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Catherine Martin Tagged Articles at Cinematical

New Old-Timey 'Australia' Pictures

by Elisabeth Rappe Nov 4th 2008 // 6:03PM

Filed under: Action », Drama », Romance », 20th Century Fox », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Movie Marketing », Images », War », Nicole Kidman »



There's a bunch of new Australia photos over on the New York Times' website and, as usual, they are jaw-dropping and gorgeous. If you're a history and costume nerd like I am, you'll love this little feature, as the film's costume designer Catherine Martin elaborates on the authenticity and art behind some of the outfits. If you can tear your eyes away from Hugh Jackman's biceps, you might like to learn all about the shirt and belts encasing his ridiculously impressive frame. Says Ms. Martin: "The T-shirt he is wearing is, in fact, a shearer's shirt, a traditional shirt that has been in that style since the late 19th century. These are very traditional, classic Australian clothes, as is the plaited belt. Most of the stockmen made their own leather goods around the campfire. The second, so-called hobble belt is used to tie together the legs of horses to keep them from wandering off. The pants are the equivalent of Australian jeans. They are made from moleskin, and weirdly, in Australia, we wear it with the furry side in."

Moleskin facts aside, I can't get over the production value. Even the costume stills have been tweaked to look like they're from the 1940s. There doesn't seem to be a single area of this film that they haven't lavished an incredible amount of work and detail on. Let's hope the story and the script are as up to snuff! Australia opens November 26th.

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Baz's Australia To Begin Filming in April

by Ryan Stewart Feb 23rd 2007 // 6:05PM

Filed under: Action », Drama », 20th Century Fox »

Production designer Catherine Martin, who has worked on all of Baz Luhrmann's big projects, from Romeo + Juliet to Moulin Rouge, and will be handling duties on the upcoming war epic Australia, was interviewed on Australia's Channel 9 recently, and confirmed that Australia will kick into production in ten weeks. The film has already secured its cast, with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman holding the lead positions. (Heath Ledger was originally attached, but dropped out to play The Joker in The Dark Knight) Jackman will play a cattle driver who tries to save Kidman's ranch from an antagonist played by Jack Thompson. You probably remember Thompson most from his role as Cliegg Lars in Attack of the Clones.

When quizzed about Australia's progress during her interview, which was ostensibly about another topic related to production designing, Martin responded thusly: "It's really coming along. We're all very nervous and on tinderhooks because we're only ten weeks away from shooting. So everyone is very, very busy. We're out scouting everywhere and it's very....big!" It's not yet known how much the actual Japanese bombing of Darwin, Australia will figure into the film. It this is a full-fledged WWII action film, then Martin will be a busy lady indeed.

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