In our latest installment of Hollywood Penn alumni you should know about, this fall season has been a busy one for Hollywood Quakers...
After the jump, check out:
. In the post, there was also a great interview with Mike about the movie where he talked about broad audience appeal, on having a once in a lifetime cast and working with Gary Marshall.
."De Niro will play a bitter dying man in a hospital, while Pfeiffer will be a frustrated executive secretary who decides to tackle her unfulfilled resolutions. Swank would play a producer of the famed Times Square New Year's Eve show. Kutcher would play a guy who hates New Year's Eve." (source)So many stars in one film! As noted HERE, Mike figured out the formula to making this all happen.
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| Bono, Julie Taymor, Glen Berger and The Edge. |
and her daughter Lola at the debut of the teenager's new exclusive Macy's clothing line "Material Girl." Apparently the clothing line is 80's inspired.
Did you know that this week's star studded Valentine's Day movie was produced was Penn alum Mike Karz (C'89, W'89)? (It doesn't get more appropriate for my Valentine's Day Sampler week!)
Transitioning now out of our "Delicious Leftovers" series to bring you some exciting entertainment tidbits from our alumni and undergrads:
"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!
Elizabeth Banks (C'96) to star with Russell Crow in Next Three Days 
Some recent juicy Penn Hollywood alumni tidbits for y'all...
Click HERE for the scoop!
...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
It seems like Laura has lots of great memories! She looks forward to reuniting with her class this weekend! (fyi, Laura has organized a Hill House mini-reunion at the 1989 tent this Saturday at 1 pm)
David P. France (C'89, Arts House Dance, Penn Media Summit Creator), my fellow co-winner of Penn's first Young Alumni Award of Merit back in 2004, has just started his own dance company (the "David P. France Dance Company") in Basel, Switzerland and New York City."The key element is the music video: which signifies specific movement vocabulary of my style, seen in the staged concert piece Psalm 27 (2006). This duet reconstruction was taught and filmed over the course of 48 hours, in collaboration with the David P. France Dance Company (based out of Basel, Switz). More details regarding the video.
I’d like to take a minute, however, to give my personal testimony regarding the work and why I feel its actualization will engulf a good portion of my life.
Christians are sometimes encouraged to choose a psalm to turn to in times of tribulation. Psalm 27 is my psalm. I heard a version of it performed during my first Sunday mass at St John’s Student Parish, in East Lansing, MI. The summer of 2003 was perhaps one of the most emotionally challenging times of my life, regarding relationships and betrayals. I remember hearing this song and crying, as I watched from behind the pews, because I was so passionately moved by the strength of the lyrics. I noticed the faces of the choir members and thought, “My God, they are so happy! Why are they so happy? I want to know what that feels like; I want to understand why...”
I immediately asked to join the choir after that mass. I began to attend 5 masses a week. I noticed that I felt rhythmically and emotionally moved to dance to some of the songs we performed on a regular basis. I took notes in my hymnal for over a year before the idea to sync 7 of my favorite songs into a dance concert piece arose.
I wanted the parishioners to see what I saw in my mind when I heard those melodies. So many Christians, especially Catholics, see the body purely as sacred and void of engaging the physical ability to worship; that worship is solely through prayer and song. My premise is that the body, along with the voice, can (and must!) be united to give glory to our Creator. Also, that the songs can be arranged rhythmically to insight those listening, not only inspiration, but also, to get up and dance. This is a natural response; there is nothing wrong with it. People need to know that.
The main stanza of Psalm 27 is this:
The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; of whom shall I be afraid?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; whom shall I fear?
There is no doubt in my mind that I couldn’t have survived some of the trials I've had to face, if I hadn’t heard these words through song. My job as an Artist is to shape and extend this experience through the talents I have been given. Quite simply, my only hope is that this passion I feel can be shared. Regardless, of religious affiliations.
I was attended catholic schooling for 13 years. I didn’t learn a damn thing about faith until I joined that choir. Now, I might be ex-communicated one day for my views on the combination of sexuality and spirituality, but one thing is certain: I will not shut up. Although the continuation of Psalm 27 is only one of several life-term projects I’ve set for myself, it will always be a central part of my being and character."
Two alumni have teamed up to create a very moving, "gave me the chills" film..."The Last Survivor is centered on the basic premise that genocide is not only a consequence of intolerance and discrimination, but also the important acknowledgment that “democracy dies if you don’t work for it”—that we each have role in ending genocide and improving our world. By focusing on the work of several Survivors turned activists who are leading this global fight to end genocide, the film seeks to inspire youth to get involved in the democratic process – taking an active stand against genocide as an idea and practice in the 21st century. Ultimately, the film will be a call to collective action, declaring that we all have a responsibility and obligation to end genocide and it is only by walking together—each taking his/her own small steps—that real change is created."
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Did you catch the very Penn alumni-filled Apprentice on Sunday night?
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Some good Penn alumni Hollywood news in my roundup this week:
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."
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