Famous for star turns in The Boy From Oz, The Wolverine & his latest release, The Greatest Showman, home grown superstar, Hugh Jackman, is celebrating coming home to Sydney by unveiling a spectacular gold & silver shooting fireworks display he has designed for the Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) 2017 – Wonder spectacular.
His glittering fireworks display will burst across Sydney Harbour & shoot from the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the Sydney NYE2017 – Wonder Midnight Fireworks.
“Having the opportunity to design New Year’s Eve fireworks with ‘Forch’ (Fortunato) Foti has been a boyhood dream come true” Mister (Mr) Jackman said.
“I am a Sydney boy. I grew up in Sydney so going to the fireworks with my father was always something I really enjoyed”
“For years, wherever I have been in the world, I have watched the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks with awe & a real sense of hometown pride as well as being a little homesick”
“Sydney New Year’s Eve is a reminder of how important my roots are to me & of growing up in Sydney”
“I am looking forward to spending this incredible night with family and friends & to also be able to share Sydney’s celebrations with the world”
Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, welcomed Hugh Jackman’s contribution with open arms.
“When Hugh came to us with the idea of designing fireworks for this year’s Sydney NYE, we thought it was a brilliant idea” the Lord Mayor said.
“Having a star like Hugh Jackman offer his talents to help showcase Sydney New Year’s Eve to the world is a fantastic coup for Sydney & for Australia”
“From growing up in Sydney to global stardom, Hugh’s remarkable career, warmth & generosity are part of Sydney’s story on the world stage”
“Hugh’s spectacular celebration of summer in Sydney will be seen by an audience of more than 1 million people around Sydney Harbour & more than 1 billion tuning in around the globe”
“The stunning fireworks Hugh has designed will be set to Dr G Yunupingu’s beautiful piece, Wiyathul. Dr G Yunupingu was a talented & humble artist who created powerful music that touched the hearts of so many people. We are honoured that his family have welcomed this tribute to a truly great Australian who sadly passed away this year”
Hugh Jackman’s unique fireworks were created in collaboration with the Sydney NYE Fireworks Director, Fortunato Foti of Foti International Fireworks. In a New Year’s Eve first for Mr Foti, the fireworks were designed via Skype calls, e-mails & long-distance phone calls.
“We started with footage of firework designs Hugh liked” Mr Foti said.
“I made a computer simulation of new fireworks featuring the look & feel Hugh wanted to capture. Hugh especially wanted the fireworks to appear with an Indigenous artist’s music track & we were lucky enough to have the Gurrumul album piece in the soundtrack”
“The display works really well with the music & I am pleased with what Hugh and I have created for this Sydney New Year’s Eve”
“Hugh’s design will feature glittering gold horsetail brocades and willow waterfall shells with flickers of silver & will be exploding in the sky for around 20 seconds”
“They will be launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, off 6 pontoons & another 6 barges around the Harbour”
“It was great to get to collaborate with someone of the calibre of Hugh & he was a pleasure to work with”
Mr Jackman said his inspiration for the fireworks came from a desire to create a reflective moment in the dramatic Midnight Fireworks.
“With all the celebrations, noise & music of Sydney New Year’s Eve, ‘Forch’ & I thought it would be nice to have a little moment of peace. This will be a chance to just pause & take everything in” Mr Jackman said.
“The fireworks are designed to be a moment of suspension, a moment of beauty & of taking a breath. Things go quiet for 20 seconds in a big & amazing Sydney NYE2017 – Wonder Midnight Fireworks”
“Personally, I cannot wait to see it all come to life over the best harbour in the world in the greatest city on Earth!”
Visit sydneynewyearseve.com for detailed information on the event.
Media Release: City Of Sydney
Sydney Spectaculars 