Home grown superstar Hugh Jackman is celebrating coming home to Sydney by unveiling a spectacular gold and silver shooting fireworks display he has designed for the 2017 Sydney New Year’s spectacular.
Famous for star turns in The Boy from Oz, as Wolverine and his latest release, The Greatest Showman, his glittering fireworks display will burst across Sydney Harbour and shoot from the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the New Year’s Eve midnight celebrations.
“Having the opportunity to design a New Year’s Eve firework with Forch Foti has been a boyhood dream come true,” Mr Jackman said.
“I’m a Sydney boy. I grew up in Sydney, so going to the fireworks with my father was always something I really enjoyed.
“For years wherever I have been in the world, I have watched the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks with awe and a real sense of hometown pride, as well as being a little homesick.
“New Year’s Eve is a reminder of how important my roots are to me and of growing up in Sydney.
“I’m looking forward to spending this incredible night with family and friends and to also be able to share Sydney’s celebrations with the world.”
Lord Mayor Clover Moore welcomed Hugh Jackman’s contribution with open arms.
“When Hugh came to us with the idea of designing a firework for this year’s New Year’s, we thought it was a brilliant idea,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Having a star like Hugh Jackman offer his talents to help showcase Sydney New Year’s Eve to the world is a fantastic coup for Sydney and for Australia.
“From growing up in Sydney to global stardom, Hugh’s remarkable career, warmth and generosity are part of Sydney’s story on the world stage.
“Hugh’s spectacular celebration of summer in Sydney will be seen by an audience of more than one million people around Sydney Harbour, and more than one billion tuning in around the globe.
“The stunning firework Hugh has designed will be set to Dr G Yunupingu’s beautiful piece ‘Wiyathul’. Dr Yunupingu was a talented and humble artist who created powerful music that touched the hearts of so many people. We’re honoured that his family have welcomed this tribute to a truly great Australian who sadly passed away this year.”
Hugh Jackman’s unique firework was created in collaboration with the City’s Fireworks director, Fortunato Foti of Foti International Fireworks. In a New Year’s Eve first for Mr Foti, the firework was designed via Skype calls, emails and long-distance phone calls.
“We started with footage of firework designs Hugh liked,” Mr Foti said.
“I made a computer simulation of new fireworks featuring the look and feel Hugh wanted to capture. Hugh especially wanted the fireworks to appear with an Indigenous artist’s track, and we were lucky enough to have the Gurrumul album piece in the soundtrack.
“The display works really well with the music and I’m pleased with what Hugh and I have created for this New Year’s Eve.
“Hugh’s design will feature glittering gold horsetail brocades and willow waterfall shells with flickers of silver and explode in the sky for around 20 seconds.
“They will be launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, off six pontoons and another six barges around the harbour.
“It was great to get to collaborate with someone of the calibre of Hugh, and he was a pleasure to work with.”
Mr Jackman said his inspiration for the firework came from a desire to create a reflective moment in the dramatic midnight display.
“With all the celebrations, the noise and music of New Year’s Eve, Forch and I thought it would be nice to have a little moment of peace. This will be a chance to just pause and take everything in,” Mr Jackman said.
“The firework is designed to be a moment of suspension, a moment of beauty and of taking a breath. Things go quiet for a few seconds in a big and amazing New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
“Personally, I can’t wait to see it all come to life over the best harbour in the world in the greatest city on earth!”
Visit sydneynewyearseve.com for detailed information on the event.
For more information and images, please contact Belinda Wallis, City of Sydney Senior Media Relations Advisor, on 0467 810 160 or bwallis@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, please contact Julia Lenton on 0410 748 039 or email jlenton@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au