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Showing posts with label 2005. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2005. Show all posts
Scott Baio Makes a Cameo in His EXTREMELY NSFW Viral Video
Friday, September 25, 2009He's Not So Hot For Teacher
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
John went to Penn hoping to write for the Daily Pennsylvanian and become a journalist, but left as primarily an author of fiction. Thanks to the mentorship of Max Apple and the nurturing community of the Kelly Writers House, John just finished three years of work as their Assistant Director of Development and has now left to pursue his MFA in Creative Writing at American University.
John has written a story called "Baby Blue" which is included in a new short story collection of Philadelphia-based fiction by Philadelphia authors called Philly Fiction 2: A Second Collection of Short Stories Highlighting Philadelphia as a City of Literary Inspiration . His story is about a guy who meets up with a former high school teacher several years after graduation. And it turns out his teacher isn't the great guy he remembered him to be. Per John,
"The story centers on our narrator, who is working through becoming an adult via this renewed relationship with a former teacher. They meet by chance and wind up making plans to see a Phillies game, and our narrator winds up seeing an odd side of his former teacher."
Check out an excerpt from it below: +/-
More Penn authors!
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GoldFellas: GoodFellas Meets Goldman Sachs In His New Viral Video
Friday, August 28, 2009
Of the success of his past viral video hit "I'm the Kind of Guy You Meet at 4am", Matt Rittberg (Penn Law 2005) has now come up with a funny spoof based on Goldman Sachs outrageous compensation and Wall Street excess. Earlier this year, Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman's CEO, sent out a memo telling his top employees not to buy anything flashy with their bonuses. Matt's video above is a parody of the scene in Goodfellas after the heist where De Niro tells his mob guys the same thing! Is Goldman stealing from the American public?
Watch this video and decide for yourself!
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His New Production Company's Hot New Viral Videos You MUST See!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Last year, I did a post about how Jake Avnet (C'05, Co-Chairman of Undergraduate Film Advisory Board, Founder of the Lecture Series, "Talking Film") won two prestigious grants for one of his films. Since then, Jake has co-founded his own production company called ENEMY Incorporated with director David Green whose focus is on commercials, music videos, and viral content, as well as film and television production.
As mentioned above, Jake sent me two great films his company has produced. And they're really creative and well done!
Click HERE to watch them!
Trojan2Go Commercial -"Sri Lanka": Watch this guy travel the globe in the name of love! (reminds me of my undergrad film). I'm sure our Penn alum sexologist and Trojan spokesperson would approve!A semi-NSFW cover of the Talking Heads Song "This Must Be the Place" laid over shot-by-shot re-enactments from American Psycho. ...Tell me that the star of this video, Miles Fisher (Harvard alum), doesn't look like Tom Cruise?!
This Self-Admitted Scumbag is "The Kinda Guy You Meet at 4am" (VIDEO)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I've got a cautionary tale to share from lawyer turned stand-up comedian Matt Rittberg (Penn Law 2005) about the guys a girl meets if she stays out too late.
Last spring, I wrote a post about Matt's now he has just debuted his first musical comedy video called "I'm the Kinda Guy" and it is funny! So funny in fact that I decided not to wait to publish this for my Funny Friday series. And watch this video through til the end to learn about the other kinda guy you girls out there can also meet!
So what was the inspiration for this video?
Per Matt,
"A lot of my standup focuses on relationships and the ridiculous things guys say to try to get girls when they are trying to hook up (ex- the line about having an extra pair of gym shorts and the "no jeans" in the bed rule is something everyone who is single has said or heard before). Also, I lived in the Meatpacking district in NY, and I always see drunken girls stumbling out of bars at 4 am and random creepy guys hitting on them on the streets at hot dog stands etc. Watching those interactions (and occasionally partaking in them) inspired the song. More than anything, I hope it doesn't come off as misogynistic...after all, I'm warning girls and probably breaking some sort of guy code by giving away some of our dirty tricks!"
Since my last post about Matt, he actually quit his job as a lawyer to pursue comedy and is writing full time now. He's moving to LA in September to seek representation and chase the dream!
If you like irreverent, funny videos like Matt's, you'll also love the videos Penn alumni Aaron Karo (W'01), and DJ Lubel (C'05) have produced!
Her Site Will Keep Your Inner Diva Fashionable Without Breaking the Bank
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
For both my continuing Pinching Pennies and Website Wednesday series, I have a great site that will help you save money while maintaining your inner diva.
With her new endeavor Divas Die Poor, Mona Bijoor (College '98, Wharton MBA '05, GUIDE, West Philly Tutoring) has created a site which focuses on staying fashionable without breaking the bank. You'll find designer deals and steals, insight on the best prices for designer duds, and tips on great places to shop.How did Mona get this idea for the site? Per Mona,
"I grew up in a pretty cost conscious household. My parents rarely paid full price for anything—and when they did they hated it. In spite of this principle ingrained in me, I have always loved fashion and developed some pretty high-end taste.Some fun articles to check out:
After Penn, I went on to make good money and I spent a lot of it. Then I married someone (from Penn) who made even more money than me. So I spent mine and his. And then I went to work in the fashion industry and spent even more. Now I have come full circle. I am back to the principles I learned at home, but not totally interested in pursuing the zen life yet. I still love fashion. I love putting together amazing outfits and decorating my home. But I am no longer interested in throwing my money out the door.
This site is my quest to find easy ways to save money while maintaining your own personal taste and style. I don't believe in adopting bizarro ideas to save money. I hope to get some of my fashionista friends to share advice on spotting great items for good value. Together we can learn how to get the things we want without breaking the bank."
Top Me OffIf anyone out there is interested in contacting Mona about the fashion industry, she welcomes your emails. She is based in NYC and has worked for Chanel, Elie Tahari, Mimi Maternity, and Ann Taylor. She is now developing an online consignment concept for the high end. Her email is mbijoor@gmail.com. Follow her on twitter HERE
Starsky and Clutch
Work It Out: 10 Timeless Work Essentials
More $$$ Saving and Job Advice from my Pinching PENNies series HEREMore Penn alumni Fashionistas
New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!Other great Website Wednesday posts
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If You Grew Up in New York and/or Went to Penn, You'll LOVE His Musical Short
Friday, April 10, 2009
If you grew up in New York you'll love this video.
If you know someone from New York, you'll love this video.
If you went to Penn, you'll probably love this video.
What is it?
It's the latest short comedy musical from DJ Lubel (C'05) and it's all about New York (Murray Hill to be exact) and his circle of hebrew school graduated, sleepaway camp and teen tour loving friends. Not only is it clever, but it's well directed and produced.
If you recall, DJ did a FANTASTIC comedy musical on how much he misses Rick Moranis! Check it our HERE!Check out my other Funny Friday posts here!
"So Fun, Right?": Alumni Comediannes' Pair Up in New Web Series
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Penn Los Angeles stand-ups, Lesley Wolff (C'93) and Jessie Schneiderman (C'05) are in a new web series called "So Fun, Right" about a 30 something out of work writer (Lesley) who moves in with a young hip Hollywood hottie (Jessie). Lesley and Jessie really are so great in these that watching them will actually make you cringe a bit (in a good way!)
Plus the videos are shot very well ...much like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "The Office".
Other great Website Wednesday posts
Other Penn alumni and undergrad Stand-Ups
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Digg Her 12 Year Relationship Nap (VIDEO)
Monday, December 15, 2008
While Fielding Edlow (C'95) is primarily a playwright, she recently collaborated on her first short The Long Nap (see above) with her director Adrian Fulle, in the writer's group, Safehouse, in Santa Monica. The short is about "a woman who wakes up from a 12 year relationship nap." Look out for Penn alum Jessie Schneiderman (C'05) performing in the film.Tomorrow night (9/16) at 9pm, her short one-act, "Sex and Tinsel in Denver", will be included with four other writers tomorrow 12/16 at 9pm, in the off-Broadway Naked Angels Reading Series in NYC.
Tuesdays at NineAlso, Fielding's full-length play, "Admissions" is being developed by Naked Angels in NYC as well. "Admissions" is about a family teetering on the brink when an inappropriate father and a self-obsessed mother accompany their disaffected daughter, sitting on the lid of Pandora's box, on a Vassar College campus tour.
National Comedy Theater
347 West 36th Street
between 8th and 9th Avenue
Hosted by T@9 NY's creative directors Stephanie Cannon and Joe Danisi.
Besides writing, Fielding also performs improv every Friday night at Ultimate Improv in Westwood at 9pm with her group, "The Board". More at Ultimateimprov.com.
Other Penn writers
Other Penn folks who do improv
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Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Jake Avnet (C'05, Co-Chairman of Undergraduate Film Advisory Board, Founder of the Lecture Series, "Talking Film") produced a short film called LAST MEAL with Penn alum writer Tracy Park (W'05), Micah Fitzerman-Blue (Harvard grad), and director Mark Stern (Princeton grad).
This short film has been the recipient of two very prestigious grants: the Special Project Grant from the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC, as well as the Panavision New Filmmaker's Grant. The film stars Fran Kranz (The Village, Matchstick Men, and the upcoming TV series "The Dollhouse"), and Nikki Griffin (Dukes of Hazzard and The Fast and the Furious).
Per Jake,
"Fantasy becomes reality in this action/comedy about a suburban couple that ventures into a diner and find themselves in the middle of a "situation". A man seeking vengeance for the death of his father has finally tracked down the culprit, the chef and owner of the diner."Jake and his crew have just recently begun the festival run, and have been accepted into AFI Fest 2008 -- one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. The film will screen in competition at the ArcLight theater in Hollywood, on November 6th and 7th. For more information, please visit the blog: http://lastmeal.wordpress.com
Jake's zest for film production seems to have been passed down from his talented Penn alum director/producer father, Jon Avnet (C'71). Click here for some of my past posts about Jon.
Click here to find out how Jake got his start as a producer and what other big projects he has in the works.
More Penn alumni working together in Hollywood!
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Wednesday, October 8, 2008
What happens when you graduate from Penn, have a hot TV spec that catches the attention of ABC, ..and then the writer's strike happens?!You partner with your successful Hollywood father to create an entertaining and informative website for other creative types to join and network on.
Lindsey Rosin (C'07, The Excelano Project, The Writers House, Kappa Alpha Theta) has joined forces with her father Charles Rosin (Executive Producer of Beverly Hills 90210 for the first five seasons) to create www.showbizzle.com , a new form of internet entertainment that combines daily updates of original, scripted video content with a social network aimed at emerging actors, writers, directors, fans of the biz – basically anyone with a computer who is looking for some fun entertainment.
Other Penn alumni friends have worked with Lindsey on showbizzle; Gabe Laskin (C'05, Mask and Wig) and Spencer Crawford (W'05, Mask and Wig), both have appeared as actors on the site (Gabe even has one of the three leads). Joey Power (C'06), Stacey Lloyd (C'06), Reg Tigerman (C'07, Mask and Wig) and Jonah Platt (C'08, Off the Beat) all wrote different characters for showbizzle as well.
Per Lindsey,
"The website serves as the daily blog of our fictitious blogger and main character, Janey. She hangs out at her favorite coffee place listening to old friends and new acquaintances, from all strata of Hollywood, confide intimate details about their career ambitions; creative aspirations, pipe dreams, hook ups, romantic liaisons, embarrassing day jobs, galvanizing moments, personal quests, major revelations, unexpected characters and narrative twists – you know, the basic personal and professional stuff that typifies what it's like to be young and in Los Angeles in 2008."Lindsey sums up the site in 4 points:...+/-
1) Entertainment: it is a social entertainment website that streams scripted two-minute vignettes – updated on a daily basis – these vignettes are centered around the lives of twenty-somethings as they live and work in Hollywood.
2) Community: By joining our site, users can create their own profiles and submit their own videos and blog entries to tell their own stories – as well as comment on our scripted entertainment content, which will influence future story lines.
3) Insider information: Ever wonder what it really takes to make it in Hollywood? showbizzle also offers career advice and insider info via video-taped conversations between showbizzle writer/executive producer Charles Rosin and various Hollywood types. The one thing we can assure you about the 170 videos we will be posting on the showbizzle website this fall is that each vignette feels authentic and different from virtually everything else you can currently find on the world wide web.
4) In addition users will be encouraged to send in videos and blog entries and allow the community to determine their favorites. The winners will then be brought to Hollywood and be involved with the professional production of showbizzle when we go back into production in early 2009,” Charles said. Lindsey adds, “For some people, it might be an incredible opportunity and a big break -- the amount of exposure available on the internet is endless and that is so priceless to a young talent who is just starting out on their career and trying to break through.”
Find out how Lindsey got her start as a writer, & what she wrote at Penn which led to her selling a pilot pitch idea to ABC. More of my posts about Penn alumni websites
Submitting a story to Dueling Tampons: What you need to know...
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