Aussiewood: Australia's leading actors and directors tell how they conquered Hollywood
By (Author) Michaela Boland
By (author) Michael Bodey
Allen & Unwin
Allen & Unwin
1st September 2004
Australia
General
Non Fiction
791.430979494
Paperback
304
Width 152mm, Height 230mm
434g
Hollywood is in the throes of a white-hot love affair with Australian actors and filmmakers. This island nation, with a population of 20 million, has produced some of the biggest names in Hollywood and the trend shows no signs of letting up.
In Aussiewood, top Australian show-biz journalists Michaela Boland and Michael Bodey take us behind the scenes to meet the stars. Nicole, Heath, Hugh and many others tell us about their backgrounds, their dreams and their fears. They describe the glamour and the business of Hollywood, how they've dealt with sudden fame and how they shot - or climbed - to the top. Some did it tough, some relatively easy; some pursued stardom with voracious ambition, for others Hollywood came knocking .
But what led to Hollywood's fascination with Australia Is it about talent Does it come down to economics Or is Australia simply flavour of the month Aussiewood goes beyond the personal stories to explore why so many have shot to stardom so quickly. It uncovers a wealth and diversity of talent, on both sides of the camera.
"Fresh, candid voices...provide an almost cross-cultural perspective of the Hollywood journey to the top." --The Bloomsbury Review
"Uncovers the dimension and human side of a culture generally pigeonholed by many Americans as dusty, archaic and rough." --Flickhead
Michaela Boland writes for The Australian Financial Review and Hollywood newspaper Variety. She has been a broadcaster with ABC Radio and 3RRR, was editor of Cinema Papers magazine and has written for Juice, Premiere and The Age.
Michael Bodey is show-biz editor at Sydney's Daily Telegraph, a regular cultural commentator on ABC radio 702 and a contributor to Men's Style magazine. He was previously a film critic for The Age and arts editor at Beat Magazine.