prodijee #7 - February 2013

e e j i d pro Issue #7 FEBRUARY 2013

TODD KELLY - WHY I MOVED TO NISSAN

contents 60 Farewell, LisaMaree

78

Our tribute to a beautiful soul.

66 Star City

Stars of the big and little screens front up for the second annual AACTA awards in Sydney.

78 Rock On

The Big Day Out rolls around once again, playing to packed venues despite some controversy.

88 High Achiever

Vicky Aisha Blackthorn is wowing crowds as a contortionist, circus performer, burlesque star and model.

66 88 98 Nissan Link

Todd Kelly explains his teams’ switch from Holden to Nissan.

108 Taking Control

Sydney rockers Amy Meredith tell why they left SONY Records to go it alone.

120 When you wish upon a star

Aspiring stars faking it till they make it in the land of broken dreams

130 Perfect Pictures The gig every photographer wants a ticket to.

PRODIJEE.COM

\

98

REGULARS ARTIST PROFILES 60 Samuel M 84 Chelsea Martin NEWS 4 What’s Goin’ On 20 Going Postal 22 What’s Hot

108

FEATURED PRODUCTS 28 G-Star Raw 32 Shoreditch ROAD TESTS 34 Tramcar Restaurant 36 Clinique For men 38 OSIS+ 38 Orly 38 Natio

120

38 Polished London 40 Canon D20 75 ARVO Larger COLUMNS 44 The French Facialist 48 The Natural Path 46 It Seems To Me 50 Food Couture 52 Savvy 54 The Peripheral Stranieri 56 La-la land 58 Live Via Satellite PRODIJEE.COM

what’s goin’ on 2013 IS SET to be a banner year for Paul Greene, the Aussie Olympian turned professional singer songwriter.

The definition of a decent, humble and hard-working guy, Greene has seen more than his fair share of ups and downs, all of them with a guitar in his hand and a song in the making.

Bad Luck Lately is the third single off his (Best Blues & Roots) Aria Award Nominated album; Behind the Stars.

At the end of 2010, bad luck indeed seemed to follow Greene everywhere. Personal issues and many behind the scene problems with his career (including a case of identity theft) were detracting from

PRODIJEE.COM

the positive response to Greene’s music. Feeling despondent and exhausted, Greene simply stopped.

However, this grim situation proved to be the perfect place for the artist in Greene to draw inspiration and reinvigorate his passion for songwriting, resulting in his seventh album. Also credited as producer, Behind the Stars is an absolute triumph for Greene; and a testament to his honesty about the darker times we all at some point venture through.

Bad Luck Lately encapsulates the overall motif of Behind the Stars. Encouraging the notion that you simply can’t have bad luck all the time, this is an anthem for the positive and a success story for those down on their luck.

Accompanying the single is an uplifting clip filmed in the sea side markets of Yantai; a small city on the coast of China. http://www. youtube.com/ VDSwZeQIWaY The video was shot by ex-golf pro, now instructor, friend and Greene fan; Patrick Gibson.

The positivity and exuberance captured in the video is indicative of the optimistic and ‘nice guy’ nature of one of

Australia’s finest up and comers.

To celebrate the release of Bad Luck Lately, Paul Greene and The Other Colours, hot off a successful Woodford Folk Festival, are about to embark on the Gettin Lucky Tour.

GETTIN’ LUCKY TOUR DATES Thursday 7th February - The Front Gallery, Lyneham, ACT Friday 8th February - Baha Tacos, Rye, VIC Saturday 9th February - The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine, VIC Sunday 10th February - The Toff in Town, Melbourne, VIC Friday 15th February - The Greenwell Point HotelGreenwell Point, NSW Saturday 16th February - The Heritage, Bulli, NSW Sunday 17th February - Lizottes, Newcastle, NSW Thursday 21st February - Camelot Lounge, Marrickville, NSW Friday 22nd February - Kelt’s Bar, Emu Plains Sports Club, Leonay, NSW Saturday 23rd February - The Beachcomber, Toukley, NSW Sunday 24th February - The Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW Thursday 28th February - The Beach Hotel, Byron Bay NSW Friday 1st March - The Queen St Mall Stage, Brisbane, QLD Saturday 2nd March - The Royal Mail Hotel, Goodna, QLD Saturday 2nd March - Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi, QLD Sunday 3rd March - The Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour, NSW.

a

SAN FRANCISCO DEEP house favourite, Miguel Migs, will return to Australia in late February. The four-date jaunt will cover Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

Kicking off his illustrious career in 1998 with The Mercury Lounge EP on his own Transport Recordings, Miguel has moved beyond the limitations of the house scene in which he first made his name. His deep seated love of reggae and dub shines strongly through as well as his passion for classic rock, blues, funk and soul.

With close to two dozen EPs and three LPs to his name in a career spanning 15 years, Miguel has earned a reputation as one of deep house’s most respected and continually exciting figures. Collaborators include original disco diva Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King; reggae legends Capleton, Half-Pint and Freddie MacGregor; Meshell Ndegeocello; nu-jazz singer Georg Levin and bossa nova phenomenon Bebel Gilberto who all feature on the album, alongside Migs’ regular vocal co-conspirators, Aya and Lisa Shaw.

No slave to metronomic dancefloor rhythms and tempos, the resulting long-player blends influences from house, jazz, reggae, soul and more, with a heavy emphasis on high-quality songwriting – and equally high production values. Get tickets at: www.moshtix (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth) www.residentadvisor.net (Sydney)

THE FRONTIER TOURING Company has announced that Local Natives will tour Australia this May. Introduced to the international music scene in 2009, Local Natives’ music and live shows are a deliberate brilliance of messiness and intricate harmonies creating a distinct sound that has enthralled critics and audiences alike.

Hummingbird (out now through Liberator Music), is the culmination of the band’s collaborative techniques and experimentation through new instruments and sounds. The band’s characteristic eclecticism has ensnared listeners with contrasts of frenzied drums, breathy vocals, pensive lyrics and swooning orchestral melodies.

Much has happened between the

band’s critically acclaimed album Gorilla Manor and the release of Hummingbird. Since their last visit to Australian shores, they have headlined shows across America and Europe, opened for bands The National and Arcade Fire and earned slots on the bills of major festivals around the world, garnering masses of critical acclaim along the way: The collaborative spirit instilled within the band’s debut LP Gorilla Manor ultimately became the foundation for Hummingbird, their most mature work so far.

An evolution of their sound, the record contains the kind of composition that truly blooms when played live and

the complexities of the songs flourish as all four band members take the stage. www.frontiertouring.com/localnatives

PRODIJEE.COM

CONTINUING their global expansion, G-Star has just opened a new flagship store in the city of Shanghai.

The new store is situated over two levels. The ground floor showcases G-Star menswear, while an impressive spiral staircase leads to the first floor where you can find

ANOTHER POINT OF View is a new circus work conceptualized and devised by circus performers Jacinta Rohan and Vicky Aisha Blackthorn.

It tells the tale of two girls living a life in solitude who finally get a call from a phone they thought would never ring.

PRODIJEE.COM

more menswear and the G-Star collection for women.

Following the company’s characteristic style in the world of denim, G-Star has created a large denim wall that runs over all levels, measuring 11 metres in height.

The interior is furnished with steel, concrete and oak and was designed

Having never left their box, the girls’ toy with the mystery of an outside world, which they have only ever seen in the ‘talkies’. Will the warped outside world meet their dreamy expectations? Or is it safer to stay at home and dream about it all day? This cute, quirky and absurd performance is about two people who are trapped in their eccentric existence.

The show will be produced

by After Dark Theatre; a circus company that aids circus and variety artists to establish themselves in the entertainment and arts industry.

The show’s debut season starts at the 2013 Adelaide Fringe Festival, followed by an international tour of Camden, Stockholm, and the Amsterdam Fringe before returning to Australia for the Melbourne Fringe.

by the in-house G-Star 3D Design and Development Department.

Pierre Morisset opened the ceremony by activating a champagne crusher, while actress Cecilia Cheung dropped the denim curtain, revealing the store’s façade.

See the latest in g-star fashion on page 28.

Mazda & Alfa go topless

MAZDA AND FIAT have signed the Final Agreement that will see Mazda produce an open-top two-seater sports car for Fiat's Alfa Romeo brand from 2015 at Hiroshima, Japan.

The new Alfa Romeo roadster will be developed for the global market, and will be based on the architecture of the next generation Mazda MX-5.

The agreement foresees both Mazda and Fiat to develop two differentiated, distinctly styled, iconic and brand-specific roadsters featuring rear-wheel drive. The Mazda and Alfa Romeo variants will each be powered by specific proprietary engines unique to each brand.

NISSAN IS RE-ENTERING Australia’s Small car segment with its 2013 Pulsar range.

Contrasting its leading-edge style and technology is its recommended retail price, which starts at $19,990 the same price the Nissan Pulsar had in 1996.

The new Pulsar wears an all-new design that is elegant, modern and refined, reflecting a ‘professional’ character targeted at small-car buyers seeking to match a premium finish with exceptional value. This stylish sedan wears Nissan's bold new signature trapezoid-shaped grille and large wraparound headlights with LED accents.

Its sophisticated look continues inside with a high-quality interior design using soft-touch materials not usually found in this segment, including a soft-touch instrument panel and driver's door armrest.

Along with a spacious interior offering mid-size roominess in a

compact-size exterior, the intuitive interior layout emphasises driver control and impressive seat comfort for all occupants. The instrument panel curves out towards the doors and features Fine Vision electroluminescent gauges that are backlit even in daylight, providing a high-quality look that is easy to read.

The new Pulsar sedan is practical

as well as stylish. The Pulsar sedan is powered by a 96kW/174Nm 1.8-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that makes driving efficient and enjoyable. It is available with either a six-speed manual transmission or Nissan’s Xtronic CVT (constantly variable transmission).

NEWS JUNKIES CAN get their fix in the car with voice activation now available via Ford SYNC AppLink integration.

With simple voice commands, users can access, navigate, search and listen to morning and evening editions of the USA TODAY headline content they love in a rich audio format via a hands-free, eyes-free experience.

Drivers can tell their car, “play news story” or “listen to sports stories.” Users can customise their news or opt to skip stories as well and can hear the latest top headlines across their favourite categories such as news, money, sports, life, tech and travel.

They can play, pause, skip, or go back within and between stories to customize the listening experience even further.

More than 1 million Ford vehicles already on the road have SYNC AppLink built in. AppLink enables drivers to take advantage of their

mobile data to stay connected while they keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

“Staying informed is important, and the USA TODAY app provides news, sports and more directly to smartphones and tablets,” said Julius Marchwicki, global product

manager for Ford SYNC AppLink.

“The USA TODAY app shows how smartphone apps can add convenience to the driving experience using voice control through SYNK AppLink.”

www.nissan.com.au

www.ford.com

PRODIJEE.COM

SPANISH HOTEL COMPANY, Meliá Hotels International and the Greenland Group, one of the largest real estate groups in China, have reached a strategic agreement to pursue their growth internationally, inside and outside China, respectively.

For Greenland Group, an immediate impact of the agreement will be the launch of its urban hotel brand in Europe, through the adaptation and re-branding of a Meliá operated hotel in the city of Frankfurt (Germany).

Greenland Group will continue to grow its urban brand in Europe and China, and will cooperate with Meliá Hotels International in further development of hotels over the coming years.

Meliá Hotels International, opened its first hotel in Shanghai in 2010 – the Gran Meliá Shanghai.

Now work is set to be finalised on the construction of Gran Meliá Xian and Meliá Chongqing.

This agreement will allow the company to open two new Meliá hotels in Jinan and Tianjin, two fast-growing cities located along the corridor between Shanghai

and Beijing. The alliance foresees the evaluation of numerous hotel development projects for the most successful Meliá brands, such as Innside and Meliá in the city hotel business, and Paradisus in the emerging resort hotel business in China.

Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Meliá hotels International said, “In the new world tourism paradigm, China will soon become the largest market on the

planet for both in and outbound travel. The presence of the Meliá brands are therefore key to our success in the Asia Pacific region and for our business and resort hotels in the rest of the world.

The partnership will see the two brands complementing each other in the areas of training, global hotel distribution systems and procurement.

EVERY DAY IN many ways, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) takes the finest care to Australia's furthest corners so that anyone who lives, works or travels in remote and rural Australia can enjoy the best of health.

Starting with a single flight in 1928, the RFDS now offers the most comprehensive aero-medical service in the world and operates a fleet of 61 aircraft that care for the 28 per cent of Australia’s population that live in remote areas.

It’s an expensive exercise that relies on generous community support, the latest of which has come from Swiss watch manufacturer, Oris. Peter Borghouts, Oris Australia GM, (pictured, right) has announced Oris will partner

with the RFDS Australia-wide.

Scott Chapman, RFDS Victoria CEO (pictured, left), warmly welcomed a new partnership with Oris saying, “The RFDS is a non-profit organisation that relies on the support of the Australian community, including the business community, to continue delivering its services across Australia. We are delighted to have Oris on board.”

To further emphasize the commitment of this partnership, Oris will develop an RFDS Limited Edition watch, with a percentage of every one of these limited edition watches donated towards the RFDS. Chapman stated that the support of Oris would help RFDS to continue its life-saving work, which includes emergency aero-medical

evacuations in some of the most isolated and harshest regions of Australia.

PRODIJEE.COM

www.melia.com

ADAM LEVINE AND Nicki Minaj have just announced new long-term relationships with Sears Holdings. Each superstar, in conjunction with Kmart and the ShopYourWay.com social shopping platform, will launch a multi-department lifestyle brand. The entertainers will each develop apparel and accessories collections available exclusively at select (US) Kmart locations and on ShopYourWay.com beginning in 2013.

“We are thrilled to align Kmart and SHOP YOUR WAY with two of America’s superstars,” said Imran Jooma, executive vice president and president of Marketing & Online at Sears Holdings. “We welcome Adam and Nicki into our world and look forward to capturing their energy and creativity on ShopYourWay. com and translating it into unique apparel, accessories and other merchandise.”

Adam and Nicki will each design and develop their collections with Kmart to reflect their strong creative talents, expressive personalities, and distinctive individual styles.

Levine, best known for his work in the band Maroon 5, said, “Partnering with SHOP YOUR WAY to develop this line was an exciting opportunity for me and I am really looking forward to diving into the process of designing an apparel and accessory collection.”

Trinidadian-born American rapper, singer, songwriter and voice actress, Minaj who is well-known for her unique sense of style, her use of colourful wigs and outlandish costumes. “I am so excited to work with this iconic, mass retailer and to bring affordable fashion to my beautiful barbz all across the U.S.”, she said.

SHOP YOUR WAY is a free membership program and shopping community that offer rewards, personalised deals, product reviews, contests and sweepstakes.

Exclusively through SHOP YOUR WAY, Nicki and Adam will each offer unique interactive content, dream experiences for followers, and special promotions involving their new collections and the inspiration behind them.

www.ShopYourWay.com PRODIJEE.COM

Cold Chisel and Paul Kelly.

Other big winners on the night were Parkway Drive (Live Act of the Year), Chet Faker (Best Independent Release) and The Presets (Single of the Year for “Ghosts”, as voted by the readers of Rolling Stone).

PERTH PSYCH ROCKERS Tame Impala have started the year with a bang, taking out Album of the Year at the 4th Annual Rolling Stone Awards in a ceremony held at Bondi’s Beach Road Hotel.

In a tight field that included releases by Sarah Blasko, Dirty Three, Hilltop Hoods, Paul Kelly and Urthboy, Tame Impala’s Lonerism was judged the finest record of 2012.

Celebrating the best in Australian entertainment in 2012, the awards were voted for by a panel of 40 industry professionals, from performers to managers, journalists

to booking agents, musicians to TV personalities.

The event was hosted by the Cruel Sea/Beasts of Bourbon/the Dark Horses frontman, Tex Perkins, and featured a performance by Owl Eyes, as well as sets from DJs MINX and Leah Mencel, winners of the She Can DJ competition 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Legendary rocker Jimmy Barnes was on hand to present Michael Gudinski of The Mushroom Group with the Rolling Stone Award, which recognises an outstanding careerlong contribution to popular culture.

Previous winners have included

The full list of winners is: The Rolling Stone Award: Michael Gudinski Best Independent Release: Chet Faker, Thinking In Textures Actor of the Year: Ben Mendelsohn, Killing Them Softly International Act of the Year: Jack White Album of the Year (sponsored by Rekorderlig Cider): Tame Impala, Lonerism Live Act of the Year (sponsored by Corona): Parkway Drive Single of the Year (Readers’ Choice, sponsored by Patron): The Presets, “Ghost” Best New Talent (sponsored by Ultimat Vodka): The Medics Music Video of the Year: Gotye, “Easy Way Out” (directed by Darcy Prendergast) The winners will be celebrated in the March issue of Rolling Stone, on sale February 6th

AFTER A YEAR-LONG hiatus, one of Australia’s most influential and celebrated hip-hop artists, ARIA Award Winner, Drapht, makes his eagerly awaited return, hitting the road in February with The Uni-Verse Tour.

Following the massive success of his 2011 chart-topping gold certified album, The Life of Riley, which included the two-time platinum single, Rapunzel, (that won both an ARIA Award and an AIR award for Best Urban Release), and three of the singles polling throughout triple j’s Hottest 100,

Drapht is back and taking to the road once again to thank his fans for all their support.

Joined by close friend, N’fa Jones (who featured on Bali Party and again on current single, 1990’s), along with exciting Queensland up and comers, Seven and Mr. Hill, the twenty-date national tour will be Drapht’s first headline tour since 2011 and his first tour since joining the roster at New World Artists.

New World Artists’ Managing Agent, Owen Orford, said “Drapht has always gone above

and beyond. He is an incredible artist and we are honoured and very excited to bring his current artistic vision to universities across the country. It really has been a lot of fun putting this together with incredible support from the national campuses, triple j, Channel [V] and Deezer.”

“Drapht’s new tracks (Tasty and 1990s), plus a few surprise songs due out by March, are the continuation of well crafted, intelligent hip-hop and will be performed live on The UniVerse Tour bringing, substance,

PRODIJEE.COM

AUSTRALIAN FOLK ROCK legend Paul Kelly is travelling to New Zealand this March to perform intimate concerts at two of New Zealand’s beautiful landmark churches.

Promising to be a treat for all that attend, Kelly will make his way through his outstanding catalogue of work to date accompanied by his talented nephew Dan Kelly (also on guitar).

Paul Kelly has recorded nineteen studio albums as well as the music for several film and television soundtracks.

He has been the recipient of five ARIA film awards for best original soundtrack (Lantana), and for music, multiple ARIA’s three APRA songwriting awards and six CMA’s (Australian Country Music Awards).

Paul was also inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame in 1997 and was a finalist for Australian of the Year in 2012.

Throughout his impressive career, Kelly has also written songs for other influential artists including Mick Thomas, Renee Geyer, Kate Ceberano, Nick Cave, Kasey Chambers, Missy

Higgins and Troy Cassar-Daley.

His songs have touched the hearts of fans in Australia, New Zealand and the USA where David Fricke of Rolling Stone Magazine called Kelly “one of the finest songwriters I have ever heard…”

Gems such as Before Too Long, Darling It Hurts, Dumb Things, To Her Door and Give in to My Love make up the legacy amplified only by Kelly’s unique approach to music and his deep lyrical understanding.

See the man and the legend live this March in two of New Zealand’s finest churches in Wellington and Auckland!

2013 NZ TOUR DATES Friday 22nd March Old St Paul’s – Wellington Saturday 23rd March Holy Trinity Cathedral – Auckland Tickets for all shows are on sale now and available from Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster. co.nz phone 0800 111 999) and NZ Tix (www.nztix.co.nz)

style, friends, fans, students and entertainment together in one big party.”

Tickets are sale now from http:// drapht.oztix.com.au/, venues and the usual outlets. Student discounts are available for almost all shows while allocations last.

* Deezer is giving away download streaming subscriptions to students for 12 months. For a taste of all things current and a hint of things to come, head over to www.deezer.com and www. soundcloud.com/drapht for free downloads.

PRODIJEE.COM

ACTRESS AND SINGER Vanessa Paradis is the face of Conscious at H&M this spring, wearing pieces in the campaign that are both on-trend and also more-sustainable. H&M says it is all part of the company’s

PRODIJEE.COM

ongoing commitment to a more sustainable fashion future, showing that the best fashion can be made from Conscious materials.

Vanessa’s embellished zip-up utility jacket worn with botanical print trousers (pictured here), are part of a collection that is full of optimism for spring. The collection also includes a ruffle-edged yellow sundress, along with romantic styles like a floor-length dress and sporty shapes such as a cropped jumpsuit and a tropical print T-shirt dress.

There are accessories too, such as ankle-strap heels, and the entire collection is made from more sustainable materials, such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, and Tencel.

The full women’s collection will be available in H&M stores worldwide as well as online from end of March, alongside Conscious collections for Men - blazers, chinos, Ikat print

shirts and shorts – as well as fun prints for kids and babies.

Vanessa Paradis says, “I like being part of something like the Conscious collection at H&M. I try my best to shop consciously, and vintage is very much part of my wardrobe. I love the style and it works in an ecofriendly way because I like to use and reuse old clothes.”

Coinciding with the campaign will be the launch of a Conscious garment collecting action at H&M. Customers will be able to bring any unwanted garments from any label to selected stores, and in return for each bag receive an H&M voucher, to a maximum of two bags per customer per day.

H&M says it is the first store to encourage garment return on this scale, in an effort to prevent clothing from going to landfill.

ACCLAIMED ENTERTAINER AND international DJ, Ruby Rose has staked an early claim for the Mazda6 Celebrity Challenge title at the 2013 Rolex Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

The much loved media identity took her time inspecting the first All-New Mazda6 in full race livery complete with roll cage and racing seat - at a special unveiling at Albert Park today.

Rose joins a list of other big name celebrities already announced for the Mazda6 Celebrity Challenge including Britain’s greatest ever Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, former Collingwood player Chris Tarrant, model Rachel Finch and celebrity chef Shane Delia.

The model and part time amateur boxer was quick to quip a few of her fellow drivers not from

sporting backgrounds, but said it was the three Gold Medallists in the field she was most worried about.

“Last year I took up competitive boxing and if I can channel that into the racing, not the violent stuff of course, then I’ve probably got a pretty good shot,” said Rose. “I want to beat everybody because I always want to be number one, but really everyone with a Gold Medal I expect to come in front of me.”

The Mazda6 Celebrity Challenge will feature 20 vehicles and will bring together celebrities from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines to compete at Melbourne’s spectacular Albert Park street circuit during the 2013 Rolex Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

www.hm.com

www.grandprix.com.au

SPIEGELWORLD’S LATEST PRODUCTION, EMPIRE is said to be the most successfully launched show of any Spiegelworld production in the world.

Fresh from its Broadway debut, ticketsales in Australia have exceeded the launch sales of Spiegelworld productions in New York, Las Vegas and Miami.

THE AUDI SPORT Customer Racing Program is alive and well in Australia, with no less than seven R8 LMS racecars set to compete in the 2013 Bathurst 12 Hour race on February 8-10 at Mount Panorama.

Defending champions Phoenix Racing (Germany) will return to race again at the legendary Mount Panorama circuit, where Christer Jöns, Christopher Mies and Darryl O’Young claimed a dramatic victory in difficult weather conditions last year. It was the second consecutive win for the Audi R8 LMS, following Team Joest’s success on debut in 2011.

This year, Phoenix Racing arrives with an all-new driver line-up, in the form of Swiss driver Harold Primat and the two Swedes, Johan Kristoffersson and Andreas Simonsen.

Christopher Mies will compete again in 2013, alongside teammates Mark Eddy, Marc Cini and Dean Grant.

In addition, 2012 Bathurst 1000 runners-up Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff will compete with teammate Rod Salmon in the same Audi R8 LMS racecar that won last year.

It is currently being upgraded to the same R8 LMS ultra homologation that won both the Nürburgring 24 Hour and 24 Hours of Spa endurance races in 2012.

Melbourne Performance Centre, the Audi Sport Customer Racing agent in Australia, will support

The 700-seat antique Spiegeltent, furnished with bevelled mirrors, plush velvet-upholstered booths and an always-open bar, has already popped up in Sydney at the Showring, Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park. EMPIRE will then perform to Melbourne audiences from 14 March at Crown Melbourne, followed by Brisbane from 24 May 2013.

This is a show that smashes through the borders of comedy, circus, variety and burlesque. If you have never seen a Spiegelworld performance, you simply must get to EMPIRE. Tickets are available through Ticketek and start from just $59.00 through to $149.00 bringing patrons right into the action of all that happens on stage. www.ticketek.com.au

both the Eddy/Cini/Grant/Mies and Salmon/Lowndes/Luff entries, as well as other customer entries from Peter Conroy and Dean Koutsoumidis.

UK-based United Autosports will return to compete in the Bathurst 12 Hour, after the team’s debut last year, while team Dragonspeed will travel from the US to tackle Mount Panorama for the first time. www.audi.com.au PRODIJEE.COM

LORES GIGLIO HAS been appointed first ever Global Artistic Director for muk Haircare. muk is one of Australia’s fastest growing professional haircare brands with products known for their high performance at an affordable price.

The muk range includes shampoos, conditioners, masks, styling products and the ever popular curl stick and style stick.

Lores and muk are the perfect match, sharing similar goals and a PRODIJEE.COM

persistent drive to succeed.

Lores has worked behind the scenes on fashion shows in New York, Paris and Milan with the likes of Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, YSL, Toni Maticevski and Marc Jacobs and has a celebrity clientele that has included Miranda Kerr, Jennifer Hawkins and Delta Goodrem.

With a resume like this, maybe we should be congratulating muk for securing such a talented Global Artistic Director.

PRODIJEE HAS WELCOMED three new members to the team.

The Peripheral Stranieri (tourist) - Michael Bongiorno likens himself to the early day explorer Columbus.

Michael has a passion for travel and looks at the world as the playground of the rich and famous, and not so rich and famous.

Michael has made it his mission to discover and reclaim a little piece of world history. As he treks around the world, he will give us an insight to his travels and allow us to enter his adventures in a world that he claims as his own.

THE WISE FOUNDATION is joining forces with Sportaroo, in order to help the Women’s Bobsleigh Team ‘Icebirds’ secure enough funding to purchase their own equipment and provide training support in their bid for 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic contention.

The team, comprising former world champion hurdler Jana Pittman and dual Olympian Astrid Radjenovic, has made a promising start in Altenburg in Germany, where Pittman pushed pilot Radjenovic to Australia's best ever World Cup finish of seventh.

Pittman, a two-time world champion in the 400m hurdles, aims to compete in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia.

Victoria O’Sullivan is a Sydneybased naturopath, working with clients to improve their health while continuing to stay up-to-date on new findings to give the best possible care. It was the sudden death of her father that ignited her passion, realising the importance of health and educating others to listen to their bodies. With more than 14 years of experience in wellness consulting, Victoria has been exposed to every fad that promises improved health.

She knows what the real deal is, and what just doesn’t work. Her

'My first runs down the track I found terrifying, but within one session I was in love with the sport and find it a big rush.' Watch here http://vimeo. com/56844579 'I am honoured that Astrid chose me to push in this first race. She drove the sled so well and I was determined to give her as good a push start as I could, with my limited experience on ice.'

Radjenovic said she wanted to test how Pittman would deal with the pressure. 'I knew it was a risk to put Jana in the race after just one week on ice, but I really wanted to give her the experience, and was impressed how well she rose to the challenge. It was a good indication of what more we could achieve, with a year of hard training together and some new equipment.'

goal is to guide and inspire others to better health. Victoria will be taking us down the Natural Path to inform us of what will and won’t work for our bodies and why!

Mr Caffe Shakerato (aka Mr Joey Sulfaro) has been a passionate foodie all his life. For the past 30 years Joey has cooked, eaten, recommended, reviewed, consulted, built, managed and worked with chefs and food all over the world.

He is lucky to have experienced, and also been in the company of, food Royalty such as Joel Robuchon, Alain Ducasse, Heinz Beck, Sarah French, Wolfgang Puck, Armando Percucco, Ferran Adriá, Jean Peter Seidel, and Gordon Ramsay just to name a few. Joey will be writing to change our views and create passion about something that we too can experience. He will teach us to discover our own food fantasies and explore the world from our hearts through our kitchens.

To protect his identity, so that he can do his reviews incognito, Joey will be only known to us through the image of the coffee for which he is well known … Mr Caffe Shakerato.

Support the Icebirds by purchasing your own Supporter’s Pack - www. sportaroo.com/icebirds www.icebirds.com.au

PRODIJEE.COM

THE LAUNCH OF Infiniti Red Bull Racing’s 2013 car, the RB9, revealed a striking new livery that reflects the strengthened relationship between Red Bull Racing and premium automotive brand, Infiniti.

Triple World Formula One Champion Sebastian Vettel and nine-time grand prix winner Mark Webber were on hand at the team’s UK base at Milton Keynes to give the world its first glimpse of the new car and livery, which integrates Infiniti’s purple-hued branding with the team’s existing racing colours.

The unveiling was an opportunity for Infiniti to reveal that not only has it agreed to a four-year deal to become the team’s title partner but also that it will become the exclusive Vehicle Performance Partner of the team.

“Our new, increased partnership as Infiniti Red Bull Racing is a key milestone for Infiniti and a clear indication of our commitment to PRODIJEE.COM

building the brand globally,” said Johan de Nysschen, President of Infiniti Motor Company. “While the first 24 months delivered outstanding results for both parties, our deeper involvement, which now sees us truly integrated as one team, will bring significant benefits to our people, processes and technology.”

Infiniti already has engineering personnel working at the team’s HQ, highlighting the deepening technical synergy between the team and the car manufacturer. The marque aims to integrate further team members into the Vehicle Performance department in Milton Keynes.

An early indicator of the value of the technical collaboration between the organisations was last year’s development of the Infiniti FX Vettel Edition from concept to production in just six months. More recently, Infiniti Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Buemi had a hands-on role test driving and

developing the new Infiniti Q50.

“Our stronger link with Infiniti from 2013 is part of the natural evolution of our team and demonstrates its growth”, said Infiniti Red Bull Racing Team Principal,Christian Horner.

“We are still a young racing outfit and this title partnership is a very welcome aspect of our development.

I firmly believe it will prove to be of enormous benefit on both sides over the coming years.”

Designer Adrian Newey explained, “RB9 is an evolutionary car. Probably the most significant change is not the regulations, but the new Pirelli tyres. We had a quick test with those in practice ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix but in truth we didn’t learn a lot because of the conditions.

Pirelli have supplied us data about how the new tyres behave but past experience tells us that it’s only when we go testing that we really find out.” www.youtube.com/redbullracing

CHELSEA SCANLAN HAS been named Ambassador of the 2013 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix.

The stunning Melbourne-raised model burst onto the scene at the tender age of 17, quickly becoming one the nation’s top models – a position she has retained with ease thanks to her striking good looks, infallible work ethic and infectious personality.

Daughter of Phil Scanlan, the Australian Consul General in New York, and Julie Scanlan, one of the first female anchors for CNBC in New York, Chelsea is no stranger to the spotlight and can’t wait to sink her teeth into the ambassadorial role.

“It’s an absolute thrill to be chosen, it’s something I was instantly drawn to as it combines two things I’m very passionate about - Melbourne and major events,”

Scanlan said.

“Being able to represent my home town on a global stage gives me the unique opportunity to show the rest of the world why Melbourne is the world’s most liveable city.”

Life has officially hit the fast lane for Scanlan, following her first-hand introduction to Formula One with an electrifying ride in the F1 Swisse TwoSeater on ice this morning.

Scanlan will also host the exclusive GP@23 Party at Crown’s Club23 on Wednesday 13 March, and will welcome drivers, international celebrities and guests visiting Melbourne for the 2013 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix.

To date Scanlan has worked with many leading international designers including Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney. She has shot editorials for renowned fashion publications including Madison and Italian Grazia, as well as being

one of the first Melbourne models to have an exclusive contract with Vogue.

Scanlan is blessed with far more than just good looks – since graduating from Lauriston Girls School in Armadale she has commenced a Bachelor of Professional Communications at RMIT University, and has also earned herself a role in the feature film ‘Charlotte’s Web’ alongside Julia Roberts and Dakota Fanning.

“We’re tremendously excited to welcome Chelsea on board as the ambassador of the 2013 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix and are certain that her vibrant personality and passion for sport and events will make her the perfect addition to the Grand Prix family,” said Andrew Westacott, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. www.grandprix.com.au

PRODIJEE.COM

SEARS (AMERICA), IN consultation with 15 certified fitness professionals, has announced the Fit 15 list of must-have fitness gear and trends for 2013. The list features fitness apparel, accessories, gear and equipment from top brands, including Everlast, NordicTrack, Sole, STOTT Pilates and more.

"Our FitStudio advisory board members selected the items on our Fit 15 list based on the biggest fitness trends we expect to see in 2013, like an increase in Boomers working out at home and the use of technology to get and stay fit," said Hugo Malan, senior vice president and president, Fitness, Sporting Goods and Toys, at Sears Holdings Corp.

"We are pleased to share this trend list to help individuals create and accomplish their 2013 fitness goals."

It is forecast, that in 2013, fitness trends will include having your next personal trainer online, with the idea being that in-person fitness guidance is no longer a must-have.

Expert advice is now available with the touch of a button, with workout programs, diet and nutrition advice being available on apps, social media channels and specialized websites like FitStudio.com.

In 2012, dancing as part of a PRODIJEE.COM

cardiovascular exercise exploded onto the fitness scene in the form of Zumba. 2013 brings new moves from Masala Bhangra, a high energy Indian-style dance workout.

Kettlebells are making a comeback and quickly becoming one of the most popular pieces of gear because they activate dozens of muscles at once during use.

They are extremely versatile, deliver results and take up minimal space.

Traditionally treadmills have cup holders and cooling fans, but now many come complete with touchscreens, internet browsing capabilities and options to adjust the firmness of the walking/running

surface to simulate the feel of running outside.

"Our goal is to avoid having your treadmill or elliptical be used for hanging laundry rather than working out. Some treadmills have iFit technology built-in so you can workout with elite trainers, or draw your own route with Google Maps and take on the terrain as your incline and decline adjust automatically to any route in the world," said Andrea Metcalf author of Naked Fitness and FitStudio advisory board member.

Fitness gadgets are also something people are continuing to utilize as part of a workout to

help navigate, monitor heart rate and calculate speed and distance travelled. But it is tough to fit a workout into a busy schedule and too easy to make excuses to skip a workout when other obligations fill the day.

Desk treadmills are being utilized more in the workplace and at home, allowing working professionals to walk while they work. Kids are also spending more time than ever playing on computers or with video games, which does not keep them very active at home, according to Alejandro Chaban, Univision and Telemundo personality, and author of "From Fatty to Hottie."

By incorporating a workout into playtime with gear like a mini trampoline, kids and adults can have fun and exercise at the same time.

And of course, it always feels better if you look the part. There is an increasing trend for wearing brightly coloured fitness apparel that can be worn to the gym, out to lunch and even to work, according to Lisa Johnson, Pilates instructor and FitStudio advisory board member.

"More and more I am seeing my clients integrate their athletic apparel into what they wear to work. I call it athletic chic and I think we will continue to see this trend throughout 2013," said Johnson.

Before beginning an exercise program, always consult your doctor or qualified health practitioner. If you experience any discomfort or pain during an exercise routine, immediately cease the activity and seek the assistance of a qualified physician or health care provider. www.fitstudio.com www.sears.com/fit15

The Fit 15 List: 1. FitStudio.com 2. Masala Bhangra Hollywood Bollywood Dance Workout DVD 3. Weider Kettlebell Set 4. NordicTrack Deluxe Speed Jump Rope 5. Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor 6. NordicTrack C1750 Pro Treadmill 7. LifeSpan Fitness Desktop Treadmill 8. NordicTrack Folding Mini Trampoline 9. Everlast Women's Streamline Fitness Hoodie 10. New Balance Women's Athletic Shoes 11. Sole E35 Elliptical 12. SPRI Xertube Resistance Bands 13. STOTT PILATES SPX? Reformer Package 14. NordicTrack E 14.5 Elliptical Machine 15. Weider PowerSwitch 100 lb.

Weight Set

PRODIJEE.COM

prodijee Editor Darren House darren@prodijee.com Fashion & Lifestyle Editor Carol Sheridan carol@prodijee.com Art Director Carolyn Stevens Contributing Writers John Anthony Michael Bongiorno Christine Clais Katherine Curnow David Dowsey Sarah French Ieva Georges Joey Sulfaro Riely Saville Matthew Wren Chief Photographer Matthew Wren Contributing Photographers Andrew Browne John Doig Hair/Make Up Aneta Nastevski Advertising advertising@prodijee.com Published by: prodijee PO Box 4158 Ringwood, 3134, Vic. Australia info@prodijee.com www.prodijee.com

BE GREEN EMBRACE THE SCREEN!

No trees were harmed during the production of this magazine.

Material published in prodijee is copyright and may not be reproduced by any means of duplication without the written permission of the publisher.

PRODIJEE.COM

going postal A BIG RAP FOR REP

I love your story on Natasha Leigh.

I saw her on television here and she was really good and I hope she comes back into Holby City. I love the clothes she was wearing in your magazine too. Can you tell me if the designer who made them ships overseas, to London? I especially love the long black dress with the sheer bit at the bottom.

Kylie Henderson London, United Kingdom

Ed: We agree Natasha looks hot in her Susan Rep designs. Check out Susan’s range at www.susanrep.com

GUY FROM THE HOOD’S NO GOOD. I am really happy that you have Danielle Blakey in your magazine.

I saw her on X Factor and I think she was ripped off when Guy Sebastian’s friend got in over her.

His friend already had her go at being a star and didn’t make it and now they are giving her another chance and she won’t make it this time, either. I think Danielle has a much better chance of being a star

but I think it is probably best that she does it without an X rated show like X Factor.

Max Merrill Point Piper, NSW, Australia

Ed: It’s never a good look when the judge’s best mate wins the comp.

BOOK ME ON THE BRIDGE

I read the story on Paul Cave and the Bridge Climb and I am going to book to do the climb when I am in Australia in April 2013.

Can you tell me if you book it now, what happens if it’s raining on the day? And if they cancel the climbs because of bad weather can you rebook for the next day or something soon because I will only be in Sydney for three days and I don’t want to miss out.

Jackson Agenbag Tamboerskloof, Cape Town. South Africa.

Ed: Glad to see you’re going to do the climb, Jackson. You have some great questions. Best to contact BridgeClimb direct via their website - www.bridgeclimb.com.au

InDaHouse GROSS IS GOOD

I bought the Milky Foot products after reading about them in your magazine. You are right, it’s gross and disgusting for a while but it does a really good job.

LANA JENKINS Coburg, Victoria, Australia

Ed: Gotta love Milky Foot!

FRENCH DELICACIES

Thankyou for putting in the recipes from Sarah French. I tried the Tuna Sashimi with the Yuzu Dressing and Baby Coriander, it was delicious and after eating all the heavy but delicious food over Christmas, it was extra nice to have something light.

Jennifer Braditch Byron Bay, NSW Australia

Ed: Glad you liked Sarah’s prodijee first column. We are really excited to have her onboard and we know she has some really great recipes to roll out in 2013.

BURBERRY, BE COOL

Like you guys, when I saw the Burberry range for Winter I can’t

wait for the hot weather to be over!

Cheyanne Summers Toorak, Victoria, Australia

IT’S GREEN TEA FOR ME

Thanks for the article on Green Tea. I have always heard that it is good for you but I have never bothered to find out why. I have been a big drinker of it for years and years and now I know why I have been feeling really healthy and radiant for a long time.

Unfortunately I missed out on the free samples that you offered but I did try.

Jessica Lange Wollongong, NSW, Australia

Ed: We had an amazing response to our Tea Blossoms competition - clearly a lot of people are in tune with green tea’s great health benefits. Keep an eye out for more great prodijee competitions over the coming months, Jessica and better luck next time! .

GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? Send prodijee an email at goingpostal@prodijee.com

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. At a time when Melbourne, and indeed Australia, should be celebrating and embracing the arrival of the Australian Grand Prix, criticism fuelled by sensationalist media reports has reached fever pitch.

The reports always centre on the cost of the event, and more specifically, the fees paid to Bernie Eccelstone.

For some reason, Ecclestone and the Grand Prix are soft targets. Payments to Ecclestone are splashed across newspaper front pages, stirring up hysteria among the masses, yet the same outlets ignore the tens of millions of tax payer dollars paid to fund the construction of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Rod Laver Arena, and the faceless developers and financiers who profit from these venues in the same way Ecclestone profits from the Grand Prix.

In most cases, the critics are average ‘Joe Public’ wage earners who have no idea of big business or economic benefit. Often the critics simply don’t like motor racing. One average Joe who voiced his opinion to the media opposed the event for that very reason, adding that he liked football and cricket.

Unfortunately, this guy’s comments reflect the selfish society we have become – let’s only do what I like, forget any project I don’t like, and to hell with everybody else.

DARREN HOUSE PRODIJEE.COM

what’s hot We have all had it happen, dive into the crystal clear waters, slowly rise to the top of the water, head back, push your hair back… mmmm sexy look…. Until you realize that your mascara has run all down your face… NOT SO SEXY LOOK! Yes, there are waterproof mascaras out there, and most of them are pretty good if you want to go for a quick dip, but not too many of them can live up to a full day of high humidity. Most of us have applied our waterproof mascaras at the beginning of the day, fully expecting them to stay in place, but many of us have also come back from lunch, back into our air conditioned offices and out of the high humidity and heat, only to find that our mascara has smudged and smeared and given us panda eyes.

Well, for women who want dramatic lashes that last all day, despite humid weather, busy schedules or vigorous workouts, Clinique introduces new High Impact Waterproof Mascara that is said to give us 12 hours of fresh lashes. The waterproof formula is ideal for women with active lifestyles, and provides an even coating over lashes that helps fend off moisture without giving up on volume, length and colour.

Opthamologist tested and suitable for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes. Allergy tested – 100 per cent fragrance free. Available at your Clinique counter from 17 February – RRP $38.00

IT’S ONLY FEBRUARY but some of us are starting to get sick of the hot weather, and it’s very easy to start thinking about our wardrobes for Autumn and Winter.

What warms us up in the cooler months and breaks the monotony of drab blacks and greys is red, red, and more red.

ESTÉE LAUDER stocked their shelves for Christmas with a range of Ravishing reds, but I have stockpiled my share of them in anticipation of the cooler months.

This range of polish from the Red Hautes Collection provide a perfect match for every skintone and every occasion. The luscious, red tones drench nails in highly pigmented colour that make the perfect statement no PRODIJEE.COM

matter what the occasion (or whatever the season).

Pure Color Nail Lacquer Red Hautes Collection Beautiful Liar Le Smoking Pure Red Love Bite Fallen Angel The Pure Color Nail Lacquer Red Hautes Collection is available at Estée Lauder counters at Myer and David Jones and online at www.esteelauder.com.au Suggested Retail Price: $38.00

HEY GUYS, ARE you looking for the perfect gift for your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Or girls, maybe you are looking to just spoil yourself? The Dita Von Teese Valentines range is available in store at Target (Australia). Some styles also offer a bustier, g-string, full brief and suspender.

THE SALE OF SPF50+ sunscreen has been given the go ahead in Australia. This is the biggest change to sunscreen standards since SPF30+ in the 1990s.

The TGA (Therapeutic Goods Association) has recently given the go-ahead to the new rating which brings us in line with products available in the US, Britain and Europe.

It’s hard to understand why it has taken this long to happen here, particularly as our country is known to have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.

When applied correctly, an SPF 50+ product with give you 98% protection against UVB rays while an SPF 30+ product will give you 96.7% protection.

If you don’t wear any sun protection at all, your skin will take approximately 10 minutes to start to burn, but 30+ sunscreen is said to

give you 300 minutes of protection and 50+ will give you 500 minutes.

NIVEA has welcomed the new Australian Standard saying that the SPF50-plus regulation is an important step forward for the Australian sunscreen category.

And in keeping with this new standard, they have released their new NIVEA SUN Moisturising Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+.

We’re all aware that the Australian sun is harsh and that sun damage is the leading cause of premature skin ageing, but that doesn’t stop us from wanting to live it up outdoors. Now you can make the most of the outdoors by getting your sun care and skin care in one bottle.

Available nationally from supermarkets, mass merchants and selected pharmacies – RRP $17.99 www.nivea.com.au PRODIJEE.COM

THE ZERO-EMISSION Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell has been awarded the prestigious FuturAuto accolade at the 2013 Brussels Motor Show. The ix35 Fuel Cell was selected as the winner for becoming the first mass-produced, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle commercially available.

The award, in its 12th year, celebrates technological innovation in the automotive industry and is selected by a respected panel of journalists from the Belgian Automotive Press Union (UJBA).

From a list of 16 highly regarded candidates, the judges selected a five-strong shortlist which included innovations from Hyundai, Bosch, Mazda, Mercedes Benz and Volvo.

Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO at Hyundai Motor Europe, commented: “Hyundai truly believes that hydrogen is the fuel of the future.

It demonstrates the same benefits in terms of range and refuelling as an internal combustion-powered vehicle, but emits no harmful emissions, only water. Hyundai will continue to invest in the promotion of hydrogen and the growing

refuelling infrastructure, to help create a society with sustainable energy supply and zero-emission road transportation.”

Series production of Hyundai’s ix35 Fuel Cell vehicle will start at the company’s Ulsan manufacturing plant in Korea in January 2013, making Hyundai the first automaker to begin commercial production of a hydrogen-powered vehicle.

Hyundai plans to manufacture 1.000 units of the hydrogenpowered ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles by 2015, targeted predominantly at public sector and private fleets,

with limited mass production of 10.000 units beyond 2015.

Hyundai has already signed contracts to lease the ix35 Fuel Cell to municipal fleets in Denmark and Sweden.

Additionally, the EU Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) in Brussels has been providing since October 2011 Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell fleet to EU policy makers and the public in order to demonstrate the market readiness of the fuel cell technology. www.hyundai.com.au

THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ E Class has debuted at the International Auto Show in Detroit. Saloon, Estate, Cabriolet and Coupé models have all been completely revised and boast a range of exceptionally efficient engines, new assistance systems and a new design idiom.

In addition, the E 63 AMG models are now available for the first time in a 4MATIC version as well. The new E-Class is the forerunner in the most comprehensive model initiative to date in the executive and luxury segment: joining the E-Class, with a world premiere towards the middle of the year, will be the new S-Class.

The initiative is being flanked by the launch of the new four-door coupé, the CLA, which aims to broaden the appeal of the brand to attract younger customers.

PRODIJEE.COM

PREPARE FOR THE perfect kiss from Revlon’s newest lip innovation: Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain. Just Kissable is a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lip stain that gives you softer, smoother lips with a perfect flush of colour that lasts hours. What’s more, it comes in an adorable chubby crayon form – and no sharpener required!

This moisturizing formula comes in 10 vibrant shades that match any look or mood - Honey, Darling, Cherish, Lovesick, Sweetheart, Smitten, Charm, Romantic, Precious and Adore.

ROSEHIP OIL COMES from the ‘hip’ of the rose, which is the seed pod or fruit of the rose that occurs after the rose petals fall off. It is like a multivitamin for your skin, and rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants that are essential for healthy skin.

It is also rich in lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant that is found in tomatoes and watermelon and the lycopene in rosehip oil is what is claimed to help protect our skin from premature ageing.

When skin is exposed to the sun, it can increase levels of enzymes that lead to the breakdown of collagen and elastin. Trans-retinoic acids, found in rose hip oil, reduce the activity of these skin-damaging enzymes, reducing damage caused by the sun.

Rosehip oil has been shown to improve the following: • scarring • stretch marks • scarring from psoriasis • scarring from eczema • hyper-pigmentation • dermatitis • fine lines and wrinkles • burns • acne scarring • chickenpox scarring • skin damage caused by sun

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $17.95

exposure • skin elasticity and resilience • dry skin • skin tone • premature ageing As a moisturiser, rosehip oil will moisturise the dry areas of your skin while not adding too much moisture to oilier areas We are told that rosehip oil can be used by anyone of any age.

Because it has balancing properties, it can be used for both dry and oily skins, and it allows the skin to breathe. All skin types can benefit from rosehip oil.

Ideally, rosehip oil should be used daily before damage is done to the skin. Used as a preventative measure, rosehip oil can help reduce premature ageing. If you already suffer from things such as pigmentation, wrinkling, etc, rosehip oil applied daily can help to reverse the damage and make the skin appear healthier.

AUM REJUVENATING ROSEHIP OIL Rich in Vitamins A and C, this light and silky oil softens and smooths skin instantly without clogging pores. $22.95 www.aumbeauty.com.au PRODIJEE.COM

ECCO SHOES, SAID to be now the largest shoemaker brand in Scandinavia, and also well-known worldwide, have released a fantastic selection of summer brogues, sandals, flats and wedges in warm and bold colours.

In a recent event at Sydney’s Darling Harbour, ECCO showed the Sculptured 65, which has been rush released from their Autumn/Winter 2013 collection to the public at the World’s Longest Catwalk.

They have also introduced the comfort-and-style-driven ECCO Sculptured 65. The differentiating concept of the Sculptured 65 is the direct-injecting, one-component PU sole and super-soft inlay sole that conforms to your individual footprint. Also, the moisture-absorbent circulation system provides a cool, hygienic environment all day long.

So, if your tooties are dying for a bit of comfort and care, maybe you should start looking at the ECCO range. www.ecco.com

ESTÉE LAUDER HAS just released its new Pure Color Violet Underground. The palette is a collection of jewel-tones and Bordeaux shades combined with PRODIJEE.COM

neon brights of scarlet and crimson that are sure to define your eyes, while tones of fuchsia and violet will add a burst of vibrant colours to your lips.

Inspired by multiple cultures, styles and textures, this collection is the ultimate fusion of high style and street chic. The makeup in Pure Color Violet Underground takes glam rock to a new dimension with a fantastical aesthetic revolution of deep, vibrant violet and fuchsia tones.

Complement vibrant-chrome eyes and deep plush lips with new Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Black Iris. Inspired by punk-rock and high fashion, the deep hue reinvents black with an avant-garde violet twist. The rich combination drenches nails for a look that screams glam rock from head to toe.

The NEW Estée Lauder Pure

HOW MANY TIMES have you bought a bottle of water? How much has each bottle cost you?

Do you believe that bottled water is any better for you than tap water?

I would say, that for most of us, buying bottled water is a combination of convenience and pose factor, but seriously, according to finance guru, David Koch, our consumption of standard bottled water is “an amazing first

Color Violet Underground colour collection is available for a limited time at selected department stores and online at: www.esteelauder.com.au

world waste of money”. As well as that, the bottles have a huge environmental impact.

Tap water is cheap, in many cases, it’s free but it can have its drawbacks, it can have impurities, be treated and it can pick up odours.

Many people have discovered the Brita Jug filtering system and swear that the water that comes from their Brita Jugs tastes fresh and pure.

It’s fine to be able to go to the fridge and pour yourself a glass of Brita filtered water, or even fill up your drink bottle at the beginning of the day, but what do you do when that bottle runs out?

Well, according to Brita, if you buy one bottle of water per day, you will be paying out $200 every eight weeks, and if you buy more …. That is a lot of money for something that you can get for near to free. So Brita have come up with their Fill&Go bottle.

Simply fill the Brita Fill&Go with tap water – anywhere, anytime – and its integrated activated carbon filter (tucked out of sight within

the lid) reliably reduces impurities, odour and taste to deliver the same fresh and pure tasting water as the Brita Filter Jug. These bottles are stylish and come in four colours – grey, blue, pink and green, and are made from shock-resistant Tritan with soft touch design elements; they are BPA and Phtalate-free and dishwater safe.

The starter pack comprises a 600ml bottle and a pack of 4 filters (4 weeks supply) for $19.95 – compare that to the $200 that you would spend in eight weeks if you were buying bottled water.

The filters come in a pack of eight and will last for eight weeks, each filter lasting one week, and cost $12.95.

Do the sums, save your pocket, help save the environment, still have the ‘pose’ factor and have the convenience of bottled water on hand all the time.

Available in leading Department and Homewares stores. www.brita.com.au

NEW FROM THE successful Revlon PhotoReady collection is PhotoReady 3D Volume Mascara, a revolutionary mascara designed to give you glamorous, expressive, big volume lashes from every angle – instantly.

Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume Mascara provides lashes with instant volume and dimension using a formula that includes smooth gellants and flexible polymer technology. The innovative brush contains a lash accentuating tip so you reach every last lash - delivering high-volume and unprecedented dimension without flakes or clumps.

SHADES: Blackest Black, Blackened Brown (also in waterproof). RRP: $23.95 PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

F

rom its motorcycle-inspired roots and edgy character, G-Star has become a worldwide success with more than 13 million pair of the Elwood denim sold to date.

Their new range for men reinvents the ever popular Elwood but introduces the Dexter with a clean no rivets look, and also focusses on the trend toward slim fit.

A biker range for men and women has also been introduced with the men’s having a clean look and a motor-inspired front pocket just below the normal pocket, that is accessible from the side and

protected by a zip.

In addition to the jeans range are the jackets that also feature the biker details. The women’s range takes its inspiration from the history of female racers with exposed zippers in unexpected places.

The Raw Essentials range focusses on the re-invention of the deep, intense indigo colour originally found in vintage European work wear.

Ranges for men and women include the classic overall, slim and loose fit jeans, biker and bomber jackets. www.g-star.com

PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

Suit yourself WITH SHARP AND CREATIVE DESIGN, SHOREDITCH SUITS HAVE MORE THAN A TOUCH OF ATTITUDE, MAKING THEM THE NATURAL CHOICE FOR ÜBER HIP PEOPLE. WORDS: CAROL SHERIDAN.

S

SSSSHHHHH... It’s a secret, but if you haven’t heard of Shoreditch yet, you soon will.

Look around at some of the very best dressed suit wearing men, you will discover that they have heard of Shoreditch and they are probably trying to keep this secret to themselves! But I’m here to let the cat out of the bag and let you all in on the little secrets that the lovely people at Shoreditch tell their customers when buying a suit.

Shoreditch has a reputation for debauchery and mischief and finds that the wearers of their brand are the über hip people who are into art and fashion and possibly even a tad eccentric. Their suits blur the lines between street and smart with slim line styles cut to suit different moods from subtle to flamboyant and casual to quirkily conservative, they have sharp finishes, unconventional linings and a very unique bodyskimming slim line that will flatter every body.

Shoreditch has just released its newest range, Heist men’s suits. They are slim fit, confident and have pronounced detailing with even more attitude, perfect for any season. The range offers suits that are sharp, creative and urban, which is the perfect combination of cool and style gritty without being grungy and they are sleek without being slick.

Of course, no menswear range would be compete without matching accessories and the Shoreditch Heist range continues its look with shirts, ties, suit pants and jackets. Their suits are priced to be accessible with foundation pieces from the collection starting at $349.00.

Check out the Shoreditch Heist range video: http://shoreditchlondon-e1.com/video/ For stockists around Australia see: http://shoreditchlondon-e1.com PRODIJEE.COM

SHOREDITCH’S TOP 5 SUIT TIPS 1. To look your best, the jacket should fit snug. It’s for making your entrance (and your getaway) not for playing sport in, or doing physical labour. A proper fitting jacket should feel slightly constricting. And make sure you wear a fitted shirt!

2. Low rise trousers your pants should sit well on your hips – like a good pair of jeans. High rise pants up around your waist just look daggy.

3. No pleats or cuffs please, straight cut bottoms and definitely no pleats, unless you’re into the saggy crotch look.

4. Go for two button jackets and never do up the bottom button. Looks great with jeans.

5. It’s the details that count. Check for details to love, like cool lining, sleek pockets and neat lapels – that’s what stands a great suit apart.

PRODIJEE.COM

MELBOURNE’S TRAMCAR RESTAURANT PROVIDES THE PERFECT WAY TO ENJOY TWO OF THE CITY’S MOST FAMOUS ATTRACTIONS FINE DINING AND INCONIC TRAMS: WORDS: CAROL SHERIDAN

I

t’s been many years since I travelled on Melbourne’s iconic Tramcar Restaurant, and now I am kicking myself that it took me so long to go back.

My first visit to this exquisite and unique restaurant was to take some friends from Japan out for an Australian experience, to give them something they had never experienced before. They adored it and so did I. Being from the upper class areas of Japan and frequent international travellers, they were used to extremely high quality cuisine and they told me that this was equal to the best they had tasted anywhere in the world.

As we toured around Melbourne’s inner suburbs I was able to point out to them some of the local buildings and historic locations all while we were being served delicious food and wines.

I remember them emailing me when they returned home, when they told me that this experience PRODIJEE.COM

was the one they will remember most from their trip, and, their trip took them to many different countries and meetings with many different people. I would like to think it was the company that made their trip on the Tramcar Restaurant so memorable, but I know that the restaurant itself was what they will really remember.

No wonder they loved this experience, this fleet of historical trams, which have become the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant, have been carefully refurbished to provide all the modern conveniences that you would expect from a first class restaurant. They are glossy, burgundy restaurants on wheels and were the first travelling Tramcar Restaurants in the world.

The atmosphere is cosy with seats that are covered in plush velvet and beautiful brass fittings that cast a cosy glow from the vintage light fittings.

The trams are air conditioned and have stabilisers fitted to ensure a

smooth ride so these are not at all like the everyday trams you would catch when you are busy rushing around the streets of Melbourne.

A few years later, I was invited by friends to help them celebrate a birthday on the Tramcar Restaurant.

I was excited! My previous trip had been the late dining experience; this one was going to be the early dining one. Not so long in time and the menu offered two courses less, but it would be in daylight.

Our group of eight people met at the dedicated tram stop in Normanby Street, South Melbourne where there were already many other diners eagerly anticipating their ‘tram ride’.

It was such a fun experience, food and wine flowed, it seemed that my glass was never empty and again, the food was delicious. This was a birthday celebrated in style.

Recently, I was wondering where to take a very dear friend for his birthday dinner.

We have been to many

restaurants, and have been very lucky, really enjoying just about everywhere we have been, but it was his birthday and I wanted something a little bit different.

For me, the experience was yet again wonderful, the staff was incredibly helpful, fun and extremely welcoming. The food was divine, being two pates served with water crackers and lavosh, the choice of barramundi or kangaroo for our entree, grilled chicken breast or eye fillet beef for our main and a tasting platter of local cheeses served with quince paste, crackers and fruit loaf. Our dessert was the choice of sticky date pudding or vanilla bean panna cotta.

On boarding the tram we were offered ‘bubbles’ to start our trip, but if that didn’t suit our palate there were other wines, soft drinks or spirits available… for me bubbles suited just fine!

Throughout the evening we toured around the inner suburbs of Melbourne, enjoying this wonderful experience and chatting to other diners who were visiting from other countries.

It is surprising to discover, that when you live in a city you seem to take it for granted, you rarely stop to ‘smell the roses’ or take in your surroundings, you are always hurrying from one place to another.

When you are dining on this historic tramcar, you get a certain level of excitement when you see

something like the Museum, or Luna Park, to be able to sit back, enjoy where you are and take in what is around you, it’s eye-opening and relaxing.

As our evening drew near its end, (where had the time gone?), I sipped on a beautiful Cointreau and my friend on Drambuie, I asked him how he had enjoyed his first experience on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant – “I love it, it has been a truly unique experience, thank you so much for this wonderful gift for my birthday”. It was a great feeling for me, to share something that I had experienced and loved with someone who was a newbie.

I can’t wait to go again, whether it be with another newbie or someone who is a ‘frequent flyer’ as I would like to become.

This is a unique and unforgettable experience, one that I can highly recommend, and obviously many other people have the same opinion as I do because the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is the proud four-time winner of the coveted National Tourism Award.

Since their inception in 1983, the restaurants have become a star attraction and a tourism symbol for Melbourne. The carriages are often decorated for special events such as Christmas and being such a special experience have been the place of many romantic proposals of marriage. Dining on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is not only a culinary delight; it’s a trip into a little piece of Victoria’s history. www.tramrestaurant.com.au

PRODIJEE.COM

roadtest DAVID DOWSEY REVIEWS CLINIQUE’S 3-STEP SKIN CARE SYSTEM FOR MEN

I

f you’re anything like me, you want to look after yourself, but don’t want to fuss too much with time-consuming and unnecessary skin care products. So, for the blokes, Clinique has all the bases covered.

Their 3-Step Skin Care System is simplicity itself: just cleanse (using Clinique Face Soap or Liquid Face Wash and warm water), exfoliate (apply Clinique Scruffing Lotion in the required strength with a clean cotton bud or pad) and moisturize (by applying a small amount of Clinique M Lotion gently all over the face and neck).

From go-to-whoa that will involve a two-minute investment morning and night (if that). And, if you can spare the extra 30 seconds Clinique has some other special gear that can really make the difference between looking and feeling okay and really rocking it.

PRODIJEE.COM

AGE DEFENSE FOR EYES First up, I road tested Clinique’s Age Defense For Eyes.

Ophthalmologist tested, Age Defense For Eyes is an oil-free formula for all skin types that takes care of those pesky puffy eyes.

For best results, simply apply carefully all around the eyes after going through your Clinique 3-Step Skin Care System.

Looking after the eye area is critical because the thin skin around your eyes is the first place to show signs of aging.

Sunlight, air conditioning, lack of hydration and let’s face it, those big nights out, really do eventually show up first around your eyes. So get wise: use Clinique’s Age Defense For Eyes.

CLINIQUE FACE SCRUB Once or twice a week you can really ramp up your Clinique 3-Step Skin Care System by substituting Clinique Scruffing Lotion with Clinique Face Scrub.

Clinique Face Scrub is a thick cream containing minute granules that, when gently massaged into

your face (after using Clinique Face Soap), effectively does away with the daily build-up of dead skin cells and really unclogs your skin’s pores for a totally revitalized and refreshed look.

Finish your regime with Clinique M Lotion and you are ready for any situation.

Clinique Face Scrub is allergy tested and 100% fragrance free, which is a real bonus because it won’t compete with your favourite cologne.

THE VERDICT Fairy tales are fantasy. But Clinique’s Skin Care products for men really do work. I noticed a definite reduction in the puffiness around my eyes, and I was told by others that my face looked brighter and fresher and that I looked refreshed.

Clinique products don’t claim to make you look 10 years younger, but they will make you look and feel your best. And isn’t that worth investing a modest amount of money and two minutes twice a day in?

The best networking opportunity in the industry • Exposure to more than 20 industry people in one day!

• Multiple models and photographers moving from station to station to a coordinated schedule • Multiple hair and make up looks per model • Designer garments, jewellery and props supplied • Training in posing and industry practice from a professional model • Photography workshop and mentoring by a known fashion photographer

Photo: Daniel Fisher

• Stunning shoot venues – a blend of studio and location, designer and natural • Whether you’re established and have a creative concept in mind or a student starting your portfolio from scratch, Model Success events provide custom portfolio creation from start to finish for models, photographers, hair/MUAs

Portfolio Building Events Register and find out more at www.modelsuccess.com.au

Photo: Adrian Carmody

Photo: Nishimachi Photo: Rey Susanto

roadtest

W

WORDS: CAROL SHERIDAN

e all know that Schwarzkopf products are very popular in many salons, and one of the new items in the Schwarzkopf Professional’s OSIS+ range is the Twin Curl two-phase curl cream.

I have been trialling this product on my fine curly/wavy/frizzy hair with results that I am really happy

about. No longer do I need to spend hours with a straightener, I can happily apply this product and leave home feeling very happy that I have found a product that allows my hair to curl naturally, without frizz, and without the harsh and crisp feeling that many other curling products leave you with.

So, calling all stylists who deal with unruly frizzy and curly hair, and fashionistas who want to tame their own hair, this is an excellent product - one I can highly recommend.

O

Can’t Be Tamed Be Brave Sashay My Way Liquid Vinyl Celebrity manicurist and ORLY Australia ambassador, Fiona Hay said: “This look takes a regular manicure to the next level. Try mixing glitters for a bolder look or if you don’t want to glam up each digit, try just a single nail – we call this the rebel nail! RRP from $18.95 each/18ml

www.orlybeauty.com.au www.orlybeauty.com Stockist: 1300 769 355

RLY Professional Nail Care’s latest limited edition collection, Flash Glam, takes your digits for a high voltage ride through the shimmersphere.

This limited edition range is trending with fashion forward nail enthusiasts who are hitting the town this summer with party pointers The bold and brave collection includes: Mermaid Tail Spazmatic

PRODIJEE.COM

OSIS+ Twin Curl 125ml RRP $28.95 Available in-salon now Stockist # 1800 251 887

REVIEW: I’m not normally a sparkles kind of person, but when I gave it a try I was really impressed. I applied “Mermaid Tail” and received glowing approval from everyone I saw at the events I went to. It looked like I had dipped my fingertips into pots of glittering opal.

This glitter glam polish is long lasting and for the four days that I wore it, the sparkle didn’t fade at all.

The only drawback I could find with this product is that it takes a little work to remove completely, not that I really minded. While it’s probably not something I would wear every day, it’s definitely been my party polish for the festive season and will continue to be for many future events.

I WAS RECOMMENDED this product to try because I have extremely sensitive skin when it comes to tanning products. It seems that I am allergic to Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which is the browning element used in most self-tanning products.

As my skin tends to go red and blotchy in the sun rather than tan, I was ecstatic when the first application self-tanning products came on the market, only to be greatly disappointed (and itchy) when one after one of these products that I purchased turned out to be something that I was highly allergic to. I spent countless dollars on each and every (that I am aware of) selftanners as they were released, even the ones that said they were low allergenic.

My friends and family have been inundated with barely used bottles of these products that I have passed onto them as I have adversely reacted to them. I was sceptical to try another, but in my desperation to have that lovely sun kissed look I gave it a try.

This is not a slow build up tanner,

it’s an instant bronzer, it is really meant to use on your face, neck, shoulders, but of course it is also suitable to use on arms and legs as well. On advice, I did a patch test first. The product went on smoothly and evenly, it has a beautiful fragrance and gave my skin a lovely bronzed colour. I was very happy with the application and the appearance, but time would tell if my skin would react. The next morning, the colour was still there, and so far, no reaction.

As this product washes off, I showered, and then applied it to both my legs. Over a larger area this product is still easily applied, but you do have to be careful to blend it well.

That evening, I still had the lovely coloured legs, no streaking and no blotchiness from the product colour or reaction from my skin. Even the next morning, as I was about to jump into the shower, I noticed that I still had the beautiful bronzed look, still no signs of the colour fading or wearing and still no reaction. Yes, the product washed off in the shower,

and yes I really wish I could wear this product every day, but it is a little bit on the pricey side for use as a daily product on arms and legs. But I now know, I too can have that beautiful sun kissed look, thanks to Natio and their Instant Bronzer.

POLISHED LONDON’s LATEST release Magnetic Effects has a formula that creates a nail art design or shape on the nail using magnetic forces. As the magnet is held over the nail, the iron powder formulation gravitates towards the magnet forming a quilted/fishnet design, secretly hidden in the magnet for an exotic manicure.

To use this polish, firstly apply one coat of the polish to your nails, and then hold the magnet (on the bottle cap) above the wet polish using the guide to rest on your finger.

The pattern then forms on your nail due to the magnetic forces.

Once dry, apply a top coat to seal in the colour for added shine and durability. www.polishedlondon.com RRP $12.95

REVIEW I tried this product two times. The first time I had trouble getting the effect to work properly. I don’t think I held the magnet over my nails long enough. The second time I tried it out, I had learnt from my previous mistakes. Really, you need to do this process nail by nail.

Apply the polish to one nail, then straight away hold the magnet in place and keep in place until your polish is dry. Repeat with each nail

individually. I applied a top coat on every second nail to see how long this polish would last. Without the top coat, the polish was chipped by the end of the day, with the top coat the polish remained in fairly good condition for two days.

If you have plenty of time to apply this polish to each nail individually, then I can recommend it for a party or special event as the effect is quite good. If you are in a hurry, then this is not the polish for you.

PRODIJEE.COM

roadtest

WORDS: MATTHEW WREN

CANON’S POWERSHOT D20 DELIVERS PERFORMANCE IN AND OUT OF THE WATER.

F

aced with the binary task of reviewing a waterproof camera and not wanting to get wet, a compromise was reached to review durability in water yet still provide a meaningful review.

The discussion leading up to this compromise was very straightforward. See, we had a new sports car, and it was dirty as it had been for road tests, and we needed the car to be clean. What if we got two bikini models to wash the car and photograph the mayhem? Two birds, one camera. Let the review begin.

PRODIJEE.COM

Now firstly, this camera is probably not going to be purchased by an advanced amateur, as they’ll be saving up for a 5dIII or similar SLR - and this is a pity. The Powershot D20 will go just about anywhere. It’s rated down to -10 degrees...and up to .... well, as hot as it’s been lately, though the 3 inch LCD will do funny things over about 40 degrees - they all do.

It’s also drop proof from about a metre - depending how and what you drop it on. As it’s a take anywhere camera, you do tend to take it....well, anywhere.

As most people leave it in auto mode, that’s exactly what I did. The camera works out firstly if you’re photographing people or something else. If it detects faces, then it’ll let you know with squares on the faces on the LCD. From there it will make a well exposed photo of the face, ignoring every other detail. If it doesn’t detect a face, it will start looking for things like movement, then things like if it’s backlit, a sunset or blue sky.

There’s 32 different exposure modes it can choose from, which will cover 99 per cent of what most

people will photograph.

Once you click over into program mode, you can do things like set ISO, spot/centre weight or average metering and also adjust the exposure compensation by two stops. This allows you to shoot darker or lighter - depending on what creative bent you’re on at the time.

The major shortcoming with the D20, it will not record raw files.

This is frustrating, as when shooting underwater it can be quite hit and miss where the white balance is pegged. It also means you can’t deliberately choose a different white balance for creative effect. Instead, you need to choose the white balance by choosing which scene,

daylight, cloud - and yes, there is an underwater setting as well as manual setting. For wildly changing scenes it’s too fiddly to make these adjustments, so most will probably just leave it in auto.

That shortcoming aside, this is a feature packed camera which is not just intended as a waterproof camera. It has popular point and shoot features like face detection, and will even figure out if the person you’re photographing is blinking.

The D20 also has image stabilisation, which adapts to whatever mode you’ve set it to, to help you get steady, crisp images.

It’s these kinds of features which will be of huge benefit to people wanting happy snaps at summer rock festivals like Big Day Out (see our wrap up in this issue) where there’s lots of water flying around and you want to get photos of all your friends. Your average camera won’t survive the soaking, drops and general abuse a festival-goer would subject it to. It’ll even work immersed in beer.

The zoom lens covers 28140mm, at a respectable f3.9-4.8 - depending on how far you’ve zoomed. It has a built in red eye reduction flash which is good for things up to 3M away, and will work underwater as well. The ISO range is from 100-3200 and you get 12.1Megapixel files 4000x3000 pixels, easily enough for A4, and even A3 prints. Movie mode gets you HD 1080p @ 24 frames per second and you can also use the creative effects like fisheye, tilt/shift effects, black and white and color swap.

These effects can of course be used with still photography also.

In the hand, it’s a large camera, which can be operated with gloves on though if you were swimming with it it’s a bit too big to ‘palm’ it, so you might need to tuck it into PRODIJEE.COM

Canon PowerShot D20 your glove or wetsuit. It doesn’t float - we tried this by dropping it into a bucket of soapy water. Repeatedly.

Which brings us nicely back to our test... as you can see, we threw a lot of water around, and after a quick wipe down, the D20 was ready to shoot again. You had to be careful not to allow a little bead of water to stay on the lens, or you’d get a lot of ruined photos - but as you can see, it’s a fun camera which is easy to grip even when your hands are slick with sudsy water.

Overall, the D20 is an excellent camera for the purpose it was designed, and even covers a lot of other bases for which it is not specifically targeted and that is a big bonus. RATING: 8/10. www.canon.com.au PRODIJEE.COM

12.1 megapixels with High Sensitivity, 1/2.3inch type CMOS sensor.

Double pane, chemically strengthened lens prevents fogging in rapid temperature changes.

5.0 (W) – 25.0 (T) mm f/3.9 / f/8.0* (W), f/4.8 /f/17* (T) * used with ND filter High resolution 3.0-inch type LCD screen with wide angle viewing (461,000 dots).

Waterproof to a depth of 10 metres with underwater macro mode functionality.

Shoots quality FULL HD movies with Dynamic Image Stabilisation and view easily on your TV with an optional HDMI terminal.

PRODIJEE.COM

t s li ia c a f h c n e r f e th

WITH CHRISTINE CLAIS

THREE NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS FOR GOOD-LOOKING SKIN T

he beginning of the year is traditionally the time to commit to improving some aspects of our lives, by making a personal pledge to incorporate (or eliminate) particular habits. So, this year, why not look at improving the way our skin looks by adhering to the following daily and weekly activities:

needed to ensure optimum health and glow. Here is a wonderful recipe from my dear friend Rachael Campbell (pictured, middle right), director and founder of “Rachael, A Health Minded Lifestyle Company” (For more healthy recipes and life inspiration, check out her great website: www.rachaelcampbell.com).

1. Cleanse your skin twice a day, every day, no matter what!

RACHAEL’S SUPER GREEN SMOOTHIE (Serves 4)

We all get caught up into the busyness of our lives and one thing that we often easily drop from our skincare regime is its twice-daily cleansing step. Although cleansing our face does not seem to be as important as moisturising it for example, it is, in fact, a crucial step for the proper functioning and health of our skin.

Here are the reasons why: it does not matter if we do not wear makeup, we still need to cleanse our skin at night before bed time to ensure that we remove all traces of skincare, grime, excess oil and pollutants that have accumulated on it over the course of the day.

By doing so, we boost our skin’s detoxifying function and can prevent, to a great extent, the appearance of congestion, breakouts and blackheads. As our skin’s rejuvenating activities peak at night time (in conjunction with toxin release), cleansing our skin in the morning should also be as much of a priority as brushing our teeth.

And of course, applying a treatment cream on a clean skin will ensure maximal absorption of its active ingredients, and therefore, its optimal efficacy.

Ingredients: 2 large handfuls spinach 1 teaspoon spirulina 1 teaspoon wheat grass powder 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast 1 teaspoon maca powder 1 teaspoon acai berry powder 1 teaspoon bee pollen A large handful of frozen mixed berries Filtered water (amount will vary depending on preferred consistency)

My tip: cleanse and moisturise your skin as soon as you get home, so you eliminate the risk of not doing it because you feel too tired later on.

PRODIJEE.COM

2. Have a ‘Skin Smoothie’ every morning We all know that fruits and vegetables are essential for our skin, as they provide our bodies with a wide variety of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, antioxidants and enzymes − all

Method: Place all ingredients in a vitamix (or other high powered blender). Blend ingredients until a smooth consistency is achieved. It’s then ready to serve!

You can use any fruits and greens you like − the most important thing is that it tastes YUMMY!! Variety is important; so, one day use spinach and the next day try kale, iceberg, or romaine hearts − mix it up.

You can also change your fruits, mango cheeks, bananas, kiwi fruit, etc. Rachael recommends to go slow with the greens, at first; use more fruit in the beginning, so as to gradually get your taste buds accustomed to the greens’ taste.

Enjoy!

3. Adhere to a weekly ritual of exfoliation and face masking Put simply, exfoliation is the process of removing cells from the surface of our skin; it can be achieved by using a variety of exfoliating products containing ingredients such as micro beads, apricot kernels, minerals, fruit acids, enzymes, etc.

Exfoliating our skin once to twice a week has many benefits, including improving the quality and tone of our skin, so making it look fresher and healthier. Make sure to use non-irritating products and apply a gentle pressure (if using a scrubtype exfoliating product).

If in doubt, select enzyme-based

exfoliants, as these are usually of the mildest type; look for ingredients such as papain or bromelain.

Equally, I am a big fan of masking! In fact, using a facial mask is a bit of a tradition amongst French women. I grew up watching the two generations of women before me applying all sorts of homemade concoctions on their skin! Facial masks can make a noticeable difference to the way our skin looks, improving it greatly.

Depending on their ingredients, masks can achieve a broad variety of effects, including purifying, soothing, healing, hydrating, nourishing and stimulating.

A mask should always be applied on a clean skin, preferably after exfoliation (using a gentle product) – once to twice a week being a good frequency of use.

Christine Clais is a French-born skin expert, educator, speaker and author, with over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry.

Internationally, Christine is regarded as one of todays most wellrespected and sought after facialists.

She has helped more than 30,000 women from all over the world, including clients in France, the United States, China and Australia. An advocate of integrative skincare, Christine Clais educates women on the importance of skin care and the fundamentals of caring for your skin from the inside out and is available for corporate workshops, presentations and training. To find out more about Christine, visit www.thefrenchfacialist.com PRODIJEE.COM

www.kellystephens.com.au

it seems to me

WITH GUEST COLUMNIST PATRIZIA TORELLI

ARE WOMEN BETTER LEADERS THAN MEN? It’s a long way to the top if you want to bat and bowl...

Eight things to do when men dominate the room!

Top 7 qualities of Women Leaders!

These headlines are jumping off the pages of worldwide publications on a daily basis, but what is driving this sudden interest in the role of women in leadership?

True, females have always made up at least fifty percent of the population, so what has changed? I’d argue that it’s all about cash$!

Let’s take the traditionally male dominated environment of sport for example. Many would argue that the crisis situations faced by a number of national sporting organisations at the moment will see the face of Australian sport changed forever. I say ‘it’s about time.’

Without being too general, it’s fair to say that many of our sports governing bodies have been attracting, recruiting and retaining the exact same decision makers for years now. Both paid and honorary roles are filled with well meaning, passionate individuals who love the industry, but forget to apply common commercial or governance acumen when developing, growing and selling their product, directing the CEO or setting strategic priorities.

After all, sport is no longer a volunteer based industry, but one in which the commercial $$ value in broadcasting rights alone can exceed millions of dollars. So why do we keep appointing the longest serving member to the ‘Chairmanship’ if they simply don’t have the skills to fulfil the role? Seniority has no place in business, so why is it acceptable in sport?

The leadership of these organisations must better reflect society, the business reality and the PRODIJEE.COM

fact that women also contribute to the industry on a number of fronts – as spectators, consumers, decision makers, leaders, managers and volunteers – a massive target audience still untapped by sport.

At the recent Asia Pacific World Sport and Women Conference held in Australia, panellists and delegates agreed that the role of women in the business of sport is critical to the industry’s future existence. The 5Ms of Money, Members, Media, Marketing and Men are recognised as the key elements to activating the future of sport, and the investment by government departments demands that sporting organisations secure more women to play a bigger part in achieving that goal.

The industry must tackle the tough topics such as ‘why do many female athletes still work full time to finance their national sporting aspirations?

‘Why do many state and national sporting organsiations still not have at least one female board director sitting at the table?’

‘Why is it okay for media to list two horses in the top 10 sportswomen?’

‘Why does Australia Post issue the 2012 Australian Sporting Legends stamp series with not one female legend in sight?’

‘Why did Channel 10 really ditch

the Netball coverage?

‘Why is sexuality used as a tool to exclude women from participation and development programs?’

Big business, sponsors and governments have begun to question the financial and resourcing investments they make to sporting organisations which still exclude females in high end decision making roles.

So the industry is beginning to recognise and deal with the demographic realities of the twenty first century.

Astute business leaders recognise that ignoring 50% of the population is commercial suicide.

Astute governments recognise that ignoring the needs of 50% of the population will cost votes.

Astute sports business developers and marketers know that simply branding traditional products and services with a pink logo won’t cut it.

And in the book, Women Want More: How to Capture Your Share of the World’s Largest, FastestGrowing Market, a survey of 12,000 women from 22 countries uncovered the most important economic and social development of the twenty-first century is ‘the female economy’.

Women will be responsible for more than $5 trillion of spending on goods and services of all kinds in the next few years - a sum that’s bigger than any country’s bailout package, let alone broadcasting rights.

In Australia there’s no product or service bigger than sport. Let’s face it, money talks and right now the volume has been turned up.

Patrizia Torelli is President of Women in Sport Enterprise. www.apwsw.com.au www.facebook.com/AsiaPacificWorldSp ortAndWomen?ref=hl Twitter-https://twitter.com/APWSW PRODIJEE.COM

the natural path Celebrity fads need a reality check A

s a naturopath I know the importance of health and listening to what our bodies are telling us. That’s why it alarms me when I see celebrity fad diets encouraging people to take a leap of madness and put themselves through a living hell for up to 14 days for a ‘rapid’ yet non-effective weight loss.

Each body is different and therefore requires a unique weight loss plan based on health and lifestyle. See some popular celebrity fad diets below – be sure to read the true effects of each!

THE GRAPEFRUIT DIET Celebrity: Celebrities such as J-Lo and even our own Kylie Minogue have apparently tried the grapefruit diet. Stars who are aiming to stop weight fast believe that eating a grapefruit with every meal will trigger fat burning in the body.

Reality: This diet has never been proven to work and can cause serious dehydration due to the shortage of calories and the amount of caffeinated beverages one has to drink. It’s also deficient in fibre, protein and several important vitamins and minerals. As a result of both you are likely to feel dizziness and low energy levels.

THE CABBAGE SOUP DIET Celebrity: Sarah Michelle Gellar is supposedly a fan of an old wives classic, the cabbage soup diet. On this diet celebrities eat an unlimited amount of cabbage soup daily with little snacks of fruit and vegetables throughout the week.

Reality: While some claim to have lost three kilos in one week what they don’t tell you is that this is predominantly water loss that will quickly be regained. Feeling lightheaded due to a lack of protein on this diet has also been reported.

PRODIJEE.COM

THE LEMON DETOX DIET Celebrity: Beyoncé is believed to religiously follow a Lemon detox diet. The singer’s diet consists of fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne, and water over a 14 day period. In addition to this juice diet Beyoncé also takes one laxative in the morning and one in the evening.

WITH VICTORIA O’SULLIVAN

Reality: Again, this is predominantly water loss and as soon you begin to eat normally again the body will store fat as it is in ‘starvation’ mode.

In addition – this diet can lead to many embarrassing bathroom accidents!

THE BABY FOOD DIET Celebrity: Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston are rumoured to replace at least one of their daily meals with baby food in an aim to cut calories and curb cravings.

Reality: The first point is – what adult really wants to be eating mushed up food?! Secondly this meal will not leave you full or satisfied, so by the time your next meal comes along you are more likely to binge on what isn’t good for you.

There are many natural and healthy ways to lose weight that allow you to enjoy food, life, and have plenty of energy!

Victoria O’Sullivan is a leading Sydney-based naturopath, working with clients to improve their health and wellbeing. With more than 14 years of experience in wellness consulting, Victoria has been exposed to every fad that promises improved health. She knows what the real deal is, and what just doesn’t work.

To find out how to strip two kilos per week the healthy way and to register for your free consultation with Victoria visit http://www. victoriaosullivan.com.au/ Like Naturopath-Sydney to receive daily health and wellbeing tips.

PRODIJEE.COM

food couture

WITH SARAH FRENCH

Valentine’s Day - A Celebration of Love A

s the magic of Christmas fades and the glitz and glamour of NYE settles, we are fast approached with the sparkle and romance of Valentine’s Day. February is celebrated as the month of love and traditionally Valentine’s Day was born to commemorate the death of St Valentine. The history books share tales of bishop St Valentine hosting secret wedding ceremonies during the era of marriage prohibition. Whilst origins of this special day are conflicting and remain in dispute, the core fundamentals stay true to the day.

Today this special day is a celebration of love and is often about the giving and receiving of gifts.

Some say it with flowers and others with chocolate but personally I would say it with delicious food. Nothing is more an expression of love than a hand crafted meal. A gift from the heart that truly expresses the love you share whilst giving a piece of yourself with every tasty mouthful of your culinary creation. Greeting cards get thrown out, roses die and chocolates melt but the memory of a hand crafted dining experience lasts a life time.

All memorable dining experiences always start with something unique.

For your personalised at-home dinner I would suggest caviar. I will never forget my first experience with caviar at Joel Robuchon in Hong Kong. It was like nothing I had ever tasted before and it most certainly set the tone for what was to be one of the most memorable food experiences of my life.

Keeping with the sexy, seductive and romantic tones of Valentine’s Day, your next course should be something fresh, fabulous and in your face. The magical powers of oysters are no secret, and being as famous as they are for their aphrodisiac properties, they make for the perfect PRODIJEE.COM

Petit fours

taste teaser. Served au naturale or with your own signature dressing this simple delicacy is sure to have maximum effect, if the rumours are true.

Keeping it simple for you but tasty for your guest, a cold entree is a great place to go. Beef tataki or carpaccio always works well. Finished with a simple dressing of white soya and yuzu and garnished with toasted sesame seeds and brunoise (small dices) of fresh chives, these thin slices of beef are easily turned into a gourmet dish to be enjoyed by all.

It’s always smart to go with something safe and simple for

the main but there’s always room to add a little sexy. The humble grilled fish or grilled beef is easily transformed from drab to fab with the addition of a smooth cumin

spiced carrot purée; some crunchy lemon scented asparagus or seasonal greens and a zesty mint lime salsa Verde. The combination of these simple flavours and textures are the perfect partnership for a mini mouth explosion and happy love filled faces all around the room. Remember to use a premium cut of beef such as eye fillet, and when selecting your fish, sustainability is always key.

Your dessert selection should be a hint decadent and a whole lot of indulgent. Nothing says love like chocolates and strawberry and your personal rendition of these traditional treats will be sure to ignite the passion. A sensual gooey-centered chocolate fondant pudding served with a deliciously creamy vanilla bean ice cream is sure to impress.

Compliment with an oversized bowl of fresh strawberries and whipped cream and voila! The icing on your valentine day’s cake is served.

If cooking is not your thing but sharing a culinary experience with your loved one is, a reservation at a fabulous local restaurant is always a good option. Add your own special touch to the evening by pre-preparing a gift or something special to be delivered to the table prior to dessert.

Daytime celebrations are just as fun and your options are only limited by your imagination - a simple yet gourmet selection of treats shared picnic style on a secluded and

Fish and broccoli.

romantic beach or a hot air balloon ride across the local city scape with a French d’Affinois cheese served with a crispy Cabernet Sauvignon Champagne - sometimes the simplest of pleasures bring the biggest joy and create bold, life lasting memories.

Once again, if it all gets too much and you want to indulge and enjoy the decadence alongside your partner give me a call and our team of experts will take care of every detail.

Until next time, stay fabulous!

www.sarahfrench.com.au

Kingfish.

PRODIJEE.COM

savvy

WITH RIELY SAVILLE

Summer Lovin’ I

have a confession to make…

I’m in love with the kaftan! Its simple elegance. The way it billows in the summer breeze. How it almost effortlessly changes status from resort wear chic to cocktail sex appeal in an instant - with the right accessories of course. And most of all, its remarkable power to make any woman, of any age, or any size look glamorous. Day or night, it really is a perfect garment. It’s timeless. And there are options for men, too!

One designer who’s really heating things up with the kaftan ‘Down Under’ is Susan Rep… “Sourcing exquisite, breathable fabrics from around the globe. Susan’s inspiration is the world around her – every moment, every occasion, every story translates into the garments she creates”... And these garments drew much admiration as they floated down the runways at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival & Gold Coast Fashion Week in Australia.

One of her most ingenious designs is the LALA, which can be worn three different ways! - a one shoulder kaftan, a center front tie up sarong or a wrap skirt. I also discovered that it makes a really cute cape if you’re looking for a cover-up from the sun’s harsh rays! How’s that for mix and match magic?

Another iconic Aussie artisan who’s kaftans are absolutely to die for and sought after by superstars, such as Miranda Kerr, Kate Hudson, Lily Allen, Oprah Winfrey and Beyoncé Knowles, is Camilla Franks. Her divine label, simply titled CAMILLA, is quickly earning her a reputation as one of the world’s most gifted print designers.

Her garments are stocked in high end boutiques, luxury cruise liners (The World, Silver Seas) & luxury PRODIJEE.COM

department stores worldwide such as Harrods, Bergdoff Goodman, Neimans Marcus, Harvey Nichols, United Asia and David Jones.

Now armed with the perfect kaftan for summer in the Southern hemisphere, or packed and awaiting an island escape from the cold for our Northern friends, it’s time to consider swimwear. Enter White Sands. Yet another hot Aussie label, this swim haus certainly made waves in the U.S.A. when they featured one 3 WAYS Producer/Stylist: Riely Saville Photographer: Tristan Peter.

Hair & MakeUp: Danielle White Kaftan: LALA by Susan Rep.

of the members of the über famous Kardashian clan, Kendall Jenner (pictured left), in their campaigns and helped ignite her modelling career.

She’s now the first Kardashian sibling to have graced the cover of VOGUE magazine! White Sands also stock some amazing accessories, including so hot-right-now stingray cuffs by jewelry designer, Rachael Ruddick. One celebrity who seems to live in a swimsuit is Rihanna. RiRi’s got curves and she’s not afraid to use them! But she also has a savvy sense of style. She knows how to mix it up with bold prints, contrasting separates, fringing, tassles, cowboy hats, bandanas and bling. We can take inspiration from her fresh, funky and fun approach coz that’s what summer lovin’ is all about, right?

Last but not least we’ve got to talk about what’s underneath all the layers of fabulousness… your skin!

When it comes to tanning I’m more of an advocate for ‘love the skin you’re in’. But if you feel the urge to alter your skin tone, then make sure you’re doing it right. Leather bags are beautiful, but your skin shouldn’t feel like one! Use a strong SPF and try to tan gradually to avoid sun damage.

And if you’re using the safer alternative, eg: ‘Tan in a Can’, this also needs some know how. Oompa Loompa orange is NOT HOT! Nor is patchy, flaky skin. So make sure you read up on application techniques before you begin. Now get out there and enjoy the sunshine!

Get your savvy on!

FLAMINGOS Producer / Stylist: Riely Saville Photographer: Tristan Peter Hair & MakeUp: Danielle White Kaftan: LALA by Susan Rep.

www.epiccreations.com.au Gotta have it? Make sure you hit these websites: www.susanrep.com www.camilla.com.au www. whitesandsaustralia.com

DUO KAFTANS Producer/Stylist: Riely Saville. Photographer: Tristan Peter. Hair & MakeUp: Danielle White Kaftan: LALA by Susan Rep. PRODIJEE.COM

the peripheral stranieri

WITH MICHAEL BONGIORNO

Sintra - a place of natural beauty

A

s the train line draws to an end, echoing the closing chorus of Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros Get down Moses, I slip my headphones off and disembark the carriage, full of anticipation.

I have been told of a place flowing with natural beauty, palaces, stately manor houses, and castles. A time capsule protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Lord Byron had referred to it as, “A glorious Eden”.

The Romans had made it a cult place of moon worship, naming it Cynthia in homage to the goddess of the moon.

After a quick map check, I decide to walk the seemingly short distance to my accommodation, and take in the architecture and amazing street sculptures lining the Volta Duche.

Leading into the main square, the imposing vision of the 14th century National Palace consumes me as I continue treading the cobbled street amongst throngs of tourists. Winding through ancient laneways I reach my accommodation - The Casa da Pendoa - a charming old home, and am greeted warmly and shown to my room.

As it has been a lengthy journey 45 minutes by train from Lisbon - it is time to find some lunch and the choices of tourist driven restaurants and colourful cafes seem endless.

It is there that I notice a group of ambulance officers eating in a back street home style restaurant; so a local’s perspective is my first choice.

In spite of the fact that they sell local wares and souvenirs, three matronly women working in the restaurant seem slightly intrigued to see a tourist. A meal of roast chicken and vegetables is tasty and vigorously consumed with a beer. A fond farewell and I am ready to join PRODIJEE.COM

Sintra Palácio da Pena room

the parade, and take in the warmth of Sintra.

No real game plan - I walk and walk, admiring a plethora of architectural delights, the vibrant colours and the scent of natural fauna – this is truly a place of wonder. As I arrive in the vicinity of the National Palace, a line of people has developed outside a café, Casa da Piriquita. A local specialty seems to be the popular choice, so I indulge in what turns out to be a cheese tart The Sintra National Palace (Palácio Nacional de Sintra), is the best preserved medieval Royal Palace in Portugal.

WITH RIELY SAVILLE

PHOTOS: © TURISMO DE LISBOA – www.visitlisboa.com

spiced with cinnamon. Very tasty now for a beer.

Later I head out for dinner and whilst walking up a hill from the central tourist office, I stumble across a restaurant with a terrace affording views of the town and beyond. The Pateo do Garret offers wonderful fish and the grilled sardines, to start with, are scrumptious. Some wine from the ‘Douro’ and I am ready to sleep as the following day will be one of adventure.

Next morning I make my way to the tourist office and am told to take the 434 bus from outside - which runs every 30 minutes - up to the Moorish Castle located on Sintra’s highest hill. Also, I am told a visit to Quinta da Regaleira is a must. After waiting for a short time for the bus in a substantial queue, I decide to walk, as both hotspots are relatively nearby.

Winding tree lined roads dotted with stately homes, lead to ‘Quinta da Regaleira’, a regal manor house, with the most amazing gardens filled with sculptures, fountains, and grottos with secret tunnels, hidden caves and walkways (do bring a flashlight, and many thanks to the French couple who led me through

The National Palace is an important tourist attraction and is designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. the dark, subterranean labyrinth).

The house itself is splendid with captivating views from the roof, and a beautiful chapel nearby (in the Manueline style), is a jewel in the crown. After three hours of marvelling, I am off to climb the hill to the 8th century Moorish Castle.

These ruins are amazing and whilst scaling the walls, the views to the coast, and all of Sintra’s surrounds, are spectacular. Thankfully, the walk back to home base is downhill and as I am in need of refreshment, I head

to the Hotel Tivoli bar for a beer and a view of the mountains.

My final dining experience in Sintra was at the legendary Hotel Lawrence restaurant. The hotel is quite an institution and was Lord Byron’s digs when in he was in residence.

The cuisine is international and the lamb is paired with a Duoro red.

A peaceful walk before bed with a final beer - or two - seems a fitting ending to my time in this timeless wonderland.

After boarding my train to Lisbon, I turned to gaze goodbye, sourced my headphones, and had an inkling that one day, like Byron, I would return.

HOW TO GET THERE Drive: 30 minutes on the IC19 highway from Lisbon.

Train: 45 minutes from Rossio Station in Lisbon WHERE TO STAY Hotel Lawrence Rua Consiglieri Pedroso 38 The Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros) is a hilltop medieval castle located in the parish of Santa Maria e São Miguel.

Hotel Tivoli Praca Republica Casa da Pendoa Rua da Pendoa,17/19 PRODIJEE.COM

la-la land

WITH IEVA GEORGES

Alejandro Montesinos takes on the world T

all, dark and handsome might be the first three words that come to mind when asked to describe Alejandro Montesinos but that would be selling him short as he’s not just a pretty face - he’s an artist and a scholar, too.

And though blessed with all these gifts Alejandro is kind, humble and loving.

Born in Murcia, Spain to a loving mother and father and two siblings, Alejandro has always had a love for the arts. All through high school he was heavily involved in theatre, entertaining and preforming in front of people was always his passion.

Alejandro’s parents always wanted him to pursue a more traditional career and encouraged him to complete his studies in academics. As a result, upon finishing school, Alejandro moved to the UK to study English and Marketing. But the UK wasn’t big enough and before long Alejandro was packing his bag for LA. After moving to LA, Alejandro continued his studies, enrolled in classes and is currently finishing a degree in Foreign Languages. While studying here in LA, something happened that Alejandro did not expect. A friend encouraged him to submit a picture of himself to a modelling contest.

To his surprised he won the competition and his life began to take him on a path he did not intend. After winning this first modelling competition Alejandro went on to win many more such as Best Latin Model by LVMH (Louis Vuitton & Moét Hennessy) in Mexico. Winning LVMH’s Best Latin Model ignited Alejandro’s modelling career and before long he was booking modelling jobs all around the world.

To date he has booked high PRODIJEE.COM

profile work such as major appearances in Europe at Milano Fashion Week for Carlo Pignatelly and Napapijry while also booking covers with Low Ride Italy for Harley Davidson and international magazine Wilhem.

In September 2011, Paragon Models (Top Fashion agency in Mexico), signed Alejandro, which resulted in booking editorials for GQ, Squire, Deept and Caras Sport magazines and a national campaign for Suburbia (one of the largest departments stores), with famous actress, Lucero.

One of his most recent and also most exciting opportunities occurred in LA, where Alejandro booked a commercial for Tonino Lamborghini.

When talking to Alejandro, he excitingly described to me how he got to drive the Lamborghini Aventador and how it was like “A dream come true to be sitting in every man’s dream car in the heart of sunny LA”. All that was missing was a beautiful lady.

But that wouldn’t be the case for long as Alejandro went on to shoot the music video Happy New Year for music sensation, Kid Rock, alongside one of the world’s most beautiful models ever, Cindy Crawford.

As well as all of the covers, magazines, runways and music videos, you will now also be able to see Alejandro at Robert de Niro’s latest Nobu restaurant that will open in Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, in February 2013 after de Niro himself selected Alejandro to be the face of Nobu.

Just as he thought things couldn’t get any better, one of Alejandro’s lifelong dreams was about to come true. While singing at a friend’s party, Alejandro was approached by the owners of Vendetta Entertainment, music producer and songwriter, Joan Pla, and his wife, actress Nelly Castillo.

Seeing him as the next Ricky Martin/Enrique Iglesias, the couple asked Alejandro to record a demo, immediately after which they signed him to an artist development deal with their Vendetta Entertainment.

After months of refining his sound and working with producer Nirvan Pistoljevic, Alejandro is now recording his first EP at the legendary Swing House Studios in Hollywood. The EP, a mix of organic flavour and European electronic

dance edginess, is scheduled to be released during 2013 and will feature three songs in Spanish and two in English.

Alejandro confessed to me one of his wildest dreams would be to, “Shake it on stage”, with none other than J Lo herself.

So if you’re ready to move your hips and enjoy a new, fresh and unique style of music then be sure to watch out for the amazing, upcoming Latin sensation, Alejanidro Montesinos.

Ieva Georges is a Los Angeles based actress. tv presenter and model

PRODIJEE.COM

live via satellite

WITH JOEY SULFARO

EAT PRAY LOVE IN A TAHITIAN GASTRONOMIC PARADISE M

y passion for food is like a three week holiday laying on a private sandy beach in Bora Bora with Salma Hayek, a pretty sexy back drop and an amazing story to tell my grandchildren - this is the part when I wake up. But as I don’t have any grandchildren, you my little pumpkins, are getting the first taste of this amazing restaurant called Le Lotus on the South Pacific Island of Papeete in the InterContinental Hotel.

After tasting all that the Islands have to offer in the south pacific, I keep coming back to the Le Lotus; its sexy surroundings and totally relaxed settings makes you just want to stay forever and pray your food never ends.

Adelinea, our restaurant server and Island local, makes me feel like I are coming home to see my mum for dinner; she greets me with a hug and takes me to my private waterside table with the most amazing outlook that you only see in movies, overlooking Moorea.

First the freezing cold refreshing fragrant towel comes out to revitalize my face as the soaring temperatures get up there, so these little white towels start my relaxation buds dancing.

I start with the water selection, they just seem to have so many on their list. I asked for Italian and they rattled off a few including my favorite San Benedetto. Then, in a blink of an eye, the amuse bouche arrived, a very tasty cold avocado soup with a goats cheese foam absolutely to die for.

The reason I was there was for the most outstanding foie gras, made the best three ways you have ever tasted. I cannot understand why those Californians gave it up and PRODIJEE.COM

no longer serve it... only in North America!

So with a smile as big as Texas, Adelinea, who had already placed my order, was walking over with this sensational platter of paté di rillettes, hot pan seared and chilled parfait with caramelized apples and walnut crisps. HELLO! - where do you go from here. I was in the

Palazzo di foie gras and nothing was going to move me from my seat. Its texture, taste and flavor was sublime, you only get to taste this experience a few times in your life and it was my lucky day. Of course, if you are lucky enough to live in Papeete well that’s a whole another story.

The weather was changing, the clouds where getting darker and a storm was brewing, and along with a loud crack of thunder, the heavens opened and it poured like it was the last day on earth. It felt very strange.

With a smile, Adelinea set me up for my main course of seafood, a platter supreme that comprised of the local Island fish catch. Line caught calamari, huge king prawns and scallops, freshly barbequed and served with a truffle foam and a very silky creamy cheese risotto. The smell and taste totally blew my taste buds off the Richter scale; I was in seafood heaven.

This amazing restaurant has a

French history and association with the 3-star Michelin rated restaurant in France, L’Auberge de L’Ill, under the direction of chef Marc Haeberlin, and this beauty, is a sister restaurant under their banner, so lucky for me.

The storm was getting fierce with the winds really moving and shaking but my waterside alcove was protected by palm trees and umbrellas. In the light of it all I was set for the most sensational soufflé, made from Valrhona Chocolate and Whiskey Coffee Sherbet. As I really didn’t care that the world might have been ending or I was going to get washed up on the beach, I still wasn’t moving.

When dark chocolate, especially Valrhona, is cooked you get a very happy chocolate aroma in the air, much like that of the Willy Wonka story where you just want to jump into that chocolate river. That’s how it was, and in it came, big, high and looking as sexy as ever, slightly dusted with more chocolate and a shooter glass of Icy love….. ‘WOW’ I was thinking I love my job - it really doesn’t get any better folks.

I have a saying I personally live by everyday, The World is Yours, Don’t Dream it, Live it!

LE LOTUS S = Service 8.0 A = Ambiance 9.0 F = Food 8.5 E = Excitement factor 8.5 S = Shakerato Score 8.0 P = Price $$$$ $125- $350

PRODIJEE.COM

Farewell, Lisa-Maree BRAVE AND INSPIRATIONAL, LISA-MAREE O’HARA TOUCHED THE LIVES OF EVERYONE SHE MET. WORDS:CAROL SHERIDAN PHOTOS: MATTHEW WREN

I

was one of the fortunate people who met Lisa-Maree O’Hara in person, though only once, but I did speak to her a few times on the phone.

The first time she was telling me about her illness and how she was going to hospital to have treatment and surgery, and also how there was a fund raising effort in place to help pay for her to go overseas for further treatment.

We spoke for about 30 minutes, discussing her modelling, her work with children and lots of things she has done in her life.

Towards the end of the chat I noticed she was becoming a little breathless, of course, it was her cancer that was causing this.

Well, that is what I thought. I was wrong.

When Lisa said she was going to hospital, that’s exactly what she meant, she was on her way to hospital while we were talking, and the breathlessness came from her rushing up the street to Peter Mac hospital for her appointment and surgery.

To me, that became the essence of who Lisa was, her

PRODIJEE.COM

health never seemed to hold her back. She was vibrant and full of energy before the diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma, and it wasn’t going to stop her from being the Lisa everyone already knew. In fact, if anything, it probably made her stronger.

When I met Lisa in person, I found her to be beautiful, and as that saying goes, not only beautiful on the outside, but beautiful on the inside.

That is a phrase that is used a lot, probably a lot more than it should be, but Lisa had something different. It was like a glow coming from within, a warmth, an energy, something that, at that time, I could not put my finger on.

I do know that when I met her face-to-face, there was something in her eyes, something that made me feel that I was now her friend, that I was part of her life. It was a warm and welcoming feeling.

After that day, I found myself often thinking of Lisa, especially at times when I was having a bad day, or I had a few aches and pains, when things were getting a bit tough

for me. I would remember the conversation I had with this girl who was walking into the hospital to have surgery for a life threatening disease. I would remember the energy in her voice and how I didn’t even realise that she was literally going to have this operation.

There was no self-pity, no anxiety, nothing to even suggest she was nervous, she was having a simple every day chat with a journalist on the phone.

And here I was, feeling sorry for myself for an ache or pain or having a bad day.

Thinking of Lisa was always the kick up the behind I needed to get myself out of the doldrums and face whatever it was that I was dwelling on.

Lisa was taken away from

PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

us by her cancer last month, but I don’t think I could ever say that cancer beat her. From my perspective, cancer helped her teach the rest of us what life is really about.

It is sad for all us left behind who had the pleasure of meeting this inspirational and welcoming woman. But if there is a heaven, those up there are the lucky ones; they won’t be sad, they will be embracing a new angel.

I know that everyone who met Lisa had been

somehow touched by her presence, everyone will have different memories and inspirations from her but for me, I will ALWAYS remember her vibrancy, warmth, her never ending energy and her love of life.

When I am having a bad day or I get some aches or pains, I will be reminded from her memory that I should embrace life and that no matter what comes my way I can deal with it, no matter what...

LOVE LIFE.

PRODIJEE.COM

Samuel M EAST LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM PHOTOS: www.themodelcamp.co.uk

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? I grew up in Staffordshire, United Kingdom and I am the youngest of three siblings - I have an older brother and sister. My upbringing was pretty normal, actually. I attended comprehensive school, and subsequently went to university to get my degree in mathematics.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MODELLING? I started in 2007 with a very modest portfolio. I had a full time job at that time, so the modelling was very much on a part-time basis. With very little experience behind the camera or background knowledge of what the industry was all about, I was going into all this with an open mind.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO MODELLING? A couple of friends told me that I should give it a shot. I was somewhat naive though, thinking that I could be a fashion model and it would be relatively easy to get work from agencies. The reality is that I always was more suited to commercial and lifestyle modelling. In 2007, I left my office role and decided to get a portfolio done, to submit my images to several agencies. Most of them didn’t like the images, until in August 2007 when I was approached

by Fresh Agents based near Brighton, UK. I was then approached by RMG Models in January 2008 and it all

carried on from there. I struggled for a few years to get much work, whilst combining modelling with my athletics training and a full-time job again. In 2012, it all started to change for the better; more agencies were interested in working with me following my shoot with Model Camp - www.themodelcamp.co.uk Lewis Jordan and Gary Payne gave my portfolio a whole new look and made me realise the things I hadn’t been doing right in terms of how I looked in my images, the types of agencies I was approaching and also how I would go about getting extra work to support my income.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT MODELLING? I do like being in front of the camera, but now it’s no longer such a novelty; it’s more serious because I do this full-time now. You get to travel, network and meet lots of different people who understand the industry in different ways and this means you can gain and share expertise with others. I like doing portfolio shoots because I see them as a challenge to achieve something new. I always aim to improve on what’s been done before.

WHAT MODELLING WORK HAVE YOU DONE? In 2012, I featured in a soap commercial for Indian TV: Cinthol - Alive Is Awesome. I also fronted a UK campaign for Wrigley’s Extra as ‘The Man From Extra’ it gave me the opportunity to see parts of the UK that I had never seen before. Earlier this month, I was featured in a ‘Lynx Apollo’ deodorant spray commercial as well.

WHAT WORK DO YOU WANT TO DO? I would like to get into more commercial work and also start getting some work in catalogues and publicationstyle work. For me now, it’s about keeping my portfolio strong and up-to-date to ensure I give myself the best chance for securing assignments like these.

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER INTERESTS? I love Track & Field and have competed regionally for a well-known athletics team in the UK for a couple of years now. My specialities are 400m, javelin and long jump. watching movies and listening to music.

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES AND WHY? UK models like David Gandy and Danny Beauchamp have been inspiring. Although the latter is very different in terms of what type of modelling he does (Danny does high fashion, catwalk), I can still appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes in to becoming successful.

David Gandy is versatile in view of the fact that he can do commercial, fashion,catwalk and lifestyle.

PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

Wayne Blair, Shari Sebbens, Debra Mailman and Jessica Mauboy.

PRODIJEE.COM

STAR CITY

The AACTAs are a grand celebration of Australian Film and Television, providing recognition for the year’s best productions. CAROL SHERIDAN was there to see the industry honour it’s own in fine style. PHOTOS: DARREN HOUSE.

S

ydney came alive with its own Hollywood Glitz and Glam last month, at the 2nd AACTA awards presented at The Star Event Centre in Sydney.

Hosted by Russell Crowe with AACTA president, Geoffrey Rush, Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman the night honoured the year’s best achievements in Australian film and television.

As predicted, The Sapphires, a musical drama about four Aboriginal girls who formed a singing group in the 1960s, stole the night winning six awards, including AACTA award for Best Lead Actress, won by Deborah Mailman and Best Supporting Actress going to Jessica Mauboy. ‘‘I’m so deeply proud of what this film has achieved

Krew Boylan

and am so bloody thrilled I was a part of it,’’ said Deborah, praising the real life Sapphires. ‘‘You set a precedent for the rest of us to follow’’. An emotional Jessica Mauboy said: “God bless all you mob... I feel I really don’t deserve this - I mean it.”

Mystery and suspense drama, Wish You Were Here also was well represented in the awards, with Best Supporting Actor award going to Antony Starr and Best Original Screenplay awarded to husband and wife creative team writer/director Kieran Darcy-Smith and writer/actress Felicity Price.

On the red carpet, stars and celebrities floated by, all seemingly excited, or appropriately aloof to be attending the event celebrating Australian talent.

Sarah Snook PRODIJEE.COM

Geoffrey Rush

Abe Forsythe and Helen Dallimore PRODIJEE.COM

Jessica Mauboy was extremely elegant wearing a beautiful red number from Steven Khalil, with the ever gorgeous Megan Gale being incredibly chic in Alex Perry. The popular Collette Dinnigan creations were worn by Pia Miranda and Joel Edgerton’s partner, Felicity Price.

Nicole Kidman wore an embroidered strapless lemon lace dress by Erdem, ‘’I go for comfort now,’’ she said. Nicole was planning to dash to Allphones Arena after the awards to catch her husband Keith Urban’s Sydney show. Cate Blanchett wore a red sequinned, figure hugging Armani dress that wowed the crowd and international guest Gemma Arterton from Hansel and Gretel wore another Erdem creation.

When asked what he was wearing on the night, Shane Jacobsen, never missing an opportunity for a bit of comedy relief, said that he was wearing ‘thin’ on most of his friends!

No awards ceremony would be complete without representation from Australia’s very own Packed to the Rafters, though it seemed that our red carpet attendees might not have had the best of luck (initially) with their outfits for the evening.

Brooke Satchwell, looking absolutely stunning in her outfit said, “Jennifer Regan, has been my fairy godmother this morning. I got a phone call at 4 O’clock yesterday afternoon saying that Matt Nable’s wife had just bought the dress I was going to wear. I figured Matt Nable is going to have a lot of photos with his beautiful wife, so I am going to let her have that fabulous dress. So at 10.30 this morning, Jennifer Regan sewed me into this dress”, she told prodijee.

Brooke said that it was great to have the show back on television this week, but when it came to getting some goss on the future episodes, all she would tell me is, “I may or may not pash another family member!” hmmmmmm...

Rebecca Gibney was glamorous and elegant but admits preparations for the evening didn’t go to plan. “I was wearing a Steven Kahlil dress, but I had a disaster about 10 minutes before I walked out the door, so I thought OMG what am I going to wear, so I went to the wardrobe and found a vintage!” When asked what the event meant to her, she said, “It’s a celebration of this marvellous country and talent that we have, in particular last year with the movies we had, it’s amazing to be a part of it. GO Sapphires!”

Rebecca’s advice for upcoming young talent, “Show up on time, learn your lines, be pleasant!”

Only recently finishing shooting The Time of Our Lives for ABC, Pia Miranda wore Collette Dinnigan teamed with a Louis Vuitton bag and Tiffany jewels.

Pia was happy to be back in Sydney, “It’s good to be back here, I’ve been living in Yarraville, Melbourne, so it’s good to be up here to catch up with everyone.”

I think the night was summed up by Jack Thompson’s words. “Ever since the first of these awards at the

Nicole Kidman PRODIJEE.COM

(Sydney) Opera House, what it has meant is the recognition by our peers of what the worth of the industry is and the worth of what we do. It’s an important thing, it’s what the Academy awards are about, it’s so that the whole world can see that we care about what we do.”

Cate Blanchett

Rebecca Gibney PRODIJEE.COM

AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS Controversy reigned at the AACTA International Awards in Los Angeles, when at the star-studded event, Master of Ceremonies, Russell Crowe, slammed the script he was asked to read and warned about ‘technical issues’.

“When he came to the point in the script that read ‘uniquely Australian’, he obviously had some kind of issue with it saying, “Seriously, I should make the announcement that each and every one of you will be going home with your own koala, I know that’s going to excite a lot of you, but I’m bulls**tting.”

Silver Linings Playbook was the big winner at the awards, claiming Best Film for producers Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen and Jonathan Gordon; Best Direction for David O. Russell; and Best Lead Actress for Jennifer Lawrence.

Also announced were two AACTA International Awards as determined by the Australian Film Institute (AFI) | AACTA Board of Governors. These discretionary Awards were presented for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress and were presented to Robert De Niro for his role as an obsessive compulsive football-crazed father in Silver Linings Playbook, and to Jacki Weaver, for her role as De Niro’s tolerant and forgiving wife in the film.

Momentum is building for this movie ahead of the Oscars in February. Lawrence, De Niro, Weaver and lead actor Bradley Cooper are all nominated for Oscars and the movie is strongly tipped to beat Lincoln for best picture.

The AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actor went to Daniel Day-Lewis for his performance as Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s historical drama, Lincoln. Set in 1865, Lincoln centres on the final four months in the life of the 16th President of the United States, in which he battled for constitutional reform to abolish slavery.

Writer and director, Quentin Tarantino, won the AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay for his scripting of the fast-paced and talkative epic western, Django Unchained.

Set in America’s Deep South, Django Unchained follows a freed slave (Jamie Foxx) and a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) as they go on a quest to free his wife (Kerry Washington) from the grips of a cruel plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio).

Summing up the international awards, AACTA president, Geoffrey Rush, said, “The AACTA International Awards are Australia’s international stamp of screen success. They recognise our international counterparts, add an Australian voice to international Academy discussion, and celebrate our fellow

Grace Huang PRODIJEE.COM

Australians working internationally. I’m delighted that this, our second Awards season in the U.S. through the new Australian Academy, has continued the success of our launch a year ago, and I thank our American peers for embracing Australia’s AACTA Awards so enthusiastically.

“I congratulate this year’s AACTA International Award recipients, and look forward with anticipation to seeing if our international peers have concurred with Australian jurors in this exciting Awards season,’’ Rush said. “The Australian acting community is really terrific,” De Niro, standing next to Weaver on stage, said. “There’s so many actors in Australia I really have respect for.”

The AACTA Awards are proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Australia’s New South Wales premier, Barry O’Farrell, congratulated the winners saying, “New South Wales is home to some of the biggest names in film today and I am delighted that this outstanding creative talent continues to shine both overseas and in Australia.

The New South Wales Government is proud to support our State’s screen industry, ensuring New South Wales, the home of Australia’s creative industries, remains the number one state for film and television production.”

Jessica Mauboy

Gigi Edgley PRODIJEE.COM

www.aacta.org

Jessica McNamee

Megan Gale PRODIJEE.COM

CARBON FIBRE

M E NR ACCESSO ’S IES 52

V8X 2005

Order yours today by calling (03) 9331 2608 or by visiting www.nobrac.com.au

what’s brewing

WITH JOHN ANTHONY

A PRODIJEE READER - DANIEL FROM HAWTHORN IN VICTORIA - HAS THROWN DOWN THE GAUNTLET TO JOHN ANTHONY AND REQUESTED HE REVIEW A LAGER FROM THE CASELLA FAMILY BREWERS IN NSW. Daniel told prodijee that he had tried a special six pack that contained two variations of the ARVO Lager.

Consumers were invited to vote for which of the two brews to keep in production (www.arvobeer.com) and he wanted to see what I thought of them.

Always up for a challenge when it comes to beer and wine tastings, I jumped at the chance to review these two lagers. I have always had a soft spot for lagers, mostly in the form of Heineken or Becks and these two examples from an Australian brewer delivered that cool fermented flavour of a world class lager.

My six pack contained three of Brew 34 and three of Brew 51. To give a balanced review, I shared the brews with two fellow diners who had differing tastes than mine, with one being a lady who enjoys a lighter drop like Corona. These were all consumed in the company of a mid afternoon antipasto of cheeses, meats, olives, semi sundried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and marinated button mushrooms.

First cab off the rank was Brew 34. I had made sure that they were icy cold and served them up in chilled glasses.

They went down very quickly by all three of us as the temperature hit 32 in the reliably changing Melbourne Summer afternoon. All agreed it was a nice drop with a light flavour and no yeasty taints. I felt that it possibly lacked the back of the mouth ‘beer’ quench, which was quickly contested by my lady guest.

Next was Brew 51. Delivered in the same fashion, icy and in a glass. This was my winner from the first mouth quenching drop – delivering exactly the result that I had felt was lacking in Brew 34. The flavours were all there in this drop, with none overcoming the other and providing a really enjoyable beer that would be a pleasure to enjoy at any time and occasion.

My male guest agreed on my choice but the lady – always to be considered on matters of taste, stuck by her palate and preferred Brew 34. As we live in a democratic age (and I am the reviewer!), I can say that the winner was Brew 51.

As Daniel did, let prodijee know what beers you would like reviewed, whether it be your favourite drop that you feel deserves credit or that mysterious brew that you have been tempted to try but hesitant to invest in a case of, by contacting John at whatsbrewing@prodijee.com PRODIJEE.COM

M

itsubishi has revealed a new design theme with the release of its new MY13 Outlander. Gone is the familiar Mitsubishi ‘face’ that adorned the previous Outlander incarnation, with the new model gaining its purposeful looks from the Mitsubishi Concept PXMiEV prototype plug-in hybrid crossover utility vehicle that was first exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show in September 2009.

The new medium SUV range begins with the 2WD ES 2.0L Smart MIVEC five speed manual at $28,990 and concludes with the Aspire 2.2L DiD sixspeed auto at $45,490.

The style change is a result of members of the target market who liked the family face moving on design-wise, and in response to others who didn’t warm to that concept at all.

The medium SUV segment is an PRODIJEE.COM

important market for Mitsubishi, so they have wisely heeded consumer feedback.

As part of this ‘listening’, the company has addressed another of other customer issues found wanting in the previous edition. Among the areas identified for improvement were interior quality, utilisation of space and third row seat operation.

Customers also voiced their preference for a vehicle that was kinder to the environment. Mitsubishi delivered on all fronts, providing fuel economy and CO2 levels that are among best in class, thanks to increased use of high strength steels and weight optimisation of components, which results in a reduction of around 100kg over the MY12.

There is also and a switchable ‘ECO’ driving mode to prevent over acceleration. To further address

environment concerns, the company will release a plug in hybrid Outlander, the PHEV, in mid-2013.

The new model also addresses other key consumer demands, such as the inclusion of active rather than passive safety features and greater value for money. Consequently, Active Stability Control, and Hill-Start Assist are standard across the range.

Lower models receive reversing sensors, while Forward Collision Mitigation System and Adaptive Cruise Control System and a reversing camera are available through the Premium option on Outlander Aspire 4WD. The Aspire Premium also adds a power tailgate for hands-free operation and new-generation MMCS with 7-inch full colour display and touch panel.

Audio is upgraded to the Rockford Fosgate Premium system with nine

WORDS: DARREN HOUSE speakers including four tweeters and a 10-inch sub, for optimum sound quality.

The interior improvements become obvious once you climb behind the wheel, with a seam-less soft-touch instrument panel and the use of piano black finish greatly raising the level of quality. This feeling is further enhanced by the attractive, supportive seats that are stylishly trimmed.

Out on the road, the diesel quickly establishes itself as the pick of the engines, its plentiful torque providing rapid response.

Handling and braking are impressive too, allowing the SUV to be safely punted along winding country roads at speeds well beyond what the target market demands.

Mitsubishi hopes the new model will increase Outlander sales from 1500 to 2000 per month. With the improvements it has incorporated into the MY13 range, it’s a target the company should have little trouble in meeting.

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER ASPIRE SAFETY RATING: Five star ENGINE: 2.2L DID POWER/TORQUE: 110kW and 360Nm TRANSMISSION: Six-speed automatic CONSUMPTION: 5.8L/100km BODY: Five-door SUV SUSPENSION: Macpherson strut (front); Multi link) rear.

BRAKES: Ventilated discs (front) solid discs (rear).

WEIGHT: 1610 kg PRICE: From $45,490 COMPETITORS: Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Volkswagen Tiguan, Land Rover Evoque, Nissan Dualis, Honda CRV, Subaru Forester.

WEBSITE: www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au PLUS: Interior finish MINUS: Tyre noise

PRODIJEE.COM

Rock On PRODIJEE.COM

n!

EXCESSIVE HEAT, MASSIVE CROWDS AND RED HOT ACTS SIGNAL THE BIG DAY OUT IS BACK IN TOWN.

PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

BIG DAY

OUT

BIG DAY OUT STARTED IN SYDNEY 1992 AND QUICKLY EXPANDED TO ADELAIDE, MELBOURNE AND PERTH, GOLD COAST AND AUCKLAND. FEATURING CONTEMPORARY ROCK MUSIC, ELECTRONIC, AND MAINSTREAM INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL ARTISTS, THE FESTIVAL HAS ENJOYED ENORMOUS POPULARITY OVER THE YEARS. BUT IN 2013, SOME PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHERE THE FESTIVAL GOES FROM HERE. WORDS: CAROL SHERIDAN PHOTOS: MATTHEW WREN

F

rom the Gold Coast to Perth, Big Day Out, brought in an impressive number of fans to their events, but was it enough?

Amidst reports that this festival was on its last legs and 2013 was its last chance to perform the BDO organizers have given the event a facelift, bringing the best music available with headliners such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Killers, and have included more amenities for patrons including bars, food stalls, fountains and seating out of the sun in an effort to improve the fan experience.

BDO on the Gold Coast was really well attended, but not even the Chili Peppers could sell it out, and recent development plans for the 2018 Commonwealth Games athletes village at the Parkland Showground’s has left the Big Day Out promoters and festival goers wondering where the Queensland event will be next year.

It felt like the end of an era and as much as the crowd was busy singing, moshing and head banging, there was still a small sense of sadness and loss. Controversy about an audio-visual technician transmitting the message ‘get em out’ all over the big screens didn’t help matters for organizers, with many people being really offended have having their day ruined.

The forecast of scorching heat in Sydney and hurricane like winds didn’t deter 57,000 fans from attending.

Organisers encouraged fans to bring empty bottles to refill throughout the day at dozens of water stations at the Sydney Showgrounds. And while you couldn’t escape the heat, most fans enjoyed the day with one saying “It’s a good line-up, has a great atmosphere and I always feel safe here because there’s so many people to help you.” Thousands of people travelled from the south and central coasts to attend the event in Sydney, and thousands more now have the right to say what has become the BDO catch phrase ‘I did it’.

Though with the incredible weather in Sydney (and the guys who still insisted on wearing beanies) maybe the new catch phrase could be ‘I survived it!’

It’s been widely talked about, 2012 Big Day Out in Adelaide was disappointing to say the least. 2013 brought the complete line-up keeping punters happy, but after last year’s disappointment, many chose not to make the effort to attend keeping numbers down.

With the weather being unusually kind to festival goers in Melbourne, a few ticketing and sound issues caused headaches for organizers with many people complaining, particularly for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, that if you weren’t in the first few rows of people the

PRODIJEE.COM

sound was badly distorted. Overall, the day was really well attended with the crowd being 50,000+ and the majority of people had an awesome time. Of course, as with all BDO and other festivals, there were the usual minor casualties and with the help of police dogs, 40 people were sniffed out carrying illegal drugs, twice the number from 2012. The introduction of more gourmet-styled food with Chow Town was really welcomed from early in the day as patrons streamed into the show grounds.

The festival came to a grand finale at Claremont Showgrounds in Perth. As always, there were the usual debates over the noise restrictions, but the approximately 35,000 people turned up to the event, proving that it is still a very popular festival.

So, have the organizers of BIG DAY OUT done enough in 2013 to entice you to part with your hard earned money in 2014?

I think so. Every festival has its hiccups, and there are always people out there who will whine about something. The sound quality problems do need to be addressed, as do the ticketing issues, but overall, everyone had a great time and the music was great.

Congratulations to everyone involved in organizing BDO, keep up the good work and keep it growing for all of us. I think it’s about time, the ‘knockers’ started to learn to appreciate something instead of wasting their time and energy complaining and our time and energy listening to their complaints.

PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

Chelsea Martin LOS ANGELES, CA, USA

PHOTOS: Tim Meyer - www.meyerphoto.com WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? I was born and raised in Northern California in the small town of Redding where everyone knew everyone.

I am one of eight children and fit right into the middle.

I have three parents’ my mom, step father, and real father, and I truly have enjoyed having such a large family to belong to. I was an outdoors girl who spent most of my time on horseback. I also spent all of my summers out on the lake. Boating is a large part of the community and it is how most of us spent our hot summer days.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE ARTS? I was always the hambone in the family. I found myself getting my siblings together to put on dance and acting shows for my parents. One day my father came home with our first video camera and I was mesmerized from the beginning. I started getting behind that camera every chance I could. When I was about seven years old I knew I wanted to be an entertainer. I realised the only way I could really be happy and true to myself was with acting. I never wanted to be a princess or an astronaut... I wanted to be an actress/model.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE ARTS? My father is artist and my only sister on his side of the family was a professional ballerina, she now teaches dance at a prestigious dance school in Southern California. I feel this is where my artistic side stems from. My grandfather also was a song writer who sent his music to various artists including Bing Crosby. I got into the Arts fairly young, as I began dancing at my school and local dance studios. I then joined theatre and drama clubs to get more experience. When I graduated high school in 2008 I began modelling for Northern California photographers to gain experience.

I also joined a local theatre group and went in as a supporting actress for the production of M*A*S*H and began taking some acting classes with Bill Collins to learn how to hone my craft as an actress. When I moved to Southern California in 2011 I was accepted into CSU Northridge as a Health Administration Major and Theatre Minor. I was signed to a commercial agency and signed with a personal theatrical talent manager. I am now working as hard as possible to keep my dream living strong.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT THE ARTS? Although it is competitive and difficult to succeed in, I feel that if you are great at what you do and you never give up then you can achieve a sense of PRODIJEE.COM

accomplishment. I want to live to act, not act to live.

The feeling of creating scenes and worlds that people want to believe exist, gives me this feeling that is close to bliss and pure satisfaction. I love what I do and I would not change my desire to act for anything in the world. I think God gave me this gift to share with the world and it would be wrong for me to choose any other career path.

WHAT ARTISTIC WORK HAVE YOU DONE? I have danced in productions, and have had pictures of myself up at the San Francisco’s Northern California Conventions multiple years running. I have been in a Lighting Photography Published book written and inspired by Tim Meyer. I also have been lead actress in three music videos for great artists. Along with countless other projects and am currently in production for a film.

WHAT WORK DO YOU WANT TO DO? I would like to see myself acting in film and television. I would love to have my own television sitcom featuring myself as a comedic actress. I definitely love to be funny and would enjoy using my skills to make people laugh.

I also enjoy serious drama. There is a feeling you get after you see a film that is truly amazing. You walk out

PRODIJEE.COM

of the theatre and you think about how something can be so true and honest. I would love to be a part of big drama movies and television shows because I feel like it affects people in ways that are sometimes life changing.

I would love to feel that I changed someone’s life for the better because my movie inspired them.

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER INTERESTS? I very much enjoy hotrods and going to hotrod shows.

I am a big car and horse lover. I also am a full time college student at CSU Northridge and I find joy in studying Health Administration and Management.

PRODIJEE.COM

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES AND WHY? My biggest influences are some of my closest friends and family members who remind me every day why I belong in this industry. I was also inspired by numerous films that I felt changed my life for the better.

Where I come from, big dreams are nothing more than dreams, however, I would like to think that a dream is reality as long as you believe in yourself and know that only quitters have dreams, and the people who push through during hard and easy times are actually living that dream. I act for the thrill of it and nothing more.

H AC

AERIALIST BURLESQU THE WORL PRODIJEE.COM

h g i H

CHIEVER

T, CIRCUS PERFORMER, CONTORTIONIST AND UE ENTERTAINER, VICKI AISHA BLACKTHORN HAS LD AT HER FEET. PRODIJEE.COM

Vicky Aisha

BLACKTHORN WORDS: CAROL SHERIDAN. PHOTOS: ALF KNOLL, DARREN HOUSE SPECIAL THANKS TO: WWW.VINTAGEGARAGE.COM.AU

I

t was a Sunday afternoon a few months ago, the sun was out, but there were very dark clouds in the sky. The forecast was for thunderstorms and while I walked along a narrow street in the back blocks of Brunswick, my thoughts were elsewhere.

I wondered if I would be home in time to batten down before the storm hit, how much rain would we get, would my pets panic with the forecast thunder and lightning.

I barely took any notice of my surroundings until we reached a small brick building; pretty nondescript really but when I walked in the door, I was greeted by this stunningly beautiful doll face young woman.

Vicky’s smile was warm and her eyes were bright. She was wearing a lot of performance makeup but you could still tell that it was

PRODIJEE.COM

not only the makeup that made her beautiful. Her extremely long eyelashes batted with a slight nervousness, but it was excitement that was really showing in her eyes.

Her mouth was done up like a doll, she was exquisite.

I managed to tear my eyes away from this doll like creature to take in my surroundings.

The room had a densely padded floor, there was circuslike equipment along some of the walls, and there was a hair and makeup woman there wearing the torn-stocking grunge look.

Photographers and videographers were coming and going.

The stage at the far end of the room was shrouded in black, but in the very centre, hanging in the shadows from the high ceiling, was a hoop. This was where Vicky was going to perform.

I turned back to find Vicky stretching out, her muscles and back had to be perfectly stretched and warmed up, her body was twisting and contorting very slowly, but in ways that most mere mortals would find impossible.

As she slowly stretched her limbs and folded her body into various shapes and angles, you could see that her real smile had gone, only the painted doll lips showed any expression.

Vicky was not unhappy, she was deep in concentration, every muscle had to be perfectly in tune to perform. She was totally focussed and I highly doubt she was aware of anyone or anything else in that room while she slowly went through the routine of preparation.

A loud noise near the stage dragged my attention away, the

PRODIJEE.COM

smoke slowly wisped across the floor of the stage and music started to play. Vicky suddenly appeared in the middle of the stage, surrounded by the smoke that seemed to wrap around her petite frame. Cameras started clicking and videographers moved in closer as Vicky slowly reached her hand up to the hoop that was suspended in the darkness over her head, thus the performance began.

The hoop slowly swang from one side of the stage to the other, and with every swing of that hoop, Vicky’s body gracefully intertwined, contorted and hung. Every single PRODIJEE.COM

move was perfection and so beautifully timed with the music.

Her body seemed to writhe in ways that one would think is impossible, yet she made it look so elegant and simple. Slowly swinging upside down, her hair floated through the smoke, stirring it up into wisps of magic that wound around her body.

I was totally mesmerised, caught in the moment, wishing this performance would never stop; I was enraptured by the beauty and elegance, it was the most magical thing I have ever seen. I felt that I was the only one in the room, the

only one witnessing this show, that the performance was for me, that there was no world outside, and that nobody else existed.

If the storms were happening outside, I was totally unaware of them.

I was in another world, the world of grace and elegance, the world of the doll face named Vicky Aisha Blackthorn.

Vicky was always interested in science and her love of that took her to university where she studied advanced marine science. But when she decided to do a few classes at a local circus school, Vicky found a new love.

“Within a year I had dropped out of university and decided to do circus full time, make that my career choice.

“I was mentored by the director of Circus Monoxide, Jane Davis, through my training and within less than a year of full time training I was teaching most of the aerial classes at the circus for the kids. It all happened really quickly, but I found my passion I suppose,” said Vicky.

“I guess it was natural talent, I never thought of myself as being naturally strong or able to do the stuff that I do. I’m still kind of shocked that I can do it. When I was younger, I guess it was a dream of mine to flip around in the air and do all that kind of stuff and now I’m doing it. It’s incredible.

“My mum and my sister are both very creative, my mum has a pHd in philosophy, my sister is studying jazz. I was the odd one out being the science student. Mum always knew I was creative, so she was very supportive of my decision which is really good.

“I was going to defer from uni, so that I had something to fall back on, but I felt that if I had something to fall back on, I will fall back on it.

Unless I could 100 per cent commit myself to something, if I had that safety net, I wouldn’t totally go for it because I would know that

I would have a second option.”

Vicky had no idea if there would be any work for a circus performer.

“All I knew is that I totally loved it and didn’t want to do anything else. I would be at my chemistry lectures thinking about wrapping myself in the silk then flipping out in a certain way. I was so distracted in my degree; it just wasn’t going to work. I feel totally comfortable when I am up in the air. I feel at home up there. It’s an amazing feeling. You get past that fear of dropping and falling and stuff like that, and trust that you will be okay.

“You get a rush of adrenaline from doing all the drops and you do have to be aware that it’s dangerous stuff. It’s a bit of a thrill-seeker kind of a rush that you get. Last year I was doing a cartwheel kind of drop on the aerial silks, where I was doing three rotations in the air and then catch on one leg, and I lost form in the last rotation and my muscles weren’t holding tight enough in my core.

“I jarred two vertebrae of my spine together and lost feeling in my legs, and I was told I might not walk again. It was a very big wakeup call for me; I’m not invincible, I suppose. I was back into training within a couple of weeks, so it wasn’t all that serious, but it could have been a lot worse.

“Since then I’ve been a little more cautious in the air and think things through a little bit more.

“I’m back into it now, I’m fine but the element of fear is there again, which is healthy to have because it’s when you think you are fearless that you get injuries.”

As well as being an aerialist, Vicky is an incredible contortionist, loving to freak people out a bit and keep people guessing and wondering - is that your left leg or your right leg, what’s going on, maybe it’s someone else’s leg?

“Contortionism is a bit more obscure.

I’ve always been naturally fairly flexible, I’ve got hypermobility in my shoulders and hips so my shoulders dislocate really easily, which has its advantages and its disadvantages. I started doubling and contorting a little while ago and I found that it came really naturally but you do have to push it quite far, you have to be very cautious too. I love it, it’s addictive, it’s fantastic. I like being able to do things that make people question whether it’s possible or not.

“Some things are painful but it really depends, you always have to push through a bit of pain, but it’s more like discomfort.

PRODIJEE.COM

“I jarred two vertebrae together and lost feeling in my legs, and I was told I might not walk again. It was a very big wakeup call for me; I’m not invincible. I was back into training within a couple of weeks” PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

“Like with the back bends and stuff, a lot of it is to do with breathing and figuring out how to breathe in those compromised positions. It shouldn’t be too painful; if it really hurts, then you know you are pushing it too far.

You have to go slowly.

“I dislocate my shoulders during the act; I control dislocations into and out of bridges and all that kind of stuff. It’s a bit weird and grotesque. I have to be careful in the aerials because I have to make sure I still have a lot of strength in the shoulder joint, so that it doesn’t pop out when I don’t want it to.

“That can be a disadvantage for the aerials but it’s never really been dislocated that badly during a show when I haven’t wanted it to be. Unlike those of football players, my dislocations aren’t painful in any way. It’s a slow, controlled movement unlike the uncontrolled ones that happen in accidents.”

Whilst never getting caught up in a contortion, Vicky admits to having been stuck on the aerial silks a little while ago. She found it funny when she ended up, head first, hanging only centimetres above the floor after one foot was tangled in a silk way above her head.

“I had to get somebody to help me untangle my foot,” she said. “It was funny though, it wasn’t serious but these things happen. Like with one of my friends, we were doing a dress rehearsal for a three-person aerial silks act that we do. We were doing it kind of hip hop style, so we were wearing trakkies and hoodies and that kind of stuff.

“My friend was doing a drop on the silks but she’d forgotten a couple of the wraps, and as she went down, the silks took her pants off completely. She had gotten so tangled that she was just hanging by her pants! She was six metres in the air and she was like, “I don’t know what to do”.

“The rest of us, well, we could not stop laughing. We’re very happy that didn’t happen during a live show! That would have been PRODIJEE.COM PRODIJEE.COM

horrendous, just um… draw the curtains and hope nobody noticed.”

Vicky has also worked in the area of burlesque, once thought to be a bit too risqué, but now an accepted form of art. She is also a highly sought after model, often doing body painting photo shoots, but circus is her true love.

She has found the circus community to be very welcoming, where the people are creative and have similar ideas to her with lots of projects that she gets involved in.

Travelling has been one of Vicky’s goals, and is now becoming a reality, with confirmation of her performing at the Adelaide Fringe Festival for 12 shows in February and March, 2013.

Her next step is Europe for the Fringe Festival Tour, where she is waiting for confirmation on performances at the Camden, Stockholm and Amsterdam Film Festivals.

She will also do the World Body Painting Festival in Austria as a model.

Vicky has a lot of family in Europe and lived in England for three years when she was very young. Having dual citizenship makes it very easy for her to travel through Europe.

But thankfully for us, she feels (for at least the next few years), that Melbourne is her base. “It feels like home, I love it here.”

When asked if she would take a job with Cirque du Soleil if offered, Vicky replied, “If they offered me something I wouldn’t say no but in terms of my aesthetic, I prefer more low-key shows; something more intimate.

“Cirque is amazing and has really high production values but I like to step it down and have smaller venues, more interaction and more intimate shows.

“The show that I am doing with (sister) Jacinta is just that - smaller venues, so that we are really connecting with the audience.

“Our show is called Another Point of View and it’s basically bringing it back to our perspective and what we are going through as

performers, while we are doing it.

“In a lot of circus shows, the performers are not seen to be human, just something nice to look at. We are human and this is our expression and feelings.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqSi73

PRODIJEE.COM

Nissan

PRODIJEE.COM

n Link

KELLY RACING’S SWITCH FROM HOLDEN TO NISSAN HAS BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO V8 SUPERCARS AND OPENED THE SPORT UP TO A LEGION OF NEW FANS. PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

Todd kelly TODD KELLY BECAME AN AUSTRALIAN KARTING CHAMPION BY THE AGE OF 12. AFTER MOVING UP TO FORMULA FORD IN 1996, HE WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE HOLDEN RACING TEAM AS A FUTURE STAR AND INDUCTED INTO THE HOLDEN YOUNG LIONS PROGRAM IN 1997. HE PROGRESSED TO THE KMART RACING TEAM IN 2001, AND THE HOLDEN RACING TEAM IN 2003, TEAMING WITH MARK SKAIFE TO WIN THE 2005 BATHURST 1000. WITH THE BIRTH OF KELLY RACING IN 2009, HE AND BROTHER RICK EMBARKED ON A NEW PHASE OF THEIR RACING CAREERS – DRIVERS AND TEAM OWNERS. IN 2013 KELLY RACING BECOMES THE OFFICIAL NISSAN V8 SUPERCARS RACE TEAM. KELLY TOLD DARREN HOUSE HOW THE TEAM WILL TRANSITION FROM HOLDEN TO NISSAN. WHAT TRIGGERED YOUR MOVE TO NISSAN? Setting up our race team was a pretty big thing to gear up for and commit to and there is only one reason to do it, that is to win races.

To compete against the three or four teams that have got additional factory backing - financially, and to a certain extent, technically - is extremely difficult, so one of our biggest goals was to get factory support. We tried with Holden

(but) they weren’t in a position to do that, given their commitments with the other teams they support, so we had to seek another option.

The first one that came to mind, for a lot of reasons, was Nissan.

Nissan met all the important criteria from our end, such as their brand strength in this country, their future growth prospects and their product lines.

Also, Nissan has probably the biggest motorsport heritage out

of all the manufacturers, and a dedicated arm of their business is NISMO, which concentrates on motorsport. So, there was a reason that we had to become a factory team, but these are all the reasons we chose Nissan. Luckily, we eventually got a deal done with the one and only company we engaged with.

WHEN DID YOU START TALKING TO NISSAN?

PRODIJEE.COM

Nissan met the Kelly’s criteria such as their brand strength, growth prospects and product lines.

It was a little while ago (laughs).

It didn’t really get serious until probably December 2011. There was a lot of low level engagement for months and months and months and then it really started to hot up and some decent meetings began taking place from December.

It is a pretty big thing. I have been 100 per cent loyal to Holden; this will be the 15th year straight that I will have had some sort of contract with them. We have an unblemished career with the brand and it’s a hard thing for us (to deal with), let alone the fans, but we

aren’t living in the ’80s anymore.

As hard as it was to change, if we hadn’t, I guarantee in two or three years we probably would have had to shut the doors on our race team and walk away from it. We need to make sure we can win races for our sponsors. They keep this whole

THERE’S MORE TO IT THAN JUST DOING A DEAL WITH NISSAN. YOU HAVE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS LIKE MAJOR SPONSOR JACK DANIELS AND V8 SUPERCARS. It is a massive bonus for V8 Supercars, for a lot of reasons. It opens up a whole new door for potential fan interest in the sport.

When we get to the grid in 2013 there will be a lot of people who will turn the TV on who might not have taken an interest in it before, just to see how our cars go. Having a new manufacturer in the series is like having a whole new football team come into the mix, so it is pretty interesting.

BUSINESS IS BUSINESS, BUT WAS IT HARD TO PART WAYS WITH HOLDEN? PRODIJEE.COM

Nissan’s rich Aussie race heritage began with its Datsun brand.

business sustainable; that is just a fact of life. We have come across a car company that is extremely enthusiastic about what they want to do with their brand and they carry the same enthusiasm as we do - the marketing, the racing - they are all over every aspect of it. Nissan wants to invest in the sport and we were faced with a decision. In the end it was hard to end a 15-year partnership with Holden, but at the same time it was a massive thing to be able to become a factory team and get that kind of support.

The good thing about this is that we were in dialogue with Holden right through the whole thing and Holden was in a position where they couldn’t do anything, so they fully understood where we were at. On a personal level, they have basically endorsed it and said, “It’s a shame we couldn’t do anything for you guys, but we understand and good luck”.

IT’S NOT THE SAME AS FOOTBALLER LEAVING A SUCCESSFUL TEAM TO GO TO A STRUGGLING TEAM JUST FOR A BIGGER PAY CHEQUE. It’s like him going to another team to get a pay cheque, to put it into perspective (laughs). This sport revolves around fans and their opinions are everywhere. If they knew all of the detail - and I’m talking about probably two per cent of fans who are not happy about it - if they were across the whole thing and put themselves in our situation they would probably have quite a different outlook on it.

The thing Rick and I have been most surprised about is the amount of fans of the team - the fans of our team who are also Holden fans, who have either said, “Congratulations boys, this is awesome, we will follow you to Nissan”, or “Congratulations, well done boys. Unfortunately we are still Holden fans, but we’ll watch with great interest”. Ninety-five per cent of the feedback we’ve had has been along those lines - there hasn’t been a lot of negative stuff about it.

Nissan’s participation will increase fan interest in the sport.

Kelly says fans have been mostly supportive of their Nissan switch.

Nissan dominated Australian touring car racing during the early ‘90s with its GT-R, prompting authorities to outlaw it.

PRODIJEE.COM

AND IT’S VERY DIFFERENT TO WHEN NISSAN LAST RACED WITH GT-Rs – THERE IS A COMMON SPECIFICATION AND NO BRAND SHOULD DOMINATE. Nissan has entered what is arguably the most competitive category in the world, and nowadays you can’t go bolting a couple of turbos on the side of the thing and go racing in V8 Supercars. You can’t run AWD. The chassis and suspension (design) are fixed. Nissan’s input will still be great. They will have their own engine and body but it really comes down to boosting the technical side to another level; engineering the cars, the development of the geometry and the dampers and all of the things like that, which is actually what wins races. You cannot have a componentry advantage, it’s more about how you tune the components that you have in the car. It’s very different to how it was back when Nissan last

PRODIJEE.COM

raced. It is a completely different ball game. They have to stick to the same rules as any other manufacturer currently in the sport.

JACK DANIELS WILL CONTINUE AS THE MAJOR SPONSOR? We have a really long term arrangement with them. Jack Daniels has been with us 100 per cent through this whole thing. They have been extremely supportive and endorsed the manufacturer change. One of the key things they have wanted us to do right from when the team first started was to get manufacturer support so we can lift the level of the whole team.

They’re extremely happy about it, and extremely happy that it’s

Nissan as well. They have already had chats (with) Nissan about all the things they do together that revolve around the race team. All of our current sponsors want to make sure they are part of the team next year, so there is no negative effect whatsoever on the commercial side of our business, it has all been extremely positive.

WITH ALL TEAMS BUILDING NEW-SPEC CARS FOR 2013, IT’S A BETTER TIME TO DEVELOP A NEW BRAND THAN UNDER THE PREVIOUS RULES.

It certainly puts the whole category on a level playing field. There will be a lot more of the unknown in our case - the engine will be raced at Clipsal for the first time - but most of the driveline, the chassis and spares packages for the cars will be different for all teams in this year, whether they change manufacturers or not. It’s a lot of work for everyone.

WHAT ENGINE SPECIFICATION WILL YOU RUN? One of the big things with Nissan entering the sport is they want their own DNA in the car, so they want to modify one of their road-car engines for racing. They have a couple to choose from; one is 4.5-litre and the other is a 5.6-litre. We need to see whether

we can get one of those standard production engines to fit within the rules - except the overhead cam – and make enough horsepower to win races. We have done all the preliminary testing and we are confident we can take a Nissan engine, basically de-stroke it and change the bore size to the

“As hard as it was to change, if we hadn’t, in two or three years we would have had to shut the doors and walk away from it” PRODIJEE.COM

is different, because you (need) all of the elements developed to the equivalent of what we had in 2012, whether that’s the horsepower the engine makes, or the drag the car makes, it will basically be on parity with what we had to run last year. We know all of that, so it just comes down to how good we make the car and, given we had a much better resource last year, I think our results should keep steadily improving over the next few years.

parameters contained within in our rules and achieve parity with the engines we currently have. It will be a pretty cool thing to have the same basic block and cylinder head as what you can buy in a road car.

IT’S A VERY TOUGH WORKLOAD There was a hell of a lot of work to be done to design the engine, driveline and aero package to parity with what we have now. We had a huge process to go through.

Then we had to tool up, make all of the moulds and all of the exterior parts of the car and then submit the PRODIJEE.COM

complete car for aero testing and homologation. It has been a tight timeframe.

GIVEN THAT AUSTRALIAN SKYLNE GT-Rs WERE FASTER THAN NISMO’S, HOW MUCH HELP DO YOU THINK NISMO CAN BE? We are still in the process of establishing exactly how NISMO can help. Take the engine, for example.

The 5.6 litre is what they use in their GT1 (sports) cars. It could take us a year-and-a-half to develop and tune the engine so it becomes reliable.

There is a massive list of things to develop when you start from scratch, so to be able to pick up the phone or send an email to those guys and ask, “Hey, what valve spring did you use?”, or “What type of crankshaft did you use?”, or “Where did you get that from, how did you develop or mount that, can we buy that from you?”, or whatever it might be would knock 12 months off our research and development program.

It’s simple little things that could end up meaning a hell of a lot to us. The technical support we get from NISMO, even at the lowest level, whatever that may be, will still be a massive advantage for us with the job that we have at hand.

YOUR TEAM WAS STARTING TO HIT ITS STRAPS. WILL THE MOVE TO NISSAN INITIALLY STUNT YOUR PROGESS? I don’t think that’s the case. What we have done, is massively invest in engineering talent a year ahead of when we can afford to do it.

We got a lot of people in here to tune and develop the cars to a higher level last year and the overflow of that will carry into 2013. So, even though everything

FEW PEOPLE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMBINED DRIVING AND TEAM OWNERSHIP. WITH THE BUILDING OF THE NEW CAR LAST YEAR, IT MUST HAVE BEEN DOUBLY TOUGH. Last year was one of the harder years we’ve had. With the development of the new car there was a lot on, but we hired new people to help manage the whole thing. We set up a secure, offsite facility where we designed the

Rick and Todd Kelly are looking to emulate the dominance of ‘90s Nissan drivers, Jim Richards (left) and Mark Skaife.

engine and the bodywork. We had four guys working full time at that location who looked after all the Nissan design work. So, for the race team here at the Braeside (Victoria) premises, it was be business as usual. We focussed on getting as good a result as we could with our Holdens last year and made sure we left that (relationship) in a good,

positive way. But, in saying that, in regard to the Nissan design work, I dropped in there every evening on my way home and kept an eye on it, but as the program progressed and we really started getting into the hands-on part of building the car, it became a pretty heavy workload.

But that’s the stuff I really enjoy; the technical aspects, building new

Todd Kelly with Nissan Australia CEO, William F Peffer Jr.

cars and sitting with engineers and discussing how we are going to go about it. That’s the stuff that makes it easy to get out of bed in the morning to attack it. So, it is certainly enjoyable for me. If I enjoy doing it, it shouldn’t have that big an impact on my driving. www.nissan.com.au PRODIJEE.COM

HAVING SEEMINGLY MADE IT WITH A CORPORATE RECORD DEAL, AMY MEREDITH DECIDED TO GO IT ALONE PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

A AMY MEREDITH FORMED IN 2006, AUSTRALIAN POP ROCK BAND AMY MEREDITH CONSISTS OF CHRISTIAN LO RUSSO (VOCALS, KEYBOARD), JOEL CHAPMAN (GUITAR) CAMERON LAING (GUITARS), WADE OSBORN (BASS) AND KOSTA THEODOSIS (DRUMS).THE BAND DREW ATTENTION WHEN THEIR TRACK, BLACK EYES, WAS USED AS THE US TV STATION PROMO FOR THE SERIES, FRINGE. SIGNED BY SONY, THE BAND’S SECOND SINGLE, LYING, BECAME THEIR FIRST TOP TEN HIT AND INITIATED THEIR RISE TO PROMINENCE. A TOUR WITH GOOD CHARLOTTE FOLLOWED, BEFORE THE BAND PARTED WITH SONY TO HAVE MORE CREATIVE FREEDOM OVER THEIR MUSIC AND CAREER PATH. DARREN HOUSE SPOKE TO CHRISTIAN AND JOEL ABOUT THE JOURNEY TRAVELLED SO FAR. YOU LEFT SONY TO GO INDEPENDENT. HOW HAS THAT CHANGED THINGS? JOEL: We don’t have as many people in suits telling us what’s good and bad now, not that they wore suits, but metaphorically speaking. It’s a situation we never thought we would be in but when the opportunity came up, it’s one that we chose. We are now willing to make the sacrifices of an independent band and invest our own money when we travel, and the film clips are ‘us’ now.

It’s really different and challenging and a lot of what happens is crucial.

This is a business now. We had to put our business hats on a bit more but it’s fun and we’re in control, which is good.

DOES IT SCARE YOU? J: Yeah, it scares the shit out of me.

We are investing in ourselves. We have to believe in ourselves the same as a label would believe in the artists that they are working for

At the end of the day we are paying ourselves a wage to do what we do. We can’t blame anyone else if it doesn’t work.

The thing that scares the shit out of me is the uncertainty of being a musician, an entertainer, a creative.

It’s not like you are going to a plumber who is going to do his job from 9-5 and is going to get paid to do it. We could potentially spend 6-9 months and spend all this money and not ever get paid for it.

It’s very uncertain.

CHRISTIAN: It’s the creative arts, it’s subjective. You could write something that you think is the best song that you have ever written, but if everyone hates it, then it’s not a hit. You can write a crappy song and everyone can just latch onto it.

I read an interview with Sting where he is talking about Every Breath You Take and he was saying that he didn’t like that song, but it changed his life. Same with Sex on Fire for

Kings of Leon, they never wanted it to be on the album, but everyone used that and it changed their whole career.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING INDEPENDENT? J: You hand pick your team, there’s no competition. We didn’t really have that problem with the label too much but let’s say you are with a label and they have Jessica Mauboy, Delta Goodrem and all these artists that they have to service to radio who are all releasing at the same time. If your song doesn’t get traction in the first two services, then you are not a priority and then they aren’t going to push as much on the third one because they have got other acts to fill those gaps. With us, we have the team working with us so if we don’t get traction the first two services or three services, we just keep going in saying this is the song and it has to get played. There is no waiting around.

PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

SINCE YOU WENT INDEPENDENT, DO YOU SEE A NEED TO MAKE MORE COMMERCIAL MUSIC? C: We went the other way on the first single. We decided what we wanted to do and what our brand is and we released a single that would probably never have got through the cracks of a major label. We just kind of went, ‘we’re going to do this, because we can’.

J. The main difference is the headspace we are in where we are reinvesting our own money and so the risks associated with sticking to your guns are stronger. Whereas you can be all high and mighty sticking to your guns walking into a record label saying this is a good single but they are saying, but you aren’t investing any of your cash, so f**k you. But now, if anything goes wrong, if it doesn’t work it’s our fault. We have no one to blame.

EVERY BAND WANTS TO GET SIGNED BUT YOU THEN FIND IT COMES WITH A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS? C: Definitely. Getting a deal was exciting, we were really pumped and then you realise the crap that you have to go through and all the politics within the music industry and the major label mentality. Before we released anything people said “Hey you guys are with Sony, you guys have made it” and we were thinking, ‘Well, we are probably not going to retire on the record deal we have made but we will see how we go’. But I guess the mentality does change a bit after you have been exposed to the whole industry and you realise how hard you have to work.

YOU HAD A TOUGH THREE YEARS BEFORE YOU GOT YOUR SONY DEAL. C: I just finished my last uni assignment the day before we went to LA. I knew I just had to do it but we had to convince our parents and other people that we were serious about the band that it was a feasible idea. We were still working part time and rehearsing at night and trying to find time to make it

work. It’s not like you can do it just every day because we had to work.

That was one of the hard things.

That’s the struggle that a lot of people have, how to do it and be successful without doing three other jobs.

J: The hardest thing for me was that we got really lucky really quickly early on. We got so much hype from major labels and then we were in LA and then Japan and all of a sudden we weren’t doing anything.

We were thinking, ‘What the hell do we do, do we sign to a label, do we continue writing an album, do we continue doing this as a career?’

We did all our songs in LA showcasing for one of the biggest labels in the world and we were like, what are we doing, we didn’t even have a manager. We played four songs and they were like, “Oooh can we hear another one”, and we were like, ‘Well, we don’t really have another one’.

WHEN DID THINGS START TO HAPPEN FOR THE BAND? J: The whole journey started for us through MySpace, and we just had

30 seconds of a song.

That was a good little tool for us and we had really big managers and agents inboxing our MySpace page, saying here’s my number, here’s my email, can you contact me, do you guys have anyone representing you, all this stuff.

And I would call Christian and say, did you see that message on our MySpace? We should probably do something about that. I guess everyone heard that we didn’t know what we were doing and they just started jumping in. There are still good people out there, which is reassuring.

C: The internet is making things easier for bands to get their music out there, but it’s also making it harder because there are kids that are making crazy music in their bedrooms on Logic and there are twice as many bands out there now on the internet. There’s a lot of competition.

WHAT WERE YOU STUDYING AT UNI, CHRISTIAN? C: I did Bachelor of Creative Arts, Music and Drama. So a lot of PRODIJEE.COM

acting and theatre, like dissecting plays and all the theory behind different eras and plays and a lot of performing and doing music as well which was singing and voice work.

I always liked performing and I liked being in the spotlight but I never had the confidence before uni. But uni forced me into doing that every single day. You have to get in front of your peers and perform and do a monologue or write a monologue. It’s like, here you go, you have to do it or you are not going to pass. It definitely forced me to get on stage.

DO YOU FEEL NERVOUS ON STAGE NOW? C. It depends, I guess at our big shows I have a mixture of really really f**king excited and then like heaps nervous as well, like our Metro show was probably the most excited I have been before a show.

Yeah, we were so pumped, like; all these people were here to see us.

Yeah, the whole room was shaking, and it was at the end of an album PRODIJEE.COM

cycle, not at the peak of it. It was so good to see that many people.

It’s almost too good a feeling, you almost want to just run away, or you feel like you are about to explode.

HOW DO YOU APPROACH YOUR SONG WRITING? J: Most of them are personal

experiences. Something happens, or you feel an emotion and you write it in your phone. Sometimes you think of a cool little story to tell but usually even when you are just telling a story you relate it back to how you felt during a situation like that.

C: With the latest record we put

that pressure on ourselves, we were writing six days a week when we were overseas and it was almost like every day we were having therapy because we would go and we would sit with a producer or whatever and every day we would wake up and not know what was going to happen. We didn’t go, “Hey, on Thursday, let’s write that dark song that we wanted to write.

Every day we would just play it by ear and we would just sit there and go hey, what are we thinking and ask ourselves questions and dabble in some little notes that were in our phones.

Then rather just putting a hook and a melody into a song, we would explore the whole concept and how it makes you feel and if it was about a certain event that happened we would explore how we felt at the time.

And we kind of did that a bit more on this record than the first record, because the first record was a different kind of pressure. It was like, now we have a major label we have to make something and like do a single on this date, the album on this date, and it was, “Shit, we need to put some songs together”.

But now we have freed ourselves from that and it’s more about expressing ourselves. We’re pretty proud of it.

WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT THE SECOND ALBUM CURSE? C: Yeah, for sure. There are definitely bands that have split up after the first album because they are like, “Oh f**k it”.

What I find interesting is that massive bands who have explosive success on their first record find their second record is way harder.

People get so attached to your music, they have their favourite song and they make up their mind what you should sound like. If you grow as a band or evolve, which is just a natural process over two years or however long it takes you to release the next album, they might not latch onto the songs because they are so used to your first album.

Like the MGMT album, that’s

“The first record was a different kind of pressure. It was like, now we have a major label we have to do a single on this date, the album on this date. But now we have freed ourselves from that and it’s more about expressing ourselves” a perfect example of that. That’s an example of a first album being absolutely polarising and impossible to kind of grow from. If that was their second album they could just like keep growing, like Kings of Leon. We didn’t have massive success on our first album, so it’s like we can grow a little bit. But you can’t complain if you have

had a massive first record. You’ve probably got a fan base, a good career.

TOURING WITH GOOD CHARLOTTE AND JESSIE J? C: Good Charlotte was great fun, because they are cool dudes we hung out a little bit more, they were like we’re in Australia, f**k it, we’re PRODIJEE.COM

going to chill outside and hang out with . Jessie J was like it felt more like a business, she had this whole crew of people, she is such a big artist and she squeezes so many dates into her touring schedule So it was more like, do the show, have everything run to order.

But that was awesome for us, it’s always good to play to a bunch of people who potentially haven’t heard your music before. It’s almost like a challenge and I enjoy that, getting the opportunity to play to people who might be a bit unsure of the band and you try to win them over. It’s how you build a fan base.

When we were brainstorming of ways of capitalising when playing these massive shows and Joel had an idea to ask the fans to get their phones out and take a photo and post them on our facebook, and we would send free merch for the first three people that posted.

Our facebook grew two or three thousand fans on the tour, so that’s a win.

It’s like connecting the web world with the live world and really capitalising on the fan base, PRODIJEE.COM

which is important because if you don’t, you will just be a band that everyone forgets about.

HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO HEADLINING YOUR OWN SHOW? C: We can afford to make it more about us so we get to play a couple of songs that we have never played anywhere ever. And we actually get to rehearse properly. When it’s our own show, we take full on pride in rehearsing and doing what we

are there to do. When it’s a half hour set for someone else and we’ve played the same songs for two years, it’s like let’s get lunch.

When you have played the songs, literally hundreds of times, it is like second nature. I could just have a conversation with Joel when we are playing and say something like how funny Cam looks, and your fingers are just do the work for you.

YOU PLAYED TO A COUPLE ON ‘MARRY MY

HOW DID YOU APPROACH THAT ALBUM? J: We spent about five months in London, LA and New York freeing our self from the environment in which we wrote in Australia. We had fun writing here too, but it was like a really welcome change at that point because sometimes out here you get stuck and you listen to the radio and stuff and you think holy crap, we don’t fit that kind of crap at all.

So you start psyching yourself out of songs and you get too confused and we went overseas and forgot everything that was going on here and we wrote the songs that we wanted to write at the time. It was like a fun little adventure.

WHO DID YOU WORK WITH THERE? C: We were working with a bunch of producers mainly in New York and some songwriter/producers in Venice Beach, California. We had some help from our publisher in Australia who lined up some cowrites with some people and we wrote with people from other bands and stuff like that.

BOY’, THAT’S THE OPPOSITE OF PLAYING TO A MILLION PEOPLE C: It was weird doing that because you have a whole heap of cameras around you and you have to do the same thing over three or four times to get the audio right and shoot all different angles. The curtain kept opening and we were like, oh, here we are again. It was kind of awkward because each time we would ask the guy what the date was like but it turned out good.

IT APPEARED LIKE A REHEARSAL BUT IT WAS A REAL PERFORMANCE. WAS THAT WEIRD? C: That’s something you have to get used to, its different playing to a TV audience where you know there’s people watching, probably more people than are at a show, but you don’t know it. TV performances are

the hardest things we have done because you get so much adrenalin for just one song. I remember once I felt so like we had done a whole set because we had put 100 per cent into a performance and were jumping around like an idiot.

J: Sunrise particularly, you are up at 4.30 in the morning, you aren’t a rock band at that point! We flew in to Sydney from Brisbane after playing at half time during State of Origin (Rugby) the night before and then we get up to do Sunrise.

It was the worst. Obviously it was something that we wanted to do, but it was the worst.

That was probably at the peak of our album promotion; we had just made top 10 and we were all over radio and all over TV. It was nonstop with interviews every day.

J: I think it was good because we sat in a studio in Venice and that was probably the coolest environment. We spent two weeks writing there and there was nowhere else you would like to be. It was sunny every day in Los Angeles, you were just sitting in Venice Beach doing your job, writing music in a studio. It’s so good, a really good environment.

DID YOU PLAY ANY LIVE SHOWS THERE? C: We did more behind the scenes sort of things, some showcases and we had a bunch of meetings with managers and labels, and that kind of thing. We did acoustics at a bar in New York, Angels and Kings.

Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy and a couple of other people own this club, which is pretty cool.

YOU’RE STILL WORKING IN AUSTRALIA BUT NOW TRYING TO TAKE ON THE WHOLE WORLD? J: Yes, it’s tough. It’s expensive, too. At the end of the day, it just comes down to songs. You can work really hard and play shows PRODIJEE.COM

that can be a way to build traction but it’s probably the long way - or you can write a really good threeminute song that’s going to open up many doors as well. You look at people like The Temper Trap and more recently Goyte, who wrote an amazing song, who have opened up all the doors. It can take just a day to write a song and that day can shape your whole career.

J. That’s the interesting thing, because it can actually take two minutes to write the one song that is going to change your whole career.

You just never know when that’s going to come.

LIKE ‘LYING’, FOR EXAMPLE? C: Yeah, exactly like it. When we wrote it we were writing a bunch of songs and Lying was just in that bunch. We didn’t get too excited about it at the time, we demo’d it and the next day we went on and wrote another song. It wasn’t until we started recording the album and we were listing to the mixes that it was like, holy crap, that song is really good.

We never even picked it as a single, we thought of it as a darker, moody sort of song. You never can tell. www.amymeredithband.tumblr.com PRODIJEE.COM

Enjoy responsibly

NOW LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE

CROWD-BREWED TO PERFECTION FIND ARVO ON

f

PRODIJEE.COM

When you wish upon a star LOOKING TO BECOME A STAR IN HOLLYWOOD? THEN YOUR FIRST GIG IN LA COULD BE ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD, SANTA MONICA’S 3RD STREET PROMINADE, OR AMONG THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL PEOPLE AT VENICE BEACH. CAROL SHERIDAN SPOKE TO FOUR HOLLYWOOD HOPEFULS WHO MAKE ENDS MEET BY STREET PERFORMING WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THEIR BIG BREAK.

When you wish upon a star Makes no difference who you are Anything your heart desires Will come to you If your heart is in your dream No request is too extreme When you wish upon a star As dreamers do Fate is kind She brings to those to love The sweet fulfillment of Their secret longing Like a bolt out of the blue Fate steps in and sees you through When you wish upon a star Your dreams come true

known for their work.

Only a handful will ever make it to what we term as super star, a few more will be known as actors, or directors or producers, but there will always be all of those who are wishing on their stars, waiting and hoping, and doing whatever it is

I

wonder when Cliff Edwards sang this song for the Walt Disney movie Pinocchio if he ever imagined how many people would really be wishing upon stars to make their dreams come true.

Yes, finally Geppetto and Pinocchio’s dreams did come true, Pinocchio became a real little boy, but in reality, how many people’s dreams do come true?

In Los Angeles, USA - known as the land of entertainment - there would be hundreds, dare I say, thousands, of hopefuls who want to be the next Al Pacino, Steven Spielberg or Cameron Diaz, and even more who just want to be

they think it will take to break into the business.

On a recent trip to Hollywood, I spoke to some of the hopefuls, some of those who are wishing upon their stars. Here are their stories.

MICHAEL JACKSON - JOVAN, HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT BEING HERE? Different culture, different people and now I understand what my drama teachers at the Moscow Art theatre in Russia used to say, “Go out to the Red Square and just observe people, it will make you a better actor”. Now I understand, because when you see different characteristics of people it’s amazing, it’s very colourful.

You see some people walking with one arm or one leg and they keep going, they move on with their lives. I learn from it. I think, ‘Well, I shouldn’t be here because I went to USC, I have a Bachelors in Theatre, then I went to Harvard, I have a Masters in Theatre, what the heck am I doing here when I was doing great theatre in places like Athens’, then I realised that I needed this lesson to move on and to understand life. It is honestly a really great lesson.

I have travelled around the world with the theatre, this is my day job.

Most actors have a day job, until we get a normal job, full time, because the acting work just comes in every other month or year or whatever, you have to do something.

PRODIJEE.COM

HOW DID YOU END UP IN RUSSIA? (Through) the Harvard University acting program. We get to spend almost a year at the Moscow Art Theatre as part of the program.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR CAREER? I wrote a script and I want it to get made. I’m trying to look for financing. It’s about a Haitian boy, who comes to America, dirt poor, he discovers that he looks like Michael Jackson and he uses the ticket to get a better life in America.

It’s based on a true story, and you are looking at him.

WHEN DID YOU ARRIVE FROM HAITI? I came by boat in the 80s. It was a terrifying trip; I had no idea what it would be like crossing the Atlantic.

It brings me memories. Compared to my family and parents, the way they lived, compared to where I am now, it’s a great fortune to look like Michael Jackson, because it saved my life. When I go back to Haiti and I see the poverty, it hurts. People in my country are always saying to me, “You must be very rich now, give us something”, it hurts so much. It’s really sad. I want to do something with my life and I realise that I have to get my movie made.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO GET YOUR ACHIEVE THAT? I want to star in my movie, there is no doubt about it, I would fight to the death to be the star in my movie. I want to be a philanthropist.

What I have learnt is, when you come from a humbling situation and you have luck with money it gives you a greater heart, a greater soul to have some empathy toward the unfortunate.

DO YOU USE YOUR REAL NAME OR DO YOU GO BY MICHAEL? No, No, No, you have to understand, I don’t take this job very seriously, honestly. I’m only doing this for the money. I do see the greater good of it is that people have joy when they see me. It brings back memories of Michael Jackson PRODIJEE.COM

in the 80s when he was black. I have discovered that people really loved him when he was black.

When he went beyond that, he hurt himself, and then we discovered that he had the lowest self-esteem, although he had all the money in the world.

An example of this is, there was this older black man who came up to me and he said to me that Michael would wear a cloak when he went out, when he went home to Neverland or wherever he was, he would remove it and he would become a sad man.

I could see that. It was a mask he wore, like Marcel Marceau.

I met Marcel Marceau at Harvard. He was an inspiration to me when I first arrived in America because I couldn’t speak English, and kids were making fun of me. I discovered Marcel, the way he does pantomime, and I realised that I could communicate as a mime, so I studied him. I was performing for senior citizens and at malls, I was working for tips and it was amazing.

Then when I was at Harvard Marcel Marceau came up to perform at the drama centre, so because I was a student, I had access to his dressing room. I said to him, “Do you know you were always an inspiration to me.” He replied, “Sir, I want to take you to have sushi with me at Harvard Square”; of course I went with him.

The first thing he said was that I reminded him of Michael Jackson, I was shocked. I had started doing Michael early on, but I gave him up because I wanted to get my own life back, to find my own light. And I did everything I could to remove the image of Michael Jackson. So it was a bit shocking to me, after graduation and travelling for two years in the theatre group to come here and my survival job is that I am doing Michael Jackson, because of his death.

I’m really grateful, I’m grateful to God. However, I want to move on. I really do want to tell the world about my life story. I’m writing a book about my experience of working here.

HOW DO YOU GET TO HARVARD WHEN YOU HAD NO MONEY? The amazing thing about America is this, it gives everyone a chance, and now I see why everyone wants to come here.

You take student loans. I had a girlfriend from Holland who I have travelled back and forth to see, she couldn’t get a loan in her country to study, but if you are an America citizen, (I am an American citizen now, it’s a long story) but you could get a loan to pay for your college education.

But now I am overwhelmed with $180,000 in student loans, and the only way I will be paying that back is when I get my movie made, because actors do make a lot of money. www.dancingintheshadow.com

THE GRIM REAPER HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD. WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO? Because I have spare time, it’s a part time job.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT IT? I get to play with the people, a lot of kids, I have fun with the kids, it’s very entertaining for me, and there are people from all over the world. I also get to be somebody else under the mask.

PRODIJEE.COM

PRODIJEE.COM

DO YOU FREAK PEOPLE OUT? Yeah, sometimes I do!

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR CHARACTER? It was the only one left! Everyone else that I wanted to do was taken, too much competition! I didn’t want to upset anyone and come as the same character as they were, so this was the only one left to do.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Europe, Italy, Milano. I travel. Los Angeles, Vegas, sometimes London and sometimes I go back to Italy.

DO YOU DO THIS EVERYWHERE YOU GO? Pretty much, yeah. This is the easiest place to do it though; I can’t do it in Italy.

CAPTAIN SPARROW - JIM HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD. WHAT BRINGS YOU OUT HERE? To bring the magic of Hollywood here as best as I can, with a good costume. I want it to make people feel like they were on a movie set but I also want to make it feel like you were on one with a realistic costume. I cannot fill Johnny (Depp’s) shoes, but I wanted to have a better costume, so I dinged it and I sun dappled it.

I sent a photo of this to the people in the movies, there is a market for this here - with this and other characters - though they haven’t tapped into it.

ARE YOU A PERFORMER? No, I want to be a writer. I have probably one of the best Jack Sparrow scripts sitting in my computer. If I can get Disney to give me 120 seconds, I can pitch it. They can say yes or no, but they will love it. That’s what I want to do; I want to use my imagination and creativity. This is a small way of doing it. I’ve lived in Hollywood since 1988 and this is what I do to make my neighbourhood a fun and exciting place.

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT GETTING DISNEY TO LISTEN TO YOU? I think I have a better chance of

going to Mars with my script and pitching it up there than I do here. I have no idea. I’ll probably be dead by the time they figure out the idea and do it themselves.

WHAT SORT OF REACTION DO YOU GET FROM THE PEOPLE HERE? Happy and fun! I have a really good time with people, the last five or six years have been the best years of my life. Can you believe that? It’s been the best years of my life. Every time I go to work it’s fun. I used to work for a company and do all the big pirate shows, corporate parties, birthday parties and it was a lot of fun. You go there, go to work, they have food, cake, ice cream, photos, fun kids, it’s just been a joy.

HOW DID YOU PICK THIS CHARACTER? I have a love for pirates and in 2005 I thought I would give it a try. Johnny Depp’s costume designer came out here and went over my costume and gave me the bandanna. That kind of kept me going. Maybe that was a little inspiration. It was the only time I ever got rewarded for anything in Hollywood.

Hollywood has not been kind to me. In a really weird way doing Jack has been my reward. I had a 1973 Mach I Mustang, It cost three grand and I paid for it making $5.75 per hour. No sooner had I paid it off and it was stolen and I’ve never seen it since, no car! That was in 1996. So, you know, this town has just kicked PRODIJEE.COM

my butt like you have no idea, but the last five or six years doing Jack has been the time of my life. This has made up for all the bad that has gone before. I am so far down the bottom of the barrel that you don’t even find me in the barrel. You gotta take away the barrel and start digging to find a guy like me.

I’m not Johnny, but I try to do a really good pirate and so far people have been very happy with it, and that’s what matters. You get tips if people want to leave you a tip, a photo lives forever so you have got to take a good photo. The day I don’t take good photos any more is the day I hang up the dreads.

So yeah, I’m just out here dancing for fun. So that’s what I do, flips, break, pop, techno.

this old dude, he is like 50 years old! And he steps on glass and stuff like that.

DO YOU WANT TO BE A PERFORMER? Yeah, I want to be a performer, I’m thinking about going to community college probably, not sure, but I’m just trying to spread all my options more. So, I’m here dancing for money now,

WHATS THE BEST PART OF PERFORMING I just dance and draw a crowd, I tell a few jokes and get people to laugh and I have a good time. I show them my bucket and hope they give me a bit of money, then I’m happy and I do a bunch of flips and people go crazy and then I go crazy.

NEIL COOL VENICE BEACH.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU PERFORM? Normally on the weekends, sometimes I go to the Promenade (Santa Monica) sometimes Hollywood, that’s where the other dancers will be doing their shows, too. That’s where you see other dancers doing breakdancing and windmills and crazy stuff, man.

DOES EVERYONE HAVE THEIR OWN SPOT HERE OR DO YOU JUST FIND A SPOT? I need a big spot. The yellow squares you see here are for like big performers so that they can draw a big crowd, but small squares are for people who are selling items or singing a little song or something.

WHAT’S YOUR SHOW ABOUT? We are a dancing crew. I’ve been dancing for a few years now, since 2009 when it all got popular. Now I’m out here, making a living, doing shows so I can go to school you know, get a little money just here trying to survive and try to eat

WHERE ARE THE BEST CROWDS? Here in Venice. Down here is a crew that does flippin’, there is a Jamaican guy who does crazy things like jump over 10 people. I have to go over 10 people too, but they gotta be layin’ down. There’s a dude called ‘Ubay Ubay’, he is like

DO YOU HAVE TO BOOK A SPACE HERE? No, you don’t have to book. At this beach you don’t need a permit, you can just come here and do a painting or sing or do whatever you do. Whatever your talent is, you bring it here and maybe make a little bread from it.

PRODIJEE.COM

MOTORSPORT

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION

!

L A R E E D P SU MotorSport Legends ORT OUR MOTORSP T H AT B R I N G S Y THE MAGAZINE

www .mot orsp ortle

K TO LIFE MEMORIES BAC

gend s.com .au

$7.95

GET YOUR HANDS ON TWO OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST RESPECTED MOTORSPORT MAGAZINES FOR JUST

$60

STORMIN’ NORMAN H MAG

20 ISSUE 19 Aug-Oct 2012

TO BO T

22/6/12 1:23:31 PM

1

have joined forces to bring you this

ONE Y

SUPERCAR MAGAZINE

EAR S

UBSCR

IPTION

MSL19 p01 Cover.indd

BATHURST: 50 years of mountain memories

QUAR TERLY

fallout JACKIE STEWART: the safety of stopping a race for

AZINES

and retirement MAGAZINE

on his racecars, rivals

ISSN 1835-5544

y hey che eec Racing recluse Bee

SUPER SUBSCRIPTION DEAL (Australian delivery only)

Save over 25% off the cover price of the combined magazines Offer valid until 31/12/2012 This deal is only available online by visiting www.motorsportlegends.com.au or by calling (03) 9873 7357

prodijee advertising@prodijee.com

TAKE YOUR ADVERTISEMENT AROUND THE WORLD IN 80...

NANOSECONDS. With online distribution, prodijee has readers in Australia, US, UK, Europe, Asia and New Zealand, allowing you to reach many markets with one cost-effective campaign.

In addition, prodijee’s live links allow readers to instantly click though to your website, right at the very instant your advertisement has their attention.

And with each edition accessible long after the on sale date has passed, an advertisement in prodijee is the ad that keeps on giving.

Like to know more? Contact advertising@prodijee.com

AUSTRALIAN LEICA DISTRIBUTOR, ADEAL, DEVELOPED THE PERFECT WAY TO DEMONSTATE THE GERMAN MANUFACTURER’S STUNNING LEICA S2 CAMERA SYSTEM. WORDS: DARREN HOUSE

W

hen you’re close to parting with 40 large for a new camera system, you want to know it works,

right?

Sure a dealer can explain to you product features and benefits, and you can fire a few test shots in the showroom but nothing beats using the system in a real world situation.

So when the new Leica S2 was released last year, Australian distributor, Adeal, devised an exciting and unique demonstration program that not only highlighted the medium format camera’s features, but did so in an environment that also communicated its versatility in the field.

“Traditionally, when people talk about medium format, they think about it being bolted down in a studio, tethered to a computer”, explained Adeal product manager, Ryan Williams. “But with the S2, you don’t need to do that. The S2 is a medium format camera that you can shoot just like it’s a digital SLR; it’s not big and clunky, it’s not hard to hold for the day so we came up with an idea where we could demonstrate that.

“If we could get it in their hands we know that they would at least consider it, so, as long as they were seriously looking at getting into this type of system.

We said to them at the beginning of the event, ‘this is your day to find out a much as you possibly can about the product, whether it’s for you or not’. I even said in

PRODIJEE.COM

the morning ‘if it’s not for you, at least today will have answered that question for you’.”

Ryan’s solution was to offer a select number of handpicked potential clients the opportunity of a lifetime – shooting aerial images of Victoria’s picturesque Phillip Island from a helicopter.

More specifically, the destination was the Phillip Island grand Prix circuit where BMW was conducting its own customer promotion.

“We had each of our S system dealers - PRA in Perth, michaels in Melbourne, and Foto Riesel in Sydney, bring one of their sales people and two customers, so there were nine guests in total, explained Ryan.

“Then we also had a couple of guys from Singapore who came, too. When we told the Managing Director

of Leica Camera, Singapore, who looks after Asia Pacific, he insisted he come down and he brought one of their customers with them, so we had to hire another helicopter.”

Under promising and over delivering, Ryan kept details of the event close to his chest.

“The guests knew they were invited to a Leica event at Phillip Island, but we didn’t tell them anything other than it was an early start,” said Ryan. “We flew them in from wherever they were, put them up at Crown Metropol, told them to check in that night and go have dinner.

“At breakfast I told them at we were heading over the road here to pick up our transport and then told them that we were getting helicopters. They were really

excited and surprised.”

The surprises didn’t end there. Ryan had organised for Leica ambassador, Nick Reins, to provide a workshop to ensure the participants were up to speed with the system’s technical aspects, in addition to demonstrating a few cool camera features.

While all that was going on, the helicopter doors were being removed to allow some serious photography of the rugged Bass Strait coast that hugs the Island’s southern border, and the BMWs circulating the revered track that is home to the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix.

“The participants didn’t realise they were getting back in the choppers, with the doors off, so that was a surprise, too. I think there might have been one guy PRODIJEE.COM

who had done that before, but for everyone else, it was a completely new experience. They thought it was brilliant.”

That BMW was also that Phillip Island was no coincidence.

“We have a relationship with BMW, we sponsor their driver training program and they had half a day of track time available in the afternoon,” Ryan explained. “We gave our people a bit of a break and then BMW took them for a driver training program.

“They competed in a timed Leica

PRODIJEE.COM

slalom and then ran laps around the track in the M3s before enjoying a hot lap around the track with Geoff Brabham which they all loved. It was very cool. All day there were surprises that they weren’t expecting. They were all saying ‘this is the best thing I have done, this is the best day ever’, which was good.

“At the end of the day, we put a deal to them to buy the kit that they had played with for the day. We had six potential customers there; four have purchased so far and the other two are still on the go.

“We are thrilled with how it went, given that some of these medium format deals can take up to six months, as people have to organise finance because they are spending between $40,000 and $50,000 for the kit with the lenses and accessories.

“I think everyone found a use for that camera in their business. One of the ladies wasn’t earning a living out of photography but she bought one because it did everything that she wanted it to do too.

“It was an expensive day out but

we saw as much value in the PR side of things in doing it, aside from the sales that resulted. I don’t think anyone has done anything like this.

“People have taken them out bush and stayed in nice pubs over night or whatever, but for a day where they have just gone shooting out of helicopters and all of that, I think it tells a pretty good and interesting story.”

Word of the event quickly spread after Ryan posted video on social media, resulting in a number of participants keen to learn if the exercise is like to be repeated.

“It’s interesting for other photographers to read about,” said Ryan. “We put a video of it on our facebook and it has been shared a lot. It was viewed and liked about 150 times within half an hour of us posting. It was a popular thing and there have been lots of comments asking about how people can get an invite to one of these days.

“It certainly achieved what we hoped it would achieve.” www.adeal.com.au

PRODIJEE.COM

prodijee.com THE NEXT BIG THING IS HERE...