Latest news with #TikTok-addicted
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Jano Rassoul: An Actor Redefining Identity in Every Role
In an industry where actors spend years crafting a singular "brand," Jano Rassoul has built his career on the impossibility of being pinned down. The 24-year-old Portuguese-German actor moves naturally between cultures, languages, and identities, drawing on experiences that began in childhood. "I can unsettle easily and love moving around," Rassoul says while calling New York home after a lifetime of geographic restlessness. "The excitement of new people and new adventures keeps me going." It's not wanderlust driving him, but something deeper: a fundamental understanding that identity itself is a performance, refined through repetition across borders. His journey began conventionally—as a nine-year-old landing a role on the Portuguese sitcom A Família Mata. But between that early success and his current work developing vertical content for TikTok-addicted audiences, Rassoul lived what amounts to several lifetimes: four countries in six years. South Africa, Switzerland, the UAE, Portugal—a list that reads less like biography than diplomatic itinerary. "I learned how to understand people and myself well," he reflects, transforming what could have been instability into artistic advantage. Where others might see displacement, Rassoul found a masterclass in human observation. The stories that shaped him predate his own journey. His father, a German-born Kurd who was raised in Syria, came of age during a period of national unrest—a situation that eventually led his family to seek a new home. His Angolan mother shares stories shaped by the country's complex history. "These are stories I want to explore," Rassoul said. "My grandfather eventually moved the entire family from Syria to Germany. My mother's tales would also be something I'd like to explore." This multigenerational saga informs every role, from A Família Mata to recent projects like Final Turn, Feel, and even an appearance on Querida Júlia talk show in his youth. "I've worked on projects that touched on immigration stories from Portugal's Salazar era," he explains. "It brought me close to the pain my parents have faced because they very much have had to run from their homes." The transition to New York's competitive landscape might have overwhelmed a less adaptable performer. But Rassoul approached the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute with characteristic openness. Under George Loros and through a masterclass with Vincent D'Onofrio, he dove into method acting—a practice demanding actors mine their own experiences for emotional truth. "When working on deeply personal material, it touches on family dynamics and reminds me a lot of my relationship with my father," he admits. "It always hurts to explore those themes." Yet he resists self-indulgence: "I release the emotion fully and then try breathing exercises I learned in Tai Chi to center myself." This flexibility serves him well in an entertainment landscape undergoing its own identity crisis. While pursuing film and television opportunities, he's exploring new narrative forms: comedy designed for vertical viewing. "A lot of these projects have shallow writing," he acknowledges. "I try to focus on relatable, believable circumstances—something with a creative layer but not so much that you instantly want to scroll away." His recent Babbel work offered another hybrid form—part performance, part education, part marketing. The challenge of creating meaning within constraints might seem antithetical to Strasberg's deep character work, but Rassoul sees continuity: both require understanding your audience, adapting to constraints, finding truth within artificial structures. "People try to put you in boxes, of course," he says, addressing the industry's perpetual challenge for actors who don't fit neat categories. His mixed heritage—Kurdish, German, Portuguese, Angolan—defies Hollywood's reductive casting logic. "Different people look at me differently, and I embrace all aspects of myself." This embrace of multiplicity extends beyond a survival strategy. In an era when authenticity has become a marketing buzzword, Rassoul offers something more complex: the understanding that all identity is performed, that authenticity itself might be the most elaborate performance of all. "If I had to say, it would be Cape Town," he offers when asked about home, before immediately qualifying: "I've never felt so welcomed and at home. Portugal can come in as a close second." But even this comes with implicit understanding that home might be less a place than a quality of connection. As Hollywood grapples with representation and authentic storytelling, Rassoul embodies a different possibility: identity as active construction rather than passive inheritance. He uses his family's immigrant roots without letting it limit his dramatic range. "I don't feel tied to anything or anywhere," he says, and in his voice, it sounds like freedom rather than loss. In an industry that often demands actors choose a lane, Rassoul has made a career of changing lanes—bringing to each role the accumulated wisdom of someone who understands that identity, like acting itself, is an ongoing negotiation between what is and what might be.
New York Post
16-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Teen opens NYC taco joint — all before high school graduation
The restaurant business is grueling enough for an adult, but Aiden Sterling is knocking it out of the park while barely old enough to vote. The hyper-ambitious 18-year-old is bucking the stereotype of the TikTok-addicted Gen Z layabout by running a successful Brooklyn taqueria — while still in high school. Sterling is the owner of Tacos Del Barrio, a vibrant joint in Park Slope near Barclays Center that specializes in Mexican specialties from juicy tacos al pastor ($9.50) to burritos the size of duffel bags ($15.95 for carne asada) and his tres leches cake ($7.50), which are all made fresh daily in-house. Advertisement Opened just last month, his taco joint is serving around 165 checks a day with a second location slated to open in FiDi this fall — not bad for a guy who, when The Post visited, was balancing his business duties while also trying to secure a suit for his senior prom. 'I learn everything from scratch,' Sterling, who manages a crew of eight, said. 'And I'm just going day by day.' 12 Aiden Sterling is graduating from high school at the end of the month, but last month, the 18-year-old opened a taco restaurant called Tacos Del Barrio in Brooklyn. Tamara Beckwith/ Advertisement 12 Aiden Sterling at James Madison High School in Midwood, Brooklyn, where he attends classes before starting his 12 p.m. shift at Tacos Del Barrio. Paul Martinka 'My biggest goal here at Tacos Del Barrio is that once people come in through the doors, hopefully, you leave with a better feeling.' The self-assured senior attends classes from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at James Madison High School in Midwood, and then rides his electric bike across Brooklyn and to Tacos Del Barrio, where he works his butt off from 12 p.m. until 12 a.m. Midnight to 3 a.m. is reserved for schoolwork, often completed at the counter of his restaurant, which leaves him just three to four hours of sleep a night. Advertisement 12 'My motto here is authentic, but with a twist,' said Sterling. Tamara Beckwith/ 12 The tacos al pastor at Tacos Del Barrio. Tamara Beckwith/ Sterling insists that [school is] still the 'number one thing at the end of the day,' declaring, 'obviously, business is business. But I gotta graduate.' How does this budding Danny Meyer spin all these plates at such a young age — and without any prior restaurant industry experience? He credits his three years as captain of his high school basketball team. Advertisement 'This work ethic came from being an athlete first,' the food world wunderkind said. 'I think of work like basketball. I have my starting five (employees) and I'm going with the flow.' Much like a high school star getting scouted by the NBA, he came upon the opportunity while working out at the Lifetime gym, where he became close with the owners of Poke Bowl United, a fast-casual chain with 14 branches across New York, New Jersey and Long Island. 12 Sterling said he got his work ethic from captaining the varsity basketball team at his high school. Paul Martinka 12 Sterling dishes up some tacos at Tacos Del Barrio. Tamara Beckwith/ '[We were] working out three, four months, five and every day,' Sterling recalled. 'And they were like, 'hey man, we love your work ethic.'' The team explained they were 'signing a lease' in Brooklyn and wanted to give the teen the 'reins,' provided he could come up with a viable idea. The starry-eyed Sterling noted the area had a gaping quick-serve Mexican void. 'They believed in me. A kid with no money,' said Sterling, who put all the dough he saved up from lifeguarding into the venture while the Poke Bowl crew handled the rest of the financials, background and logistics. He spent months researching Mexican joints — which required him to miss his beloved basketball practice — and he compiled the best elements of his favorite taco joints: the housemade corn tortillas and core protein bases like Los Tacos No. 1 and a best-selling battered fish taco like Los Tacos' sister restaurant, Los Mariscos. Advertisement 12 Everything, including the tacos' corn tortillas, are made fresh daily in-house. Tamara Beckwith/ 12 'You have to make people happy with the food … you have to be consistent,' said Sterling. Tamara Beckwith/ 'My motto here is authentic, but with a twist,' said Sterling, who runs Tacos Del Barrio's social media as well. 'Authentic is the chef's part. I say, 'Hey, let's kick it up a notch and put some of this stuff that I found to be interesting at other locations.'' One of the junior restaurateur's proudest inventions is a take on Trader Joe's 'corn ribs' that involves splitting elote — savory Mexican street corn with queso fresco and chili powder — into manageable slices like maize McNuggets ($6.95). Advertisement Still, the high school hotshot has no illusions about working in the restaurant biz, which he called the 'hardest industry in the world.' 12 Tacos Del Barrio's famous corn ribs, essentially Mexican street corn that's divided into fun-size slices for easy eating. Tamara Beckwith/ 12 Sterling said that he loves the freedom and creativity afforded by being a teen-trepreneur. Tamara Beckwith/ 'You have to make people happy with the food … you have to be consistent,' he said. 'So this morning I came in and something was off. I was like, 'I can't serve this.' So we remade it. That's my quality control.' Advertisement All told, Sterling loves the freedom and creativity. 'I can do whatever I want to,' said the culinary prodigy. 'You can't do it with a nine-to-five. I have so many ideas and thoughts in my head that I just want to get out and do.' 12 Sterling runs a team of eight employees. Tamara Beckwith/ 12 Midnight to 3 a.m. is reserved for schoolwork, often completed at the counter of his restaurant, which leaves him just three to four hours of sleep a night. Tamara Beckwith/ Advertisement With high school graduation approaching on June 23, Sterling will have more time to dedicate to Tacos Del Barrio. 'It'll be much easier,' said the food phenom, who plans to take a gap year to put '101%' into the business. 'I want to get to the point where I'm known as Aiden from Tacos Del Barrio and any other venture that I do, it would succeed because people can trust me,' he said. For now, he just hopes to 'stay consistent and continue to have fun.'
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Guide to LA ahead of FIFA World Cup including its very space-age stadium
A century of movie-making means nowhere blends science fiction and reality quite like Los Angeles – as I discovered from the back of a driverless taxi – hours after seeing KITT from Knight Rider in a museum. Seeing the steering wheel spin of its own accord was as nerve-racking as watching a London cab's meter spinning… But as the Waymo (an app like Uber, but no driver) safely navigated the streets, it gave a surreal taste of the future. And like any traveller landing at LAX for the first time I had plenty of preconceptions. But no matter if your movie taste is more Barbie than Blade Runner, LA is full of surprises. Thought the City of Angels was too big or busy for your little angels? Think again. It has entertainment for kids of all ages. Even big kids like me in their mid-40s. Ironically the home of the silver screen is perfect for a screen break, as it offers enough stimulation for even TikTok-addicted teenagers to put phones away. LA hosts the World Cup next year and the Olympics in 2028. For sports-loving families, catching a game while in LA is a great option. LA Clippers-owner Steve Ballmer sank £1.5billion into the Intuit Dome basketball arena - and boy, can you tell. The former Microsoft CEO wanted the world's best arena for his NBA team. Befitting a tech titan's toy, it is completely space-age. For starters, after booking a seat online, you upload a selfie on to the Clippers' app and your face acts as your ticket – you literally just walk in. Want a drink, hot dog or jersey? Pick one up from any bar or shop and stroll away. Facial recognition is also linked to your Google or Apple Pay. Pretty cool. I also caught the Lakers at the downtown Arena. Murals of late Lakers' legend Kobe Bryant can be found all over LA and there are always A-list celebrities courtside. The short trip to Anaheim for the original Disneyland will be on most family agendas. Mickey, Minnie and co have entertained generations there since 1955 and the park marks its 70th in July. In truth, every day at Disneyland is a celebration, particularly for younger visitors. The clear ride highlight was the incredible Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Space Mountain also continues to wow and the Guardians of the Galaxy ride was exhilarating. Top tip, download the Disneyland app before arriving for live updates on queues, navigation and details of when popular parades take place. Viewing the fireworks displays from Main Street is a must. Of all the insider movie trivia gained during (ace) tours of Universal Studios and Warner Bros, the most jaw-dropping was that the latter employs gardeners to pick individual leaves from trees so Mafia sets convincingly replicate New York (the Big Apple has an autumn, LA doesn't). Warner Bros is a working studio and the 90-minute tour is unmissable. TV fans can sit on famous sofas from Friends and The Big Bang Theory, and seeing the tricks performed to create your favourite shows is eye-opening. As well as an equally informative tour – including sets from Psycho, Jaws and King Kong – Universal Studios is a full-blown theme park too. The coolest ride is the immersive MarioKart: Bowser's Challenge in Super Nintendo World. Imagine playing MarioKart with friends, while wearing 3D goggles and simultaneously spinning around in a dodgem car and you're not far off. Theme-park tickets, food and merchandise mount up, so it is a relief some top attractions are free. California's golden sands are legendary, and Venice and Santa Monica beaches are easy excursions. The 2.5 mile walk between Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach Skatepark is a gem. And where else could you join posers pumping iron on Muscle Beach, watch skaters flip epic tricks, and barter for souvenirs with the merchants of Venice boardwalk? Another fab free excursion is to Griffith Park – named after a Welsh mining magnate who donated it to LA, though on the negative side of the ledger he later shot his wife. That nugget was a line from our guide from Bikes and Hikes LA, who as an actor played a doctor on ER. Before you ask, no, it wasn't a down-on-his-luck George Clooney… While Griffith Park is totally free, the guide (Michael) elevated the experience. The massive park on Mount Hollywood has brilliant views, hiking trails and is a great vantage point for photos of the Hollywood sign. Griffith Observatory is another free and fun way of learning about the stars. Checking how much you'd weigh on different planets is interactive amusement, at least until you get to Jupiter and the needle rockets. As well as celestial stars it regularly hosts cinematic ones, appearing in scores of movies, including La La Land. The Petersen Museum on Wilshire Boulevard is impossibly striking and home to not only Michael Knight's KITT and Herbie, the Batmobile and Lightning McQueen, but 250 other significant vehicles. LA is also well served by art museums for those after culture. The Broad in downtown boasts a stunning collection of contemporary works by Warhol, Basquiat and Koons and is also free. The magic cast by tacos in LA is intoxicating and I was enchanted. Angelenos insist LA dining doesn't get more authentic than at its 4,000 roadside taco trucks. I can honestly say I didn't have one mediocre taco – they were uniformly excellent and a bargain option for family dining. To push the taco boat out a little, head to Holbox inside the Mercado la Paloma in south LA. There aren't many Michelin-starred restaurants where you just turn up and join the queue. The 20-minute wait was rewarded by a counter seat where I could watch chefs expertly assemble spankingly fresh seafood tacos. Octopuses, scallops and Baja California Kanpachi with a bewildering array of salsas were among the delights I dived into. A final bill – including tip and tax – of $44 was an absolute steal. LA is a seriously exciting food city, though prices can seem high. For those staying downtown, Asterid by Ray Garcia is a swanky option where the short rib lives long in the memory. In the Arts District, De La Nonna is great value and a cut above most Italians, with its salads and vegetable-led dishes enticing, not to mention a killer cocktail list. On Venice's Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Gjelina is a celeb magnet. By LA standards it's affordable and the Mediterranean-inspired food really lets the Californian produce sing. LA has more than 1,000 hotels to suit all budgets, but I definitely backed a winner at the W Hollywood. Having recently undergone a £38million refurb, it is a glam choice, right on Hollywood Boulevard (Katharine Hepburn and Doris Day have Walk of Fame stars outside). The stylish rooms are huge, with great design touches. A rooftop pool offers breathtaking views and was a stunning spot for a dawn dip to defeat jet lag. Downstairs the Living Room is the sort of grand lobby bar American hotels do so well – great for first-rate drinks and people-watching. Breakfast, while pricey, was spectacular and sets you up until dinnertime. I also stayed at the Omni, located at California Plaza, near the Grand Central Market and downtown attractions. My comfortable room was massive and overlooked Angels Flight, the funicular railway – a staple movie backdrop. The service at the Omni stood out and the breakfast avocado toast at its Noé restaurant put UK versions to shame and was almost too pretty to eat. Almost. LA is famously vast and everything you have heard about its rush-hour traffic is true. Unlike London, where tourists rarely leave Zone 1, LA's attractions are spread out. Pre-planning which attractions can be visited on the same day is key. Most visitors – particularly those enjoying a wider Californian trip – will hire a car. For part of my stay I did without and found a combination of public transport and ride-hailing apps worked well. (LA's public transport doesn't have a great reputation locally, but I personally found it OK). The $11billion rail line from LAX to downtown is due to open for the World Cup and Metro extensions to Beverly Hills are being built. The bus network is more comprehensive than Metro, but unlike Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves in Speed, you definitely won't stay above 50mph for long… Movie directors know a great ending sets up the sequel by leaving the audience wanting more. It is just the same with holidays and on that score LA absolutely delivered. There is so much to see and do that you can only really scratch the surface in one trip. And in the immortal words of former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger – 'I'll be back'.
