LUCY GIBSON, The West Australian
February 7, 2012, 9:52 am

For someone who, as a young girl, sobbed her way through The Notebook, it’s perhaps not surprising to hear Jessica McNamee describe landing the role of Rachel McAdams’ sister in The Vow as the biggest moment of her career.

The Aussie actress was still in high school when the McAdams-Ryan Gosling romantic drama was released in cinemas in 2004 and never imagined that one day she would be appearing on the big screen alongside the film’s leading lady.

“I had actually been grounded at the time and I had to beg my dad to take me,” 24-year-old McNamee, above, told AAA from Sydney during a trip home to see friends and family.

“He was like, ‘Fine, but I’m taking you.’ I remember vividly sitting in the cinema watching him sob his way through it.

“It was a surreal experience walking on to the set of The Vow in Toronto and meeting Rachel. I definitely think securing that role was the most excited I have been in my whole career.”

McNamee, known for her TV roles on Seven’s Home and Away and ratings winner Packed to the Rafters, says she was equally moved by the script for The Vow, which also stars Channing Tatum as a man who has to win back the heart of his wife (McAdams) following a car accident in which she suffers severe memory loss.

The film, which opens in Australia on Thursday, is McNamee’s first major Hollywood film since she moved to Los Angeles last year and gives her peace of mind after her big decision to leave Rafters in 2010.

“I think as an actor there is always a fear you will never work again but you can’t be ruled by that fear because then nothing will happen to you,” says McNamee, whose previous movies include the Prom horror comedy The Loved Ones and the Australian short film 50-50.

“If I hadn’t left Rafters, I would never have got the role on The Vow and that was huge for me.”

McNamee denies she left Rafters with any ill-feeling and her decision to quit her role as the high-maintenance Sammy was purely because her contract was up and she wanted a new challenge. She says she is still in touch with all her former Rafters co-stars, including Perth’s Jessica Marais.

Something else she denies is a romance with her former Home and Away co-star, Rhys Wakefield.

“Oh no, he is one of my best friends in the world,” McNamee says of Wakefield, who is also now based in LA. “He is amazing and I love him to bits but he is like my brother.”

McNamee admits she is “spending time with someone” but says, since arriving in LA, she made the decision to keep her private life private.

With red carpet premieres, Oscar invites and two Australian films in the pipeline, McNamee is set for a busy year.

However, she is keeping her feet firmly on the ground.

“I think it’s important to have friends and interests outside the industry so that, if you do lose out on roles, it makes it more bearable,” says McNamee, who is studying via correspondence for a degree in politics and history.

“Every actor is the same. You never know when the work is going to dry up and that’s not an enjoyable feeling.”
Source: The West Australian

February 14, 2012

Congrats to talented young Aussie actor Rhys Wakefield, of “Home & Away” and “Sanctum” fame, who has snagged his first big gig overseas.
Wakefield, who won raves for his role in “The Black Balloon” a couple of years ago, is joining Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey in “Vigilandia”. He’s apparently psyched, and especially overjoyed to be working with Universal again – whom he did “Sanctum” for.
The plot of the Los Angeles-lensed film is being kept under wraps. James De Monaco is the writer/director of the Platinum Dunes production.
Wakefield also appears in the upcoming ensemble drama “Nobody Walks”, which also features Rosemarie DeWitt and John Krasinski, and another indy, “The Philosophers”, set at an international school in Jakarta.

Source: Movie Hole

Filming began today on the film ‘Vigilandia but it looks like they’re not yet done with casting as Rhys Wakefield has just been announced that he has been added to the cast list.

Wakefield is best known for his role as Lucas Holden in the Australian TV series ‘Home and Away’ and as Josh in last year’s movie release ‘Sanctum.’ He will be joining Ethan Hawke, Lena Headley, Tony Oller, Edwin Hodge, Adelaide Kane and Max Burkholder for the sci-fi thriller that was written and is directed by James DeMonaco (‘Little New York’, ‘Assault on Precinct 13’).

Thanks to Bloody Disgusting, we now have the plot for this formally hush-hush movie. This sci-fi thriller is set to take place in a future where a new regime, called the New Founding Fathers of America, “seek to control an epidemic of violence and crime with an experiment called “The Cure”. The Cure is a completely hypocritical “event” where, three times a year, for 12 hours, murder is completely legal. The film is said to play like a home invasion film with a heavy political theme.” If the movie is received well, it will be the first in a franchise of post-apocalyptic films.

There doesn’t seem to be a release date yet for the film but the log line sounds very promising. I can only assume that Hawke, Headley, Burkholder and Kane will play the family who will be terrorized in the movie. Even though this movie is said to be a low budget film, it sounds like it has the potential to rival one with a big budget. What do you think so far?

Source: Science Fiction

Magnolia Takes North American Rights to NOBODY WALKS
Park City, UT – January 28, 2012 – The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnolia Pictures announced today they have acquired North American rights to NOBODY WALKS, a lovely ensemble drama directed by Ry Russo-Young (You Wont Miss Me) and written by Russo-Young and Lena Dunham (Tiny Furniture) that premiered here this week at the Sundance Film Festival. Starring John Krasinski, Olivia Thirlby, Rosemarie DeWitt, Justin Kirk, India Ennenga, and Dylan McDermott, NOBODY WALKS was produced by Super Crispy Entertainment’s Jonathan Schwartz and Andrea Sperling – winners of last year’s Sundance Grand Jury Award for LIKE CRAZY— along with Alicia Van Couvering; and executive produced by Audrey and Zygi Wilf.

Krasinski plays Peter, a Hollywood sound designer who’s agreed to help Martine (Thirlby) with her experimental art film as a favor to his wife (DeWitt). Martine, a beautiful and driven 23-year-old artist, comes to stay in the family’s pool house at their posh Silver Lake home, and her arrival ignites raw emotions and desires throughout the entire family.

Magnolia will release the film later this year in its Ultra VOD program with a robust theatrical release in all major markets.

“All of us at Magnolia fell in love with NOBODY WALKS,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “Ry Russo-Young has taken a big step forward with this exquisitely executed film laced with humor and humanity. The cast is excellent across the board and Olivia Thirlby’s incandescent performance showcases a star in the making.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Eamonn and Magnolia,” said Super Crispy Entertainment’s Jonathan Schwartz. “There were many wonderful distributors interested, but in the end we felt they were the perfect fit, being so passionate about Ry’s amazing talent and the film’s theatrical life around the country. We look forward to this partnership.”

The deal was negotiated for Magnolia by SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley with Submarine’s Josh Braun and Lawrence Kopeikin of Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein & Kohner and Elsa Ramo on behalf of for the filmmakers.

Source: Collider

Nobody Walks have been chosen to screen as part of the US Dramatic Competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The festival takes place on January 19 – 29 2012.

Here´s the info I found at the official Sundance website:

Martine, a 23-year-old artist from New York, arrives in Los Angeles to stay in the pool house of a family living in the hip and hilly community of Silver Lake. Peter, the father, has agreed to help Martine complete sound design on her art film as a favor to his wife. Martine innocently enters the seemingly idyllic life of this open-minded family with two kids and a relaxed Southern California vibe. Like a bolt of lightning, her arrival sparks a surge of energy that awakens suppressed impulses in everyone and forces them to confront their own fears and desires.

Exquisitely orchestrated by Ry Russo-Young You Won’t Miss Me screened at the 2009 Festival) and cowritten by Lena Dunham (Tiny Furniture), this potent charting of inner urges and sufferings links characters together in an intricate dance of lust, denial, and deception. Despite their issues, each comes across as fundamentally human, urging viewers to appraise the characters’ morality by evaluating their own motives. Sexually charged and rigorously composed, Nobody Walks boasts an impressive cast who deliver incisive performances in this absorbing tale.
- T.G.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Audrey Wilf, Zygi Wilf PRODUCERS Jonathan Schwartz, Andrea Sperling, Alicia Van Couvering COPRODUCER Warren Fisher CINEMATOGRAPHER Chris Blauvelt EDITOR John Walter MUSIC Fall on Your Sword

CAST John Krasinski, Olivia Thirlby, Rosemarie DeWitt, Justin Kirk, India Ennenga, Dylan McDermott

Screenings
Time Date Event Code Venue City
12:15 pm 1/22/2012 NOBDY22CD Eccles Theatre Park City
9:30 pm 1/23/2012 NOBDY23RN Redstone Cinema 8 Park City
6:30 pm 1/24/2012 NOBDY24GE Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center Salt Lake City
8:30 pm 1/25/2012 NOBDY25MN MARC Park City
6:00 pm 1/26/2012 NOBDY26SE Screening Room Sundance Resort
2:30 pm 1/27/2012 NOBDY27LA Library Center Theatre Park City

Interview with writer/director Ry-Russo Young.

According to various news articles and tweets from the cast of The Philosophers, the cast is on their way to meet with Indonesias president! I think there will be press coverage, so keep checking back for the latest news and images ;)

Taserhassan Taser Hassan
On my way too meeting the president of indonesia with #thephilosophers .. The films getting the recognition it deserves ..
2 hours ago

gblagden George Blagden
Day off again but trip to the palace to meet the president of Indonesia. Will tell him about London, see if he can do anything #besafelondon
7 hours ago

Here´s a news article. Sorry about the weird wording, but it was translated from indonesian by google translate. Tried to fix it up a little thought!

The Philosophers cast invited to the palace
August 6, 2011

Metrotvnews.com, Jakarta: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono plans to invite the cast and film crew of The Philosophers to the Merdeka Palace. This was told by Minister of Culture and Tourism, Jero Wacik, in Kemenbudpar Office, Jakarta, Friday (5 / 8).

The reason for this visit is that the government will oversee the filming process of The Philosophers which have been shot one the island Belitong, Prambanan, and Mount Bromo. The government has now started to build the infrastructure to welcome tourists when the film is aired. The film will be released in May-June 2012.

“Infrastructure hold us up, but soon a new airport of Lombok is ready to receive tourists increases if the film is to promote Indonesia,” he said.

In addition, he said not all Hollywood films will be supported by the government. It depends on whether it is a favorable scenario for Indonesia or not.

“See the first scenario, if there are good and benefit why not,” said Wacik.

The Hollywood film will be starring Bonny Wright, Freddie Stroma, Daryl Sabara and others. It will be directed and produced by George Zakk, Cybill Lui and John Huddless. (MPA / *)

Source

EDIT (11.08.11): Finally a photo from the meeting have surfaced! Credit goes to Cinta Laura’s twitter.

Indiana Evans (Rhys´ex-girlfriend and Home and Away co-star) was interviewed by PopSugar in occasion of her staring in the new australian tv mini-series Crownies. She mentioned Rhys briefly.

On keeping in touch with other Home and Away castmates: “I do as much as I can, but they’re all in America! I skype Rhys [Wakefield] every now and then.”

Read the rest (no Rhys).