Ah yes. December Boys is a real movie Dan is in. Very good movie too. It will be released in September..it will be released world wide..but it will be shown to Australia first because it is an Australian movie.
Maybe this will help you understand it more:
Based on the Novel "December Boys" by Michael Noonan (1960) December Boys is a coming of age story about a group of four adolescent orphans who are all born in the same month. The orphans, who are best friends, leave their orphanage for a holiday by the sea. The boys learn of a rumor about two of the seaside residents, who are unable to fall pregnant, possibly adopting one of the orphans.
As the boys compete to become the "most adoptable" by the residents with hopes to gain a real family, tension rises among the orphans severely testing their friendships. "Maps" (Daniel Radcliffe) has to make the choice between 'growing up' and staying big brother to the other lads. The film is described as a small independent Australian film. By Marc Rosenberg, Scriptwriter of December Boys
"I did meet Dan, and I found him to be professional, intelligent, humble and enthusiastic. But what impressed me most about him, was his willingness to coach the boys with less acting experience.
I think you're talking about Maps and Misty in the water. If I told you what they are doing, it would ruin your enjoyment of the scene.
As far as "kissing and a bit more", I will tell you that Maps (Dan) is in love with Lucy.
I believe Daniel is seen in a swimming costume. Because he is older, he's mostly in long pants. That's the way it was in the 1960's. He doesn't wear glasses and his hair is relatively short. He looks clean-cut.
In Australia, and I suppose in the UK, swimsuits are called 'swimming costumes' or 'cozzies' (for short). I only witnessed the first week of shoot, so it is an educated guess. But you will see more of Dan than ever before, of this I am sure.
None of the boys have had much experience with any women, other than nuns at the orphanage. While at Lady Star Cove, a small seaside resort, Maps meets Lucy. She's a little older and has lived a very different life. She's a free-spirit in the hippy generation. Because of the difference in experience, Lucy enjoys the control she has over Maps, and he enjoys being introduced into the secrets of male/female relationships. Maps falls in love with her.
First, none of the boys have much chance of being adopted since most people would prefer to adopt babies or atleast young kids. Of the four boys, Misty is the one who holds out the most hope, even though the others don't give him much chance. When they find out they are being considered for adoption by Teresa and Fearless, they begin to take more care with their dress, follow the rules and polish whatever abilities they have. Basically they try to be more than they are. Maps is the exception, since he gave up being adopted some time ago. He pretty much likes things the way they are.
I don't want to destroy your daydreams, remember this is fiction (not really Dan or Teresa), but the relationship between Maps and Lucy is NOT platonic. He's a young adult and she's a little older with much more experience. This is the first time he's met a beautiful girl, or any girl, close to his age who is willing to help him explore his sexuality. It is a very exciting time for him. Lucy comes from the city and has been left with her uncle while her father searches for work in Darwin (a town in far north Australia). She has very little to do, or anyone her own age to talk to until Maps arrives. When they meet each fills the other's need.
I don't want to talk too much about Lucy's motivation, because it's complicated and it would be hard to explain without undermining your enjoyment of the film. I'd like you to be surprised.
As I said earlier, Maps is happy with the way things are, but this does not mean he would stand in the way of the other boys being adopted, or in fact, not consider being adopted himself if the situation were right.
I never counted the kisses between Dan and Teresa (Lucy) but I can tell you Dan never asked for less.
Suzie Wilks and her (screen) husband have come to the orphanage looking to adopt a boy.
I don't know yet who will compose the music, but I know how important it is and am sure it will be first rate.
The character of Maps is the oldest of his friends. He takes on the role of protector and advisor, and sometimes acts like a father to the other boys. He's a reluctant champion, always willing to take a risk and accept responsibility. I would say that he's fun and maybe the most shy of the boys.
I can't post pictures, it's against the rules. Only the production company or the distributor are allowed to release photos.
Bandy and Mrs. McAnsh, the family that host the boys, are played by Jack Thompson and Kris McQuade. They are terrific actors and fun to watch. You'd call them eccentric.
You will see the orphanage at the beginning of the film. I believe December Boys will make you laugh and cry, at least that's the way it's aimed.
Village Roadshow, the distributor, will decide when and where the film will be released. Hopefully, everyone will get to see it.
Getting Daniel Radcliffe to play 'Maps' was like winning the lottery. I didn't meet him beforehand, but Rod Hardy (director) and Richard Becker (producer) told me about him. I trust them, so I was excited. When I met Daniel he told me he had read hundreds of scripts before choosing mine. I was extremely flattered, because an actor of Daniel's importance and commercial appeal could do whatever he wanted. There aren't many actors of Daniel's caliber willing to take a risk on a small film. He began work the day after he arrived from the UK.
Endings can be bitter/sweet, and I believe that's what happens with "December Boys". Films with entirely happy endings are easy to digest and easy to forget. We want you to think about the film, talk about it, and see it again.
I've known Rod for a few years and we've become close friends. We've even worked on other projects together. He's a good human being, passionate about his work, and has vision. We would often work long hours, going over the script and talking about our own life experiences, trying to find the truth in a scene or character. Rod pushed me to do my best work, and I like to think I helped him do his as well. He's stubborn for what he believes in and remains open to different points of view. Rod has worked with big stars before (Pierce Brosnan, Angelica Huston, Melanie Griffith, etc.), so he was able to take Daniel's presence in his stride. While on set, I was allowed to look through the video split with Rod, and was blown away by how all these years of writing and talk had come together in this beautiful picture. Everyone was excited by what they saw and felt - the crew, actors and even the writer. I'm not that easy to please, but I have to say I expect this to be the best realization of any script I've written. Having said all this, a film is a delicate thing (like a newborn), it has to be handled carefully for it to reach its potential. Our fingers are crossed. We believe DB looks different than any other Australian film - it has a dreamy almost larger than life quality.
The atmosphere on set was great. Everyone worked extremely hard trying to get things right within a fixed budget and schedule. Making a film on a low budget is exhausting, there's no room for mistakes or inefficiency. By the end of the shoot, the crew and actors were spent, but when they see the finished product, they'll be happy they did their best."
There you go. Here is the tralier:
YouTube - December Boys
Enjoy!
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