MEDIA KIT CONTENTS Page 2 Synopses Page 4 Don’s Biography Page 5 Don’s Filmography Page 6 Quotes from Don’s Colleagues Page 8 Company Profiles Page 9 Director’s Notes: Cathy Henkel Page 11 Producer’s Notes: Trish Lake Page 13 Crew Profiles Page 15 Credits LINK TO THE TRAILER www.showmethemagic.com.au Actor/ producer Hugh Jackman and cinematographer Don McAlpine on the set of X-Men Origins: Wolverine in Sydney. Image: Cathy Henkel. 1 The Adventures of Don McAlpine SHORT SYNOPSIS LONG SYNOPSIS Show Me The Magic takes us on an enthralling journey into the life and Show Me The Magic takes us on an enthralling and joyful journey into the life work of legendary Australian cinematographer Don McAlpine. A tender and work of the legendary and world-renowned Australian cinematographer, portrait of a life in film, Show Me The Magic weaves together footage from Don McAlpine. Don’s personal archive, his filmography, and on-set observation of his work. Including interviews with filmmakers Baz Luhrmann, Bruce Beresford, Gavin A country kid from the small wheat-belt town of Quandialla in isolated south- Hood, P.J. Hogan, Gillian Armstrong, Paul Mazursky and Hugh Jackman, Show western New South Wales, McAlpine was born in 1934 - the year before the Me The Magic will engage and delight anyone who has ever been first technicolour film was released. There wasn’t even a cinema in Quandialla. touched by the magic of movies. Don helped hi s mother support their family from the age of 14, when his father was stricken by tuberculosis. His part-time job at the Temora chemist MEDIUM SYNOPSIS as a darkroom photo developer struck a chord in young Don’s soul. Soon, a Show Me The Magic takes us on an enthralling journey into the life and school performance of The Mikado ignited in him the desire to entertain an work of legendary Australian cinematographer Don McAlpine. The filmmaker, audience. Cathy Henkel, secured rare behind-the-scenes access to Don’s on-set world throughout his 50th film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine with Gavin Hood and His fascination with the magical images emerging from his darkroom set him Hugh Jackman, and to the set of Mental, directed by P.J. Hogan, (Peter Pan). on the winding path that would eventua lly lead to the glittering lights of Mental is Don’s 52nd film and his first digital feature. His career includes such Hollywood, where, in 2009, he received the American Society of seminal movies as Patriot Games, Predator, Peter Pan, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Cinematographers’ “International Cinematographer of the Year” Award in Rouge! and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. front of the foremost luminaries of the American film industry. Show Me The Magic tells the story of Don's journey from a one-horse That same year, Don shot his 50th film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a big-budget, town in outback NSW to the heights of Hollywood, weaving historical archive effects-driven action movie directed by Oscar-winner Gavin Hood and with Don's own personal collection and on-location footage. Directors Bruce starring Hugh Jackman. Show Me the Magic takes us on set and behind the Beresford and Gillian Armstrong recall highlights from Don’s remarkable scenes of that film. In 2011, Don posted another landmark: Mental, a low- Australian career, including the iconic Breaker Morant and My Brilliant Career. budget movie directed by PJ Hogan (Muriel’s Wedding, My Best Friend’s We meet Paul Mazursky, who enabled Don’s transition into Hollywood Wedding, Peter Pan). Mental was Don’s first digital film and his first Australian with Tempest and Down and Out in Beverly Hills. Baz Luhrmann and Catherine film in 25 years. Martin take us behind the scenes of their two iconic films with Don, Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge! As we travel with Don back into his past, and into the Australian outback landscape that he loves so much, we experience the extr emes of movie Show Me The Magic will engage and delight anyone who has ever been making: embedded alongside him on the contrasting sets of Wolverine and touched by the magic of movies. Mental, we peel back the layers of what Don calls ‘the beautiful deception' of cinema to illuminate the world behind the screen. [CONTINUES] 2 Joined by celebrated Australian directors Bruce Beresford and Gillian Armstrong, we explore the heritage of the remarkable Australian films that Don photographed, including the iconic Breaker Morant and My Brilliant Career. In Los Angeles, Don reconnects with Paul Mazursky who gave him his big break in Hollywood with Tempest and followed up with Down and Out in Beverly Hills. And two Australians of a later generation - Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin - take us behind the scenes on Don’s spectacular creative achievements – Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge! At once the story of a remarkable man and an exploration of filmmaking at the highest level, Show Me The Magic will engage and delight anyone who has ever been touched by the magic of movies. * * * * * PICTURED: Show Me The Magic producer / director Dr. Cathy Henkel with Don McAlpine, holding his AACTA Raymond Longford Award. 3 Show Me The Magic The Adventures of Don McAlpine DON McALPINE: BIOGRAPHY As he approaches his 80th year, Don shows little interest in slowing down. He Don McAlpine was born in the isolated outback village of Quandialla, NSW. and his lifelong partner Jeanette still travel the world, shooting on location He was working as a physical education teacher in a small town nearby when from Dolphin Heads to Durham. Don is adapting to new digital cameras and he boldly talked the Australian Broadcasting Corporation into giving him a continues to embrace cutting-edge technology, shooting his first digital film, shot as a newsreel stringer. His achievements in the ‘60s filming regional Mental, with P.J. Hogan. stories led to a full time job at the national broadcaster. From there he moved to the Commonwealth Film Unit, where he was assigned the job of travelling Don’s personal history in film is a history of the medium itself; he developed to exotic places to shoot ethnographic pieces on colour 35mm film. In 1972, as an artist in parallel to the growth of the Australian film industry, winning the Don took leave from this position to shoot his first feature film, Bruce respect of his peers and great international acclaim. Show Me The Magic is a Beresford’s The Adventures of Barry McKenzie. tender portrait of a life in film, weaving together footage from Don’s personal archive, his filmography and on-set observation. The film includes fellow And so began a career spanning six decades and over 53 films, from the iconic filmmakers Baz Luhrmann, Bruce Beresford, Gavin Hood, P.J. Hogan, Gillian Australian classics Don’s Party, ‘Breaker’ Morant, and My Brilliant Career to Armstrong and actor/producer Hugh Jackman. international box-office hits like Parenthood, Mrs Doubtfire, Patriot Games, Predator and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. For his films with Baz Luhrmann, Don received a BAFTA nomination (Romeo + Juliet), and Oscar® and BAFTA nominations for Best Cinematography (Moulin Rouge!). In 2009 Don was honoured as the ASC (American Society of Cinematographers) Cinematographer of the Year, and in 2011 he was granted the first award to be bestowed by the newly-established Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA): the Raymond Longford Award, which recognises a person who has made a truly outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Australia's screen environment and culture. Throughout his career, Don has earned a reputation as a brilliant craftsman, fast and flexible, with a knack for innovative solutions to tricky on-set problems. His mercurial adaptability in working with directors to realize their visions has resulted in an incredibly diverse filmography. From Oscar-winners to first-timers, they all applaud Don’s sensitivity and simpatico, as well as his humility and fortitude. PICTURED: Don McAlpine on location for Mental. Photo: Cathy Henkel. 4 Show Me The Magic The Adventures of Don McAlpine DON McALPINE: FILMOGRAPHY 27. Predator (1987) 28. Orphans (1987) 1. Gentle Strangers (1972) 29. Moving (1988) 2. The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972) 30. Moon Over Parador (1988) 3. Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (1974) 31. See You in the Morning (1989) 4. Don's Party (1976) 32. Parenthood (1989) 5. Surrender in Paradise (1976) 33. Stanley & Iris (1990) 6. The Getting of Wisdom (1978) 34. The Hard Way (1991) 7. Patrick (1978) 35. Career Opportunities (1991), AKA One Wild Night 8. Money Movers (1978) 36. Medicine Man (1992), AKA The Last Days of Eden 9. The Journalist (1979) 37. Patriot Games (1992) 10. The Odd Angry Shot (1979) 38. The Man Without a Face (1993) 11. My Brilliant Career (1979) 39. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) 12. 'Breaker' Morant (1980) 40. Clear and Present Danger (1994) 13. The Earthling (1980) 41. Nine Months (1995) 14. The Club (1980), AKA Players 42. Romeo + Juliet (1996) 15. The Children of An Lac (1980) (TV) 43. The Edge (1997) 16. Puberty Blues (1981) 44. Stepmom (1998) 17. Tempest (1982) 45. Moulin Rouge! (2001) 18. Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder (1982), AKA Vietnam: Hell or Glory 46. The Time Machine (2002) 19. Blue Skies Again (1983) 47. Anger Management (2003) 20. Now and Forever (1983) 48. Peter Pan (2003) 21. Harry & Son (1984) 49. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) 22. Moscow on the Hudson (1984) 50. X Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) 23. King David (1985) 51.