Andy Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 All is not LOST - It's survival of the fittest for Home and Away's castaways - Missing, presumed dead Daily Telegraph 28 June 2006 Survivors of the Summer Bay helicopter crash say it was a tough assignment, writes Sarrah Le Marquand Stalkers, explosions and now a Lost-style crash that has Summer Bay fearing the worst. An aircraft crashes into deserted terrain. A group of survivors emerges from the wreckage, shaken and injured, but still clinging to life. While they anxiously wait to be rescued, they battle against the elements of the dense bushland that surrounds them. As the days pass with no sign of a search party, the survivors form strong bonds and divulge long-buried secrets from their past. No, this is not Lost - it's Home And Away, the Australian soap opera still attracting bumper audiences in this, its 19th series. Over the years the stoic residents of Summer Bay have braved cyclones, bushfires and mudslides, with a helicopter crash the latest disaster to strike the long-suffering community. While travelling to the city to undergo treatment for burns - sustained in a recent explosion, of course - the helicopter carrying Robbie (Jason Smith), Kim (Chris Hemsworth), Martha (Jodi Gordon), Belle (Jessica Tovey), Kit (Amy Mizzi) and pilot Colin (Shane Withington) spirals out of control and crashes in remote bushland. Until now the passengers have been presumed dead, but in the final moments of Home And Away this week, viewers will catch their first glance of the survivors. It's the beginning of an arduous journey for the shell-shaken five, who will struggle to stay alive over the coming weeks. While their loved ones back home assume the worst, the survivors come to accept they might have only cheated death temporarily. As far-fetched as the fictional premise may be, bringing the ambitious storyline to life was very much an exercise in realism for the cast and crew. Filmed in various locations around NSW including Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the cast shunned their usual studio shoots to spend three long weeks in the bush. "We asked all the males who were 'lost' as such not to shave for three weeks and they were dirty and grimy for 13 hours a day," says Julie McGauran, series producer on Home And Away. "And we didn't just go to the bush and say let's start by the edge of the road; they all had to trudge into the scrub." Even for actors used to shooting dramatic scenarios on a regular basis, the experience proved unique. "It's like we were in Lost, stuck out in the bush," says Jason Smith. "We were getting there at 4am for make-up and we wouldn't leave until 8 or 9 at night so that was our life. I didn't see my girlfriend very much." Having dropped the L-word - as in Lost - Smith admits he did often feel he'd wandered on to the Hawaiian set of the hit US show. "It was exactly like that," he laughs. "I was just waiting for the other survivors to pop up or the secret hatch to appear." It's a comparison McGauran is quite happy to accept, although she's quick to point out the producers of Lost have a few more resources at their disposal. "Oh, if only we had their money," she says. "I would be more than proud for anyone to associate us with Lost. The writing team and myself talk about Lost all the time but we don't really have their budget." And for the record, there'll be no inexplicable sightings of polar bears on Home And Away. "Not even a panda," McGauran quips. In the wake of a particularly eventful few months in Summer Bay, it's not as though the popular soap is in need of any more drama, yet McGauran says it's a plot development that gives the characters a good shake-up. "Really, it was a device to throw all the dynamics and relationships up in the air and separate all our loved ones from their loved ones and see what happens. So what better than to have half of them lost and the other half at home coping. When people are away and in near-death situations, what do they talk about? What do they do when they think they're not going to survive?" She also acknowledges it's part of a detailed strategy to ensure interest in the show remains steady throughout the winter months, particularly as the Big Brother juggernaut reaches the business end of proceedings. Yet having won the Logie for Most Popular Drama for the first time in nine years, and with the show consistently winning its timeslot, Home And Away has little reason to be looking over its shoulder. "We're very proud that we're going well but that doesn't mean we rest on our laurels," McGauran says. "It's a scarier thing to be up there to be honest. We want to keep on bettering ourselves." And if that involves one calamity after another, then so be it. If nothing else, it's one way to keep the young stars on their toes. "Robbie's had a pretty wild adventure - what else could happen?" Smith says of his beleaguered character, who met the love of his life only to see her fall pregnant to the leader of a brainwashing cult. With Robbie now presumed dead, a distraught and heavily pregnant Tasha is seeking comfort in the arms of another man. "Home And Away is at such an extreme level of drama at the moment, and it's awesome, but can it go back to the days of OJs in the diner and couples making out or do they have to keep up that action?" Smith muses. "You have to keep the stakes high to keep you on the edge of your seat. But it would be really nice to have a couple of cruisey weeks. There's never a dull moment." Given the alarmingly high rate of catastrophe that strikes the beachside community, it's a mystery why anyone would choose to live there. "Go to Yabbie Creek, don't go to Summer Bay," Smith laughs. "It seems to attract every single psycho, stalker, explosion and disaster. It's the most dangerous place in the world." * Home And Away, Seven, weekdays, 7pm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princess_jessik Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 "Robbie's had a pretty wild adventure - what else could happen?" Smith says of his beleaguered character, who met the love of his life only to see her fall pregnant to the leader of a brainwashing cult. With Robbie now presumed dead, a distraught and heavily pregnant Tasha is seeking comfort in the arms of another man. Hehee...wonder who that could be?! Thanks for that Valk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Lynd~ Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 ^I wonder,lol. Thanks for that Valk.So the facial hair at the logies was for a story.I hope it dosn't go for to long,though that they couldn't shave for 3 weeks suggests otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack4martha_forever Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 "Robbie's had a pretty wild adventure - what else could happen?" Smith says of his beleaguered character, who met the love of his life only to see her fall pregnant to the leader of a brainwashing cult. With Robbie now presumed dead, a distraught and heavily pregnant Tasha is seeking comfort in the arms of another man. aww...robbie has nttn to worry about...tasha would never hurt robbie...and jack wud never betray martha...especially with her BFF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazer Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 Oh cool. Thanks Valkyire for this great article. While travelling to the city to undergo treatment for burns - sustained in a recent explosion, of course - the helicopter carrying Robbie (Jason Smith), Kim (Chris Hemsworth), Martha (Jodi Gordon), Belle (Jessica Tovey), Kit (Amy Mizzi) and pilot Colin (Shane Withington) spirals out of control and crashes in remote bushland. Hey did everyone notice this. Shane played Brendan Jones on A Country Practice but of course a lot of you won't remember that. Thanks, Jarad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Lynd~ Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 I watched ACP.WAhat job did his character have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazer Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 I watched ACP.WAhat job did his character have? Brendan Jones (Shane Withington) joined ACP in 1982 (I think) and was one of the nurses at the Wardin Valley Hospital. He was married to Molly (Anne Tenney) who sadly died in 1985 (which today is still one of most tragic deaths in Aussie TV history) and become a single father to Chloe (Emily Nicol). He quit his job as he didn't have the heart for it anymore but later on Brendan become the local district nurse. Then he found happiness once again with Sarah Anderson (don't know the actress' name) who was a school teacher. Brendan left in 1986 with Chloe and Sarah to move to Albany. He also asked her to marry him before they drove away. I hope this helps. Thanks, Jarad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Lynd~ Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 Yeah,i remember exactly who he is now.He had blonde curly hair?I'll have to see how he looks in H&A. Thanks Jarad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazer Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 No probs!! Thanks, Jarad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Kelly- Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 I have ACP on dvd yes, it's in R4 Thanks for the news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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