LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The positive pranks movement is about to get even bigger as DEFY Media kicks off season four of its celebrated positive prank video series, Prank It FWD™, with more original videos and surprises from top YouTube stars and some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Since Prank It FWD™ launched just over 18 months ago, the campaign has garnered more than 100MM total views and succeeded in sparking a movement around the globe, changing the lives of many deserving individuals while also moving many viewers to prank it forward in significant ways in their own communities.
Today, the heartwarming surprises continue with brand partner Barefoot Wine & Bubbly back on board to spread more holiday cheer in “All Dogs Must Go: Epic Pet Adoption”. Sherri Stankewitz is the hardworking owner of a Los Angeles animal rescue shelter who has sacrificed everything to take care of her beloved dogs, including leaving a professional career behind and living on the shelter grounds to make ends meet. Sherri thinks that she’s throwing her biggest pet adoption event ever and being filmed for a documentary, but from the start, things seem to not be going her way. Just when she thinks her event is about to get shut down, Prank It FWD and some special friends show up to present her with a few life-changing surprises, including a mob ready to adopt and provide loving homes for each and every one of her forty dogs.
"We are so grateful for all that Prank It FWD and Barefoot Wine & Bubbly have done for all of us at West Coast Animal Rescue," said Sherri Stankewitz, a founder of West Coast Animal Rescue. "Just when we thought that we may not be able to carry on, we received the surprise of a lifetime, a gift that has fueled our desire and our ability to help more dogs in need."
“This is the third time that we’ve partnered with Prank It FWD because we share their mission to have fun and make the world a better place,” said Elizabeth Windram, Senior Marketing Manager for Barefoot Wine & Bubbly. “We had a great time surprising someone as giving and deserving as Sherri, and we were delighted to help make the prank happen.”
This year, Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence joins a list of star talents who have participated in the campaign to prank it forward for good, including last season’s life-changing pranks featuring First Lady Michelle Obama and the L.A Clippers Glen Davis and DeAndre Jordan. Jennifer and co-stars Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth from Lionsgate's blockbuster film franchise The Hunger Games prank it forward with a SMOSH super who is living with a form of muscular dystrophy to turn the cameras – and the joke - on digital superstars Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox of Smosh, while also raising awareness for the Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UCLA.
And, The Today Show’s Hoda Kotb enthusiastically jumped on board following The Today Show’s heartfelt coverage of the last two seasons. The popular host joins the Clevver “Entourage For The Day” prank to help turn a deserving teenager’s musical aspirations into reality with an unforgettable day of surprises and opportunity that lands him atop the famed “30 Rock”.
“We kicked off Prank It FWD in April 2014 aiming to turn the prank convention on its ear and add value into the world. Since then, a campaign built on promoting change through positive pranks has grown into a global movement, making an impact with viewers that has far exceeded our expectations and continues to change the lives of deserving recipients in ways we never could have anticipated,” commented Barry Blumberg, DEFY Media’s Chief Content Officer. “We’re proud to bring back another season with more great talent and life-changing surprises that promise to drive this important program even further and inspire others to prank it forward with us through the holidays.”
This season of Prank It FWD™ features more original prank videos from DEFY Media brands SMOSH, SMOSH GAMES, Clevver, AWEme, as well as prolific pranksters Greg Benson, Tom Mabe, and Simple Pickup, together reaching a massive audience of more than 90 million YouTube subscribers.
Featured Videos Include:
- SMOSH’s ”JENNIFER LAWRENCE PRANK” – In the same week SMOSH commemorates 10 years on YouTube and Lionsgate's The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 premieres November 20, a SMOSH super fan living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy joins forces with the film’s mega- stars to prank digital’s most popular personalities – Watch what happens when Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth help Dylan Miceli-Nelson turn the cameras -and the joke- on Ian and Anthony in this memorable press junket moment.
- CLEVVER’S “ENTOURAGE FOR THE DAY” - Noah Jay, an aspiring teenage singer in Los Angeles gets the surprise of a lifetime when he leaves his house for school to find a camera crew and crowd of paparazzi waiting for him. The surprises continue straight to New York City where he lands on The Today Show with a little help from host Hoda Kotb and other famous friends.
- GREG BENSON’S “HOMELESS SHELTER MAKEOVERS” – Prank It FWD Host Greg Benson invites homeless people to a local shelter for a meal but they end up leaving with an elevated sense of self with many “pampering” surprises and everyone feeling like a winner.
- SIMPLE PICK UP’s ”SENIOR PROM” - Senior citizens are treated to a special dinner at their community center where they are surprised with a live musical performance and have a chance to re-live their high school days in this heartwarming prank.
Prank It FWD™ continues to benefit charitable partner DoSomething.org, one of the largest global organizations for young people and social change. Prank It FWD™ will donate one dollar for every 1,000 views of the series videos, as well as one dollar for every social mention and share tagged #PrankItFWD.
Prank It FWD™ has impacted the lives of so many deserving individuals, including some of these memorable stories: Best Shift Ever” surprised an L.A. waitress with some life-changing “tips,” including a brand new car, that enabled her to shift her focus full time on the non-profit organization she founded; “She’s Got it Maid,” surprised a hardworking housekeeper and single mother of three in Cleveland, OH with a brand new house.
WATCH MORE PROGRAMMING ALL MONTH LONG, OR NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR A FUTURE CAMPAIGN HERE and GET SOCIAL WITH Prank It FWD™:
YouTube.com/Break
Facebook.com/PrankitFWD
Twitter:
@PrankitFWD
ABOUT DEFY MEDIA
DEFY Media is the top digital producer and programmer for 13-34 year olds, and the largest owner of YouTube channels and leading media brands across the comedy, lifestyle and gaming verticals. Each month, DEFY-produced content generates 600 million video views and reaches 125 million viewers across our 60 million YouTube subscribers, 80 million unique web visitors and consumers of our apps, which have been downloaded over 25 million times. DEFY Media brands include Smosh, recently named by Variety as the top brand for 13-17 year olds, Break, known for its top program “Prank It Forward”™, and Screen Junkies, home to the highly influential digital series “Honest Trailers”. The world’s top brands partner with DEFY to build immersive advertising solutions that deliver unparalleled access to this influential audience. With uniquely integrated capabilities in content development, studio production, distribution and promotion, DEFY Media is built for content delivery in the digital age. Please visit us at www.DEFYMedia.com.
ABOUT BAREFOOT WINE & BUBBLY
Barefoot Wine is the most awarded wine brand in US competitions. Barefoot's California wines are attractively priced and can be found in bottles bearing the fun, iconic footprint label. Barefoot's still wine portfolio includes 16 offerings and is available for a suggested retail price of $7 for 750-ml bottles, $12 for 1.5-liter bottles. Barefoot Bubbly ($10) is available in 11 offerings, including NEW Barefoot Bubbly Fusions, and is the most awarded Sparkling Wine in US competitions. Barefoot Refresh ($8) is available in five new lively and light-style offerings. For additional information, visit BarefootWine.com or Facebook.com/BarefootWine.
