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With “tons of internet business” flowing in, Foundation Content has hired Ben Poster as director/editor/interactive, who moves after five years as an Arc Worldwide art director.

Poster is the start of what will be Foundation’s internet department.

IN THE MIDDLE EAST for three weeks is documentarian Malachi Leopold of Left Brain/Right Brain Productions. He is visiting Israel, the West Bank and Gaza as part of a delegation hosted by Interfaith Peace Builders and meeting with young Palestinians and Israelis under the age of 25 who are working together to achieve peace.

Leopold has worked for more than a year on developing a project connected to the ongoing Middle East conflict.

WOMEN IN FILM has made a righteous choice to honor broadcast trailblazer, talk show host, news anchor and community activist Merri Dee as its 2010 Focus Award honoree.

Dee has parlayed her celebrity into many children’s and educational charitable works. She spearheaded Illinois’ victims rights’ legislation after she and one of her talk show guests had been kidnapped, driven to a wooded area, shot twice in the head and left for dead, in 1971.

After retiring from WGN-TV in 2008 after 30 years, Dee formed full-service MD Communications.

THE SUPER SECRETIVE WACHOWSKIS may be ramping up their next movie, with Huffington Post publisher and politico Ariana Huffington, of all people, involved in it. Photos she posted on Twitter suggest she has a role in their story about the war in Iraq from the POV of a futuristic society.

Since their “The Matrix” triology in 2003,

Andy and Lana Wachowski have directed only one movie, last year’s “Speed Racer.” If a new movie is in the works, count on all the special effects coming from their fortress-like high-tech studio at 5645 N. Ravenswood.

One of Chicago’s claims to Oscar fame is the fact that the golden statuettes are made here. But a lesser-known Oscar connection is that the Chicago International Children’s Film Fest (CICFF) is the only Academy-qualifying children’s film festival in the world.

Running now through Nov. 1, winners in CIFF’s short film category can go on to compete in the Oscars.

Roger Ebert will make a special guest appearance at the closing ceremonies of the Naperville Film Festival, one of ten film festivals being held in Chicago and Downstate this month.

Altogether, around 500 independent films — narratives, horror, drama, documentary, animated, experimental, to suit every film buff, including many by local filmmakers — will be showcased.

And to cap this indie film month, the Independent Feature Project will hold its annual Film Gala, Sept. 26, to raise funds for programs and events to support local independent filmmakers.

Tech guru Bruce Montgomery, who has taken the helm of the 2,600-member Chicago Convergence (TCC), leads a meeting Wednesday to “edit and repackage ideas” for the second annual Convergence Summit tentatively scheduled for late September.

The meeting of as many as 40 members of the TCC’s Leadership Committee at theWit hotel will set the direction and content for the highly anticipated second annual TCC Summit.

Until then, the Summit date of Sept. 21-24 and the venue of the Spertus Institute have been placed on hold.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? Michael Mann’s 1930s crime movie “Public Enemies,” which spent $25 million filming in Chicago and the state last year, will have various premieres, advance and special showings everywhere else except Chicago before the movie’s national July 1 opening.

Its world premiere will be the centerpiece of the Los Angeles Film Festival June 18-28.

In Wisconsin, which is already benefiting from tourism to movie locations, has at least two pre-release events planned so far.

REAL HOUSEWIVES OF CHICAGO are being sought for a Towers Productions reality series. According to Towers’ casting director Becky Cattie, the hope is to find women who could give this formula “a new twist,” showcasing a “really unique group of ladies to represent the Midwest.”

Towers is seeking “a dynamic group of ladies leading extraordinary lives ? modern housewives who juggle busy lives and look great doing it! No wallflowers please.”

Someone suggested Patti Blagojevich should audition.

“NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET” began shooting last week at Elk Grove high school in that suburb, moving onto Hersey high in Arlington Heights. “Elm Street” producers cleverly gained the ability to move around to different high schools after signing a contract with Illinois School District 214.

District 214 covers Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling.

WHO WILL THE LOTTERY PICK to be its multicultural ad agency? The three worthy contenders are Carol H.

“MEALS FOR MONOLOGUES,” Claire Simon Casting’s third annual food drive benefiting a number of charities, is a way to give back to the community “and it’s also a lot of fun for the actors,” says Teresa Thoma, a Claire Simon casting associate.

Actors are invited to present a 2-minute contemporary monolog and headshot at an open call when they bring two non-perishable food items on Friday, Nov. 21, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.

Fast on the heels of its smashingly successful fund-raising gala comes IFP/Chicago’s 16th annual Midwest Filmmakers Summit the weekend of Oct. 19.

“We’re just recovering from the gala,” good-naturedly moaned IFP executive director Elizabeth Donius who, with development director Colleen O’Neill and staff put on one kick-ass event.

A full house of 300 guests jammed Salvage One Friday, Sept. 28 to party, meet other indie filmmakers, bid on a slew of neat auction items, and leave IFP approximately $20,000 richer to use for programs throughout the year.

Plucked from more than 200 entries, the work of seven local filmmakers will be screened at the Chicago International Film Festival’s specially-cultivated, “Home Grown Shorts” program starting Oct. 7.

“These guys demonstrate that you don’t have to flee to one of the two coasts to make good films,” says CIFF Competitions Coordinator Philip Bajorat.

This is Bajorat’s sixth year with CIFF, considered to be a record of sorts by some.

While Daniel Kraus has made three features, he’s now concentrating on the cinema-verite documentary. The WORK series, as Kraus terms it, is inspired by the writings of Studs Terkel and his books on ordinary people’s occupations.

The second film in the WORK series, “Musician,” is about Chicago jazz genius Ken Vandermark as he composes, rehearses, and cobbles together gigs.

Kraus’ previous WORK doc, “Sheriff,” aired on PBS’ Independent Lens series and will be released on DVD by Facets in the fall.

With the advent of Labor Day, when white shoes are tucked in the back of the closet, and sunlight vanishes all-too-early, a pent-up avalanche of non-theatrical films descends upon Chicago.

There’s something for everyone, as hundreds and hundreds of indie films will screen in more than 75 movie events to date at familiar and new venues, now through December.

HANK NEUBERGER, Chicago’s sound guru, is currently in Palm Springs where he will head a 90-member crew, including lots of Chicago guys, to produce a three day webcast of the big annual Coachella Music Festival of contemporary rock and pop music.

The festival will be captured with 18 HD cameras, with video support provided by Trio Video.

It will run on website www.at&tblueroom.com for 10 hours Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The following weekend, the entire crew moves to the Empire Polo Field in nearby Indio, Calif.

THE CHICAGO LATINO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL boasts four Chicago features among the lineup of 59 features and 31 shorts at its 23rd annual fest, April 13-25.

Jaime (“Dusk”) Mariscal’s second feature “Welcome Back To Barrio” follows a college kid (Ramses Jimenez) who returns to his old neighborhood and gets reeled into a gang conflict.

With Tony Ramirez, Carmen Cenko and Phil Camacho. David J. Miller of Mindlight Films produced and co-wrote with Mariscal. April 15 at 4 p.m. and April 17 at 10 p.m. at Facets Multi-Media, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave.

As George Romero shoots his latest zombie film, “Diary of the Dead,” Rusty Nails is recording the process for his ongoing feature documentary, “Dead On: The Life and Work of George A. Romero.”

“We went to a special effects house and saw early stages of makeup. We want to follow George throughout the making of the film,” said Nails, who also runs the Movieside Film Festival.

He has appeared with Romero at festivals around the world, screening footage from the in-progress documentary.

The busy month of October is capped by the 15th annual IFP Filmmakers Summit, the one time of year when Hollywood is delighted to come to Chicago and share its secrets with us.

Producer/author Christine Vachon of Killer Films (“Boys Don’t Cry”) and Chicago’s Bob Teitel (“Barber Shop”) headline the Oct. 27-29 weekend when more than 600 filmmakers are expected to attend.

There’s pretty much something for everyone.

Want the inside scoop on how deals come together?

Trio Video is expanding its fleet for the second time in less than two years with the infusion of a $10 million investment from two venture capital companies.

Management of the company is unchanged. Trio is owned by partners Jack Walsh and Gary Meagher, who will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their company next year.

Through the investment from Marquette Capital Partners of Chicago, BIA Digital Partners of Chantilly, Va., Trio is building its third HD/multi-format truck and a Beta support vehicle for delivery next March.

Local celebs and political leaders are among the guests expected at the IPA Victory Party June 13 at Rockit Bar and Grill.

The party celebrates IPA’s influential role in the Illinois’ new 20% tax credit on wages and supplies that should appreciably boost the economic impact of film expenditures in Illinois.

It’s also an excellent opportunity for new members to join the powerful three-year organization and keep the momentum going.

Film incubator Split Pillow premieres its fourth collaborative feature “Realization,” a seven-part riff on physics and the surrealist game Exquisite Corpse on April 19 at Facets Multimedia and later at and Chicago Filmmakers.

“?Realization’ is our biggest project ever in that we involved over 200 filmmakers, artists and actors,” said Split Pillow executive director Jason Stephens.

When Olive Films relocates to St. Charles from Richland, Washington in late November, Facets Multimedia, which has enjoyed a quarter-century status as the area’s premiere art film distributor, will be looking at a new kid on the block.

The fast-emerging international distributor of eclectic and hard-to-find cinema also will provide local filmmakers a potential outlet for DVD distribution of their indie films.

Owned by Farhad Arshad and his wife, Chicago native Jennifer Bonino, Olive Films will operate from offices and warehouse in a new 2,000-sq. ft.

Rejection at every turn, finding and fighting with investors, and the determination to make “The Chumscrubber” despite all odds is what Arie Posin told filmmakers at Facets Multi-Media prior to the screening of his debut feature that opened here Aug. 26.

“The Chumscrubber” is a dark suburban satire about troubled teens and their oblivious parents, with an ensemble cast that includes Glenn Close, Ralph Fiennes, and Jamie Bell (“Billy Elliot”).

Here’s what Posen had to say about the agony and the ecstasy of getting his film made. IFP/Chicago’s Elizabeth Donius moderated.

Gus Van Sant’s new film, “Last Days,” is inspired by the events leading up to the 1994 suicide of Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain and furthers the improvisational, elliptical, long-take style Van Sant employed with Gerry” (2002) and “Elephant” (2003).

“Last Days” producer Dany Wolf, was in Chicago at a recent IFP/Chicago-Facets sneak preview of the new film, due out here Aug. 5.

Wolf produced Van Sant’s “Psycho” (1998), “Finding Forrester” (2000), “Gerry,” and “Elephant,” and additionally served as production manager and assistant director of Van Sant’s three latest films.

From his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Guy Maddin has staked out his territory as the leading practitioner of a style that applies lyrical silent film grammar to aggressively disturbing themes.

INDIEFEST CHICAGO has extended the submission deadline to May 10 for the Third Annual Indiefest Film Festival & Market, the only film market in Midwest, which runs July 29-Aug. 7. See www.indiefest.org.

“Juvies” Independent Production Roundup USAMA ALSHAIBI’S in-progress documentary “Nice Bombs,” about returning to his native Baghdad during the U.S. occupation, has been selected as one of 29 projects to participate in the Tribeca All Access Connects program, a showcase for emerging filmmakers. It runs concurrently with the Tribeca Film Festival, April 19-May 1. “Nice Bombs” will compete with seven other docs for a $10,000 Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Award. Alshaibi’s wife Kristie Alshaibi is producing “Nice Bombs” through their Artvamp LLC, along with Ben Berkowitz and Ben Redgrave of Benzfilm Group. Four local directors’ features to screen at Latino Film Fest; Frausto, Islas’ are world premieres Four films by Chicago directors are among the 58 features from 20 countries presented at the 21st Chicago Latino Film Festival April 9-21 at more than a dozen venue across the city and suburbs. Juan Frausto’s “La Migra” and Ricardo Islas “Para Matar a un Asensino” are world premieres. Returning after successful festival runs are Marisol Torres’ “Boricua” and Alex LeMay’s “The Bulls of Suburbia.” For “Para Matar a un Asesino” Islas, like Frausto, brought Mexican screen stars to the U.S. for his production. Independent Production Roundup VELVET STEAMROLLER PRODUCTIONS has officially signed on to produce L. Pat Williams’ horror pic “10,000 Doors.” Williams, who co-wrote with her father, composer Robert A. Williams, cited a $5 million budget before signing with Velvet Steamroller but declined to name a budget after the signing as the script undergoes rewrites. Williams is producing through her SerpentWise Films with VS VP/Acquisitions Steve Bulzoni. VS CEO Jonathan Bross is executive producing. Erica Hubbard (“Cinderella Story”) is co-producing through her E. Hubbard Productions. Independent Production Roundup LANCE CATANIA of X-Ray Productions has completed post on his debut feature, the HD horror pic “Cup of My Blood.” Catania, a seasoned commercial director/DP, shot on HD in December 2003. Catania wrote the script with Ken Nilsson, who produced with Noel Olken of Waitergonebad Productions. “Cup of My Blood” stars Daniel Patrick Sullivan, Janina Gavankar, Roger Anderson, Circus?Szalweski, and Lance Mulvaney. X-Ray co-owner Gene Cosentino is executive producer. Salvatore Peccoraro edited. Chicago Film Critics will present director Robert Altman with lifetime achievement award Jan. 19 Taking advantage of the fact that Robert Altman is temporarily living in Chicago, the Chicago Film Critics Assn. on Jan. 19 will hold a tribute evening to honor the award-winning director. The 80-year old award-winning movie director will receive the Flame, a lifetime achievement award for his half century of innovative techniques and independent style in movies, TV and the theatre. Altman is in Chicago as director of his Lyric opera production of “The Wedding,” which opened last month to rave reviews and SRO audiences. Taproot’s bullfight doc attracts broadcasters at Santa Fe festival; will play Chicago Latino Taproot Productions’ bullfighting documentary “The Bulls of Suburbia” has charged its way through the festival circuit this year, drawing broadcaster interest at the Santa Fe Film Festival, where the film was nominated for best documentary. “A cable broadcast entity was very interested,” said director Alex LeMay. “Hopefully we’re going to see this thing televised.” Independent Production Roundup NATHYN MASTERS’ guerilla style apocalyptic thriller “4th Beast: Mask of the Antichrist” has been picked up for DVD release by York Entertainment of Sherman Oaks, Calif. Masters’ Timecode Mechanics produced the DV feature last winter. Masters is in development on his followup, the martial arts pic “Silvergun Samurai,” for production next year. He’s writing a prequel to “4th Beast” called “Mark of the Antichrist,” and is co-producing the dance romance “Open Your Heart” from Tennessee’s Xenophobia Films, shooting here this winter. Sock Puppet now developing original DVD concepts for kids educational series, games DVD content developers Sock Puppet Studios have launched their first original brand with “The Doodlebugs,” a half-hour animated educational series targeted for children ages 2-6. Sock Puppet plans to finish the second “Doodlebugs” episode Sept. 1. The first episode was released in May and will screen in the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival at Facets Multi-Media this October. Sock Puppet is self-distributing the DVD online and is seeking a distributor for retail and non-traditional broadcast like video-on-demand and in-flight video. Independent Production Roundup MARK ARMSTRONG’S hip-hop comedy feature “Chickenhead Bound” from Dusablean Enterprises wrapped principal photography Aug. 12. Premiere screening is planned for Thanksgiving. Nlz of Wu-Tang Clan’s Killarmy Family made a cameo and is in talks to supervise the soundtrack, which will feature music by Public Enemy affiliate K-Rec, who acted in the picture. Armstrong is now casting for Cas-I-Can Productions’ bisexual romance “Trying to Get Bi.” Reach Armstrong at markarmystrong62@aol.com. Local feature of suburban dread has local debut at Chicago Underground Local underground auteur James Fotopoulos screens his suburban gothic feature “The Nest” in its Chicago debut at the Chicago Underground Film Festival Aug. 22. Fotopoulos continues his trademark minimalist terror with “The Nest,” in which he builds an atmosphere of mounting dread through sound design and surrealistic images in a young couple’s new apartment. “There really wasn’t any inspiration,” Fotopoulos insisted. “Things just collage together over time and then I shape them together and get them out. Anything around me can trigger it.” New IFP/Chicago executive director Donius aims for more connected organization Elizabeth Donius is two months into her job as IFP/ Chicago executive director, the first full-time director in at least 10 years, and she’s excited about enlarging the 400-member organization and making it a more important and useful resource for Chicago’s large and growing indie film community. “I’ve done film projects and I’m doing film projects, and I know how hard it is to get independent work made,” said Donius. Joe Mantegna — a seventh inning surprise by Jonathan Abarbanel JOE MANTEGNA made a surprise appearance at the Royal George Theatre last week, delighting the cast and audience of “Bleacher Bums,” the show about die-hard Cubs fans now enjoying a 25th anniversary production. Mantegna conceived and co-authored the show when he was a member of the Organic Theater Company, along with the then-unknown Dennis Franz. Mantegna visited with the cast and performed the nightly guest cameo role, leading the audience in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” as part of the show’s Seventh Inning Stretch. Movieside marks video release of fest organizer Nails’ debut feature Movieside Film Festival organizer Rusty Nails launches the video release of his debut feature “Acne” with a screening of the film May 15 at Movieside, which also features live appearances and films by legendary directors George Romero (“Night of the Living Dead,”) and Jack Hill (“Foxy Brown.”) Looking for a movie tonight? Catch one of these non-traditional film series Chicago boasts one of the biggest and most vibrant independent film scenes in America, in terms of both production and outlets. To prove the point, Chicago is experiencing a boom in non-traditional screening series. In addition to a growing roster of annual film festivals, established and fledgling organizations host screenings scattered around the city at theatres, nightclubs and other venues. Two Chicago feature-length docs to screen at 2nd Doc Festival April 1-11 With documentaries gaining in interest with both filmmakers and the public, the April 1-11 2nd annual Chicago International Documentary Festival should handily achieve its goal of doubling the audience to 13,000 from the festival’s debut in 2003. The festival opens April 1 with Naofumi Nakamura’s “Marina,” about the star of the renowned Afghanistan-set drama “Osama.” Rising local director’s Juan Frausto finally has his foot in the Hollywood door. His third film, “Once Upon a Time in the Hood,” plays in the 20th Annual Chicago Latino International Film Festival. The picture is due out on video from Maverick Entertainment and Breakaway Films this July, and is slated for a run on HBO Latino early next year. “This movie will open doors for me, and for Latinos,” Frausto said. “It shows the we can do really good movies with low budgets and still get distribution. We’re just now capturing the market. What’s in your shopping cart? — Doc on homeless premieres at Doc Fest At a Salvation Army in Los Angeles’ gritty Nickel District, local production designer Wesley Tabayoyong interviewed more than 30 homeless people about the contents of their shopping carts. Tabayoyong and his collaborators combed the underbelly of LA’s skid row for interview subjects. “We covered an area called ‘Tent City,’ which is a quarter mile of makeshift tents, can fires, and some dangerous people,” Tabayoyong recalled. Up and Down the Avenue – 02/07/04 JWT wins the $12 million Illinois Tourism account, resigned last year by BBDO. Tom Bernadin is Leo Burnett’s new president, from Interpublic’s Lowe’s/New York — the first non-Burnetter to have that post in the agency’s 70 year history. DDB resigned the Lottery account, citing a difference of opinion over marketing and creative. Marguerite Juliusson has added director Dennis Manarchy and Big Deahl Productions to her representation roster. Oh-oh! Chicago director’s Indian feature garners international acclaim Chicago filmmaker Satish Menon walked across a stage in New York a few weeks ago and received an award from fellow Indian expatriate Salman Rushdie. The renowned novelist had selected Menon’s debut feature film, “Bhavum ? The Emotions of Being,” for the Indian Diaspora Award from the Indo- American Arts Council Film Festival. Networking in Chicago, part two by Joan Tortorici Ruppert Hancock’s horror story goes beyond his new feature John Hancock on location in Michigan Chicago-made film debuts April 10 at Latino Festival Gloricelly Martinez-Franceschi stars in “Urban Poet,” the Latino Film Festival’s only Chicago-made feature.   Loading Comments...   Write a Comment... Email Name Website