[Video] Samuel Johnson chats about Love Your Sister

 

Samuel Johnson, one of Australia's most recognisable young actors and voice-over artists, is training eight to nine hours a day on a unicycle. He's resting up where he can, even in steel circles in parks. Because in February, Samuel will embark on a trip around Australia on a unicycle. That's 15,000 km over a year. He's doing it for his sister Connie, who's dying of breast cancer.

Samuel and Connie have set up the Love Your Sister charity to raise awareness about breast cancer and $1 Million for the Garvan Research Foundation and The Cancer Support Group. The unicycle trip is a challenge Connie set for Samuel as her legacy.

Samuel met me for a chat about Love Your Sister, Connie and the 36 inch wheel that will be getting him around Australia. While we kept our chat quite light, the reality of Connie's terminal illness - and the many, many other cancer patients -  is so very sad. It made me reflect on the people in my life who have been touched by cancer.

You can watch our chat below. Mum, Dad - I hope you are watching because I set Samuel a challenge that involves you and haggis...

 

I wanted to see Samuel in action, so he gave me a demo on his unicycle. There were some kids playing in the park and they were so excited to see him cycle.

Samuel has asked me to help him out with promoting Love Your Sister, so look out for some more updates of his journey. I'd love it if you got involved too - promoting and donating where you can. We all have women in our lives who can benefit from Samuel and Connie's mission.

For more information, updates on Samuel's unicycle journey and to donate, visit Love Your Sister's website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

The Haunting of Daniel Gartrell - produced by Straightjacket Productions

Last night I saw the stage play, The Haunting of Daniel Gartrell - produced by Straightjacket Productions - at Melbourne art space 45 Downstairs. The play is written by Western Australian playwright Reg Cribb, and directed by Lucy Freeman. It stars John Wood (of Blue Heelers fame), Sam Johnson (Secret Life of Us, Rush) and Marcella Russo (Neighbours).

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The play opens with acclaimed Australian bush poet Daniel Gartrell (John Wood) sitting in an armchair, 'thinking oblique thoughts' when Craig Castevich (Sam Johnson) stops by. The house is dark, temporarily cut off from power, and Castevich trips over a vase. Gartrell's fiery temper is revealed in this early stage of the play, when he scolds Castevich for tripping over the vase his ex wife gave to him. Daniel Gartrell reveals his nudity too - just as the power is restored. His nudity was not what Castevich - or the audience - expected.

Castevich is a recently graduated actor, his most successful work to date has been playing a naked terrorist and a squash player (he became really good at squash) in a short films. Gartrell's life story is being made into a feature film, and Castevich is spending two weeks with Gartrell to learn about him in preparation for playing him as a young man. He is fresh and extremely enthusiastic and forward in researching Gartrell, as he believes this feature film may be his big break.

He soon realises Gartrell's history will not be easy to learn as Gartrell is a very private and isolated man, often leading Castevich astray. Perhaps the fact that Gartrell is still alive makes it harder still for Castevich to become his character. Sarah Gartrell (Marcella Russo), Daniel Gartrell's daughter, stops by with some groceries and she reveals some truths about her father. Sarah is also isolated, perhaps a symptom of being the sole carer of her father. She just wants someone other than her father to love her.

As Gartrell and Castevich spend more time together, it becomes apparent they both share common demons. The idea of it being easier to become a character being than living with the reality of your own life is also raised. And perhaps when an actor becomes a character, their own life is burdened with the character's flaws. Issues of mental illness loneliness and isolation, Indigenous Australia, and the generation gap are also explored in depth. The play also showed the effects on a writer when their craft slowly becomes obsolete.

The Haunting of Daniel Gartrell is a convincing performance, both funny and confronting in parts. It is very Australian. The set is amazing - a construction of old doors and drawers, and old couches. Gum trees are scattered around the sides, and these are haunting lit. And Marcella Russo wore a stunning dress.

I felt immersed in the play. It was so different compared to TV and film - really intimate. I have been a fan of Sam Johnson since The Secret Life of Us, and John Wood is a legend of Australian TV, so it was great to see them on stage. Sam not only acts in the play but is a co-founder of Straightjacket Productions.

The Haunting of Daniel Gartrell is playing at 45 Downstairs until 7 June.

You can view some hilarious videos from Straightjacket Productions on YouTube.

On a side note - Sam Johnson is so lovely, taking the time to talk to me after the play. I gave him a card and the CD featuring the video of the Rush premiere. He asked me about my work on Channel 31 and what disability I have, which we spoke at some length for. He also asked me for a hug and what my full name is. Nicest. Actor. Ever.

Logies red carpet - Callan Mulvey + Sam Johnson

So I did a really daggy exciting thing last night and went to the Logies red carpet. For the unitiated, the Logies are Australia's television awards. I was given a green wrist band and fortunately stood near to one of the red carpet entrances. I took heaps of photos, but mostly of the backs of dresses. They aren't very good to post here.

I am a goal focused woman and I only went to see the cast of Rush. And I braved the rain, cold, girls screaming for Hamish Blake and Justin Bieber, and bogans (there was an annoying man near me trying to spot Justin Bieber) to achieve my goal. Just as I was getting bored from seeing TV stars I didn't know, and from the annoying man vocalising that he didn't know the TV stars he saw, the Rush cast walked out.

I called Callan's name and he said 'Hi Carly, how are you?' and waved. We chatted from afar, I congratulated him on his wedding, and he posed for this photo. So so lovely.

And then, just after I got over the Callan Mulvey moment, Sam Johnson strayed from the Rush cast and came to talk to me with his trademark grin. He was so affable - and I was so excited I jumped and smiled and cried a little. No, really. I did. He gave me a hug and asked if I remembered him from the fun times we had at the Rush premiere. Of course I remembered him! And I told him about my Channel 31 No Limits work and he said to keep him in mind. Here's our happy snap :)

Callan and Sam made me feel so special. Once I met them I went off home. Mission accomplished.

And the boys go on and on.

It's not usually my thing to just post a heap of pictures from other websites on my blog just as inspiration. I find those type of blogs boring, especially when it's just mass pictures of fashion.

If ever I do this, there's usually slabs of text in between the pictures or a reason why I have posted the pictures - like making reference to a person. But today I am going to post a heap of pictures from other websites as inspiration. Or eye candy. Think of it as a community service.

Lizey Lou's regular blog posts featuring famous hot men always makes me smile. So today I am inspired by her. I saw the first picture I've listed on her blog.

No apologies for solely focusing on looks, either. I am sure they probably all have beautiful souls too. I know for a fact that seven of them do, because I've met them. I have marked the beautiful souls with an asterisk.

And the boys go on and on. I hope this gets you through your first day back at work!

Daniel Johns. Yes please. Perfect teeth.

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Though I think he's also pretty hot here

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Rob Thomas*. So I've only 'met' him from afar (he waved to me), but wow! I have a thing for his bulging eyes.

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David Beckham. With this body, it's ok that not all his face is in the photo. I don't care for football. But apparently he's a good player. I wouldn't know. I'm too distracted by his...er...

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Ben Cousins. He used to be a footballer. Again, I don't care for football. Or drugs. Just his eyes and smile. 

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Scott Speedman. I was always a Ben Covington girl. Never batted an eyelash at Noel Crane.

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Kevin Mitchell/Bob Evans*. This is a picture taken by a friend, and it features my arm.

Callan Mulvey*. That day was one of my favourites of 2010.

Angus Stone*. Beardless. Uh huh.

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Sam Johnson*. That smile. And that voice. He did the couple pose with me. Squeee! Am I not the luckiest girl in the world?

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Simon Baker. He was also hot when he was Simon Denny.

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Caleb Followill. I love scruffy.

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Darren Hayes*. The man looks hot in a suit.

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Hamish Blake*. His smile makes me go dizzy.

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Heath Ledger. An amazing actor. A beautiful face. Such a tragic loss.

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Jake Gyllenhaal. I only just discovered him in Love and Other Drugs. Woah. Can I get those undiscovered years back???

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Sam Worthington. Scruffy. Blokey. Ocker. Hot.

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Ok, so now that I've gratuitously perved, and probably treated these poor men like meat, I'll move onto more serious matters.

Who do you think should have made my pictorial list?