Pardis Parker | |
---|---|
Born | Sri Lanka |
Nationality | Canadian |
Notable works and roles | Mideast Minute, Uncivil, Free, Life in Pieces, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Combat Hospital, Single White Spenny, The New Yorker, The New York Times, TED |
Website | www |
Pardis Parker is a Canadian director, writer, actor, and comedian. He's the creator and star of Comedy Central's Mideast Minute, [1] the co-creator of Uncivil, a new sitcom in development at NBC, [2] and the creator of Free, a new comedic drama in development at Amazon Prime. [3]
Parker is the creator or co-creator of three series for TV and streaming.
Created by and starring Parker, Mideast Minute is a satirical news show distributed on Comedy Central's digital platform. The series satirizes U.S. propaganda efforts, particularly the Congress-funded Alhurra network, by trying to convince Middle Easterners that everything's OK in the Middle East. [1]
In writing about the show, the Jerusalem Post said Parker had a "sharp, smart tone," [4] Uproxx said Parker's "timing is impeccable," [5] and Tubefilter said Parker was "both timely and funny — a combination that works." [6]
Co-created by Parker, Uncivil is a single-cam comedy in development at NBC about a pair of friends – a prosecutor and public defender – who find that their personal squabbles spill into the courtroom and that their professional disputes follow them home. Parker executive produces with Hazy Mills Productions' Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner, as well as with Bradley Gardner and co-creator Rell Battle. Universal Television is the studio. [2]
Free is a half hour comedic drama in development at Amazon Prime. Plan B Entertainment – led by partners Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner – is the production company. [3]
A six-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee [7] [8] and a finalist for Canada's Next Top Comic [9] and Bite TV's Stand Up and Bite Me, [10] Parker won British star David Baddiel's international stand-up competition [11] and previously became the first Canadian ever to book the CBS Comedy Showcase. [12]
In reviews of his live show, the Kingston Herald said that "the skill with which Pardis Parker weaved the audience through his set was impressive," that Parker was "really relaxed on stage," and that "it felt as though you were just hanging out with a really funny friend," [13] while Ottawa Life Magazine said that "his self-deprecating manner and friendly stage presence make him highly likeable." [14] The Daily Star listed Parker as one of their "Stand-up Comedians That Need Your Attention," and said they "highly recommend" [15] his act. Vulture , in selecting his stand-up clips as one of their "Best Comedy Videos of the Month" in March 2021 [16] and December 2021, [17] said that "it's amazing to see a funny comedian become a great comedian," and that Parker's "a performer who's found his comfort zone."
Parker has had multiple stand-up comedy performances broadcast on TV, radio, and the web, and he's a frequent performer at the Hollywood Improv, Hollywood Laugh Factory, and World Famous Comedy Store.
Parker has performed three times at TED, twice as a speaker and once as a special guest host.
He performed at the global TED Conference in Monterey, California, in August 2021. [18] His TED Talk, "I'm Tired of People Telling Me to Grind", was released in January 2022. Moda Magazine listed it as one of their "Seven TED Talks to Get You Through the Day," and said Parker's performance was both "relatable" and "hilarious." [19]
Parker performed for a second time at the global TED Conference in Vancouver, Canada, in April 2022. [20] His talk, "I'm Terrified of Wanting to be a Billionaire", was released in October 2022. In reviews of the conference, Mats Lederhausen said Parker's performance was "truly funny," [21] and Chris Duffy said Parker's set was "incredible." [22]
Parker took the stage for a third time at the global TED Conference in Vancouver, Canada, in April 2023. [23]
Parker has appeared in Life in Pieces on CBS, Combat Hospital on ABC, Little Mosque on the Prairie on CBC, Single White Spenny and Moderation Town on Showcase, Really Me on The Family Channel, and indie drama Snow.[ citation needed ]
His acting work has received acclaim from the National Screen Institute of Canada, which remarked that his "timing and body language in The Dance was exceptional," [24] from Indiewire , which complimented his "light comedic touch," [25] and from Radio Canada , which said that "he's a kind of Seth MacFarlane, someone extremely multi-talented who can write, direct, and act, and who's very convincing in his roles." [26]
Parker's writing and cartoons have been published by The New Yorker , [27] The New York Times , [28] The New York Review of Books , [29] The Los Angeles Review of Books , [30] the Chicago Sun-Times , [31] Weekly Humorist, [32] Literary Hub , [33] and McSweeney's . [34]
Title | Type | Originally published in | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Offer and Counteroffer | cartoon | The New Yorker | June 23, 2020 | |
Illegal Milk | short story | The New York Review of Books | November 4, 2020 | Subject of CBC News report. [35] |
The Bear Chased Us. Then We Chased the Bear. | short story | The New York Times | May 14, 2021 | |
I Like My Cops Like I Like My Surgeons: Cautious, and Not Looking to Kill Me | essay | McSweeney's | May 15, 2020 | |
That Word Does Not Mean What You Think It Means | essay | McSweeney's | June 15, 2020 | |
An Open Letter to the T&T Supermarket Clerk Who Was Told to 'Go Back to China' as Part of a Customer’s Racist Tirade in Mississauga, Ontario | essay | McSweeney's | July 31, 2020 | |
An Open Letter to the National Rifle Association | essay | Chicago Sun-Times | July 30, 2020 | |
Expect less. | essay | Chicago Sun-Times | December 7, 2020 | |
Thank God We've Come to Our Senses | essay | Los Angeles Review of Books | November 4, 2020 | |
My Brain is a Snake | cartoon | Literary Hub | February 16, 2021 | |
Mousetrap | cartoon | Weekly Humorist | September 9, 2022 |
Parker's films and music videos, including The Dance, Afghan, and Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns, have screened at over 150 film festivals worldwide and received over 80 awards and nominations.
The Playlist called him an "up and coming talent on the Canadian film scene," [36] Film School Rejects said his work was "riotously funny, with a narrative flair that makes one hope he has a feature coming soon," [37] and CinemaSinema lauded his ability to "squeeze more heart from an 11 minute short film than many Hollywood directors can muster from feature length pictures." [38]
Year(s) | Title | Director | Writer | Cast |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Afghan | Yes | Yes | Pardis Parker, Mark Little |
2009 | What Goes Around Comes Around (music video) | Yes | Yes | |
2009 | Don't Turn Around (music video) | Yes | Yes | |
2010 | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Yes | Yes | John Dunsworth, Levi Macdougall |
2010 | Implants | Yes | Yes | Pardis Parker, Evany Rosen |
2011 | The Dance | Yes | Yes | Pardis Parker, Evany Rosen |
2012 | The Train | Yes | Yes | Pardis Parker, Colin Mochrie |
2013 | Jash Ugly Sweater Contest | No | Yes | Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Reggie Watts, Tim & Eric |
Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | CBC Short Film Face-Off | Best Film | Afghan | Finalist |
2009 | Just for Laughs | Best of Just for Laughs | Afghan | Won |
2009 | ViewFinders International Film Festival | Best Short Film | Afghan | Won |
2010 | Films in Bloom | Audience Award | Afghan | Silver |
2010 | Moondance International Film Festival | Atlantis Award | Afghan | Won |
2010 | Twin Rivers Media Festival | Award of Excellence | Afghan | Won |
2010 | Atlanta Philosophy Film Festival | Audience Choice Award | Afghan | Won |
2010 | Desiderata Film Festival | Audience Award | Afghan | 1st |
2010 | Screaming Ant Film Festival | Best Narrative Film | Afghan | Won |
2010 | Screaming Ant Film Festival | Featured Filmmaker Award | Afghan | Won |
2010 | Canadian Comedy Awards | Best Writing, Film | Afghan | Nominated |
2010 | Canadian Comedy Awards | Best Performance by a Male, Film | Afghan | Nominated |
2011 | Buttered Corn on the Cob Film Festival | Juror Pick | Afghan | Won |
2011 | Big Dam Film Festival | People's Choice Award | Afghan | Won |
2011 | Margaret River Shorts Film Festival | Best Film | Afghan | Finalist |
2011 | Imago Film Festival | 1–15 Minutes | Afghan | 1st |
2011 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Actor | Afghan | Nominated |
2011 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Afghan | Nominated |
2011 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Afghan | Nominated |
2011 | Athens International Film Festival | Best Short Narrative | Afghan | 3rd |
2011 | Creative Arts Film Festival | Best Short Film | Afghan | Won |
2011 | Creative Arts Film Festival | Best Editing | Afghan | Won |
2011 | Creative Arts Film Festival | Best Sound Design | Afghan | Won |
2011 | Creative Arts Film Festival | Best Original Score | Afghan | Won |
2011 | Creative Arts Film Festival | Best Director | Afghan | Nominated |
2011 | Creative Arts Film Festival | Best Cinematography | Afghan | Nominated |
2012 | Next Wave Art Salon | Time Arts Award | Afghan | Won |
2010 | Twin Rivers Media Festival | Best Short Drama | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | 2nd |
2010 | JamFest Indie Film Festival | Best Experimental Comedy Short | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Silver |
2010 | NBC Universal Short Cuts Film Festival | Best Film | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Semi-Finalist |
2010 | South Dakota Film Festival | Jury Award | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2010 | TriMedia Film Festival | Best of the TriMedia Film Festival | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2010 | Wet Your Pants Comedy Film Festival | Best Short Film | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2010 | Montgomery Film Festival | Best Film | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2010 | Montgomery Film Festival | Best Comedy | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2010 | Montgomery Film Festival | Audience Award | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2010 | Canadian Comedy Awards | Best Direction, Film | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Nominated |
2011 | Derby City Film Festival | Best Short Film | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Nominated |
2011 | Griffon International Film Festival | Best Comedy | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2011 | Buttered Corn on the Cob Film Festival | Juror Pick | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2011 | Lakeshorts International Film Festival | Best Comedy | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2011 | Tallahassee Film Festival | Best Narrative Short | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Nominated |
2011 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Director | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Nominated |
2011 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Actor | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Nominated |
2011 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Nominated |
2011 | Santa Catalina Film Festival | Best Short | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Finalist |
2011 | Detroit Windsor International Film Festival | Best Short Comedy | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2011 | Screaming Ant Film Festival | Best Narrative Film | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2011 | Screaming Ant Film Festival | Featured Filmmaker Award | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2012 | SENE Film Festival | Best of SENE | Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns | Won |
2010 | Twin Rivers Media Festival | Award of Excellence | Don't Turn Around | Won |
2011 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Hip-Hop Music Video | Don't Turn Around | Nominated |
2011 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Most Creative Music Video | Don't Turn Around | Nominated |
2010 | Twin Rivers Media Festival | Award of Excellence | What Goes Around Comes Around | Won |
2011 | Rincon International Film Festival | Best Music Video | What Goes Around Comes Around | Won |
2011 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Director | What Goes Around Comes Around | Won |
2011 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Rock Music Video | What Goes Around Comes Around | Nominated |
2011 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Most Creative Music Video | What Goes Around Comes Around | Nominated |
2011 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Cinematography | What Goes Around Comes Around | Nominated |
2012 | TriMedia Film Festival | Best Music Video | What Goes Around Comes Around | Nominated |
2011 | Margaret River Shorts Film Festival | Best Film | Implants | Finalist |
2011 | Beloit International Film Festival | Best Short Film | Implants | Finalist |
2011 | Playboy Imaginative Filmmakers Spotlight | Grand Prize | Implants | Finalist |
2011 | Creative Arts Film Festival | Best Dramatic Short Film | Implants | Nominated |
2011 | Creative Arts Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Implants | Nominated |
2011 | Creative Arts Film Festival | Best Sound Design | Implants | Nominated |
2011 | Creative Arts Film Festival | Best Director of Photography | Implants | Nominated |
2011 | JamFest Indie Film Festival | Best Experimental Comedy Short | The Dance | Gold |
2011 | Carmel Art and Film Festival | Best of Shorts | The Dance | Won |
2011 | PEI International Film Festival | Best Maritime Short | The Dance | Won |
2011 | Film North - Huntsville International Film Festival | Best Short Film | The Dance | Won |
2011 | SNO Boston Film Festival | Best Foreign Filmmaker | The Dance | Won |
2011 | Dixie Film Festival | Best Comedy | The Dance | Won |
2011 | Urban Mediamakers Film Festival | Best International Short | The Dance | 2nd |
2012 | Big Dam Film Festival | Best of Show | The Dance | 3rd |
2012 | Imago Film Festival | Audience Choice Award | The Dance | Won |
2012 | Buttered Corn on the Cob Film Festival | Best of the Fest | The Dance | Won |
2012 | Wet Your Pants Comedy Film Festival | Best Short Film | The Dance | Won |
2012 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Director | The Dance | Nominated |
2012 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Actor | The Dance | Nominated |
2012 | World Music and Independent Film Festival | Best Cinematography | The Dance | Nominated |
2012 | Canadian Comedy Awards | Best Performance by a Male, Film | The Dance | Nominated |
2012 | Canadian Comedy Awards | Best Writing, Film | The Dance | Nominated |
2012 | Humanity International Film Festival | Best Local Film | The Dance | Won |
2012 | Humanity International Film Festival | Best Canadian Film | The Dance | Won |
2012 | Humanity International Film Festival | Best Comedy | The Dance | Won |
2012 | SENE Film Festival | Best of SENE | The Dance | Won |
2012 | Boston Comedy Festival | Audience Choice Award | The Dance | 2nd |
2012 | Forster Film Festival | Creativity Award | The Dance | Won |
2013 | National Screen Institute of Canada | Best Comedy | The Dance | Won |
2012 | South Texas Underground Film Festival | The Right Stuff Award | The Train | Won |
2012 | Urban Mediamakers Film Festival | Best Short Film Under 2 Minutes | The Train | Won |
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