, Author at Reel Chicago News

Jim Olen named Protokulture’s VP/managing director

By Ruth L Ratny Jul 19, 2011

After Jim Olen shuttered Rhythm Café last October, after 14 years as a commercial music house, he became a consultant with post and production companies “who were looki...

Lewis Lazare

Little Escape Pod pulled off big Cannes triumph

By Lewis Lazare Jul 14, 2011

The 2011 Cannes Lions International Festival of — ah — Creativity ended a couple of weeks ago. But the world’s most prestigious and most closely-watched annual ad co...

Indie Focus

Sci-fi ‘Breathers’ short a Pipeline contest finalist

By Ruth L Ratny Jul 13, 2011

FILMMAKER ADRIANNA MCKINLEY’S character-driven sci-fi short drama, Breathers, based on the Breathers comic book by Justin Madson, is in postproduction being readied for two lo...

Mayor to address adbiz at July 26 CAF luncheon

By Ruth L Ratny Jul 13, 2011

Mayor Rahm Emanuel will meet the advertising community for the first time on July 26, when he tells how the ad industry will benefit from the city’s new long-term business ini...

Lewis Lazare

Huge S.C. Johnson account move expected this week

By Lewis Lazare Jul 12, 2011

We’re tempted to tag it the agency review of the century, if only because we heard truly hysterical, seemingly brain-dead TV talking heads repeatedly refer to the now in...

‘Harry Potter’ eagerly awaited by Michigan 3D artists

By Ruth L Ratny Jul 11, 2011

Up in Traverse City, Michigan, no one is more excited about next Friday’s release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 than a group of 3D visual effects artists the...

Lewis Lazare

Uni-ball is Fred Savage’s spot directorial debut

By Lewis Lazare Jul 7, 2011

IT'S A FIRST. Chicago-born actor, director and producer Fred Savage has just directed his first series of TV commercials — made by Tris3ct/Chicago for the Uni-ball line ...

Noise Floor mixes Drum Corps world competition sound

By Sarah Louise Klose Jul 7, 2011

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 ...

Indie Focus

Comedy feature ‘Sister Mary’ premieres in St. Charles

By Ruth L Ratny Jul 6, 2011

FILMMAKER JAMES VALLO’S COMEDY, Sister Mary, has its world premiere Saturday, July 16 at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., in St. Charles, followed by a party a...

Lewis Lazare

No surprise: Ch. 7 still leads late news ratings race

By Lewis Lazare Jun 30, 2011

THE COMPLETE JUNE NIELSEN TV ratings book is out today. But with one day remaining in the book, top-ranked ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 sat comfortably atop the pack in the hotly-con...

Lewis Lazare

State auditor questions Lottery agency selection

By Lewis Lazare Jun 30, 2011

IT AIN’T OVER ‘til it’s over. Close followers of our extensive reporting last summer and fall on the protracted process to select the first ever private manager for ...

‘Next Top Model’ auditions Saturday in Ottawa, Il.

By Sarah Louise Klose Jun 17, 2011

Aspiring models get a chance to compete on America’s Next Top Model, when the popular cable show holds its only Chicago-area audition this Saturday, June 18, in Ottawa, 90 mil...

Lewis Lazare

At 10th year mark, Williams tells what’s ahead for Element 79

By Lewis Lazare Jun 16, 2011

CALL IT AN EARLY BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUT. In September, ad agency Element 79/Chicago will celebrate its 10th year in business. We wanted to know from Element 79 leader Br...

PSAs on value of Michigan incentives now airing

By Ruth L Ratny Jun 16, 2011

Two months after it was completed, a PSA promoting the economic reasons why Michigan’s film incentives should be continued is now airing on TV stations and theatre screens.The...

Ewww! A line around the block to see Paris Hilton

By Ruth L Ratny Jun 16, 2011

FORGET IMPORTANT SPEAKERS and breakthrough cable technology at The Cable Show Wednesday at McCormick Place. The exhibition floor, filled with about 500 booths, was jammed ...

June 18 first Superman movie extras casting call

By Ruth L Ratny Jun 15, 2011

An extras casting call, starting Saturday, June 18, is out loud and clear for Warner Bros. new Superman movie, Man of Steel, that starts shooting in the western suburbs and Chic...

Rob Lowe to portray Drew Peterson in Lifetime movie

By Mike Morgan Jun 15, 2011

It was just a matter of time before Hollywood latched into the story of Drew Peterson. A Lifetime movie is swinging into production about the former Bolingbroke cop, who h...

Fletcher reps new FotoKem’s workflow system here

By Mike Morgan Jun 14, 2011

Chalk up another innovative addition to Fletcher Camera & Lenses services. The high-end equipment house is now renting and managing the deployment of Burbank-based FotoKem�...

Lewis Lazare

Who will win S.C. Johnson’s $1 billion ad business?

By Lewis Lazare Jun 14, 2011

THE DAY OF RECKONING DRAWS NEAR. We refer, of course, to the decision regarding the fate of S.C. Johnson’s billion-dollar advertising account. Final pitches are done, an...

Lewis Lazare

Only Chi agency on Burnett’s Cannes list is Burnett

By Lewis Lazare Jun 9, 2011

THE 2011 CANNES LIONS INTERNATIONAL ad festival fast approaches. And as it has for many years, Chicago ad shop Leo Burnett has compiled its list of the top 40 spots and ot...