This Contest Finalist Is Wining For Your Vote (VIDEO)

Actor Ben Pace (C'00) has performed Shakespeare in the Kennedy Center in DC, stand-up comedy at the Hollywood Improv, appeared in another Penn alum's film Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon ...and just became a finalist for something he needs your help with!


A few weeks ago, Ben submitted a fun video he appears in called "Hot Bottle Issue" to Wine Spectator Magazine.  In it, Ben answers the question, "What country produces the best wine in the world?" and answers the question by assuming characters from Italy, France, US, Spain, Germany, Australia, Chile, and Ireland.  He really nails these characters!

Ben's video has now become a finalist ...and he needs your vote! (voting ends on Sunday, Sept. 20)

Watch his video and vote for "Hot Bottle Issue" every/any day this week HERE

After you vote, check out Ben as "Harold the Janitor" in Elevator, a web series that was developed in the HBO Lab and has recently been bought by Break Media.  In the episode below,  "Harold takes it to another level to defeat Meredith from HR".

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Hollywood Bits and Pieces: Their New Upcoming TV Shows & Films

Some recent juicy Penn Hollywood alumni tidbits for y'all...

Click HERE for the scoop!

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• Elizabeth Banks (C'96) has signed on for a potentially recurring role on ABC's critically-praised new fall sitcom, "Modern Family". More HERE

• Todd Lieberman (C'95) will be producing a film based on the comic book "Alibi". More HERE

• Speaking of Liz and Todd above, have you seen the new poster for their upcoming film Surrogates?

• "Harold and Kumar" creators Jon Hurwitz (W'00) and Hayden Schlossberg will be directing the comedy "One Night Stan".   Per The Hollywood Reporter, '"Stan" plays out a scenario about which many men fantasize on the cusp of marriage. When Stan learns his fiancee, Julie, has had more sexual partners than he, he gets her blessing for one night to play catch-up. Unfortunately, his plans for a sex buffet don't come together quite the way he had hoped."'
  

...Actually, Jon will be working on this project with Mike Karz (C'89, W'89), another Penn alum who will be in part producing the film.

My past "Hollywood Bits and Pieces" posts HERE

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Getting You Buzzd: He's Helping You Discover The Nightlife Around You

What do you think a guy who DJed in his senior year (under the name Metafizik) and hosted weekly parties at 4010 Spruce (a house known as "Browntown") went on to do?

While he's not a DJ anymore, Nihal Mehta (C'99, Pi Lam fraternity, see picture to left) is still tapped into everything "nightlife" and is sharing it you with his web based and mobile free service called buzzd.

buzzd is the premier location-sensitive city guide and social network for your mobile phone.  buzzd answers “what’s going on around me right now?™” by delivering up-to-the-minute info on bars, restaurants, concerts and events in a specific set location. buzzd features listings from Flavorpill, Time Out, Citysearch, ZAGAT, Upcoming as well as real-time posts (“buzzes”) from members of the buzzd community. Create a profile, add/invite friends and – if you post a “buzz” – it is sent as a text-message to your nearby friends in the network.

Recently, Nihal released a new BlackBerry application in that has been among the most downloaded apps since its release, and was covered in such outlets like the New York Times. (Mehta received funding from Blackberry Partners Fund, who are interested in funding entertainment ventures that are on the mobile phone. )

On a related note, Nihal had another "nightlife" company before buzzd.  In 1999, Nihal started his entrepreneurial career by co-founding (and later selling) Philly2nite an online nightlife and entertainment portal with fellow Penn alum Vijay Chattha (C'00, see picture to right) while they both lived on the bottom floor of 4010 Spruce (side note: I actually lived exactly there my senior year too!).  Browntown, as the house was known was famous for its many evening gatherings featuring open mic sessions with many future media alums like John Stephens, now John Legend (C'99), Aaron Jones (W'99)  of Hip-Hop Act Dujeous, Ted Chung (W'99), who is running Snoop's Label, DJ Bunnylove,  Paras Shah (C'99), Nimo Patel (W'01) and Swapnil Shah (C'99) of Rap Group Karmacy,  Sumit Bothra (W'99), now President of Embargo Management and Max Blumenthal (C'99), MC and current writer for TheDailyBeast and Huffington Post.

Years later Nihal started the first mobile marketing firm which was bought by Omnicom Group in 2005.  From there, Nihal got the idea for buzzd, which he founded in 2006 which was essentially his first idea: Philly2nite on a phone.

Nihal is yet another example of Penn friends working together as he continues to work with Vijay who is an investor and advisor in the company.



Get Buzzd!: www.buzzd.com

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The Humor in Being an LA Actor (VIDEO)

What does it mean to be an actor in Los Angeles?

Perhaps boasting about your training ....or exhibiting the extremes to which actors will go to "bring it".

Check out the above very funny "Office"/documentary-ish video on what it means to be an LA actor. In this short, a documentary crew follows around a group of LA actors (co-starring Penn alum Jill Magilone C'00) trying to rehearse for an Industry Showcase. Things get out of control when Ben and Renee show their true colors...

Jill is great in this. Her tone reminds me of a cross between Anna Faris and Julie Hagerty (from Airplane! fame). Very castable!

(Be sure to check out the Joaquin Phoenix reference in there...or at least I think it's a reference as the guy looks like him!)

Check out:

• my Penn Actors Headshot Gallery HERE!
• the new Penn Actor Video Reel section HERE (add yours HERE)
• Advice for the actor who wants to move out to LA HERE

Check out my other Funny Friday posts here!

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How Long Will This Tabard Society Founder Last Against Trump?

When one Penn alum checks in on another Penn alum...

Did you catch the very Penn alumni-filled Apprentice on Sunday night?

Donald Trump (W'68), Ivanka Trump (W'04) and Don Trump Jr. (W'00) were dishing out tasks to the new cast of The Celebrity Apprentice, which included Melissa Rivers (Tabard Founder, C'89).

And although he never made an appearance, Donny Deutsch (C'79) sent someone from his company with a very generous check to buy a single cupcake!

Watch below to see how much he donated and at what point his check finally made its way down to team KOTU!

Other Penn alumnni on Reality TV

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He's Been Named The Hollywood Reporter's Top 5 Under 35

Matt Reilly on far right

News of another alum making an important Hollywood List...

Last week, Matt Reilly (C'00) just got named as The Hollywood Reporter's Top 5 Under 35.

Here's the scoop per the Hollywood Reporter,

"Matt Reilly, 30
vp production
Warner Bros.
New Jersey-born Reilly first tasted the business as a summer intern for James Moll and June Beallor, makers of the 1998 Oscar-winning docu "The Last Days." His big break didn't happen until a college buddy working as an assistant to Patrick Whitesell, then at CAA, suggested Reilly take his place. He had only been on Whitesell's desk a month when the agent famously jumped ship for Endeavor. "He called me on a Sunday night and asked, 'Do you want to go with me?'" Reilly remembers. "I was in the eye of the storm of something really big, but at the time I was just going with it." Reilly soon realized he didn't want to be an agent after all. He credits Endeavor's Tom Strickler for pushing him to take a job at Warners, comparing the studio with the Yankees: "'You want to play for the Yankees, don't you?'" Reilly recalls Strickler asking. Reilly now oversees an upcoming slate that includes the Seth Rogen comedy "Observe and Report," political thriller "The 28th Amendment" and Ben Affleck's "The Town.""

Check out other important "lists" alumni are on!

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Her "Election" Documentary: Distributed By a Musician We All Know!

In the spirit of the upcoming presidential election, Erika Frankel's (C'00) documentary campaign film (with a twist!) is about to be released nationwide on October 24th.

Since I posted about Erika's film Frontrunners last September, they had their world premiere in competition at South by Southwest (SXSW) and were picked up for distribution by Adam Yauch's (of the Beastie Boys) new company Oscilloscope Pictures. Frontrunners is their third release.

Per Erika here's the synopsis,

"What do Tim Robbins, Thelonius Monk, Drew Nieporent, Jerry Nadler, and Lucy Liu all have in common? They all graduated from Stuyvesant, the jewel in the crown of NYC’s high schools for gifted students. Not surprisingly, some of the nation’s smartest, most media-savvy teenagers run an election for class president with primaries, televised debates, newspaper endorsements and considerable schmoozing in the halls. Stuyvesant accepts 3% of the 25,000 kids who apply, and when just one is going to be class president, you can bet that tensions run high."

FRONTRUNNERS screening locations/dates:

New York City - Film Forum (Oct 15-21)
Tickets now on sale here

Los Angeles - Nuart Theatre (Oct 24-31)
San Francisco - Lumiere Theatre (Oct 24-31)
Berkeley, CA - Shattuck Cinemas (Oct 24-31)
Denver - Starz FilmCenter (Oct 24-31)
Boston - Brattle Theatre (Oct 24-31)
Philadelphia - Ritz at the Bourse (Oct 24-31)

For more information about the film, visit http://www.frontrunnersthefilm.com/

Click to learn how Erika got her start as a documentary film producer

Read this informative review from The New York Times!

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Suggest other Penn friends to my Facebook profile and win swag!  More here!

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From Writing Harold and Kumar to THIS

Looks like another successful comedy is being made by one of our alumni.

"Harold & Kumar" writers Jon Hurwitz (W'00) and Hayden Schlossberg will write and direct the comedy "'Til Beth Do Us Part" for Warner Bros.

Per The Hollywood Reporter,

"The feature will focus on two twentysomething males whose close friendship is put to the test when one of them becomes engaged."

Jon is currently in the early stages of casting for the film and he will also be writing a third "Harold & Kumar" film (and has an option to direct).

My past posts about Jon

Get Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay now on DVD

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READ MORE - From Writing Harold and Kumar to THIS

DT Hollywood Bits & Pieces

Lots of Penn news happening this week on-campus and off!...

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Catch This Alum's Film on DVD!

Jon Hurwtitz's (W'00) Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay now on DVD

My past posts about Jon here

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He's On a New Show and He's Looking for an Agent

Tom Christensen (W'03, Mask and Wig) just landed a co-starring role on the new series, Leverage, an Ocean's-11-Meets-A-Team series set to air on TNT in the next 6 months. Tom will play a "sweet, corn fed" guy from the Midwest" He is marrying a mob-boss's daughter, and that wedding is the setting for the episode. 

When Tom arrived in LA five years ago, fellow Mask & Wig member Brian Appel (C '01) introduced him to the show's casting director. After cutting his teeth with M&W, Tom still performs sketch and improv several improv groups around LA. You can see his upcoming shows on his website, http://www.tom-christensen.com

He is currently looking for an agent. Any alumni agents out there who will take a meeting? Contact Tom via his website!

Tom's Headshot
More Penn Actor Headshots!

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Another Reality Show Debuts for This Alum

Mark Cronin's (Eng'86) next VH1 reality show, New York Goes to Hollywood premieres on Monday, 8/4.

More here
My past posts about Mark here

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This Alum Counterchecks Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus, star of the Disney Channel mega-hit, said in an interview the other day that the upcoming season of “Hannah Montana” could be the last one. “We’re thinking this is our last season,” she told E! Online.

Rich Ross (C'83), president of Disney Channels Worldwide, told the New York Post, “I fully expect we will continue production (beyond this season)—and I can stand by that.” Ross said Disney has a option for a fourth season of the show.

More here

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Wish They Had This When I Was an Undergrad!

The Kelly Writers House and the Fine Arts Department of the School of Design (at the University of Pennsylvania) are pleased to announce ArtsEdge, a new collaborative residency project to encourage the careers of emergent writers and artists.

Through ArtsEdge, the Kelly Writers House and the Fine Arts Department will subsidize the rent of a shared live/work space near Penn’s campus for an emergent writer and artist.

More here and here

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DT July Contest: Win His Shaving Cream!

Thanks to Kyle Schroeder (W'00), this month we're raffling off 1 gift basket of 3 tubes of his new Cremo (shaving) Cream with fogless mirrors!

All you need to do is:
Click here to sign up for the DT Newsletter!


At the end of the month one lucky winner will be randomly selected from all subscribers to win!.


More about the Shaving Cream here + coupons if you want to purchase now ...+/-

The Astonishingly Superior Shave Cream

* Dramatically reduces cuts, nicks, scrapes and razor irritation.
* Gives you the closest, most comfortable. longest lasting shave.
* Leaves your skin astonishingly soft and smooth.

Try It Once to Believe it. Enjoy It For Life. It's Really That Good.

Most shave "creams" and "gels" are actually foam -- which is primarily air. Visualize a sharp blade scarping across your delicate skin with air as the main "lubricant." It tears your skin, creates little cuts and nicks that bleed, and leaves your skin looking and feeling rough.

Cremo has no air: It's an extremely rich cream (even more so than other similar/non-foam luxury shave creams). It contains unique, super-lubricating, highly-slippery molecules that have been compounded with powerful skin conditioners. Together, they make your blade glide smoothly over your skin astonishingly soft and smooth. I think you will find this is better than anything else you have ever used. Try it once to believe it. Enjoy it for life.

If you can't wait, here are some discounts to purchase his shaving cream at drugstore.com:

• New Customers: Receive $5 off $30 or $10 off $50 on your first non-prescription order! Offer ends 08.31.08.A great deal if you have never ordered from the website before. I think (but am not sure) that you can use it with the link above--definitely with the ones below. Drugstore.com carries everything from Frontline flea repellent for your pets to inflatable pool toys, so spending $50 is easy, plus you get free shipping and no tax (for those of us not in WA).
• Cremo Cream Shave Cream, with Free Fogless MirrorThis is a great promotion that we are running. Incredible value given that you can pay $20 for a fogless shower mirror in most stores. 
• 20% off SALE for 6 oz Cremo Cream tube

Get the contest details here...+/-

*Contest Details:

• Only Penn undergrads, alumni, staff and prospects can participate
• 1 winner will be chosen at random from eligible applicants to receive (via mail) 3 tubes of Cremo Cream and 2 Fogless Shower Mirrors .
• Contest ends on Thursday, July 31, 11:59 pm
• How the winners will be chosen:
  To decide the winners of this competition, I will place each entry into a numbered list in the order the entrants comment was received. Using Research Randomizer, I will first select one random entry according to their number who will win. I will contact the winner about his/her prize as soon as the draw is completed and will announce the winner on this blog soon after.
  
• Winner will be notified via the email he/she submitted for signing up for the newsletter the week of August 4

For other Penn folks who want to donate a prize for a future DT contest, email me at merosler@gmail.com

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