Edition 23 May 2011 8 KAREN SCHAUPP - Speaks About Motherhood 10 MEET LUCAS PITTAWAY - Star of Snowtown 14 GOK WAN STYLE - In Town 21 MASTERCHEF IS BACK - Procrastinate Takes a Look Profile Justin Kurzel – Director of Snowtown Acknowledging that getting any film proposal up is as much due to luck as merit, Justin Kurzel admitted in his chat with Kryztoff last week that he had this scent that Snowtown was going to be one of those lucky ones and he wanted to be a part of it. Nonetheless, directing your first feature length film can be a career defining moment and joining with a host of other novices – screen writer, Shaun Grant, Anna McLeish as producer, Lucas Pittaway as protagonist amongst them – added to all the risks. ‘You just hope you don’t stuff up,’ says Kurzel ‘but with Snowtown is was like we all just joined hands and jumped off the cliff together.’ In addition to the sense of momentum about the project, Kurzel, originally from Gawler, now based in Sydney, said ‘I was drawn in by a curiosity and shock that something like these murders could happen so close to home.’ His connection with producers, WARP Films, arose through discussions with Anna McGleish, one of WARP’s directors, about another project six months earlier that never went anywhere. Once engaged by the script from Shaun Grant, a trust between all parties quickly grew that ‘encouraged and inspired’ around a brave approach to go after the problematic subject matter in a confronting manner 2 Adelaide’s Own and Only On-line Street Mag Profile that embraced believability and authenticity. ‘I was determined to get actors from the area who could convince the audience that they too were stepping into this world and landscape. Familiar faces, other places or another genre film just couldn’t do that.’ When asked whether last year’s film success, Animal Kingdom, in any way influenced the film, Kurzel was With critical success assured for adamant. ‘The only connection is through a trend Snowtown, a Cannes showing for muscular type films in Australia at present – from accompanying it, Justin Kurzel Chopper back to Wolf Creek and beyond. Otherwise, can now approach future projects no, it did not. This is not a genre film.’ with a great deal more confidence and street cred. His next project, Justin Kurzel graduated from the Victorian College he says, is a black comedy he of the Arts in 2004 with his graduating film, Blue is writing with his brother Jed. Tongue, winning a swag of awards at the Melbourne This he hopes may well be done International Film festival the following year. In more again with WARP. But if it is, it recent times, Kurzel has directed numerous music will no doubt possess less white clips for bands such as Sleepy Jackson, Bridezilla, You knuckled leaps of faith than Am I and The Mess Hall, two of which won awards Snowtown did. at the St Kilda Film festival – Bell for The Mess Hall being one of them. Noting the worn and often successful path of music clip directors going onto full length features, Kurzel said that in his case ‘they give you the freedom to find your voice, to try things out. Music clips are an incredibly creative format that give you the chance to develop your own style and voice which is great preparation for the real thing with films.’ 4 Adelaide’s Own and Only On-line Street Mag Adelaide’s Own and Only On-line Street Mag 5 Next Big Thing Catch them at the Cranka Saturday next week and like them here on Facebook Jessica Braithwaite – Singer and Co- Founder Gemini Downs With a gig at the Cranka next week (21st May) for Mt Gambier siblings, stylish Jessica and country boy Sean Braithwaite, their band Gemini Downs is about to enter a new phase in its development as one of Adelaide’s hottest pop folk bands. Last August saw them release their first EP and have three of its songs reach the JJJ Unearthed Top 10 list. Of these, From Darwin has garnered the most attention and praise. Helped along substantially by a professionally filmed and edited video clip (see link below), Gemini Downs got heavily into the local gig circuit, scoring two festival appearances, including Lilka, staged near to the site from where the band draws its name on the Coorong. Since, three new members have been added. Drummer Dan Fernie Harper (on double bass) Michael Jenkins and Emma Hickmott on clarinet now round out a total crew of seven with original members Sean’s school mate, Scott Woollett and Lauren Fowler (both on sax, hers alto, his tenor). After taking a rest since Fuse in February, the Gemini Downs team have six new songs recorded to be released progressively over the winter. 6 Adelaide’s Own and Only On-line Street Mag Next Big Thing ‘Last year it all sort of came at once and we were a bit all over the place, so this year we going to do the releases in a more coordinated and professional manner’ said Sean talking to Kryztoff at the Wellington Hotel recently. ‘The move to a bigger band and the extra experience has made us also better prepared for live performances,’ adds Jessica. ‘From here on in there will be fewer cringe moments and we will all enjoy it a lot more on stage.’ With musical influences that stretch from Bens Harper and Folds through Paul Kelly and The Waifs to 60’s rock, Gemini Downs provide songs that are always different with a palpable excitement factor there in the recordings and on stage from their use of out there antics – from party whistles and whoopi cushions to tap dancing. Adelaide’s Own and Only On-line Street Mag 7 Profile Karin Schaupp In talking to the German born Australian Karin Schaupp, it quickly emerged that maternal influences have played a major part in her development as a world leading classical guitar player. For starters, both her grandmothers were opera singers and Karin’s mother has been throughout her life her principal teacher, adviser and producer, first buying Karin a half sized guitar at the age of three. Karin Schaupp (left) with Schaupp is playing at the Festival Theatre Katie Noonan ahead of their Adelaide performances. with popular music singer-songwriter Katie Noonan on 27 and 28 May in an evening of British folk songs, which, says Karin, were chosen ‘for their amazing musical heritage.’ last year. ‘Motherhood has helped me put life into perspective, it has made me a more ‘Actually choosing the material Katie and relaxed person on stage’ reflects Schaupp. I settled on wasn’t hard at all. We both put forward our own lists, those songs It is sure also that this fascinating that matched were in and the rest came collaboration of these two richly talented together quite quickly’ Schaupp recalls. performers will add another dimension to From there arrangers, Richard Carlton and our lives as well when they play two nights Jeremy Alsop were commissioned for this at the Festival Theatre. 26 show tour that started at the Sydney Opera House in March and finishes in Christchurch in early July. Here for concert details Schaupp’s maternal influences also extend to her role nowadays as a mother, most notably in Cradle Songs, her album of ‘the Find out more about at Karin Schaupp at most beautiful guitar lullabies’ released www.karinschaupp.com/ 8 Adelaide’s Own and Only On-line Street Mag Adelaide’s Own and Only On-line Street Mag 9 Profile Meet Lucas Pittaway - Star of Snowtown He arrives 10 minutes late, but he has politely texted ahead. He steps in wearing a white t-shirt and grey jeans ripped open on one knee. That long straggly hair from the movie stills adorns his head but he is more diminutive than his film persona would suggest. But far from the morose, sullen, introspective character that he plays in Snowtown, Lucas Pittaway only knows how to light up a room. Smart, confident and assured, his deep brown eyes engage and his impish grin delights. When he smiles, a fiesta of happiness radiates forth. This time last year, Lucas, then 17, was considering a future as a mechanic in the army, as he roamed an Elizabeth shopping centre with his older brother Paul one Saturday afternoon. He had quit school just two months out from graduating because as he said ‘I had my licence and a job.’ That was as a pizza hut delivery boy – a real life Dougie if ever there was one. As luck had it, it was Paul who first captured the attention of some casting agents on their last day out looking for suitable candidates for their film. A film about the horrors that went on just a few miles south on Main North Road in Salisbury but which will be forever remembered for the barrels full of decomposed body parts found in a disused bank By Harry Pearce vault at Snowtown in South Australia’s mid north. Profile Adelaide’s Own anByd OHarrynly On Pearce-line Street Mag 11 Profile Lucas also caught their eye and soon it was just him who was being groomed for a part. After three days of intense training and screen tests word came through, the investors liked what they had seen too and he had the role of Jamie Vlassakis – the lead role in a full length film – and this without a moment of prior actor’s training or experience.