BUSY PRODUCTION IN WEEKS AHEAD on the streets of Chicago. On the feature side: “Batman vs. Superman” moves after months in the Motor City to the Windy City and opens an office at Cinespace next week. Shooting starts Nov. 3-14. Scheduled locations include the farm house in Plainfield, the subway and the “Daily Planet” atrium at Willis Tower.
The second unit of “Mineral,” the title of the sequel to “Divergent,” which filmed here last year, will be shooting in the Loop this weekend.
Ironically, not filming here but Toronto — is “Idol Eye,” the Chicago story/set/character/location feature about infamous Outfit boss Tony “Big Tuna” Accardo, played by Robert DeNiro.
On the spot side: Two shoots for KFC, one for The Onion and the other by Backyard Productions. LA’s Arts and Sciences will be here shooting Dick’s Sporting Goods’ holiday spots for 3-days on location. Tyler Jay’s new Tandem Productions shoots for Grub Hub. Two days of filming for the “Get Covered Illinois” campaign for Downtown Partners, via 59 Films.
TV shows: Showtime’s “Shameless” sends its second unit here in November. Season 5 starts Jan. 11.
HOW SWEET IT IS! FCB Chicago won the pitch for a Nestle corporate brand assignment: to change consumer perception of Nestle from “a trusted chocolate company” to a “recognized and trusted food and beverage, nutrition, health and wellness company.” FCB Chicago handles some brands for the giant advertiser, which spent $183 million on measured media in 2013.
HITTING THE HIGH NOTES. Sonixphere’s LA-based award-winning David Van Slyke handled the sound design for the pilot of Fox’s new hit “Gotham” series and subsequent episodes of the show.
Having worked with “Gotham” director/EP Danny Cannon on previous TV shows, Van Slyke says he was familiar with the directors’ penchant for “filling up the soundscape, to hear sounds surrounding and infiltrating the dialog, bumping up against it, as opposed to a pristine dialog track.”
Comma Music and Particle post audio have each added staff. In LA, Mina Louy is the new integrated producer, who also will assist in the West Coast expansion of Particle. Louy returned to her home town after working for the previous 8 years in New York.
In Chicago, Becca Sita is Comma’s new studio manager, handling operational duties for Comma and Particle. She came to Comma from line producing at Second City Communications and has worked at Chicago and LA editorial companies.
ACTOR LEVAR BURTON (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) receives the Facets Award at Facets Boo! Bash Family Gala for his lifetime achievements and dedication to children’s literacy as the host of PBS’ “Reading Rainbow” series, Saturday, Oct. 19 at Park West.
The Gala is an important fundraiser for Facets’ year-round educational programs of its International Children’s Film Festival, running Oct. 24-Nov. 2.
It’s is a fun-filled (and spooky) afternoon of food, interactive games, movies and a celebrity-judged costume contest. DJ is Famos. Fun starts at 2 p.m. and tickets may be purchased here.
Got news? Share it with ReelChicago’s big, busy BtoB readership. Email to ruth@reelchicago.com.
