Ben Stiller and Tramell Tillman Bring Joy to Cinespia’s Zoolander Screening
Last night, the iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetery came alive as Ben Stiller, Tramell Tillman, and their team delivered a memorable evening filled with choreography and laughter at Cinespia’s screening of Zoolander. The director and executive producer of Severance took the stage to introduce the beloved 2001 comedy satire, but it was Tillman, leading the USC Marching Band, who stole the show.
In true Zoolander fashion, Stiller opened the event with his signature accent, humorously mispronouncing the name of the event. "Thank you all for coming,” he quipped. “I’d like to thank all the people at Cinesipia for having the courage to host the first-ever nine-year anniversary screening of Zoolander 2! What? Zoolander 1? OK, cool. I hope you enjoy it and don’t get freaked out by all those creepy, gross dead people under there.” This playful jab at the critically panned sequel, which struggled at the box office, had the crowd laughing.
Tramell Tillman, donning a sparkling red jacket reminiscent of his character Mr. Milchick from Severance, led the university’s ensemble and the USC Song Girls in a spirited performance. “Thanks for coming! You’ve got the USC Marching Band with you? Really cool,” Stiller acknowledged amidst audience cheers. “But this is kind of more like a Zoolander thing than a Severance thing. Maybe you could play something more Zoolander-esque?” The band responded with an energetic rendition of "Relax" by Powerman 5000, a track featured in the original film.
As the lights dimmed for the screening, Tillman and Stiller shared a warm embrace, marking a delightful start to the evening.
In a recent interview with Deadline, Cinespia’s creative director, Navid Sinaki, highlighted the significance of these screenings for Angelenos. “It’s strange to say that the cemetery is my happy place,” he remarked, “but there’s something transformative about being there, watching a film, and enjoying the energy of the crowd.”
This summer, Cinespia has entertained audiences with a diverse lineup of films, including Showgirls, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Casablanca, Top Gun, La La Land, IT, Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion, and The Addams Family. The series has also featured guest appearances from the cast and creative minds behind these classic films. Cinespia recently announced its exciting lineup for Halloween, promising more enchanting movie nights under the stars.
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