In celebration of the critically acclaimed drama series TOKYO VICE, Max and JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles co-hosted an intimate evening with Emmy®-winning executive producer and director Alan Poul. Season two is currently debuting new episodes on Max.
During this moderated conversation, Alan discussed the show’s genesis and provided unique insights into the intricacies of filmmaking in Japan. Watch the recording to learn from a seasoned industry professional with rare experience filming US projects in Japan, and hear the thought-provoking conversation about the future of production in Tokyo.
A reception featuring Japanese refreshments prepared by JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles’ UKA restaurant followed the Q&A. The evening provided exclusive insights and inspiration sparked by the cross-cultural magic that’s generated when the worlds of American and Japanese filmmaking collide.
Program Schedule
6:30 PM | Doors Open
7:00 PM | Conversation with Alan Poul
8:00 PM | Audience Q&A
8:30 PM | Reception
About TOKYO VICE
Created and written by Tony Award® winner J.T. Rogers, TOKYO VICE is loosely inspired by American journalist Jake Adelstein’s first-hand account of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police beat. Season two of the series, filmed on location in Tokyo, takes us deeper into the city’s criminal underworld as Adelstein (Ansel Elgort) comes to realize that his life, and the lives of those close to him, are in terrible danger. The series stars Golden Globe® nominee Ansel Elgort, Academy Award® nominee Ken Watanabe, Academy Award® nominee Rinko Kikuchi, Rachel Keller, Show Kasamatsu, Ayumi Ito, Yosuke Kubozuka, and Miki Maya.
The series hails from Fifth Season and WOWOW, Japan’s premium pay TV broadcaster.
About the Speaker
ALAN POUL is a distinguished producer and director of film and television who across his career has received an Emmy Award, a Golden Globes Award, a Producers Guild Award, three Peabody Awards, and five GLAAD Awards. His feature film producing credits include Paul Schrader’s Mishima and Light of Day, Ridley Scott’s Black Rain, and Bernard Rose’s Candyman. Television producing and directing credits include Six Feet Under, Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City, The Newsroom, and The Eddy. Poul is currently executive producer and director on the Max Original series Tokyo Vice, now launching its second season.
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He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Yale University with a degree in Japanese Language and Literature, and currently serves on the boards of directors of Film Independent and Playwrights Horizons. He was also appointed a Tourism Ambassador for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2023.
Co-Presented by
Photo credit: All materials provided courtesy of Max.
