Haven't we all at some point in time fantasized about stepping through a cinema/TV screen and into the world of our favourite movies and television shows? I certainly have!

With its modern, urban setting and stunning harbour, it is easy to see why Sydney leads the way as an ideal and versatile shooting destination. Movies shot here have been set in New York (Godzilla: Final Wars, Kangaroo Jack), Chicago (The Matrix and sequels), London (Birthday Girl), Seville (Mission Impossible 2), Bombay (Holy Smoke), Darwin (Australia), Myanmar (Stealth), Mars (Red Planet) and the fictitious city of Metropolis (Superman Returns, Babe: Pig in the City).

Whether popular landmarks or off the beaten track locations that are often hard to find, you can now explore Sydney in a fun and unique way with the SYDNEY ON SCREEN walking guides. Catering to Sydneysiders as much as visitors, the guides have something to offer everyone, from history, architecture and movie buffs to nature lovers.

See where productions such as Superman Returns, The Matrix and sequels, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Candy, Mission Impossible 2, Mao's Last Dancer, Babe: Pig in the City, Kangaroo Jack, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Muriel's Wedding, The Bold and the Beautiful, Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure and many more were filmed.

Maps and up-to-date information on Sydney's attractions are provided to help you plan your walk. Pick and choose from the suggested itinerary to see as little or as much of the city as you like.

So, come and discover the landscapes and locations that draw filmmakers to magical Sydney, and walk in the footsteps of the stars!

A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO EXPENSIVE TOURS, YOU CAN NOW ENJOY EXPLORING SYDNEY FOR UNDER $10 WITH THE SYDNEY ON SCREEN WALKING GUIDES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT US AT SYDNEYONSCREEN@HOTMAIL.COM

Subscribe to the blog and keep up with all the latest Aussie film and entertainment news. Read about what the stars are up to, who's in town, what movies are currently filming or being promoted. Locate us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sydneyonscreen and "like" our page!

Sydney on Screen walking guides now on sale!

Click on the picture above to see a preview of all four walking guides and on the picture below to see larger stills of Sydney movie and television locations featured in the slideshow!

Copyright © 2011 by Luke Brighty / Unless otherwise specified, all photographs on this blog copyright © 2011 by Luke Brighty


Sydney on Screen guides are now available for purchase at the following outlets:

Travel Concierge, Sydney International Airport, Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall (between gates A/B and C/D), Mascot - Ph: 1300 40 20 60

The Museum of Sydney shop, corner of Bridge & Phillip Streets, Sydney - Ph: (02) 9251 4678

The Justice & Police Museum shop, corner of Albert & Phillip Streets, Sydney - Ph: (02) 9252 1144

The Mint shop, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney - Ph: (02) 8239 2416

Hyde Park Barracks shop, Queen Square, Sydney - Ph: (02) 8239 2311

Travel Up! (travel counter) c/o Wake Up Sydney Central, 509 Pitt Street, Sydney - Ph (02) 9288 7888

The Shangri-La Hotel (concierge desk), 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney - Ph: (02) 9250 6018

The Sebel Pier One (concierge desk), 11 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay, Sydney - Ph: (02) 8298 9901

The Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney (concierge desk), 27 O'Connell Street, Sydney - Ph: (02) 8214 0000

The Sydney Marriott Circular Quay (concierge desk), 30 Pitt Street, Sydney - Ph: (02) 9259 7000

Boobook on Owen, 1/68 Owen Street, Huskisson - Ph: (02) 4441 8585


NSW, interstate and international customers can order copies of Sydney on Screen using PayPal. Contact us at sydneyonscreen@hotmail.com to inquire about cost and shipping fees.


All four volumes of Sydney on Screen are available to download onto your PC or Kindle at:
Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de, Amazon.es and Amazon.it


De Niro 'inspirational', says Aussie star

Rising Aussie actor faces De Niro on screen (Video Thumbnail)
He's acted alongside Robert de Niro, but Firass Dirani is resisting Hollywood's allure despite concerns over limited openings here for non-white actors.


The Age reports

When Australian Firass Dirani was cast in big-budget action movie Killer Elite, he had no idea he would be acting alongside "the godfather of cinema" Robert De Niro.

Sydneysider Dirani, who made a name for himself playing Kings Cross nightclub owner John Ibrahim in TV's Underbelly: The Golden Mile, said it was a complete surprise to find out De Niro was in the line-up.

"We knew Jason (Statham) was involved in the picture and Clive Owen, but we never knew the godfather of cinema was going to join us," he said.

He said De Niro joined the cast just a few weeks before shooting began in Melbourne.

In Killer Elite, De Niro plays Hunter, the mentor of Danny (Statham) who is kidnapped by a renegade sheikh.

To save Hunter, the sheikh demands Danny kill the three ex-SAS soldiers who murdered his sons, so his remaining son Bakhait (Dirani) can return to Oman.

Dirani said De Niro is "inspirational to every actor on Australian TV" so to be in a scene one-on-one with him was incredible.

"For me to be sitting opposite him in a dungeon in Melbourne, threatening him and trying to manipulate him in this scene and for him to turn around and threaten me back," he said.

"I'm sitting there in this situation, dressed in a three-piece suit, thinking is this actually happening?"

He said he spent a lot of time just watching how De Niro works.

"Observing his technique, his craft and the way he approaches the character and a scene, it's like 'what have I been doing for 10 years?"' he said.

But Dirani said working with Owen and Statham was also a huge learning experience.

"Watching Jason be so meticulous with his fight choreography was kind of eye-opening," he said.

"He's a real perfectionist."

Dirani plays the sheikh's spoilt son in Killer Elite, so didn't get to do any fight scenes himself, but he said he's itching to get a role like that.

"I wasn't part of it this time around but like c'mon, bring on that physical role, gimme that martial arts," he said.

"That's my forte. I grew up, did martial arts for five years and gymnastics for I don't know how long, but that's my speciality and hopefully I can get given a chance to show off those skills."

It may not have been very physical, but Dirani's role was still challenging - he had to have an accent coach and take on a role, "so far from how I grew up as a teenager in Sydney".

While it was mainly shot in Melbourne, Dirani also flew to London, then to Wales and after 25 hours of travelling, was on set to film his big scene with Jason Statham. No pressure.

"It was five o'clock in the afternoon and we worked until four o'clock in the morning on the one scene," he said.

But he loved it, saying "it's all training".

"It's an action film, $70 million (budget), and you want to be part of it, you want to be on the world stage and what an ensemble to be part of."

Killer Elite releases nationally on February 23.

AAP

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