lifestyle MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2015 Amy Schumer on ‘Trainwreck,’ gender and gun control ello, everybody!’ gushed Amy Schumer. bursting into Saturday’s ‘Hpress conference room at Switzerland’s Locarno and applauding herself. “Well, thank you!”And for the next 27 minutes, sitting beside her sister Kim Caramele, who played straight gal at the conference and takes an associate producer credit on “Trainwreck” - two or more Amy Schumers fielded questions from the international press as she tub- thumped the Judd Apatow-directed “Trainwreck” hours before Saturday’s European premiere. There was her feted comic persona, the ditzy femme airhead, known from Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer” and the - one presumes- much more real life person shooting from the hip, and still often very funny, on herself, gun control (well-less funny on that one), working with Judd Apatow, “Trainwreck,” humor and multiple other topics. Schumer was very fast, could answer comically without missing a beat, did not disappoint. Comedian Amy Schumer and US Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speak at a press conference A screengrab from the 2015 film ‘Trainwreck’. “Trainwreck” played to Europe’s press Friday calling for tighter gun laws in an effort to stop mass shootings and gun violence. — AFP night to consistent laughter at what will proba- many more scenes; in film, it was more “relax- feminist icon? “I’m proud to be a feminist. I think bly be the most-attended press screening at ing” playing just one character. everybody in this room is proud to be a feminist. Locarno. Remarkably then, at the “Trainwreck” I’ve just got an email from Gloria Steinem. I still press conference, the room was not packed to Humor and controversy cannot believe I’m in a position to communicate the rafters. It may be that, just as in the US with When asked a one-part question by Variety: with her.” On “Trainwreck”: “I think people were “Inside Amy Schumer,” word on Schumer will “Thank God, that [other two-part question] was surprised to see it’s a love story. And the film’s take some time to grow outside the US - maybe just impossible” before talking cogently about about her character finally gaining a sense of until the international roll out of “Trainwreck” at her new movie project, a mother-daughter self-respect, that she’s worthy enough to be least. Schumer gave ample indication, however, comedy, which she is writing with Carmele, loved. On gun control: “What is going on in in 27 minutes, of why she is one of the most reworking a Katy Dippold (“The Heat”) draft Congress is really frustrating” and the lack of talked about - and talked-up - comedians in the screenplay for Fox, Paul Feig producing, The gun control is about “money.” There were also, US. This was an Amy Schumer show, low-key, Locarno presser was also part of a larger train of just occasionally, times when her multiple per- but high-quality, for the initiated. humor, and controversy. Schumer was recently sonas and desire not to alienate “Trainwreck” Sometimes, she was in or out of type-or into slammed by “The Guardian” for rolling out an audiences may have clashed. “How does she feel another persona-in one and the same answer. old joke on a recent Tweet: “.” In Switzerland, about being famous?” Schumer was asked. On “Do you find it sexy getting a laugh?” a journal- Schumer took time off for ionizing of being this occasion, at least, she did meet a beat. She ist asked. “Sexy? Personally, it’s the only way I called a female comedian - “people don’t say: hesitated: “I feel...bowled.” achieve orgasm,” she drawled. Then more seri- ‘He’s a male comedian’”- to explain, as if she had Then she was off into the Locarno early ously: “No: When people have sex they should just been forced to perform a crash-course in evening cauldron heat, leaving journalists with focus on what they’re doing.” When asks two race relations - that when she used the word the sense that they might just have caught her questions: “OK, cool, so this is a two-part ques- “black” “a black person is someone who does before she becomes a media icon. Though, as tion,” before talking eloquently on the differ- not have white skin.” And sometimes, it was just US actress Amy Schumer arrives for the photocall of the film “Trainwreck”, during the 68th Schumer had it, “Anybody who thinks they’re an ence between film and TV - the latter, you shoot straight up. How does she feel about being a Locarno International Film Festival in Locarno, Switzerland. — AP icon must be mental.” — Reuters Ukraine slaps ban Guy Ritchie and Jacqui Ainsley on 13 Russian artists celebrate nuptials at screening kraine on Saturday named 13 pro-Russian actors and singers whose work would be Ubanned from TV, radio and cinema, including France’s Gerard Depardieu. The blacklist issued by the ministry of culture described the 13 as “a threat to national security” for supporting President Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea and his backing of Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. Songs by these performers will be barred from the airwaves, and permits for screening their films will be withdrawn in the near future, ministry spokes- woman Daryna Glushchenko told AFP. Depardieu, a Russian citizen since 2013, incensed the pro-Western leadership in Kiev by striking up a close friendship with Putin and for reportedly even denying the existence of an independent Ukraine. Gerard Depardieu In July, Ukraine said it was banning the flamboyant (From left) British 66-year-old French-born star from entering the coun- film producer Lionel try for five years. Other names on the new blacklist Wigram, British include the 77-year-old Russian crooner and legislator director Guy Ritchie Iosif — Joseph Kobzon-who has been dubbed “the with his wife Jacqui Soviet Frank Sinatra.” and British actor Iosif is already being targeted by European sanc- Henry Cavill pose tions for his support for pro-Russian separatists and for photographers concerts in Donetsk, the rebel hub in eastern Ukraine, ahead of the where he was born. Another is Mikhail Boyarsky, a Premiere of ‘The Soviet-era movie star, who is accused by the Kiev gov- Man From ernment of signing an open letter support the annex- U.N.C.L.E.’ in central ation of Crimea, Glushchenko said. London. — AFP Depardieu’s career has been studded with hits such as “Cyrano de Bergerac,” “Green Card,” “The Last Metro” and “Jean de Florette.” His success has waned in recent t dusk in the cobbled courtyard of a tinued to channel the virginal theme, don- the al fresco screening, The Man himself, then was as scary as any form of terrorism years, although his movies remain popular in the ex- former palace, Warner Bros “The Man ning a flowing white Alice Temperley dress Henry Cavill, had wise words as to how to we have today. And they were going Soviet nations and he is a household name in Ukraine. AFrom U.N.C.L.E.” took his bow to the for the outing. Warner Bros. UK topper Josh best enjoy the pic with the solid seating. around... living life and having fun.” As the The actor left France in protest over a proposed tax on world at London’s Thames-side Somerset Berger was appointed Ritchie’s Friday night “I’d say, shift from buttock to buttock.” sun disappeared in the west, helicopters the super-rich. He was handed a Russian passport by House. Friday’s was not the first bow, how- best man, charmingly demanding a round Cavill was quizzed as to whether his whirled in the dark city sky above and the Putin himself in January 2013 and took up residency ever, with helmer Guy Ritchie having held a of applause for the newlyweds from the Cold War spy had relevance to modern picture finally rolled to excited cheers. Also in Belgium. — AFP private premiere at his nuptials a week 2,000-strong guests at the Film4 screening. audiences, responding with conviction, in attendance was writer/producer Lionel before. Ritchie’s bride, Jacqui Ainsley, con- As guests sat atop the stone cobbles for “The threat of nuclear apocalypse back Wigram. — Reuters TCA Awards: Jon Hamm, ‘Empire’ thank the critics he Television Critics Association Awards were held Saturday at the TBeverly Hilton Hotel, or as host James Corden called it, the ceremony that celebrates “the dramas, the come- dies and whatever category ‘Orange is the New Black’ is now calling itself.” Exec producers and stars accepted awards for categories like individual achievement in comedy (which went to Amy Schumer), outstanding achieve- ment in comedy (which went to her Comedy Central show) and outstanding achievement in youth programming (which went to ABC Family’s “The Fosters”). “Are you giving this award to us sar- Actor Jon Hamm accepts the TCA Award for Individual Writer Christine Nangle, on behalf of Amy Schumer, accepts Director James L Brooks accepts the TCA Career Achievement castically?” asked John Oliver via prere- Achievement in Drama onstage during the 31st annual the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy for Award. corded message when his HBO show Television Critics Association Awards at The Beverly Hilton ‘Inside Amy Schumer’. “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” Hotel on August 8, 2015 in Beverly Hills. —AP photos won outstanding achievement in news and Information over more traditional that they were grateful that fans were R Murrow. “Mad Men’s” Jon Hamm also won for outstanding achievement in ers. “For you to like me is everything that “Amy Schumer has been blogged about choices like PBS’ “Frontline” and CBS’ “60 paying so close attention to the show accepted an award for his role as Don movies, miniseries and specials, made my father told me would not happen to so many times you would think she has Minutes.” Winners were informed ahead given how crowded the “golden age of Draper.