Rob Marcolina
Producer, Editor, Original Screenplay

Independent film & video producer Rob Marcolina is a native of Philadelphia and a born and raised sports fan. Founder of ThePhillyFan.com and author of In Defense of The Philly Fan, Rob began to script the original concept behind The Curse of William Penn during the spring of 2004 following yet another gut-wrenching NFC Championship let down by the Philadelphia Eagles. While sharing a multitude of tasks with fellow co-producers Mikaelyn Austin and Dan Borkson, Rob also serves as computer technical support for the production and plays a key role in post-production as one of the films two editors.

As one of many Philadelphians who have suffered nearly a lifetime of heartache and disappointment at the hands of their pro sports teams, Rob's ambition to bring national recognition and compassion to the City of Brotherly Love and it's deprived yet amazingly supportive sports fans has been the driving force behind the development of The Curse of William Penn.

Rob's Favorite Philadelphia Pro-Sports Memory: 2:35 am in the morning on May 4th 2000 - Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. After four on-the-edge-of-your-seat exciting overtime periods, Keith Primeau faked right, cut inside of Darius Kaspiritis, and sent a laser of a wrist shot over the shoulder of Ron Tugnutt, ending the longest Hockey game in modern history. Resting my eyes in between periods, I watched every second of that game in astonishment. Watching these athletes mounting attack after attack in an attempt to win the game was one of the greatest sports feats I have ever seen. I don't know where they got the energy! The Flyers went on to win the playoff series in six games but in typical Philly fashion they choked in the next round of the playoff despite having a 3 games-to 1 lead to the hated Devils. Being that Philly hasn't won a championship since I was 14 years old, I don't remember ever being as happy as I was when I saw that puck go in.

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Mikaelyn Austin
Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Webmaster

President of Philly Philms, an independent film & video production company, Mikaelyn Austin has been producing acclaimed documentaries and dramatic shorts in Philadelphia since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004, where she played for the Penn Women's Basketball team during her four years as an undergrad. While working with fellow co-producers Rob Marcolina and Dan Borkson on a variety of production duties, Mikaelyn also serves as the Director of Photography for The Curse of William Penn and brings a vast amount of creativity to the cutting room as one of the film's two editors. Mikaelyn also contributes the design and administration of the film's official website - www.phrustratedphan.com.

Led by Writer/Producer Austin, Philly Philms recently wrapped up post-production on The Palestra: Cathedral of Basketball, a feature length documentary film on college basketball's most historic arena – the University of Pennsylvania Palestra. More information about the documentary can be viewed at the official documentary websites - www.palestradocumentary.com.  Austin also recently signed on to associate produce Lebanon, a bittersweet comic drama about the current division in American Culture, slated to begin production in Philadelphia and Lebanon, PA in late 2007.  More information about Lebanon can be viewed at the Philly Philms website – www.Philly-Philms.com. 

Mikaelyn's Favorite Philadelphia Pro-Sports Memory: I was sitting in a sports bar with my folks in Los Angeles getting ready to catch a flight back to Philadelphia at the start of the summer of 2001. The airport was about 30 minutes away and my flight was scheduled to take off in an hour, but there was no way I was going to leave when the Sixers were up with just under a minute left to play in game one of the NBA finals. As we all know, the Lakers went on to sweep AI and company the next four games to claim their second straight NBA title, but for those glorious 60 seconds, as I stood in the midst of dozens of gaping mouthed LA fans dumbfounded at the impossibility unfolding on the flat screen TV before them, I was proud to call myself a Philadelphia sports fan. And yes, I actually managed to make my flight on time.

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Dan Borkson
Producer, Original Screenplay

Co-founder and President of Seedless Entertainment, a Philadelphia based Production Company, Dan Borkson has been a resident of the City of Brotherly Love since he moved to Lower Merion at the age of six. Over the course of the past twenty some odd years of his life as a Philadelphian, Dan has fallen in love with the city and its pro sports teams. Similarly, yet independently, of co-producer Rob Marcolina, Dan began to script the idea for The Curse of William Penn out of his frustration with the many years of heartbreaking loses. At first he was skeptical of his own theories, but after witnessing the literal choke of favored Philadelphia race horse Smarty Jones and local icon Donovan McNabb, in their respective championships, Dan became a whole hearted believer in the Curse. For a little over a year now, he has worked alongside co-producers Rob Marcolina and Mikaelyn Austin to bring their collective vision to an audience of suffering Philadelphia fans.

Recently on slate for Borkson was Wave Magnet, story of the Cape Hatteras light house relocation project, an independent documentary he produced and directed. Dan has also done production work on a variety of television shows including Trading Spouses and The X Show.

Dan’s Favorite Sports Memory: I could say I’ll never forget skipping school my sophomore year to watch the ’93 Phils roll to the World Series; or, watching AI and Larry Brown beat the Lakers in game one of the 2001 NBA Finals when Kobe and Shaq had, up until that point, steamrolled through the playoffs with an unblemished record; or, cheering throughout the entire 2004-2005 Eagles season, as the Birds destroy every team in the league with long bombs to T.O. Despite all of these great sports memories, I cannot claim one as my favorite. The truth is, like thousands of other tormented Philadelphian’s, I’m holding out for that championship, that golden moment. In conducting interviews with guys from an older generation of Philly sports fans, I heard stories of the infamous 1974 Flyer’s parade when the whole city went crazy and the people streaked down the streets naked as the day they were born. So, my favorite sports memory will be when I’m celebrating my first Philadelphia championship…if I actually live that long.

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