AbelCine’s Chicago Cinema Tech Expo this Saturday will be “bigger than we’ve ever done before,” says Brian Khan, the company’s Business and Community Development Specialist.
“Every year, we do a signature event,” he continues. “We did the open house two years ago, the Fall Tech Expo last year. This year, we’re going to have dozens of manufacturers, training classes and creative panels.”
“It’s going to be pretty crazy,” he adds.
The expo is a filmmakers’ dream come true: gear, demos, experts and advice, all day long.
The highlights are too numerous to mention, but here are a few:
The panel, “Creative Forces: All Stars,” will bring together a trio of DPs from some of the hottest TV shows currently produced in the city: Jayson Crothers (Chicago Fire), Rohn Schmidt (Chicago PD) and Paul Sommers (Empire). It will be hosted by Chicago Training Manager Megan Donnelly.
The “Cinematic Lensing” panel will include Panavision optic service and repair expert Al Collins, veteran camera operator / writer / producer / editor Ted Lichtenfield (Blues Brothers, Home Alone, Midnight Run), and ICG renaissance lensmaster Andrew Wehde, who recently completed DP gigs for Bo Burnham, Hasan Minhaj (Netflix), and Jerrod Charmichael (HBO). It will be hosted by National Training Manager Jeff Lee.
Community programming in AbelCine’s ballroom space will run throughout the event. The community partners helping to get it done include Free Spirit Media, IFP Chicago, Produce Iowa, Kartemquin Films, KC Film and Stage 18.
The manufacturers booths presenting and demonstrating gear include ARRI, Panasonic, Sony and many others.
When it’s not hosting Cinema Tech Expos, AbelCine regularly deals equipment to rental houses, supplies expendables to shows at Cinespace lot, customizes packages for independent filmmakers, and offers training classes in several genres.
Earlier this year, it introduced a new website offering individual and pro accounts that can track a client’s entire history with the company, including classes and other interactions.
“You can buy from anywhere,” says Khan. “What makes us different is that you can actually call us and can come in, and we’ll spend the time figuring out your needs.”
Saturday’s event, he continues, is probably “the biggest that the company has ever done in all three branches.”
Saturday Oct. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Cinespace Film Studios, 2602 W. 16th Street, 4th FlFor more information, click here.
