Barbara Roche, Author at Reel Chicago News

Indie Focus

Party launches Evanston’s Talking Pictures Fest

By Ed M. Koziarski Feb 23, 2012

A PRE-FEST PARTY Feb. 23 launches Percolator Films’ 4th annual Talking Pictures Festival from 7-10 p.m. at the Hilton Orrington Hotel’s Indigo Lounge, 1710 Orrington Avenue ...

No other way to say it: Leo Burnett stole the Addys

By Ruth L Ratny Feb 23, 2012

Leo Burnett’s Addy Award wins were outright embarrassing in the number of Best, Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes the agency collected in the recent Chicago Addys competition –...

Energy BBDO adds top European SVP/creative directors

By Ruth L Ratny Feb 22, 2012

AN INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR is spicing up our ad scene with Energy BBDO’s addition of SVP/creative directors Giovanni Settesoldi and Luissandro Del Gobbo, art director and copywri...

‘A holiday movie gays can call their own’ films in May

By Ed M. Koziarski Feb 21, 2012

There was something Windy City Times’ film critic Richard Knight, Jr. had never seen before in Thomas Bezucha’s 2005 holiday comedy The Family Stone. “This was the f...

Lewis Lazare

New CD Javier Osorio puts Tris3ct on growth trajectory

By Lewis Lazare Feb 21, 2012

Tris3ct/Chicago is moving to establish a strong focus on the Hispanic market, even as it strengthens its creative bench. The shop has begun to do that with the hiring of Javier ...

Johnson marks Optimus director debut with Ford spots

By Mike Morgan Feb 21, 2012

For a package of three spots shot in Austin, Texas to celebrate Ford Truck Month in February, the production team at One at Optimus tapped its newest director, a world class DP ...

Seminar on feature films at Cinespace Feb. 25-26

By Ruth L Ratny Feb 19, 2012

Regina Taylor, the acclaimed actress/director/writer of films and stage, will be part of the Feature Film Seminar extravaganza that veteran filmmaker Nate Grant of Lake Shore Fi...

Lewis Lazare

Chicago’s NBC ‘Smash’ ratings okay but not great

By Lewis Lazare Feb 17, 2012

Is “Smash” a smash hit? We know you’ve been wondering about that in the wake of the show’s debut and all the attendant hype. Executive produced by movie legend Ste...

Curtain Calls

Steppenwolf buys building next door for $6.4 million

By Kerry Reid Feb 17, 2012

STEPPENWOLF THEATRE is physically expanding with the acquisition of the Ethan Allen furniture store next door to their current building on Halsted St. for $6.4 million, as repor...

Prestin, Menet’s John Wayne Gacy doc based on new book

By Ed M. Koziarski Feb 17, 2012

Marc Menet’s father was friends with Gregory Godzik at Taft High School in Norwood Park before Godzik disappeared in 1976. Godzik’s body was found two years later amon...

Lewis Lazare

DP/C bows out of Walgreens review; bigger shop sought

By Lewis Lazare Feb 16, 2012

Downtown Partners/Chicago is out. Sources report the powers-that-be at Downtown Partners/Chicago have changed course and decided not to participate in the agency review d...

June Finfer directs doc about Cook County hospital

By Ed M. Koziarski Feb 16, 2012

Award-winning playwright and filmmaker June Finfer, acclaimed for her documentaries on Chicago subjects, is writing and will direct a feature length documentary about Cook Count...

Digital boutique Layer One Media enters local market

By Ruth L Ratny Feb 16, 2012

When the owner of a growing Milwaukee digital boutique felt it was time to expand into a big market, he moved his residence to Chicago and spent the next three years digging int...

Raleigh Studios/Pontiac defaults on $630,000 payment

By Mike Morgan Feb 16, 2012

Raleigh Studios/Pontiac failed to make a $630,000 payment due Feb. 1 to its out-of-state bondholders – but Raleigh does expect to make its coming August bond payment, with the...

Sony TV to shoot an untitled medical drama pilot here

By Ruth L Ratny Feb 14, 2012

A CHICAGO-SET PILOT is set to actually shoot here, although the shooting date is unknown at this time. Michael Dinner is the executive producer and director of the current...

Lewis Lazare

Lyric goes full-throttle on “Show Boat” ad campaign

By Lewis Lazare Feb 14, 2012

“Show Boat” has docked at Lyric Opera of Chicago. This vintage piece of American musical theater now upon the vast and wickedly demanding stage at Lyric Opera rep...

25th Windy City West Party to honor Cubs Tom Ricketts

By Ruth L Ratny Feb 14, 2012

A special treat – besides the camaraderie and good food – will be in store for the 400 invitation-only guests expected to attend the 25th annual Windy City West Party in Los...

Roscor’s last chapter: reported bankruptcy filing

By Ruth L Ratny Feb 13, 2012

Apparently it’s now official. And not unexpected. With remaining employees having received 60-90 day termination notices, it looks like the 35-year old Roscor Corp. is closing...

Curtain Calls

Musical producer returns to Broadway with new show

By Kerry Reid Feb 10, 2012

DAVID GARFINKLE’S FIRST BROADWAY outing provided thrills, chills, and some unfortunate spills. But the Highland Park entertainment lawyer who was the original lead producer on...

Indie Focus

Videographer produced inspirational doc about fighter

By Ed M. Koziarski Feb 9, 2012

A FORMER GOLDEN GLOVES middleweight boxing champion is the subject of “Fearless Fernando Hernandez: A Fighter’s Journey,” a 30-minute tragedy-to-triumph documentary made i...