Eva Rinaldi Photography: February 2013

February 19, 2013

Sir James Dyson puts on Dyson product launch with a difference: Sydney, Australia

Sir James Dyson puts on Dyson product launch with a difference: Sydney, Australia...

Sir James Dyson, the British billionaire industrial designer (not to be confused with Tony Stark from Iron Man - Marvel Comics fame) who invented the dual cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner, has just finished hosting his fabulous launch event at the Sydney Theatre Co Ltd, Pier 4.

It's understood he took a fair swipe at "competitor) robot vacuums as "pathetic" with poor suction and no navigating skills. Yes, the others suck - but not in a good way.

A lot of the (product) attention was on his latest product, a tap that can also dry your hands in about 12 seconds. Dyson, who rocketed his company to nearly 4000 staff and $1.5 billion in annual sales, advised he would only launch a robot vacuum when he got it right.

New product snapshot - the Dyson hybrid dryer-tap...

Robot models launched in Australia recently include the $399 Robomaid, LG's Roboking range ($549-$1149) and Samsung's $999 Navibot. Dyson didn't name and shame but was dismissive of the current lot, criticising their navigation and efficiency which meant they offered poor battery performance and cleaning ability.

"They've got whiskers sticking out of them – whiskers don't clean anything they just disturb the birds," he told Fairfax Media.

"It's a difficult job and I'm not rushing out a gimmick robot to pretend to people we're cleaning the floor, we're not doing that we're doing it properly."

Robomaid is one of the robot vacuums on the market.

Despite coming up with his vacuum cleaner breakthrough in the late 1970s, it only reached the British market 10 years later, and Dyson is now a global market leader. A third of British homes now have a Dyson.

The company has also launched other innovations such as bladeless fans and an "Airblade" hand dryer that uses jets of air to scrape the water off the hands. The same sort of technology but with a far more advanced motor ("three times faster than any electric motor has gone before") powers the new hybrid dryer-taps.

Dyson has wrestled for years to prevent companies copying his designs, winning a $5 million damages award from Hoover in 2000. Now, the main offenders are out of Asia and Dyson thinks intellectual property protection is weaker because people are getting away with copying.

"Koreans and the Chinese are copying things and I think it's very bad," he said. "It's said by certain people that that increases competition, actually it decreases competition because all they're doing is copying the market leader."

He said the copycat companies could produce cheaper products because they haven't incurred all the development costs and associated risks.

"It's morally wrong, I think it's legally wrong and I think it hurts the consumers because the consumer doesn't get a choice," he said. "Intellectual property should be supported better; the law should be made stronger."

In October last year Dyson filed a lawsuit alleging a "spy" employee stole the blueprints to a £100 million ($149.7 million) technology and passed them to rival Bosch.

Dyson said western countries such as Australia and Britain need to focus on educating more scientists and engineers, as they are increasingly being overtaken by countries in Asia.

"40 per cent of all graduates from Singapore are engineers," he said. "For Britain, Australia, the US and other European countries to compete in any way they've got to heavily arm themselves with technology."

Classy event in Sydney...

It wasn't a cheap and nasty event, as is too often the case with product launches. Dyson impressed with wit, goodwill and loads of great food and drinks, which looked and tasted 5 star. It was a great vibe and news media was treated with respect, friendliness and delicious treats. How could we not share the story and photos far and wide across media and internet - which was no doubt another masterstroke by the colourful billionaire and his brains trust. If you have the budget - Dysons' are well worth a close look.

Websites

Dyson Australia

www.dyson.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

February 17, 2013

Tropfest 2013; Sydney, Australia: Red carpet and awards update

Tropfest 2013 on tonight: Sydney, Australia; Red carpet and awards update

Not many festivals can claim the title of being Australia’s most prestigious short film festival and largest short film festival in the world at the same time. Such is the stage of Tropfest – one of Australia’s most iconic cultural events.

From its humble beginnings in 1993 as a screening for 200 people in a Sydney cafe, Tropfest has grown its audience reach to approximately 150,000 people and expanded to global cities including Abu Dhabi, London, Toronto, Berlin, Bangkok and New York.

Open to anyone who wishes to enter, the annual short film competition provides unique platforms for emerging filmmakers through its events and initiatives. Past judges include high profile film personalities such as Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, Russell Crowe and Keanu Reeves, just to name a few. All films are made especially for Tropfest and include the Tropfest Signature Item (TSI), which changes each year. The 2013 TSI is “Balloon”.

Free to attend, Tropfest is an outdoor celebration complete with live music and entertainment, public catering and bars, red carpet arrivals and the highly anticipated film screenings followed by an award ceremony.

Stay tuned right here at Music News Australia and Media Man for a full report including winners, and be sure to check out some amazing photos of the event at the Eva Rinaldi Photography website.

News Update...

11:00am – Gates Open

12:00pm – Trop Jr 2013 starts

3:00pm – Tropfest 2013 starts

3:20pm – Live performance – Round the Corner

4:15pm – Live performance – MEG MAC

5:15pm – Live performance – Clubfeet

5:50pm – APRA Tropscore

6:00pm – Red Carpet Arrivals

7:15pm – Live performance – Kate Miller-Heidke

7:30pm – Official Festival Program Commences

8:00pm – Finalist Films

1. Great Day

2. Let It Rain

3. Time

4. Scene 16

5. Monobrow

6. Inside

7. The Pledge for Mister Bunny

8. Ca$h Cow – a 63% true story

9. Cargo

10. Taser

11. Punctured

12. Better than Sinatra

13. Remote

14. The Hustle

15. A Man Walks Into A Bar…

16. We’ve All Been There

10:00pm – Judging Time Out

10:15pm – Award Ceremony and 2014 TSI Announcement

10:30pm – Live performance by RÜFÜS

After the festival come and celebrate at the official Tropfest After Party!

Where? Cake Wines Tropfest Pop Up Bar, 77 George St, The Rocks, NSW 2000

About Tropfest...

Tropfest is the largest short film festival in the world and the first truly international film festival. It is also the world’s most exciting platform for up and coming film makers to gain international exposure.

Scores of films made for and screened at Tropfest have gone on to gain commercial distribution. And literally dozens of Tropfest filmmakers have had local and international careers launched as a result of their work being seen in front of thousands of people – including many of the most respected professionals in the film world. The festival is judged by a panel of distinguished industry professionals. Previous judges have included George Miller, Naomi Watts, Elijah Wood, Toni Collette, Salma Hayek, Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Baz Luhrmann, Ewan McGregor, Darren Aronofsky, Will Smith, Bryan Singer and many others!

Tropfest was established to encourage production, not just exhibition. Consequently, an annual, randomly-chosen item (known as the Tropfest Signature Item or 'TSI') must be included in each film to show it was made specifically for the festival. We believe that practice makes perfect; only by honing his or her craft will a filmmaker continue to refine their story-telling abilities.

Our mission is to continue to develop the most exciting forum in the world for audiences to come together and celebrate premium short films; and to continue to offer filmmakers a bigger and better platform from which to launch their professional careers.

Tropfest continues to expand internationally. The inaugural Tropfest Arabia was held in Abu Dhabi in November 2011; Tropfest New York and Tropfest Vegas will both be held in June 2012; and Tropfest New Zealand will be held in January 2013. Discussions are underway to bring Tropfest to more destinations around the world including Beijing, Paris, London and Singapore.

Websites

Tropfest (Australia)

www.tropfest.com/au

Tropfest

www.tropfest.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

February 15, 2013

Zeta Bar's Secret Garden At Hilton Sydney: Secret Garden human statue models every Friday Night

Zeta Bar's Secret Garden At Hilton Sydney: Secret Garden human statue models every Friday Night, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Zeta Bar offers Secret Garden At Hilton Sydney: Human Statue Bodyart models every Friday Night; Sydney, Australia...

Hilton Sydney’s internationally acclaimed Zeta Bar has launched the 'Secret Garden', complete with human statue models.

Creative director and lead artist, Eva Rinaldi, lead the team from Human Statue Bodyart, who created the Eve-like creation who looked just delicious, fresh as a daisy and certainly titillating.

It was all happening last night, and the garden came alive again tonight also. If you haven't been yet, fear not - Secret Garden mania and fever is hitting the Zeta every Friday for months - the 'Secret Garden' will be awaiting you so be tempted and bit into the secret apples and anything else you can get your teeth into ladies and gents.

Commencing at 6 p.m, Zeta Bar's outdoor terrace has been fancifully transformed into a magical garden with beautifully manicured lawns and garden furniture making it the perfect spot to while away a Friday afternoon.

Guests will wander through the hedge lined terrace or perch in one of the garden pockets while listening to jazz presented by renowned Sydney band ‘The Press Club’.

All this combined with a range of specially concocted garden party inspired cocktails ranging from molecular to playful twists on classic cocktails. The menu features a mixture of sprightly and herbaceous cocktails including the Applicious Air, Tweedle Dum, Citric Bloom and the Secret Garden. Zeta's gardeners will wander through the garden offering a selection of sparkling icy poles and jellies.

“Working with the two can be difficult due to the delicate flavours of the wine," said Colin Tam, Zeta Bar head head bartender. "It’s highly important for both to be perfectly balanced, we don't want to overpower the wine but at the same time ensuring that the flavours enhance the notes of the wine and compliment the flavours of the spirits.”

For the first time Zeta will serve a ‘Mistress Mary afternoon tea’ that’s quite contrary, guests can complement their cocktails, icy poles and jellies with a selection of chic bites that have been matched to the cocktails on offer. A mixture of sweet and savoury the menu features dainty sandwiches including crab, cucumber and watercress; and house smoked salmon, rocket and cream cheese served on homemade brioche.

The culinary playfulness continues with sweet treats such as raspberry mousse, chocolate and pistachio, an assortment of macarons; chamomile cremeux served with fried basil accompanied with classic home baked scones served with rose petal cream.

‘The Secret Garden’ has been whipped up by head bartender Colin and his highly trained Zeta Bar team who were also behind the successful ‘Coney Island’ and ‘Farmers Market’ concepts. Each of the Zeta mixologists has created a cocktail with inspirations ranging from their childhoods and interpretations of the book ‘The Secret Garden’.

The team from Human Statue Bodyart has secured a long term contract to help Hilton's Zeta Bar make the dream a reality, by providing some of the talent (human statues and models) as well as other creative aspects to help make this seasons Zeta Bar promotion one of the greatest ever.

See you in the Secret Garden.

Step inside ‘The Secret Garden' at Zeta Bar every Friday night from 6.00pm, until March 2013.

Websites

Zeta Bar
www.zetabar.com.au

Human Statue Bodyart
www.humanstatuebodyart.com.au

February 13, 2013

Ringo Starr & his All-Starr Band - Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band - Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia...

Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) has finally returned to Australia to perform in a professional capacity... yes, sorry no Beatles, but if you didn't know already... he was an original.

Surprisingly still in shape and agile, Starr looks like is back to his 1964 fighting weight. The world famous drummer brings not only the big beat but also a nice set of songs.

It's not all about R.S, and nor should it be. His ever-evolving All-Starr Band now includes Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather (Toto), Gregg Rolie (Santana and Journey) and Richard Page (Mr Mister), Mark Rivera and Gregg Bissonette.

Starr told media: "We have such a mixed bag," "There's people my age and there's kids who are interested in the players. I just want everyone to turn up."

Starr's playlist includes Beatles favourites as well as his solo hits; Yellow Submarine, Matchbox, Honey Don't and It Don't Come Easy.

The group is back at the Hordern Pavilion again tomorrow night, so for some, that will be Valentine's Day delight.

Rather than just play his rockabilly-fuelled highlights from early Beatles' albums (Honey Don't and Act Naturally), Starr also went with his singalong from the White Album, Don't Pass Me By.

Other Starr highlights included a cover of The Shirelles' Boys, which he'd also sung in his pre-Fab Four days as a member of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Yellow Submarine and a ragged I Wanna Be Your Man.

A top evening, Starr's show is essentially an evening of two parts. There are FM radio hits from some familiar faces that hold the show together and comprise a great band. Then there's Starr - why most of the crowd turned up in the first place. The Hordern seemed to be about 75% full, which is pretty good, with Starr being the 4th Beatle and all, plus the fact that many groups are currently touring at the moment - all after the entertainment dollar.

Sydney gets Ringo and his mates again tomorrow...then its Melbourne, Saturday and Sunday; Adelaide, February 19; and Perth, February 21.

Special thanks to Ringo, his promoter and everyone else who helped make tonight's show such a great success.