"Pithuahua" [Pit-wa-wa]: When Good Dogs Go Bad, A Comedic Web Series Launch
Online, July 5, 2016 (Newswire.com) - Imagine being the owner of an internet celebrity dog. Through public appearance, online sponsorships and endorsements, this magical pet affords a life of absolute luxury. That is until one day, on a doggie meet-and-greet, the four legged side-kick gets a bit too frisky with another famous dog, and the owner accuses your dog of "rape!"
That's the hilariously bizarre set-up for a new web series from creator Katherine Sweetman, the owner of the real Pithuahua (half Pit Bull, half Chihuahua Instagram sensation), and a graduate student in USC's film program. Although the concept is hers, she's not the only creator. The series is unique in that each show is written and directed by a new graduate student from the famed School of Cinematic Arts program at USC.
"My diverse set of collaborators have all brought such great ideas to this concept that it has evolved in ways I would have never imagined," Sweetman said in an online statement about the project.
The main themes of the series revolve around contemporary media consumption, the social media-celebrity, the dichotomy of on- and off-line personas, and both hetero- and homo-sexual online dating - most notably on the gay hook up app, Grindr.
In the first episode, that premiered on YouTube on the 4th of July, viewers met Pithuahua's owner, Chase Stewart (played by USC Theater Alum, Deane Sullivan), as he's reliving the nightmare of Pithuahua's indiscretions on YouTube. The video has over 3 million hits and the dog's social media stats are also taking a hit (they are falling... Fast). Chase is being evicted from his apartment, and he ends up at his mom's home (played by the always entertaining, Dian Van Patten), who is not exactly wining any "mother of the year" awards. The only solace Chase finds is in the arms of his internet hook-ups.
This fun-filled series of 6-minute episodes can be found on YouTube, July 4th, and will continue to air each Monday.
The real Pithuahua (dog) can be found publicizing the web series around the Los Angeles area. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @thepithuahua for show updates.
About the series creators:
Katherine Sweetman is a nationally and internationally exhibited artist in the fields of new media art and documentary video. She has taught courses on Visual Culture, Media, and Art at The University of California San Diego, San Diego State University, California State University, San Marcos, and Southwestern College. She is the former director of the alternative art space, Lui Velazquez, in Tijuana. She worked in 3D film and television production at Passmore Lab (2009-2014) and is a contributing arts editor for Reviewer Magazine. She has an MFA from the University of California, San Diego, a BA in Arts and Technology from California State University, San Marcos, and a certificate from the New School University, New York, and she is currently pursuing her second MFA in film at the School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California.
Jayjit DasGupta started out as an actor and director in Theater. He subsequently rose to the ranks of Artistic Director and Executive Producer of the Generic Theatre Co. in Washington DC. He was also awarded the 2001 Lannan Fellowship at the Folger Shakespeare Library. He studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and Film Theory at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, England. He took a hiatus from the world of the arts and studied medicine at University of Tennessee. He was trained in cardiothoracic transplant surgery at University of Pennsylvania and served on the Heart & Lung Transplant team at Vanderbilt University. He is happy to be back in the world of art and film at The University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts.
Abie Troen was born in Southern Israel and studied at the Israeli Academy of Sciences and Arts where he specialized in history and photography. Following his studies, he enlisted to the IDF (Israeli Army) where he served as a combat paramedic, and was awarded a certificate of. He studied in the Sam Spiegel school for Film and Television in Jerusalem, where he worked on projects filmed in the West Bank, and worked as a photojournalist. Abie studied in Brandeis University in Boston where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He's been involved in projects filmed in Kenya and India, promoting the Kenyan Street Vendor's Union and Jan Sahas, an organization fighting for Untouchable women's rights. He is currently getting his MFA at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts.
Mercedes San Roman is a writer and cultural journalist from Mexico City. She likes stories involving surrealism and the absurd. She has worked as a writer at Malinche Magazine. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Latin American Literature from Universidad Iberoamericana. She studied filmmaking and cinematography at the New York Film Academy, and she is currently completing her MFA in film The University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts.
Media Contact:
Katherine Sweetman, ksweetma(at)usc(dot)edu
Pithuahua Official site: pithuahua.com
twitter @thepithuahua
Instagram @thepithuahua
Facebook.com/thepithuahua
Source URL: http://prweb.com/releases/2016/07/prweb13531320.htm
