Source: Variety
March 25, 2005
Cinderella Story in Oz
By Michaela Boland
A rugby team promoting a boxing film?
It's got to be one of the stranger marketing efforts, but that's what you get when you mix Russell Crowe and his beloved but beleaguered South Sydney rugby club.
Crowe and BVI's Down Under topper Alan Finney have inked a deal for players to don jerseys sporting a "Cinderella Man" logo for eight weeks starting in July.
The team's regular sponsor, Real Insurance, even agreed to transfer its logo to the backs of jerseys during the campaign.
"Cinderella Man" was pegged for release in Oz in June but was pushed back to October. As a result, the jersey campaign will precede "Cinderella's" release by two months. It couldn't roll out any later because September is primetime for rugby finals.
Crowe has no formal ties with South Sydney other than being a huge fan. The team--part of the Rupert Murdoch-backed National Rugby League--was dropped from the league during a consolidation in 1999, but a campaign by supporters, including Crowe, got it reinstated in 2002.
On the red carpet for the 73rd annual Academy Awards
Russell shows off the good luck charms he is keeping in his pocket including the rubber ducky from Jodie Foster's son Charlie,
and the good luck charm on his arm - Dani!
Watching as Steve Martin uses him as a punch line ...
with Joaquin Phoenix
... and the Oscar for Best Actor goes to ... Russell Crowe!
If you grow up in the suburbs of anywhere, a dream like this seems kind of vaguely ludicrous and completely unattainable. This moment is directly connected to those imaginings. And for anybody who's on the downside of advantage, and relying purely on courage, it's possible. ~ Russell Crowe
God bless America, God save the Queen, God defend New Zealand, and thank Christ for Australia! ~ Russell Crowe
The entire 'Best Actor' section of the program
