DT's B&P: Alumni Dealings with Quentin Tarantino, Russell Crow and John Legend

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!

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"Reality Hell", the faux-reality show that Lesley Wolff (C'93, Bloomers) casts for, recently debuted on E! (Sunday nights).

"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

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Jordana Horn's (C'95) interviews Quentin Tarantino (!) about his new film, Inglorious Basterds 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

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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.

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John Legend (C'99, Counterparts) will be performing at the Greek Theatre on Tuesday, September 1 at 7:30PM.  Join PennClubLA for this fantastic event.  Tickets can be purchased on the PennClubLA website HERE  Come hear great music and network with new people.

+ For more information about his tour, click HERE

+ More of my posts about John Legend and his appearances at Penn HERE

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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

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READ MORE - DT's B&P: Alumni Dealings with Quentin Tarantino, Russell Crow and John Legend

The Los Angeles Penn Event You'll Want To Go To (Tue. Oct. 28th)

If you're in Los Angeles, THIS is the Penn event (among others) you'll want to go to to listen to esteemed Penn alumni speak about their experiences in the entertainment industry and hear about their journey from Locust Walk to Hollywood.

Panelists include:

Zach Lutsky (C'97) - Actor and Medical Consultant for NBC's "ER"
.
Jason Resnick, C'92 - Senior Vice President and General Manager of Worldwide Acquisitions for the Universal Pictures Group

Sherri Cooper, C'94 - television writer and producer for ABC's "Brothers and Sisters" and The CW's "Everwood." (Did you see "Book Burning", the episode Sherri just co-wrote which aired last week for "Brothers and Sisters" (10/8/08)?)

Others TBD

Moderated by Lew Schneider C'83, writer for "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "New Adventures of Old Christine"

More information about the panelists here

Schedule of Events:

6:30 - 7:00 pm Arrival/Networking, no food or drinks
7:00 - 8:30 pm Panelists
8:30 - 9:00 pm Q+A
9:00 - 10:00 pm Networking/Reception with light snacks

Special offer:
For a limited time (or until sold out) the PennClubLA is pleased to offer,

- $10 tickets to paid members of PennClubLA. Offer expires Oct 11 at 12PM.
- Non member tickets are $25.
- At door: $30, no exceptions.
Buy your tickets here.

Date:

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 at 6:30pm

Location:

ICM Screening Room, 10250 Constellation Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Note: Parking is not hosted. There is free parking across the street.

Check out past photos from previous Penn in Pictures Events here

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READ MORE - The Los Angeles Penn Event You'll Want To Go To (Tue. Oct. 28th)

President Amy Gutmann "Makes History" in Los Angeles

Were you at the Los Angeles Penn event on Monday night (February 4) where Penn President Amy Gutmann announced "Making History", Penn's new $3.5 Billion Capital campaign?

President Gutmann talked about the exciting changes coming to Penn's campus, showed a very engaging promotional video and even quoted Woody Allen!

The fancy event was at the Beverly Hills Hotel and was packed with 500+ alumni(!), many of whom I haven't seen in years! (I spent much of the night filling alumni in on DuelingTampons.com and was happy to hear the great response I got from people of all ages about this site and its name!)

If you missed the event, check out these DuelingTampons.com exclusive videos below from the event!

Amy Gutmann visits LA-Part 1

Amy Gutmann visits LA-Part 2

Amy Gutmann visits LA-promotional video-Part 1

Amy Gutmann visits LA-promotional video-Part 2

Amy Gutmann addresses Penn's Southern California Regional Advisory Board - Part 1

Amy Gutmann addresses Penn's Southern California Regional Advisory Board - Part 2

More about the campaign here!

READ MORE - President Amy Gutmann "Makes History" in Los Angeles

Hey, Hey, Hey...he's hosting this Penn festival

Click here to find out which TV and film star is hosting Mask and Wig's 10th annual Intercollegiate Comedy Festival.

Started in 1998 by Cloverfield associate producer Dave Baronoff (C'99, L'02, Mask and Wig), Mask and Wig is now celebrating its 10th annual Intercollegate Comedy Festival with host Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live, Nickelodeon's All That, & star of film remake of Fat Albert.

Groups performing on this night include Penn's Mask and Wig Club, Princeton's The Triangle Club, Boston College's Hello Shovelhead, University of Maryland's Sketchup.

Past hosts include Ana Gasteyer, Bob Saget, Kevin Nealon, Stephen Colbert, Tim Meadows, Gilbert Gottfried, and Dan Bakkedahl.

As you can see by the picture above, Kenan often dresses in drag on SNL. It would be awesome if he did that for this upcoming show and interacted with Mask and Wig! Check back for photos and video from the show!

More info and tickets here

Check out what else is happening on campus

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READ MORE - Hey, Hey, Hey...he's hosting this Penn festival

Talent & Involvement run deep in this Penn family

Jonah Platt (C'08) is quite the renaissance man.

Not only can Jonah sing well, and not only is he the musical director of Off the Beat, but he started and sustained an improvised musical troupe "One Night Stand" for the past 7 years (with a show in Los Angeles this week!). Talk about being involved!

...Not a big surprise, considering he comes from an involved family of Penn alumni (his mother Julie Platt (C'79) is a University Trustee and his father Marc Platt (C'79, Glee Club) is a Hollywood executive and Broadway Producer).

Jonah tells me that at his shows the audience makes up the name of a musical ("Mongoose Diaries," "Thundercats in Love," "They Came From My Mother" and "Walk of Shame" are a few recent ones) and the troupe then makes up a cohesive hourlong musical right on the spot. Per Jonah, "We make up the music, the lyrics, the dances, the dialogue-- everything completely improvised with nothing pre-planned or rehearsed."

Check out this "Walk of Shame" clip from their performance at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Jonah is the one lying on the floor and sings at minute 3)

Jonah will be performing their group's international (60 min.) hit show, One Night Stand, at the Hudson Guild Theater in LA this week on January 10 (8pm), 11 (8pm) and 12 (8pm and 10 pm). (6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038). Running Time: 60 minutes, Tickets: $15.00. To make reservations (323) 960-5773.

(I'll be there at the Saturday 8 pm show)

Their group then performs at the Dirty South Improv Festival in Chapel Hill, NC in February, then back to Edinburgh Scotland for the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where they made their debut last summer.

Click here to learn more about how Jonah started this group and some of the big name backers to his show.

Check out the "One Night Stand" website

Click to see what other 2008 Penn undergrads are up to

Did you like this article? You can get the latest articles at DuelingTampons.com in your email inbox each afternoon by entering your email address below. Your address will only be used for mailing you the articles, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time.

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READ MORE - Talent & Involvement run deep in this Penn family

Mask and Wig's Whirl'd Tour: Coming in January!

The Mask and Wig Club is getting ready for their first ever January tour coming to alumni in NY, NJ and PA.

Mask and Wig will be performing classic musical numbers as well as the most popular comedic sketches that the Club has written over its 120 year history.

January 9, 2008 | 8:00pm
Pittston, PA
WVIA Theater

January 10, 2008 | 8:00pm
New York, NY
Gerald Lynch Theater

January 11, 2008 | 7:30pm
Livingston, NJ
Newark Academy

From Mask and Wig's Los Angeles Tour '07

Click here for more info and to purchase tickets

Click here to check out some Mask and Wig videos

Check out who is registered on DuelingTampons.com

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READ MORE - Mask and Wig's Whirl'd Tour: Coming in January!

T-minus 6 months

Last night the classes of '93 and '98 got together at a Los Angeles Penn Club happy hour in anticipation for Alumni Weekend 2008. Alumni gathered at the Air Conditioned Lounge in Santa Monica to celebrate their upcoming 5 and 10 year class reunions.

I had to leave early but I managed to get some videos.

Check out who was there!
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3

Click here to check out last May's Alumni Weekend (2007)!

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READ MORE - T-minus 6 months

West Wing/Penn alum star coming to Philly this Monday (11/12)!

(l to r): Melissa Fitzgerald (C'87) and Allison Janney

Attention tri-state/Philly residents!

On Monday, November 12, Melissa Fitzgerald (C'87), former West Wing star and her good West Wing pal Allison Janney will be coming to Philly for a special fundraiser reception.

As reported here, Melissa is helping to bring attention to Uganda through Voices of Uganda, a documentary she produced about a unique theater program from Los Angeles traveling to northern Uganda to work with youths who have been affected by 21 years of civil war.

More information about this event and how to get tickets after the jump!



Click here to learn more about the documentary

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READ MORE - West Wing/Penn alum star coming to Philly this Monday (11/12)!

Pennfest 2007: (New!) Films & Music Announced!

2007 PENNFEST (10/10/07) FILMS AND MUSICIANS ANNOUNCED!

Click here for the lineup!

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PURCHASE TICKETS
Ticket prices go up Tuesday, October 9, 2007

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-Penn Club Members: $10
-Non-Penn Club Members: $15 ( click here to become a member!)
All sales are final (no refunds)



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READ MORE - Pennfest 2007: (New!) Films & Music Announced!

Pennfest 2007 (10/10/07): Musicians announced!

2007 PENNFEST (10/10/07) MUSICIANS ANNOUNCED!


Angela Ai (W'91)
http://www.angelaai.com/










Ananda Sen (C'98)

Click here for video!
http://www.anandamusic.com/





Matt Kap (C'97)
The Moving Picture Show

Click here for video
http://www.themovingpictureshow.com/



...Stay tuned for Pennfest 2007 film announcements soon!

Get your Pennfest tickets today!

Advertise your business at Pennfest 2007!

Check out photos from past Pennfests

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READ MORE - Pennfest 2007 (10/10/07): Musicians announced!

Erika Frankel's (C'00) campaign for Frontrunners

Judging by how I'm seeing many freshmen enthusiastically using Facebook to campaign for Freshmen elections, many of you undergrad (and alumni) overachievers will appreciate Frontrunners, an upcoming documentary from alum Erika Frankel (C'00)...

Click to read more...

Per Erika, Frontrunners is "our own independent documentary on the race for school president at the most competitive high school in the country, Stuyvesant High School in New York City. At Stuyvesant, we discovered a bunch of very smart, very funny people whose political tactics are just as calculated as our nation's leaders, leaving us to wonder whether political animals are born or made…"

This sounds scandalously delicious to me!

Frontrunners will be making its big screen debut at the Angelika (in NY) as part of the IFP Film Market on Monday Sept. 17 @ 2:00pm and Wednesday Sept. 19 @ 1:45pm.

If you/ your company are registered to attend the market, Erika hopes you will come and see her film! Otherwise, please email her for more information: frankel@suhfilms.com

Click here to watch the trailer

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

Learn more about Frontrunners

Check out more Penn documentary filmmakers

Click to see what other 2000 Penn grads are up to

Add yourself to our facebook, friendster and/or myspace profiles!

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READ MORE - Erika Frankel's (C'00) campaign for Frontrunners

Penn Club Los Angeles strolls down Avenue Q

photo by Carol Rosegg
Today, I went with the Penn Club of Los Angeles to witness puppets dealing with life after college... addressing issues like sex, drinking, and surfing the web for porn.

It was great. It reminded me a bit of Mask and Wig (minus the puppets).

What is the show about?
From the avenueq.com website:
"AVENUE Q is the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. He soon discovers that the only neighborhood in his price range is Avenue Q; still, the neighbors seem nice. There's Brian the out-of-work comedian and his therapist fianceé Christmas Eve; Nicky the good-hearted slacker and his roommate Rod -- a Republican investment banker who seems to have some sort of secret; an Internet addict called Trekkie Monster; and a very cute kindergarten teaching assistant named Kate. And would you believe the building's superintendent is Gary Coleman?!? (Yes, that Gary Coleman.) Together, Princeton and his newfound friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life."

There was one number in the show that resonated with me that I know all alumni out there can relate to, entitled "If I Could Go Back to College"...

Click here to watch this clip and see how close this hits home!

READ MORE - Penn Club Los Angeles strolls down Avenue Q

Ivy at The Ivy: Dinner Discussion: TV Development (8/21, Santa Monica)

Calling all Ivy industry professionals for an intimate networking dinner at the famous "power scene" Ivy At the Shore restaurant on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica.

Ivy at the Ivy is an open round-table discussion and networking series for established Ivy entertainment professionals to discuss and share insights on rotating topics. For August the topic: TV Development (creating, pitching, writing, casting, show running, etc.) Space limited. The group is looking for ONE representative from Penn with at least 3 years of TV development experience to share insights with Ivy peers.

Click here for more info on how to apply

Ivy Entertainment is an umbrella group consisting of the Brown University Entertainment Group, Columbia University Entertainment, Cornell in Hollywood, Dartmouth Alumni in Entertainment and Media Association, Harvardwood, PennClub of LA, Princeton in Hollywood, Stanford in Entertainment and Yale in Hollywood.

READ MORE - Ivy at The Ivy: Dinner Discussion: TV Development (8/21, Santa Monica)

Ivy Entertainment Summer Party (Monday, 7/30: Boulevard3 in Hollywood, 8-11 pm)

For those of you who want to network with other ivy league alumni in entertainment, you should check this event out!

Click here for details!

READ MORE - Ivy Entertainment Summer Party (Monday, 7/30: Boulevard3 in Hollywood, 8-11 pm)

Andrea Lee Davis (C'92) gets patriotic this July 4 with The Swing Dolls

(Andrea Davis pictured in far right)

If you're in Los Angeles this Wednesday night, come out and celebrate the Fourth of July with The Swing Dolls, co-starring Andrea Lee Davis (C'92, Penny Loafers).

From getting their start originally for an audition on the new Gong Show to appearing on the Gilmore Girls, the group specialize in the close harmonies of 1940s and ’50’s girl trios like the Andrews Sisters and the McGuire Sisters.

Click here to check out this great demo reel video.

The group performs this Wednesday night in a free concert in the park:

What: Don Sweeney's SRO Big Band featuring The Swing Dolls plus FIREWORKS!
When: 6pm, Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Where: Warner Center Park, Topanga Cyn Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA (101
freeway, Exit Topanga Cyn Blvd NORTH)

Click here to check out an article about the group in the Gazette

Click here for the Swing Doll's website

READ MORE - Andrea Lee Davis (C'92) gets patriotic this July 4 with The Swing Dolls

Disney's Rich Ross (C'83) / Brian Yanish (C'95) to appear at Licensing International Expo 2007 (NYC)

Rich Ross (C'83), President Disney Channel Worldwide, will be appearing at the Licensing International Expo 2007 (Javits Convention Center, NYC) tomorrow at 9:30 am, to announce new extensions to the Hannah Montana brand including a new fashion line, youth electronics and details about Miley Cyrus's (star of Hannah Montana) upcoming CD and concert tour.

Over the years (especially back in my college days), Rich had come to campus and given talks about getting into the business. A great resource for alumni coming to Los Angeles.

...Also, apearing at the Licensing International Expo on June 19-21 is illustrator Brian Yanish (C'95, Mask and Wig, Friars).


Brian will promote his children's property The Scrapkins at Booth #2138. ...What really happens to the stuff you throw away? Come see the silly and grossly imagined world of recycling from a child's perspective.

Brian brings over 10 years experience working in illustration and licensed product design. His mission is to create engaging and inspiring content for children that promotes an active imagination, positive self-image, and the silly joy of being a kid.

...I've known Brian since my Mask and Wig days and he is extremely creative and talented.

Any Penn alumni in the children's publishing world out there? Be sure to check out Brian's site!

READ MORE - Disney's Rich Ross (C'83) / Brian Yanish (C'95) to appear at Licensing International Expo 2007 (NYC)

Ivy at The Ivy: Dinner Discussion: Film Production

Ivy Entertainment is inviting Ivy industry professionals to an intimate networking dinner at the famous "power scene" Ivy restaurant on Robertson in Beverly Hills. Ivy at the Ivy is an open round-table discussion and networking series for experienced Ivy entertainment professionals to discuss and share insights on rotating topics. The series kicks off this month with the topic: Film Production. Space is limited. The organization is looking for ONE representative from Penn with 3-4 years of Film Production experience to share insights with Ivy peers.

How it works: Please email a short one-paragraph bio (+ photo) listing Penn as your school, and describing your Film Production background (min 3-4 yrs experience). Email to kevin@kevinwinston.com by June 14 with "Ivy at the Ivy" as the subject. They are looking for a diverse range of film production experiences. If selected, you will be contacted and receive the background bios of the other invitees to help facilitate an engaging discussion about Film Production in this exclusive networking opportunity.

READ MORE - Ivy at The Ivy: Dinner Discussion: Film Production

Jon Zucker (W'98) performing "I've Loved These Days" with Billy Joel

I've started to share this site with more and more alumni and the feedback thus far has been extremely positive.

Jon Zucker (W'98, Pennfest 2006) just uploaded a fantastic video of him performing "I've Loved These Days" with Billy Joel at Irvine Auditorium in Philadelphia in 1996. ...You have to see Jon's opportunity of a lifetime!

...This is a great example of the types of video I encourage alumni to submit!

Click here to check out his memorable video.

Click here to check out info about Jon's upcoming performance!

READ MORE - Jon Zucker (W'98) performing "I've Loved These Days" with Billy Joel

Allison Winn Scotch (C'95) debuts book "The Department of Lost and Found"

Author Allison Winn Scotch (C'95) debuts her book "The Department of Lost and Found."

From Allison:

"The critics are calling it, “smart and well-written,” “an impressive debut,” “a bonbon of a book,” “too good to pass up,” and more. It was also Redbook’s Book Club selection for the month of May (see the issue for an excerpt, and check out their site later this week for the entire first chapter). And if you’re still unconvinced, The Literary Guild just named me “a writer to watch.

...The first few weeks of sales can make or break a publisher’s support, and since you’re going to buy it eventually, why not do it today? And after you’ve read it (and loved it), please head to Amazon and post your review. Pretty, pretty please."

Click here to check out her book


In a book club? HarperCollins has put together a Reading Group Guide, and I’m more than happy to call into your club and chat if you choose it as your club’s selection. Just let me know.

Finally, all you New Yorkers, please do mark your calendars: next Wednesday, May 16th, I’ll be holding my first reading and signing at Borders at the Time Warner Center . Time: 7:00 PM. Be there or be square. (Or something like that.)"

Click here to check out her book

Check out Allison's website

READ MORE - Allison Winn Scotch (C'95) debuts book "The Department of Lost and Found"

Penn's Field Center Hosts Documentary Film Festival

(Warning: Sensitive Material below)

The winners have been announced in the University of Pennsylvania's Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice & Research's documentary film contest, a part of National Child Abuse Prevention month.

Click here to watch a trailer to the very disturbing documentary, "Best Documentary--College category", Crystal Clear: Breaking the Cycle of Incest (a film submitted by Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa.)

A panel of expert judges, including producers from CNN, the Greater Philadelphia Film Office and award-winning documentary filmmakers, judged the high school and college submissions. As part of the Field Center's national conference, "One Child, Many Hands: A Multi-Disciplinary Conference on Child Welfare," the winners will have special screenings of their films at an award ceremony to be held in the Zellerbach Theater at Penn's Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on May 30 at 7 p.m.

Click for more info

READ MORE - Penn's Field Center Hosts Documentary Film Festival