By Amanda Moses
On December 6th, members of the Spring Creek Towers’ (SCT) Department of Public Safety (DPS) Young Adults Program were among a select few who received an exclusive opportunity to attend a private screening to FX’s Limited Series, Shōgun at the Crosby Hotel in SoHo.
For the past two years, Eileen Level and Sergeant Charles Royster, the Co-Founders of the Young Adults Program, have worked tirelessly to create opportunities for members to experience Japanese arts and culture. Through this work, Level has utilized her background in cinema to foster relationships with renowned organizations such as AnimeNYC, the Brooklyn Public Library, and Japan Society.
Level’s connections enabled members of the Young Adults Program to receive a few free tickets to an advance private screening of the 16th Century series, Shōgun which also included a Q&A with Executive Producer and star Hiroyuki Sanada.
The Crosby Hotel is a ritzy venue where Mark Ruffalo and Emma Stone were seen exiting the site the same evening as the screening after promoting their new film, Poor Things directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Members of the Young Adults Program shared their amazement as they entered the site, feeling extremely privileged as they took part in an opening reception where they were served beverages and hor d’oeuvres.
Additionally, the young adults were able to personally meet Sanada, known for his role in Hollywood blockbusters like; the Last Samurai, Bullet Train, and Mortal Kombat. For video game and anime enthusiast, Young Adults Member, Voshon Thomas, this was an unforgettable experience.
Thomas was able to personally greet Sanada and express his appreciation for the actor’s work. During this brief conversation, Thomas learned that Sanada has been filming Mortal Kombat 2 in Australia.
When guests were invited into the screening room, they were told that the advance preview was so private they would have to wait until December 12th to even post photos onto social media.
Shōgun is based off of James Clavell’s novel where Lord Yoshii Toranaga, played by Sanada, is fighting to stay alive as a power struggle ensues among the Council of Regents. During this internal battle, a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village with Englishman, John Blackthorn played Cosmo Jarvis. It is here that this historical piece showcases the fight for land and dominance between Portuguese Catholic missionaries and British Protestants with Japan in the middle being treated as property.
Following the twoepisode screening, fans listened to a Q&A moderated by ABC Good Morning America’s Juju Chang as she interacted with Hiroyuki Sanada (star/Executive Producer), Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo (Co-Creator/Executive Producer), Eriko Miyagawa (Producer), and Michaela Clavell (Executive Producer).
Shōgun will premiere on FX and Hulu on February 27, 2024.
Photos by Amanda Moses
