James Cameron dives for new film project

By: Patrick Sauriol
Date: Thursday, August 07, 2003
Source: Variety

Variety broke the news today that TITANIC director James Cameron has a new project: a biopic focusing on the accomplishments and relationship between Francisco "Pipin" Ferreras and his wife Audrey Mestre. Both were world-class champions at the extreme sport of freediving, the act of diving as far as you can descend on just one breath of air.

Ferreras held the world-record for freediving in 2000, submerging himself an amazing 531.4 feet. That record was then shattered by his wife Audrey, who was taught how to freedive by her husband, when she plunged an astounding 557.7 feet. When she attempted to break her record last year, Mestre died. Her husband will attempt to match her record this coming October 12 during a dive at Cabo San Lucas. Cameron will film Ferreras' attempt for inclusion in his film.

Lightstorm Entertainment, Cameron's film production company, has purchased the rights to Ferreras' life story as well as the diver's upcoming autobiography as well as Sports Illustrated article about the sport. Longtime Lightstorm execs Jon Landau and Rae Sanchini will produce the film with Cameron.

But the freedive picture won't be Cameron's next movie. While it's likely that Lightstorm will hire a screenwriter to pen the Ferreras/Mestre picture, the filmmaker will be working on a mysterious 3-D project as his next movie. The subject matter of the new 3-D picture hasn't been revealed as yet by Cameron.


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