MAKING WAVES
It was smooth sailing for Malibu’s “Titanic” director James Cameron as he splashed down in the waters off Marina del Rey to raise money for the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation.
“I’ve never sailed before,” he warned just before embarking on his journey, “but I’m going to learn today. It might not be pretty, but we’ll have fun.”
The famous filmmaker seemed to be a natural for the sport. Paired with “Dark Angel” beauty Jessica Alba, the two came in as the winning entry in a six-boat sailing race, which pitted them against fellow celebs like Tom Arnold, Michael Weatherly, Dennis Weaver, Bill Paxton and Billy Zane.
Several nautically-clad guests like Gary Busey gathered dockside to cheer on captain and crew while a Beach Boys-style band gave the group a rousing send-off.
But all the fun had a serious side with Cameron making a plea to save the world’s waterways.
“Seen from space, our planet is blue. It is a planet of water,” he explained. “Our destiny is interlocked with destiny of the sea. We are on a ship through space. We are at the helm of this great blue ship and if there is an iceberg, there aren’t any lifeboats.”
Cameron noted that the planet’s coral reefs are dying at an alarming rate and likened them to our rain forests. “Rising water temperatures are a factor of coral death. I want to do what I can as a filmmaker and to give something back. I want to put my money where my mouth is and to make a difference to inspire and create a passion for the ocean.”
This summer, Cameron will be doing just that as he joins an underwater expedition to visit the real Titanic. A diver since 1969, Cameron will join Jean-Michael Cousteau, son of legendary Jacques Cousteau, and venture 12,000 feet beneath the sea to capture the experience for “Ocean Challenge,” a series which he plans to air this fall.
After claiming his prize, Captain James & Co. retired to a private boat to celebrate with a little brie and Chablis, strawberries and champagne.
Sail on, sail on sailors!
ITS A DRAG
Gender benders seem to be all the rage these days. First came the wild and wacky “Dame Edna: the Royal Tour,” which had the crowds roaring after a celebrity-studded opening night performance and party, sponsored by Venice Magazine. Dame Edna’s debut was followed by the equally outrageous Lypsinka. John Epperson, creator of the glamour goddess, has moved his act from small cabarets to prestigious stages in Paris, Sydney, London and Tokyo and now to Los Angeles, where it has been winning rave reviews.
The production continues at the Tiffany Theater until July 31. If you just can’t stay up for those midnight performances of “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” check it out.