Tag: Australia

Go Away With … Chris Robert Riegel

Jae-Ha Kim

“I was actually orphaned at a very young age, just like most of the characters in both the source material of ‘Great Expectations’ and also our cheeky comedic companion piece of a film, ‘Expectations,’” said filmmaker Chris Robert Riegel. “Going through adolescence [and] knowing you don’t have a conventional background can have an effect on a sense of self, or identity. But I’ve found with my own circumstances, the start of the journey is something none of us can control.”

Go Away With … Jim Babjak of The Smithereens

Jae-Ha Kim

More than 40 years into their career, The Smithereens are revving up for the Sept. 23 release of “The Lost Album” – a collection of songs they recorded in 1993 when they were in between record labels, but never shared with their fans. “(They were) truly forgotten, but were recently discovered because we are archiving all of our past recordings,” said guitarist Jim Babjak, 64, who resides in New Jersey. “It is important (to release them now) because it shows a snapshot of our progression as a band. There may be more tapes to be released in the future.”

Go Away With … Lexie Duncan

Jae-Ha Kim

“I feel like New York’s my home away from home,” said Australian actress Lexie Duncan, one of the stars of “Young Rock.” “I come from a musical theater background, which is how I initially got into acting professionally, so I love Broadway! Live theater is already so special, but there is nothing like a Broadway show.”

Go Away With … Art Bell

Jae-Ha Kim

Comedy Central founder Art Bell says that Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska is a wonderful vacation spot: “Because cars weren’t allowed in the park, we had to take a four-hour bus ride to get there. We hiked every day, avoided a confrontation with a grizzly bear and met some remarkable people. The view of Denali mountain was spectacular.”

Go Away With … Wengie

Jae-Ha Kim

Once an accountant, Wengie is better known these days for her music, Whimsical By Wengie toy line for Target and her popular YouTube channel. Splitting her time between Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia, the beauty influencer recently was nominated for the 12th Annual Shorty Awards’ YouTuber of the Year.

Go Away With … Dan Payne

Jae-Ha Kim

“The worst vacation memory was when my wife and I were flying home from Australia and were suddenly forced to land in Hawaii because 9/11 had just happened,” says “Descendants 3” actor Dan Payne. “The pilot didn’t explain much except that the plane was in perfect working order, however, there was an FAA closure of all U.S. airspace. We spent four days there trying to figure out what had just happened to the world before we could go home.”

Go Away With … Ben Lawson

Jae-Ha Kim

Australian actor Ben Lawson (“13 Reasons Why,” “The Good Place,” “Designated Survivor”) loves his homeland, but says there are parts he has yet to explore. “The Great Barrier Reef is so beautiful,” says Lawson, 38, who resides in Los Angeles. “And I recommend Uluru, although I’ve never been myself. It’s on my bucket list to go to what we call the Red Center. Actually, I’d love to drive across the Nullarbor Plain and experience that part of the country, too.”

Go Away With … Kirk Acevedo

Jae-Ha Kim

Growing up in New York, actor Kirk Acevedo says he learned early on to be self-reliant. “Having lived on my own since I was 16 in a big city taught me to be very self-sufficient,” says Acevedo, who portrays Ricardo Diaz — aka The Dragon — on the CW series “Arrow.” “I trust people very slowly. And then I suffer no fools. And for these skills I have to thank New York City. I always know who’s walking 20 yards behind me and then who’s 20 yards ahead.”

Go Away With … Mark Lamprell

Jae-Ha Kim

“I live in Manly, (near) Sydney,” says Australian filmmaker Mark Lamprell, one of the co-writers of “Babe: Pig in the City.” “It’s a magical part of the world — a spit of land with an ocean beach on one side and Sydney Harbour on the other. You can catch a ferry into the city center in 20 minutes.” Lamprell is also the author of the book, “One Summer Day in Rome” (Flatiron Books, $24.99). We talked with him about his travels in general and Rome in particular.

Go Away With … Michael Rosenbaum

Jae-Ha Kim

“Impastor” actor Michael Rosenbaum says, “I always remember going to New York for the holidays with the family. It was always hell, but there were a lot of good times. Just waking up at my grandmother Ruthy’s house in Long Island on Christmas morning and driving into a rarely empty Manhattan was pretty memorable. There’s nothing like New York during Christmastime — ice-skating, Central Park, hot chocolate, Macy’s, FAO Schwarz. I bought a fake Rolex on the street. It didn’t work then and it doesn’t now.”

Go Away With … Aimee Kestenberg

Jae-Ha Kim

Originally from Melbourne, Australia, designer Aimee Kestenberg moved to New York in 2007 to attend Parsons School for Design at the New School. “I am very proud to say that last year, I earned my U.S. citizenship!” says the 29-year-old entrepreneur. “(I return home) to Australia to be with my family during the holidays. It’s always really special and it’s summer time (there) during Christmas and Hanukkah!”

“I’m Sorry, I Love You” (미안하다 사랑한다)

Jae-Ha Kim

A popular K-Drama starring So Ji Sub, “I’m Sorry, I Love You” (“미안하다 사랑한다”) is an uneven drama dealing with love, revenge and redemption. Too long at 16 hours, the series relies on its lead actor’s charisma to make up for the plot holes.

Go Away With … Travis Wall

Jae-Ha Kim

“I’ve been really fortunate to get to see a good part of the world through dance,” says choreographer and dancer Travis Wall, 28. “One of my favorite places was Australia, which just felt like home. It was one of the nicest places and the people were so nice to Americans! I’m really looking forward to touring there next year.”

Go Away With … Carla Renata

Jae-Ha Kim

“I didn’t make it to Perth, but I went all over Australia,” says actress Carla Renata. “I was working over there long enough that I could take vacations. If I could figure out a way to make a living there, I would move there. The food is to die for. Everything is fresh and prepared spectacularly and the people are really loving and warm. The theater and arts scene is wonderful.”

Go Away With … William Shatner

Jae-Ha Kim

We know William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk on “Star Trek,” as Sgt. Hooker on “T.J. Hooker” and as Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting’s money-savvy dad on the Priceline commercials. He has also performed spoken word renditions of songs by Queen and the Kinks. Now, the 83-year-old actor is ready to show you how handy — or unhandy — he is at renovating his California home on the DIY Network’s latest reality series, “The Shatner Project.”