Actress Rachael Taylor admits she almost gave up her part in the upcoming Aussie film Summer Coda because of the “terrifying” task of having to learn the violin.

The Transformers star now says she’s glad she stuck with it, describing the experience of making the romantic drama as “amazing”.

Set against the backdrop of the orange groves of Mildura, along the Murray River, Summer Coda has been six years in the making for young, first-time Melbourne director Richard Gray.

It stars Taylor as Heidi, an American violin player who travels to rural Victoria for her estranged father’s funeral and forms an initially guarded connection with orange grove owner Michael, played by Alex Dimitriades.

The film [...] is set for release in Australia on October 21.

“I told him I felt like I couldn’t do the part, I said ‘mate I have to be honest with you I feel like I’m unable to do it’,” says Taylor, who’s dating fellow actor Matthew Newton.

“The violin is terrifying, it’s a confronting part, and I wasn’t sure I was properly prepared for it.

“You don’t want to embarrass yourself, Richard’s been developing this project for six years, I told him he deserved somebody who felt capable,” she adds.

But Gray wouldn’t have it, telling Taylor she was perfect for the part.

Taylor describes Summer Coda, which was filmed in Mildura and the US, as a gentle journey about complex relationships.

“What do you do when you go to your father’s funeral, who you haven’t spoken to since you were eight and you meet his new wife and his new son, there’s no handbook on how to handle those moments in life, and that’s what the film’s about.”

[SOURCE]

Rachael’s movie ‘Splinterheads’ will be released on DVD on February 16! There are supposedly tons of extras (unfortunately I wasn’t able to find more details) and a limited edition DVD will be available as well.

eFilmCritic is offering you the chance to win the DVD. (The deadline is February 21). It is very simple. All you have to do is: Rate and place your comments to ANY 5 movies in their database. Just scroll down to the bottom of any review, drop a quickie comment and click “Submit Your Comments”.

THEN SEND IN YOUR NAME, ADDRESS & 5 COMMENTS TO contests@efilmcritic.com. Put “RACHAEL TAYLOR CAN CON ME ANYTIME” in the subject line and cross your fingers.

Good luck to all of you.

I have updated the gallery with quite a few new pictures. First- all the pictures of Rachael’s public appearances, which I had failed to add in the previous months, have been added to the gallery. Two- I found a beautiful new photo shoot. One or two of the images have been seen before but the shoot in its entirety is new to me and most of you probably too.

x20 Session 016
xxx Updates in the Public Appearances Category

As promised screen captures of Rachael’s movie “Cedar Boys” have been added to the gallery. The movie is about the Lebanese community in Australia. Rachael plays the part of Amie, who is quite into drugs and turns out to be a stripper rather than a real estate agent. Here’s how she herself describes Amie:

“[She's a] girl on a downward spiral. She’s such a lost creature, but doesn’t have any of the resources to climb her way out of that”.

x424 ‘Cedar Boys’ Screen Captures

As you can see there’s a new layout. Admittedly, it’s been a while since we’ve had a fresh look- or any updates for that matter. But I decided I want to change that in the year to come. So this new layout is only the first step to get Rachael Taylor Fan back on track.
Two of Rachael movies ‘Ghost Machine’ and ‘Cedar Boys’ were recently released on DVD. And I have already made screen captures of Rachael as Amie in the latter. You can count on more updates in the days, weeks and months to follow and I can promise you that Rachael Taylor Fan will once again become your premiere destination for all things Rachael!
Here’s a reminder for all those of you who have already forgotten what the site used to look like:

Life imitated art recently when two of Rachael’s “Cedar Boys” co-stars -Waddah Sari and Buddy Dannoun- were denied entry to an exclusive night club.

Rachael and others walked in ahead of us. When myself and Buddy arrived, we were refused entry by the security guard. When we initially asked why, they didn’t give any reason … I went on to explain that we were part of Rachael’s group.

‘‘He replied: ‘I don’t care, you ain’t coming in.’ ’’

Sari texted Taylor, who spoke to both the Hemmesphere floor manager and security guard: ‘‘They claimed there was a problem with my shoes. Rachael laughed and said: ‘You’ve got to be kidding, right?’’ As they spoke, Sari alleged patrons, including actor Nash Edgerton, continued to gain entry in similar footwear. ‘‘I was standing right next to him,’’ Sari said.

Les Chantery, who plays the film’s lead, said: ‘‘I got in fine because I arrived with Rachael. There were at least eight or nine people standing around inside the bar in the same style shoes as Waddah’s. Our own producer, Matthew Dabner, who is of Anglo descent, was wearing the same shoes.’’

Chantery added: ‘‘It wasn’t about shoes. I can only surmise it was because of the Middle-Eastern appearance issue.’’ [SOURCE]

Rachael is featured in the newest issue of InStyle Australia. And she did a beautiful new photo shoot for the magazine. I was able to add some of the images to the gallery. And here’s a peek at the article:

“As for the high-glamour looks from InStyle’s shoot, Taylor is again self-deprecating “It’s the clothes that do most of the work!” she laughs. She is enthusiastic though. “These clothes are stunning. It’s that old-fashioned idea, when looking like a grown woman was embraced. I feel like I am wearing things that were made and cut for women: strong women - which is very cool.”"

Click here to read the whole article.
Click here to view the pictures.

‘Cedar Boys’ managed to win over the audience at the recent Sydney Film Festival and was voted one of the favorites:

“Underlining the encouraging outlook for the latest crop of Australian films, Serhat Caradee’s drama Cedar Boys was voted the most popular at the satellite venues. It centres on three young Lebanese-Australian men caught up in a drugs scam in the western suburbs.” [SOURCE]

Pictures of Rachael at a recent screening of the movie have been added to the gallery here.

The Australian cinema community braved rainy weather for the gala opening night of the Sydney Film Festival .

Miranda Otto, Rachael Taylor, Kate Ritchie, Emma Lung, Leeanna Walsman and Claudia Karvan helped light up the red carpet at Sydney’s State Theatre to see UK director Ken Loach’s comedy Looking For Eric .

The 56th Sydney Film Festival runs from June 3-14 and features three local films in the running for Australia’s largest film cash prize, the Sydney Film Prize. [SOURCE]

x49 Sydney Film Festival Opening Night

After making her name in America with the action blockbuster Transformers, Rachael Taylor has returned home for a gritty, low-budget Australian film debut.

“I had to take the long way round,” said the 24-year-old actress on the eve of Cedar Boys’ sold-out world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival, which kicks off at the State Theatre tonight.

Co-starring Les Chantery and Martin Henderson, and told from the perspective of three Lebanese-Australian youths, the film goes on an adrenaline-charged ride from Lakemba to Kings Cross.

“It’s about outsiders looking in,” Taylor said.

Having moved to Sydney from Tasmania when she was just 16, the actress said she could relate to her character in the film.

“Sydney is such a fabulous, city. But if you feel as though you are slightly on the fringe - of wealth or success - it can be quite tough,” she said.

Yesterday she let slip her next film was also likely to be an Australian production.

Melt is a coming of age story set in the Outback. [SOURCE]