Baz Luhrmann presented and produced the song that hit the charts in 1999, "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)." The lyrics were written by Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich, and the vocals were performed by Lee Perry.
Produced and directed a hit re-invention of the classic opera "La Boheme" for the stage in Sydney, taking place in the 1950s post-war Paris, stressing acting more than big "Pavarotti style voices", to create an experience for "people who might be a little intimidated by opera". It was eventually filmed in 1993 for PBS's "Great Performances".
Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin's first child, Lillian (Lilly) Amanda Luhrmann, was born in Sydney on Friday, 10th October 2003.
His first three films, "Strictly Ballroom", "Romeo + Juliet" and "Moulin Rouge", were dubbed the "Red Curtain Trilogy" as they all fell under a particular style of film making. Luhrmann is now changing direction and plans to make a trilogy of historical epics, the first of these being the upcoming "Alexander the Great".
Did ballroom dance as a child.
His father died the first day of filming 'Moulin Rouge!'
Family once owned a gas station and a farm.
In late 2004, he directed the world's most expensive advertisement for Chanel No 5, a 4-minute short film titled "No 5: The Film" starring Nicole Kidman (who he worked with for Moulin Rouge!) and Rodrigo Santoro. The film ad, about a fairy-tale romance in which Chanel is part of the story but is not what the story is about, cost £18 million and made Kidman a Guinness World Record holder for highest paid actress in a commercial (she netted $3.71 million). Varying length versions of the film ad were shown on television, and - a first for Chanel - in movie theaters. Costumes were designed by Karl Lagerfeld and a score by Debussy. Kidman wore £17m worth of real gems.
Was nominated for Broadway's 2003 Tony Award as Best Director (Musical) for "La Boheme."
Son William Alexander Luhrmann was born June 8th, 2005
Baz Luhrmann Detailed Biography
Baz Luhrmann (born Mark Anthony Luhrmann, New South Wales, September 17, 1962) is an Australian film director. His films are distinguished by their flamboyant and colourful theatricality.
Baz Luhrmann
Baz Luhrmann was born on September 17, 1962, and then raised in Herons Creek, a tiny rural settlement in northern New South Wales, where his father ran a petrol station and a movie theatre, both of which would influence his filming.
Films
After his theatrical successes, Luhrmann moved into film, and has directed three so far:
Strictly Ballroom (1990), starring Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice
Romeo and Juliet (1996), starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes
Moulin Rouge! (2001), starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor
These three films are now formally marketed as 'The Red Curtain Trilogy'.
Luhrmann was working on a biographical film about Alexander the Great, tentatively starring DiCaprio and Kidman, but the release (and subsequent box office failure) of Oliver Stone's film on the same subject in 2004 has cast doubt over whether the project will be completed. Baz Luhrmann has stated Italian grand opera as a major influence on his work including the Moulin Rouge!. He has also listed other theatrical styles like Bollywood films to have had an influence on his work like Moulin Rouge!.
Announced in November, 2005, Luhrmann will write (with Stuart Beattie) and direct a period piece film in outback Australia with Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman. The film has already been touted as an epic, likened to a Gone With The Wind.
Other work
Puccini's La Boheme on Broadway (2003)
In 2003 Luhrmann brought his critically acclaimed production of Puccini's La Boheme to the Broadway theatre stages of New York City. Originally produced in Sydney in 1993, once in New York it eventually garnered 7 Tony Award Nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Direction (Luhrmann), Best Orchestrations (Nicholas Kitsopoulos), Best Costume Design (Catherine Martin) and won for Best Set Design (Catherine Martin), Best Lighting Design (Nigel Levings), and the special award for Excellence in Theater (Principal Ensemble Cast).
In 2004, Luhrmann directed a lavish multi-million-dollar commercial for Chanel No. 5, starring Nicole Kidman.
Luhrmann is also credited with a 1999 UK number one single entitled "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)".
He directed a video for John Paul Young's "Love is in the Air" which was re-released to coincide with the release of Strictly Ballroom (in which the song featured prominently).
He orchestrated the re-election campaign of former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating.
He is rumored to be working on a cinema adaptation of his friend Nelline Zilberg's novel : "Magic Rackoon".
Personal life
Luhrmann married Catherine Martin, the production designer on all of his films, on January 26, 1997. They have two children, Lillian Amanda Luhrmann and William Alexander Luhrmann.
