Latest news with #TheIntruder
The Age
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Comedy was just a hobby for Atsuko – then three years ago, ‘things happened'
This story is part of the August 9 edition of Good Weekend. See all 13 stories. Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we're told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they're given. This week he speaks to Atsuko Okatsuka. The Japanese-Taiwanese-American comedian, 37, was named Best Comedy Debut of 2022 by The New York Times for her stand-up special, The Intruder. Her latest release is Father. POLITICS Your maternal great-grandfather was a pro-independence Taiwanese politician whose son – your grandfather – was assassinated by the Kuomintang. Did you grow up knowing these stories? My family doesn't talk about a lot of things; it gives me bits and pieces and then I have to be a detective about it … with a comedian's brain. I don't know if it's an Asian family thing, but we're all forced to be Sherlock Holmes because everyone's just trying to swallow what happened in the past and keep it down. Your comedy is laugh-out-loud, but you also talk about your family history and some of it's heavy. How do you make that material approachable? Oh, I have to remember to chase the funny. Like when I tried to give my grandma a bath recently, it was hard. I was nude. I can laugh about it, but for someone else hearing it … they might need more jokes. What do you think the US gets right, compared with other countries? We legalised weed in a lot of the states and I think that's correct. Has there ever been a serial killer on weed? Not that I can think of. You'd be caught way too easily. Or you'd be laughing on your way to murder someone and be way too loud. What does the US get wrong? We're too big! Too big means more people, which means too many different opinions. SEX If you could get into a time machine to meet Atsuko as a kid, and have a pep talk with her about sex, what would you say to her? I don't know. I don't really know kids. I don't talk to any kids. We don't have kids. I'm not friends with any kids. Why would I be friends with kids? That's creepy. Which reminds me: you recently posted a fun video documenting your husband, Ryan, getting a vasectomy. Apparently, they call it a 'pipe cut' in Japan.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Comedy was just a hobby for Atsuko – then three years ago, ‘things happened'
This story is part of the August 9 edition of Good Weekend. See all 13 stories. Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we're told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they're given. This week he speaks to Atsuko Okatsuka. The Japanese-Taiwanese-American comedian, 37, was named Best Comedy Debut of 2022 by The New York Times for her stand-up special, The Intruder. Her latest release is Father. POLITICS Your maternal great-grandfather was a pro-independence Taiwanese politician whose son – your grandfather – was assassinated by the Kuomintang. Did you grow up knowing these stories? My family doesn't talk about a lot of things; it gives me bits and pieces and then I have to be a detective about it … with a comedian's brain. I don't know if it's an Asian family thing, but we're all forced to be Sherlock Holmes because everyone's just trying to swallow what happened in the past and keep it down. Your comedy is laugh-out-loud, but you also talk about your family history and some of it's heavy. How do you make that material approachable? Oh, I have to remember to chase the funny. Like when I tried to give my grandma a bath recently, it was hard. I was nude. I can laugh about it, but for someone else hearing it … they might need more jokes. What do you think the US gets right, compared with other countries? We legalised weed in a lot of the states and I think that's correct. Has there ever been a serial killer on weed? Not that I can think of. You'd be caught way too easily. Or you'd be laughing on your way to murder someone and be way too loud. What does the US get wrong? We're too big! Too big means more people, which means too many different opinions. SEX If you could get into a time machine to meet Atsuko as a kid, and have a pep talk with her about sex, what would you say to her? I don't know. I don't really know kids. I don't talk to any kids. We don't have kids. I'm not friends with any kids. Why would I be friends with kids? That's creepy. Which reminds me: you recently posted a fun video documenting your husband, Ryan, getting a vasectomy. Apparently, they call it a 'pipe cut' in Japan.
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
NBA stars to turn filmmakers at summer league fest with Kevin Garnett, Mark Wahlberg and Deon Taylor
Lights, camera, layup. The NBA Summer League is giving athletes another shot that takes place behind the camera. With assists from Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett and Hollywood power players Mark Wahlberg and Deon Taylor, the league is bringing back the NBA Summer League Film Festival starting July 17 in Las Vegas. The three-day festival will bring big-screen storytelling through 34 selected projects, spotlighting stories produced by NBA stars past and present including Nikola Jokic, Luguentz Dort, Tony Allen, Nate Robinson, Cole Anthony, Keyon Dooling and Udonis Haslem. 'We have a ton of NBA players who own production companies,' said Garnett, who won NBA championship with the Boston Celtics. He co-founded the production company Content King Studios. "So the SLFF is a great opportunity to get together to share our projects, give each other our flowers for doing the work, and provide an opportunity to get projects financed and even sold,' Garnett said. The second annual film festival will take place at the Strip View Pavilion inside the Thomas & Mack Center, the longtime home of NBA Summer League, which was co-founded in 2004 by Warren LeGarie and Albert Hall. 'I've always been a big hoops fan so it's amazing to see NBA players bring these incredible stories to life,' said Wahlberg, who has the production company Unrealistic Ideas. Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor of Hidden Empire Film Group were brought on to help athletes explore the art of filmmaking and sharpen their acting chops. 'Today's athletes are more than players. They're storytellers, creators, and global influencers," said Deon Taylor, director of 'Black and Blue,' 'The Intruder, 'Meet the Blacks' and 'Fatale.' This marks another sports-driven venture for Hidden Empire, which teamed up with Skydance Sports and the NFL in March to host film training sessions for more than 20 current and former NFL players. Taylor called the collaboration with Garnett, Wahlberg, Hall and the NBA a "culture shift." He said the festival would help athletes to control their narrative through film, television and other media platforms. 'Together, we're redefining where sports, art, and culture collide,' Taylor said. The festival will feature the premiere of 'UNLV: Kings of Vegas,' showcasing the untold story of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. The documentary will include interviews with popular figures ranging from Snoop Dogg, Chuck D and Jimmy Kimmel. It's produced by former UNLV stars Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon and Greg Anthony along with Damien Big Percy Roderick and Hidden Empire Film Group. Along with screenings, the festival will host various private events including a tipoff viewing of 'Tony Allen: The Grindfather' and a wrap party. 'The SLFF team is passionate about amplifying these amazing films and filmmakers who are producing all forms of content at NBA Summer League,' Hall said. 'Because of all the talented filmmakers who submitted films this year, we believe the 2025 SLFF is poised to take on a life of its own and grow the second weekend of the Summer League.'
Winnipeg Free Press
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
NBA stars to turn filmmakers at summer league fest with Kevin Garnett, Mark Wahlberg and Deon Taylor
Lights, camera, layup. The NBA Summer League is giving athletes another shot that takes place behind the camera. With assists from Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett and Hollywood power players Mark Wahlberg and Deon Taylor, the league is bringing back the NBA Summer League Film Festival starting July 17 in Las Vegas. The three-day festival will bring big-screen storytelling through 34 selected projects, spotlighting stories produced by NBA stars past and present including Nikola Jokic, Luguentz Dort, Tony Allen, Nate Robinson, Cole Anthony, Keyon Dooling and Udonis Haslem. 'We have a ton of NBA players who own production companies,' said Garnett, who won NBA championship with the Boston Celtics. He co-founded the production company Content King Studios. 'So the SLFF is a great opportunity to get together to share our projects, give each other our flowers for doing the work, and provide an opportunity to get projects financed and even sold,' Garnett said. The second annual film festival will take place at the Strip View Pavilion inside the Thomas & Mack Center, the longtime home of NBA Summer League, which was co-founded in 2004 by Warren LeGarie and Albert Hall. 'I've always been a big hoops fan so it's amazing to see NBA players bring these incredible stories to life,' said Wahlberg, who has the production company Unrealistic Ideas. Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor of Hidden Empire Film Group were brought on to help athletes explore the art of filmmaking and sharpen their acting chops. 'Today's athletes are more than players. They're storytellers, creators, and global influencers,' said Deon Taylor, director of 'Black and Blue,' 'The Intruder, 'Meet the Blacks' and 'Fatale.' This marks another sports-driven venture for Hidden Empire, which teamed up with Skydance Sports and the NFL in March to host film training sessions for more than 20 current and former NFL players. Taylor called the collaboration with Garnett, Wahlberg, Hall and the NBA a 'culture shift.' He said the festival would help athletes to control their narrative through film, television and other media platforms. 'Together, we're redefining where sports, art, and culture collide,' Taylor said. The festival will feature the premiere of 'UNLV: Kings of Vegas,' showcasing the untold story of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. The documentary will include interviews with popular figures ranging from Snoop Dogg, Chuck D and Jimmy Kimmel. It's produced by former UNLV stars Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon and Greg Anthony along with Damien Big Percy Roderick and Hidden Empire Film Group. Along with screenings, the festival will host various private events including a tipoff viewing of 'Tony Allen: The Grindfather' and a wrap party. 'The SLFF team is passionate about amplifying these amazing films and filmmakers who are producing all forms of content at NBA Summer League,' Hall said. 'Because of all the talented filmmakers who submitted films this year, we believe the 2025 SLFF is poised to take on a life of its own and grow the second weekend of the Summer League.'
Fox Sports
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
NBA stars to turn filmmakers at summer league fest with Kevin Garnett, Mark Wahlberg and Deon Taylor
Associated Press Lights, camera, layup. The NBA Summer League is giving athletes another shot that takes place behind the camera. With assists from Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett and Hollywood power players Mark Wahlberg and Deon Taylor, the league is bringing back the NBA Summer League Film Festival starting July 17 in Las Vegas. The three-day festival will bring big-screen storytelling through 34 selected projects, spotlighting stories produced by NBA stars past and present including Nikola Jokic, Luguentz Dort, Tony Allen, Nate Robinson, Cole Anthony, Keyon Dooling and Udonis Haslem. 'We have a ton of NBA players who own production companies,' said Garnett, who won NBA championship with the Boston Celtics. He co-founded the production company Content King Studios. "So the SLFF is a great opportunity to get together to share our projects, give each other our flowers for doing the work, and provide an opportunity to get projects financed and even sold,' Garnett said. The second annual film festival will take place at the Strip View Pavilion inside the Thomas & Mack Center, the longtime home of NBA Summer League, which was co-founded in 2004 by Warren LeGarie and Albert Hall. 'I've always been a big hoops fan so it's amazing to see NBA players bring these incredible stories to life,' said Wahlberg, who has the production company Unrealistic Ideas. Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor of Hidden Empire Film Group were brought on to help athletes explore the art of filmmaking and sharpen their acting chops. 'Today's athletes are more than players. They're storytellers, creators, and global influencers," said Deon Taylor, director of 'Black and Blue,' 'The Intruder, 'Meet the Blacks' and 'Fatale.' This marks another sports-driven venture for Hidden Empire, which teamed up with Skydance Sports and the NFL in March to host film training sessions for more than 20 current and former NFL players. Taylor called the collaboration with Garnett, Wahlberg, Hall and the NBA a "culture shift." He said the festival would help athletes to control their narrative through film, television and other media platforms. 'Together, we're redefining where sports, art, and culture collide,' Taylor said. The festival will feature the premiere of 'UNLV: Kings of Vegas,' showcasing the untold story of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. The documentary will include interviews with popular figures ranging from Snoop Dogg, Chuck D and Jimmy Kimmel. It's produced by former UNLV stars Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon and Greg Anthony along with Damien Big Percy Roderick and Hidden Empire Film Group. Along with screenings, the festival will host various private events including a tipoff viewing of 'Tony Allen: The Grindfather' and a wrap party. 'The SLFF team is passionate about amplifying these amazing films and filmmakers who are producing all forms of content at NBA Summer League,' Hall said. 'Because of all the talented filmmakers who submitted films this year, we believe the 2025 SLFF is poised to take on a life of its own and grow the second weekend of the Summer League.' recommended
