Latest news with #Picker
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
In Cannes, It All Happened at the Carlton
If the Cannes Film Festival were a building, it would be the Carlton. The iconic hotel, with its Belle Époque balustrades and twin cupola domes, its combination of old world elegance and over-the-top extravagance, is a manifestation — in limestone, stucco and pink marble — of the Cannes festival brand. 'I often hear people compare the Carlton to the Eiffel Tower,' says Carlton Hotel general manager Pierre-Louis Renou. 'On one hand, it's gigantic, but on the other so immaculate. It's kind of a monument to the glamour of Cannes.' More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Splitsville' Director Michael Covino on Making Bawdy Comedy That Looks Like Arthouse Cinema: "It Can Be Both" Cannes: 'Corsage' Director Marie Kreutzer Wins Investors Circle Prize for 'Gentle Monster' London's Raindance Film Festival Unveils Lineup for Its Biggest Post-COVID Pandemic Edition The first-ever Cannes festival was held at the Carlton Casino in 1946 — well before they built the Palais — and the Carlton has played a supporting, occasionally starring, role in the history of the festival ever since. The first Cannes celebrity photo-op? The best promotional stunts? The biggest backroom deals? They all happened at the Carlton. The Cannes Festival Launches in the Carlton Casino (1946) A year after the first VE Day, the Carlton welcomed the world's press (a total of 8 journalists!) to the first-ever Cannes Film Festival, held at the Carlton Casino, with a lineup that included Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast, Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend and David Lean's Brief Encounter. Bridget Bardot's Bikini (1953) They may look quite modest today, but in 1953, photos of 18-year-old French actress Brigitte Bardot posing on the Carlton beach in a tropical-print bikini were a shock sensation. It's unclear how much the photo op helped the box office for Bardot's film Marina, the Girl in the Bikini (which had been shot in Cannes the year before), but it made the skimpy swimsuit mainstream and launched a thousand imitators, including the creators that continue to swarm the Carlton beach today, posing for selfies. Alfred Hitchcock Films (1955) The Carlton, notes Renou, is 'probably the most photographed hotel in the world' but film cameos are rare. 'We get a lot of filming requests, but we have to be very careful, because were are a hotel, not a film studio,' he notes. But Hitchcock got the green light to send Grace Kelly and Cary Grant clambering over the Carlton rooftop. George Lucas Pitches on the Carlton Terrace (1977) George Lucas, in Cannes on his own dime for the screening of THX 1138 in the Directors' Fortnight, wrangled a 10-minute lunch meeting with UA CEO David Picker on the Carlton terrace. Picker liked Lucas' idea for a 1950s teen drama about drag racing (American Graffiti), so Lucas awkwardly pitched him on 'this space opera thing. Sort of an action adventure film in space.' Picker optioned it. For $10,000. (He'd later drop both options, and Alan Ladd Jr., at 20th Century Fox would score big in a galaxy far far away.) Elton John's Musical Video for 'I'm Still Standing' on the Steps of the Carlton Hotel (1983) Elton turned the Carlton terrace into a technicolor dance floor filled with bondage-geared concierges, aerobic French mimes and inspired pastel knitwear for this early MTV era touchstone. Elton himself did not dance. (His moves, he admitted, terrified the choreographer.) And the video, disrupted by an Elton booze-a-thon with Duran Duran, barely wrapped. But it stands as a 3-minute distillation of the Cannes brand of Mediterranean glam. 'We still keep a strong relationship with Elton John,' says Renou. 'And would be delighted to welcome him back soon.' Jerry Seinfeld's Stunt (2007) The festival has played host to many a wacky promotional photo op, from Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jason Statham rolling up the Croisette in tanks for Expendables 3 to Sacha Baron Coen posing in a neon green mankini for Borat. But for pure memorable silliness, few compare with Jerry Seinfield, jammed into an oversized bee costume, strapping into a harness and zip-lining off the top of the Carlton down to the beach to promote the Paramount animated feature to which he'd lent his voice. The great era of the Cannes promotional stunt may be behind us. Speculation that Tom Cruise might revive the austere festival tradition came to naught when, instead of abseiling off the Palais or parachuting in, he and crew of Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning sedately walked the red carpet for the film's May 14 premiere. Red Granite Pictures Shoots a Million-Dollar Party on the Carlton Beach (2011) Speaking of the end of an era, Red Granite's soiree, a coming-out party for the would-be mini-studio, was one of the last Cannes blowouts, with a guest list that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Pharrell Williams, Jon Hamm and Bradley Cooper, free-flowing booze and food and a Coachella-worthy duet by (pre-scandal) Kanye West and Jamie Foxx performing 'Gold Digger.' The bash, which reportedly cost a cool million, became a cautionary tale when Red Granite became embroiled in the 1MDB scandal — and dissolved in 2018. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now "A Nutless Monkey Could Do Your Job": From Abusive to Angst-Ridden, 16 Memorable Studio Exec Portrayals in Film and TV The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time, Ranked
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coolest Thing Made in Iowa is down to the final eight. Which ones made the cut?
From a 1.5-ounce ice cream novelty to a 70,000-pound cotton picker, eight items await weighty decisions by Iowans on which will advance in the Coolest Thing Made in Iowa contest. The contest began May 5 with 69 nominees. Voters will have from Friday, May 16, to May 21 to vote on which of the eight finalists announced Thursday, May 15, will be in the final four. The decision process won't be easy for voters as they ponder the 'coolness factor' of products ranging from heavy farm equipment to a chocolate pump and a pastry. Butter Braid pastries from Country Maid Inc. of West Bend was the only repeat product from the Top Eight contestants a year ago, the initial edition of the annual contest. Sold through fundraisers, the pastries have helped thousands of organizations raise over $320 million for various causes, according to Country Maid. The contest is sponsored by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and MidwestOne Bank and culminates in a winner being named at the ABI's annual conference June 11 in Council Bluffs. Voting is online at Iowa is one of 20 states holding the contests. A self-propelled hay baler from Vermeer Corp. of Pella took the state's initial top prize in 2024. Last year, the competition received 86 nominations representing products made in 53 cities across Iowa. Four rounds of voting took place, with 76,382 total votes cast. The contest also serves as a chance to promote manufacturing in Iowa, accounting for more than 220,000 jobs and contributing over $43 billion to the state's economy, according to ABI. Here are the final eight products: Product Company Location Beyond Walls moveable walls Allsteel Muscatine Blue Bunny Mini Swirl Novelties Wells Enterprises Le Mars Butter Braid pastry Country Maid, Inc. West Bend CP770 Cotton Picker John Deere Ankeny Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig K4 Kreg Tool Ankeny RE3423M Rugged Sealed Computer Server Crystal Group Hiawatha The Moose Fireplace Grill The Moose Fireplace Grill, LLC Red Oak Viking Pump — CHC Chocolate Pump Viking Pump, Inc. Cedar Falls Cedar Falls Kevin Baskins covers jobs and the economy for the Register. Reach him at kbaskins@ This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Coolest Thing Made in Iowa contest down to final eight products
Gulf Insider
07-02-2025
- Science
- Gulf Insider
Made In UAE AI Robot That Picks Ripe Strawberries Better Than Humans
An AI-powered robot developed here by experts at a university in Abu Dhabi is capable of accurately identifying ripe strawberries, picking them without causing damage, and operating tirelessly across various environments, from sunny fields to controlled greenhouses. The 'Strawberry Picker' bot project, led by professors from the robotics department at Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), is done in collaboration with other departments, including machine learning and computer vision. This innovative solution, poised to support the farming industry, aims to help farmers reduce labour costs while maintaining high levels of productivity and fruit quality. How it works? The robot leverages advanced artificial intelligence, computer vision, machine learning, robotics, and precision agriculture technologies. Equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, the robot analyses plants in real-time, identifying ripe strawberries based on parametres such as colour, size, and shape. Machine learning algorithms ensure precise identification, distinguishing ripe fruits from unripe or damaged ones. Once a ripe strawberry is detected, a robotic arm with a sensitive gripper gently picks the fruit without causing harm. The robot combines 'active perception' with its manipulation capabilities, enabling it to adjust its position or grip based on environmental factors like light, obstructions, or plant movement caused by wind. Autonomous navigation allows the robot to efficiently move across rows of plants, optimising its route and avoiding obstacles through AI-powered pathfinding algorithms. 'MBZUAI's expertise in robotics, computer vision, machine learning ensures that these robots can operate with remarkable precision and adaptability, mimicking the care and attention of human labourers but at a faster and more efficient rate,' professor Dezhen Song, deputy department chair of robotics, and professor of robotics, told Gulf News. In addition to professor Song, core contributors include professors Ivan Laptev and Hao Li, experts in computer vision, along with a multidisciplinary team of AI engineers, roboticists, and agricultural scientists. Together, they tackle challenges in precision agriculture. Five advantages Professor Song noted that the AI-driven robot offers several advantages over traditional farming methods, addressing key cost-related challenges. Enhanced precision: The robot's ability to accurately detect and pick only ripe strawberries reduces waste and minimises plant damage, leading to higher crop yields, improved fruit quality, and better market value. Continuous operations: Unlike human labourers, the robot can work around the clock, offering consistent performance and increasing productivity without the need for overtime or seasonal wage costs. Cost efficiency: By automating repetitive tasks, farmers can significantly lower labour costs while maintaining high productivity. Also, farmers don't need to train new workers every season, but rely on automated system that requires minimal oversight. Labour shortage mitigation: As the agricultural sector faces a declining availability of manual labour, especially for physically demanding tasks like fruit picking, this robot provides a practical and reliable alternative. Scalability: The modular design allows the robot to be adapted for different crops and farming environments, extending its utility beyond strawberries. By automating repetitive tasks, farms can scale operations without proportionally increasing labour costs, making it easier to meet growing demand. Apples, tomatoes too Professor Song noted that the 'Strawberry Picker' is designed to operate in diverse environments, including varying climates and terrains. 'Its advanced sensors allow the robot to adjust to different lighting conditions, such as bright sunlight or low indoor lighting in greenhouses. The hardware is built to withstand environmental challenges, including varying temperatures, humidity, and dust. The AI models can be fine-tuned for specific environments, ensuring optimal performance in outdoor fields, indoor vertical farms, or polyhouse settings.' He pointed out that the robot can be deployed for other types of items like tomatoes, apples or bell peppers. 'Yes, the technology behind this robot is inherently scalable because of its reliance on machine learning and adaptable hardware. The same AI algorithms can be trained to recognise different fruits or vegetables. The training process would involve gathering a dataset of images and parametres specific to the new crop. This scalability ensures that the technology can serve as a multi-functional solution for precision agriculture, enhancing productivity across various farming activities,' professor Song added.
