Allegra Carpenter talks to BTM

It’s not every day one is able to tell a taxi driver “take us to the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, we’re covering the red carpet tonight.” While this would be rare for anyone to say, it’s an especially exciting opportunity for two freshmen film production majors at USC who came here just two months ago from the East Coast. We stepped out of the taxi, through the crowd of curious stargazers, and with relish announced to the bouncer “We’re with the press.”

Allison and Tom Arnold

After years of watching Giuliana Rancic and Ryan Seacrest cover the red carpet, it was thrilling to have been offered the opportunity to find ourselves in their position. Poised and smiling, next to the paparazzi, mic and camera at the ready, we were actually about to cover the frenzy of a Hollywood movie premiere. After conquering the initial nerves and uncertainties about talking to the entering talent, we got into a smooth productive rhythm: Mike shooting stills and calling out who was approaching, Steve skillfully capturing the key moments and giving us constructive advice and directions, and Allison getting sound bites about the attendees’ experiences on this film and their upcoming projects.

By the end of the night, we realized we could now officially say we had the Hollywood experience everyone back home was waiting to hear about.

Denise Boutte talks to BTM

Once all the guests had arrived and our gear was packed, we headed into the historic theater to watch the film. Pool Boys, the latest raunchy comedy to hit the market, is the tale of self-proclaimed “aquatic engineer” Roger (Matthew Lillard) who reluctantly takes his Harvard-bound cousin Alex (Brett Davern) under his wing for the Summer to raise money to pay for college, with a, shall we say, unique, business model that taps into the “world’s oldest profession.” Apparently opening a brothel in one of his vacationing client’s Beverly Hills mansions is trickier than Roger expected, however, as comedic situations arise within the interplay of a diverse clientele and an even more, ahem, interesting cast of escorts.

Heather Marie Marsden talks to BTM

In one instance, dominatrix Bree (Heather Marie Marsden) mistakes naive Alex for one of her clients on the very first day of business. Not many entrepreneurs have to worry about knowing the “safety word” when entering the office in the morning, nor a suspicious neighbor who is none other than Tom Arnold (playing a stylized version of himself). While I can’t say this is a movie for those looking for a intellectually stimulating work of art, it is a good choice for a night of sexy entrepreneurial adventures….We’re just not sure we would take Roger’s business advice.

MIke Roma, Allison Tate-Cortese, Steve Czarnecki

We’re so happy to be part of the Beyond the Marquee team and can’t wait to give you all more information on all things Hollywood!

Allison Tate-Cortese and Mike Roma

USC Film Production Majors