Every year, we get excited to send a team out to Park City, Utah to cover the biggest festival in indie film, but this year’s Sundance was especially sweet thanks to one premiere from a former member of the MTV News family.
[ video unavailable on this device ]
“Linsanity,” the new documentary chronicling the rise of NBA star Jeremy Lin, comes from director Evan Jackson Leong, a former producer for MTV News.
The documentary won over critics in Park City, and now you have an opportunity to watch three exclusive clips from the doc to see what all the fuss was about.
Check out three clips from “Linsanity” above!
What are the chances that Jeremy Lin and the Houston Rockets — in the midst of an 82-game regular season — would be playing the Utah Jazz hours after the close of the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday, allowing the point guard to pop over to Park City, Utah, for the final screening of his documentary “Linsanity”?
Then again, what are the chances the world would even know the name Jeremy Lin? That the undrafted Harvard grad would become an international sensation who gave New York Knicks fans a reason to root for the team during an otherwise abysmal season? That the Knicks would then fail to re-sign him and that Lin — courtesy of a three-year, $25 million contract — would head to Houston? That an MTV News producer named Evan Jackson Leong had been following around Lin for years for what everyone involved thought would be a small documentary about an Asian-American basketball player who no one had ever heard of? That “Linsanity” would end up getting into Sundance and receive rave reviews?
Some things are just too hard to explain. To hear it from Lin’s perspective in the doc, it’s all part of God’s plan. For Leong, who stopped by to chat with his old colleagues at Sundance, all these questions amount to the craziest year of his life.
MTV News: It’s been one year since you left MTV News. At what point did you realize you were sitting on something that was much bigger than you ever expected? Was it that first game where he went big? Was it a couple of games in?
Leong: I think we have to go back and know that we were shooting this when he was at Harvard. I was at MTV; I was using my vacation days to film him. At that point in the documentary, we didn’t really have a great ending. We had a bittersweet story. He made it to the NBA, which is amazing in itself, but it wasn’t a very good start to his career. That first game, he gave us an ending. And that second game, he gave us an ending, and he just kept going. We were just blown away. We didn’t even know what happened. We’re like, “Oh yeah, we’re shooting a documentary!” And we have all the access before anyone else does.
MTV: People know the NBA story of Jeremy Lin, but what’s really cool about the film is you find out these little moments about Jeremy. In the best way possible, he’s kind of a dork who likes “Aladdin” and “The Lion King” animated films, he likes to sing karaoke.
Leong: There’s the Jeremy that everyone sees, the one that’s media-trained and ESPN-ready. But then there’s the Jeremy behind closed doors. It’s not a bad Jeremy, it’s not something you have to hide from, but it’s also one that he’s very protective of. I think in any documentary, something like this, you spend two or three years with someone, you want to earn their trust. And when you earn their trust they’re going to give you things that you might not normally get. I think that’s what we built.
MTV: When is the first time you heard that word “Linsanity”?
Leong: Maybe the second game I heard it, and I texted that to Jeremy and he didn’t text me back. And then I realized I don’t think he liked it that much. He didn’t like the name. He likes Jeremy; he doesn’t like using everything as Lin puns.
MTV: Race and racism play a strong role in the documentary.
Leong: I think we all know racism still exists here in America, and that was something you couldn’t get away with in this documentary. He’s an Asian guy, and there’s not a lot of Asian-Americans that high in the media. So when they do reach that level, they are going to be exposed, and there’s going to be stuff that comes out. What I really wanted to try and do and show on this documentary was the evolution of how he dealt with that, because it was new to us, but he’s been dealing with that his whole life. And I think we can learn from how he deals with it now. In the documentary, you see he has a little bit of a chip on his shoulder when he’s younger, a little bit of something to prove. He realizes that playing for that — those reasons — those aren’t the right reasons to play. By the end, I think we can all learn from how he deals with race. If everyone looked at racism in that sense, by letting it go and focusing that energy, I think what he did outshines any of that stuff by a tremendous amount.
MTV: So was he able to have a sort of enlightened approach to it all?
Leong: He’s really at an enlightened stage these days. When people say racist stuff, he laughs. It doesn’t bother him to the degree of anything anymore. I’d probably get pretty mad, but it doesn’t bother him anymore. There’s far bigger things that he has to worry about in his life, and again, he’s become that high. You’re always going to have haters, and they’re always going to be the ones that say stuff.
MTV: You ended the film at a point before the injury that ended his season, before the contract negotiations and all that stuff. Why did you decide to end it there?
Leong: It’s a good question, because no one’s asked me that one, which is great. We ended it with Linsanity because I wanted to make this a legacy film. Ten years from now, 20 years from now, I want to be able to show my kids, and I hope that he can show his kids, that this is what happened. There’s always going to be news about him and those little media controversies. No one’s gonna remember that kind of stuff 10 years from now; they’re just going to remember those nine games. It’s contract stuff, and that’s business, but ultimately at the end of the day, I’m not in those rooms, so I don’t know what’s going on with all that. And also at the same time, by ending with that — you take that journey and end it with that — you can’t have a better ending than that.
I’m not at my best. I’ve eaten exceptionally badly for six days. I’ve been living in close proximity to six [awesome, dedicated, but insane] MTV News dudes for so long that our inside jokes have beget inside jokes. It was cold. Real cold. Sleep was not plentiful. Oh and I’m writing this on a plane after one Chili’s margarita (well deserved, I think!) and running at breakneck speed to the gate after I got the time difference wrong in Minneapolis, where my flight connected, to take me home at last.
All of the above is which to say my seventh (how the hell did that happen?) Sundance Film Festival is in the books, and yes, once again Robert Redford‘s baby was thrilling, frustrating and quite memorable. Below are some of the trends I noticed and some personal highlights:
Sex on the Brain
If I asked one more actor about taking it all off, Dr. Ruth would have stormed into our shooting space to say I have a problem. But I swear, it’s not just me! This year’s selection of films at Sundance really did warrant the line of questioning. January Jones and Dakota Fanning took it off for the first time. Amanda Seyfried played a porn star. Joseph Gordon-Levitt played a porn addict. And then there’s James Franco: three films, two of which were extremely explicit (documentaries “Kink” and “Interior. Leather. Bar.”). I’ve now spent 30 minutes talking to James Franco about sex. Don’t say I never did anything for you.
Their Big Moment
We spoke to movie stars galore, but for me, it’s always a special thrill to talk to someone that you can just feel is on the precipice of a big career. Two years ago, I couldn’t pick Jessica Chastain out of a lineup, but after seeing “Take Shelter” and talking to her at Sundance, I was raving about her to anyone who would listen. If you want to bet on the next big male star, start closely following the careers of Michael B. Jordan (earning raves for “Fruitvale”), Miles Teller (making a big leap from wild teen comedies in “The Spectacular Now”) and Dane DeHaan (who popped in every scene he appeared in of “Kill Your Darlings”).
Something to Prove
OK, it’s one thing to show up to the festival with nothing to lose, but how about those actors looking to reframe their career and break out of a box? Mission accomplished for a host of my favorites this year. Amanda Seyfried confessed to me extreme worry just hours before the debut of “Lovelace,” in which she exposes a lot in every conceivable way playing the famed porn star. Her concern seems to be for naught, as the reviews have been kind. Meanwhile, Michael Cera found a friend and trusted collaborator in Chilean filmmaker Sebastian Silva, who cast him against type in not one but two divisive films, “Magic Magic” and “Crystal Fairy.” Finally, “The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman” wasn’t for everyone, but I found a lot to like in the messy but original and romantic comic thriller (actually, putting this in a genre box is a bit fruitless). And I found a lot to love in Shia LaBeouf’s lead performance. LaBeouf goes for broke in the role. It’s a bold and brave performance, and he’s never been better.
The Boy Who Lived
Daniel Radcliffe is a gentleman and a maniac. Last Saturday morning, he dropped by the MTV News house we were all staying in and … let’s just say it all ended up with him and I head-to-head in adjacent beds. Watch for a very special “After Hours” soon.
Late to the Party
OK, now I get it. I confess I’m not a “Community” viewer, but watching Alison Brie freestyle rap has converted me. I’m a fan for life now. Oh, and she loves “Ghostbusters 2″ as much as me. Soul mates.
Tough Talk
Matthew McConaughey is a straight shooter. He could have politely begged off weighing in on a question about Lance Armstrong, but instead, McConaughey (headlining “Mud” at the festival) pulled no punches delivering a lengthy, passionate take on the unfortunate situation.
Facing Your Fear
Scariest interview and biggest relief for me? Dave Grohl. If you know my stuff, you know it’s mostly actors and filmmakers I chat with. I know and appreciate how important Grohl is to so many, and I wanted to do him and the audience right with a smart/fun conversation. All worked out as Grohl was charming as he spoke enthusiastically about his new doc, “Sound City,” not to mention breaking news with us that the Foo Fighters‘ next album may not be so far away after all.
Living the Dream
About a year ago, an awesome shooter/producer at MTV News by the name of Evan Jackson Leong left us for other pursuits. It turns out one longtime passion project of his turned into one of the biggest crowd-pleasers of the entire festival, “Linsanity,” the documentary detailing the hard-to-fathom rise of NBA superstar Jeremy Lin. Evan stopped by to chat with the MTV News team, and I know I speak for all of us when I say it was a beautiful sight to behold, the dreams of a young filmmaker realized beyond his wildest dreams. Swag suites be damned, Sundance still is about the movies.
By Jocelyn Vena
Time magazine has released their yearly roundup of the 100 most impactful people of the past 12 months, and this year’s 100 Most Influential People in the World list includes everyone from Hollywood stars, singers to athletes and entertainers. Rihanna and Raphael Saadiq earned spots on the list in addition to entertainers like Louis C.K. and prominent figures like Hillary Clinton.
The list rounds up the 100 Most Influential People who “inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and change our world,” according to Time. In addition to getting a slot on the list, the honorees also get a blurb written about them by an admiring celebrity. Athletes including Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin made the cut, as well as politicians President Obama, Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.
Rihanna made the list, with fashion designer Stella McCartney writing, “She’s one of the coolest, hottest, most talented, most liked, most listened to, most followed, most impressive artists at work today, but she does it in her own stride.” And Raphael Saadiq received some rave reviews from Elton John, who said he was ‘blown away’ by the release of Saadiq ‘s album The Way I See It.
Entertainers on the list include comedians Louis C.K. and Chelsea Handler, as well as “Saturday Night Live” star Kristen Wiig. “Her first screenplay — insightful, brave, groundbreaking and also hilarious,” Judd Apatow noted about her work on the Oscar-nominated “Bridesmaids.” He added that her work as a funny lady was never a comment on gender, writing, “She never thought she was making a statement about women in comedy.”
Other A-listers recognized by the magazine include actresses Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Tilda Swinton and Claire Danes and super-producer Harvey Weinstein.
Every year, Time magazine rounds up the 100 most impactful people of the past 12 months, and this year’s 100 Most Influential People in the World list is eclectic and all-encompassing, featuring A-listers from politics, sports and, of course, entertainment.
The list rounds up the 100 Most Influential People who “inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and change our world,” according to Time. In addition to getting a slot on the list, the honorees also get a blurb written about them by an admiring celebrity.
Athletes including Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin made the cut, as well as politicians President Obama, Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.
Entertainers on the list include comedians Louis C.K. and Chelsea Handler, as well as “Saturday Night Live” star Kristen Wiig. “Her first screenplay — insightful, brave, groundbreaking and also hilarious,” Judd Apatow noted about her work on the Oscar-nominated “Bridesmaids.” He added that her work as a funny lady was never a comment on gender, writing, “She never thought she was making a statement about women in comedy.”
Rihanna also made the list, with fashion designer Stella McCartney writing, “She’s one of the coolest, hottest, most talented, most liked, most listened to, most followed, most impressive artists at work today, but she does it in her own stride.”
Pink honored Adele in the issue, noting, “Her success renews hope in me that the world I live in has good taste — that we still occasionally come back to what’s simple, and simply amazing.”
Other A-listers recognized by the magazine include actresses Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Tilda Swinton and Claire Danes and super-producer Harvey Weinstein.
Everyone loves the underdog, and right now, there is no bigger underdog story than that of New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin. The Taiwanese-American NBA star went from the very end of New York’s bench to basketball’s hottest topic with his inspired play.
“Jeremy Lin is a shining star right now. It’s good to see somebody — he got that story behind him,” Fabolous told MTV News at a Brooklyn video shoot. “I think a lot of people, even myself, when you first heard it, you didn’t know if it was a fluke thing or sometimes a kid has a good game and they beef it up, but he’s actually playing well.”
Lin emerged in early February, leading the struggling Knicks on a seven-game winning streak, scoring a ton of buckets along the way and capturing the hearts of b-ball fans across the world. Everyone from boxing champion Floyd Mayweather to President Obama has weighed in on Linsanity, and during the NBA 2012 All-Star Weekend in Orlando, it was all anyone could talk about.
“Great person, great guy. It’s great for New York, it’s great for the team,” La La Vazquez Anthony, television personality and wife of Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, told MTV News. “Everybody there is so happy. ‘Melo’s happy about it.”
Actor and film director Michael Rapaport attends many Knicks games, and he, too, is caught up in the Lintensity. “I got a picture with him the other day. I felt like I was a 12-year-old girl who saw ‘NSYNC in ’95, I was so excited,” he said to MTV News on the red carpet before the All-Star Game.
Athletes from all over have taken notice. Lin’s Cinderella story is particularly important to other Asian athletes, who often don’t get recognized for their play — especially in basketball. “He’s a very good basketball player, and I’m proud of him because he came from Asia,” said boxing champ Manny Pacquiao.
Even Lin’s NBA competitors praise his efforts. “He has a lot of confidence, and that’s all you need in this league is confidence,” Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose said.
“It’s great for him, but it’s also great for the league,” Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash added.
Jeremy Lin has a heck of a story, maybe one that could be told on the big screen. “Jeremy Lin is definitely going to get a documentary. I don’t know if Spike Lee’s claimed the rights to it or whatever — I know he’s been all over that,” Rapaport said. There’ll definitely be an ESPN ’30 for 30′ on Jeremy Lin.”
Are you caught up in the Linsanity? Let us know in the comments!
There has been some slight confusion as to what Knicks PG Jeremy Lin will be rocking during the Rising Stars Challenge tonight in Orlando. Here we have a look at the real deal Nike Zoom Hyperfuse Low iD that the Linsation will be sporting atop the hardwood. Turn your tubes to TNT to check the action tipping off shortly. [via Nike]
Tags: nikeid, nike-basketball, nike, jeremy-lin, nike-zoom-hyperfuse-low, zoom-hyperfuse-low
The NBA’s shiny new toy, Jeremy Lin, will be lacing these Zoom Hyperdunk 2011 Lows for tonight’s Rising Stars game on TNT. The Knick PG’s player exclusive sees a bright blue upper, complemented by vibrant orange branding alongside and on the tongue. You will also notice Lin’s initials stitched on the sophomore patch atop the tongue. Tune into the game tonight at 9 p.m. to see these in action. [via Nike Basketball Taiwan]
Tags: nike-basketball, nike, jeremy-lin, hyperdunk, nike-hyperdunk, hyperdunk-2011-low, nike-hyperdunk-2011-low
Who: Jeremy Lin
Date: 2/24/2012
Where: Orlando, FL
Shoe: Nike Hyperdunk 2011 Low Rising Stars PE
Release Date: Unknown
[via NY Knicks Sole Collector]
Tags: spotted, jeremy-lin, nike-hyperfuse-2011, nba, new-york-knicks, ny-knicks
