Category: Art & Life

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AFI Life Achievement Award honors Nicole Kidman’s career: From ‘Expats’ to those AMC ads?

Nicole Kidman has been an international treasure going on four decades. Whether you’re tracking her many wigs (“The Undoing” is our favorite), admiring her textured and committed performances, or just standing up and saluting before every AMC Theatres showing, you’re probably honoring her in some way.

 

While five best actress Oscar nominations and one win (for “The Hours”) have been adequate markers of her success and endurance, conversations have been brewing for years about a lack of recognition for her remarkable artistic consistency.

 

“How many times does Nicole Kidman have to prove herself?” asked author Anne Helen Peterson in a 2017 essay for BuzzFeed, one that examined how esteem is or isn’t doled out to women in Hollywood, using Kidman as a template.

 

“While male actors coast on the brilliance of a single performance for years, female stars have to reapply for greatness on a yearly basis, fighting the industry-wide impulse for gossip about their personal lives and their appearances to subsume substantial conversation about their ability,” Peterson wrote nearly 10 years ago, on the heels of the runaway hit first season of “Big Little Lies,” starring Kidman.

 

After a 2023 delay due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, the American Film Institute hopes to correct this cultural error by handing Kidman its Life Achievement Award Saturday. Broadcast on TNT, the tribute makes for glorious cinema pageantry, sitting our film idols on a dais and trotting out an army of famous faces to pay tribute to them in between movie clips.

 

AFI president Bob Gazzale, who wrote the upcoming Kidman show and serves as executive producer, watched roughly 80 films and series from the actor’s archive in an effort to capture her versatility. Only with Kidman do you get “The Stepford Wives” remake next to an adaptation of Phillip Roth’s “The Human Stain.” Or Gus Van Sant’s “To Die For” along with Adam Sandler’s “Just Go With It.” Or Jonathan Glazer’s criminally underrated “Birth” alongside the campy “Batman Forever.”

 

Gazzale caught up with Variety to discuss his grand plans for Kidman, offer a look inside AFI’s selection process and tease some surprises in store.

 

There are so few formats like the Life Achievement Award on live television now. We’ve moved away from this kind of thing thanks to social media and how video moves now. So why Nicole Kidman, and why now?

In the long and proud tradition of this award, Nicole embodies the glamour and the romance of Hollywood past. But she also has the daring and the bravery of one of this art form’s great character actors. She’s a true screen icon, but she’s also a risk-taker. Each performance is something new and something profound.

 

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— Variety

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Lesniak inducted into the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni

UNION, N.J. — On April 25, former Senator Raymond J. Lesniak was inducted into the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni among four other influential Rutgers University graduates.

 

Lesniak was recognized at Stone House at Stirling Ridge for his exemplary work in the New Jersey Legislature and as President and Founder of The Lesniak Institute for American Leadership. This award is the highest achievement a Rutgers graduate can receive from the University.

 

He has been a persistent champion of social and criminal justice, animal welfare, women’s rights, and environmental protection. During his time in the legislature he sponsored the most significant laws to protect the environment, was a leading advocate for legalizing same-sex marriage, fought to abolish New Jersey’s death penalty, and marked his name in sports history with his legendary legislative and legal fight that lead to the United States Supreme Court making sports betting legal in America.

 

In addition to these great accomplishments, he has published books about these legislative and legal battles: The Road to Abolition: How New Jersey Abolished the Death Penalty, What’s Love got to Do with it?, Beating the Odds, and most recently Cultivating Justice in the Garden State: My Life in the Colorful World of New Jersey Politics.

 

About the Lesniak Institute for American Leadership

The Lesniak Institute is developing the next generation of American leaders by teaching the principles of effective advocacy, offering first-hand experience through its causes, and partnering with grassroots organizations. The Institute is named for Senator Raymond J. Lesniak who authored and sponsored hundreds of laws during his 40 years in the New Jersey Legislature to advance human rights and the quality of life for millions. • LesniakInstitute.org

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Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media, Tinkle Comics launch Indian superhero graphic novel ‘Minnal Murali’

“Baahubali” star Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media has teamed with Tinkle Comics to launch a graphic novel featuring Indian superhero Minnal Murali at the Mumbai Comic-Con.

 

“Minnal Murali” is a 2021 Malayalam-language film directed by Basil Joseph, produced by Sophia Paul’s Weekend Blockbusters and starring Tovino Thomas as the eponymous superhero.

 

Set in a village in Kerala, the film follows a tailor with dreams of emigrating to the U.S. and a social outcast who simultaneously get superpowers when struck by lightning (minnal means lightning in Malayalam) with the former using them for good and the latter for evil. It was acquired by Netflix and had a direct-to-digital release on the service during the pandemic and remains one of its most popular films.

 

The graphic novel will delve into the superhero’s origins and unveil a new story that takes his adventures further.

 

Spirit Media unveiled film, TV and comic-book projects with a variety of partners at the San Diego Comic-Con last year. Tinkle, which was established in 1980, is published by India’s oldest comic-book brand Amar Chitra Katha and is known for its homegrown characters including Suppandi and Shikari Shambu. “Minnal Murali” is Tinkle’s first publication in the graphic novel format.

 

Daggubati said: “The debut of Tinkle’s graphic novel ‘Minnal Murali’ at Mumbai Comic-Con marks a significant milestone for reaffirming the love for Indian superheroes and comics, furthermore, resonating with the unmet need of Indian comic lovers in the digital age. It is a moment of great pride and excitement to continue the universe of this much-loved contemporary Indian superhero and bring him to life from the screen to a comic.”

 

Paul added: “Seeing our beloved characters and captivating storylines come to life on the vibrant pages is a testament to the enduring impact of our film, inspiring fans to embark on new adventures within this rich and dynamic universe.”

 

President and CEO of Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle, Preeti Vyas, said: “Books are often converted to films, but this project is a great example of how a popular film franchise has been taken into the pages of a book, with a brand-new story based on the characters of the super successful movie, ‘Minnal Murali’ in a graphic novel format. We are very excited about exploring other such transmedia opportunities for Tinkle Comics Studio.”

 

Gayathri Chandrasekaran, editor-in-chief of Tinkle Comics, added: “‘Minnal Murali’ has captivated the nation’s imagination, and we’re excited to bring a brand-new ‘Minnal Murali’ story to life in this dynamic new format. This graphic novel is just the beginning of Tinkle’s foray into new storytelling mediums, and we’re committed to delivering even more exciting content in the future.”

 

 

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— Variety (EXCLUSIVE) 

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‘The Blair Witch Project’ cast ask Lionsgate for retroactive residuals and ‘meaningful consultation’ on future projects

The directors and producers of the groundbreaking 1999 horror film release a separate statement in support: ‘We believe the actors deserve to be celebrated for their enduring association with the franchise’

 

 

Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams, stars of the seminal horror film “The Blair Witch Project,” released a public letter to Lionsgate on Saturday asking for more robust compensation for their work on the 1999 blockbuster, as well as “meaningful consultation” on any future “Blair Witch” projects that use their names or likenesses.

 

The statement comes 10 days after Lionsgate and Blumhouse announced they plan to revive the franchise with a new movie that would provide, in the words of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson, “new vision for ‘Blair Witch’ that will reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation.” Lionsgate did not produce or distribute the original 1999 film. It acquired the property through its 2003 buyout of independent film distributor Artisan Entertainment.

 

The Lionsgate-Blumhouse announcement sparked a strongly worded response via social media from Leonard, who said that no one had contacted him or his costars about the project in advance. “At this point, it’s 25 years of disrespect from the folks who’ve pocketed the lion’s share (pun intended) of the profits from OUR work, and that feels both icky and classless,” Leonard wrote.

 

Leonard said that the actors — who shot and improvised the independent movie over roughly a week on a shoestring budget, using their real names for their characters — each made $300,000 from a buyout of their ownership points on the film, which went on to gross $248 million worldwide. In 2002, the actors sued Artisan Entertainment for using their names and likenesses in the studio’s 2000 sequel, “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2.”

 

In their most recent statement, Leonard, Williams and Donahue (who now goes by Rei Hance) call on Lionsgate to provide them with retroactive and future residual payments “equivalent to the sum that would’ve been allotted through SAG-AFTRA, had we had proper union or legal representation when the film was made.”

 

They also ask for “meaningful consultation on any future ‘Blair Witch’ reboot, sequel, prequel, toy, game, ride, escape room, etc., in which one could reasonably assume that Heather, Michael & Josh’s names and/or likenesses will be associated for promotional purposes in the public sphere.”

 

Lionsgate first attempted to revive the franchise with the 2016 sequel “Blair Witch,” which earned $45 million worldwide. The company also operates a Blair Witch-themed Escape room in Las Vegas.

 

Finally, the actors request Lionsgate create a $60,000 “Blair Witch Grant” that would be bestowed to “an unknown/aspiring genre filmmaker to assist in making their first feature film.”

 

A spokesperson for Lionsgate had no comment.

 

Separately, “The Blair Witch Project” directors Eduardo Sanchez and Dan Myrick, producers Gregg Hale and Robin Cowie, and co-producer Michael Monello released a joint statement supporting the actors.

 

“While we, the original filmmakers, respect Lionsgate’s right to monetize the intellectual property as it sees fit, we must highlight the significant contributions of the original cast  — Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Mike Williams,” they say in the statement. “As the literal faces of what has become a franchise, their likenesses, voices, and real names are inseparably tied to ‘The Blair Witch Project.’ Their unique contributions not only defined the film’s authenticity but continue to resonate with audiences around the world.”

 

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— Variety

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How TikTok has influenced US culture: shaped Hollywood, privacy, shopping, news, music, mental health, national security, and more

— TikTok has changed America

 

New York Times:

 

 

—  Has there ever been an app more American seeming than TikTok, with its messy democratic creativity, exhibitionism, utter lack of limits and vast variety of hustlers?

 

And yet, of course, TikTok is not American, which is the whole reason that in March, the House of Representatives passed a bill with broad bipartisan support that would force the Chinese owners of the video-app juggernaut to either sell to a non-Chinese owner or face a ban. Lawmakers say it’s a national security threat, and that the Chinese government could lean on its owner, ByteDance, to obtain sensitive U.S. user data or influence content on the app to serve its interests.

 

There’s a long road of legislation, deal making and legal challenges ahead before TikTok could be forced to change ownership or even be banned. The Senate would need to pass the legislation — which it may do as soon, now that the House has bundled it into a foreign aid package. It would have to survive lawsuits from TikTok and creators. Buyers would have to clear regulatory approval. And after all that, Beijing could simply block a deal.

 

But imagining what a United States without TikTok would look like throws into sharp relief just how much the app has worked its way into American culture.

 

TikTok, which officially landed in the United States in 2018, was the most downloaded app in the country, and the world, in 2020, 2021 and 2022. It wasn’t that the elements of it were so new — compelling videos from randos had long been a staple of American pop culture — but TikTok put the pieces together in a new way.

 

Unlike Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat, TikTok didn’t build itself around social connections. Its goal is pure, uncut entertainment. The algorithm ingested every data point it could from what users skipped, liked or shared — and spat it directly into the maddeningly habit-forming For You Page. Fans whispered reverently that it knew them better than they knew themselves.

 

Here are 19 ways of understanding how TikTok became part of American life. The music America listens to, the movies it sees, what conspiracies it believes, how it can make or break a product’s success, who it defines as a celebrity — all of it has been influenced by TikTok, for good and bad. Even if you’ve never opened the app, you’ve lived in a culture that exists downstream of what happens there.

 

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— Techmeme

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Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s ‘Something Like an Autobiography’ sets Channel 4 deal

Bangladeshi filmmakers Mostofa Sarwar Farooki and Nusrat Imrose Tisha‘s “Something Like an Autobiography” has been acquired for U.K. broadcast by Channel 4.

 

The film had its world premiere at the 2023 Busan International Film Festival, where was in the prestigious Jiseok competition. It was also a part of the South Asian icon strand at the 2023 Mumbai Film Festival.

 

The film follows Dhaka-based married couple, the filmmaker Farhan (Farooki) and actor Tithi (Tisha), who are under societal pressure to have a baby. Tithi conceives and towards the end of her pregnancy term an incident occurs that throws into sharp relief some realities of contemporary Bangladeshi society.

 

The title, a nod to Kurosawa Akira’s celebrated memoir, is also reflective of the real lives of Farooki and Tisha, a real-life celebrity couple who are the most recognized filmmaker and actor in Bangladesh, respectively.

 

“This is a special film for me and Tisha. Personal, embarrassing and rewarding at the same time. I am happy the film will be seen by the Channel 4 audience. Hope they will be able to connect with the universal theme although portrayed through local details,” Farooki told Variety.

 

The film is produced by Redoan Rony for Bangladeshi streaming platform Chorki and co-produced by Nina Lath, Anna Katchko and Tisha. It is a part of Chorki’s 12-film project “Ministry of Love.”

 

Chorki CEO Rony said: “Channel 4 is an esteemed broadcaster. We are glad that they chose our film to showcase it to their audience. Chorki always wants to make quality films and series. This is a clear sign we are moving in the right direction.”

 

“Something Like an Autobiography” plays next at the Sydney Film Festival.

 

Farooki’s “Last Defenders of Monogamy” is also part of the “Ministry of Love” anthology.

 

Next up for Farooki is U.K.-based Hindi and English-language romance “To Hell With Love,” which recently participated in the first edition of India’s Cinevesture International Film Festival’s project market.

 

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— Variety (EXCLUSIVE) 

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TimberTech® Composite Decking recognized by industry and design professionals for performance, innovation and sustainability

CHICAGO — (BUSINESS WIRE) — The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE: AZEK) (“AZEK” or the “Company”), the industry-leading manufacturer of beautiful, low-maintenance and environmentally sustainable outdoor living products, including TimberTech® decking and railing, Versatex® and AZEK® Trim, and StruXure® pergolas, is proud to announce that the new TimberTech Composite Terrain+ CollectionTM has been recognized for its innovative design and performance characteristics as well as its sustainability attributes, receiving Green Builder’s 2024 Sustainable Product of the Year Award and being named to HGTV Magazine’s 2024 Green List.

 

TimberTech Composite Terrain+ decking features sophisticated aesthetics with multi-color variegation and realistic emboss patterns combined with the high performance and durability found across all of TimberTech’s Composite decking collections. With its protective 4-sided capping, the Terrain+ Collection palette includes three on-trend colors, including Weathered Oak, Natural White Oak, and Dark Oak – each delivering a sophisticated, versatile and natural wood look. It is sustainably manufactured in the USA with up to 85% recycled content and protected with Product and Fade & Stain Limited Warranties for up to 30 years.


“As we celebrate the recognition of our TimberTech Composite Terrain+ Collection by Green Builder and HGTV Magazine, it’s clear that our commitment to innovation and sustainability is resonating with industry experts and consumers alike,” said Chief Marketing Officer Sam Toole. “This award-winning collection is a testament to our dedication to creating products that are both beautiful and environmentally responsible. It also reinforces AZEK’s position as an industry leader, where our focus on innovation enables us to consistently launch new outdoor living solutions that meet and exceed homeowner expectations.”

 

The Terrain+ Collection was named a winner in Green Builder’s 2024 Sustainable Product of the Year Awards, which recognizes the best innovations in sustainable home and building product design. Receiving accolades for its nature-inspired design, realistic wood looks, and superior performance and durability, the collection’s environmental sustainability attributes also stood out to the judges who deemed TimberTech as one of the brand leaders defining the future of green building.

 

2024 marks the second year in a row that TimberTech Decking was featured on HGTV Magazine’s Annual Green List, which features the editors’ best picks for eco-friendly furniture, décor and outdoor spaces. The Terrain+ Collection was their standout pick for homeowners looking to make their outdoor spaces more environmentally friendly.

 

To learn more about TimberTech’s beautiful, low-maintenance and sustainable outdoor living solutions, visit timbertech.com.

 

About The AZEK® Company

The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE: AZEK) is the industry-leading designer and manufacturer of beautiful, low maintenance and environmentally sustainable outdoor living products, including TimberTech® decking and railing, Versatex® and AZEK® Trim, and StruXure® pergolas. Consistently awarded and recognized as the market leader in innovation, quality, aesthetics and sustainability, our products are made from up to 85% recycled material and primarily replace wood on the outside of homes, providing a long-lasting, eco-friendly, and stylish solution to consumers. Leveraging the talents of its approximately 2,000 employees and the strength of relationships across its value chain, The AZEK Company is committed to accelerating the use of recycled material in the manufacturing of its innovative products, keeping hundreds of millions of pounds of waste and scrap out of landfills each year, and revolutionizing the industry to create a more sustainable future. The AZEK Company has recently been named one of America’s Climate Leaders by USA Today, a Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune and U.S. News and World Report, and a winner of the 2024 Real Leaders® Impact Awards. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company operates manufacturing and recycling facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan and Minnesota. For additional information, please visit azekco.com.

Contacts

Amanda Cimaglia

312-809-1093

media@azekco.com

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Mercer County selects Artworks to install community-themed public mural on Cass Street

TRENTON, N.J. — Mercer County and the Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage (MCDC&H) announced that Artworks, the Trenton-based visual arts center, has been selected to design and install a public mural. The mural to-come, entitled “Breaking Barriers,” will visualize the power art has to connect a community.

“Artworks has been a valued community partner for many years, and I’m excited to see work begin on the project,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson.

“Public art provides an opportunity for a community to express its values, its passions, and its hopes. This mural will serve as a lasting testament to the incredible creative talent in our Capital City.

In a ‘Call for Artists,’ the MCDC&H opened submissions for the Mercer County Cass Street Prison Mural Project (MCCSPMP) to professional, practicing artists and artist teams living or working within the tri-state area (N.J., N.Y., Conn. and Pa.). Qualified artists were asked to propose an original design to be installed on the exterior 319 ft (w) x 19 ft (h) wall of the New Jersey State Prison located at 600 Cass St, Trenton, N.J.

The County received over 50 proposals. All qualifying proposals were then reviewed by a committee composed of public art experts, an arts administrator, a NJ State Prison representative and the MCDC&H. The committee narrowed the proposals down to six finalists, who then presented their proposals live in Phase II of the process.

After a thorough deliberation, Artworks came out on top.

“Artworks Trenton’s proposal stood out for its ability to capture the essence of what the grant aims to achieve,” Samuel Kanig, Program Coordinator at The Center for Community Engagement at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and a MCCSPMP Committee member said.

“I’m excited about the collective of artists that will be working on the mural and the creativity they individually bring to the project. The Cass Street Mural is sure to be an inspiring community landmark.”

A team of seven artists will be working together to represent Artworks on this project. Artists collaborating on this design are Jonathan “LANK” Conner (Project Manager), Leon Rainbow and Jose “Busta” Bustamente (Lead Artists), Dean “Ras” Innocenzi, Dave “Mek” Klama, Alia Bensliman and April Cooper.

“Artworks is thrilled to have been selected for this project and is proud to be working with an amazing group of local artists led by Leon Rainbow and Jose Bustamente,” Conner said. “We look forward to creating a beautiful mural that represents the city and can be enjoyed by Trentonians for many years to come.”

Artwork’s concept for the mural is a celebration of arts and culture in the City of Trenton. In their proposal, the team described the upcoming mural design as a representation of the power that art has to “break down barriers: mental, cultural, spiritual, financial, and institutional.”

Each of the seven artists involved in the creation of this mural plans to bring a different perspective to their design, both through different artistic styles and through their individual cultural backgrounds. Together, the artists plan to make a connection between the diverse artistic styles and backgrounds of the group and the diverse community of the capital city.

“I was delighted to serve on the Art Selection Committee with our colleagues at Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage,” said Stephanie Nerbak, Artist Services Manager at the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

“This project was a perfect fit for the team at Artworks Trenton. Their knowledge of the city, engagement of community members and local artists, combined with their strong design will make a terrific contribution to the neighborhood of South Trenton.”

Artworks will spend the Spring and Summer months workshopping and installing this mural, with an anticipated completion date in the Fall of 2024. To follow along with its development, follow MCDC&H on Facebook (Mercer County Culture and Heritage Commission) or on Instagram (@MercerCountyCultureHeritage).

“The Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage is looking forward to seeing Artworks’ mural design come to life,” Idamis Pérez Margicin, Division Chief of Mercer County’s Division of Culture & Heritage and MCCSPMP Committee member said.

The MCCSPMP is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and is being administered by the Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage on behalf of County Executive Dan Benson and the Mercer County Board of Commissioners.

For additional information, please reach out to Theo Siggelakis at TSiggelakis@Mercercounty.org

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Sanjay Rao for actor and breakout star in Glenn Powell’s Netflix film ‘Hit Man’

Multi-talented breakout star and comedic ace Sanjay Rao is ready to make a name for himself starring alongside Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, and Retta in the highly anticipated and acclaimed Netflix series, Hit Man aimed for release on the platform on Friday, June 7 with a limited theatrical release prior.

 

Co-written by leading man Glen Powell (Set It Up, Top Gun: Maverick), Hit Man belongs to a bundle of genres: noir, screwball comedy, thriller. But at its core it’s a relationship movie. The sparks between fake hit man “Gary Johnson” (Powell) and prospective client “Madison” (Adria Arjona) fly immediately — until layers upon layers of deceit turn their budding romance upside down. Sanjay stars alongside comedy great Retta as the comedic duo of the film – Gary Johnson’s co-workers on the police force who guide him through his undercover missions with humor and encouragement.

 

Sanjay’s incredible journey from STEM to the world of comedy has led him to a pivotal role. Rao, born in Arizona, had a childhood dream ignited at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where he aspired to become an astronaut after meeting the legendary John Glenn. A Doctor and Engineer by education, he took a leap into the world of comedy, fueled by a passion for acting and a keen interest in making people laugh.

 

Graduating with a major in Biochemistry from the University of Texas in 2009, Sanjay’s commitment to his dreams was evident even in his college days, as he balanced living at home and working in a lab while pursuing his studies. Sanjay’s comedic journey began in Austin. Starting as a medical assistant, he navigated the open mic scene, embracing failures before finding his stride in improv. His resilience and dedication eventually led him to commercial work and the Crunchtime Show.

 

Sanjay’s connection to comedy deepened when he met his wife, involved in the comedy scene at Coltown. They’ve shared a journey of love and laughter for the past six years. His move to LA in 2019, followed by his wife in 2020, marked a significant shift in his career as a non-union actor, with his first notable TV role in The Flight Attendant.

 

 

Sanjay’s success is not solely his own; the support of mentors like Laurel Vouvrai, the comedy community in Texas, and notable figures like Richard Linklader and Glenn Powell played a crucial role. His collaborative spirit is evident in the numerous pitches Rhetta made on his behalf during auditions.

 

We invite you to join us in celebrating Sanjay Rao’s journey – a fusion of STEM, laughter, and a relentless pursuit of dreams. We look forward to the possibility of sharing Sanjay’s story with your audience.

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Matt Rife sets two Netflix comedy specials, including first full-length crowd work show

More Matt Rife is coming to Netflix.

 

Following his comedy special “Natural Selection” in November 2023, Rife will make two more specials at Netflix. The first in Rife’s two-special deal is set to release later this year. It will be Netflix’s first-ever, full-length crowd work special. It will shoot at The Comedy Zone in Charlotte, N.C., and will be directed by Erik Griffin. Irony Point will produce, along with Rife and his manager Christina Shams as executive producers.

 

Rife’s “Natural Selection,” brought in more than 10 million views in the first few weeks of its release along with reaching the Global Top 10 in 42 countries. Prior to his Netflix hit, Rife released three YouTube specials, which he self-produced and distributed, that now sit at 43 million views.

 

The comedian is also a social media star after his career grew by going viral times on TikTok and having a combined 33 million followers and 2 billion views across all platforms. Last year, Rife broke Ticketmaster due to high demand for ticket sales to “The ProbleMATTic World Tour.” The tour included four sold-out shows at Dolby Theater, six nights at Radio City Music Hall and five sold-out shows at Mohegan Sun Area. While his “ProbleMATTic World Tour” is still going strong, there are more stops to come in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe and the Middle East.

 

Rife returns to Los Angeles to headline The Hollywood Bowl on May 8 for the Netflix Is A Joke Festival, which will be his first-ever appearance.

 

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— Variety