Swimming With Sharks (Not Just In Hollywood)

700 swimmers took part in a race this past Sunday off Cronulla beach in Sydney, Australia. Few realized that they were swimming with sharks! One hammerhead was spotted near the racers, and another smaller shark was seen in the water beneath them. This video, from ITN, captures the drama. The camera was able to pick up the hammerhead, but it wasn't able to get an image of the other one. The excessive and persistent fear of sharks is termed galeophobia. It seems, from the looks of this vidoe, and from my own personal travels to Australia, that many Aussies don't have a fear of sharks in the waters around them.

PCM Movie Pick : Hot Or Not?

Did you get a chance to head over to your local movie theater with your family over Thanksgiving? We caught the Hugh Jackman/Nicole Kidman film, Australia. It didn't get great reviews nor did it do super well in the box office. In Australia, on the brink of WWII, an English aristocrat travels to the faraway continent, where she meets a rough-hewn local and agrees to join forces with her to save the land she inherited.

Together, they embark upon a transforming journey across the world's most beautiful yet unforgiving terrain, the Outback! It's definitely a romance movie with a little bit of action. We thought the film was wayyy to long overall, they could have gotten to the point much quicker. However, we did realize why Hugh Jackman was voted The Sexiest Man Alive! Perhaps that's a good reason to check out the flick!

PCM's Fierce Look Of The Day!

No wonder she nabbed Justin Timberlake. Recently, whenever we've seen Jessica Biel, she looks like us normal people walking down the street or catching a cab. But she cleaned up super nice for an event honoring Australian film director Baz Luhrmann at the MoMa film benefit gala at the Museum of Modern Art on Monday in New York City. She makes a plain ol' strapless black dress look fierce!

Speaking of Baz Luhrmann, his latest flick, Australia, is getting a lot of buzz and Oprah has sang its praises on her show recently. It comes out in theaters right around Thanksgiving! Get excited!

Jerry Lewis Makes (Another) Anti-Gay Slur

Jerry Lewis made an anti-gay slur on Australian television similar to one he apologized for using on his annual telethon a year ago.

Following a news conference in Sydney Friday, Lewis, 82, was asked by a Network Ten national TV reporter for his opinion on the Australian nation sport of cricket.

"Oh, cricket? It's a f-- game. What are you, nuts?" Lewis replied.

The network broadcast the comment in full on its Friday evening news bulletin along with footage of Lewis handling an imaginary cricket bat with an effeminate gesture.

Lewis apologized in September last year for using a similar anti-gay slur in Las Vegas during his annual Labor Day telethon that raises money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

New York-based media discrimination watchdog Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD, as well as gay rights group Australian Coalition for Equality called for Lewis to apologize again.

"Last year, Mr. Lewis apologized for using an anti-gay slur on live television, and expressed his desire to raise public awareness about the impact of this kind of defamation," GLAAD president Neil G. Giuliano said in a statement.

"Clearly he did not take the lessons of that unfortunate episode to heart because, in an effort to be humorous, he has once again managed to offend and defame the gay community," he said.

"For someone so well known for helping others, Mr. Lewis shows an incredible lack of dignity and respect when he makes comments that contribute to a climate of intolerance," Giuliano added.

Lewis was still in Australia on Saturday and has performances booked there through Nov. 1. His Australian spokeswoman Julie Cavanagh said he did not intend to comment.

The comedian held Friday's news conference to promote his latest stage show that is touring Australia. It is a retrospective of his career that includes show tunes with a 24-piece band, excerpts from his scores of movies and television shows, and his trademark slapstick comedy.

Aussie Documentary Worth Watching

Australia's pretty far away from us over here in The States! However, we got wind of this really interesting Australian documentary called The Bra Boys.

The film is about the cultural evolution of the inner-Sydney beachside suburb of Maroubra and the social struggle of its youth – the tattooed and much criticized surf community known as the Bra Boys. It was huge in Australia and has gotten mixed reviews. It's finally just come over The U.S.

Central to the story is the true-life struggle of the Abberton brothers – Sunny, Koby, Jai and Dakota. They're quite famous over in OZ for their surfing abilities! The documentary of The Abberton brothers and The Bra Boys is narrarated by Russell Crowe. Even pro surfer Kelly Slater makes an appearance. We think you should check it out. It's worth it - just be careful - the film has been labeled as a one sided view of this Aussie surf tribe.

Magazine protests censorship, puts nude child on cover

The Australian magazine Art Monthly featured a nude six-year-old on its July cover, reportedly to protest artistic censorship. The Sydney Sunday Telegraph reported that Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd did not support the decision.

"I have very deep, strong, personal views on this, which is that we should be on about maximizing the protection of children," Rudd said. "I don't think this is a step in the right direction at all."

Art Montly editor Maurice O'Riordan reportedly selected the cover shot to support artist Bill Henson, whose photographs of a nude 13-year-old were briefly displayed in a Sydney art gallery, prior to being seized in a police search.

O'Riordan said he hoped the July edition of his magazine would restore "dignity to the debate" of artistic representation of children.

"Maybe this is bold, but I don't see the need to give in to that sort of hysteria or the prospect of complaint," he said.

Melbourne photographer Polixeni Papapetrou took the cover photo of her daughter Olympia Nelson, currently age 11, back in 2003.

Nelson recently described the picture as "really, really nice," and denied suggestions that it constituted child abuse.

"I love the photo so much. I think that the picture my mum took of me had nothing to do with being abused, and I think nudity can be a part of art," she said.

Hetty Johnston, executive director of Bravehearts, an Australian organization that aims for a "movement for change" in how pedophilia is addressed in the court of law and the community, disagreed, calling the magazine photos "sexual exploitation of children."

Johnston added that the rights and protection of children should come before artistic merit.

"When those two things collide we have to err with the children; it has to be in the best interests of the children,'' she told the Nine Network. "I can't see in any circumstance where taking a photograph of a naked child is in the child's best interests. We need laws to make it clear; the laws are flaky and the laws aren't able to protect children."

Prime Minister Rudd threatened to pull the backing for the government-funded magazine if it refused to comply with new protocols regarding the depiction of children.

Theater In Australia Named After Ledger

A theater in Perth, Australia was named after actor Heath Ledger. The $87 million, 575-seat Heath Ledger Theater in the actor's hometown was named in his honor for his commitment to acting.

“Heath Ledger was totally dedicated to the craft of being an actor and that’s what made him successful,” Western Australia state Premier Alan Carpenter said at a naming ceremony. “I think what we’re doing is continuing that support for young people who want to make a career in the arts and acting, stage and in film, whatever it happens to be.”

TARGET PRESENTS TROPFEST@TRIBECA Contest that offers Filmmakers a shot at 10K

TARGET PRESENTS TROPFEST@TRIBECA – WORLD’S LARGEST SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, TROPFEST, RETURNS STATESIDE – AND CHALLENGES YOU TO TAKE A “SLICE” AT THE COMPETITION

***

WINNER TO RECEIVE $10,000 TARGET FILMMAKER AWARD AND TWO ROUND TRIP AIRLINE TICKETS TO SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

New York, NY [July 16, 2007] – Tropfest@Tribeca, created by Tribeca Enterprises and John Polson, founder of Tropfest – the world’s largest short film festival – announced today that 16 finalists will be chosen to compete for the Target Filmmaker Award of an unrestricted cash prize of $10,000 and two round trip tickets on to Australia, home of the original Tropfest, from Qantas Airways and Tourism Australia. Target will present Tropfest@Tribeca on Sunday, September 23, 2007 where the selected films will premiere at a free public outdoor festival, held at the World Financial Center Plaza, alongside the Hudson River. The films will be judged onsite by a jury of well-known actors and filmmakers to be announced at a later date.

Tropfest@Tribeca, as well as Tropfest, is a distinct festival which each year challenges filmmakers to incorporate a new Tropfest Signature Item (TSI) into their submissions. Every year the item changes; this year when Target presents Tropfest@Tribeca the Signature Item will be “SLICE.” In addition to the inclusion of the TSI, films must be seven minutes or under in running time and be making their first public screening. With infinite interpretations, creativity is limitless.

Tropfest@Tribeca is currently accepting submissions to compete for the $10,000 Target Filmmaker Award and trip to Australia through August 10, 2007. Further rules and instructions for submissions can be found at www.tribecafilm.com/tropfest

Tropfest@Tribeca was created in the spirit of the original Australian Tropfest to recognize the critical role that short films play in the art of filmmaking and to offer a platform for emerging filmmakers to create and showcase their films to diverse audiences. Last year’s winner of the first Tropfest@Tribeca, Matthew Bonifacio, went on to premiere his first feature length film, Amexicano, at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival.

“Tropfest@Tribeca has already proved itself as a unique platform for discovering new and original filmmakers,” said John Polson. “Each year I continue to be surprised at the unique – and sometimes bizarre! – ways our entrants interpret the TSI. I’m looking forward to this year’s event and what they’ll do with SLICE!”

“Target is proud to present Tropfest@Tribeca, an evening which will showcase diverse creativity and engage wide audiences,” said Laura Sandall, director, events marketing and publicity, Target. “We strive to make the arts affordable and accessible to communities and are excited to award one independent filmmaker $10,000 to help bring their vision to fruition.”

In its inaugural year, Tropfest@Tribeca 2006 was hosted by The Daily Show’s Ed Helms along with seven judges: Famke Janssen, Naomi Watts, Matt Dillon, Caroline Baron, Charles Randolph, Anthony LaPaglia, and Darren Aronofsky. The winner received a cash award of $2,500 and editing software.