the stage of success with the surfers and skaters.

Music acts like Sneaky Sound System, Children Collide and Stonefield are entertaining the masses at the event also, with Children Collide and The Living End whipping up a storm this afternoon.

The Australian Open of Surfing concluded today.

Websites

Australian Open Of Surfing

www.australianopenofsurfing.com

The Living End

www.thelivingend.com

Cardinal Spin

www.cardinalspin.com.au

Sydney.com

www.sydney.com

Billabong

www.billabong.com.au

Hurley International

www.hurley.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Roxette Australian Tour: Sydney Entertainment Centre Double Shot; 1927 Opens

Roxette have topped the charts three times down under in Australia and with a portfolio of massive hits including It Must Have Been Love, Joyride, Listen To Your Heart, How Do You Do, Sleeping In My Car, Dressed For Success and The Look, this is fully expected to be one of the best live music events of 2012.

Last night they drew strong numbers at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, and tonight they did it once again.
Promoter Live Nation had taken a chance of bringing the Swedish group out here after two other Australian promoters knocking them back. By all accounts Live Nation's punt has paid back dividends, both to the fans, the group, and to the bottom line.

Scandanavian pop acts have an illustrious chart history here. Fellow Swede's ABBA could vouch for that.
Entertainment industry experts have gone on record that its the Australia's 30 to 40 year old audience remembering the powerful and emotional songs that they heard in their youth that explains the strong drawing pull.

It was back in 1995, not long after their commercial high spot, they didn't perform to so many people.
Charm School is their first album in ten years and its built upon the foundation that made them great.
The band is the platform for vocalist Marie Fredriksson and songwriter and guitarist Per Gessle.
The appreciative crowd lapped up Dressed For Success, Joy Ride and The Look.

'It Must Have Been Love' was a definite karaoke moment to say the least.
They combine really catchy numbers, solid voices, charisma, fashion sense and strong drawing power.
The band is expected to continue to draw strong audience numbers while touring Australia.

Tracks

1. Dressed For Success
2. Sleeping In My Car
3. The Big L
4. Wish I Could Fly
5. Stars
6. She's Got Nothing On But...
7. Perfect Day
8. Things Will Never Be The Same
9. Opportunity Nox
10.7Twenty7
11. Fading Like A Flower
12. Crash! Boom! Bang!
13. How Do You Do?
14. Dangerous
15. Joyride
16. Watercolours In The Rain
17. Spending My Time
18. The Look
19. Listen To Your Heart
20. Church Of Your Heart


1927 Opens The Show...

1927 were a perfect band to open things up for Roxette.

The are an Aussie pop/rock band formed in Melbourne in 1987 with James Barton on drums, Bill Frost on bass guitar, his brother Garry Frost on guitar and keyboards, and Erik Weideman on vocals, guitar and keyboards. They were extremely popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s with their major hit songs "If I Could", "Compulsory Hero" and "That's When I Think of You" and their multi-platinum #1 album ...ish.

Some of the crowd was so into 1927, it would be reasonable to suggest that for some fans 1927 were the stars, supported by Roxette. Whatever the case, it was an awesome double act.

Tracks

1. Fright Of Your Life
2. To Love Me
3. Don't Forget Me
4. You'll Never Know
5. Tell Me A Story
6. Hero
7. If I Could
8. That's When


Websites

Roxette
www.roxette.se

1927
www.1927.net.au

Sydney Entertainment Centre
www.sydentcent.com.au

Live Nation
www.livenation.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr
www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia
www.musicnewsaustralia.com

David Jones Autumn Winter Launch with Miranda Kerr and Samantha Harris

David Jones Autumn Winter Launch with Miranda Kerr and Samantha Harris, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
David Jones Autumn Winter Launch With Miranda Kerr At David Jones Sydney

Miranda Kerr was back to promoting fashion again today, returning to David Jones, Sydney, as part of the latest David Jones Autumn Winter launch - promo.

The fashion celebs were in full force as Kerr was joined by dozens of Australian fashion elite, many international icons.

In front of a crowd of hundreds, fashion and entertainment industry elite including Dannii Minogue, Delta Goodrem, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Megan Gale, Alex Dimitriades and Miranda Kerr did the red (actually black) carpet and mingled with press.

Miranda wrapt up the marvellous show in a fashion forward black embellished Collette Dinnigan mini dress.

Lots of brands were promoted including Josh Goot suits, Bassike, Lisa Ho, along with Little Joe and Camilla and Marc.

The 1970s look to have made a bit of a comeback again with designs from Romance was Born, Zimmermann, Bianca Spender, and Thurley and Minogue’s Project D line which had a strong disco-esque edge as did Scanlan & Theodore.

Camilla showed off her 70s collection - Moroccan-inspired kaftans and metallic headwear.

Napoleon Perdis was onto the 70's also. One look was inspired from the 70s cult film The Eyes of Laura Mars, and an insider whispered that was in fact where it was born.

George Gross and Harry Who showed off refined feminine clothing modelled on the 1950s.

Dinnigan and Alex Perry went for modern black themes.

Jack London went with coloured tailored suits.

Calibre and Brent Wilson The Basics ran with something a dash more conservative.

Kerr was only one of the top models present. Samantha Harris, Alexandra Agoston, Louise Van Der Vorst and Australia’s Next Top Model champs Alice Burdeau and Montana Cox were also there, ensuring the event was media darling fodder.

Perth was represented by models, Tiah Eckhardt-Delaney and Sarah Pauley, who also snatched strong media coverage.

You should have seen the fab and refurbished ‘On Seven at David Jones' area.

The launch we were told was a "Salon style" super show with New York supper club themes. Lucky guests were seated at modest sized tables while the models strutted their stuff, darting and weaving through the guest area.

Retail giant David Jones streamed the event live over the internet for its virgin time via its official Facebook page.

Well done to DJ's, models and everyone involved in the fab event. We look forward to seeing you at the next as Australia's fashion wars continue to heat up.

Websites

David Jones
www.davidjones.com.au

Miranda Kerr
www.mirandakerr.net

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr
www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia
www.musicnewsaustralia.com