, Author at Reel Chicago News

Independent Film Production Update

By Ed M. Koziarski Jul 16, 2004

Parris Reeves' horror feature "The Evil One," financed by Florida's Maverick/Breakaway and due for video release in August from Lion's Gate, has its world premiere July 16-17 at...

Spot director’s feature-length doc on raging Downstate meth epidemic to shoot in fall

Jul 16, 2004

Researching the effects of methamphetamine abuse on central Illinois addicts for his forthcoming feature documentary, John Novotny kept encountering the same image from hi...

Lone Chicago feature out of 16 to screen at July 30-Aug. 9 Indiefest and market

By Ed M. Koziarski Jul 16, 2004

Hundreds of scripts and works in progress will be represented in the second Indiefest Film Festival and Market July 30-Aug. 9, the only film market in the Midwest. This year's ...

Ebel folks rally community to provide funds to help ailing DP Brian Clare

Jul 16, 2004

Director Bob Ebel has worked on many commercials over the years with DP Brian Clare and considers him a good friend. When Clare's health problems mounted, Ebel immediately step...

REELSCREEN: News & Notes – 07/16/04

Jul 16, 2004

VICTORY GARDENS BUYS BIOGRAPH. Victory Gardens Theatre will buy the Biograph, at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., for $2 million and spend $7-$8 million renovating it into a new 299-seat m...

ARE YOU MISSING SOMETHING?

Jul 14, 2004

The CTA Lost & Found is waiting for the owner of a Portabrace bag left on the bus July 6 to claim his property. Some nice person turned it over to the CTA and Carrie, of the Los...

Elizabeth Crowley directed

Jul 7, 2004

"Trading Spaces'" Ty Penningtonin in a Craftsman tools spot for Sears and Steve Dragin was cameraman.

DePaul starts indie film company to make movies while training students

Jul 7, 2004

DePaul University has put its resources behind "a motion picture company first and a classroom second" by launching a bona fide indie production company with the dual goal...

Zack Parker plans filming $2 million gothic thriller in Indiana in September

Jul 7, 2004

Director Zack Parker will take his mostly Chicago crew to his native Richmond, Indiana this September for five weeks to shoot his second feature, the projected $2 million ...

TeamWorks’ Ch. 11 doc recalls 25th anniversary of Dahl’s Disco Demolition

By Ed M. Koziarski Jul 7, 2004

It was 25 years ago July 12 that then-WLUP-FM DJ Steve Dahl helped seal the fate of the disco craze when he staged his notorious "Disco Demolition," exploding a crate of d...

“MADtv’s” Weir, “SCTV’s” Alexander, 26 shorts at July 23 Comedy Film Festival

By Ed M. Koziarski Jul 7, 2004

"Monsters and superheroes" are the rage at this year's Chicago Short Comedy Video and Film Festival, according to fest coordinator Willy Laszlo. "Each and every year ther...

REELSCREEN: News and Notes

Jul 7, 2004

TEST SPOT GURU and Daily Planet founder Fred Berkover continues to ply his years of expertise with a new company partnered with Swell president Mike Topel. Tentatively n...

Joe Mantegna — a seventh inning surprise

Jul 7, 2004

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-h...

With Hammer-type horror movies absent from theatres, Islas makes them himself

By Ed M. Koziarski Jul 7, 2004

Ch. 20 editor Ricardo Islas continues his string of Hammer Films-inspired low-budget horror pictures when he shoots his lesbian vampire thriller this August. "Night Fan...

Screenwriter Mark Harris’ directing debut due for November video release

By Ed M. Koziarski Jul 7, 2004

It's a big summer for Mark Harris. After writing several unproduced scripts for hire, his directing debut "Why Men Cheat" is in post-production at Day For Night Film in V...

Independent Production Roundup

By Ed M. Koziarski Jul 7, 2004

A BENEFIT FOR ANTHONY COLLAMATI'S 2004 IFP/Chicago Production Fund-winning short "The Apologies" will be held Thursday, July 8 at Trace, 3714 N. Clark, from 7 p.m. to midnig...

Ben Affleck calls: Scott Smith makes Project Greenlight’s final top three

Jun 30, 2004

What made waiting for the phone call from Project Greenlight so nerve wracking for director Scott Smith, who was waiting to hear whether he was still in the game, "was tha...

Waukegan holds July 4 filmmaking race

Jun 27, 2004

Waukegan holds its first 24h/7min Film Event over July 4th, in which 10 filmmaking teams race to complete a 7-minute film in 24 consecutive hours, starting at 9 a.m. Satur...

Breakthrough doc on reproductive rights of black women to hold June 29 benefit

By Ed M. Koziarski Jun 24, 2004

Documentarian Faith Pennick was talking with her schoolteacher friend about abortion in the context of national elections when her friend made a statement that would set P...

Reaves starts new production in September; Lion’s Gate to release his Holmes horror pic

By Ed M. Koziarski Jun 24, 2004

With his horror movie "The Evil One" due out on video from Lion's Gate in August, Parris Reaves is gearing up to return to his DIY roots for a pair of Christian films."The...