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Tag: Brian Cox

  • ASICS PSA raises awareness about workplace mental health threats

    ASICS PSA raises awareness about workplace mental health threats

    Mumbai: Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, ASICS has enlisted actor Brian Cox to deliver a warning to the world to get away from their desks and move for their mental health in a powerful Public Service Announcement (PSA).

    ASICS’ global State of Mind study, involving 26,000 participants, revealed a strong connection between sedentary behaviour and mental wellbeing with State of Mind scores declining the longer individuals remain inactive1. Further research into desk-based working found that after just two hours of continuous desk work State of Mind scores begin to drop and stress levels rise2. After four hours of uninterrupted desk time, workers’ stress levels increased significantly by 18 per cent. However, a new Desk Break experiment3 shows that just 15 minutes of movement can help to reverse the effects.  

    The Desk Break experiment, overseen by Dr Brendon Stubbs from King’s College London, found that when office workers added just 15 minutes of movement into their working day, their mental state improved by 22.5 per cent with participants’ overall State of Mind scores increased from 62/100 to 76/100. The experiment showed that taking a daily Desk Break for just one week lowered stress levels by 14.7 per cent, boosted productivity by 33.2 per cent and improved focus by 28.6 per cent. Participants reported feeling 33.3 per cent more relaxed and 28.6 per cent more calm and resilient. 79.2 per cent of participants said they would be more loyal to their employers if offered regular movement breaks.

    In the PSA, Brian Cox plays the role of the world’s scariest boss to highlight the silent threat to our mental health—the desk we work at every day. The PSA calls on office workers to put their mental health first by taking a Desk Break, a short movement break, during the working day.

    https://www.asics.com/in/en-in/mk/deskbreak?asics-orig-path=%2fmk%2fdeskbreak

    Actor Brian Cox said: “I’ve played some pretty intimidating characters in my time but who would have thought a desk could be scarier? It’s great to see ASICS try and do something about this and encourage people to support their mental health through exercise. As I say in the film, run, jump, roller skate. I don’t care. Just move for your mind.”

    Across the world, ASICS is encouraging its office-based employees to move for their mental health by taking regular movement breaks.

    On World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2024, ASICS is inviting office workers to join the #DeskBreak movement and feel the mental benefits. Office workers who are able to take a 15-minute Desk Break* are encouraged to share an image of their empty desk, with images shared raising funds for mental health charities around the world.  

    Dr Brendon Stubbs, a leading researcher in exercise and mental health from King’s College London, said: “We have shown previously that just 15 minutes of exercise in leisure time can result in a meaningful improvement in people’s State of Mind scores. But what surprised us with the Desk Break experiment was how powerful the 15-minute movement breaks were in improving well-being and reducing stress. It even changed people’s perceptions of their workplace for the better.”  

    ASICS managing executive officer Tomoko Koda commented, “At ASICS, we champion the power of movement, not just on the body, but also on the mind. It’s why we’re called ASICS – an acronym for the Latin ‘Anima Sana in Corpore Sano’ or ‘Sound Mind in a Sound Body’. Our global study revealed that the hours spent at your desk for hours on end are having a real and scary impact on our minds. That’s why we wanted to deliver a powerful message from the world’s scariest boss to inspire people to move their minds.

    “We hope to encourage office workers around the world to move and feel the mental benefits. We look forward to seeing the empty desk images on World Mental Health Day.”

    *Employees are advised to check with their employer first before taking a Desk Break.

  • Cannes Lions programme adds new speakers & sessions

    Cannes Lions programme adds new speakers & sessions

    MUMBAI: More and more speakers have been confirmed for Cannes Lions this year, as the Festival’s programme continues to take shape. In the last week alone, nearly 50 new sessions have been added to the schedule of what’s on.

     

    Renowned scientist and broadcaster Professor Brian Cox will explore the key scientific principles that help unlock the mysteries around us before ZenithOptimedia will show how advertising is also a world underpinned by laws akin to scientific principles.

     

    Martha Stewart has been confirmed as a speaker this year, joining artist Emilie Baltz and wearable tech guru Billie Whitehouse as part of the Barbarian Group talk examining how creatives push themselves outside of their comfort zones to create new things in new mediums.

     

    Next up, AOL is bringing its “Digital Prophet” to Cannes Lions this year, with David Shing ready to argue that the power of creative storytelling is now more important than ever.

     

    Tencent’s SY Lau has already been named as Cannes Lions Media Person of the Year. He will also speak at a session covering exactly what’s happening right now in China’s digital landscape.

     

    Musician Pharrell is joining iHeartMedia for a conversation about how he’s been able to create hyper-successful constellations across media, entertainment and fashion by blending, art, science and instinct to redefine culture and commerce.

     

    Finally, SapientNitro has revealed that it will bring the founder of dating app Tinder to Cannes Lions. Sean Rad will take to the stage to tell the audience exactly how Tinder overturned the established order and radically changed the dating game. 

  • Iconic video game comes together as classic characters in ‘Pixels’

    Iconic video game comes together as classic characters in ‘Pixels’

    NEW DELHI: An extraordinary number of iconic video game companies, whose classic characters – including PAC-MAN, Donkey Kong, Centipede, Galaga, Frogger, Q*bert, and Space Invaders – will be featured in the highly-anticipated action comedy Pixels by Sony Pictures Entertainment.

     

    Pixels stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, and Brian Cox, and directed by Chris Columbus. The film will be released in the United States on 15 May next year.

     

    In Pixels, when intergalactic aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth, using the games as models for their various assaults. 

     

    President Will Cooper (James) has to call on his childhood best friend, 1980s video game champion Sam Brenner (Sandler), now a home theatre installer, to lead a team of old-school arcaders (Dinklage and Gad) to defeat the aliens and save the planet. Monaghan plays the team’s unique weapons specialist. 

     

    The action-comedy is directed by Chris Columbus from a story by Tim Herlihy and a screenplay by Tim and Timothy Dowling, based on the original short film of the same name by Patrick Jean. The film is produced by Adam Sandler, Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, and Allen Covert.  Executive producers are Barry Bernardi, Michael Barnathan, Jack Giarraputo, Heather Parry, Tim Herlihy, Steve Koren, Patrick Jean, Benjamin Darras, Johnny Alves, Matias Boucard, Seth Gordon, and Ben Waisbren. The film, a Columbia Pictures presentation in association with LStar Capital, is a Happy Madison / 1492 Films production in association with One More Production. 

     

    Companies with classic arcade games that are teaming with Sony Pictures on the film include Atari Interactive: (Asteroids, Breakout, Centipede and Missile Command); Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Frogger); BANDAI NAMCO Games Inc. (PAC-MAN, Galaga, and Dig Dug); Nintendo (Donkey Kong)’ Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. (Q*bert); Taito Corporation (Space Invaders); and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (Joust, Defender, Robotron and Wizard of Wor).

     

    Commenting on the announcement, the film’s director Chris Columbus said, “There would be no way to make the movie without these legendary characters – they are as important to the film as the roles that Adam, Kevin, Michelle, Peter, Josh, and Brian are playing.  It was a real thrill to see everything come together exactly as we envisioned it, and we’re grateful to have all of these fantastic companies on board.”

     

    Producer Allen Covert added, “These classic characters are part of the DNA of the project, so it was critical that we work together to bring them on board.  Fortunately, they were all extremely receptive.  We approached them with a deep love for their characters and a respect for the elements that make them unique and iconic, and we’ve worked with the companies to incorporate those elements into the film.” 

     

     “There’s no better way for the core Comic-Con audience to interact with the movie than to get a hands-on refresher on the games that will be a part of it,” concluded Sony Pictures president, theatrical marketing Dwight Caines. 

  • Danny Boyle’s curated film fest to be held in London Cemetery

    Danny Boyle’s curated film fest to be held in London Cemetery

    NEW DELHI: Perhaps for the first time ever, a cemetery in London’s most urban woodlands is to be the venue of a unique festival next month on film, music and arts.

     

    Academy Award-winning filmmaker Danny Boyle along with BAFTA award-nominated director Clio Barnard (The Selfish Giant), award-winning director Sally El Hosaini (My Brother the Devil) and actor and director Dexter Fletcher (Sunshine on Leith, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) will judge short films across three key categories: ‘Science and the Imagination’, ‘The City’ and ‘Young Filmmakers’ (under 25s).

     

    The Festival SHUFFLE will be held from 30 July to 4 August at Tower Hamlets’ Cemetery Park (THCP).

     

    The top award for the ‘Science and the Imagination’ contest is a  trip to California to be part of the world’s most cutting-edge filmmaking and digital media technology, which includes a virtual reality session and a visit to Google HQ in silicon valley.

     

    Winners of the ‘The City’ will bet to join a one-on-one mentoring session with Danny Boyle – a remarkable insight into how the Oscar-winning filmmaker works – plus a trip to New York.

     

    ‘Young Filmmakers’ (under 25s) will get Panalux advice and bespoke five-day lighting package for the winner’s next film.

     

    “SHUFFLE is the most fun anyone can have in a graveyard in Mile End. The point of the festival is to help build a stronger community in East London and campaign for permanently affordable housing in the area, so please do come on by,” said Danny Boyle.
     

    SHUFFLE’s artistic director, Kate MacTiernan, said “This year, Danny Boyle and SHUFFLE have created a new film prize, to recognise up-and-coming talent as well as celebrate the art of the short film – where concept, idea, character and visual execution must be realised quickly and concisely. We are thrilled that Danny Boyle will judge the competition and offer his expertise to the winner.”

     

    An award-winning festival, SHUFFLE is about living in the city – in the best way possible. It’s about the quality of spaces in the city and the interconnectedness of the people that exist in these places. It is about shaping an area for healthy, affordable living.

     
    Born out of the Community Land Trust (CLT) – providing sustainable housing in urban areas – SHUFFLE is about bringing a sense of community back to London. SHUFFLE began in summer 2013 to create awareness of the UK’s first urban CLT, the former asylum of St Clements Hospital. SHUFFLE secured the space as a cultural centre for Mile End. In 2014, this initiative moves into the surrounding streets and Tower Hamlets’ Cemetery Park.

     

    Last year’s guests at SHUFFLE included Jarvis Cocker, Nic Roeg, Martin McDonagh, Julien Temple, Brian Cox, Tim Key, Underworld and Mark Kermode.

     

    All prizes are sponsored by Canary Wharf Group and Panalux. All film competitions are free for young residents (under 25) from E3. Competition winners will be announced on 3 August.