PUBERTY PRE 06

Bong, Board, Birds and Bed.

SUNSHINE IN SHANGHAI

A few people sent this short film to me this week and I only just had a chance to watch it. It's a beautifully shot and constructed portrait of an American tv ad director as he travels to Shangai and makes an ad selling Mc Donalds to the Chinese. Scary how much of this is familiar to me and perhaps some others who may read these pages.

Makes me want to get back to Shanghai asap as well.

UPDATE: Bummer. For some reason this video has become 'private'. If I come across another link I'll replace it...

PUBERTY PRE 05

Couldn't wish for a better beach location to set Puberty Blues. Although I think it's insane that anyone would cut into such a beautiful coastline and build a refinery, I just love the way that it forms this beautifully industrial backdrop to the natural beauty of the beach. I love how it was featured in the film and it's perhaps one of the few visual consistencies between it and what we are doing with the series. It serves as a not so subtle geographic metaphor for much of the 'casual brutality' that features in the scripts.

Puberty Pre 4 (at the drive-in)

You can't do Puberty Blues without a trip to the 'Drive-In'. We needed to find a fully operational drive-in and luckily for us the one in Blacktown (below) is not only one of the original but also one of the last remaining drive-ins in Australia. It's still pretty much untouched looking and feeling much like it always has. From our recce the other night it appears to be a popular option for 'first dates' and 'double features'. Tuesday nights, 2 films for 10 bucks! Bargain!

I couldn't help but think of the transformative power of that giant outdoor screen. I wonder how many people may have been moved or who's lives have been changed while gazing through their windscreens up towards the flickering image.

Have any of you got a great drive in memory?

PUBERTY PRE 3

Location hunting in Kurnell (the birthplace of 'modern' Australia).

PUBERTY PRE 2

PUBERTY PRE 1

Head down in pre-production. Locations, script, camera tests, casting and more. Location scouting and recce-ing has been the main focus, but all the elements including wardrobe and make-up are coming into play. Because we are recreating 1970's Australia, everything we see through the lens has to be considered and designed.

We have houses, businesses, streets and a whole high school to lock in. Luckily the ocean and parts of Cronulla beach are the same as they've alway been : )

It's actually quite amazing how many houses are out there essentially 'untouched' and still 'living in the 70's'. Homes where newly weds built the house, moved in, bought all their stuff and then were just content to keep it that way. Quite nice really. So far removed from the consumerism of today. It says something about the period as well. Things were built to last then and why replace it, if it isn't broken?

PUBERTY BLUES

Moved to Sydney this week to begin pre-production on Puberty Blues! We are making eight, one hour episodes inspired by the original book. I say 'the book' as opposed to 'the film', not that I don't like the film, I think it's great! But it's a different approach to take when going back to the source material, rather than 'remaking' a film. The book doesn't necessarily tell a great story (although it does), nor is it beautifully written (although it is), I guess to me what is unique and special about the book is that it provides a wonderfully blunt and extremely honest recollection of what it was like to be a teenager, growing up on the beaches south of Sydney in mid 70's. Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey wrote Puberty Blues when they were only eighteen years old. It's a detailed autobiographical account of their shared misadventures of when they were just thirteen years old (!!!). It's the authenticy that leaps off the pages. No-0ne else but those two girls could have written such a vivid account of the highs and lows of the sex and drugs and surfing with such detail, naivety and the unbridled enthusiasm of youth.

Puberty Blues 'the series' (produced by John Edwards and Imogen Banks and written by Tony McNamara, Fiona Seres and Alice Bell) will still be set in the seventies and although it will feature many of the details, characters and narrative beats of the book, essentially it's a 're-imagining' of the world documented in the book in all it's sad, funny and at times brutal truths.

NZ#3

NZ#2 LAST NIGHT

Went and saw Vince (who is assisting me on this commercial I'm doing) play drums in his band Sherpa.

NZ#1

Currently in New Zealand directing a commercial. Exit Films recently opened an office here in Auckland so it's cool to be here in a home away from home. I love NZ. Something about it always reminds me of Australia from when I was a kid. It's maintained an innocence to a degree and somehow remains 'simpler' in the best possible way. Not to mention the Kiwis are heaps nice.

LOVE / HATE

Why am I the 30 millionth person (on YouTube) to hear and see Lana Del Ray. I didn't know anything about Lana Del Ray until yesterday when I read a newspaper article about why everyone in the world 'hates' her. So then I just had to go and see who and what people were all in a tiz about. And now, I'm obsessed with her... which just proves that old saying "The only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about."

I don't really care if she has 'duck lips' or she's the daughter of some rich guy or she changed her name, or she's too pretty / ugly or can or can't sing. I know I'm being sold something that isn't what it appears (or is it?). It's been packaged well, the wrapping is nice and it makes a sweet and mysterious sound when you hold it up to your ear and shake it. Regardless, I think this song and the clip (which makes the song 'sound' even better) is stunningly beautiful.

FIRST DAY

A little off topic for Hoaxville but today was a big day in our house as Rosebud had her first day at school. Big for her and perhaps even bigger for her Mummy and Daddy. We felt quite good about Ollie going to school, in fact we counted down the days in anticipation for both he and we were ready for it! But little Rosie, our baby, it just doesn't seem right to be dressing her in a uniform and taking her to school. She is so little and so innocent and so sweet! I'm very conscience of time passing. I'll never say "they grow up so fast...".  I constantly take in the moment with both Rosie and Ollie taking detailed mental snapshots of how big they are, where they are and what they are doing. But for some reason its very tricky to get my head around Rosebud heading off to school...

She literally ran to school, dragging us by the hand to get her there quicker.

But once in the classroom and surrounded by new faces there was a moment of hesitation...

But as the wave of nerves passed a smile appeared and all was well. She was happy.

Nat and I lingered (in denial) for as long as we could. Finally slipping away when she focused on an activity. As I was walking out the door I turned to see her one last time. One of those bitter sweet moments. My heart breaking, because everything changes from here on in, but also proud to see her so eager to step out and into world and all it has to offer.

The house was very quiet today, especially for Nat.

But a long 7 hours and 30 minutes later...

I know I'm a gushing proud parent. But check out the 'blue checked uniform details' on that drawing! Genius!

Catching the big fish...

...with David Lynch.

MONSTER PHOTOS

The Monster Children photo issue came our last year, so I'm a bit behind with putting this up. The book is a wonderfully curated selection of images by photographers from all around the world and I was excited they included two of my photos. One is the Thugs Against Drugs car from LA I put up here a while back and the other is of a strange and beautiful diving platform I saw while in Vladivostok, Russia.

You can buy a copy here.