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Researchers at the University of Bath have come up with some guidelines to deal with the problem of binge drinking.

The researchers said that a study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), had suggested several considerations for future policy.

Lead researcher Christine Griffin revealed that the study focused on the role of marketing practices in shaping young people’s attitudes to alcohol consumption, and included analysis of 216 alcohol adverts, both in print and broadcast.

The team said that though extreme drinking and determined drunkenness might be the norm amongst young people, there was some positive news-evidence suggested that increases in young people’s alcohol consumption was levelling off.

Studies conducted in the past had shown that representations of binge drinking as a source of entertainment, coupled with pervasive coverage of drunken celebrities, was the reason behind an increased the social acceptance of binge drinking.

They also found that ads representing the ‘coolness’ of excessive drinking, along with the increasing use of internet based social networking sites that were used to share images of drunken nights out, also enabled the linkage between alcohol and “having fun”.

As to what steps should be taken to tackle the scourge of binge drinking, Professor Griffin said: “Top of my list would have to be to stop demonising and making generalisations about young people and their drinking. We also need to listen and incorporate their views and perspectives.”

Professor Isabelle Szmigin added: “Although many young people recognise the damage that ‘drinking too much’ can do to their health, and the associated risks of physical and sexual assault, few view these as more than short term problems.”

Professor Chris Hackley said: “The study suggests a radical re-thinking of national alcohol policy is required which takes into account the social character of alcohol consumption and the identity implications for young people.”

Four years after polarizing Americans with its take on racial bigotry and stereotypes, Oscar-winning movie “Crash” is enjoying a new life as a television series that has equally divided critics.

The mixed reception for the edgy TV show, which like the movie explores race and racism among city dwellers, comes as little surprise to Canadian writer-director Paul Haggis. He first envisaged “Crash” as a TV show, but was ridiculed when he began pitching the idea to executives in the early 2000s.

“When I came up with an idea I automatically thought of it as a TV series but ‘Crash’ didn’t seem to fit one. When I took it around and tried to pitch it, people laughed at me, ” Haggis told Reuters.

After the movie “Crash” won three Oscars for 2005, including one for the year’s best film, everything changed.

“Then people said ‘oh, okay’,” Haggis laughed.

“Crash” the TV series stars Dennis Hopper and is the first original drama on U.S. premium cable TV channel Starz, reflecting a trend that has seen acclaimed dramas and comedies find homes on subscription channels as network TV turns toward reality and game shows.

Haggis, 55, is an executive producer but sees himself more as the show’s “cheerleader,” having handed the writing to a team that has created a new set of misbehaving cops of all ethnicities, a reformed Korean gang member and a rich, white frustrated housewife.

Turning over his fictional baby wasn’t too hard for Haggis, even though “Crash” was inspired by events in his own life in Los Angeles, including a late-night carjacking in 1991.

“The concept for the TV series was very different than the feature film. If it had followed the same stories, it would have been much more difficult to hand it over, because you’d be saying ‘No, no, no, my characters don’t go there.’

“But Glen Mazzara (the TV series creator) wisely created an entirely different world but on the same theme,” Haggis said.

While the Oscar-winning movie divided critics and audiences over whether it overplayed problematic race relations in multiethnic Los Angeles, the 13-episode TV series has been found by some critics to lack the intensity of the movie.

“The racial fire is oddly muted,” The Hollywood Reporter wrote in a review.

The show, which ends its run on Starz in January, scored an average of 42 out of 100 from 18 critics on Web site Metacritic.com, which aggregates reviews.

New York’s Newsday called it “gritty, jarring, profane and smartly produced,” while TV Guide said it is “provocative and intriguing, but leaves you wondering if the whole setup might not simply work better as a movie.”

“I knew it would polarize people. I was being largely critical of a group of people who don’t like being criticized — white liberals like myself,” Haggis said. “I was amazed we got any good press. I didn’t set out to get good notices. I set out to do something that was haunting me.”

Haggis said he thought racism and racial stereotyping had changed little in Los Angeles in the past few years.

Since his Oscar win, he has written for movies ranging from Clint Eastwood’s “Flags of our Fathers” to the two recent James Bond capers “Casino Royale” and “Quantum of Solace.”

He wrote and directed war-related movie “In the Valley of Elah,” starring Charlize Theron and Tommy Lee Jones.

“There are the projects you write, and the passion projects you do as a writer-director. As a writer, you hand your script in and wish them good luck. Your job is to give them a blue print and they can follow it or not,” he said.

Former Miss India and Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley, who turned 27 recently, says she has been unlucky in love but hopes god will bless her with more romance in life.

‘So maybe for my birthday, god will grant me romance and love. About time I got lucky in love,’ Celina, who celebrated her birthday Nov 24 with destitute girls, told IANS.

Celina sponsors poor girls at Regina Spaces and she threw a party Monday at the NGO premises for them.

‘I threw a birthday party for my girls. Nothing makes me happier than seeing them smile. Wish my family was here.’

None of the family members of Celina were in Mumbai to celebrate her birthday.

‘So for me it was not a very happy birthday. My parents left Mumbai and my dog didn’t take well to their absence. So she swallowed plastic. The entire day before my birthday the vet was trying to pull the plastic out of her throat. Not a very pleasant way to bring in my birthday.’

However, the actress tried to cheer herself up by buying a BMW on her birthday.

‘I need that boost. I’ve been working hard and my ‘Golmaal Returns’ is a hit. So I need to indulge myself. I know a girl’s best friend are diamonds. But she needs a posh car to get to the jewellery store. So a BMW,’ said the actress.

Vivek Oberoi, once hailed as one of the most talented newcomers almost wrecked his career, when Mrs Aishwarya Bachchan entered his life. He did some demeaning pleadings with superstars to straighten out his messy career, but to no avail. But the infamous battle between Shah Rukh and Salman changed his life! How? Well, initially, he tried to appease Salman (the two had fought over Aishwarya) was shooed off. Then Vivek went over to Shah Rukh’s camp and that did wonders.

Vivek Oberoi, now boasts of a prestigious unnamed project by Shah Rukh’s ‘very close friend’ Karan Johar, that also stars Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor. The ‘Omkara’ trio of ‘Langda Tyagi’, ‘Dolly’ and ‘Keso’ would be seen on big screen again. The film is directed by Rensil D’Silva, who had written ‘Rang De Basanti’. Rensil D’Silva is to begin shooting by mid-October.

Vivek Oberoi is playing his cards safe; he is all praises for his co-actors. Talking about Kareena, the actor said, “Kareena comes unprepared to the sets and believes in no rehearsals. Moreover she does not need many re–takes to deliver an amazing performance.”

Recently, Vivek was seen in a party thrown by Shah Rukh and Gauri. According to an eyewitness, “At Gauri’s party at Mannat (to celebrate SRK’s 43rd birthday) Saturday night, most people were shocked to see Vivek Oberoi getting up close and personal with SRK and Gauri. VO’s appearance at the bash is surprising because Gauri’s party was a very intimate one meant only for a select few those very close to the couple’s innermost circle.”

“Though Vivek and SRK have been bonding over the last few months (Vivek had even gone to Kolkata to cheer for Shahrukh’s ‘Knight Riders’ team) especially due to Karan Johar (Vivek acts in his next along with Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan), that still doesn’t explain Vivek’s presence at such an exclusive party! There were very close friends present and Vivek is not doing any ads, film or shows with Shahrukh. Their sudden bonding raised lots of eyebrows at the party as people kept wondering about the connection,” the source added.

Well, we hope that amidst this camps and intrigues, Vivek doesn’t goof up again to end up a loser. Hold on tight to King Khan’s camp!

There’s panic among television channels and actors as the shooting of most programmes has come to a grinding halt due to the strike by cine workers.

‘It’s a deadlock. It’s unfortunate that we had to reach this crisis point. Our audience, especially for ‘Balika Vadhu’ is going to be deeply disappointed. So we’re going to do catch-ups of ‘Balika Vadhu’ for those who came in late and hadn’t seen the show from the start,’ Rajesh Kamat, CEO of TV entertainment channel Colors, told IANS.

‘We came in with a rating of 1. Today we’re at 8. So a lot of viewers would want to watch our earlier episodes. But we’re hoping that the strike will be over soon. The deadlock isn’t helping anyone,’ Kamat added.

The strike has hit all shows, except Colors’ ‘Big Boss’.

‘They made an exception primarily due to the nature of the show. We can’t tell the housemates to go back home and come back when the show is over. Broadcasters have been kind to ‘Bigg Boss’. Very honestly we don’t know how long this strike will last,’ added Kamat.

The film-television producers and the cine workers’ apex body, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), are at loggerheads over the wages of the workers.

Negotiations have been on for some time. The producers conceded the FWICE’s demand and now producers want to pass on the liabilities to the broadcasters.

‘As far as I know, all producers have been getting a systematic raise for providing software. Broacasters have been under pressure to provide incentives to producers. And we’ve been raising their remuneration regularly. But producers don’t pass on their increments and perks to their workers. So then why are they expecting us broadcasters to absorb their liability? After all we can’t pass on our liabilities to our advertisers,’ said Uday Shankar, CEO of the STAR India group.

The strike comes at a time when the television industry isn’t making much money.

‘Frankly, it’s a more critical situation than all of us are ready to admit. At a time when there’s an economic recession, TV channels are undergoing a serious revenue crunch and broadcasting costs have escalated dramatically, suddenly for a group of people to come in and demand a hike that would mean added costs of about 35-40 percent, is impossible,’ Shankar said.

‘We’ve also heard that TV actors are planning to get together to ask for a hike, also equipment vendors - so where does this end?”

Kavita Barjatya, who handles the television arm of Rajshri Productions, said: ‘This is a no-win situation for all broadcasters, producers and workers. The matter should be resolved without losing any time.’

Producer Shristhi Arya of Rose Movies added: ‘We aren’t really allowed to speak. But this impasse is really unfortunate. No one is benefiting from it. It spells only losses. And the sooner the problem is solved the better. All I can say is producers aren’t all a uniform body of software producers. Everyone has a separate motivation.’

This crisis is not only affecting channels, but actors too.

Hiten Tejwani said: ‘As far as the worker’ wages are concerned, the channels and producers should resolve the matter soon. The strike is okay for a couple of days, but beyond that will mean huge losses for all of us. My entire life depends on television. So I’m very affected.

Added Kushal Punjabi: ‘The strike isn’t justified at all. It has affected me personally because I’ve been asked to leave the STAR Plus show which I’ve been doing for 10 months. I think the people responsible for the strike should sit together and solve the crisis before it deepens.’

However, Mukesh Bhatt, who is mediating between the television workers and the producers-broadcasters, feels there’s too much pay disparity between the grassroots and the top levels of the television industry.

‘It’s time to let the top layer of the TV industry take the rap. I don’t think the workers are wrong in asking for wages on a par with what their colleagues in the film industry. Broadcasters should cut down on the cost of making every episode. Pay every star less remuneration, if you have to.

‘When will the TV industry realise that the star of the serials are the writers, just like the stars of the movies are the directors? Look at what Colors have done with ‘Balika Vadhu’. Who’s the star of the show? The solution for broadcasters is to sit down with workers and listen to their demands.’

Uday Shankar says that some of the federation’s demands are reasonable.

‘So if we focus on them, we can find a solution. As for higher wages they’re possible only when the economic situation improves. Funnily, it’s the ordinary wage earner who are being hurt along with broadcasters and viewers. We can’t run a blank screen. So for now, repeats. Luckily, we’ve our archives. But what about the new channels?’

Meanwhile viewers will have to go a process of prolonged deja vu.

‘Viewers sit down to watch fresh episodes. Not re-runs. What can we do? We can’t give viewers new episodes at the moment because we can’t afford them.’

Some say, fashion is an extension of art; for others, they are one and the same thing. There have been many occasions when a fashion designer has been inspired by an artist’s work and his collection has pivoted on that theme.

The French couturier Paul Poiret drew inspiration from his friend, the painter Francis Picabia. The modern artist Richard Prince has collaborated with luxury label Louis Vuitton.

The famous sculptor Anish Kapoor has designed fashion jewellery rings. To extend this long association, the Lakme Fashion Week, along with JAMAAT, the contemporary art gallery in Mumbai, has come together to set up a gallery named Art Studio at the venue, outside the main show area.

The participating artists have interpreted fashion through their art. The names include Satish Gujral, Arzan Khambatta, Jayasri Burman, Jogen Chowdhury, Paresh Maity, Paritosh Sen, Brinda Chudasama Miller, Indrapramit Roy, Samir Mondal, Laila Khan Rajpal and Sunil Padwal.

“I’m doing a painting that represents the up-to-date trend in pictorial arts,” Gujral says. “Both art and fashion try to embody the changing sensibilities of society.

” For Mondal, this venture at LFW means two artistic forms complementing each other: “Both are creative games.” Jayasri Burman concurs, saying, “Art and [sense of] fashion both are inborn [talents] and come spontaneously.

” Laila Khan Rajpal points out that art and fashion both explore female beauty. Arzan Khambatta thinks sculpture and fashion have the same basics.

“They deal with form, flow, react to light and shadows. Fashion links up so many facets of art.

There’s the garment itself, then there’s the body that embellishes it, and the surroundings in which it is shown.”.

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra bonded well with Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas at the Middle East International Film Festival in Dubai and apparently Spanish star Banderas expressed a wish to work with her.

The ongoing festival started Oct 10 and on the opening night Priyanka first met ‘When Harry Met Sally’ star Meg Ryan. At the opening ceremony, Priyanka shared a good two hours with Hollywood’s hot couple Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas.

‘What you’ve heard is right. I did spend come time chatting with Antonio and his wife Melanie. We sat together at the opening. Antonio was extremely charming. He was familiar with the Bollywood film industry and the financial leaps it has made in recent years,’ Priyanka told IANS.

Banderas spoke to Priyanka about the possibilities of a tie-up, but the actress didn’t comment on this.

When asked if she was going international, Priyanka said: ‘The language doesn’t matter. It could be Hindi, English or Punjabi, it’s all the same to me.’

Priyanka’s much-publicised movie ‘Fashion’ was supposed to premiere at the film festival.

‘And that’s how I found myself there. ‘Fashion’ was supposed to be shown at the opening night of the festival. But the post-production wasn’t done. They still invited me. I was very happy to represent Bollywood.

‘I was in Abu Dhabi for just half a day. I went in the afternoon and returned to India late night, to Delhi for another event next morning. There’s too much going in my life: the dubbing of ‘Fashion’, promotion of ‘Fashion’ and ‘Dostana’ and my new film ‘What’s Your Raashee’ is starting.’

Priyanka says when she walked into the posh Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, she was like, ‘Wow this is meant for a holiday not work!’

‘For the first time I craved for a holiday. But I don’t need to combine work with pleasure. Because my work is my pleasure. The opening ceremony then the after-party at Abu Dhabi and I left at 1 a.m.

‘I can’t even afford to be jet lagged. I enjoy the rush, but I realised my body needs rest. I am petrified about not fulfilling my commitments. So far so good. I just need a holiday after ‘Fashion’ and ‘Dostana’ are released.’

The author of the best-selling book “Gomorra” about the mafia in Naples, which has been made into a hit movie, wants to leave Italy to try to have a more normal life after reports that the mob wants him dead by Christmas.

After reports that the “Camorra”, as the Naples mafia is known, has added urgency in its threat to kill Roberto Saviano, the 29-year-old who has been in hiding for two years said he was tired of being a “prisoner” of his book’s success.

“I’m going away from Italy, at least for a while, then I’ll see,” he told La Repubblica newspaper.

“Right now I don’t see why I should keep living like this, as a prisoner of myself, my book, my success. F*** success. I want a life, that’s all,” said Saviano.

“I want to take a walk, get some sun, walk in the rain, meet my mother without scaring her and being afraid.”

First published in 2006, the gritty chronicle of how the Camorra dominates life around Naples and makes its money — by a local boy who saw his first murder victim at 13 — has sold 1.2 million copies in Italy and been translated into 42 languages.

Saviano worked in a textile and building firm controlled by the mob to research his book, which narrates the Camorra’s involvement in protection rackets, drug trafficking, smuggling and even illegal waste disposal.

Now “Gomorra” has hit the big screen and is a candidate for the Oscars, the mafia is said to be even angrier and wants Saviano killed by the end of the year.

Naples police said they were checking the veracity of the reports and politicians from President Giorgio Napolitano down commented on the need to safeguard Saviano’s life.

Separated from friends and family and moved from one police barracks to another to avoid attempts on his life, the writer asked: “What is my crime? Why must I live like a recluse, a leper, hidden away from life, the world and other men?”

“I only wanted to tell the story of my people, my land and their humiliation,” he said, raging against the head of the notorious Casalesi clan of the Camorra, Francesco Schiavone (nicknamed “Sandokan” after a fictional pirate), who is currently serving a life jail sentence.

A police informer said it was Schiavone’s Casalesi clan, which is based in Casal di Principe near Naples where Saviano grew up, who wanted the writer murdered as soon as possible.

Saviano gave no clue as to where he would try to rebuild his life, for obvious reasons, saying only that when first obliged to go into hiding in 2006 he rejected advice to leave for New York: “I stayed here, but how long can I carry this cross?”