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


Olivia Down Under 2012 - the full works


Ever the great performer, Olivia Newton-John wowed audiences with three knock-out concerts at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It was obvious that Olivia was happy to be back in her home country and fans returned the love tenfold.

Alfie Boe opened for Olivia and entertained the crowd with his quit wit and powerful singing including the fabulous Bring Him Home from Les Miserables. On opening night, Boe mentioned that Matt Lucas from Little Britain was attending the concert. A quick shout out from Lucas confirmed his presence. In fact, Lucas managed to throw Boe off his game by asking him to hurry up with his set as he needed to use the bathroom.

On another night, Alfie broke into a wild rendition of You’re The One That I Want at the beginning of one of his songs which in turn sent the Sydney Symphony into musical chaos. “Sorry, I don’t know why I did that,” laughed Boe…probably a lifelong dream of his to hit the stage as Danny Zuko and belt out the iconic Grease song alongside Olivia.

Boe interacted with the audience several times during his set. “You don’t have a clue who I am, do you…” he asked jokingly in between numbers. “John Denver!” came an answer from the back of the stalls. “John Denver?” repeated Boe in bemusement. “One of the Bee Gees I’d understand, but John Denver?” Half-way through his set, Boe dedicated a song to his 4-year-old daughter then, ever the joker, announced that he’d put her up for sale on eBay. The crowd lapped up his words.



Olivia Newton-John takes to the stage looking fit and trim



After a short break, Olivia took to the stage looking as stunning as ever in a sexy, sequined black outfit. She kicked off her set with several challenging numbers including fan favourite A Little More Love. Her voice was strong and youthful; her performance confident and dynamic. Olivia sang many of her 70s and 80s hits including Have You Never Been Mellow, Sam and songs from Xanadu. This was followed by a country medley.

I had brought along a musketeer hat purchased in a novelty store that I had modified by replacing a buckle and feather with an ONJ label. It wasn’t quite the Stetson that I’d hoped for, but looked country enough to pass as a cowboy hat. Just before Olivia began singing If Not For You, French fan Arielle Guittard and I leapt from our front row seats to give Livvy the hat. She wore it during Let Me Be There and swung it around liberally during If You Love Me Let Me Know.

The ONJ “Yihaaaa” hat above
 
Olivia in cowboy hat during her country medley (above)
The bass player borrows the hat (below)

During Physical, the Japanese fans seated next to me slipped on some sporty headbands and got to their feet to give the exercise-inspired number their best shot. Olivia seemed delighted that they were having so much fun and gave them an approving nod. During Xanadu, fans Nabil Chouari, Rebekah Cotton, Arielle, I and our Japanese friends held up some multi-coloured glow sticks in an “X” every time Olivia hit the main chorus. As our glow sticks were very small and the lights on stage were very bright, we apparently looked as though we were brandishing strands of spaghetti. Not sure what the rows behind us were thinking as they were trying to work out the connection between the song and pasta.

Olivia’s version of Send In The Clowns was a “goose bump moment”. Her interpretation was heartfelt and honest and reminded me how I felt the first time I saw her perform Don’t Cry For Me Argentina live.

An addition to Olivia’s concert was the much-awaited Dance medley from A Few Best Men which featured classics such as Mickey, I Think I Love You, Daydream Believer, Sugar Sugar and the new John Farrar track Weightless. Olivia performed the medley with gusto and in a rock style that would have pleased many a fan, especially those who had longed to hear more vocals in those numbers.

A string of Grease hits followed with Aussie singer David Campbell channelling John Travolta during You’re The One That I Want. A pleasant surprise was the addition of We Go Together which brought back some great memories of the movie and reminded me again why Grease was such a big success in the 70s, appealing to fans of all ages, and why the movie still enchants new generations of viewers today. Grease is the word and seemingly always will be!
Olivia and David Campbell performing You’re The One That I Want above and below 


As Olivia finished mesmerising the audience with her closing number, I Honestly Love You, Arielle and I made a final dash forward to the stage with a family size box of Cherry Ripe chocolates which Olivia seemed to appreciate. Rebekah handed her a big bunch of flowers which she gratefully accepted.


Olivia and band: Warren, Andy, Steve and Marlen

There were many other highlights during the Sydney concerts, probably too many to list. However, one of the most memorable has to be the Meet & Greet following the Thursday concert. Besides the obvious pleasure of having a quick chat with Olivia, a picture and getting a canvas signed by her, it was great meeting her backing singer, Steve Real. I really enjoyed our talk.
With Steve Real at the Meet & Greet


As Aussie-based fan Chris Rutherford writes in his detailed account of encounters with Olivia and her band members, they are very respectful of her fans and protective of her which is lovely to see. They seem extremely united and you can clearly pick up on their complicity when they perform on stage: a wink here, a smile there. Sitting in the front row (a first for me!) enabled us to interact a lot more with Olivia and her band during the show which made an already great experience that much more enjoyable.


Steve Real, Nabil Chouari, Arielle Guittard, Marlen Landin and me


But the Olivia experience didn’t end there. On Sunday, all those who had travelled from overseas for the Australian tour joined my partner, me and a handful of friends for an “Olivia BBQ”. The weather was glorious and it was a perfect opportunity to get everyone together one last time. Several hamburgers and much wine later, we took to the karaoke machine and sang our hearts out to Livvy classics (Arielle is still without voice today…LOL). I’m sure our dulcet tones could be heard in Perth!


The Olivia BBQ (clockwise from front): Nabil Chouari, Michael Wing Lun, Frederic Nowak, Sophie Hauchart, Larry Barber, Lucien Nedzi, Luke Brighty, Arielle Guittard, Frederic Brillouet and Rebekah Cotton

All in all, we had a great time and I guess much of that has to do with Olivia. She did bring us together after all. To Livvy, her band, Olivia friends old and new, I stand here in grace and gratitude…
And I thank you!
Cheers, Luke


From left to right: me, Olivia and my partner Michael

6 comments:

  1. Hey Luke,
    It is a great pleasure to read your fantastic concert and Meet & Greet review and also to see your great photos. It seems you all had an amazing time. Thank you!
    Cheers,
    Susanna

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Susanna. We had a ball!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you Luke for that detailed report. Oh gosh, I hope she'll come to Europe this or next year. I need that hype one more time in my life *lol*. Guys, I see you've had the best fun and Olivia blessed us with her being and you are the most devoted fans!!!! all *Thumbs up*

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Kay. There was some insider talk last week about Olivia coming to Europe in the near future. Not sure whether that would be a concert tour or something else, but there definitely will be something happening soon. Not just a rumour anymore so finger crossed! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Luke, what a fun story to read, and i wished i could have been at the barbie, goes without saying you all had a great time!!Jolanda

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you, Jolanda. The last week has been full of great moments. Wonderful to be able to share these with Olivia friends. Hope you make the next tour Down Under! x

    ReplyDelete