Street Style

This is ‘Australia’…

The intricacies involved in making a film, especially one as large scale and logistically demanding as Baz Luhrmann’s newest film ‘Australia’, are largely lost on most of us. As consumers we demand entertainment in its slick, finished form. The process of how it came to be may flicker across our consciousness momentarily but is then lost in the ether, never to be pursued. I delved deeper and spoken to one of the integral members of the production team, Nicole Kidman’s full-time stand-in, Sydney-born Alexis Lever. 

What is a stand-in’s role?

A stand in works with the director, cinematographer, camera and lighting department to set up a particular shot and essentially do the ‘dress rehearsal’ before the actor steps in and shoots. The director uses a stand in for blocking and placement, the cinematographer and lighting department set up intricate lighting arrangements and the camera department rehearse camera movements and set down marks on the ground for the actors and make sure the camera is in focus. It’s a long process getting all that right for each shot!

Before the actor steps in the director will film a rehearsal with the stand in to make sure the movement comes together flawlessly on screen. I was the full tine stand-in for Nicole.

Did you get the position of stand-in just based on your physical resemblance to the actor?

My height, skin tone, body shape and hair colour were very important. Of course it saves everyone time if lighting and cameras only need to be set once. Nicole is so efficient at what she does that it is important for her to be able to walk onto set, rehearse the scene on camera then do two or three takes and walk off. Any time she spends in front of the camera waiting for lighting or camera adjustments is wasted time.

Tell me about your background.

At the time of the castings for the job I was working in a law firm, modeling part time and finishing my law degree. I guess I was preparing my applications for graduate law employment and considering my options as an intellectual property lawyer! I actually ended up finishing my degree from my mini-maui campervan in Kununurra and in Bowen. I sat two exams under the supervision of Bowen Police department in a holding room. I was 15 minutes late for what was meant to be my final law exam because I was on set. Baz had announced to the entire crew on a microphone that we had to shoot the scene quickly so I could get to my exam. I was very embarrassed. I changed out of costume in the car and sat the exam in a wig (that was glued to my head) with the costume department’s best attempt to change my 1930’s pin curl hairstyle. I wish I could say I passed- but I guess failing my last law exam because I was on set with Hugh Jackman is not such a bad story!

Do you want to be an actor as well as a model?

I never really was the most successful model- it was never anything I was ambitious about. The ‘Australia’ job was the best modeling job I ever had and it came totally out of left field. I gave up serious acting when I finished high school but continued to do screen classes until recently. I loved working in front of the camera on ‘Australia’ but my experience on Wolverine behind the camera as an on set production assistant is more true to who I am now. When ‘Australia’ resumed shooting for additional photography this year, the same assistant director who had interviewed me for the stand in position over a year before, took me on as a member of his AD team.

How did the Australian outback affect you?

In Kununurra we lived in mini-maui campervans in a showground about 10kms out of town. We worked 6 days a week, 15 hours a day for 2 months. Set was a 1.5 hour drive onto a station that had no mobile reception and was incredibly isolated. You can imagine that most of the crew crashed or let loose on their one day off. I was determined to make use of the extraordinary experience I had been given and every Sunday I would borrow a transport 4wd and drag my boyfriend out into the Kimberleys to explore. We spent every one of our days off exploring El Questro and the various gorges, waterfalls and private springs. We were alone, in the some of the most beautiful backdrops in the world. It was a very romantic place for me.

Did you have to stand out in the heat to get the correct angles, lighting etc before Nicole stepped in?

Compared to what the rest of the crew were doing my job was very easy. I always had an umbrella with my name on it and I am ashamed to say I often had someone holding it above my head for me while I blocked through scenes with Baz. I was always made to stay out of the sun and I always had people handing me bottles of water. Some of the crew were out in the heat of the day in the outback sun lifting and lugging huge pieces of equipment and cameras…. I was always amazed that the boys had enough energy for a workout or game of cricket or touch in their very short lunch breaks. Even during a dust storm out on the salt flats!

Were there any horror stories on set?

The biggest problem we had was the rain. Wherever we went it rained. Our entire set in Kununurra was underwater at one point- during the dry season- and we were forced back to Sydney to wait while it dried out which was a logistical nightmare. I heard someone say once “a Baz Lurhmann movie is a lot cheaper than a desalination plant- why doesn’t the government just pay for Baz’s movie to travel around the country and bring on the rain!” It actually worked in our favour to some extent as the shots we got during the three weeks of torrential rain and storms in Bowen are some of the most emotional and harrowing of the film.

What are your fondest memories?

Definitely kissing Hugh’s stand-in Taris!! And we had to do that a lot!!!

One of the other stand-in’s for the character of Daisy was a wonderful woman named Ellie Chatfield. She was a part of the stolen generation in Australia and I learned a lot from her and her story. I can’t imagine what it was like for her to experience what she has and then to experience the making of a movie like this one that so unashamedly deals with the horrors of that era of our history. I know that Baz was also very moved by her story.

What were your hardest moments?

Like anyone new to the film industry it is very easy to get swept up by the romance of the location and the film making process… I was swept up….and its not always romantic….

How long did you spend on set?

On average 13-15 hours a day with a 45 minute lunch break. For some months it was 6 days a week. I started in March 2007 during the pre production and we finished a few days before Christmas.

You went to the NYC premiere. Tell me about it.

It was a lot of fun walking the red carpet for the first time. It was at the beautiful Ziegfield Theatre in Manhatten. And seeing the movie for the first time was very amazing and emotional.

What’s next?

Who knows! I am just enjoying this new chapter in my life and taking everyday as it comes.

Do you miss Australia?

I miss my family and friends, and my cat Fancy Face.