Two alumni have teamed up to create a very moving, "gave me the chills" film...
Co-directors Michael Pertnoy (C'06) (left) and Michael Kleiman (C'06) (below left) are preparing to launch their feature documentary The Last Survivor which focuses on genocide awareness, prevention, and survivor advocacy. The film follows the lives of survivors from The Holocaust, Rwanda, Darfur, and Congo.
Per Pertnoy,
"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."
On a related note, and speaking of alumni documentary filmmakers, you may recall that last May I wrote a post about Jon Kean's (C'89, Mask and Wig, Friars) moving documentary Swimming in Auschwitz. I just heard that this documentary will be broadcast on over 230 PBS stations throughout the U.S. starting on April 8th. Please consult your local listings for more information. More info about Jon's film at his website here
Looks like Nicholas Fritzhand (C'06, Mask and Wig, Sphinx) recently set a world, or rather "universal" record for a very unique talent.
Regarding the video above, per the URDB.com site,
"In an impressive showing of speed, dance, and sychronicity, Nicholas Fritzhand, Ronnie Gensler, and Jon Heilman complete 63 triple time steps in one minute, a new world record.
The performance took place at a World Record Appreciation Society event in New York City on January 7, 2009."
Nicholas has been tapping since he was in third grade, choreographed and danced with mask and wig, and made guest appearances with arts house dance company while at penn. After graduation, he spent a couple months professionally dancing in barcelona with Tapeplas.
In light of his new recently released Evolver album, John Legend (C'99, Counterparts) was interviewed by 2 different Penn alumni for 2 different mediums.
Last week, Penn alum and WPIX Entertainment Reporter Emily Frances interviewed John (see video above). Emily filled me in on some John Legend tidbits that I didn't know:
Legend is a musical prodigy.
He started playing the piano at the age of 4 and he started attending the University of Pennsylvania when he was only 16-years-old.
To fit in with the college crowd, he joined an acapella group (Counterparts).
Legend was the first in his family to attend college and after he graduated, he worked at Boston Consulting Group for 3 years in NY while he was trying to make it.
He was an English major and lived in Butcher his freshman year.
Then Jillian Ivey (C'06, Kelly Writer's House) sat down with John Legend earlier this month for the Phillyist blog to talk with him about his new album. In the interview, John talks about his new album and also talks about whether he'll be returning to Penn for the Counterparts 10th reunion this spring and why he loves Philly so much. Check out her article here
While Austin Lavin (C'06) may fight with his younger 16 year old sister, it's probably over something having to do with the new web business they started together, http://www.myfirstpaycheck.com/.
Per Austin, this job posting site for high school and college students is a valuable resource for Penn students looking for part-time work. "
When I first wanted to get a job," says Austin, "I realized I had no idea how to get started, but I fell into employment and a string of part-time work. When my younger sister, Celeste, set out to find her first job, she realized that she didn't even know where to begin, and I realized that almost all students were clueless so we created myfirstpaycheck.com to pass on what we've learned about first jobs and connect job seekers to potential employers."
You hear that undergrads? More ways to earn money to afford that 40,000 education!
The more I write about alumni and undergrads, the more I'm realizing that not only is there a lot of talent out there, but our Penn folk have some powerful opinions and voices.
One such alum is Caroline Rothstein (C'06, The Excelano Project), a spoken word poet currently living in New York City. Her poetry is honest, real, personal, and political.
...Listen to the power behind her poem below, "They Call Me Granola" (put your headphones on..not safe for work). This is great...:
This past year, Caroline also self-published a book of her poetry called "What I Learned In College." Books are $5 and can be purchased by emailing Caroline directly at caroline.rothstein@gmail.com.
In addition to spoken word, Caroline keeps a blog that she began upon moving to Atlanta. You can find her adventures throughout the United States and deep into the streets of Manhattan.
Read "Life Worth", an excerpt/poem from Caroline's chapbook* "What I Learned in College"HERE
*A chapbook is a book of poetry. It's typically a book that a poet puts out on their own, so mostly self published/printed, etc.
"Life Worth"
He’d just bought a pair of shoes
Hundred dollar sneakers, shopping bag, right hand
He walks down Central Street in Highland Park, Illinois –
a brand name sidewalk with affluent stores
He knocks on the pharmacy window to buy Gatorade and a bag of pretzels but they wave him away –
It’s 4 PM on a Sunday and they are closing up shop
A senior at his high school pulls an illegal U-Turn
An elderly man stops short to avoid collision, skids onto the curb,
and throws my brother into the side of a store building
His head cracks open, his eyes close shut,
and his sneakers fling into the air as his spleen develops cuts
They do brain surgery, put him on respirators,
Rabbi Mason prays by his ICU bedside but he never wakes up
I’m crouched over his bedside begging him,
Yelling at him “Josh, wake up! Josh, please, wake up!”
He was only shoe shopping,
Walking side by side teenage girls that purchase emaciation on a hanger,
Which is really just a metaphor for
Shirts sewn in sweat shops by starving children
And studies say that executing killers costs more than
Keeping them in prison for the rest of their lives
And funeral prices are on the rise:
Cremation packages start at 2000, the average casket is 6000
28 dollars a month to purchase an orphan on the internet
13 bucks for a Japanese picture bride to weed the fields and strip sugar cane
Not too much for a mail order bride –
Choose her nationality, her body shape, and human pedigree
And since this is an unregulated business,
I don’t have fancy statistics to insert here: ____
About how many women are bought by strangers yearly
As we get a price check in aisle five
To bargain lives that we further judge when they die
My family goes to trial so the killers can pay for our loss in insurance
There’s no way to judge but the judge sits there asking me:
How much was his life worth?
My fifteen year old brother had 20, 000 dollars in savings
From selling beanie babies at a hundred times their cost
On an ebay auction block
650 dollars to buy an African teen on a Southern auction block
How much is a life worth?
We purchase human beings from fruitless trees
We consume materials and will them to our offspring
We hang child labor on manikins
We dangle death next to cash registers
We kill children in store front windows
And judge their worth in finances even though
The only bank in heaven is the locked vault of karma
The only currency in heaven is a set of intangible beliefs
The only worth in heaven can’t even be proven
How much is a life worth?
He was fifteen years old walking happy on a sidewalk
He was fifteen years old shackled standing on an auction block
He was fifteen years old starving sewing in a sweat shop
How much is a life worth?
Josh, wake up, Josh, please wake up
How much is your life worth?
It’s worth waking up every day to face the misery of death’s reality
It’s worth becoming straight edge
to never miss a single moment of sobriety
It’s worth my living breath to overcome death
Josh, you are what my life’s worth
"Keep up the DAMN good work. It's not until I'm about to graduate that I really start to appreciate other Penn alums who try to keep the network going with websites like Dueling Tampons and more. Keep it up!"
-Mike Tate (C'10)
"Just wanted to send a note to say thanks for your continued work w/ Dueling Tampons. it's one of the various e-news blasts I read most days. I really liked the one about '3 generations at Penn'."
-Jody Girgenti (C'98)
"As an outsider to the entertainment industry and to LA, DuelingTampons.com gave me an excellent jumping-off point to start my job search. It enabled me to learn about Penn alums in the entertainment industry and conduct necessary preliminary research. From there I was able to reach out to our incredible alumni network, schedule introductory meetings and phone calls, eventually land an interview, and finally secure an internship at a top Hollywood studio."
-Steve Gottlieb (C'04)
"By the way, Dueling Tampons may be one of the greatest names for a penn-related website!"
Andrew Erace (C'07)
"Whenever I'm looking to waste time on the internet, Dueling Tampons is at the top of my list right up there with the Onion, the Superficial, and Leverged Sell Out."
Scott Kend (C'02)
"I love what you are doing for Penn with this website. Keep it up!"
Adam El Sehamy (C'09)
"Thanks for doing your part to unify Penn through Dueling Tampons--it's already been a great resource, and I'm only an incoming freshman. I am truly looking forward to my next four years at Penn and beyond. Thanks again."
-Haywood L. Perry III (C'12)
"Just want to thank you for all you are doing re: DT. You've reenergized my feelings toward Penn and now I have a son who will be applying to Penn"
-Joan L. (W'80)
"Great site. I've really enjoyed everything I've come across since I first came across it. Keep up the good work."
-A.J. Cabrera (C'04)
"Great site —when I first came across it, it took me by surprise. I hadn't used the phrase DT in years, you totally made me laugh. Thanks for that."
-Jason Seiden (W'95)
"I got all misty-eyed looking at the Dueling Tampons site. I mean it gave me sense memory of Penn... of the Walk when it was cold, or being in McNeill with Abiel, or being in German class, or taking 20 extra minutes to get to class because of seeing everyone I knew on Locust Walk, or people that sat in my classes that are now really famous or important... just a great site"
-Chris Hartwell (C'95)
"Love you website..! Very fun to read - I cannot believe what alums (that are WAY younger than us) are accomplishing...very cool...!"
-Dorie Clayman (C'96)
"I'm really digging your website. It's nice to have someone keeping track of all us Quaker over-achievers."
-Jeff Levin (C'07)
"Thank you for your website. I've not been in touch with Penn for YEARS, am speaking at the Bookstore and they wrote to me about Dueling Tampons. I've spent the afternoon going around inside it. so thank you!"
Michael Rosen
"Hey, I'll be entering Penn in the Fall as a '12 student. Just trying to get a feel for the campus before I come and Dueling Tampons seems like it has got a big place on campus."
-Eric Jacob Maltiel (SEAS'12)
"I love the way you are reaching out to Penn alums and this site...keep up the good work"
-Jennifer Merves Robbins (C'92)
"I just found dueling tampons, and im hooked. i had no idea so many alum do what i want to do when i grow up!" -Danielle Hannah (C'03)
"Dueling Tampons has an AWESOME reputation on campus here, and I see you and your site everywhere!"
-Matt Amalfitano (C'11)
"Your site's a great way to keep up with Penn stuff with a laugh. Thanks."
-David Toturgul (C'99)
"What you do on Dueling Tampons I think really provides many Penn students with inspiration for their future careers, as I know it has done with me."
-Ryan Townsend (C'08)
"I really like all the Penn stuff, makes me feel at home... I had a good laugh at the name of the website, it only took me a split second to get it!"
-Dan Gutin (C'97)
"Dueling Tampons is an awesome resource. Thanks for representing LA (my hometown!) and the entertainment industry!"
-Joey Volpe (C'09)
"your dueling tampons site rocks"
-Jordan Rockwell (C'00)
"Big fan of the website! I find it a must read!!"
-Troy Majnerick, Penn New Student Orientation Coordinator
"I just want to thank you. I am a cinema studies major at Penn and your site is an amazing creative and networking resource for me. I love it." -Dustin Blank (C'09)
"It's great to see you bringing together the community of Penn alums who took a possibly more interesting route and are doing some really cool things."
-Tara Todras-Whitehill (C'00, Eng'00)
"This is the kind of value-added, life-giving nectar that Matt spoons out so regularly, and for which I am forever...FOREVER...indebted to him."
-Adam Hellegers (C'96)
"The Dueling Tampons site is really impressive. I think Penn should just hand the alumni network over to you :)"
-Eric Barker (C'94)
Alumni Attending Events Because of DT:
"Logan [Levkoff] was here on Friday and was featured in the October 2 Penn Current and today's DP. I heard about her through DT.com, so thanks Matt!" -Fran De La Torre (C'04)
Two alumni have teamed up to create a very moving, "gave me the chills" film...+The+Last+Survivor.jpg)
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