Since my filmmaking days at Penn, technology has changed in such a way that the films the students put out these days look really very professional.

That said, last week, Brian Tran (W'10) (and former "Penn in Cannes 2009" correspondent) let me know about a new reinterpretation of Lady Gaga's "Speechless" music video he and his friends Kevin McAleer (C'10), and Maddy Dopico (C'13) put together for a class project.

What is the meaning of this video?

Brian tells us,

"Our actual goal is eventually get enough hits on the video to have it get passed onto Lady Gaga herself. The meaning of the video itself it pretty convoluted, much like Lady Gaga's videos. We tried to pay homage to her and her aesthetic as well as other films such as Weekend at Bernie's and Misery.

The more pretentious meaning of the video is it is a commentary on alcoholism and binge drinking in youth culture. In the past, drinking has covered personal intimate problems, but now, with this generation, alcohol and certainly drugs serves to eclipse a larger, macro fear, stemming from a childhood in the age of terror. This is why every time a character drinks to excess, they lose their voice (hence the subtitles) and their ability to communicate with other characters.

The main character is in love with his straight best friend and after repeated failed efforts to win his heart, decides that the only reasonable course of action is to get his friend blackout drunk to fulfill his perfect dream life. Alcohol is used as a means to an end, but it doesn't succeed in the film."

More talented Penn Class Projects you should check out HERE

More Penn video gems from the 70's, 80's and 90's HERE

More of my DT "Music Monday" posts HERE



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Since my days at Penn, there's always been expansion and all sorts of construction around campus.

After the jump, take a look at a fantastic time-lapse video of the construction of the music building on 34th street! 

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A few years ago, Paul Provenza (C'79, Mask and Wig) showed us an inside peek of the comic world when he had his celebrity comedians deliver their own versions of the world's dirtiest joke in his film, The Aristocrats.

Starting this week, Paul serves up a lot more "celebrity insider" comedy that you'll want to check out...

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Last year I wrote a post on two alumni who teamed up to create a very moving, "gave me the chills" film...

Co-directors Michael Pertnoy's (C'06) (left) and Michael Kleiman's (C'06) (below left) feature documentary The Last Survivor 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."

For you Los Angeles alumni, their film will be playing starting tonight (May 11th) and tomorrow night (May 12th) as part of the LA Jewish Film Festival:

Tuesday, May 11, 7:30 pm
Emanuel Arts Center Theatre
8844 Burton Way
Beverly Hills, CA
Get your tickets HERE

Wednesday, May 12, 7:30 pm
Laemmle’s Playhouse
673 East Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA
Get your tickets HERE

More Penn "Chilling Videos" you should check out HERE

More Penn Documentary filmmakers HERE



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Since he graduated Penn in 2000, Rob Sachs (C'00) has spent the past 10 years working in radio and has now recently branched out into the world of publishing.

Tomorrow (Tuesday, 5/11), Rob returns to the Penn bookstore from 6-7 pm to discuss his new book What Would Rob Do?: An Irreverent Guide to Surviving Life's Daily Indignities.

Rob's book is the product of his own podcast of the same name and offers tips on lessons ranging from how to get past a nightclub bouncer to what to do you when you get a big zit or how to avoid going to a chick flick.  This book gives Rob's take on life's awkward and embarrassing moments as well as tips he's received from experts including Erik Estrada ("How to act around a celebrity"), Fabio ("What to do when you're underdressed for a party"), Air Supply ("How to write a love song") and Tom Wopat aka Luke Duke ("How to avoid stage fright").

For all of you aspiring journalists and authors, Rob tells us exactly what his career path has been from Penn until now...

Per Rob,

"My career in radio started at Penn - I was a DJ on WQHS and eventually went on to become the station manager.  I also started working for WXPN on the program Kids Corner and worked doing basketball and football games for Penn Sports.   It was through a conference that WXPN paid for me to attend that I made connections at NPR.  I've been working here for 10 years doing everything from reporting to directing to producing to hosting my own podcast which became the basis for my book."

Below, in one of Rob's segments from his site, he talks about how to avoid embarrassing moments when getting a professional massage.

Get Rob's book HERE

Rob's website HERE

More Penn Authors HERE

More Penn Journalists HERE



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