Guillaume Nery base jumping at Dean's Blue Hole

This video of world champion freediver Guillaume Nery's special dive at Dean's Blue Hole is stunning. It's filmed entirely on breath hold by the French champion Julie Gautier and I feel like I am out of breath every time I watch this.

"Guillaume Nery and myself decided to use our time during a freediving competition at Dean's Blue Hole (deepest blue hole in the world) to make a short movie. Since a long time Guillaume wanted to make the link beween freeding and base jumping. Our goal was to emphasise on esthetic images and innovative camera moves." Julie Gautier

I've always had a thing for freedivers after watching Luc Besson's Le Grand Bleu (The Big Blue) many years ago. In my book, free divers along with surfers are the coolest people. I love what they do and always jealous of their capability.


www.guillaumenery.over-blog.com
www.juliegautier.over-blog.com
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean's_Blue_Hole

adidas Originals - Star Wars™ Cantina 2010

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ one week away, things are heating up in the world of commercials too. This adidas Originals ad set in Cantina from Star Wars is an intergalactic delight.

It features David Beckham, Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg, Franz Beckenbauer, Daft Punk, Ian Brown, Noel Gallagher, Ciara, Jay Baruchel and DJ Neil Armstrong blending seamlessly in the original scene from the movie with Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO and Obi Wan Kenobi.

www.adidas.com/ORIGINALS

Don't say no to Panda

I love this series of Egyptian ads for a cheese brand called Panda. They are made by Elephant, a boutique agency based in Cairo. They won several awards at the Dubai Lynx Awards in March this year and I hope the Panda ads will help them win some more.

The premise is very simple, in each one, someone is offered Panda cheese, but when the offer is rejected, Panda appears with a disappointed look that causes awkwardness and discomfort to everyone. Then the fun begins.

www.cairoelephant.com
www.youtube.com/PandaEgypt

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A day in Paris by Benoît Millot

This is a quirky video following an eager and cheerful robot travelling across the city of Paris after it landed in the airport. Directed by Benoît Millot for Vinci, a French construction and electrical engineering company, this is far from your average stuffy corporate video. It's fun, creative and enjoyable to watch.

The song in this video is I'm not the lonely son by Electric President.


www.lepotagerdesign.com
www.myspace.com/electricpresident

Inspired by Iceland

If this video doesn't want to make you pack and travel to Iceland, I don't know what will. Iceland has been number one on my list of places to visit and this proves why.

Volcanic eruptions and financial crisis or not, I don't care what people say about you Iceland, one day I will visit you and dance with joy like everyone in this video.

WARNING: There's some nudity that lasts for 5 seconds between minutes 1.13 and 1.18, so if you might be offended or sensitive to such scenes, please don't watch.


www.inspiredbyiceland.com
www.vimeo.com/icelandinspired

Best wedding proposal ever

This is the BEST wedding proposal I've seen. Think I almost teared up with joy watching it. Things like this makes me realise it's not all doom & gloom on this planet.

If someone ever decides to propose to me, I want it to be done like this.

Capturing the Essence with Binu Bhaskar

A new photography workshop called ‘Capturing the Essence’ will take place in The Mojo Gallery on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th June.

The workshop is designed and led by fine art photographer Binu Bhaskar. Since completing his Photography degree in Australia, Binu has gained extensive experience at an international level in both commercial and fine art photography. He has been involved in numerous group and solo exhibitions around the world.

‘Capturing the Essence’ will include a range of techniques and approaches to the art of portrait photography. Including historical context and influences, understanding human traits, lighting and presentation.

Workshop details:
Location: The Mojo Gallery
Dates and timing: 11th-12th June, from 11am to 4pm with a lunch break.
Cost: Dhs 475
Registration via http://www.themojogallery.com/workshop-detail-2.html or send an email to gallery@mojo-me.com

Visit Mojo Gallery for more details about the workshop.

Stephen Fry: What I wish I'd known when I was 18

Reward yourself half an hour and listen to these words of wisdom. Oh Stephen Fry, we need more people like you. To put it simply, we need less of egocentric and self-obsessed and more of kindness.

"I suppose the thing I'd most would have like to have known or be reassured about is that in the world is what counts more than talent, what counts more than energy or concentration or commitment or anything else is kindness. And the more in the world you encounter kindness and cheerfulness, which is kind of its amiable uncle or aunt, just the better the world always is - and all the big words, virtue, justice, truth are dwarfed by the greatness of kindness."

Mascarades - movie screening in Dubai

Masquerades premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival 2008 and won the Muhr Arab Award and subsequently went on to win critical acclaim and several awards across several global film festivals.

It will be screening from 3rd-10th June at The Picturehouse in Dubai Mall -  so if you are craving world cinema, make sure you don't miss this one.

Masquerades narrates the story of Mounir, who lives with his family in the heart of the Algerian Aures. An arrogant man, who also adores his sister Rym, a narcoleptic and whom the village is convinced will end up a spinster - Mounir has only one dream: to finally be appreciated by his fellow citizens. After working for much of his life as a gardener in his dusty Algerian village, Mounir dreams of improving his family’s fortune and gaining a measure of respect by marrying off Rym, to a "real gentleman".

Rym, however,  has other plans. She dreams of marrying Mounir’s best friend, Khliffa, who has secretly courted her for years. When Mounir lashes out at village gossip with a fib that he has promised Rym to a wealthy outsider, she comes out of her sleepy stupor to embrace the rumor and press her real betrothed into action.

Beautifully brought to life by a memorable cast—including director Lyes Salem as the cocky but compassionate bumbler Mounir—this heartfelt comedy suggests that when dreams become reality, it’s time to wake up.

Director Lyes Salem was born in Alger, Algeria in 1973. After studying at the National Conservatory for Superior Dramatic Arts, he performed in some of the most respected theaters in the country. His second short film, Cousines, received France's César award for Best Short Film in 2005. As an actor, he has appeared in a number of films, including Alex, Banlieue 13 and L’Ecole de la Chair. Mascarades is his first feature film.

www.reelcinemas.ae/cineplexes/picturehouse
www.dubaifilmfest.com

RIP Dennis Hopper

Just found out Dennis Hopper died at the age of 74 following a battle with prostate cancer. To honour him and his contribution to the craft of acting, here's an interview with him from Inside the Actors Studio from 1994.