By Charly SHELTON

As part of the “Kat Kramer’s Films That Changed The World” series, “Fallout” held its North American premiere Nov. 13 in Los Angeles at the Canon screening room.     The documentary, an Australian picture produced by Rough Trade Pictures in association with Screen Australia and Film Victoria, takes a close look at “On The Beach,” both in print and film. The documentary chronicles the creation of the post-apocalyptic piece as novelist Nevil Schute’s most noteworthy novel. It grew in popularity, bringing Australia to the world’s stage. Director Stanley Kramer, who bought the film rights, shut down parts of Australia to shoot his film in the actual locations described in the novel – an unprecedented action. “On the Beach” was the first major film to be shot entirely on location in Australia and, seeing the once vibrant and full streets become devoid of life, gave his film an eerie reality in the post nuclear holocaust setting.

In addition to Lily Tomlin, Dr. Helen Caldicott, Kat Kramer and Karen Sharpe Kramer, other celebrities at the premiere included Louis Gossett Jr. and Heather Mayfield, daughter of novelist Schute. They took part in a panel discussion on the realities of nuclear holocaust and what life would really be like after the nuclear fires died down.

While the evening celebrated the premiere of this new documentary, it also offered somber contemplation of the realities faced in today’s world of nuclear power.

  Charly Shelton