First time director Russell Crowe made the cast of his new film take lessons in geopolitical science and geography before filming the historical drama.
Crowe took the cast of The Water Diviner to his farm in Nana Glen, in northern NSW, for several weeks as part of their preparation.
Actor Ryan Corr, star of Wolf Creek 2 and Packed to the Rafters, plays a supporting role in the film.
He told the Nine Network on Friday that the Oscar winner brought in trainers and gun experts to provide them with advice.
He says Crowe, who also stars in the film, gave them two weeks to "get our heads in the project".
"We had lectures in the evening, geopolitical science majors, experts on Anatolia ... but he doesn't make us do anything he doesn't do himself," Corr told the Nine Network on Friday.
It wasn't all hard work though during their stay.
"We had cricket matches and soccer matches," Corr said.
Corr had high praise of Crowe's first go behind the camera, saying he was fantastic.
"He's a leader, he's worked with all these amazing directors in his life, we're sorting getting all the expertise that he responded to."
The Water Diviner is set four years after the devastating battle of Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.
Australian farmer Connor (Crowe) travels to Istanbul to discover the fate of his sons, reported missing in action, where he forges a relationship with the beautiful Turkish woman (Kurylenko) who owns the hotel in which he stays.
The supporting cast includes Australian actors Corr, Jai Courtney (A Good Day to Die Hard, Jack Reacher), Steve Bastoni (Underbelly), Isabel Lucas, Dan Wyllie (Puberty Blues, Love My Way) and Megan Gale.
The Water Diviner is scheduled for release later this year.
