What do The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Muriel's Wedding, Strictly Ballroom, Starstruck and Moulin Rouge! all have in common? Other than being ace Australian films, they've all made the leap from cinemas to theatres — and to stage musicals, to be specific. They're about to have company, too, with another Aussie gem set to follow the screen-to-stage route. This time, classic 90s and early 00s children's TV series Round the Twist is getting the musical treatment. If you've ever, ever felt like seeing the beloved show on a stage with everyone belting out tunes about strange things happening, this dream is about to become a reality. Exactly when Round the Twist the Musical will debut, and where, and who'll star in it hasn't yet been revealed, however. Still, we're bet you're now more excited right now than a Twist family member in a lighthouse. Airing for two seasons between 1990–93, then another two from 2000–01, Round the Twist adapted Paul Jennings' popular books into an offbeat fantasy series. If you were the right age, it was must-see TV — and now it's your next must-see musical. Here's hoping that the new stage production not only does justice to the show that absolutely every Aussie kid watched in the 90s and 00s, and more than once, but that it taps into its balance of humour, strangeness and scares. Oh, and that there's a big lighthouse involved, of course. Obviously, we all know which song definitely has to be included — and multiple times, ideally. Yes, it's the theme tune by Andrew Duffield that you've now got stuck in your head and will keep singing to yourself for the rest of the week. (And no, we're not sorry for putting it there.) RGM Productions is thrilled to announce development & production of ROUND THE TWIST THE MUSICAL after a successful RISE application in Australia. Based on the short stories by Paul Jennings, the cult TV series aired on the BBC in 70 countries over 30 years and is now on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/8Z2nfutBkX — RGM Productions (@RGMProd) September 6, 2021 RGM Productions, which also has the Priscilla and Starstruck musicals to its name, is behind the all-singing, all-dancing version of Round the Twist — and announced that it is in development and production after receiving funding from the Australian Government's Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) scheme. Writer/composer Paul Hodge, director Simon Phillips and producer Garry McQuinn will be guiding the show, with the latter advising that "RGM came on board to develop Round the Twist the Musical buoyed by the immense energy and enthusiasm of Paul Hodge and Simon Phillips" in a statement on Facebook. He continued: "we are thrilled that RISE has seen fit to award this great new Australian work with funding, enabling us to give everyone a great night in the theatre, enjoying the antics of the Twist family." If you need something to watch until the stage production comes to the fruition, all four seasons of Round the Twist are streaming on Netflix. And you can also check out the trailer for Round the Twist's first season below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjuXTD0m9Lc Round the Twist the Musical is now in development — we'll update you with further details, including about its premiere season, when additional information is announced.
Despite years of public rallies, crowdfunding efforts and court action, Sydney's Brutalist, box-like Sirius building is officially up for sale. Although the New South Wales government first announced that the 70s-era structure was on the market back in December, expressions of interest just opened yesterday, Friday, May 25, with Savills Australia now actively seeking buyers for the iconic location. While it's a blow for the vocal Save Our Sirius campaign, the 2-60 Cumberland Street address will apparently be subject to some restrictions. The government "will maintain interest in the site, ensuring any future developments are sympathetic to the surrounding area," according to Savills Australia. And, a proposed State Environmental Planning Policy amendment will apply, imposing new controls regarding the zoning, height, maximum gross floor area, active street frontages and design of the site. It has been a particularly eventful year for the 79-unit tower, which stands tall by the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Final public tours took place in January, a farewell party for the structure's last remaining resident — 91-year-old Myra Demetriou — was held the same month and Save Our Sirius revealed they'd be lodging their own purchase bid. In response to the official launch of expressions of interest, Save Our Sirius restated their quest to retain the building in its current form, ensure it is used as affordable inner-city housing for workers in the area, and to have its historical significance officially recognised. "We again call on the NSW Government to stop the sale, deploy Sirius for key worker accommodation, and list Sirius on the State Heritage Register," the group advised in a statement. Even with the government restrictions, if Sirius is bought by developers, the 79-unit tower is highly likely to be demolished to make room for new apartments. As well as wiping out a crucial part of '70s architectural history, it'll also mean saying goodbye to an important public housing initiative, allowing people on low incomes to live in the centre of this expensive city and enjoy harbour views. With the situation certain to keep developing over the coming months, take a look through our gallery of the building as it currently stands. Images: Katherine Lu / Kimberley Low.
For almost 18 months, there's been no time for No Time to Die. Originally slated to hit cinemas worldwide back in April 2020, the 25th official film featuring Bond, James Bond has suffered from more than a few delays due to the pandemic — and was one of the first movies to initially move its release date, in fact. Yes, you could say the feature's plans have been both shaken and stirred, and multiple times. In Australia, they've just been given another push. In most of the world, lovers of both martinis and spy films will finally get their latest fix of suave secret agents, sinister plots to destroy the world and big-screen espionage thrills from the end of September; however, that's no longer the case in Australia. With cinemas in New South Wales and Victoria closed for the foreseeable future due to lockdowns in both states, and reopening dates not yet announced, No Time to Die's Aussie debut has been shifted from Thursday, September 30 to Thursday, November 11. Movie buffs can expect this to keep happening — although, unlike in 2020 and earlier in 2021 when film release dates kept being swapped around due to COVID-19, now it's just occurring in Australia. And yes, No Time to Die is delaying its release countrywide, even though cinemas in Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory currently remain open. Need a reminder of what to look forward to, Bond-wise? A new trailer for No Time to Die has also just dropped, following a first sneak peek all the way back in 2019 and a more recent trailer in 2020. Obviously, all the franchise staples are covered in the clips so far, including world-in-peril action, savvy ladies, plenty of gadgets, eye-popping stunts and spectacles, and an Aston Martin. And, because no Bond movie would be complete without a formidable villain, this flick serves up two: an unhinged, mask-wearing new adversary called Safin (Bohemian Rhapsody Oscar-winner Rami Malek), plus imprisoned ex-opponent Blofeld (Christoph Waltz, Alita: Battle Angel). Daniel Craig returns as 007, marking not only his fifth stint as the spy since 2006's Casino Royale, but his last — and he has company in the 00 stakes. Following the events of 2015's Spectre, Bond has left active service and started a new life in Jamaica, causing MI6 to recruit someone else to cover his turf. That'd be new agent Nomi (Captain Marvel's Lashana Lynch), and you can obviously expect the pair to cross paths. Bond being Bond, he was never going to be able to escape his line of work easily, after all. Here, he's brought back in by CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright, Westworld) to help with a mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective, Maniac) and penned by a team that includes Fukunaga, The Report director Scott Z Burns and Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this Bond instalment also brings back all the usual offsiders. Ralph Fiennes (The Dig) returns as M, alongside Naomie Harris (The Third Day) as Eve Moneypenny, Ben Whishaw (Little Joe) as Q and Rory Kinnear (Peterloo) as MI6 head Bill Tanner. Lea Seydoux (Kursk) is back as psychiatrist Dr Madeleine Swan, too — and, reuniting with Craig after co-starring in the fabulously entertaining Knives Out, Ana de Armas also joins the cast. Watch the final No Time to Die trailer below: No Time to Die will release in Australian cinemas on November 11, 2021.
Do you sometimes find yourself resenting Chet Faker for his award-winning whisker-wearing*? Do you refuse to listen to Mumford & Sons, not only for their blatant commercial success but also their rugged yet luxurious face forests? Well, you're not alone. Men in the US have been dealing with similar beard-related anxieties and have undergone facial hair transplants to compensate. Using similar techniques to that of Shane Warne and the Advanced Hair Studio, facial hair transplants take hair from the patient's head, make micro-incisions on a bare patch of face, and insert the roots into empty follicles. Even when the hair falls out, the implanted roots begin to grow new hair. All in all, it's a process that ranges from US$3,000 - $7,000. And, for that money, here's hoping it's worth the pain. Though plastics surgeons have reported an increase in "hip" and "fashionable" young men from Brooklyn seeking the procedure, it also has roots in more substantial causes. Many who seek the transplant are the victims of facial scars, women seeking gender reassignment, or Hasidic Jews trying to achieve a denser payot. (Now you feel bad about laughing, right?) Though it may be easy to make fun of those seeking the procedure for the wrong reasons, it's also pretty concerning. Are men developing body image problems about their bare chin in the same way some women are about their flat chests? So what if you don't look like a homeless lumberjack? It doesn't make you less of a man. If anything, it takes you one step away from the likes of Zach Galifianakis and Shia LaBeouf. And, if you ask us, that's surely something to be thankful for. *Can neither confirm nor deny his ARIA win was beard-related. Via DNAinfo. Image by Juan Luis.
Following the massive success of its Hokusai exhibition in 2017, the NGV will once again look to the cultural influence of Japan with an exploration of the country's widespread impact on Western modern art. Running from May 25 to October 28, Japonisme: Japan and the Birth of Modern Art considers the crucial period of time following the reopening of international trade from Japan in 1854. As artworks began to flow from Japan into Europe and America, a cultural revolution of sorts was set in motion as Western artists became exposed to the artworks and visual language of Japan for the first time. Influencing artists like Vincent van Gogh and other legends of the day, this moment in history is considered one of the crucial events that lay the foundations of Western modern art. Japonisme (which will be free to attend) delves into the NGV's huge Asian arts collection, showcasing examples that demonstrate Japan's influence of much of the world's art throughout the last 150 years. Western decorative arts, paper works, paintings, fashion and textiles, photography, as well as Japanese art will be on display. Specific highlights include Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's much-loved Divan Japonais poster, examples from the 1866 Bracquemond-Rousseau dinner service, and an undulating art nouveau cabinet designed by Louis Majorelle, demonstrating the influence of Japanese styling on French furniture. Japonisme will show just how the Japanese respect for the environment influenced European artists, and you'll notice just how many examples of European art highlight the reworked organic forms, rich colours and gentle textures typically associated with Japanese aesthetics. Japonisme: Japan and the Birth of Modern Art will run from May 25 to October 28 at the NGV International. Find more info at ngv.vic.gov.au. Image: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Divan Japonais (1893).
You may remember that earlier this year I wrote about IMA’s Fresh Cut exhibitions, describing how it aims to give a helping hand to up and coming artists and providing them with a chance to shine in front of a local audience. Well, it is happening again, with part 2 of the 2013 edition taking place right now. On display now is Anita Holtsclaw, and Ruth McConchie, two artists who are focusing on the voyeuristic side of human nature like surveillance and perversion. Anita Holtsclaw’s work examines the representation of women in cinema, with purpose contrasted cinema enclosures displaying her film work. Ruth McConchie uses crawlspaces and passageways with view holes to view others in a voyeuristic fashion. These are two extraordinary artists who are wholly deserving of the chance to display their creative work. Go to IMA and see what the fuss is about, you won’t regret it.
I won’t lie to you, dear readers, I was considering trying to define the surrealist art movement as a beginning to this article. But after several hours of perusing the GoMA website’s background and history on the period, I decided the adjectives were best left to the experts; avant-garde, experimentation, liberation of desire, reproduction of dreams. Instead I will say this: the artists from this period were crazy in the best possible way. They include people like André Breton, Giorgio de Chirico, May Ray, Joan Miró and Salvador Dali who were all known for being a little out there. The latter in particular who was known to regularly take his anteater for walks. As I’ve already realised, the best people to give you the 101 on these fabulous folk are the art world experts. Amazingly, GoMA are offering up their most experienced curators to guide visitors around the exhibition for no extra fee! Do pay attention though, each curator focuses on a different element of surrealism from film to an artist’s psyche. Depending on your interests, make sure you peruse the website before wandering into town with your own unusual animal on a leash.
Now that Brisbane’s winter has fully set in, there’s something that seems so right about layering up, drinking cider and listening to dreamy, melodic bands all night. If that sounds like your cup of tea, on the agenda this weekend are Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders who will be floating into FANS on Friday. Celebrating the imminent release of his new record ‘Hurtsville’, Jack and his talented crew are hitting the Australian roads to show it off in its entirety. With his band containing Cec Condon of The Mess Hall, Beau Cassidy formerly of Starky, and Kirin J Callinan of Mercy Arms, there is certainly enough whimsy and charm to spread around. On top of that, they will be supported by local wonders Big Dead and Little Casino. Since his last highly awarded album in 2008, Mr Ladder has changed his sound. Not better or worse, but certainly equally as brilliant. What this means for you, dear readers, is that both new and old fans will have a chance to witness something brilliant.
For the inner bookworm in all of us, French designer and inventor Oscar Lhermitte has come up with a way to make torn, dog-eared pages a thing of the past. By rethinking the traditional bookmark, the Albatros is a simple yet functional product which will help keep your novel in pristine condition. Made from polyester and long lasting adhesive, the nifty structure and shape of Lhermitte’s invention follows your reading without the hassle of fumbling around with pages. The days of frustratingly forgetting your page number in a novel may be over. Currently available on IndieGoGo, you can pre-order a set of 6 for $10.
Let me set the scene: Pilbara, an isolated construction camp set amidst the seemingly endless sea of ochre-saturated dust of the Australian outback is wracked by a cyclone, one that causes damage and death. The survivors anxiously wait for the arrival of a government representative whose job is to conduct a coronial inquiry. And so begins Strange Attractor, one of the latest productions to be held at the Brisbane Arts Theatre. Written by Sue Smith (who also penned Bastard Boys and Brides of Christ) and directed by Greg Scurr, is a story about isolation in the expanse of outback Australia, and the interactions of a small group, brought together in the aftermath of a harrowing ordeal. This production will be running until Saturday 26, so that leaves plenty of time to get to Petrie Terrace to witness a great example of Australian independent theatre.
Mona Foma is making the huge move from Hobart to Launceston in serious style — by giving away free airfares and three-day festival tickets to an entire Air Mofo plane worth of lucky, lucky festivalgoers. The 'private airline', a collaboration between Mona Foma and Tourism Tasmania, will exclusively service competition winners for MONA's summer festival. Seats will be given away in rows of six, so your five closest mates will be given the deluxe treatment, too. The airline will fly from Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with winners arriving in Launceston for the start of the festival — around noon on Friday, January 18. Expect more than just your average plane ride on board Air Mofo. "It's going to be like the festival — it'll be weird, there'll be good food, great booze, and some confronting in-flight entertainment that probably can't be unseen," says Mona Foma curator Brian Ritchie. Mona's summer festival will take over Launceston from January 18–20 and the lineup boasts everything from real human body parts on display to a onesie exhibition, with free tickets offered to the local Amish community. Music highlights include Swedish star Neneh Cherry, Welsh electronic music icons Underworld and Tassie's own Courtney Barnett, plus a Mona Foma exclusive: a four-part performance by producer and composer Oneohtrix Point Never and the MYRIAD ensemble, framed from the perspective of an alien intelligence in an unlovely combination of medieval folk, dance music, R&B, and sci-fi imagery. You can check out more festival highlights over here. Head here to enter the competition. The otherwise standard form includes the question, "tell us in 25 words or less why you and your five fellow Mofos need to party at Mona Foma in Launceston". Needless to say, it's best to nail that answer if you want those tickets. Three-day festival passes are also on sale now — this year priced at $99 for the weekend. And, if you're looking for other ways to enjoy the festival's new surrounds, check out our weekender's guide to Launceston during Mona Foma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jS4uZtMaJk&feature=youtu.be Mona Foma 2019 will take over Launceston, Tasmania from January 18–20. To enter the free airfare and festival passes competition, head over here.
With so much time on our hands during lockdown, many have turned to their kitchens in order to expand their cooking skills. Among the most popular isolation cooking projects is taking on homemade pasta, and who better to guide you through the process than two grandmas with a over 100 years' of combined pasta making experience, all the way in Italy? Nonna Live offers private and group pasta making lessons online. Classes usually go for $100 USD ($157 AUD/$166 NZD), but have been marked down to $60 USD ($94 AUD/$99 NZD). They take about two hours, and will take you through the entire pasta making process, with a delicious dish as your end reward. Nonna Live classes are led by two Italian grandmothers: 84-year-old Nonna Nerina, who has become well-known for her pasta making through her AirBnB experiences and lessons in Italy; and Nonna Giuseppa, owner of Pasta Cuomo, a pastaficio in the Amalfi Coast that has been in her family for 150 years. You'll get a list of ingredients and cooking equipment you need to make a delicious meal in their classes, a week out. https://www.facebook.com/nonnas.it/photos/a.864756793704541/1475787695934778/?type=3&theater
The only resort on the Whitsundays' Daydream Island is finally set to reopen after being devastated by Cyclone Debbie back in March 2018. Following a $100 million redevelopment, Daydream Island Resort is making its return in serious fashion — with a 200-metre living reef, three restaurants, a poolside bar and an outdoor cinema to boot. The exclusive resort will reopen on April 10 with 277 fully refurbished suites that span ocean, garden and pool views. Those aren't any ordinary ocean views, either, with crystal clear turquoise waters surrounding every corner of this tiny oasis. And the massive, newly landscaped pool wraps throughout the resort's tropical gardens and links to its coral beaches, offering views of the Great Barrier Reef beyond. The resort's living reef has also been revitalised — it's a coral lagoon that spans 200 metres and surrounds the central building, with its 1.5 million litres of water housing over 100 species of fish, coral and invertebrates. Guests can learn from local marine biologists while helping to feed baby stingrays and explore the new underwater observatory that lies four metres below sea level. Daydream Island will also boast three distinct restaurants, all of which feature seasonal and local produce. Fine-dining restaurant Infinity offers panoramic ocean views and a menu of Asian-fusion eats, along with a teppanyaki private dining room. Then there's Inkstone Kitchen and Bar, a modern Australian restaurant using native ingredients. Think crispy skin coral trout sourced from Bowen, served over squid ink linguine, and surrounded by thin slices of smoked crocodile and Australian caviar, too. The third dining option, Graze Interactive Dining, better resembles a greenhouse — it's contained in a lush space with hanging greenery and large glass windows that look out over the Living Reef. The dining room is run as a marketplace, with live cooking stations and a buffet breakfast on offer. There's three bars as well, including the poolside Barefoot Bar that'll serve up gourmet-style bar bites, including burgers, pork ribs and chicken wings, along with fresh smoothies and the requisite island cocktails. An outdoor cinema and gym facilities don't hurt the appeal, either. Those keen to explore the Whitsundays further can book snorkelling, helicopter tours, sailing, jet-skiing and island-hopping experiences through the resort, too. While you're in the region, don't miss the chance to check out the nearby Whitehaven Beach, which is listed as one of the best beaches in the world. Daydream Island Resort will reopen on April 10. Room rates start at $492 per night for a standard room, and bookings are open now. For more to see and do in the region, check out our Outside Guide to the Whitsundays.
The biggest event on the horticultural calendar is almost upon us. And no, we're not talking about the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, although that did kick off today. What we're talking about is the second ever ShitGardens Exhibition, a green gathering at the Lulu Café and Gallery in North Melbourne celebrating the most disastrous gardens the world has to offer. Running from Friday, March 31 until Sunday, April 2, the exhibition has been organised by the guys behind the ShitGardens Instagram account. If you're not already familiar with their work, know that they've racked up more than 18,000 followers cataloging the most ill-advised, outrageous and downright shitty landscaping choices to spring forth from the fertile ground. The show will feature some of their best (read: worst) Instagram submissions along with "a selection of original works". There'll also be a pop-up bar, and a menu of "garden-esque" tapas plates to snack on. Best of all, all proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Harrowing hedge creature spotted in the Swedish village of Molle. A post shared by Shit Gardens (@shitgardens) on Mar 22, 2017 at 4:37pm PDT Number four- the clipped form of a hedonist A post shared by Shit Gardens (@shitgardens) on Mar 14, 2017 at 11:32pm PDT Answer me these questions three... A post shared by Shit Gardens (@shitgardens) on Mar 12, 2017 at 4:46pm PDT Happy Valentines Day 😏 A post shared by Shit Gardens (@shitgardens) on Feb 13, 2017 at 7:13pm PST When the garden stares right back at you. A post shared by Shit Gardens (@shitgardens) on Jan 21, 2017 at 12:54pm PST Image via Wikimedia.
When it comes to kicking back and relaxing, some people swear by a nice warm bath. Others prefer tapping their toes to their favourite tunes, having a boozy beverage or just switching off from their always-vibrating phone. And, for another group, there's nothing that induces bliss better than listening to the one and only Keanu Reeves. Actually, that last category should really apply to everyone. If you're someone who finds the actor behind John Wick, Neo, Johnny Utah and Ted "Theodore" Logan particularly soothing, then you'll want to make a date with HBO's new series A World of Calm. It doesn't yet have a release date but, when it does hit the channel's HBO Max streaming service in the US and hopefully make its way to audiences Down Under as well, it'll give the world exactly what we want: Keanu's voice reading a narrative that has been scientifically-engineered to induce a feeling of tranquility, as paired with music and footage that's also designed to do the same. Ideally he'll say "whoa!" more than once. In HBO's first leap into health and wellness-style content, the ten-episode series is based on the popular Calm sleep, meditation and relaxation app, with the US TV network pairing up with the folks behind the latter. Specifically, the two companies are aiming to bring Calm's Sleep Stories to the screen — which have been called "bedtime stories for grown ups", have notched up more than 250 million listens, and are all about calming and soothing listeners. Keanu will only be doing the honours on one of A World of Calm's half-hour episodes; however the rest of the series definitely doesn't slouch in the star-power stakes. Joining him is a cast that'd do any movie proud, spanning not only Idris Elba, Oscar Isaac, Nicole Kidman, Zoë Kravitz, Lucy Liu and Cillian Murphy, but also two-time Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali. As for what you'll be looking at while your ears soak in the dulcet tones of all of the above A-list stars — who'll basically be guiding you through a televised relaxation session — HBO advises that it'll be serving up "mesmeric imagery". Created with Nutopia, the folks behind National Geographic's One Strange Rock and Disney+'s The World According to Jeff Goldblum, that'll also include visuals from the company's global network of cinematographers and filmmakers. Intrigued? While you're waiting for A World of Calm, you can check out one of the audio-only Calm Sleep Stories — as read by Game of Thrones' Jerome Flynn — below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4x9ssJ0jfM A World of Calm doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you with further details when they come to hand.
UPDATE: June 29, 2020 — Honeyland is available to stream via Movie Night, At Home and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. In Honeyland's opening moments, Hatidže Muratova performs feats that wouldn't be out of place in an action blockbuster. Against the craggy, sun-parched North Macedonian landscape — vistas that could easily provide the backdrop to a Star Wars movie or Mad Max: Fury Road — she scrambles over rocks and creeps along ledges, making her way from her stone and mud hut to the cliffs near her otherwise desolate rural village. There, with her green floral headscarf contrasting against pale walls, she tends to a hive of bees. Hatidže doesn't always wear protective gear, but the insects don't sting her. Pulling out the gleaming honeycomb, she's careful and respectful as she goes about her task. That also comes through in the phrase she repeats like a mantra: "half for me, half for you". Hatidže is the main point of focus in Honeyland, a multiple award-winner at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival that also became the first-ever movie to receive Oscar nominations for both Best International Film and Best Documentary earlier this year. In this intimate observational doco, she's worlds away from cinema's big-budget spectacles — but she's still a daring superhero. Dedicated to traditional apiary methods, Hatidže is the last female wild beekeeper in Europe. That mightn't mean much when audiences start watching Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov's debut feature-length film, but it will when the credits roll. As will those words that Hatidže keeps mentioning, which sum up her approach. When she removes honey from her hives, to bottle raw and sell at markets four hours away in the capital city of Skopje, she leaves as much as she takes so that her bees still have something to feed on. Filmed over three years, with Kotevska and Stefanov's team recording more than 400 hours of footage, Honeyland steps into Hatidže's daily life — and the bees aren't the only things buzzing. At first, the film's indefatigable protagonist splits her time between harvesting honey and caring for her bed-ridden, partly blind octogenarian mother Nazife, their banter brimming with both honesty and affection. Then, in a wave of movement and noise that's an omen for things to come, a family of nine moves in next door. Together, the Muratovas and their new neighbours are the only inhabitants of their village. But the Sams have completely different tactics for working the land, whether they're tending to the cows they trucked in with them or — initially under Hatidže's advice — beekeeping themselves. With so many mouths to feed and, as the movie conveys in its bee-on-the-wall fashion, a struggling existence to begin with, Sam patriarch Hussein has no time or concern for Hatidže's "take half, leave half" methodology. Kotevska and Stefanov's obviously didn't know that this clash would arise when they started filming Hatidže. They couldn't have predicted that the Sams would show up at all, in fact. However, in demonstrating how age-old practices and modern tactics come into conflict, they couldn't have stumbled upon a more pertinent situation. Hussein needs cash, and as much as he can make, with selling honey for €10 a jar seeming like a gold mine. Hatidže needs her beekeeping to remain sustainable, so she can continue on as she has been year after year, and as many an apiarist has before her. Unsurprisingly, the two approaches hardly complement each other. Honeyland explores an overwhelmingly specific feud, but it speaks to a universal conflict — between the old and new, tradition and contemporary thinking, and living with nature versus exploiting it. Hatidže's life is all about balance with the planet around her, and yet it's so easily turned upside down by someone who couldn't care less because there's desperately needed money to be made. As a result, this distinctive snapshot also speaks to much of the modern world's current problems, with Hatidže's experiences filled with obvious parallels. Kotevska and Stefanov don't judge Hussein and the Sam family, but their whirlwind of chaos inherently sits in stark contrast to the Muratovas' modest setup. The juxtapositions keep coming, there for viewers to see frame by frame — in the boisterous kids lassoing unhappy cattle, the tender way that Hatidže sings to her hives, the mess and mayhem of the Sams' property, and the peacefulness of Hatidže and Nazife's humble abode. There's more to Hatidže's story on a personal level, as slowly and meditatively unfurled in a documentary with many purposes, including presenting a detailed character study. Audiences need to understand her work and the problems she's facing to understand who she is — to truly glean the weight of her choices and regrets, too — and both facets of Honeyland are as gripping as they are fascinating. This is a compelling, clear-eyed portrait of a woman who is just as frank and unflinching, and who has taken each facet of her existence as it comes. The filmmakers want viewers to do the same, of course. Taking in their stunning drone-shot views of Hatidže in her formidable surroundings, peering closely at bees going about their business, listening to her candle-lit chats with her mother and simply watching her face, it's impossible not to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dii0FMXXVvA&feature=emb_logo
The Dialug, a 2011 iF concept design entry, is a beautifully designed plug and socket that has an integrated timer so that it knows when to turn itself off, meaning you no longer need to wonder whether or not you've unplugged all necessary electronic devices as your bus trundles into work. After all, no one wants to come home to a blown fuse or fire because they left their hair straightener plugged in and on their bed. From designers DanBee Lee, JangSoo Kim, KyoYeon Kim and WooRi Kim, the Dialug not only saves power but also charges your devices for the right amount of time, which is handy because overcharging damages the life span of lithium charged electronic devices. [via Technobob]
UPDATE: MAY 15, 2018 — Because you can't really enjoy a cheese board without a glass of time, The Cheese Riot has this week launched a series of cheese and wine hampers. They range from $119–159, feature some top Australian wines, and can be ordered here. Australian farmers put out some seriously delicious cheese, but, if you live in the city, the best stuff isn't necessarily easy to find. Most are made on country farms, several hours' drive away, and don't often make it to major supermarkets. The good news is that a cheese lover by the name of Anna Perejma wants to change all that. She's the founder of The Cheese Riot, a brand new service brings boutique Aussie cheeses to your doorstep. The Cheese Riot is the result of Perejma travels around the country, sampling all the cheese she could get her hands on. Picking the tastiest and boldest varieties, she's now connecting directly with the cheesemakers and producers where possible, then popping their wares into boxes and sending them to subscribers all over Australia. As well as 600 - 800 grams of cheese per box, each shipment also includes a changing range of Aussie-made accompaniments, such as chutney, pastes, honey and matching teas. Two subscription options are available: the Give Me Cheese box for $89, and the Give Me Premium Cheese box for $129, which features harder-to-find cheeses or special batches. They're sent to most places in Australia, with Sydney metro residents receiving same-day delivery "It's like the Dollar Shave Club, but for cheese," explains Perejma. "Every month, you'll get a selection of cheeses delivered to your house, most made by small producers who live in the middle of nowhere. The idea is to unlock products people want but can't get." It's a venture driven by Perejma's love of Australian wares, and her eagerness to share our delicious dairy products. "Our products are just as good as anything you'll find internationally, but don't get enough recognition." And before you start wondering about Perejma's credentials, her resume includes events officer at the Australian Specialist Cheesemakers' Association — yes, the ASCA really exists — where she recently organised the & Cheese event series that included a Young Henrys beer and cheese pairing and a Four Pillars gin cocktails and cheese pairing at Moya's Juniper Lounge. We're pretty confident you can trust her palate. In addition, Perejma wants to "take the wank out of cheese" and encourage a sense of community around sharing it. "You can enjoy cheese any way you like, be that on your own with Netflix and a glass of wine or with a bunch of friends at a picnic in the park." The Cheese Riot will also be hosting artisan cheese appreciation classes in Sydney, through AirBnb Experiences. For more information about The Cheese Riot, visit their website. By Jasmine Crittenden and Sarah Ward.
Ah, the Brisbane Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival. It's a chance for every fashionista to come out from their secret hiding spots and mingle; a chance for them to show off their latest clothing to an adoring crowd; a chance for them to know what will be in next season before every other plebeian. Once a year, the fashionable forces that rule over Brisbane gather together to host a memorable few days of shows, parties and events. From August 20 to 26, South Bank will be transformed into our very own Bryant Park, and though Wintour's not making an appearance, there'll be other characters worthy of people watching over the week. Showcasing 60 designers of a very high calibre with Akira, Easton Pearson, Leona Edmiston, Paul Hunt and more, you really don’t want to miss this event. With the week specifically created to cater for everyone, there’s no excuse for not enjoying yourself. Who doesn’t love a mix of models and high teas?
Jugglers Art Space has released a call for entries for the 2012 Marie Ellis OAM Prize for drawing. Open to those who have completed work within the last twelve months, the competition is calling for all creatives. Considering $4000 cash prize is at stake for the winner it’s an amazing opportunity and acquisitive achievement that is heavily respected amongst the art community. In case you didn't already know about Marie Ellis OAM, here's a quick backgrounder: She lived in Fortitude Valley, had a respected job in the creative arts as a dressmaker and worked to help the artistic community around her grow and thrive. Having received an Order of Australia medal for her efforts in the local arts community there is no question why the Jugglers Prize is named in honour of her. Entry applications close 11 June so get your work in fast for a chance to win this amazing price. Both the winner and runners up will have their work displayed in an exhibit at Jugglers Art Space. Go ahead, enter your work, and make Marie proud.
Following yesterday's indefinite, effective ban on all international travel, in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19 across Australia, Qantas and Jetstar have announced they will suspend all scheduled international flights from late March until the end of May 2020. As a result, the airlines will temporarily step down two-thirds of their 30,000-person staff until at least the end of May. In a statement, the Qantas Group says the decision was made "in order to preserve as many jobs as possible longer term". Employees will be able to draw on "annual and long service leave" and additional support will be introduced, including leave at half pay and early access to long service leave. Qantas says it is also talking to Woolworths about temporary jobs for its stood-down staff. The decision comes after Qantas and Jetstar earlier this week announced they'd be cutting back international flights by 90 percent and domestic flights by 60 percent. For now, domestic flights will continue running at a 40 percent capacity, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying "domestic air travel is low risk". We could see domestic flights cut further in the near future, however, with Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein this morning announcing that from midnight this Friday, March 20 only essential travellers will be allowed into Tasmania without quarantine. Non-essential travellers, including Tasmanian residents returning to the island from mainland Australia, will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. Essential travellers include health care workers, emergency workers, defence personnel and air and ship crew. These measures are similar to those currently in place for international travellers arriving into Australia, which mandates compulsory 14-day isolation periods for everyone arriving from overseas. Virgin Australia will also suspend all international flights from March 30, and will cut domestic flights by 50 percent, too. For further details about Qantas and Jetstar's plans, visit the company's website. For more information about Virgin Australia's reductions, visit its website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Twelve nights of street food eats, a one-off feast in the art gallery, a celebrity chef dinner at 2018's best restaurant, a celebration of young chefs and a huge array of lunch specials. They're the first things on the menu at this year's Good Food Month in Brisbane, with the city-wide culinary celebration set to return for the entire month of July. Actually, the delicious spread of foodie events will extend beyond the month, all thanks to the annual favourite that is the Night Noodle Markets. It's back in 2019, obviously, complete with stalls from Hoy Pinoy, Waffleland, Gelato Messina, Shallot Thai, Bangkok Street Food, Bao Brothers, What the Pho and more. And, it'll run from July 24 to August 4, once again taking over the South Bank Cultural Forecourt. [caption id="attachment_630137" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bec Taylor[/caption] While the full Good Food Month program won't be unveiled until June, a handful of other highlights have also been revealed. Leading the charge, is a collaboration between GOMA and much-awarded Melbourne restaurant Lûmé. The one-off six-course dinner will feature dishes by both the venues' chefs as well as matched wines and beers — and it'll be held inside the actually gallery. Or, you can head to a dinner by MasterChef winner Adam Liaw at Donna Chang, which was awarded Concrete Playground's Best New Restaurant last year. From the tried-and-trusty part of the lineup, the Young Chef's Lunch is back for another round, once again showcasing Brissie's emerging chefs. And the Let's Do Lunch series returns, offering $45 lunches at some of the city's best restaurants. If the above events have already whet your appetite, consider them the entree before the main meal. Nope, you won't be short on food options come July — and you won't be left hungry, either. Good Food Month Brisbane takes place between July 1 and 31 at various venues around the city, with the Night Noodle Markets running from July 24 to August 4. The full program will be released in June, and tickets to the just-announced events go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, May 14 — visit the event website for further details. Top image: Bec Taylor.
The largest-ever showcase of living Australian artists will casually drop by Ballarat this spring, with the inaugural Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA) in town from September 21 until November 6. It's big news for the small city, with the six-week event set to be a major drawcard for the Central Highlands region of Victoria. There'll be 150 artists coming from all reaches of Australia, making up 65 curated solo exhibitions, as the Biennale aims to have equal representation of artists from every state and territory. Taking place in over 14 different venues across Ballarat, its art points will certainly be amped up several notches by the array of visual arts and live music set to take over the town. With the event boasting a strong focus on Indigenous talent, art from the Numina sisters, Abdul Abdullah, Kim Anderson, David Jensz and Peggy Griffiths will be on display, among work from over a hundred others. Music-wise, the BOAA Band Wagon will be doing the rounds: a specially built music truck that'll provide the sound staging for the event's outdoor gigs at Lake Wendouree and St Andrews Grounds, as well as concerts held at Ballarat's other music venues. In special events, there'll be a living sculpture fashion parade, an evening program called BOAA Dark and a lake sculpture walk, which turns Lake Wendouree into an outdoor gallery featuring 26 sculptures. Free mini buses, bikes and rickshaws will transport attendees around the art path, pausing at pit stops providing food and local beers and wines for your hungry, thirsty and very well-arted selves. With the Biennale expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors, Ballarat looks set to be a pretty busy little place over the six weeks. Two-day or six-week (festival) passes are available at $25 and $100 respectively, so start planning your road trips. The Biennale of Australian Art runs from September 21 until November 6 in Ballarat. For more information, visit the BOAA website.
The merits of her ethics and her music are subjective, but the amount of power Amanda Palmer wields in the music industry is conclusive. Even those who found it most difficult to stomach her Kickstarter campaign would probably have little trouble swallowing her claims about the current state of the music business and the appropriateness of asking fans for financial aid, which she recently compiled into one persuasive TED talk titled 'The Art of Asking'. But Amanda Palmer isn't the only industry luminary with a penchant for both lyrics and discourse. Here are nine other thought-provoking, though slightly less controversial, TED talks by famous musicians. 1. AMANDA PALMER: THE ART OF ASKING Start googling 'Amanda Palmer Kickstarter' and it's not long before you're prompted to search 'Amanda Palmer Kickstarter shitstorm'. When the musician took to crowdsourcing last year to raise money for her solo album, people wasted no time in branding her as selfish. 'The Art of Asking' is Palmer's side of the story and raises some interesting points about the difference between 'asking' and 'making' fans pay for music. Palmer is master of the anecdote, and one of the most memorable here is the guy who gave her $10 after a show because he had burned her CD off a friend. 2. DAVID BYRNE: HOW ARCHITECTURE HELPED MUSIC EVOLVE Artists have always had a grand old time of blaming sound systems for poor performance, but the irrepressible David Byrne puts forth quite a different argument for the venue shaping the music. For examples he turns to everything from bird calls and African drumming to Mozart and iconic New York punk venue CBGB — even tying in voting — and by the end of it you're convinced that we make nearly everything with a specific venue or context in mind. 3. BENJAMIN ZANDER: THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF CLASSICAL MUSIC In a TED talk that could equally be called 'The Transformative Power of Benjamin Zander', the magnetic conductor attempts to make every listener realise his or her untapped love for classical music. And after 20 minutes of interesting facts interspersed with heart-melting anecdotes and piano playing that you just don't want to stop, you're pretty sure he's succeeded. 4. ITAY TALGAM: LEAD LIKE THE GREAT CONDUCTORS Conductor of both music and business Itay Talgam leads a talk on how to create harmony without saying a word. He explores the unique styles of six 20th-century conductors and shows what we can learn from each, and in doing so makes some compelling points about control: how to retain it, when to loosen it and how not to lose it. 5. TOD MACHOVER AND DAN ELLSEY PLAY NEW MUSIC Tod Machover of MIT's Media Lab often incorporates new technologies into his works as part of his commitment to bringing musical expression to everyone. Here he presents a talk with Dan Ellsey, a composer with cerebral palsy, to demonstrate how a piece of software called Hyperscore allows people to write music by humming or wielding a mouse. It's a beautiful testimony to music's powers of healing and communication and also features some epic Guitar Hero battles. 6. ANNIE LENNOX: WHY I AM AN HIV/AIDS ACTIVIST Annie Lennox is the founder of SING, a voice for women and children living with AIDS/HIV that raises money to prevent the spread of the disease and support those currently living with it. In this TED talk she shares some of the experiences that inspired her to raise awareness of the AIDs/HIV crisis and explains the meaning behind the 'HIV Positive' T-shirt that sent the rumour mill spinning when she wore it on American Idol three years ago. 7. EMMANUEL JAL: THE MUSIC OF A WAR CHILD "When the rest of the children were learning how to read and write / I was learning how fight". Here Emmanuel Jal reveals the incredible story about his journey from child soldier in the Sudan to world recognised hip hop star and humanitarian. He bounces between speech and lyrics in broadcasting his message about the power, both spiritual and intellectual, of music. 8. ROBERT GUPTA: MUSIC IS MEDICINE, MUSIC IS SANITY Robert Gupta had just completed his undergrate and was studying Parkinson's disease at Harvard when he came to a crossroads at his life, caught between choosing to continue studying neuroscience or to pursue his other love — the violin. He chose the violin, but when a violinist friends suffering from schizophrenia ended up living on the street, he found musical therapy can be a powerful medical instrument itself. 9. EVELYN GLENNIE: HOW TO TRULY LISTEN In this illustration of how listening to music involves more than letting sound waves hit your eardrums, award-winning deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie makes the argument that listening to music is about being aware of how your whole body takes in and reacts to sound. A decade after this talk was filmed, in the light of Spotify, Rdio, SoundCloud and iTunes, her points about the difference between hearing and listening are more relevant than ever. 10. ADAM SADOWSKY ENGINEERS A VIRAL MUSIC VIDEO The reason Adam Sadowsky doesn't look like a member of an alternative rock band is because he isn't, but he is the guy behind the amazing video for OK Go's 2010 single 'This Too Shall Pass', which has been watched almost 40 million times on YouTube. The video is 3 minutes and 54 seconds of Rube Goldberg machine action, painstakingly constructed by smashing two pianos and four televisions and making over 100 trips to Home Depot. There are no magic tricks involved, but the physics will blow your mind.
Spotting the gap in Brisbane's CBD where Eagle Street Pier used to be still comes as a shock, with the riverside locale getting torn down to make way for a new $2.1-billion waterfront precinct. It isn't just the space that Brisbanites might be missing, however, but the eateries and bars that called it home. Thankfully, if it's Fatcow's steaks that you're hankering for, the restaurant has just announced some great news. One of the many hospitality venues in restaurateur Michael Tassis' portfolio — see also: fellow steak-focused joint Rich & Rare, plus Yamas Greek + Drink, Massimo, Opa Bar + Mezze and Fosh — Fatcow is making the move from one famous Brissie street to another. It's goodbye Eagle Street, where it shut up shop in July 2022, and hello James Street from autumn 2024. When Fatcow initially opened in December 2020, it did so in Cha Cha Char's former digs. When it reopens in Fortitude Valley, it'll nestle into the spot that Space Furniture and David Jones have previously called home, with the site getting a revamp as a hospitality establishment. The restaurant will sport a new name to go with its new location, too, so you'll be heading to Fatcow on James St. It's also set to level up its dining experience, including with a design led by Allo Creative and Clui Design. "We always knew the lifespan of Fatcow Steak & Lobster on Eagle Street Pier would be short and sweet — we saw the opportunity to take over the venue until 'd-day'. But the success of the restaurant and loyalty of our patrons blew us away," said Tassis. "Nearly 18 months after closing, we are still fielding emails and calls daily asking if, when, and where the restaurant will reopen. We are so thrilled to now be able to give them an answer —Fatcow is coming back!" "We are seizing the opportunity to completely reinvent the venue, which we're referring to as Fatcow's 'glow up'." Also opening in 2024 for Tassis: overwater restaurant and bar Bombora, plus landing cafe Mulga Bill's, will be part of Kangaroo Point's new green bridge. Find Fatcow on James St at 10 James Street, Fortitude Valley sometime in autumn 2024 — we'll update you with an exact opening date when one is announced.
We're just about ready to fast forward through this winter. Let's skip the low temperatures and head straight for warmer days and colder drinks. While we wish it could be that easy, we all just need to accept the situation and wait out the chill. Embrace the weather and all the winter-exclusive activities it brings — skiing, snowboarding, camping where you'll actually want to sit by the fire, and not to mention warming up in some pretty amazing hot pools. This season you can create your very own cold weather holiday with Teva's winter escape competition, which could win you $1000 to go towards planning your ideal adventure and $250 to shop Teva's shoes and match whichever destination you choose. Slip into a steaming, natural mineral water pool to rid your mind and body of any chilly winter blues. Gaze out at snow-capped mountains instead of the usual view from your desk. Escape the city's hustle and bustle and set up in a treehouse surrounded by nothing but wintry flora and fauna. The opportunities are great when you've got $1000 to splash on a bespoke escape. Grab your Teva shoes — with options good for zipping straight from your cabin into a thermal bath, or for hiking those snowy mountains — and you're good to go. To go in the running to win $1000 towards a winter escape, plus a $250 Teva gift card, enter your details below. [competition]629606[/competition]
Like Netflix, but for actually going to the movies. That's the premise of CinemaClub Australia, a new subscription service offering punters access to bucketloads of movie tickets for a monthly fee. Due to launch in late 2017, CinemaClub aims to cut the cost of going to the pictures. Rather than paying $20 or more every time they head to the cinema, film buffs will instead be able to sign up for a CinemaClub membership that gets them access to a movie ticket every weekday of the month. Concrete Playground reached out to co-founder James Farrell, who said that CinemaClub would be partnering with a number of major cinema chains — as well as various independent cinemas — right around the country. Memberships are expected to cost between $40 and $60 a month — so if you're the kind of person who sees three or more movies a month, you could be about to save yourself a whole heap of money. "Millennials today are avoiding the cinema for cheaper alternatives due to high prices and inflexible offerings," said Farrell. "What we do is make cinema an easy-to-reach and regular activity again. Our members get incredible value and we hope this is something that can really propel the Australian cinema industry." CinemaClub isn't the first start-up attempting to alter the rigid cinema industry, either. It's extremely similar to US subscription service MoviePass, which has come under fire from the States' largest cinema chain AMC for their insanely low fee of just $9.95 USD per month. While this isn't profitable for MoviePass at the moment, it seems the company — of which data firm Helios and Matheson Analytics have majority ownership — will look to swap consumer data for discounts with AMC down the track. Earlier this year, Melbourne couple Sonya Stephen and Shane Thatcher launched Choovie, an on-demand movie ticket app that offers fluid ticket price based on the time of the screening and the popularity of the film. While the success of the membership will rely on participating cinemas, stakeholders and the confirmed monthly fee, we're still interested to see where this goes. You can register your interest via the CinemaClub website to receive more information about when memberships go on sale.
Your Christmas lunch could soon be soundtracked by Bill Murray. Well, that's the best case scenario. Bill Murray has recently told Variety that he will be teaming up with Sofia Coppola for a festive TV special involving him singing a variety of Christmas carols. Obviously once that's out in the world, all other traditional tunes will be irrelevant and we'll all celebrate the season to his unashamed, slightly slurring version of 'Jingle Bells' and 'Silent Night'. Though we don't have many details about the project as yet, both Murray and Coppola have confirmed that something is in the works. It's also safe to assume the work will be somewhat different to their last collaboration, Lost in Translation. "It's not going to be live," said Murray. "We're going to do it like a little movie. It won’t have a format, but it’s going to have music. It will have texture. It will have threads through it that are writing. There will be prose." If that's not vague enough for your liking, he also added that it will have a "patina style and wit to it". "It will be nice," he said. "My motivation is to hear him singing my song requests," said Coppola. Though Murray is well accustomed to being on television — not only was he on three seasons of SNL in the late '70s, he's been such a regular to Letterman over the years he now just wears elaborate costumes and shaves his beard on air for kicks — this will be Coppola's first foray away from the cinema. It's hard to see how her quiet and subtle filmmaking style will translate to the cheesy traditions of Christmas TV specials (despite how much "wit" Murray claims it will have). But, whatever the final result, we're looking forward to it immensely. Now, because we'll basically take any excuse, here's a selection of Bill's best. 'Tis the season. Via Variety.
If you've ever entered Yayoi Kusama's surreal 'Infinity Mirror Room', stuck polka dots on surfaces in her series Dots Obsession or taken a photo with her giant pumpkin when you visited Naoshima, you probably exclaimed at least once (giddy with the joy only polka dots can bring) that holy shit, I want to live here. It seems this is a common expression as London's Tate Modern and Airbnb have teamed up to transform the spare bedroom of one lucky, art-loving Londoner into a literal work of Kusama's art. Those living in the Greater London area with a private room or entire home listed on Airbnb will be able to enter the competition, the prize of which will see their spare bedroom transformed into a genuine Yayoi Kusama art installation — that is, a vibrant, polka dot paradise. The Japanese artist and writer is known for her polka dot and mirrored art installations. You could actually never be sad again if you scored this room. To win, entrants have to tell the organisers why they want Kusama to transform their home in 300 words or less, and the prize also includes two tickets to the opening party of the Tate Modern's new building on June 16. It's not the first time this year that some prime art property has become available on Airbnb — the Art Institute of Chicago created an IRL replica of Gogh's famous work The Bedroom back in February. Unfortunately, unless you're some some sort of property mogul who's remotely running an Airbnb leasing ring in the Greater London area, you won't be eligible for this prize. However, you can only hope this room is available on your next trip to the UK. Alternatively, you can get a little Yayoi-y and stick polka dots to the wall of your bedroom yourself. Your landlord will love it (or else kick you out immediately).
Whichever Disney theme park sits on your must-visit list — the original Disneyland in California, Florida's Walt Disney World, or sites in Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai — you won't be heading there while Australia's borders are closed to international travel. So, the Mouse House has brought some of its magic our way. Now open at Melbourne's newly revamped Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Disney: The Magic of Animation showcases the company's considerable animated prowess across the past century. Whether you've always been a fan of Mickey Mouse, can remember how it felt when you first watched Bambi, are able to sing all of Genie's lyrics in Aladdin or fell head over heels for Moana more recently, you'll find plenty worth looking at among ACMI's halls and walls. And in its doors, too, actually — because walking beneath mouse ear-shaped openings to move from one area to the next is all part of the experience. Of course it is. Displaying from Thursday, May 13–Sunday, October 17, marking ACMI's first big exhibition since it reopened after its $40 million transformation and making its only Aussie stop at the venue, Disney: The Magic of Animation explores everything from 1928's Steamboat Willie — the first talkie to feature Mickey Mouse — through to this year's Raya and the Last Dragon. Obviously, a wealth of other titles get the nod between those two bookending flicks. Fantasia, Alice in Wonderland, Lady and the Tramp, The Jungle Book and The Lion King also feature, as do Mulan, Frozen, Big Hero 6 and Zootopia. And yes, many of these movies have been remade in live-action or photo-realistic CGI; however, ACMI's showcase is only about the animated films. The big drawcard: art from the Mouse House's hefty back catalogue of titles, and heaps of it. More than 500 original artworks feature, spanning paintings, sketches, drawings and concept art. The entire lineup has been specially selected by the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, and will let you get a glimpse at just how the movie magic comes to life, how some of Disney's famous stories were developed, and which animation techniques brought them to the big screen. "The exhibition features behind-the-scenes production artworks which were created during the development of our Disney animated films," explains Walt Disney Animation Research Library Art Exhibitions and Conservation Manager Kristen McCormick. She notes that visitors will "see how the filmmakers and artists develop our stories, and work through different ideas and concepts along the way to creating the films we know so well". And if you think the 500-plus piece collection on display is sizeable — which is is — it was chosen from more than 65 million works in the Walt Disney Animation Research Library. Get ready to peer at hand-drawn dalmatians (which is timely, given that Cruella hits cinemas and Disney+ at the end of May), stare closely at Mickey Mouse's evolution, examine Wreck-It Ralph models and pose next to Snow White. Wall-sized artworks pay tribute to a number of movies, too — The Little Mermaid piece is particularly eye-catching — and feeling like you're stepping into a Disney movie is an unsurprising side effect. Arriving on our shores after past seasons in cities such as Paris, Tokyo, Seoul and Singapore, Disney: The Magic of Animation is clearly designed to appeal to Mouse House fans of all ages. You, your parents, today's primary school kids — you've all grown up watching Disney flicks. So, while you're pondering tales as old as time, being ACMI's guest, contemplating the animated circle of life and definitely not letting your nostalgia go, prepare to be accompanied by aficionados both young and young at heart. Disney: The Magic of Animation is on display at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne from Thursday, May 13–Sunday, October 17 — open 12–5pm Monday–Friday and 10am–6pm on weekend and during school holidays. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the ACMI website. Images: Phoebe Powell.
Australia's picnic baskets have had quite the workout so far in 2021, but one of their biggest moments to shine is about to arrive for another year. When Moonlight Cinema starts setting up its outdoor screens in parks and gardens around the country from late November, it's officially cheese, snack and openair movie-viewing season. The end-of-year mainstay has already revealed its dates for summer 2021-22, and now it's unveiled the first batch of films that'll be gracing its outdoor setup. Get ready to catch a heap of recent blockbusters, a smattering of brand new flicks and a lineup of Christmas movies. You can't run an openair cinema at the jolliest time of the year without the latter, obviously. Moonlight Cinema's program varies city by city, with The Suicide Squad opening the bill in Brisbane on Friday, November 26, and Cruella doing the same in Adelaide on the same date, for instance. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings launches the season in both Melbourne and Perth on Thursday, December 2, while The Suicide Squad also airs first in Sydney on Thursday, December 9 — and Free Guy opens Western Sydney's run on Thursday, December 16. That said, all of the above films pop up in each city at some point, and so does Black Widow, Jungle Cruise, A Quiet Place Part II, Eternals, Red Notice and The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. Also screening: Edgar Wright's new movie Last Night in Soho, animated sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business, Disney newbie Encanto, stage-to-screen musical Dear Evan Hansen and the family-friendly Clifford the Big Red Dog. Among the retro fare, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Greatest Showman and Dirty Dancing are all on the lineup; it would't be a Moonlight Cinema season without them, either. And, for your merry outdoor movie-watching pleasure, the Christmas selection includes Love Actually, The Holiday, Elf, The Grinch, Die Hard and Home Alone. It's also worth remembering that every city is BYO except Brisbane — but, wherever you're settling in for an outdoor cinema session, there'll be food, snacks, a bar and (if you'd like to pay for them) bean bags as well. And, in great news for movie-loving pooches, you can bring them along to all venues except Perth, too. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2021–22 DATES Adelaide: Friday, November 26–Sunday, January 16 (Rymill Park) Brisbane: Friday, November 26–Sunday, February 20 (Roma Street Parkland) Melbourne: Thursday, December 2–Sunday, March 27 (Royal Botanic Gardens) Perth: Thursday, December 2–Sunday, March 27 (Kings Park and Botanic Garden) Sydney: Thursday, December 9–Sunday, April 3 (Centennial Park) Western Sydney: Thursday, November 16–Sunday, January 30 (Western Sydney Parklands) Moonlight Cinema kicks off in November 2021, running through until April 2022. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the cinema's website.
Longer than a movie but shorter than an ongoing TV show that stretches on for seasons and seasons, television limited series — otherwise known as miniseries — don't always get enough love. But they're a perfect format for unfurling tales patiently and in a detailed way, while also recognising that some stories do have a clear end point. If you've ever seen a film and wished it had been given more room to breathe and unspool, or kept watching a show that's gone on and on long past its natural conclusion, you'll know exactly what we're talking about. Thankfully, HBO loves miniseries. And, it's pumping them out quite regularly at the moment. For the US cable network, there's another big drawcard — because they can attract big-name stars like Oscar Isaac, Riz Ahmed, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant to lead programs such as Show Me a Hero, The Night Of and The Undoing, and not force them to take a huge timeout from their film careers. The next limited series on HBO's radar is Mare of Easttown, and it'll screen in Australia from April via Binge (and in New Zealand at a yet-to-be-confirmed date). Starring Kate Winslet as small-town private investigator Mare Sheehan, it follows the ups and downs of her life while she's looking into a local murder case. As well as plunging into the darker side of the community she lives in, the series will examine the way the past affects the present and the future. This isn't Winslet's first TV stint — or first with HBO on a miniseries, in fact. She won an Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for leading 2011's Mildred Pierce, and deservedly so. And, she starred there opposite Australian actor Guy Pearce, who also features in Mare of Easttown. Joining Winslet and Pearce this time around are The Outsider's Julianne Nicholson, Watchmen's Jean Smart and Spider-Man: Far From Home's Angourie Rice. Behind the lens, Mare of Easttown was created and written by The Way Back's Brad Ingelsby — which feels evident from the just-dropped trailer if you've seen that film — and directed by The Leftovers and The Hunt's Craig Zobel. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwaLLEZO6FM Mare of Easttown will start streaming in Australia via Binge from Monday, April 19. The streaming date for New Zealand is yet to be confirmed. Top image: Michele K Short/HBO.
Freelancers may look like they have the life, but it's not all lazy brunches and midday yoga classes. Bringing your laptop to a café has traditionally had the word 'pretension' written all over it and working from home can get quite isolating. Luckily, office-less Brisbanites needn't worry about this anymore — at least for one day of the week. Sparrow Coffee in the CBD has recently launched Freelance Friday, where, once a week, freelance creatives are invited to work free-of-charge at The Nest, their new light-filled workspace upstairs. It's a welcoming space, complete with a communal table and office greenery to ensure a peaceful and balanced working environment. Open from 6am to 2pm and totally free, freelancers can help themselves to the free Wi-Fi, pastries, water, a whiteboard and even a projector. It's aimed at bringing together Brisbane's creative community, and to provide an opportunity for mingling in what can sometimes be quite a lonely profession. A much-loved café in Brisbane, Sparrow is run by the same team as Harvest Restaurant and Bakery in Newrybar, just outside of Byron. They've also set up shop in Port Douglas, Byron Bay and Bangalow. Sparrow Coffee is located at 214 Adelaide Street, Brisbane. For more info on Freelance Friday, visit sparrowcoffeeco.com.au.
Supermarkets are phasing out plastic bags, venues and even McDonalds are ditching plastic straws, Hobart is eradicating plastic takeaway containers and cutlery, and a store in the Netherlands has launched a plastic-free aisle; however the world's beaches and oceans are still feeling the impact of humanity's decades-long love affair with the single-use plastic. According to a 2010 study, around 12.7 million tonnes of the substance goes into the ocean each year. That's an enormous problem that can't be cleaned up quickly, but the Surfrider Foundation Manly is joining forces with 4 Pines Brewing and a heap of Sydney cafes to do encourage folks to do their part. Running for the month of April across Manly, the Rubbish 4 Coffee Initiative gives locals an extra incentive to collect litter from the shore — if they fill a bucket and bring it to one of eight venues, they'll receive a free brew in return. Roma & Co, Hemingway's, Havana Beach, The Bower Restaurant, The Boathouse Shelly Beach, Manly Wine, Hakan's and Bluewater Cafe are the places taking part, and offering up Single O Coffee Roasters and Grinders coffee to. To get a caffeine hit without spending a cent, Sydneysiders first need to drop by one of the venues to collect a Surfrider-branded bucket. Once they've been to the beach and filled it with trash, they can return to the cafe for their free beverage. Of course, a coffee buzz isn't the only thing they'll be feeling afterwards — there'll also be the buzz of doing the environment a solid. The Rubbish 4 Coffee Initiative runs until the end of April. Visit the event Facebook page for further details.
You know the drill. The weekend rolls around and you and your mates end up doing exactly the same thing as last week — or at the very least, something pretty darn close. Sure, you chums are guaranteed to have a blast no matter what you're doing, but maybe it's time to spice up those group hangs (just a tiny bit, okay?). We've found a few perfect ways to do exactly that, from a spot of puppy patting to floating in a salty tank. Book in a friend date and head out of your usual comfort zone for one of these unexpected activities to do with your mates. BORROW SOMEONE ELSE'S PUP FOR THE DAY Dog-sharing. Yep. Read it again: dog-sharing. Services that allow pooch owners to connect with other pooch owners to help with everyday care, pupsit for holidays, do walks and so on. It's a thing (thanks to Australian service Dogshare) and you and your dogless mates can 'borrow' a pup for a walkie or sleepover from time-poor dog owners in your local area. To become a borrower, you just have to create a profile on Dogshare's website, list your previous experience with dogs and flag any services you're keen to volunteer for — like walks, park playdates, overnight stays or going to the vet. Can you think of a more joyous way to spend a sunny day with your squad? Just remember — you've gotta give them back at the end. Look after dem pooches, people. Do it at: where you live via Dogshare. TEE OFF IN AN OLD CHURCH If you're looking for something truly Brisbane to do, go no further than Holey Moley. There is nothing else like it. Having opened just last month in an old church in Fortitude Valley, the bar, as the name suggests, does mini-golf — but that's just the start of it. You can putt off a turntable, in a bathroom, through a gym, around creepy, creepy clowns, down a tenpin bowling lane and past the Nine Iron Throne, as you can also fit in a table tennis tournament or a go on their video games as well. It's basically an indoor amusement park for adults — and while it's definitely ridiculous, it's also a lot of fun. Grab some mates, a club and tee off. Do it at: Holey Moley, Fortitude Valley. [caption id="attachment_593253" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jon Roig via Flickr[/caption] FLOAT AROUND IN A POD OF SALTY WATER You might be a few years off being able to float around with your mates in outer space, but you can enjoy the feeling of zero gravity, right here, right now. It seems like sensory deprivation tanks (yes, just like Stranger Things) popped up on just about every shopping strip overnight, offering an out-of-this world experience designed to take your relaxation levels to the max. Each tank is light-proof, sound-proof, and filled with a mix of Epsom salts and water, which takes away the sensation of gravity and leaves you floating in a temperature-controlled bubble of absolute peace. Those cortisol and adrenaline levels dip, as any external stimuli and distractions (read: all that stuff that's currently stressing you out), disappear completely. Do a simultaneous float with a mate and go grab lunch afterwards. Do it at: Sensory Deprivation Brisbane, Wolloongabba. CLIMB A REALLY TALL WALL Sometimes it feels like the only way to catch up with friends is over food. Brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert, second dinner, second dessert are all great options (don't get us wrong), but sometimes you feel like doing something active and building muscle rather than building up a bill. Round up the crew and get vertical with a climbing session at your local indoor wall. With most rock climbing centres boasting a wide range of routes and climbs, you can tailor a visit to suit your group's abilities, whether that involves putting Spidey to shame with your ninja skills, or simply squashing that mild fear of heights. Sessions at most indoor rock climbing centres clock in at under $20 (safety demo included) with harness and shoe hire available for a few extra bucks each. You'll need someone to spot you, so take a friend who you trust with your life in their hands. Do it at: Urban Climb, West End. [caption id="attachment_556153" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Visit St. Pete/Clearwater via Flickr[/caption] TAKE TO THE SEAS ON A STAND-UP PADDLE BOARD Make the most of that impending sunshine and those bearable water temps this summer, and gather your mates for a stand-up paddleboard group lesson. Imagine gliding across the water, catching some rays, seeing fishies — or, alternatively, laughing at your mates and belly-flopping into the water as you try to stay standing. Both sound similarly fun. A carry-over from ancient Polynesian times, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years as a brilliant way to sharpen that balance and exercise on the high seas. Plus, the sport's a whole lot easier to master than its gnarlier cousin surfing — one lesson usually enough to have you paddling like a pro. Fish and chips on the beach post-paddle is, of course, a given. Do it at: Bay Island Paddle Boards, Cleveland.
When Cillian Murphy first came to widespread fame two decades ago, it was for acclaimed British director Danny Boyle while pondering the end of life as we know it, with zombie masterpiece 28 Days Later the spectacular end result. Since then, he's become a regular for fellow UK filmmaker Christopher Nolan and, in their latest collaboration after The Dark Knight, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises and Dunkirk, Murphy again faces an apocalyptic scenario in Oppenheimer. Set to be 2023's most explosive movie, Nolan's first flick since Tenet explores a little thing called the atomic bomb. Focusing on J Robert Oppenheimer as the name makes plain, this biopic keeps promising a tense time at the movies — in its first teaser, initial full trailer and just-dropped new sneak peek — as befitting a situation where the world risked total annihilation in order to be saved. Yes, Nolan is going back to the Second World War again, focusing on the eponymous American physicist, aka the man who helped develop the first nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project. Charting Oppenheimer's life, his part in birthing the atomic bomb and how it changed the world — and the fallout — should make for gripping viewing, as viewers will see from July 20, 2023. Oppenheimer's story also includes heading up Los Alamos Laboratory, plus observing the Trinity Test, the first successful atomic bomb detonation in New Mexico on July 16, 1945. Nolan is always in serious mode, but this is a solemn affair even by the Memento, Interstellar and Dark Knight trilogy filmmaker's standards. And, it looks like quite the sight, in no small part thanks to being shot in IMAX 65mm and 65mm large-format film photography, including sections in IMAX black and white analogue photography for the first time ever. Based on Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin's Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the film boasts an all-star cast, including Emily Blunt as the physicist's wife, biologist and botanist Kitty (reteaming Blunt with Murphy after A Quiet Place Part II) — plus Matt Damon (The Last Duel) as General Leslie Groves Jr, director of the Manhattan Project; Robert Downey Jr (Dolittle) as Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the US Atomic Energy Commission; and Florence Pugh (The Wonder) as psychiatrist Jean Tatlock. Also set to pop up: Josh Hartnett (Wrath of Man), Michael Angarano (Minx), Benny Safdie (Stars at Noon), Jack Quaid (The Boys), Rami Malek (No Time to Die) and Kenneth Branagh (Death on the Nile). Oh, and there's Dane DeHaan (The Staircase), Jason Clarke (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty), Olivia Thirlby (Y: The Last Man), Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story) and Matthew Modine (Stranger Things) as well. Check out the latest trailer for Oppenheimer below: Oppenheimer will release in cinemas Down Under on July 20, 2023. Images: © 2022 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Kimbra has been everywhere as of late. From Splendour in the Grass to the Nova airwaves it seems you can’t miss her, especially when she’s wearing one of her crazy prom-like dresses she oft performs in. And as she’s part of the 2011 Brisbane Festival you’ll be able to catch her there too. Performing for one night only, she’ll be singing her whimsical tunes in the magical Courier-Mail Spiegeltent. And I must say, I think it would be hard to find a venue more suited to her beautiful aesthetic. Joining her on the night will be Mosman Alder, an up and coming band with great musical comparisons and even greater tunes. Unfortunately this show has sold out already, so feel lucky if you already have tickets and enjoy!
When Our Flag Means Death arrived in 2022, earned itself a spot among the best new TV arrivals of the year and charmed everyone who watched it, it left viewers thinking the same thing: all television comedies should be pirate romances starring Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby. Only this show earns that feat, however, and it's turning out wonderfully so far — for audiences, that is, with chaos surrounding the seafaring characters played by two of New Zealand's best-known comic names. Expect more choppy seas in store for Stede Bonnet (Darby, Home Economics) and Edward Teach aka Blackbeard (Waititi, Thor: Love and Thunder) in Our Flag Means Death's second season. The swashbuckling series was renewed for a second run in 2022, and next sails back into streaming queues in October. After a teaser in August, it also now has a full trailer — complete with Stede and Blackbeard reuniting. No, Taika's stint playing a pirate isn't over yet, in supremely welcome news for everyone who cruised through Our Flag Means Death's first season and adored it. His latest collaboration with Darby after also working together on Flight of the Conchords, What We Do in the Shadows, Wellington Paranormal and Hunt for the Wilderpeople, the show satirises the buccaneering times of the 18th century. As its first season unfurled, Our Flag Means Death also proved to be a sweet and warmhearted love story, as well as essential viewing. HBO clearly agreed, greenlighting the show's second season for its streaming service Max. You'll be able to watch the results from Thursday, October 5 via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Spanning eight episodes, season two picks up where its predecessor left off. If you haven't hopped aboard already, Stede is a self-styled 'gentleman pirate', a great approximation of Flight of the Conchords' Murray if he'd existed centuries earlier, and a man determined to bring a bit of kindness and elegancy to the whole swashbuckling game. He's based on an IRL figure, who abandoned his cosy life for a seafaring existence. The show is a loose adaptation of Bonnet's tale, though. As for Waititi, he dons leather, dark hues aplenty, an air of bloodthirsty melancholy and a head of greying hair as Blackbeard. While the famed pirate seems like Stede's exact opposite, disproving that is a big part of the show's narrative. After sparks flew, then season one came to a memorable end, season two will follow what happens next for Stede and Edward. Also featuring among Our Flag Means Death's cast: Samson Kayo (Bloods), Vico Ortiz (The Sex Lives of College Girls), Ewen Bremner (Creation Stories), Joel Fry (Bank of Dave), Matthew Maher (Hello Tomorrow!), Kristian Nairn (Game of Thrones), Con O'Neill (The Batman), David Fane (The Messenger), Samba Schutte (Forspoken), Nat Faxon (Loot) and Leslie Jones (BMF), all returning from season one. This time around, they'll be joined by a heap of new recurring guest stars in Ruibo Qian (Servant), Madeleine Sami (Deadloch), Anapela Polataivao (The Justice of Bunny King) and Erroll Shand (The Clearing), plus Minnie Driver (Chevalier) and Bronson Pinchot (The Mysterious Benedict Society) as guest stars. Check out the full trailer for Our Flag Means Death season two below: Our Flag Means Death will return for season two on Thursday, October 5 in Australia via Binge and New Zealand via Neon. Read our review of season one. Images: Nicola Dove/ HBO Max.
Even though, officially, Apple continues to remain tight-lipped on precisely what will be revealed at its unveiling next Tuesday, September 9, a confident New York Times report suggests that we can expect two iPhones with bigger, better screens and Apple's first wearable computer, which journos and techies the world over have dubbed the iWatch. The smartwatch will be the first brand new product to have hit the Apple shelves since Timothy D. Cook took the reins following Steve Jobs' death in October 2011. Industry experts are predicting the wearable Mac will be available in two sizes, feature a flexible screen protected by tough-as-nails sapphire crystal and perform miracles via a teeny-tiny, stamp-sized circuit board. Okay, not exactly miracles, but similar tasks like displaying maps and measuring bodily movements (such as heart rate and footsteps) with frightening accuracy. What's more, speculation is rife that both the iWatch and the iPhones will take us one step closer to a cashless society: forget fumbling with cards and coins, you'll just flash your wrist at the register and your bill will be taken care of. So you’ll be able to pick up bread and milk on the way home from your morning marathon session without jingling for the whole run. This will work using what’s known as 'near-field communication', technology that powers devices within proximity to swap info wirelessly. It also looks like the iWatch (and possibly the iPhones) will be capable of wireless charging. Beyond this, most of the hype surrounding the iPhones is around the old 'size matters' adage. We’re pretty sure that, like the iWatches, they’ll come in two sizes — one at 4.7 inches and the other at 5.5. Edges are highly likely to take on the tapered design that gives iPads such a sleek look and feel. Of course, this possibility has led busy urban types to ask the big question: how will we text with just one hand? Unsurprisingly, Apple has preempted the concern and made changes to the software interface. Apparently, there'll be two different modes on offer — one that you can make work with one hand while the other's clinging to your coffee; the other requiring the commitment of both paws. You can switch from one to the other as you please. The potentially less exciting news is that you might have to get your Guns 'N' Roses on and practise a little patience. While the iPhones should be retailing within the next few weeks, the chances are that you won’t be able to buy your very own iWatch until 2015. You might as well enjoy your exercise sessions multi-tasking free in the meantime. Via New York Times. Image credit: iWatch concept based on the Nike Fuelband by Todd Hamilton.
It's been a while since the pop world has heard from controversial pop queen Lily Allen, but her new video proves that she's been listening in. Her newest song, 'Hard Out Here', is one that goes to town on quite a few facets of the pop world, including misogyny in music and fashion, unrealistic ideas of feminine beauty and, unsurprisingly, twerking. The accompanying music video pushes the envelope even further, tearing into the idea of 'thinness' as well as making a few sarcastic jibes at product placement and over-the-top sexualisation on our screens. As per the majority of Allen's music and videos, there is a strong flavour of humour about her latest offering, and it's not too hard to figure out what the megastar and mum of two is trying to say. In fact, she says it quite blatantly and repeatedly, especially in the throwaway line describing "a glass ceiling that needs breaking". With her slew of swears, constant crotch-grabbing and obvious confusion at the style of dancing favoured by some pop stars (Miley Cyrus will remain nameless), Allen's first musical offering in nearly four years has garnered over half a million hits in the last day. Which is quite a lot for what is essentially a great, big middle finger to the ego of the music industry. Good to have you back, Lily. https://youtube.com/watch?v=E0CazRHB0so
The concept of The Beards is a simple one - A folk-rock band that perform songs exclusively about one subject: Beards. The four men from Adelaide whose lives are solely dedicated to the perseveration, care and up keep of their fabulous facial hair are back and beardier than ever. They love their beards so fondly they have recorded three studio albums in their honour. Their latest debacle, The Having a Beard is the New Not Having a Beard Australian tour will take place across the nation with flocks of facial hair fans gathering to celebrate The Beards return. In celebration of their latest album, The Beards will return to the Zoo once more. There is definitely no denying the expectations of this show. If you're a newbie to The Beards community here it is one more time for you. No matter what age or gender you are, you must bear a beard to this gig. Girls don't even begin to believe that a beard won't go with that new dress you purchased for your next Valley outing - you will be sorry if you don't wear one. Get growing!
In the past few weeks, a bunch of restrictions have come into place in a bid to contain COVID-19 in Australia. Bans of non-essential events of 500 people or larger became events of 100 people, restaurants, cafes and bars across the country have shut and all international and interstate travel has been indefinitely banned. Most recently, new restrictions on social distancing and two-person limits on public gatherings were introduced on Monday, March 30. While restrictions differ state-to-state, federal and state governments have said that Australians should only be leaving their homes for four key reasons: shopping for food and other essential supplies; for medical care or compassionate reasons; to exercise, in-line with the new two-person limit; and for work or education if you cannot work or learn remotely. Those who don't comply with these new social distancing and public gathering rules risk hefty penalties, too, with on-the-spot fines of $1652 in Victoria, $1000 in NSW (with maximum penalties of $11,000 and six months in jail) and $1334.50 in Queensland for individuals. And a heap of people across Australia have already been slapped with fines since these rules were introduced. In Queensland on the weekend, Saturday, April 5, police fined 58 people at a 150-car rally at a warehouse in Rochedale and five men were arrested for travelling to Palm Island, which is a designated remote community that can not be visited for non-essential reasons. Queensland Police also said they were disappointed with the number of people loitering at lookout points in parks and visiting large shopping centres for non-essential needs and would be increasing their presence at these locations. "If you are sitting at a lookout, having coffee in a park, loitering in a shopping centre outside the parameters of the directions, you may be fined," Acting Chief Superintendent Mel Adams of Logan Police District said. "Public safety comes first and we urged people to stay at home." [caption id="attachment_750943" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] Victoria Police issued 108 fines on Sunday, April 6, alone. While exact details of the fines have not been released, one 17-year-old L-plater was pulled over and fined $1652 while on a driving lesson with their mother, as driving lessons are deemed non-essential in Victoria. In NSW, however, driving lessons are allowed — with either an instructor or a family member — as they fall under 'education'. Last week, a Fitzroy restaurant was also fined almost $10,000 for operating, with the ABC reporting there were six staff working and customers eating and drinking on the premises. Eighteen on-the-spot fines were handed out in NSW on Sunday: one man was charged for ignoring "beach closed" signs at Bondi Beach — he also ignored directions from the police to move on and coughed at an officer; and a women was fined for accompanying a food delivery driver. While the driver was working, the women "was only there because she said she was bored being at home", according the NSW Police. Since the laws were introduced, other Sydneysiders who have been charged include two people in a vehicle who did not have "a reasonable excuse not to be at home", a man who had left his home in order to visit his drug dealer and a man who had ignored two warnings and was found a third time on a Market Street bench eating a kebab. Restrictions are changing every day, you can read more about the state-specific public gathering and social distancing laws in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Back in July, it was revealed that Byron Bay was getting a brand-new festival that's all about food and culture. That event: Caper Byron Bay Our Food and Culture Festival, which has undergone a name change since it was first announced, but features a hefty program filled with eating, drinking, checking out art, listening to tunes and being merry in gorgeous surroundings. Taking place between Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 13, Caper boasts a hefty culinary component as curated by Chef David Moyle, who has been Chief of Food at Harvest Newrybar since 2020. Highlights include bottomless oysters and bellinis at Balcony Bar & Oyster Co, natural wine-fuelled degustations at Supernatural, distillery tours at Brookie's Gin and a sourdough workshop with Bread Social. Soon-to-open newcomer Bar Heather is doing a five-course dinner with Palisa Anderson, while 100 Mile Table at Stone & Wood is hosting a backyard barbecue — and Treehouse on Belongil is opting for a mix of beats, bubbles and brunch. A farm-to-table feast with The Farm and Three Blue Ducks and The Hut's Spanish fiesta are also on the bill, alongside pop-up yum cha — with the Brunswick Picture House being taken over by Melbourne Chinatown diner ShanDong MaMa on the Saturday and Sunday. Also making the journey, but from Brisbane: Louis Tikaram from Stanley, who'll be part of a cabaret takeover at the same space. Another standout: celebrating embrace Bundjalung Nation's Indigenous culture via a walk on Country tour led by Explore Byron Bay owner and Arakwal woman Delta Kay, then a five-course lunch curated by Karkalla chef and owner Mindy Woods. An 'anti-bad vibes circle' with OneWave Fluro Friday; free exhibitions at Yeah, Nice Gallery, art salon Gallery 7, Gallery 3 and ThomGallery; and horse-riding followed by brunch or lunch at Zephyr Shack are also on the wide-ranging agenda, with more than 30 events filling out the program If you're keen to see where the day takes you in-between the official activities, head to the Caper Village, aka a massive food, beverage, music and art precinct that's set to sprawl across the whole North Byron Hotel in the Byron Arts and Industrial Estate. It'll host live music, DJs and art installations, as well as workshops, panels and talks. Images: Jess Kearney.
I'm sure that many of you may have left that Facebook friend request from your boss to 'pending' for the last two years for fear of them seeing photos of you on some disgraceful drunken rampage. Indeed, the vast expansion of Facebook means that virtually anybody can have a splendid visual tour into your weekend behaviour and extra-curricular activities simply by searching your name on a social media website. The clever folk down at Cerveza Norte, a South American beer company, have launched a product that will soon solve these first-world problems faced by many party animals. Named the 'Norte Photoblocker', this little device not only keeps your beverages cool, but detects camera flashes and reflects them back, effectively ruining the photo and leaving your face unidentifiable. The product has been developed to "defend drinkers against unwanted interference from amateur paparazzi and day-after embarrassment." Keep one of these handy devices in your jacket pocket, and whip it out when you feel you've had one too many beverages. Check out the advertisement below for the hilariously melodramatic commentary and potential instances where the Photoblocker would be of use. As stated in the video, you don't want to labelled a "floozy" or "dirty old man." This Photoblocker will allow you to get your creep on without any possibility of solid photographic evidence. [via PSFK]
From Milton to West End, Woolloongabba to Morningside and Fortitude Valley to Newstead, it isn't hard to find a brewery in Brisbane's inner-city suburbs and their surrounding locales. River City drinkers are spoiled for choice, in fact. Maybe it's thanks to the yeast and hops smell that's long lingered over the inner west courtesy of the XXXX factory, but this beer-loving town has never been one to say no to more breweries, especially over the past decade. Brissie loves new spots making beer as much as new bridges. Opening a brewery on Ann Street in the city's CBD feels like an inevitability, then — and Little Miss Sunshine is that place. By the time that July 2024 ends, it'll be pouring brews and serving up Queensland cuisine, all from the back of the ground floor of an office building. Little Miss Sunshine is both a bistro and a brewery. With its name and its vibe alike, it's getting playful — and it wants patrons to drop in for after-work drinks, cruisy weekend sessions, dinner and everything in-between. Although an exact opening date hasn't been announced, hanging out here across the end of winter and beyond will mean either getting cosy inside or making the most of the venue's outside area. Wherever you choose to say cheers, 28 taps will be pouring. The beer lineup hasn't been revealed as yet, either, other than spanning both house-brewed tipples — including small-batch sips — alongside favourites from elsewhere picked by the team. The food menu is also still mostly under wraps, but Moreton Bay bug spaghetti is one example of the Little Miss Sunshine's Queensland-skewing culinary options. There'll be beer-battered barramundi as well, plus Mediterranean-inspired dishes such as beef and chicken shawarma, and lamb kofta. Patrons can look forward to live tunes, too, all in a space that you've probably walked past countless times — especially if you work in the CBD — without considering that a brewery could one day live there. Find Little Miss Sunshine at 80 Ann Street, Brisbane, from sometime in late July 2024 — we'll update you with an exact opening date when one is announced. Head to the venue's website, Facebook and Instagram in the interim.
Gather an eclectic group of people in an intriguing place, spill a few secrets, commit a few crimes and watch sparks fly. It's an approach that's worked for Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight and even the board game Cluedo, and it works a treat for Bad Times at the El Royale. Contrary to the film's moniker, you can expect a rollicking good time with this mystery-thriller, which has devilish fun taking both its sharp narrative and its motley crew of characters on a twist-filled ride — and taking the audience along too, for that matter. On a sunny 1969 day that's soon to turn stormy, Lake Tahoe's El Royale Hotel welcomes four guests to its distinctive surroundings. Checking into the spot smack-bang on the border of California and Nevada are smooth-talking vacuum salesman Laramie Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm), jobbing singer Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), man of the cloth Father Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges) and a woman who writes "fuck you" in the ledger instead of her name (Dakota Johnson). Strangers crossing paths for the first time, each has their own reasons for being there, not that anyone is forthcoming. As they assemble in the lobby beneath photos of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and other bigwigs who've stayed on the premises, the young, distracted manager Miles (Lewis Pullman) gives them the spiel: they can slumber in either U.S. state, but rooms in California cost $1 extra and you can't drink in the Nevada lounge, or gamble either since it lost its gaming license. The hotel's divided layout aside (and yes, a line literally runs right through the middle), much about Bad Times at the El Royale initially feels familiar. The basic setup, the use of title cards, the shifting perspectives and fractured timelines, and the air of foreboding in a fading abode all could've stepped out of countless other movies. Thankfully, derivation isn't the name of the game here, although there's one particular film that writer-director Drew Goddard owes a debt to. It's his own last big-screen release, The Cabin in the Woods — and while the filmmaker isn't trying to make the same flick twice by any means, he approaches this slightly over-long 90s-style crime throwback in the same way as his hit horror movie. Both share a sense of playfulness that's highly engaged with their chosen genres, neither follows the routine path, and each comes packed with an energy that's thoroughly infectious. Chris Hemsworth plays a part in both films, although just how the star and his frequently bare chest fit into Bad Times at the El Royale's narrative is best discovered by watching. But, by re-teaming with Goddard, he's once again immersed in an engrossing story that's spun around a fantastic setting — complete with shooting, spying, scandals, bank robbers and cults. While treating a movie's location like one of its characters might be commonplace to the point of cliche, this lively, pulpy and often amusing noir-esque picture wouldn't be anything without its central lodge. From the diorama-like opening scene that buries a secret beneath the floorboards, to roving camerawork that stalks every hidden nook and cranny of the place in a striking fashion, the El Royale proves a slick visual playground for blood-splattered revelations and reversals. Along with cinematographer Seamus McGarvey (The Greatest Showman), roaming the hotel's halls is a well-chosen group of actors, helping to overcome what could've been the film's greatest flaw. Casting can often be a movie's biggest spoiler, instantly signalling that a high-profile name is destined for a more sizeable role than their seemingly small part first indicates — but even when that remains true here, talent such as Bridges and Johnson craft fascinating characters who are more than the sum of their flaws, failings and deceptions. Firmly and delightfully in Kurt Russell-meets-Patrick Swayze mode, Hemsworth is charming to watch in a more straightforward part, however it's Erivo who's having the best time of all. Turning in a performance as powerful as the soulful tracks she's often singing, the Tony and Grammy winner only made her cinematic debut at the Toronto International Film Festival last month. With Bad Times at the El Royale, Erivo checks in to a darkly entertaining affair, and certain big-screen stardom as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7wzBVARwaU
Unleash your inner badass by tagging local walls, sans spray paint or legal consequences. Wallit is a new app that allows users to leave their digital mark wherever they may be. This 'graffiti' exists only in the virtual world, but the wall in question is connected with an actual, physical location. It's the self-proclaimed "only geo-social app connecting people to places through one-of-a-kind multimedia messages on augmented reality walls." Equipped with location awareness, Wallit lets you record a 'tag' (including text, or video or audio clips) on the virtual version of the actual place you left it. The tag is only visible to other app users when they arrive at the location themselves. With the upgraded 1.1 "super walls" version of the app, tags may also be visible to other users in a similar area; for instance, if you tag a McDonald's, other users will be able to see it as they munch on their burger at another McDonald's. Other users may choose to respond to your original tag, sparking interaction, or, in true street artist style, leave their own two cents to outdo yours. [via Fast Company]
My knowledge of life in Korea is limited, but I have heard the Seoul is incredible: filled with unique youth culture, and an amazing nightlife. And for just a short time, without having to board a plane or even leave the city, Brisbane audiences can get a taste of Seoul through the new production Underground. The last piece in the Metro Arts' The Independents 2011 program, Underground is a journey into a hidden ‘speakeasy’ in Seoul. Underground is actually a Korean junk bar that has been transported to Brisbane. The décor is kitsch with lamps, party lights and televisions looping 70s Korean TV dramas. There is a ragtag band of musicians performing island style tunes, and setting the scene for a floor show of epic and exciting proportions. Mixing live music, storytelling and amazing visuals, it will be a night of delights, exploring the underground, if you will, culture of one special city.
When Australians are able to enjoy overseas holidays again, plenty will feel familiar. Booking tickets, planning itineraries, packing suitcases, rushing to the airport because almost no one arrives early — we'll all recognise these steps, and we'll love them. But, more than a few things about hopping on a plane will have changed, too. That'll include wearing masks, using copious amounts of hand sanitiser, social distancing in the airport and verifying our vaccine status. Some airlines, such as Qantas, have already mentioned that they're likely to only allow passengers who've been fully jabbed to take to the air. The Aussie carrier has also announced that it'll be using a digital health pass to check who is vaxxed. And, for everyone coming into the country — Aussies, tourists and other travellers alike — the Australian Government is set to launch a new Digital Passenger Declaration. Remember the physical incoming passenger cards we all filled out pre-pandemic when we were heading back home? (Aka the reason you always needed to have a pen in your bag when you were flying?) They're being ditched, and the new DPD will replace them. So, the new digital pass will capture all the same info, plus your coronavirus jab status. The declaration will also replace the COVID-19 Australian Travel Declaration web form that's been in use during the pandemic. When it's up and running — with Accenture winning the tender to create and operate the DPD, and testing now underway — it'll be able to be filled out 72 hours before you hop on your flight Down Under. And, you'll be able to complete it either on a computer or on your phone, the latter of which will obviously be immensely handy while you're travelling. "The DPD will support the safe reopening of Australia's international borders, by providing digitally verified COVID-19 vaccination details," said Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews in a statement. "This will help us to welcome home increasing numbers of Australians, and welcome the tourists, travellers, international students, skilled workers, and overseas friends and family we've all been missing during the pandemic." Wondering when you might get to use the new digital pass? The Federal Government has already announced that international travel is earmarked to return when 80 percent of eligible Australians have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Further details on how that'll work, and where you'll be able to go, haven't yet been revealed — but Qantas has announced plans to resume its international flights to places with high jab rates from December. Eager to keep an eye on Australia's vaccination rates? We've run through how to do just that. For more information about the new Digital Passenger Declaration, head to the Australian Home Affairs website.
Er, um, wow. From surreal director Terry Gilliam, of Monty Python and left-field movie fame, comes The Zero Theorem, the supposed third film in his trilogy of bizarre dystopias that began with 1985's Brazil and 1995's 12 Monkeys. Though its release on Antipodean shores is yet to be confirmed, today's first trailer release for the film has got us all excited (and maybe a little flabbergasted). The Orwellian sci-fi follows Qohen (Christoph Waltz), an eccentric computer hacker with a whole lot of existential angst. Using a mathematical formula, Qohen's working to solve the zero theorem in the hope that he'll crack the meaning (or lack thereof) of life. But Management continually interrupt his work, sending a teen, Bob (Lucas Hedges), and a love interest, Bainsley (Melanie Thierry), to distract him. Funnily enough, desiring Bainsley might just be the key he'd been missing to understand the complexities of life. The trailer makes The Zero Theorem look equal parts bonkers and mind-bogglingly intelligent all at once. Though it's received mixed reviews, a cast that includes David Thewlis, Peter Stormare, Tilda Swinton, Ben Whishaw and Matt Damon — along with the usual sci-fi commentaries on humanity, technology and politics — makes this an interesting one.
