Category: Events

Those of you following my FB and Twitter feeds know that I had a really enjoyable time in Cairns. I was kindly picked up at the airport by Hettie Ashwin and taken to Rydges Tradewinds.

Friday night was the launch cocktail party where I met some of the Tropical Writers, and then headed off to dinner with my friend Bernadette who I haven’t seen in five or so years. Hip little cafe and good food.

Saturday was a very full day; a three hour workshop (and they were an interesting, lively bunch), a panel on writing for young adults and children, launching Hettie’s book The Mask of Deceit and attending the literary dinner. Matt Reilly made a great keynote speech about retaining passion for what you do and afterwards I stumbled into bed.

Sunday was less hectic. The Big Book Club panel was very stimulating – we discussed Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward, Cold Grave by Kathryn Fox and Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Green. I have to say that Salvage the Bones was like reading something by Margo Lanagan – the use of language and the deeply personal insights. A truly splendid book. We also agreed that Kathryn Fox was doing a great job raising awareness of social issues and that Green’s novel will make a touching movie.

Collins booksellers did a fab job (had all my books) and all the organising committee were very helpful throughout.

Once my offical duties were finished I got to sit and talk stories, TV, comedy and the revolution with Tim Ferguson – definitely one of the weekend’s highlights for me. Hettie then deposited me back at the airport (thanks Hettie!), and I got to watch five epsidoes of Big Bang Theory on the flight home on the swishy new Qantas jet.

Thanks for having me Tropical Writers!

by Joelene Pynnonen and The Spotlight Report

Event Cinemas at Garden City was all glammed up on Thursday the 30^th of August in preparation for the foxy ladies from Fountain Lakes. Hot pink balloons served as a guide up the staircase to where the crowd awaited. Even an hour and a half before the event the atmosphere was charged with subdued excitement that spiked a little with the arrival of every new Kath, Kim or Sharon look-alike.

 Fluffy blond perms and netball outfits abounded, as did skimpy frocks and outrageous bling. While the costumed fans waited for the stars they paraded on the red carpet. Having their photos taken by friends and media alike, they looked good enough to rival the real thing.

It was not to be. Kath, Kim and Sharon arrived amidst a chorus of cheers; dressed in their usual splendour. Their presence caused such a furore that for the first five minutes of their arrival, I could see no more than an occasional elbow from my place on the red carpet.

Despite the commotion, we did get the chance to speak to the Kath and Kimderella stars briefly. In her leopard-print onesie, Kath seemed well-qualified to point out the finer points of Italian culture.

SR. So you’ve had an all-girls holiday, how was that?

Kath: It was great! I mean Sharon and Kim aren’t the best travelling companions, because Sharon’s always sick and catching things and Kim is just a life-denying misery-guts. But I made the most of it. I tried to get away and have my down-time. A bit of me time.

SR. So how’d it go?

Kath: Oh, I just tried to run away from them as much as I could. But travel and me go hand-in-hand because I’m a very…I look around and I see. I’m very cultured. You know, I’ve done a lot of Tafe courses; I speak Italian, I’ve done art. In Rome we saw the Sixteenth Chapel, went to the Trevis fountain.  So we did the culture thing as well, so that’s me.

SR. So as far as the speaking Italian thing goes, were there any language barriers?

Kath: I did learn ‘neanco persono Jose’, which means ‘no way, Jose’. Because I got so many offers, you know.

Kim spoke of the difficulties faced by princesses like Kate Middleton and herself.

SR. Now we hear you’ve been having some lessons in being a princess. What would you say would be the most important one as far as that goes?

Kim: You know, I think being mean, I want to bring back capital punishment and ‘Off with your head’ because I want to say that as a princess. And I think K-Middy and me are on the same page with that one.

SR. Do you feel like maybe your rights are being violated because you don’t get to say that on a regular basis?

Kim: Oh, that’s right. I think people need more control. You know, I think people want – I think they want to be scared of their monarch so I think I’d be a pretty tough…Yeah, I’d be a tough monarch.

SR. What did you love most about Italy?

Kim: Well, I loved the guys ‘cos they all loved me. We did travel a bit. We went to Trevis fountain, the Colosseum, the Sixteenth Chapel. Yeah, it was really noice.

SR. How did Brett feel about all this?

Kim: Oh, Brett was ropable. He was left at home.

While Kath and Kim had been giving interviews Sharon was wowing the crowd with her gold-sequined netball uniform, posing for photos and signing signatures. Eventually she was persuaded to abandon her fans for a very short interview.

SR. Now we’re running a little bit late, so I’ll just ask the question on everyone’s mind. Holiday flings: did they happen?

Sharon: Ooh, look, I don’t pash and tell. Let me just say I had a fantastic time in Italy. You’ll have to watch the film to find out.

After some more photos, that was exactly what we did.

Red Carpet interviews by Joelene Pynnonen for MDPWeb and The Spotlight Report

Jupiters Casino was buzzing with energy last night as the stars took to the Red Carpet for the Gold Coast premiere of P.J. Hogan’s new film Mental.

The venue was busier than expected with fans lining up to see stars, Anthony LaPaglia, Rebecca Gibney and Lily Sullivan. Plenty of local celebrities attended the event, among them, Surfer’s Paradise band, Nine Sons of Dan and rockers Mental as Anything. Chai Romruen from the upcoming Secret of Mako Island was there for his first Red Carpet experience, along with co-star Ivy Latimer.

By the time the Mental cast arrived, fans had been gathered for close to an hour. They were not disappointed. Surrounded by the chatter of the crowd and flashing lights, the stars were relaxed and affable. They signed autographs, gave interviews and posed for photos, smiling throughout.

Though the event was running a little behind, we managed to ask P.J. Hogan, Rebecca Gibney and Lily Sullivan a few questions about the film and what it meant to them.

Director, P.J. Hogan, was warm and approachable when discussing his passion for Australian cinema.

Spotlight Report: Obviously this story’s is really getting back to the Australian culture and the Australian way of life. Why is that important to you?

 P.J. Hogan: Well, why isn’t it important to you? I mean, we’re Australian. I want to see Australian stories on screen. Especially comedy. I love Australian comedies, particularly if they’re irreverent and truthful. Well, which I hope this film is.

 SR: You also have a tendency to involve incredibly strong female characters. Where does your inspiration for them come from?

 P.J. Hogan: Well, I grew up with sisters. A lot of them.

 SR: Older ones?

P.J. Hogan: No, I was the oldest, so I got to boss them around. You know, up to a point. Once any girl reaches seven you really are their slave. But what can I say; women really are a big part of my life.

Packed to the Rafters star, Rebecca Gibney was all smiles as she arrived. She has a gracious manner that immediately sets those around her at ease. We talked with her about the challenges she faced acting the part of the Moochmore matriarch.

SR: You’ve said before that this was one of your most challenging roles, in what way was that?

Rebecca Gibney: It really made me go to places that I haven’t been to before. I’m playing a depressed mother of five so I have to so I had to go to some dark places. It was challenging, but wonderful.

SR. So was it that there was too much comfort in that or was it completely out of your comfort zone?

Rebecca Gibney: It was out of my comfort zone in the fact that P.J. Hogan is basically very specific to…Even if you think that you might have got it he’ll say, ‘no, do it again, do it again, do it again’. He’ll make you do it a thousand different ways and, end of the day, it’s the most fulfilling job.

Newcomer, Lily Sullivan, was very open and natural, joking and laughing with the media as she admitted that she was still new to all of this. Recounting her experience with the film, she was pensive without losing the humour that seemed to be a part of her.

SR. Was it daunting having so many big actors around you?

Lily Sullivan: Incredibly intimidating. Yeah, but amazing. What opportunities to have so many incredible talents.

SR. So not something you would do differently if you had it to do over again?

Lily Sullivan: Well, I think to think how I started and how I ended…I think I learnt so much over the process. I had basically four mentors; P.J., Rebecca, Toni and then Anthony. It was absolutely incredible.

SR. It’s a really whacky movie so what was your favourite scene in filming?

Lily Sullivan: Ooh. This one’s always really hard. Probably I would say the eating scenes because we got to eat solidly for about three hours, and it was a roast. I’m a massive fan of roast.

The cast went on to sign autographs and pose for pictures before attending a screening of the film.