Search Results for: "the chi "

Yolonda Ross on shaving her head for The Chi & $100k breast cancer donation

Yolonda Ross, star of the ground-breaking Showtime series The Chi, announced with Rhonda Feinberg, a special donation of $100,000, funded by The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation, to three grassroots organizations serving women of color who are living with breast cancer. Based on personal life experiences and in tandem with her performance as “Jada” on … Continue reading “Yolonda Ross on shaving her head for The Chi & $100k breast cancer donation”

Lena Waithe announces SHOWTIME has renewed The Chi for Season 5

As the Season 4 finale of The Chi ended with a cliffhanger on Sunday, series creator Lena Waithe announced the news during an Instagram Live that SHOWTIME has renewed The Chi for season 5. “Season 5 of The Chi is coming. It is done. It is written,” Waithe told fans, thanking them for their loyalty and viewership. … Continue reading “Lena Waithe announces SHOWTIME has renewed The Chi for Season 5”

The Chi Season 4 finale promises to end with a cliffhanger

In preparation for the season finale of The Chi, fans have been speculating what we can expect. Is Douda about to set Trig up? Can Dre forgive Nina? Will Emmett be enough for Tiff? And what’s going to happen with Jada? One thing we know for certain is that there WILL be a cliffhanger.  The … Continue reading “The Chi Season 4 finale promises to end with a cliffhanger”

SHOWTIME / The Chi makes $500k donation to Greencorps Chicago

SHOWTIME, and cast members from its Chicago-based hit show The Chi, along with community leaders, today to announce a $500,000 donation from the network to the City’s Greencorps Chicago green job training program and the Chicago Public Art Group. The funding will support and invest in the City’s South and West sides, which have served … Continue reading “SHOWTIME / The Chi makes $500k donation to Greencorps Chicago”

The Chi recap: ‘Native Sun’

From Emmy winner Lena Waithe, The Chi is a timely coming-of-age drama series centered on a group of residents who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption. This week’s episode, ‘Native Sun‘ opens with Kevin (Alex Hibbert) and Jake (Michael Epps) are serving in-school suspensions. Kevin was suspended for his … Continue reading “The Chi recap: ‘Native Sun’”

The Chi producer plans $60M film studio on South Side

Film and TV production in Chicago is 100% up and running, and expanding to the south side. The executive producer of The Chi television series, Derek Dudley is joining forces with Loop Capital Chairman and CEO, Jim Reynolds with plans for a film studio that they expect will bring thousands of jobs to the South … Continue reading “The Chi producer plans $60M film studio on South Side”

Official trailer for THE CHI 4th season premiere Sunday

SHOWTIME released the official trailer for the fourth season of the Chicago hit drama series THE CHI. Created and executive produced by Emmy winner Lena Waithe and executive produced by Academy Award, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Common, THE CHI  returns on Sunday, May 23 at 8 p.m. THE CHI is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents … Continue reading “Official trailer for THE CHI 4th season premiere Sunday”

The Chi will return to Cinespace for Season 4

SHOWTIME has picked up THE CHI for a fourth season. Filmed at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, created and executive produced by Emmy winner Lena Waithe and executive produced by Academy Award, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Common. Season three of THE CHI was up double-digits across platforms over last season and doubled its audience on streaming platforms. Season three cast included Ntare … Continue reading “The Chi will return to Cinespace for Season 4”

Empire’s Taraji P. Henson joins musical film adaption of The Color Purple

Academy Award nominee, Emmy Award nominee and star of Empire Taraji P. Henson has joined the upcoming film adaption of The Color Purple musical as sexy and sultry jazz singer Shug Avery, reported in Variety today. Chicago’s Victory Gardens Playwrights Ensemble Hall of Fame member and Chicago series The Chi writer Marcus Gardley wrote the … Continue reading “Empire’s Taraji P. Henson joins musical film adaption of The Color Purple”

Reel Chicago top 21 stories for 2021

Here are the top 21 stories on Reel Chicago in 2021. There were over 2500 stories between Reel Chicago and our sister publication Reel 360. With a record breaking total of 1.4 million views this year. Whether our stories were about the resurgence of film & TV production, the Reel Ad of the Week, or … Continue reading “Reel Chicago top 21 stories for 2021”

South Shore’s Regal Mile Studios receives city approval

The Regal Mile Studios, a proposed $60 million film studio planned for Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood received preliminary approval from a Chicago commission. The Plan Commission unanimously approved a proposal for a “state-of-the-art media campus” with 220,000 square feet of studio space on a 6.5-acre plot in the far southwest corner of South Shore. A … Continue reading “South Shore’s Regal Mile Studios receives city approval”

Paper Girls filming scenes in Wheeling this week

Paper Girls completed filming scenes in Wheeling this week. According to a tweet from the Wheeling Police and Fire Department, production ended last night. The new Olive Productions /Amazon Studios /Legendary Entertainment series Paper Girls will continue filming in the Chicago area through mid September. “That’s a wrap! Film crews from Olive Productions, LLC in … Continue reading “Paper Girls filming scenes in Wheeling this week”

Going South Side with Rolando Boyce of ‘The Chi’

If you’re a fan of Showtime’s The Chi , then you are very aware of track-suit wearing, bluetooth earpiece toting, baby daddy of Emmett, Darnell. Since joining in Season 2, veteran actor Rolando Boyce has played the colorful, always-loaded-with-an-opinion character, with a mixture of genuineness, heart and comedy. Boyce is no stranger to the South Side … Continue reading “Going South Side with Rolando Boyce of ‘The Chi’”

Chicago’s Mauro wraps production on ‘I Have a Name’

Chicago writer-director Lucia Mauro has completed post-production on I Have a Name, a one-hour documentary co-produced by Jacqueline C. Hayes – founder & president emerita of the non-profit film organization, The Chicago HELP Initiative (CHI) The film gives voice to individuals experiencing homelessness and presents CHI’s all-encompassing programs that nourish the whole person. I Have … Continue reading “Chicago’s Mauro wraps production on ‘I Have a Name’”

Season 3 premiere of Lena Waithe’s ‘The Chi’

“The Chi” Season 3 premieres this Sunday, June 21st at 8 PM CT on Showtime.  Created by Chicago’s own Lena Waithe and filmed entirely in Illinois, “The Chi” is a coming-of-age drama series about a group of Black teenage boys from the city’s south side. An average day finds kids prepping for school as their parents head off to … Continue reading “Season 3 premiere of Lena Waithe’s ‘The Chi’”

Showtime releases trailer for ‘THE CHI’ season three

In less than two minutes, the new trailer for season three of THE CHI showcases Chicago as one of the most dazzling, diverse, and passionate cities on earth. Cut to the uplifting beat of hometown superstar Lupe Fiasco’s The Show Goes On, layers of the Windy City unfold as skyline views, church celebrations, and family … Continue reading “Showtime releases trailer for ‘THE CHI’ season three”

Interview with former IFO Director Christine Dudley

The woman who helped Illinois make hundreds of TV shows and generate $2.5 billion in revenue talks about the ever-changing Midwestern filmscape Christine Dudley joined the Illinois Film Office at the exact time when the Illinois Film Office needed Christine Dudley. Combining exceptional legislative knowledge with a “modest background in production,” she helped guide the … Continue reading “Interview with former IFO Director Christine Dudley”

It’s Showtime for ‘The Chi’ which has been renewed

Chicago production community will have a busy season as hit Showtime series was renewed for a 3rd season along with Fox’s renewal of ‘Empire’ Showtime has announced has picked up the hit drama series The Chi for a third season. In a statement released today, network president Gary Levine said this about the series, which … Continue reading “It’s Showtime for ‘The Chi’ which has been renewed”

Actor Rolando Boyce returns home for ‘The Chi’

South Side native who plays Darnell describes the opportunity as an “important” and “beautiful” homecoming. Veteran actor Rolando Boyce has joined the cast of Showtime’s The Chi for season 2 as Darnell, Jacob Latimore (Emmett’s) father. Boyce is a native of the South Side and a veteran of the Windy City theater scene. He started … Continue reading “Actor Rolando Boyce returns home for ‘The Chi’”

Showtime: “The Chi” is on for season two

Showtime has ordered a second season of The Chi, a coming-of-age drama set in Chicago that has averaged four million weekly cross-platform viewers since debuting on January 7. Featuring an ensemble cast and multiple storylines, the series is not only produced entirely within the Windy City, but it also showcases a legion of homegrown talent. … Continue reading “Showtime: “The Chi” is on for season two”

Behind the dailies (and long nights) of “The Chi”

Although Periscope editor Michael Thomas James got a year’s worth of sneak peeks at The Chi while finessing the show’s dailies during the wee hours of most mornings in 2017, he is still enthusiastic about the Showtime series’ premiere on Sunday night. “When I first saw the footage, it got me super excited to be … Continue reading “Behind the dailies (and long nights) of “The Chi””