| Reel Chicago – At the intersection of Chicago Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production
Reel Chicago is a daily digital magazine that covers the news in Chicago on all aspects of advertising, film, TV, media and production. The content is original, written by industry experts and contributing Op Eds
Noisefloor Creative Producer, Katie Waters has been promoted to in-house Foley Artist. Waters has a long history with Noisefloor; starting as an intern, freelancing as a Foley Artist in 2011, and later in 2014 joining the team as their full-time Studio Manager. Most recently in her role as Noisefloor’s creative producer, Waters was able to … Continue reading “Noisefloor promotes Katie Waters to foley artist”
Noisefloor had an incredible 2020 despite the pandemic. Their fast-growing clientele and workload has caused a need to make a move and expand their facility. Still in the heart of River North, Noisefloor has found their new home at 320 W Ohio St. This building had the key resources Noisefloor needed to continue working on … Continue reading “Noisefloor talks about growth and their new facility”
Noisefloor welcomes singer/songwriter, filmmaker, and writer Carly Glenn to the family. Carly has worked in production for almost 3 years and brings many talents to the table. “Carly is a great fit for us. Her willingness to wear multiple hats and learn new skills is exactly what we were looking for,” says Noisefloor partner Cory … Continue reading “Noisefloor welcomes Carly Glenn to the family”
NoiseFloor has new digs. They are up and running in their new River North space and they couldn’t be more excited. After calling their studio space located at 308 W. Erie home for 10 years, NoiseFloor, the full service audio facility has moved to a new space in the River North neighborhood at 320 W. … Continue reading “NoiseFloor has a new home in River North”
2020 has already brought about new and exciting changes at NoiseFloor LTD. For the first time since opening the doors in 2005, the River North sound facility is adding Bryen Hensley as part owner of NoiseFloor effective January 2, 2020. Co-owners Jamie Vanadia and Cory Coken announced the addition of their new partner in a … Continue reading “Bryen Hensley becomes part owner of NoiseFloor”
The Chicago company “put all hands on deck” to handle music and sound for Kendall Goldberg’s feature starring the Napoleon Dynamite sensation NoiseFloor provided full post production sound services and music supervision for director Kendall Goldberg’s first feature film, When Jeff Tried to Save the World. Jeff is the story of an old-school bowling alley … Continue reading “NoiseFloor helps Jon Heder save the world”
Over the second weekend of the month, more than one million Destiny 2 players conducted virtual warfare inside an audiovisual theater that was built with help from NoiseFloor Ltd. The Chicago-based company handled sound design and mixing for the game’s Bellevue, WA-based developer, Bungie. A first-person shooter spectacle where players serve as one of humanity’s … Continue reading “NoiseFloor Ltd. brings AAA game to “Destiny 2””
NoiseFloor Ltd. added a fifth audio room to its River North studio in September.
Designed for sound editorial, SFX creation and sound design, the new facility marks the year’s second major expansion for the company, which introduced an AR/VR/360 studio in January.
“We were in need of more support in the sound creation area,” explains Jamie Vanadia, who, along with Cory Coken, is a NoiseFloor partner. “We are expanding into a few markets by the end of this year.”
Among the discoveries that Cory Coken and a team of sound designers from NoiseFloor made while preparing to build a new augmented reality / virtual reality (AR/VR) studio was, “there’s a lot of voodoo out there.”
“That’s the fun thing,” he adds. “VR is kinda like the wild wild west. Everybody’s got different ideas and theories. There’s probably a million non-productive work flows.”
NoiseFloor intends to tame this sonic new wild west inside a recently launched 24 by 18-foot inhouse studio that boasts 15-foot ceilings and walls of reclaimed wood.
Mixer/sound designers Corey Coken and Jamie Vanadia’s NoiseFloor audio post company is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the addition of its first outside rep stretching out into new markets and a record year of business.
BIG PARTY TONIGHT hosted by Corey Coken and Jamie Vanadia’s NoiseFloor to celebrate the opening night of the seventh consecutive year of CIMMfest, which, in association with city-sponsored Lake FX Summit + Expo, is our answer to SXSW.
NOISEFLOOR’S JAMIE VANADIA mixed sound for a 20-minute video about survivors of the 2005 Pakistan earthquakes, produced by StepFilms and Media of Washington, D.C. , a company dedicated to making media with a conscience.
The doc was directed by filmmaker Stephanie Foerster, producer of docs, TV series and web-based viral media, and a longtime Noisefloor collaborator and a Uof I alumna.
Noisefloor partner Cory Coken estimates the renovation underway at their new 4,000-sq. ft. studio at 308 W. Erie should be completed within two weeks.
Undaunted by advertising’s tough stretch, sound designer/mixer Jamie Vanadia feels “the timing is perfect” for the opening of his new audio post house, NoiseFloor.
“We can offer all the talent services of a big audio house but without the overhead costs,” he said of his move into Jim Olin’s long-established Rhythm Caf?’s consortium of music-makers at 62 W. Huron.
Apparently Vanadia’s strategy is working since he started with business in hand and future jobs on the books.
The AICP/Midwest Meet. Drink. Talk. was a huge success last night. Friends, colleagues and co-workers gathered for a much needed social evening at the Tunnel on Kinzie in an event created exclusively for Midwest agency, commercial production, and editorial professionals. You could feel the energy in the room from a group who collectively hit the pause … Continue reading “Oh what a night! The AICP/Midwest Meet. Drink. Talk. was a huge success”
The Chicago production family was stunned and saddened to learn that 44-year-old Producer and Post-Production Supervisor, Katie Hoban passed away suddenly at the beginning of this month, on January 4, 2022. Katie was the daughter of Kathleen Johnston and Michael Hoban. Adjectives that come to mind when describing Hoban are “lovely and spirited,” “a positive … Continue reading “Memorial services for producer Katie Hoban today”
Before the official AICP winners were even announced, The Colonie won a major honor. For the first time in its history, the Chicago based post-production company was selected to create the Sponsor Reel for the National AICP awards show. The Colonie’s reel played across all three AICP shows during their virtual premieres; the AICP Show, … Continue reading “The Colonie ‘Sponsor Reel’ is a hit across all three AICP award shows”
Whitehouse Post announces the promotion of five key employees to partnership roles, and a new Executive Director of Post Production, as they continue to evolve and build for an exciting next chapter of the company. Editors Heidi Black, Charlie Harvey, and Adam Marshall join the partnership ranks along with Director of New Business Development Joni Williamson … Continue reading “Whitehouse Post marks a new chapter with promotions of five key staff”
The 2021 AICP Next and Post Awards debuted virtually this week in New York during AICP week, recognizing creative excellence in new and emerging media. Chicago post-houses and agencies did take home wins during the ceremonies. Utopic The post-house had a big win last night at the AICP Post Awards. Craig Lewandowski was honored with a win … Continue reading “AICP: Utopic, DDB, Cutters, Highdive rep Chicago in Next and Post Awards”
Lobeline Communications, a top Hollywood entertainment public relations firm that has worked with stars like Brad Pitt and Van Morrison, expands to the Midwest market with the opening of its newest office in Chicago. Leading the Midwest office is Hollywood publicist and innovator Shaun Kimbrow who has managed publicity efforts for many of the country’s most prominent brands and … Continue reading “Top Hollywood PR firm opens Chicago office”
After months of careful consideration & hundreds of community votes, Camera Ambassador introduces this year’s 2021 Community Builders Grant winner Link Wolfe. His team’s project Zero Mile Mark is a horror short film about a troubled teen who is forcibly sent to a wilderness retreat program in the woods for “rehabilitation.” We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity … Continue reading “Camera Ambassador announces Builders Grant winner”
Written and directed by acclaimed singer-songwriter Jer Sklar, Music Box Theatre will screen Chicago comedy Tom of Your Life from May 7-13. Featuring an original soundtrack with 11 original songs from his local band The Blackstrap Molasses, Sklar also edited, produced and stars. Tom of Your Life tells the story of a baby who inexplicably ages four years on each hour. … Continue reading “DePaul grad screens ‘Tom of Your Life’ at Music Box”
The Community Builders Grant is a short-form film fund and production resources grant sponsored by Camera Ambassador. Their mission is to help build bridges between filmmakers and the community while elevating their production by arming them with the necessary tools to create. This grant supports artists with varying levels of experience, both to recognize accomplished individuals, … Continue reading “Applications now open for the Community Builders Grant”
Chicago-based JShip, a new online shipping service, has launched its first marketing campaign, featuring a new spot and social content directed by Tyler Jay, Commercial Director and Principle at Chicago-based Tandem, Inc. JShip’s agency of record, Detroit/San Diego-based D/CAL selected Tandem to execute their script and began collaborating with Jay in late 2020. “It was … Continue reading “Tandem’s Tyler Jay brings big comedy in JShip spot”
Bespoke NY-based production company Easy Mondays has secured Sarah Gitersonke (SG&Partners) to represent the company in the Midwest. She joins an Easy Mondays sales team comprising Carl Forsberg and Justin Lasoff (Apostle) on the East Coast, and Marta Burga, who handles sales for the Hispanic market. The company is overseen by Founder/Executive Producer Asori Soto. “Adding Sarah … Continue reading “Easy Mondays Secures Sarah Gitersonke of SG&Partners”
In early 2020, the independent creative agency, KSV asked Tandem, Inc. and commercial director Tyler Jay to produce, through finish three :30 live action spots. “This production was a long time coming,” said Tyler Jay. Two days before filming back in March, COVID shut it down, on the day of the pre-pro meeting. Then, mid-August … Continue reading “Tandem’s Tyler Jay films three spots for KSV”
This past summer, director and writer Sean Sankalp Raju won the Camera Ambassador Community Builders Grant for his project A Nickname. The autobiographical short film tells the story of how the filmmaker received the moniker, Sean, as an Indian American child. In an economy where funding an independent film is especially difficult, Raju was ecstatic … Continue reading “Camera Ambassador Grant winner Raju faces challenges”
The Marketing Arm called on The Colonie’s remote-savvy team to provide editing, color grading, and creative services for a recent State Farm spot with a message of encouragement and support for those financially impacted by COVID-19. The two Chicago-based companies collaborated remotely on the :30 spot. Titled New Norm, the broadcast commercial features live-action footage … Continue reading “Colonie’s remote capabilities tapped for State Farm”
You may not be as familiar with the term from which Echo Boomers gets its title as you are with “generation Y,” or the all too ubiquitous “millennials.” As the children of Baby Boomers, our lives have echoed out from theirs. It’s no secret our generation gets a lot of grief, and it stands to … Continue reading “‘Echo Boomers’ wraps in Chicago, moves to post”
Chicago filmmaker celebrates the people who make the grocery store a “true family company” in Distillery Project’s “Quality Assurance” Chicago agency The Distillery Project has launched a digital campaign for family-run grocery store Meijer. Titled Quality’s No Accident, the campaign focuses on the people who work at Meijer and their communities. The documentary style series … Continue reading “Kendall Goldberg directs unique Meijer campaign”
Picture North helps nonprofit managed care org Community Health Choice build a new platform for its members to speak Director Jake Zalutsky and Production and Editorial company Picture North have released their latest campaign for client Community Health Choice through Texas-based agency Langrand. For the underserved population of Texas, Community Health Choice has been a … Continue reading “The voice of America’s overlooked healthcare population”
With virtually no dialogue and a cast of one, the five-minute film rides a mysterious symphony into a frightening climax Chicago filmmaker Curtis Matzke’s short horror film, The Orchestra, will screen Sunday night and Monday afternoon during Cinepocalypse 2019 at the Music Box Theater. The Orchestra is a six-minute, one-act thriller set in a grandiose … Continue reading “Matzke’s ‘Orchestra’ to screen at Cinepocalypse”
40-minute doc about classic North Carolina theater had its premiere on April 6 Longtime Cutters editor and Chicago filmmaker Michael Lippert has debuted a new documentary, Reeves: a Home for Music, at RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Lippert, who made festival noise three years ago with Miriam is Going to Mars, focuses … Continue reading “Filmmaker Michael Lippert back with new documentary”
Chicago-based equipment rental house to award winning filmmaker with nearly $10K in cash, gear, and goodies Camera Ambassador is offering creators a chance to win nearly $10k worth of funding, gear, and other goodies by way of a Builders Grant designed “to recognize accomplished individuals, as well as provide opportunities for young and emerging artists.” … Continue reading “Camera Ambassador announces Builders Grant”
Chicago boutique showcases a man with prehensile feet and a date night gone wrong in a pair of new spots Indie innovation marketing agency, Fusion92, has launched Redbox’s first-ever national campaign ever. The brand, best known for their bright red kiosks, dropped two minute-plus spots online on December 19 and ran through December 31, living … Continue reading “Fusion92 launches hilarious RedBox online campaign”
From hip-hop snow angels to Lego parades, an adult-sized portion of casually-vetted Chicago content to help readers get the most out of the holiday Falling onto a couch in front of a TV is the final and most relaxing course of every good Thanksgiving meal. It pairs well with prime time football, Charlie Brown, The … Continue reading “Thanksgiving break: holiday viewing suggestions”
“It really kind of makes sense about where we are today … we are a nation of immigrants … we need to be the standard bearers of fairness” Sandra Antongiorgi Sandra Antongiorgi’s new single, America La Hermosa, will play when the credits roll at the end of F*** Your Hair, One City Films’ 2018 … Continue reading “Chicago artist sings ‘America La Hermosa’ for protest doc”
After taking offense at President Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants, a Chicago beer maker brews up a protest Chicago production company One City Films has bottled the essence of American politics into a new film about cultural dignity, First Amendment rights, and beer. F*** Your Hair: The Latin-Owned Brewery that Dumped Trump tells the tale … Continue reading “New doc helps brewery say “F*** Your Hair” to Trump”
The new web-series features five sorority sisters fighting the patriarchy, one frat boy at a time Kappa Force is a satirical web series about a crime-fighting sorority that takes on the evil El Douche of Sigma Sigma Epsilon. Director Hannah Welever and writer/producer Addison Heimann’s Kappa Force is having its hometown premiere on Sunday, … Continue reading ““Kappa Force” to deliver punch at Logan on July 29”
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The “Skywinder” campaign shows how easy it is to load EGO’s new string trimmer while skydiving at 29,000 feet Note to Tom Cruise: Please understand that Vinny Warren and the team at The Escape Pod are now fully ready to join the next Mission Impossible with their latest stunt. As I watched the new death-defying … Continue reading “Escape Pod takes EGO string trimmer to new heights”
Chicago marketing agency rEvolution’s ‘micro-sitcom’ for Winnebago scored a pair of Silver nods from the 39th annual Telly Awards on May 22. Meet the Maddons, an online sitcom by rEvolution for Winnebago, won Silver Telly Awards in both the business-to-consumer campaigns and the comedy webseries categories earlier this week. Breezing through everyday snippets of … Continue reading “rEvolution wins big at the Telly Awards, again”
Feature-length thriller, “Hunting God,” recently wrapped production in Savanna, Il, located just two and a half hours west of Chicago (Chicago — 4 May 4) Produced by JJack Productions and backed by investment group Chicago Media Angels, Hunting God follows a recent widower who, when reunited with his old church buddies to film … Continue reading “Chicago indie “Hunting God” wraps production”
Explore Media has covered a lot of terrain over the past fifteen years. Besides completing hundreds of jobs in locations throughout the United States from its original office in South Bend, the production and post company expanded to Chicago last month. Along the way, it has added a sizable number of awards to its trophy … Continue reading “Explore Media’s new frontier”
The Bobby Roberts Project is a comedy series about a quest for fame undertaken by the title character, Bobby Roberts, who happens to be the (fictitious) son of actor Eric Roberts. Bobby hopes to gain celebrity by completing a biopic about George Washington, but a lack of funding, a wealth of inexperience, a delusional ego, … Continue reading “The hilarious idiocy of “Bobby Roberts””
SCC names new CEO in reorganization Cubs’ AOR Schafer Condon Carter shuffled their leadership team into new roles effective this month. According to an agency memo from co-founder, Tim Condon, the changes are attributed to the company’s growth. “SCC has come of age. And while we’re still a feisty, scrappy group — and always will be … Continue reading “Hires and exits in Chicago agencies and posthouses”
There were many smiling faces at the 59th annual regional Emmy Awards Saturday night. Sponsored by the Chicago/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the awards show was streamed live on WGN-TV.com from the Swissotel Hotel. Both Potenza Productions and Daily Planet Productions, Ltd came away with Emmys. Potenza — which … Continue reading “Potenza and Daily Planet win Chicago Emmys”
Explore Media told a classic American tale in a fifteen-second spot that took less than a month to go viral. “The Ultimate Trade-Proof Snack” for GoGo squeeZ — featuring a cast of preteen grade-schoolers and absolutely no dialogue — has racked up 6.7 million views since debuting in mid-July. Together with the corresponding 30-second spot, … Continue reading “Explore Media-produced spot goes viral”
This is the final installment of a three-part series. To view part one, click here. For part two, here.
Leo Burnett executive producer Ron Nelken transformed advertsing concepts from Cook County Jail detainees into professional quality spec television commercials with the help of friends and associates in Chicago’s advertising and film industries.
And here I thought Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon lived in the dugout.
Apparently not!
Turns out Maddon and his wife, Jaye, live in a $500,000 Winnebago Grand Tour. During the off-season, the two pal around the country in their spectacular home away from home.
Joe Maddon’s love of RVs became popularized three years ago, when he first introduced the world to his mobile home named, “Cousin Eddie.” It’s derived from the slob Randy Quaid played in the Vacation movies.
This is the second installment of a three-part series. To view part one, click here.
Although “many moons” had passed since Leo Burnett executive producer Ron Nelken taught communication theory and broadcast production at the University of Illinois, his knack for mentorship was still strong when he volunteered to instruct an advertising class for detainees in the Cook County Jail last year.
First of a three-part series
In April, photographer Christopher Jacobs, producer Ron Nelken and editor Bob Ackerman helped to complete three commercials for the musical instrument manufacturer Latin Percussion. Although the ads are unlikely to appear on any network or website, they were celebrated by pretty much everyone who saw them.
That’s because they were created by men in the Cook County Jail.
Brittany Wagner and Kait Staley — who co-created, co-wrote and co-star in the new dark comedy webseries, Raising Adults — are not afraid to shoot scenes that feature at least one of them using the bathroom. And they’re the mature members of the cast.
“The series follows two young girls raising their crazy, disabled parents,” explains Britt. “It’s all about their struggle to get by, reluctantly taking care of the ones they love.”
On April 28, Chicago’s The Escape Pod was named creative and media agency of record for The a2 Milk Company, the number one branded milk in Australia, which is also distributed in five countries globally.
The duo aims to disrupt the U.S. dairy category with real cows’ milk that is naturally easy to digest.
The agency will be responsible for creative, media, experiential, and in-store marketing initiatives.
321 Fast Draw studio is currently working on unique animations for two high profile sporting events: A 2.5-minute segment for Fox TV’s Super Bowl’s Pre-Game Show this Sunday and a 60-second continuing segment for the NBA’s new show, “NBA Countdown,” that starts airing Feb. 12 on ESPN and ABC-TV.
Venerable sound designer Bryen Hensley joined post audio facility NoiseFloor on Monday, Jan. 16, after a dozen years as lead sound designer at Resolution Production Group.
He becomes 12-year old Noise Floor’s fourth sound designer, alongside co-owners Coken and Jamie Vanadia and Stosh Tuszynski.
The Escape Pod had points to prove about the reliable performance of client EGO Powers+ Snow Blowers. in the worst possible weather conditions and literally went to the end of the earth to do so.
Three agency creatives spent four days in the ice-covered South Pole Antarctica filming a campaign aimed at convincing consumers that EGO Snow Blower are a better alternative to gas snow blowers, anywhere in the world, without sacrificing power.
Filmmaker Justin Jackola’s JJack Productions’ recently launched “Expose the Crew” (ETC), a double-duty online platform that showcases the latest films produced by local independent filmmakers it’s also a source from which to hire experienced crews.
Each Tuesday, “Exposing the Crew” highlights an indie film project, along with one of its crewmembers.
Three NoiseFloor engineers are out scouring city neighborhoods in search of sounds “that highlight the unique sounds of Chicago,” says the recording studio’s co-founder/engineer Corey Coken.
An NDA restricts Coken from revealing project details, except to say, intriguingly, “The sounds are for what will be, let’s say, a tourist app. We’re working directly with the client and the project will be completed within a year.”
With the help of a courageous client and a knack for innovative cinematic metaphors, Digital Hydra partners Hamzah Jamjoom and Patrick Wimp recently gave the Arabic world a TV show like it’s never seen before.
The doc, “Jens Jensen the Living Green,” the story of the pioneering conservationist who created many neighborhood Chicago parks, gets a rare simulcast June 19. WTTW/11 will air it, while an audience watches it at Millennium Park, both starting at 8 p.m.
Filmmaker Martin Rodahl of 71 Degrees North aced a double eagle with his first long-form project: an original mini-series for The Golf Channel, about three friends who drive the ashes of their late friend to the Arctic Circle for golf at midnight the summer solstice.
After nearly two years in the works, half-hour episodes of “The Longest Drive” air Tuesdays at 9:30 CT on The Golf Channel, through Nov. 20, with encores throughout the week.
For the 11th consecutive year, Cory Coken of Noise Floor is the location audio mixer for Drum Corps International (DCI) competitions that began June 20 with the tour kickoff in Austin, Texas, and will end August 11-13 with the World Championships in Indianapolis.
Noise Floor is contracted by video production company Tom Blair, Inc. of Lake Zurich, whose big, 16-camera mobile production truck both tapes the colorful competitions and broadcasts them live.
A few months ago a rejuvenated Chicago Chapter of the International Game Developers Association kicked off its reboot with a party for its some 70 company members, and has been holding periodic meetings since.
Thursday’s meeting at NoiseFloor’s new River North audio studio is sure to attract a large crowd since the speaker is Josh Tsui, president of Rodomodo, Chicago’s biggest game studio and the makers of Mortal Kombat, Fight Night Round 3 and the Tony Hawk skateboarder franchise.
DIRECTOR MICHAEL MANN (“Public Enemies”) signed screenwriter Sheldon Turner (“Up in the Air”) to script his next big project, “Big Tuna” ? a movie about Chicago Outfit boss Tony Accardo, aka “Big Tuna” and his relationship with his mobster prot?g? Sam Giancana.
The movie could be filmed here, given Chicago native Mann’s penchant for realism — remember how he had Lincoln Ave. repaved with cobblestones for the scene in “Public Enemies” outside the Biograph Theatre? Accardo had a big house in River Forest and Giancana lived in Oak Park.
“BUTTERBEAN,” AN INSPIRATIONAL/SPORTS MOVIE about the 1970s Chicago Bulls star, Bob Love, is getting underway as a $15 million feature that will be filmed in Chicago in 2011. The movie has the endorsement of the NBA and the support of the Bulls organization.
The story is about Love’s plunge from the glittering heights of the sports arena to washing dishes and living in a homeless shelter and how he overcame a debilitating handicap and came back stronger as an inspiring role model.
After two years at ARU, audio engineer Cory Coken left to join another audio house ? NoiseFloor, the audio post house he founded with designer/mixer Jamie Vanadia in October, 2008.
Coken officially sheds his silent partner status Nov. 1 when NoiseFloor opens in a new 4,000-sq. ft. studio in River North, where, he says, “We want to do something new, unique and vital.”
COLONIE, A NEW EDITING BOUTIQUE, has been formed by four former Avenue Edit veterans: Producer Mary Rieger and editors Brian Stepanic, Bob Ackerman and Joe Clear, all highly favorites for big national spots.
It’s located in what had been Outsider’s original space at 610 N. Fairbanks.
Other former long-time Avenue staffers opened their own companies this year.
