Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle

Wisconsin’s hard-earned and effective film tax incentives became history, for time being anyway, when Gov. Jim Doyle used his veto authority in the biennial budget Monday morning.

Ignoring thousands of supportive incentive calls and signatures asking him to retain the film incentives, Doyle slashed a proposed limit on the 25% refundable tax credit, from $1.5 million to $500,000 a year, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2009.   More >

Ch. 2’s “Good Night” host/producer Steven Saltz

Chicago’s first, non-station produced celebrity late night talk show premieres Friday, July 3 on CBS Ch. 2, with the pilot episode of “The Good Night Chicago Show.”

Hosted and produced by Steven Saltz, the first half-hour episode of 13 weekly shows features veteran New York actor Frank Vincent, who has played mobsters in film and TV from “Goodfellas” to “The Sopranos.”   More >

Ch. 2's “Good Night” host/producer Steven Saltz

Chicago’s first, non-station produced celebrity late night talk show premieres Friday, July 3 on CBS Ch. 2, with the pilot episode of “The Good Night Chicago Show.”

Hosted and produced by Steven Saltz, the first half-hour episode of 13 weekly shows features veteran New York actor Frank Vincent, who has played mobsters in film and TV from “Goodfellas” to “The Sopranos.”   More >

Mightybytes owner/creative director Tim Frick

When the Shedd Aquarium reopened its Oceanarium exhibit recently after a nine-month, $50 million facelift, it included a 3D animated video of a South African penquin habitat, created by full-service media design firm Mightybytes.

The 12-minute video, with two kinds of penquins, orcas, seagulls and a storm, serves as a backdrop to the Oceanarium’s new children’s “playscape.”   More >

Davis Jones, Karma Entrepreneurs founder

Karma Entrepreneurs founder, Davis Jones, is calling out to Chicago filmmakers to collaborate on an innovative new web series, designed to promote musician/composer Justin Sconza of Chicago band Walter Meego.

Directors selected will work with Sconza on films of less than 10 minutes that will be distributed through Karma’s website, YouTube, and other video hosting sites.   More >

CopyMaster's Dave Jones, Jr.

Villa Park duplication and video production services house CopyMaster Video celebrates 25 years this month in an industry that has been almost entirely transformed since the company opened for business in 1984.

Dave Jones, Jr. has run the multi-service duplication and video company since his father, company founder Dave Jones, Sr., retired in 1998, just as the visual media industry was shifting to digital.   More >

The “Postales” set in Peru

CLAIRE CONNELLY, IFP board president, is producer of Josh Hyde’s debut feature “Postales,” which was one of 10 films selected to participate in IFP Narrative Film Lab’s week-long incubator earlier this month in New York.

The Film Lab is designed for first-time feature directors with films budgeted under $1 million. When finished, “Postales” will screen during Indie Film Week in New York in September.   More >

September is going to be a bonanza month for film festival fans. As of now, seven uniquely different fests are scheduled throughout the state, and others surely will be announced later.

Most of the film events take place during the third week of September, which includes the first day of autumn. Here’s how they line up:   More >

July 5 - CHICAGO SCREENWRITERS NETWORK guests are the twenty-something, overachieving Chicago Southland Comedy team of Lance Allen and Jason Ritchey, who turned their comedy into prize winning screenwriting.

At the Lincoln Restaurant, 4008 N. Lincoln, 5:30 p.m., $3, plus $6.50 restaurant minimum.    More >