Kitao Sakurai (born 1983) is a Japanese-American actor, writer, producer, and director of film and television. He is known for directing the 2021 Netflix film Bad Trip.
Kitao Sakurai | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983 (age 40–41) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1995 – present |
| Known for | Director on The Eric Andre Show |
Early life and education
editKitao Sakurai[1] was born in Japan[2] in 1983[3][4] and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.[2]
Career
editSakurai is an actor, writer, producer, and director of film and television.[5][6][7][8]
He made his feature directorial debut with Aardvark (2010), which was shot in his hometown of Cleveland.[9]
He directed the The Passage, a short film co-written by and starring American comedian Phil Burgers ("Dr Brown"). It premiered at Sundance in 2018, and won Best Short Fiction prize at the LA Film Festival, Best Comedy at Aspen Shortsfest, and the Grand Jury Prize at the Nashville Film Festival.[10][11]
He also directed the 2021 Netflix film Bad Trip.[12][13][14][15]
He is also known for his work in The Eric Andre Show.[16][17]
His next project that he will be doing is the live action adaptation of Street Fighter.[18]
Production company
editSakurai co-founded the New York-based production company Naked Faces, with Andrew Barchilon.[19]
Filmography
editAs director
edit- Aardvark (2010)
- The Passage (short film, 2018)
- Bad Trip (2021)
- Street Fighter (2026)
As actor
edit- Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back (1995) as Justin Banning
- The Best Bad Thing (1997) as Zenny Hata
- Dogma (1999) as Stygian Triplet
- Aardvark (2010) as Darius Szopa
- Treatment (2011) as Tennis Instructor
- We Are the Hartmans (2011) as Music Video Director
References
edit- ^ Dutta, Debopriyaa (March 16, 2022). "72 Hours: Bad Trip Director Kitao Sakurai Making Movie Written By Cobra Kai Creators". Slash Film. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Knegt, Peter (November 5, 2010). "FUTURES: "Aardvark" Director Kitao Sakurai". IndieWire. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Hernandez, Eugene (June 29, 2010). "TRAILER DEBUT: Sneak Peek of "Aardvark" from Rooftop Films, SnagFilms & indieWIRE". IndieWire. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Leston, Ryan (April 20, 2022). "Twisted Metal TV Series: Eric Andre Show Director Joins the Project". IGN. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
...the 39-year-old actor and filmmaker...
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (April 19, 2022). "'Twisted Metal': Kitao Sakurai To EP & Direct Anthony Mackie-Led Peacock Series". Deadline Hollywood via Yahoo!. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (April 19, 2022). "'Twisted Metal': Kitao Sakurai To EP & Direct Anthony Mackie-Led Peacock Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (December 11, 2023). "Kitao Sakurai Set To Direct Prime Video Series 'Butterfly'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Hunt, A.E. (August 23, 2018). "Writer/Director Kitao Sakurai on Designing the Deliberate Randomness of The Eric Andre Show and The Passage". Filmmaker. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Brennan, Billy (July 17, 2011). "Kitao Sakurai". Filmmaker. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Kelly-Clyne, Luke (28 November 2018). "I Loved The Passage Even Though I Didn't Like It At All". Vulture. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ The Passage at IMDb
- ^ Blistein, Jon (March 31, 2021). "'The Breakdown' With Eric Andre and Kitao Sakurai". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Squires, John (April 19, 2022). ""Twisted Metal" TV Series Lands Director Kitao Sakurai". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Papineau, Tripp (April 20, 2022). "'Twisted Metal' Taps Kitao Sakurai to Direct Series Adaptation". Collider. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (March 15, 2022). "'Bad Trip' Director Kitao Sakurai To Helm '72 Hours' For Sony Pictures; 'Cobra Kai' Creators Penning Script". Deadline Hollywood via Yahoo!. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Hamman, Cody (April 20, 2022). "Twisted Metal TV series: Bad Trip's Kitao Sakurai to direct multiple episodes of video game adaptation". JoBlo.com. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Flook, Ray (April 19, 2022). "Twisted Metal: Kitao Sakurai Directing Peacock/Anthony Mackie Series". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Cassidy, Mark (September 27, 2024). "STREET FIGHTER Movie Reportedly Enlists BAD TRIP Director Kitao Sakurai To Helm". Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ Barchilon, Andrew; Sakurai, Kitao (June 27, 2012). "FIRST PERSON; "The Eric Andre Show" Creators Andrew Barchilon and Kitao Sakurai on Embracing Ineptitude in Their Talk Show Parody". IndieWire. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
External links
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