WRITTEN BY MATTHEW PEJKOVIC
The world premiere of the romantic drama The Luck One was held in Sydney. Walking the red carpet to the sound of screeching teenage girls was star Zac Efron, who was joined by director Scott Hicks.
An adaptation of Nicholas “The Notebook” Sparks hit novel, The Lucky One tells the story of a Marine named Logan (Efron) who travels to North Carolina in search of the unknown woman (Jennifer Schill) whose picture served as a good-luck charm during his three tours of Iraq.
Playing a Marine brought special challenges to Efron, who bulked up for the role and also hung out with America’s finest.
“I spent a lot of time with Marines, I went to Camp Pendleton and hung out with many staff sergeants and tried to absorb as much as I could” said Efron. “We also had some military advisors with us throughout the entire film who were very open and really told us anything I wanted to know. I had all of the resources on hand and utilised them.”
Spending time with real life Marine personnel gave Efron a different perspective to what America’s fighting men and women go through.
“I’ll never have the perspective of what it’s truly like,” said Efron. “But I feel like I had the inside edge.”
Directing The Lucky One is Australian filmmaker Scott Hicks, best known for receiving an Oscar nomination for his work on Shine. With The Lucky One, Hicks was faced with the challenge of adapting a Nicholas Sparks novel, not an easy feat considering The Notebook is regarded as one of the most popular romantics dramas of the last decade with The Lucky One sure to be compared by fans when released.
“I always believe that you have to approach it the way that you want to do it, because if anything having the readership with the sort of fanbase and author it’s a great offering, you know?” said Hicks. “You hope you’re going to connect as much as the book did. So it’s an added bonus.”
Hicks last Australian film was the 2009 drama The Boys are Back, yet he is itching for another local production to come his way.
“I’m ready any day. Anyone who has got an offer (laughs). I would love to make another Australian film. I really enjoyed making The Boys are Back, so I’d love to make another Australian Film.”
Until then, The Lucky One will be released in Australian cinemas on 19 April through Roadshow Pictures.
