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If you didn't fastforward through the credits, you would have seen that the show's composer is a Penn alum (and DT favorite!)
Find out who!
Showing posts with label Elizabeth Banks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elizabeth Banks. Show all posts
This Musician Wrote the Jingle for ABC's "Modern Family" (VIDEO)
Thursday, September 24, 2009If you didn't fastforward through the credits, you would have seen that the show's composer is a Penn alum (and DT favorite!)
Find out who!
DT's B&P: They're ALL Hollywood Producers To Watch
Friday, September 11, 2009
Some exciting entertainment tidbits from our alumni film producers...
Mike Karz (C'89, W'89)'s Sorority Row (as reported HERE on DT ) debuts today.The film is about "A group of sorority sisters try to cover up the death of their house-sister after a prank gone wrong, only to be stalked by a serial killer."
Past posts about Mike's film projects here
More of my Penn "Film Producer" posts here
Adding to our "Alumni on Important Lists" series, husband and wife team, Elizabeth Banks (C'96) and Max Handelman (C'95, AEPi) are now 2 of Variety's "Top 10 Producers To Watch".More Here!
More of Liz's busy actress life HERE
Check back in weeks to come! I have a ton of developing stories from Penn alumni film producers!
DT's B&P: Alumni Dealings with Quentin Tarantino, Russell Crow and John Legend
Friday, August 28, 2009
Transitioning now out of our "Delicious Leftovers" series to bring you some exciting entertainment tidbits from our alumni and undergrads:
- Lots of celebrity dealing with our alumni this week
- She's casting For A new TV show
- She will be starring in a new thriller as a prisoner
- A Hot Los Angeles Penn event you'll want to go to on September 1!
- Free music!
Click HERE for the scoop!
"Most reality shows have people looking for their 15 minutes of fame. Reality Hell will have people wanting to give their's back! The reality genre has all but taken over television programming, making stars out of regular people. Now E! is turning the tables on all those reality-star wannabes by staging a show where the whole cast is in on an act to set up one unknowing reality-show contestant. Staged scenarios include an over-the-top modeling competition with extreme challenges, wacky contestants and insane judges and a family swap that will have the mom trying to find a way to escape the crazy Hollywood clan she's been placed with. This summer on E!, Fake is the new Reality!"I've watched this show and the part I look forward to is the end of the show at the moment when the actors tell the victim they're on "Reality Hell" and the person that is being pranked doesn't know what "Reality Hell" means until they realize all the actors are laughing at them. It's briliant!
My past posts about stand-up and casting director Lesley Wolff HERE
...Jordana also reviews the film for the Wall Street Journal. Read all about "Torah and Tarantino" HERE
...And speaking of Inglorious Basterds, read the early review HERE that Brian Tran (W'10) wrote last May for our Penn in Cannes '09 series
Elizabeth Banks (C'96) to star with Russell Crow in Next Three Days According to The Hollywood Reporter, Liz "will play the lead role of Laura, a woman who is imprisoned for a murder she claims she didn't commit, as her husband, the recently cast Russell Crowe, desperately tries to vindicate her."
I will tell you I recently saw Liz in the thriller The Uninvited. Liz definitely plays evil real good... in that she creeped me out real good. She reminded me of Rebecca De Mornay in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.
+ For more information about his tour, click HERE
+ More of my posts about John Legend and his appearances at Penn HERE
Speaking of John Legend, Malik Smith (C'10), a similar sounding (undergraduate!) artist I covered HERE is giving all of us his 1st single "Crazy" for free HERE
+ More of my DT Music posts HERE
Hollywood Bits and Pieces: Their New Upcoming TV Shows & Films
Friday, August 14, 2009
Some recent juicy Penn Hollywood alumni tidbits for y'all...
Click HERE for the scoop!
- 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
These 3 UPenn Alumni Release a Hot New Futuristic Trailer Starring Bruce Willis
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Move over Terminator, another high tech film is coming out this Fall and it looks really cool.
Last week I posted my review (and photo with Betty White!) of Todd Lieberman's (C'95, Mask and Wig, AEPi) The Proposal premiere. (Incidentally, it opened on Friday...go out and support Todd!)
Now Todd, as well as co-producers Max Handelman (C'95, AEPi) and Elizabeth Banks (C'96) have recently released a trailer for their hot new futuristic film The Surrogates. The story is as follows:
"FBI agents (Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell) investigate the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves - fit, good looking remotely controlled machines that ultimately assume their life roles - enabling people to experience life vicariously from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The murder spawns a quest for answers: In a world of masks, whos real and who can you trust?"
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Hanging Out with Todd Lieberman at His Very Engaging Hollywood Premiere of The Proposal
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Before I get to the actual Hollywood "scene" of this premiere, I have to say that I really enjoyed this movie and it feels good to know that a guy I call one of my best friends is glowing at the response of having a hit movie on his hands. The casting was right on the money with Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, and Betty White (plus a great scene stealer from "The Office"'s Oscar Nunez). Not only were there many funny scenes due to the pleasantly awkward tension between Bullock's and Reynolds' characters, but there was some great heart to the film as well. Definitely a great date movie.
Here's a good summary summary of the movie (per Yahoo Movies):
"When high-powered book editor Margaret faces deportation to her native Canada, the quick-thinking exec declares that she's actually engaged to her unsuspecting put-upon assistant Andrew, who she's tormented for years. He agrees to participate in the charade, but with a few conditions of his own. The unlikely couple heads to Alaska to meet his quirky family and the always-in-control city girl finds herself in one comedic fish-out-of-water situation after another. With an impromptu wedding in the works and an immigration official on their tails, Margaret and Andrew reluctantly vow to stick to the plan despite the precarious consequences."Now onto the afterparty...
Some highlights included catching up with other Penn alumni including Todd's wife Heather (Zeegen) Lieberman (C'94, SDT), and actress Elizabeth Banks (C'96) and her husband and film producer Max Handelman (C'95, AEPi).
And then I saw a bunch of celebs, but decided to approach only two. And before I tell you what I said, I fully acknowledge the awkwardness in my attempt at conversation with some of these celebrities, yet in the following 2 cases, I felt the need to approach them:
- I said hello to Jesse James and complimented him on how well he performed in this past season's "Celebrity Apprentice". He was very nice and thanked me. While his wife Sandra Bullock was right beside him in another conversation, I decided to save my "you were great in the movie" comment and walk away with my dignity.
- I had to say hello to "Golden Girl" Betty White. She was extremely nice and approachable and I thanked her for all the years of laughter she brought to me (I know this sounds really cheesy, but it was sincere). She was very gracious and agreed to take a picture with me.
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Elizabeth Banks Goes Batty With Jay Leno, Does Cannes & Seems to Be the "It" Girl with THESE Upcoming Films
Monday, May 25, 2009
From newly announced films, to her appearances on "Scrubs" this past season, I've got the latest Liz Banks (C'96) updates below
- She appeared on Leno (see video above) recently and talked bats with Russell Brand
- A stunning Liz walks down the red carpet in Cannes last week (see pic on right)
- Liz will be starring with James McAvoy, and Laura Linney in “The Details”. Per Variety, the story is about "a couple (McAvoy and Banks) who discover an infestation of raccoons in their back yard. Disagreements over how to deal with the animals lead to an escalating series of events." Shooting for the film began last week in Seattle.
- Liz will star in and produce the workplace comedy "Forever 21." (source)
- The Uninvited came out on DVD. Liz basically plays a wicked stepmother in this film.
- She will star in What Was I Thinking?, with actresses Leslie Mann. Per Reuters the film will explore the comic side of bad relationships. The film is based on the nonfiction book What Was I Thinking?: 58 Bad Boyfriend Stories and centers "around a woman who gets dumped during her engagement party. Her friends spring into action and whisk her away on a ski trip for healing and hedonism. Threading through their adventures on the trip are four flashbacks dealing in "worst ex-boyfriend" tales. Mann (who happens to be married to Apatow) would play a woman who dates a lot but never seems to have serious relationships, while Banks is a woman on the rebound."
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Actress Elizabeth Banks Talks Trash And You're Going To Like It
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Check out the video above where "Mercy Corp will help with almost everything, except talking tabloid trash and boob jobs."
Other Penn actors here
She's the L'Oreal Deal: Elizabeth Banks Teams Up with Eva Longoria and Beyonce (VIDEOS)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Did you catch Elizabeth Banks (C'96) in her new L'Oreal Paris commercial during this past Sunday's The Celebrity Apprentice? She looked stunning!
Apparently there are other versions of the commercial in which Liz is alongside Eva Longoria and Beyonce.
In the videos above, check out a portion of the commercial and some behind the scenes video
-what Beyonce has to say about working with Liz
-some behind the scenes shananigans of Liz and Eva Longoria looking at their headshots and talking about their "bad sides" (what bad sides, right?!)
-what it means for Liz to be a covergirl (besides 1 million dollars richer!)
-who Liz's beauty icons are
+More!
More of my past Liz Banks posts here
Get Liz's recently released films here:
Other Penn actors here
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DT HB&P: His Big Job Change, Their New Films, Shows & Channel, She's a Broadway Doll
Friday, February 27, 2009
Some good Penn alumni Hollywood news in my roundup this week:
- Big Wig makes big job change
- Mogul announces new TV show
- Chairman debuts new channel
- TV and Film Producer with 2 new films in the work with big name attached
- Actress appears in Oscar nominated film and is now on Broadway
- Actress with new DVD out
Per Cynthia’s Cynopsis, after 19 years with the Sundance Film Festival (he’s been the Director most recently), Geoffrey Gilmore (C'74, Penn in Pictures 2002 panelist) just changed jobs and joined New York-based Tribeca Enterprises as CCO where "he will lead the company's international content strategy, development efforts and brand expansion. Geoffrey will also be a part of Tribeca's Board of Directors."More of my posts about Geoffrey here
Rich Ross (C’83, Penn in Pictures 2003 panelist) announces a new Disney channel for boys.
More of my posts about Rich here
Mark Cronin (ENG ’86) picks Ricki Lake as headmistress of the next installment of “Charm School 3”.
Mark's beginnings in showbiz
More posts about Mark's abundance of reality shows here!
Mike Karz (C’89, W'89) will produce the film Valentine’s Day: “a love story which revolves around five relationships in Los Angeles, all of which are put through the paces over the course of one Valentine's Day.
Mike will also be producing the romantic comedy “Five Killers” starring Katherine Heigl. Per Screamingdemon, “Story kicks off when a woman meets the man of her dreams while on vacation. Married bliss is turned upside down when they discover that their neighbors may be assassins hired to kill them.”
Past posts about Mike's film projects here
More of my Penn "Film Producer" posts here
Kate Jennings Grant (C’92, Counterparts) plays Diane Sawyer in the Oscar Nominated film Frost/Nixon.
She is also now starring as Sarah Brown in the Guys and Dolls revival on Broadway with Lauren Graham.
Look for more about Kate on DT in the near future!
More of my Penn alumni actor posts here
Liz Banks' (C’96) W is now out on DVD
More of my scintillating Liz posts here
More of my Penn alumni actor posts here
Past Hollywood Bits and Pieces posts here
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Digg She's Anything But Uninvited Into Hollywood's Spotlight
Friday, January 30, 2009
Over the past 2 months, Liz has been up to so much lately that I figured I would consolidate much into this one post:
1) She announced the Golden Globe nominations on NBC with Brooke Shields, Terrence Howard and Rainn Wilson. She also was a presenter at the actual Golden Globes ceremony.
2) L'Oréal hired Liz as a spokesperson for the company for allegedly $1 million!
3) Today Liz stars in The Uninvited, a new horror flick that is similar in nature to The Ring. (check out the video below for a preview and an interview with Liz)
4) This year look out for her to appear on Scrubs and in the movie The Surrogates (which she is also producing with her husband Max Handelman (C'95) and Penn alum producer Todd Lieberman (C'95)!)
Other Penn actors here
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