Why WA acting prodigy yelled at Hollywood legend on film set
WA acting prodigy James Bingham reveals he had 'lots of fun' yelling at Hollywood legend Nicolas Cage while filming the soon-to-be-released psychological thriller, The Surfer.
Putting Yallingup's iconic surf breaks up in lights — and on the map for international wave chasers — the film follows the return of Cage's Americanised character to his childhood beach as he attempts to reclaim his home, and respect from local surfers.
Bingham, 20, whose character antagonises Cage, told PerthNow he loved every minute on set, despite not personally relating to his character who is part of a group of bully boys.
Your local paper, whenever you want it. James Edward Bingham, Austen Wilmot & Talon Hopper. Credit: David Dare Parker / Photograph by David Dare Parker
'We're stupid and we don't really know what we're doing,' Bingham, who lives in Jandakot, said.
'We just terrorise everyone who comes on our beach and we force them out, we're just young grommets really.
'There was a lot of bullying going on so it was hard to tap into that.
'I didn't relate as much as I wanted to but it was cool stepping into someone you aren't. And it turned out to be lots of fun yelling at Nic Cage.
'It was really a dream come true.
'It was like being in the best acting masterclass. I was so proud to be filming at home and Nic is at his best, he showed that he has such a good work ethic and he was so professional.'
The Surfer, directed by Lorcan Finnegan and written by Thomas Martin, hits Australian cinemas on May 15. The Surfer starring Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage. Credit: Supplied
Bingham has been acting since he was cast in his primary school musical, The Sound of Music, as Kurt von Trapp.
By the age of eight he was undertaking acting and voice and accent training at Ali Roberts Studio in Mt Hawthorn.
He graduated from All Saints College in 2022 and now studies music at SAE University College in Northbridge.
At 14, Bingham got an acting break when he was cast from a worldwide search to play Drew Murphy in Apple TV's Swagger — a series based on the early life experiences of basketball great, Kevin Durant.
'I didn't think much of it and I sent through a tape, I came home from school and Dad and Mum said we're going on a plane to Hollywood tonight,' he said.
'It was incredible and then I did the audition for them over there and was lucky enough to be selected and that was a great chapter in my life.' James Bingham from Jandakot will be starring in the new move, The Surfer. Andrew Ritchie Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian
Bingham said he had pretty limited understanding of basketball before filming Swagger and similarly, he wasn't too familiar with waves before The Surfer — but that didn't hold the young gun back.
'I had never surfed in my life,' he said.
'I try and put myself in situations that make me uncomfortable even if I can't stand it. I don't like it but I know it's good for me. I know that makes you a better person in the end.'
Bingham hopes The Surfer can help boost his portfolio as he aims to combine his passion for acting and music and secure a spot on Broadway.
'My dream is to actually go over to the United Kingdom for a bit and do a bit of stuff . . . I feel like I'm getting a call from the universe to give it a crack over there.'
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She has been recognised for eminent service to the arts, to costume, production and set design, and to fostering emerging artistic talent. After Strictly Ballroom put Luhrmann and Martin on the global stage, they followed up with the sumptuous 1996 feature Romeo + Juliet, and 2001's Moulin Rouge!. Then came 2008's Australia starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and 2013's The Great Gatsby, with Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role. After a foray into television, Luhrmann returned to the big screen in 2022 with the biopic Elvis starring Austin Butler. Martin and her team made 90 costumes for the Elvis character, and more than 9000 outfits for extras in the film's many concert scenes. Luhrmann has most recently been in Los Angeles for Sony's Music Vision Content Showcase, which featured his release EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, based on previously unseen recordings. The project is not quite a documentary or a concert film, Luhrmann told the showcase audience. 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That's been the trail taken by Australia's most commercially successful film director Baz Luhrmann, who grew up in the NSW outback town and on Monday will be appointed a Companion (AC) of the Order of Australia as part of the King's Birthday Honours List. He's been honoured for eminent service to the arts as a filmmaker, to the theatre, to cultural heritage, and to the development of artistic talent. "My personal journey from a small, rural town to the world stage would not have been possible but for those who came before having the vision to support the arts, allowing us to reflect our stories back to ourselves and participate in global culture as Australians," Luhrmann said in a statement to AAP. The 62-year-old came to prominence with 1992's Strictly Ballroom, which was his first screen collaboration with his now wife, award-winning costume designer Catherine Martin, who was responsible for the film's dazzling outfits. Martin, who has won more Oscars than any other Australian, has also been appointed an AC. "I am so honoured to be joining the ranks of so many illustrious Australians, whom I have admired and been inspired by," she said. "Being recognised in your home country is especially meaningful." Martin has won four Academy Awards, two each for Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby, from a total of nine nominations. She has been recognised for eminent service to the arts, to costume, production and set design, and to fostering emerging artistic talent. After Strictly Ballroom put Luhrmann and Martin on the global stage, they followed up with the sumptuous 1996 feature Romeo + Juliet, and 2001's Moulin Rouge!. Then came 2008's Australia starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and 2013's The Great Gatsby, with Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role. After a foray into television, Luhrmann returned to the big screen in 2022 with the biopic Elvis starring Austin Butler. 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The 62-year-old came to prominence with 1992's Strictly Ballroom, which was his first screen collaboration with his now wife, award-winning costume designer Catherine Martin, who was responsible for the film's dazzling outfits. Martin, who has won more Oscars than any other Australian, has also been appointed an AC. "I am so honoured to be joining the ranks of so many illustrious Australians, whom I have admired and been inspired by," she said. "Being recognised in your home country is especially meaningful." Martin has won four Academy Awards, two each for Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby, from a total of nine nominations. She has been recognised for eminent service to the arts, to costume, production and set design, and to fostering emerging artistic talent. After Strictly Ballroom put Luhrmann and Martin on the global stage, they followed up with the sumptuous 1996 feature Romeo + Juliet, and 2001's Moulin Rouge!. 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Researchers unearthed a massive 68 boxes of film negative in the Warners Bros. film vaults, as well as unseen 8mm footage of Elvis, which has since been restored. As for projects in the pipeline, Luhrmann is reportedly working on another biopic, this time about Joan of Arc and based on a novel by fellow Australian Thomas Keneally. Meanwhile Martin has recently directed a short film titled Grande Envie, for luxury fashion label Miu Miu's Upcycled collection.
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It's a long way from the small town of Herons Creek to Hollywood - and to the King's Birthday Honours List. That's been the trail taken by Australia's most commercially successful film director Baz Luhrmann, who grew up in the NSW outback town and on Monday will be appointed a Companion (AC) of the Order of Australia as part of the King's Birthday Honours List. He's been honoured for eminent service to the arts as a filmmaker, to the theatre, to cultural heritage, and to the development of artistic talent. "My personal journey from a small, rural town to the world stage would not have been possible but for those who came before having the vision to support the arts, allowing us to reflect our stories back to ourselves and participate in global culture as Australians," Luhrmann said in a statement to AAP. The 62-year-old came to prominence with 1992's Strictly Ballroom, which was his first screen collaboration with his now wife, award-winning costume designer Catherine Martin, who was responsible for the film's dazzling outfits. Martin, who has won more Oscars than any other Australian, has also been appointed an AC. "I am so honoured to be joining the ranks of so many illustrious Australians, whom I have admired and been inspired by," she said. "Being recognised in your home country is especially meaningful." Martin has won four Academy Awards, two each for Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby, from a total of nine nominations. She has been recognised for eminent service to the arts, to costume, production and set design, and to fostering emerging artistic talent. After Strictly Ballroom put Luhrmann and Martin on the global stage, they followed up with the sumptuous 1996 feature Romeo + Juliet, and 2001's Moulin Rouge!. Then came 2008's Australia starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and 2013's The Great Gatsby, with Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role. After a foray into television, Luhrmann returned to the big screen in 2022 with the biopic Elvis starring Austin Butler. Martin and her team made 90 costumes for the Elvis character, and more than 9000 outfits for extras in the film's many concert scenes. Luhrmann has most recently been in Los Angeles for Sony's Music Vision Content Showcase, which featured his release EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, based on previously unseen recordings. The project is not quite a documentary or a concert film, Luhrmann told the showcase audience. "We call it EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, and he will sing and tell his story like never before. He will tell it. Because what was remarkable is that we found audio of Elvis talking about his life." Researchers unearthed a massive 68 boxes of film negative in the Warners Bros. film vaults, as well as unseen 8mm footage of Elvis, which has since been restored. As for projects in the pipeline, Luhrmann is reportedly working on another biopic, this time about Joan of Arc and based on a novel by fellow Australian Thomas Keneally. Meanwhile Martin has recently directed a short film titled Grande Envie, for luxury fashion label Miu Miu's Upcycled collection.
