Earlier this morning, executive producers James Hoke and Anthony Miranda personally called a fan to deliver the news. Khizer P., a 19-year-old from Ottawa, Ontario, had won round trip airfare for two to Los Angeles, hotel accommodations for two nights, and tickets to attend the private VIP premiere of What Goes Up and an after party.
"Anthony was writing about memorable moments yesterday," says Hoke. "Well, we both agree that this was one of those. After speaking to Khizer on the phone, it was immediately clear that we selected the right person to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Khizer, along with about 250 other entrants submitted 100-word (or less) letters deliverable by May 18. They were then narrowed to 17 and reviewed a second time by the filmmakers. Here is the winning entry, which was 100 words, exact.
Hilary Duff is more than a celebrity; she’s a role model who has helped me get through the deepest struggles in life. In 2007, I went to give my grandma breakfast when I heard her take her last breath. Having no one to lean on, Duff's self titled album became my companion through this struggle. Attending this premiere will not only give me the opportunity to thank my role model for greatly influencing my life, but will allow me to see a movie that emphasizes how one event that occurs on a day like “any other” can change life forever.
Complete Winners List
First Place
Khizer P. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Second Place
Matt M. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Third Place – Tenth Place
Justin M. (Cambridge, Mass.)
Kayla N. (San Diego, Calif.)
Marta M. (Madrid, Spain)
Alexandra C. (Manchester, New Hampshire)
Songkran C. (Chongnonsee Yannawa Bangkok, Thailand)
Victor G. (Maceió, Brazil)
Chris T. (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)
Mark F. (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
Like the first place winner, Matt M. will receive a prize pack to include a DVD, CD, and poster, all signed by various members of the cast and crew. All other winners will receive a poster signed by the producers. In the event they do not respond to their notification, other winners will be selected.
Today also marks the last day of the BlogCatalog Exclusive. For all promotions, click here. Several are still open, and the Insider Team has been asked to keep a look out for What Goes Up fans who live in the Los Angeles area. (We wonder why?)
A special thank you to everyone who entered! Your letters will be forward along to the cast or crew you wrote about. So, in many ways, everyone is winner today.
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T________T i'm defenetively not lucky in contest..
ReplyDeletecongrats to the winners.. specially the first
marta from spain?
Yes, Marta is from Spain. No worries, there will be and are other opportunities. If we could give everyone something, we most certainly would. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Insider Team
hahaha that would be too great...
ReplyDeletehope that at least we get to see good pics from the LA premiere & the after party. it was such a good prize that it seemed impossible to get...
but someone got it lol
KHIZERRRRRRRRRR! oh my goodness, congratulations to himmmmmm! AHHH he really, truely does deserve this. if i know anyone who's really been touched by hilary duff and someone who really loves, appreciates and admires her and keeps admiring her through it all, it is him. i know how much this means to him, im so happy he got it! i also had submitted my entry, and if anything, the cast and crew reading it really does mean alot! everybody won in a way! congrats to all the winners :D i can't wait for this movie!
ReplyDelete- wagma
Congratulations to all winners! Just one question though... How were the producers able to call Khazer and tell him he had won if the letter he wrote didnt include his phone number. If it had included his personal information, it wouldnt have been a 100 words, therefore making him not elegible to win. Or did they first email him telling him he had won, asked for his information, and then called him for him to know again he had won? I just think it would have been better if someone out of North America had been chosen as the first place winner..
ReplyDelete@LadyWagga Well said!
ReplyDelete@Claudio In most cases, unless the participants included such information in their letters, the producers had no idea where the participants were from, which means everyone had an equal shot. Since several of the winners had not responded yet, we even included NA (not available). All of the others have contacted us before the posting.
In terms of calling Khizer, all ten of the above were sent an e-mail requesting their addresses, with the exception of Khizer, whom The Insider Team asked for a phone number. There was some vagueness in what he may have won though we're pretty sure he guessed. Once my team secured the phone number, the producers called him personally.
Anyway, had Khizer not responded within 24 hours or had he been unable to accept, then the prize would have went to Matt, and so on. Obviously, we still do not know where Matt was from (something we hope to add in at a later date).
As the coordinator of the contest and not a judge, I have to point out that your idea — to specifically choose a non-North American winner regardless of merit — would have been unfair and unethical. However, I am glad you asked this question so I can point out that the winners are from all over the world.
As an aside, I'm personally the one who made the case to allow international participation in four of the contests, something which I'm told never happens. I hope everyone still considers that a good thing.
All my best,
Rich
Khizer!!! i love him.
ReplyDeletei just sent him a text expressing my extreme jealously... but i'm happy for him. if it can't be me, i'd rather it be him.
Heyy Mr.Awesometastic!! CONGRATS SO, SO, SO, SO MUCH!! You really, very well deserve this. I still remember our msn chat that we were having when you were adding the final touches onto this work of art :D I'm so very proud of you...as is Misbah :P because there is nobody more deserving than my friend here :P Congrats once again and we shall make this an epic 4 am chat :P GOOD JOB again...and you are LOVED by the Din sisters <3
ReplyDelete~Neelam & Misbah
I'm totally agree that this is the first contest I've ever seen since 2003 that open up for a fans from all over the world!!!
ReplyDeleteSince I'm a Hilary fan I never saw any contest would open up to other fan who live outside the US
Mostly they reserved it for local resident or only inside the country.
This's a breakthrough contest tho =)
Congratulations to all of the winners!
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent submission.
May all of you enjoy your prizes and enjoy the MOVIE even more!
Hey Producers!! I was wondering if it was possible that you guys placed ads on the TV about What Goes Up.. Less than 7 days until it premieres on Friday 29th.. We need to do everything we can and more!
ReplyDelete@ Rich
ReplyDeleteI didn't mean to specifically choose someone outside of North America, but it would have been more epic, more resounding to have, say someone from Asia, Africa etc, fly all the way to the States.. And I understand why you chose the winners. They really were creative and special in their letters. :)
Now I was wondering, like David said, what you guys are doing for publicity with the movie.. I was checking www.boxofficemojo.com and their Release Schedule. And on the date of May 29th, What Goes Up does not appear there. It does appear on www.rottentomatoes.com though, so thats good. I don't really know what the process is like to "announce" a movie, but hopefully we can all get the word out more. :)
@Pat (Songkran C.) Well said. We're thrilled you are on the list above!
ReplyDelete@David There will be television spots and newspaper ads in the markets where the film is playing. We're writing about that subject today. :)
@Claudio You are right. I was personally thrilled to see a non U.S. resident win. It was still epic to me. Thank you for taking the time to respond.
We're on most sites; boxoficemojo must have been an oversight and we'll be added there shortly. You might also be interested in an non WGU post I wrote about this subject.
Thanks for the heads up on that one!
All my best,
Rich
is much beautiful the text of Khizer . he really deserved it :)
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone so much for the wonderful comments and especially to the producers and Rich and everyone involved in giving me such an amazing oppurtunity! Can't wait for next week!
ReplyDelete