blog

gio 2 success

Paul Caesar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:53:46 +0000

I'm getting recognised in the street for... wait for it... my role in the GIO TV Commercials. People come up to me and ask if I'm the guy in the GIO ads. After I confirm that I am he, they ALL proceed to tell me how GREAT they think the ads are and some literally say how they can tell from the ad that I must be a "GREAT ACTOR". "You see some ads and don't pay attention, but yours, I watch it every time I see it!" "I look at you and know you are a great actor. You are so real." "Mate, you nailed it. I'd put the car one up there with 'Not happy, Jan'." One woman even hugged me she was so happy to have me shopping in her store. This has been a real eye opener for me, the actor in me loves the recognition. Especially because I think the ads are good to.

See the latest GIO ad for yourself.

amanecer

Paul Caesar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:53:14 +0000

Last Saturday I spent a few hours in the women's toilet at the Uni of NSW filming a small role in short film Amanecer (Daybreak). I was introduced to writer/director Alvaro D. Ruiz by Matias Stephens who I travelled to Bourke with earlier this year: Matias plays the lead role. Alvaro has written a beautiful short story that will resonate with many of the immigrants who have come to Australia in search of a better life. My role is a small one: a crooked employer who takes advantage of others. The film's mentor is Claudia Karvan and you can have a look at a teaser and be kept up to date here. I can't wait to see it!

Image by Marshmallow. Links by Marshmallow and IMDB.

raiders of the lost ark

Paul Caesar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:42:30 +0000

Last night I saw my favourite film of all time on the big screen: Raiders of the Lost Ark starring Harrison Ford. It screened at Greater Union Bondi Junction, organised by Popcorn Taxi. I have loved this film ever since I saw it as a kid and have now, I'm hesitant to admit, seen it 40 times.

After the film Karen Allen, who played Marion Ravenwood, one of the greatest female roles in action film history, was interviewed live on stage about her experience acting in the first of the Indiana Jones quadrilogy. Karen reprised her role recently in the long awaited sequel Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls. It was a delight to see her these 27 years after the original 'Raiders' release and you can see the interview here.

Image by Popcorn Taxi. Links by Popcorn Taxi and IMDB.

gio 2

Paul Caesar — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:20:53 +0000

Yesterday I spent the day with actor Helen O'Connor shooting a second GIO TV Commercial. The first GIO ad filmed in February was successful enough for client GIO, director Simon MacRae and producer Alex Mooney to cast Helen and I in a follow-up advertisement. Once again I play the husband with a wife just too smart for me to argue with (art imitating life?). This time we tackle car insurance as my wife drives off in my newly purchased sports car. Again, a great day spent with group of talented people who obviously love the work they do.

Image by Orange Whip Films.

redemption

Paul Caesar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:54:47 +0000

In 2005 I wrote and directed a production, Redemption: Through the eyes of Shakespeare. It was performed in a small community hall in the hills district of Sydney with a cast of 20 students aged 13 to 17. I'm pleased to say I am getting a second stab at directing my own work, this time at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. 21 students of NIDA's Drama Studio will rehearse on Sundays during October and November for an early December performance. This is a project close to my own heart...

'On 11 September 2001, 19 Islamist terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda coordinated suicide attacks upon the United States killing 2,974 innocent people.

On 12 October 2002, various members of Jemaah Islamiyah, a violent Islamist group detonated 3 bombs in a Balinese tourist district killing 202 innocent people and injuring a further 209 people.

Redemption: Through the eyes of Shakespeare was my response.'

Note: As I finished the first draft of Redemption: Through the eyes of Shakespeare, on 7 July 2005 British Islamist extremists detonated a series of coordinated bomb blasts that hit London's public transport system killing 52 innocent people and injuring a further 700 people.

As we rehearsed the original production of Redemption: Through the eyes of Shakespeare, on 1 October 2005, bombs exploded at two sites in south Bali killing twenty innocent people and injuring a further 129 people.

Performance times for the NIDA production on December 7th TBA.

square reviews

Paul Caesar — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:53:09 +0000

'I especially liked Hanna Mangan Lawrence as Lily, Billy's dominated sister and Paul Caesar as the local cop who delights in at last having something to do.' Review by Louise Keller - Urban Cinefile. Full Review

'Australia has made some outstanding crime films, such as Chopper and Two Hands. You can now add this to that list.' Review by Des Partridge - Courier Mail. Full Review

'The Square is a tense, captivating film, with great acting and plenty of surprises to keep you squirming in your seat. One of the best Aussie crime dramas in recent years.' Review By Jenni Dawes - Cleo. Full Review
Image by The Square.

back of bourke

Paul Caesar — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:00:58 +0000

Today I returned home from Brewarrina and Bourke (some 800 kilometres north-west of Sydney) where, through NIDA's Open Program, I spent five days running drama workshops with secondary students. Brewarrina Public School has just over 200 students, Bourke Public Primary some 300 students and Bourke High School approximately 200 (between 55-97% identify as being Aboriginal). Some students had never participated in drama workshops before but in the end we had all students experiencing what it's like to perform in front of a live audience.
My companion, Matias Stevens, a Sydney based actor managed by BLA Management like myself, worked with primary school students and also had students up in front of an audience, most for their first time. I must say Matias was a delight to travel with (we laughed so hard) and has a great ability to get fantastic results due to his energy and enthusiasm. It was a wonderful week that I hope will be the first of many.

flood cover

Paul Caesar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:06:05 +0000

In February I shot a television commercial for GIO with directors Kenn & Simon MacRae, brothers from Orange Whip Films (previous article). It appears continuously on television and still shots appear in magazines and newspapers. It seems strange that after all these years in the industry, I am getting recognised more now than ever as "the GIO man". NIDA staff have commented, my students have all seen it and family and friends keep talking about it. The response is always that the ad's a good one and often that it makes people laugh - nice to hear.
Image by GIO.

out of the square

Paul Caesar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:27:59 +0000

It's official - The Square is released nationally on Thursday 31st July. Don't miss it!

Image by bluetonguefilms.

on the square

Paul Caesar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:31:01 +0000

What an great night! I arrived with my parents to drinks at the Hilton Hotel, Sydney where they got to meet Joel & Nash Edgerton and Louise Smith, THE SQUARE's producer. We were driven to the entrance of the State Theatre where we walked the red carpet. A cast photo with the films producer, director and writer appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald today - a first for me. A word of warning - do not miss this film! It's excellent!
Image by SMH.