Anderson Paak. Photo: file
LOS ANGELES:
Grammy-winning musician and actor Anderson Paak has stepped into filmmaking with his directorial debut ‘K-Pops!’, a family-oriented comedy that blends Korean cultural themes with music and humour, releasing in United States theatres on Friday (today).
Speaking in a virtual interview, Paak said he wanted to avoid focusing on emotional family trauma and instead present a heart-warming story about reconciliation, culture and laughter.
He described himself as a “wholesome kind of guy”, adding that music, comedy and cultural connection have always been his way of coping with life’s challenges.
The film follows a Los Angeles musician who travels to South Korea to revive his career by joining a K-Pop competition. During the journey, he reconnects with his long-lost son and gradually chooses fatherhood over professional ambition as the relationship between them strengthens.
Paak has personal ties to Korea. His mother was born there during the Korean War and was later adopted by an African-American family in Compton, California. These family roots inspired him to explore Korean heritage in the film while also reflecting multicultural musical influences.
The singer said the idea for the movie began during the global pandemic when he bonded with his son by creating videos using K-Pop music. However, the project evolved over time, even as his son’s musical interests shifted from K-Pop to heavy metal bands.
Making the film presented several challenges, including learning screenplay writing, acting, and blending Black music traditions with K-Pop musical structure. Despite difficulties, Paak hopes the movie encourages audiences to reconnect with music, learn new cultural expressions and spend more time with family. ‘K-Pops!’ is distributed by Aura Entertainment.
