Opinion

Jason Holliday, born Aaron Payne, is demanding audiences' attention again in a new theatrical release of Shirley Clarke's Portrait of Jason, restored by Milestone Film and the Academy Film Archive.

Arts

A Revealing '60s 'Portrait,' Opening Eyes In Theaters Again

6:05pm June 25, 2013

by Howie Movshovitz

Shirley Clarke's 1967 film Portrait of Jason has returned to theaters after a meticulous restoration. As a historian and a documentarian tell reporter Howie Movshovitz, it's as remarkable in many ways today as it ever was.

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The traditional Kendama is making a splash with kids.

Arts

The Kendama: Can A Wooden Toy Be A Viral Sensation?

7:11pm June 21, 2013

by Ben Adler

The kendama is a traditional wooden toy, but its appeal is spreading rapidly.

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Arts

Calling It 'Metadata' Doesn't Make Surveillance Less Intrusive

2:47pm June 21, 2013

by Geoff Nunberg

Whether it's logs of phone calls or GPS data, commentator Geoff Nunberg says it still says a lot about who you are: "Tell me where you've been and who you've been talking to, and I'll tell you about your politics, your health, your sexual orientation, your finances," he says.

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Actor James Gandolfini speaks at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards in January 2013. He died on June 19.

Arts

Gandolfini Through The Eyes Of Those He Worked With

2:19pm June 20, 2013

The actor who brought mob boss Tony Soprano to life on the HBO drama The Sopranos died Wednesday at age 51. Fresh Air listens back to interviews with his co-stars Edie Falco and Jeff Daniels and Sopranos director David Chase, to hear their thoughts on Gandolfini's prodigious talent.

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Actor James Gandolfini Dies Suddenly While On Vacation

7:25am June 20, 2013

by Karen Grigsby Bates

The 51-year-old actor died on Wednesday in Rome. Reports attribute his death to a heart attack. Gandolfini had been a character actor for years before he was given a chance to read for Tony Soprano in a new series about a New Jersey mob boss HBO was producing in the late 90s.

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Two fans catch a nap during a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals last month in Milwaukee.

Sports

Tick Tock: Make The Serve, Pitch, Putt Or Shot

9:40am June 19, 2013

by Frank Deford

In baseball, golf and tennis in particular, we are being slowly lulled to sleep before every pitch, every shot. Hurry up already, says commentator Frank Deford.

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When you need to illustrate a story about proliferating social-media platforms, it's good to know that an enterprising stock photographer has probably thought about it already.

Arts

Teens Find The Right Tools For Their Social-Media Jobs

5:45pm June 17, 2013

by Trey Graham

There was a time — a time long, long ago — when MySpace dominated the teen social-media world. Not anymore. NPR's Sami Yenigun looks at how teenagers use various social platforms in today's increasingly segmented online universe.

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Sports

History Sometimes Rewards Those Who Are Sidelined

5:26am June 15, 2013

by Scott Simon

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith will be on the sidelines of the Super Bowl this weekend, after suffering a concussion midway through the season. Now he's counseling teammate Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback who replaced him. "The good ones stay ready," he says.

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In basketball, as in life, we may dutifully celebrate the aggregate, but we're always spellbound by the exceptional.

Basketball: The 'Ultimate Contradiction'

5:53am June 13, 2013

by Frank Deford

No matter who is playing, the art of basketball is a paradox for fans. "In basketball, as in life, we may dutifully celebrate the aggregate, but we're always spellbound by the exceptional," says Frank Deford.

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Mara Wilson, 25, was a child actor who starred in Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire.

Arts

'Matilda' Star Mara Wilson On Why Some Child Actors Lose It

8:50am June 12, 2013

by NPR Staff

After years in movies and TV shows, some child actors end up making headlines for stints in rehab and legal drama later in life. Others leave Hollywood behind and pursue different careers. Mara Wilson, star of Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire, explains the challenges of transitioning to adulthood.

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