All directors start somewhere. Whether it’s music videos, commercials or short films, the stepping stones for a filmmaker leading up to their feature debut can provide vital exposure and a hint of what’s to come. With our recurring article The Early Works, we dive into the beginnings of a director who has a new film landing in theaters the upcoming weekend.
When one sees the flashy, lavish worlds of Baz Luhrmann, one may have believed this talent had an upbringing not unlike the lifestyle of Leonardo DiCaprio‘s character in The Great Gatsby. But this Australian-born director had rather humble beginnings, growing up in the farm-filled countryside, as his father ran a gas station, as well as a local movie theater. It was here where our director first fell in love with the cinema and enrolled in National Institute of Dramatic Arts.
While he didn’t get behind the camera until 1992, the director earned his chops, unsurprisingly, in the world of theater. Intiallly debuting as a one-act play in 1986, the first iteration of Strictly Ballroom grew into a hit on stage and then became his directorial debut and first film in his “Red Curtain” trilogy. Ranging from his acting debut to a memorable music video to an record-budgeted commercial, dive into Luhrmann’s early work below, as we extend the definition to include his non-feature directional output. And make sure to read our review of his latest film.
Winter of our Dreams (1981)
For our first example, Luhrmann’s debut early work was a decade before he even jumped in the director’s chair. Perhaps little known outside of his native land, his inital foray into the world of cinema was an actor. As a teenager, he made his debut in the John Duigan-directed film Winter of our Dreams, which followed a junkie prostitue in Syndey. Shot in just five weeks, the film was actually a modest hit in Austrialia and one can see a clip of a young Luhrmann and co-star Judy Davis below.
Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) (1999)
If you grew up in 90’s then it was impossible to avoid this song. Taken from Mary Schmich‘s 1977 Chicago Tribune column, Baz Luhrmann transformed the text to song format with Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) (also referred to as the “Sunscreen Song” on his 1988 remix album Something for Everybody. With the backing of the song Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good) by Zambian musician Rozalla, Luhrmann recruited Quindon Tarver, who contributed to his Romeo+Juliet soundtrack for this work. Check out the music video below in all of its MTV glory.
Chanel No. 5: The Film (2004)
Leave it to Baz Luhrmann to direct what was not only the most expensive commercial of its time (a whopping $42 million!), but also one that yielded the highest celebrity gross, with star Nicole Kidman bringing in nearly $4 million. A perfect pairing in product and helmer, Luhrmann’s over-the-top Chanel No. 5 ad (excuse me, film) showcases a fleeting romance between Kidman and Rodrigo Santoro (who fittingly is breaking out a decade later with the lead role in the 300 side-quel and the currently shooting Jane Got a Gun). See it below, reportedly inspired by the classic Roman Holiday and thankfully not featuring Brad Pitt staring deep into your soul. We’ve also popped in an extensive making-of to get a behind the scenes look.
Australian Tourism Come Walkabout Commercials (2008)
As he was on the verge of releasing his fourth feature Australia, Baz Luhrmann teamed with the government of his native land to showcase its natural beauty in a series of ads for Australian Tourism. Also working with 20th Century Fox as a part of the campaign for his upcoming feature, the project included the film’s young actor, Brandon Walters. Featuring an New York City women whose heart just got broken and an overworked finance manager in Shanghai, check out the commercials back-to-back below.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Impossible Conversations Series (2012)
This one is a little different than the above and by no means an “early work,” but it does showcase a different side of Baz Luhrmann. Made around the production of his latest work for The Met’s spring Costume Institute exhibition, it is a series titled Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations. Spanning six separate videos, Luhrmann dives into discussions between two top Italian designers, Elsa Schiaparelli (played by Judy Davis) and Miuccia Prada. More stripped down than his other work, this still features his touch, with text popping up on the screen and his own stylish lighting. Check out all six videos below.
The Great Gatsby opens on Friday, May 10th.
What’s your favorite film from Luhrmann? What do you think of the above videos?