The Real-Life Truman Show of 'The Contestant' with Director Clair Titley | Actual Facts

Clair Titley joins to discuss her documentary 'The Contestant' (2023). The film tells the surreal story of Nasubi, an aspiring Japanese comedian who, in 1998 at the age of 22, was selected for a reality TV show produced by the team behind the popular series 'Denpa Shonen.' Stripped of his clothes and placed in a tiny apartment, Nasubi was tasked with surviving solely on magazine sweepstakes winnings until he amassed 1 million yen in prizes. For 15 months, he lived in isolation, unaware that his every move was being broadcast to millions under the title 'A Life in Prizes,' making him one of Japan’s biggest TV stars—without his knowledge or consent. Clair is a BAFTA-nominated director who began her career making oral history films for the BBC. She premiered 'The Contestant' at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it quickly became a favorite at festivals like Camden and Doc NYC.Actual Facts is hosted by Eric SteuerSend us a note: actualfactspod@gmail.comTheme music by Yalls: https://www.dancasey.me/Clair Titley: https://clairtitley.com/MovieMaker Magazine: https://www.moviemaker.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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From MovieMaker Magazine, a podcast featuring conversations with great moviemakers about the art and craft of making movies. Tim Molloy talks to moviemakers about screenwriting, directing, acting, and all of the other creative work that goes into moviemaking. Like MovieMaker's print magazine and moviemaker.com, we're here for everyone who wants to learn more about how movies are made. Also, check out Actual Facts, our documentary-focused podcast hosted by Eric Steuer. You can listen to it right here on this feed or subscribe directly at https://pod.link/1646377119.