Happy 58th Birthday, Baz Luhrmann! Born today in 1962 as Mark Anthony Luhrmann, this Australian actor, writer, producer and director has projects spanning in film, television, opera, theatre, music, and recording industries.
Born in Sydney, Australia, Luhrmann's mother, Barbara Carmel (née Brennan), was a ballroom dance teacher and dress shop owner, and his father, Leonard Luhrmann, ran a petrol station and a movie theatre.
Baz attended St Joseph's Hastings Regional School, Port Macquarie; St Paul's Catholic College, performing in the school's version of William Shakespeare's 1599 historical play "Henry IV, Part 1",
He also attended Narrabeen Sports High School, where he met future collaborator, Australian screenwriter and actor Craig Pearce.
Luhrmann later received the nickname "Baz" from his father, given to him because of his afro hair style. The name came from the English Basil Brush, a fictional anthropomorphic British red fox, best known for his appearances on daytime British children's television.
While still in high school, Luhrmann changed his name by deed poll to Bazmark, joining his nickname and birth name together.
In 1980, Luhrmann graduated high school. In the same year, he was cast opposite Australian film, television and theatre actress Judy Davis in the 1981 Australian drama/romance film 'Winter of Our Dreams'.
In 1982, using the money he had earned from film and television experience, Luhrmann funded his own theatre company, The Bond Theatre Company, with future friends and collaborators, Nelly Hooper and Gabrielle Mason.
The company eventually performed at the Pavilion at Sydney's Bondi Beach, an outstanding beach cultural icon of Australia.
In the early 1990s, Luhrmann co-wrote and directed the first film of which he is best known. This was the 1992 Australian romance/comedy film 'Strictly Ballroom'.
The film tells of a top ballroom dancer who pairs with a plain, left-footed local girl. This is when his maverick style earns him the disdain of his more conventionally-minded colleagues.
Together, the team gives it their all and makes dreams of the National Championship title come true.
'Strictly Ballroom' was based on a critically acclaimed stage play originally set up in 1984 by Luhrmann and fellow students while he was studying at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney.
The film, Luhrmann's feature directorial début, is the first in his "Red Curtain Trilogy" of theatre-motif-related films.
In the early 2000s, Luhrmann co-wrote, co-produced and directed the second and final film of which he is best known. This was the anachronistic 2001 Australian/American jukebox musical romantic drama 'Moulin Rouge!'
Set in 1900 Paris, young Englishman Christian (Ewan McGregor) becomes infatuated with cabaret actress and courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman), a singer and star at the Moulin Rouge.
However, she has been promised by the manager to the Duke of Month (Richard Roxburgh) in return for funding his next production.
As the young lovers meet in secret, Satine's wedding day draws closer but she hides a fatal secret from both Christian and the Duke. The film is the third and final part of Luhrmann's "Red Curtain Trilogy".
The following year, 'Moulin Rouge!' was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress (Nicole Kidman).
However, the film won two for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. This occurred at the 74th Academy Awards in late March 2002.
The film was the first musical nominated for Best Picture in ten years, following Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast'. In BBC's 2016 poll of the greatest films since 2000, 'Moulin Rouge!' ranked 53rd.
Among his other credits, Luhrmann is also known for directing 'Romeo + Juliet (1996) [the second installment of his "Red Carpet Trilogy"], 'Australia' (2008), and 'The Great Gatsby' (2013).
Though Luhrmann began his career as an actor, director/writer/producer, he found that his flamboyant talent was better served behind the scenes.
Today, he is regarded by many as a contemporary example of an auteur for his distinctly recognizable style and deep involvement in the writing, directing, design, and musical components of all his work.
Luhrmann is the most commercially successful Australian director, with four of his films in the top ten highest worldwide grossing Australian films of all time.
Luhrmann has been active from 1982–present.
#borntodirect
@BazLuhrmannOfficial
@bazluhrmann
@AACTAawards
@bbc
@bafta
@theguardian
@Britannica
No comments:
Post a Comment