| 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
3+ The U.S. Postal service has gotten a lot of shit over the last few months from Planet Trump. The President criticized plans to fund the USPS in preparation for mail-in voting and said “if we don’t make a deal, that means they don’t get the money… That means they can’t have universal mail-in voting.” … Continue reading “Ogilvy, Optimus want us to “Stand By Our Mail””
4+ They are Optimus. Whether it’s creating and delivering top-notch, award-winning content or throwing their legendary block party, which was talked about for an entire year… until the next, this diverse collective of award-winning editors, filmmakers, storytellers, and artists share an unrivaled passion for life. And more importantly, each other. You can feel it the … Continue reading “Behind the scenes of “We Are Optimus””
5+ Editor’s Note: They are leaders. They are inspirational. They are mentors. They are visionaries. They are, quite frankly, badasses. They are our 2020 Reel Women During Women’s History Month, you will be able to meet these incredible personalities in Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production. Get ready. Emily joined Optimus in 2018 from Beast where … Continue reading “REEL WOMEN: Emily Hayes, Editor at Optimus”
1+ Leading production and post house Optimus today announced that it has promoted both Emily Hayes and Ben Winter to Editor. The two have proven themselves with their unique creative voices and stellar work. Hayes has cut spots for brands including Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Campbell’s, Securian and Whirlpool. Winter has worked … Continue reading “Optimus promotes Emily Hayes, Ben Winter to editor”
0 Leading production and post house Optimus today announced that it has added Editor David Cea to their roster. With 15 years of experience in New York and Chicago, David Cea has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry and he brings to Optimus an impressive portfolio, featuring many award-winning spots. … Continue reading “Optimus hires award-winning editor David Cea”
5+ Dynamic production and creative partnership promises to deliver robust directorial and creative capabilities (Chicago — 16 October 2018) Leading production and post house Optimus today announced that it has partnered with Los Angeles-based integrated production company Pet Gorilla. Created in 2014 by Director Luc Schurgers and EP Dominic Bernacchi, Pet Gorilla features a dynamic … Continue reading “Optimus joins forces with Pet Gorilla”
2+ The pair of lensmasters brings cinematography, tabletop and stop motion expertise to the production company’s growing roster (Chicago — 26 September 2018) One at Optimus, the production arm of leading production and post house Optimus, today announced that Jamieson Mulholland and Jay Patton have signed with ONE as directors. “We’re thrilled to welcome Jamieson … Continue reading “One at Optimus signs directors Mulholland, Patton”
3+ Galati’s arrival marks the latest in a series of new moves at Chicago-based production, post, and design company, Optimus (Chicago — 31 July 2018) Optimus today announced that Paul Galati is joining the leading production and post house as colorist. With the move, Optimus will once again be offering in-house color correction. “We’ve seen … Continue reading “Optimus welcomes colorist Paul Galati”
3+ Can gardening grow a more compassionate generation? That’s the question that SC Johnson’s Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, a home cleaning and personal brand inspired by gardening, along with agency Ogilvy Chicago and production company Optimus ask us in this installment of Reel Ad of the Week. The answer is a hopeful yes. According … Continue reading “Ogilvy, Optimus, Mrs. Meyer’s show us flower power”
7+ Rachelle Madden, VP, Post Production and Digital Production Affairs for AICP, has announced the Shortlist for this year’s AICE Awards for post production excellence. “Our 2018 Shortlist is the result of hours of work by our judges,” says Madden. “We want to thank them all for their contributions and also salute all the editors … Continue reading “Cutters, Mill, Optimus, Utopic among AICE Shortlisters”
6+ Led by Editor Angelo Valencia, Optimus roster expands by five (Chicago — 2 April 2018) Optimus announced today that they are welcoming aboard Editor/Partner Angelo Valencia, Editor Matt Glover, VFX Supervisor Ryan Wood, Senior Producer Joanna Woods and Assistant Editor Emily Hayes to join the leading production and post house. This team most … Continue reading “Optimus bolsters capabilities with new creative team”
10+ One at Optimus, the production arm of the post house Optimus, announced earlier this month that Mary Ann Holecek has taken the reins as Executive Producer/Managing Director. For the past eight years, Holecek has freelanced at a variety of Chicago agencies including Energy BBDO, FCB, Rhea and Kaiser, SPM Marketing, The Escape Pod, Upshot … Continue reading “The Reel Deal with Optimus’ Mary Ann Holecek”
9+ Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy first came out with the shirt that said, “The Force is Female” last year, thrusting her into the SJW (Social Justice Warrior) spotlight. Now, Nike Chicago is supporting her and other women with a series of inspiring vignettes specifically created for Nike Chicago’s Instagram account by Director/DP Hannah Welever and … Continue reading “Optimus editor Rynne helps create a Nike female force”
5+ Rory Mcllroy and Phil Mickelson would be proud. Two of Chicago’s most renowned Post-Production facilities, Earhole Music & Sound and Optimus, joined forces last weekend to launch “The Creative Cup”, an all- day golf extravaganza that pits the Chicago Advertising Creative Community against one another in pursuit of glory. Taking place at Hawk’s View … Continue reading “Earhole and Optimus’ “Creative Cup” Golf Outing”
Production and post house Optimus announced the promotions of Mark Butchko to Creative Director and Jim Moss to Effects Artist.
In their new roles, Butchko will provide creative leadership on all design department projects and Moss will continue to support cross-departmental projects including design, VFX, motion graphics and finishing.
There’s a scene in Dirty Harry where Clint Eastwood berates his partner for doing the sin of sins — putting ketchup on his hotdog.
“Nobody puts ketchup on a hotdog,” is a truism shared by every true hotdog-eating, Cubs and Whitesox loving/hating Chicagoan.
But what about “Dog Sauce?”
Just in time for #NationalHotDogDay, Heinz has unveiled a Dog Sauce exclusively for Chicagoans.
Ingredients of the Dog Sauce include red ripe tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt, and a blend of spices and flavorings.
Yeah… Ketchup. Suckas.
Chicago production and post house Optimus dialed up its sonic capabilities by promoting Marina Bacci to Senior Audio Engineer and Ben Treimer to Audio Engineer last week.
Highland Park native Marina joined Optimus as an intern shortly after graduating from DePaul University with a BS in Sound Recording Technology in 2008. Within nine years, her responsibilities had grown to include running the main audio studio and overseeing the audio department.
Last fall, Optimus directing duo Mark Pallman and Amanda Speva spent nearly two weeks filming throughout the Land of Lincoln for the Illinois Office of Tourism campaign Are You Up For Amazing?
Inspired to shoot “all that makes the state so special” — a concept presented by JWT Chicago’s Mike Beamer and Carolyn James in what Amanda describes as “a beautiful vision” — the directors relied on a documentary technique to capture unscripted spontaneity.
It may seem odd that an accomplished indie film director like Sam Macon would enjoy taking orders from commercial clients, but that’s part of the reason he signed on with ONE at Optimus.
“With commercials, there is a limit to how much creative there is in a job,” he explains. “They are concepted from on high and my job is to execute the vision. There’s a lot of satisfaction in that. You’re freed up a little bit to explore when you’re executing someone else’s idea.”
