GAIL GILBERT’S CERISE FILMS creative editorial is expanding with the recent hiring of Jeremy Vranich, as the company’s first producer/new business development, giving the award-winning editor “more time to focus exclusively on creative projects,” she says.
Cerise Films, which Gilbert started in 2010 and is an AICE member, is one of only a few editorial local houses catering to both the Hispanic and general market. Earlier, she had spent more than 20 years as one of the mainstays of now-defunct Avenue Edit.
“I didn’t feel the need for a producer until now,” Gilbert says. “I hired Jeremy because he was busy, hungry, unjaded. I knew, given his indie film roots, he’ll be resourceful in making our clients happy.”
Thos clients include Burrell/Crest McDonald’s; Hispanic agencies Paco/Blue Cross/Blue Shield/ComEd, Dieste/JC Penney and Latin Works/Huggies, along with Energy BBDO, Leo Burnett and others.
Amanda Marien, Cerise’s motion graphics/animation director who, like Vranich, is a graduate of Tribeca Flashpoint, “so I know we’re on the same page,” she says.
Vranich produced the locally-made indie horror film, “Chicago Rot,” which releases early next year.
Cerise Film has an office at 213 W. Institute Place; Vranich’s phone, 312/835-7300.
SCREENWRITER JOSH GOLDEN, a recent graduate of DePaul Cinema Studies’ Screenwriting program, is off on the fast track to Hollywood film success. New Line Cinema scooped up spec script, “Road to Oz,” about the early days of prolific author L. Frank Baum, known best for his many “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” children’s books.
Beau Flynn will produce via his New Line-based FlynnPictureCo.
Golden, from Buffalo Grove, and his screenplay are finalists for the 2014 Academy Nicholl Fellowships.
NEXT WEEK WILL WELCOME some famous filmmakers in Chicago. Director Bill Duke will be here in preproduction on a web series and to speak Saturday, Oct. 16 at Chicagohollywood’s “How to Get Your Film Made” seminar, also with filmmaker Jake Seal moderated by entertainment attorney Hal “Corky” Kessler.
Just added to the program is a representative from Wells Fargo who will introduce its new film funding initiative.
SCREENWRITER DUSTIN LANCE BLACK who won an Oscar for “Milk,” starring Sean Penn, will be one of the speaker/panelists Wednesday, Oct. 16 the 6th Annual Speaker Series luncheon at hosted by Chicago House, which provides housing and other services for people with HIV and AIDS, at the Chicago Hilton. He will join other speakers are Laverne Cox (“Orange is the New Black”) and NBA player Jason Collins.
ACTOR/ DIRECTOR LEVAR BURTON (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) will receive the Facets Award for outstanding achievements in entertainment and education, as part of Facets annual family fun Boo! Bash Halloween Celebration, Oct. 19 at the Park West from 2-5 p.m. The theatre will be transformed into the ultimate family Halloween destination, with games, dancing, face painting, costume contests, acrobatics, films, raffles and tasty kid food and specialty drinks.
All proceeds will benefit Facets’ year-round educational programs and the Oct. 24-Nov. 2 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival. Purchase tickets here.
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