'ELVIS'

The Sydney Premiere of Baz Luhrmann's ELVIS movie was presented in the glorious Sydney State Theatre where Luhrmann's first film 'Strictly Ballroom' happened to be featured thirty years ago at the 1992 Sydney Film Festival.

EIN's Piers Beagley was also there in 1992 and was lucky enough to be part of the 2022 ELVIS celebration.

The evening was part of Sydney's VIVID festival and before the actual Premiere, director Baz Luhrmann spent an hour in conversation discussing his life in movies, as well as his thoughts on ELVIS.

This is part of what he had to say.. 

Baz Luhrmann: My least favourite expression is “the problem with that is.. ” whereas I just need to say Yes and find the solution. To be honest while you are going to see 'ELVIS' tonight, I don't think I ever truly finish a movie, it just gets taken away from me by the distributors, like a baby! In my mind you can always do more. I have an original four hour version of the film.. which I'd love you to see.. but had to edit it down to two 1/2 hours for theatrical release. But there is a real line you cross at various test screenings when you know it's working... and can go out into the world.

I am always creating stuff and I don't see myself as a “film maker” per-se, I see my life as a creative venture. I come from a very small country town in New South Wales.  I've always loved musicals and we watched old-time movies on TV.  I lived in a great world of fantasy. I was always terribly enthusiastic but when you're 15 being an enthusiast is incredibly uncool!

For my films I pick up a primary myth, using it as some underlying structure. At one point, for instance, I was thinking of setting ‘Moulin Rouge’ in Studio 54 for instance! But in the end Paris seemed right. However I need to find the validity in my idea and then discover how can find a worth in putting it out there as a film.

The pathway I chose for the film ELVIS was through his relationship with the Colonel. But I feel that the film is more like Shakespeare were you take a historical figure and explore the idea - more about the whole context rather than only Elvis. I can parallel it with the movie ‘Amadeus’ (by Miloš Forman) which was about Mozart but where the main character was in fact the mentally disturbed Salieri who recounts the story.  

So ELVIS is a way of exploring America in 50s 60s and 70s and Elvis was of course culturally at the centre of America from the 50s through to the 70s where having grown up in Tupelo the black culture and black music were totally important in his life. There are two key points or theories.

One is the haphazard chaos theory where all of these different characters get jumbled up together and "new stuff" happens – like Elvis. Whether it is the Apple computer or the confluence of popular culture out of which something new grows. The other is The Sell, the roll-up roll-up snake-oil marketing and enthusiasic push-for-the-money sell. When those two things are in balance it is in great thing. But a few years ago I thought that things had changed and I felt that “The Sell” failed, and failed supporting the creative part, failed the substance part of it. It is a sort of Humanity versus pure Energy.  There's the obvious part in the film that I included where The Col invents major merchandising.  That in the 50s was a big change.  

ELVIS as a person was obviously a tricky subject, as no one can be the real Elvis. Even as I was developing the film I set myself a rule that I thought might get me out of actually making it (laughing) - which was that I wouldn't do it unless I could find an “Elvis”. I really didn't believe I could find an actor, a perfect performer who could represent the real Elvis. Until I found Austin Butler…

I don’t make subtle, naturalistic films I leave that to others. I like to challenge. I like bright colours and very fast-edited cuts, surrealistic zooms and loud challenging soundtracks. I like to create a line and push the audience to either happily go over that line for the wild ride - or if not they can opt out. And that’s OK, my films are not for everyone! (Laughing). I feel that there is a definite moment towards the beginning of all my movies where the audience knows that they are on-board, ready for the ride and then they know that they will be thrilled and entertained by the whole film.

I hope that you all feel this with ELVIS at this Sydney Premiere. Thank You.

The Sydney crowds packed the streets for a glimpse of the movie's stars who arrived via the Red Carpet.

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The Sydney Media were out in force to celebrate the international cast of the movie, including Austin Butler, Tom Hanks and Australia's Olivia DeJonge, along with Director Baz Luhrmann.

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Baz Luhrmann, Tom Hanks with Producer Schuyler Weiss

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After the Red Carpet, Baz Luhrmann came on stage to not only welcome the stars to Sydney but also to thank the cast and crew before showing the movie.

Then Tom Hanks came on and thanked Sydney for putting on such a special light show for him.. (it was actually all part of the Sydney Vivid festival).

Hanks noted that Ron Howard is now also working in Queensland - “Everybody's making movies in Australia. We had a great time it was absolutely marvellous. We could do this at the end but right now why don't we all have a quick sing-a-long, you know the Elvis song, "Wise men says, only fools rush in..."..

and at that point the whole auditorium - along with Tom Hanks and Baz Luhrmann - started singing 'Can't Help Falling in Love'. Who knew that my night would include singing an Elvis song with Tom Hanks!

at the end Baz Luhrmann rightly noted.. “Bam!” that was so good!”

Baz Luhrmann then welcomed Olivia DeJonge "this actor got the role because she was the best, a new Australian discovery, a true new Star" and again discussed Austin Butler, "I really didn't believe I could find an actor who could represent the real Elvis. Until I found Austin Butler..."

Austin Butler apologised for being somewhat stage-shy but noted..“Thank you all for being here I had the most incredible two years of my life, being able to live in Australia to make this film. It means the world to me, being back here. Thank you and I hope you love the film”.

EIN reviews the film tomorrow....

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EIN 'ELVIS" Movie Spotlight: Baz Luhrmann's new biopic 'ELVIS' will finally be released to the cinemas on June 24 2022. It was as far back at May 2014 - eight years ago - that EIN first reported that fellow-Australian Baz Luhrmann had started working on his concept for a stunningly fabulous ELVIS movie. At the time there were plenty of skeptics that didn't believe that this Academy award-winning director of The Great Gatsby, Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Australia and Moulin Rouge could be interested in an ELVIS biopic but we were proved right. In our in-depth spotlight EIN presents all the stories, interviews and drama that have accompanied this brilliant achievement since those early days of 2014.

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Compiled by EIN / Piers Beagley.
-Copyright EIN June 2022 - DO NOT COPY IMAGES OR INFO WITHOUT PERMISSION.
EIN Website content © Copyright the Elvis Information Network.

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