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| Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Adventures: Biographies |
Jean-Michel Cousteau
Since first being thrown overboard by his celebrated father at the age of seven with newly-invented SCUBA gear on his back, Jean-Michel Cousteau has led a life synchronous with the ocean. Explorer, environmentalist, educator, film producer- for more than four decades, Jean-Michel has used his vast experiences to communicate to people of all nations and generations his passion and concern for our water planet.
The son of ocean pioneer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel spent much of his life with his family exploring the world's oceans aboard Calypso and Alcyone. Honoring his heritage, Jean-Michel founded Ocean Futures Society in 1999 to carry on this legendary work, including his role as Executive Producer of Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures. Jean-Michel has produced over 75 films, received the Emmy, the Peabody Award, the 7 d'Or, and the Cable Ace Award, among others.
Ocean Futures Society, a non-profit marine conservation and education organization, functions as an ambassador for the ocean by communicating worldwide its critical bond with humanity and the importance of wise environmental policy. As Ocean Futures' president, Jean-Michel serves as a diplomat for the environment, reaching out to the public through a variety of media.
Traveling the globe, Jean-Michel meets with leaders and policymakers at the grassroots level and at the highest echelons of government and the private sector. He is dedicated to educating younger generations, documenting stories of change and hope, and lending his reputation and support to energize alliances for positive development.
In 2006, Jean-Michel's initiative to protect the Northwest Hawaiian Islands took him to The White House where he screened his PBS-KQED documentary, "Voyage to Kure," for President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and other dignitaries. The President was inspired and in June 2006, he declared the 1,200-mile chain of islands a National Monument-the largest protected area in the world.
Jean-Michel has been recognized for his work with the following awards: first recipient of the Ocean Hero Award from Oceana in 2003; first person to represent the Environment in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2000 Olympic Games; Environmental Hero Award, presented by Vice President Al Gore, 1998; the Poseidon/Lifetime Achievement Award from Reef Check; appointed Global Marine spokesperson for British Virgin Islands, 2003; elected to the Global Green Board of Directors.
Fabien Cousteau
Fabien Cousteau, a third-generation oceanographer, shares his father's and grandfather's love of deep sea adventure. Only four years old when he first dove, he has been diving and working to educate others about our oceans ever since.
Fabien's latest oceanic passion is the understanding and protection of sharks. In winter 2006, CBS will air Fabien's television special, Mind of a Demon. Fabien, with the help of a large crew, created a 14 foot, 1,200 pound, lifelike shark submarine for the program. The simulated shark enables Fabien to move inside the shark world, providing viewers with a rare view of the enigmatic creature.
Fabien plays a key role in his father's upcoming PBS series: Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures. He eagerly anticipates illuminating viewers to the mysteries of the ocean. He likely won't have difficulty attracting the attention: People Magazine named Fabien the "Sexiest Man of the Sea" in 2002. Fabien lives in New York City.
Celine Cousteau
Celine Cousteau, the 33 year-old daughter of ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, and granddaughter of legendary filmmaker Jacques Cousteau, is an adventurer in her own right. Since childhood, she has spent her time playing and working in some of the most exotic places in the world, both above and beneath the sea.
The youngest Cousteau performs a critical function at the Ocean Futures Society as International Program Coordinator. She is responsible for developing the Society's presence in Europe and for creating awareness for the Cousteau mission.
Celine is also a travel guide for Butterfield and Robinson, an exclusive adventure travel company based in Toronto. She joins her father and her brother in Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures. Celine lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Robert Redford, Narrator
Robert Redford is somewhat of an anomaly in the entertainment industry. Though he has been world-famous for some 30 years, he remains a highly private individual. He is an ardent conservationist and environmentalist, a man who stands for social responsibility and political involvement and an artist and businessman who is a staunch supporter of uncompromised creative expression. His passion remains to make films of substance and social/cultural relevance, as well as to encourage others to express themselves through the arts.
He is recognized the world over for the roles he has played and the projects he has directed or produced throughout a distinguished stage and film career. Believing that it is the unexpected and uncommon, which ultimately enlivens the cultural ecology of a society, Redford has nurtured more than a generation of innovative voices in independent film through his non-profit Sundance Institute and Film Festival. Harvard Business Review observed, "Sundance has become to Hollywood what Silicon Valley has been to the high-tech industry." His life-long passion for nature and issues of justice has resulted in Redford being widely acknowledged as a highly effective and dedicated political and environmental activist.
Pierce Brosnan, Narrator
This world-famous actor is known for a long career in television and film. He is best known for his role as James Bond in the movies Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day. Brosnan's first three Bond films earned a billion dollars at the box office, and his most recent smash hit, Die Another Day, was the most successful Bond film in history.
Brosnan, together with his wife Keely Shaye Smith, is also passionately involved in environmental issues, particularly in support of marine mammals. They have lobbied against legislation designed to weaken federal standards for labeling canned tuna "Dolphin Safe." From 1997 to 2000, they worked to stop a proposed salt factory from being built at Laguna San Ignacio on Mexico's Baja California peninsula. Their unprecedented victory prevented the destruction of the last pristine breeding ground for the Pacific gray whale. Both the Environmental Media Association and Women in Film have jointly honored them with humanitarian awards. Brosnan's lifelong commitment to helping preserve the earth's oceans lead to his relationship with Jean-Michel Cousteau and his role narrating Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures.
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