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Broome boy lands lead role in movie with Nicole
Last Update: Tuesday, April 17, 2007. 3:41pm AWST
By Vanessa Mills

It is the stuff of dreams; to be plucked from obscurity to star in a movie alongside some Hollywood heartthrobs.

But it is real and it has happened to a Broome boy.

11-year-old Brandon Walters has a substantial role in Baz Luhrmann's new film Australia.

Brandon will be working closely with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in the epic production, which will be shot in the Kimberley, Northern Territory and Sydney.

The story is about a cashless English artistocrat (Kidman) who inherits an outback cattle station and to save the property has to undertake a huge cattle drive to Darwin. Jackman plays a "rough hewn" drover with whom Lady Ashley falls for.

The cattle drive ends in Darwin during attack on the city in the second world war .

Young Brandon plays the Aboriginal boy Nullah, who lives on Lady Ashley's property and becomes a central figure in Jackman-Kidman relationship. It's a role the director describes as substantial.

Baz Luhrmann says Brandon hasn't acted before but will bring something unique to the role. There was already an on-screen magic between him and Nicole.

Brandon is already in production for Australia in Sydney; he has daily horse riding lessons, music lessons and goes to school with other young actors in a schoolroom on set.

Mr Luhrmann says Brandon will have enormous support from his extended family and school friends. His classmates will be linking up via internet on a regular basis.

St Mary's school has also provided a teaching support officer to travel with the family throughout the shoot and act as a carer and mentor.

Baz Luhrman, who snatched a few minutes between shoots to tell the Kimberley the news about Brandon, says actors like David Gulpilil are also important mentors on set, "uncling" the youngster.

The award winning director spent a great deal of time with Brandon's family in Broome and at communities south of of the town.

He says one of the most special moments for him was sitting around a campfire along 80 mile beach listening to stories being told by Brandon's relatives and watching Brandon play the harmonica.

Australia also features Jack Thompson and David Wenham and should be in cinemas in 2008.

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Nic's Australia Lover: WHO!?

Not "unknown" as in we don't know who he is; "unknown" as in, you've probably never heard of him. But Ben Mendelsohn has been cast as a second co-star and love interest for director Baz Luhrmann's upcoming epic drama Australia.

Who?! Well, Mendelsohn is an Australian actor whose biggest American projects seem to be an episode of the Sci-Fi series Farscape and an upcoming indie comedy called The Adventures of Beatle Boyin. Nonetheless, he's playing opposite Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, probably as the doomed husband of Lady Sarah Ashley, Kidman's aristocrat character, who later becomes involved with cattle driving, Jackman's cattle driver character - and a Japanese bomb attack on Australia

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Stellar line-up at Grand
DANIEL BATEMAN
18May07

THEY don't call it the Grand View Hotel for nothing.

With Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman already gracing Bowen with their presence during a surprise visit to Bowen's main street yesterday, more of Baz Luhrmann's all-star cast decided to step out on the town last night.

Last night Aussie acting trio Bryan Brown, Ben Mendelson and David Wenham grabbed an after work beer at the Grand View (GV), which has a starring role in the movie itself.

The hotel is the end of the line for film set visitors, whose numbers have slowly been building in the past week as tourists drop into the sleepy North Queensland town to grab a glimpse of the stars at work and at play.

The GV has even dressed herself up for the show: the Federation style hotel now sports a week old beer garden.

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Fans seeing double
SELINA SHARRATT
19May07

THERE were lights and cameras but little action during day light hours in Bowen yesterday as rumours spread Nicole and Hugh had skipped town for the day.

Filming wasn't kicking off until darkness fell to shoot at the replica Pearl Cinema.

But that didn't deter tourists and locals from turning up to the set of Australia before 9am.

Those seeking action were rewarded when the body doubles of Nicole and Hugh arrived on set and were put in the saddle.

On-lookers stared in awe at the sheer beauty of the horses which were athletic and well groomed.

The body doubles were fitted into safety gear before being mounted on horses and put through a training run.

Jackman's double was seen clearing a three-tier-stockyard rail fence and into a cattle yard of about 50 head.

Those out star-spotting may have stumbled across Aussie acting legend Bryan Brown who arrived in Bowen on Thursday.

Brown took time out in the afternoon to talk to local radio about the cast and crew of Australia.

He said it was the finest Australian cast that had been assembled and assured audiences they were in for a real thrill.

Brown's been cast as a bad guy in Australia - a role he said he loved to play.

"I like being a bad bastard," he said.

There was little more action around town until the cover of darkness when massive lights supported by three cranes shone on Pearl Cinema.

Cast and crew worked well into the night.

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