, Author at Reel Chicago News

New Edit Diva owners Hilt, Szatos aim to be next big post house in town

By Ed M. Koziarski Mar 29, 2004

Two local freelance editors who opened their own full-service post house last month are already seeing client demand rising to fill the capacity of their single Avid Adrenaline ...

Duo’s decision to focus on screenplays pays off with $11,000 top prize

Mar 29, 2004

The husband-and-wife team of Beth and Gary Hoover have forsaken all others, so to speak, to concentrate on a screenwriting career in Chicago. Their focus and determination ...

Settlement made with talent agency over non-payment of fees to actors

Mar 29, 2004

A law suit started by an actress, who had not been paid a $700 fee for four months and brought against Park Ridge talent agency McBlaine & Associates, was settled after five mon...

Rising local director’s

By Ed M. Koziarski Mar 29, 2004

Juan Frausto finally has his foot in the Hollywood door. His third film, "Once Upon a Time in the Hood," plays in the 20th Annual Chicago Latino International Film Festival. T...

A LOTTA LAFFS

Mar 19, 2004

Actress Ellie Weingardt attended the recent HBO Comedy Film Fest in Aspen where the locally-produced comedy feature, "Bad Meat," has its world premiere. Weingardt (above with w...

CAF recognizes DDB’s Bob Scarpelli for 27 years of community dedication

Mar 19, 2004

The Chicago Advertising Federation will bestow its prestigious Silver Medal Award upon Bob Scarpelli for his 27 years of dedication to the Chicago advertising community. Sc...

Braincase a new boutique music shop

Mar 19, 2004

Feeling the time was right to strike out on his own, composer/producer Brian Crane has opened Braincase, a music and sound design shop at 225 W. Huron. Crane said in equipp...

REELSCREEN: News & Notes – 03/19/04

Mar 19, 2004

A RAD APPROACH I-Cubed's Arturo edited five spots for Alberto VO-5 through its new agency, Element 79, of which he created three "more radical ?pushed' versions," he said. Denn...

Up and Down the Avenue – 03/19/04

Mar 19, 2004

John Zwierzko, a.k.a. Johnny Z returned to JWT as a producer, engineer and sound designer. A 22-year agency veteran, he nonetheless was canned during a wave of firings 17 mont...

Ch. 11 hires a licensing pro for new stock footage licensing department

Mar 19, 2004

Recognizing the revenue potential from licensing content assets from its immense 50-year old library, Ch. 11 hired licensing expert Barry O'Connell and formed a new department e...

“Windy Field” baseball sitcom pilot aims to be DVD-distributed series

Mar 19, 2004

The character-driven story is about nine Little League misfits who are reunited by the death of their former coach. The coach leaves his beloved Windy Field baseball stadium lo...

Annoyance signs long-term lease on new Uptown space; moves in late May

Mar 19, 2004

After searching for a new theatre for their improv shows and classrooms for almost four years, Annoyance Production founders Mick Napier and Jennifer Estlin leased "ideal theatr...

Rapper-actor DMX options first-time director’s short film for feature

Mar 19, 2004

A chance meeting on an L.A. street between rapper DMX and novice filmmaker Raymond Thomas led to DMX' company optioning Thomas' first short film to developing it into a feature....

Case of beer for a year the prize in unique Pabst commercial contest

Mar 19, 2004

Want to win $100 and a case of beer every week for a year? That prize is yours if your commercial for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer is picked by the Pabst people to run in a DVD of in...

Foodie filmmakers find adventure shooting TV pilot in remote Mexico

Mar 19, 2004

Filmmaker Misty Tosh and her friends are adventurous souls who also love to eat out in offbeat restaurants and cafes they find in unspoiled locales. They combined their s...

Hugos feature DDB, Burnett winners, lifetime career awards to Pytka, Marin

Mar 15, 2004

Joe Pytka departed from his signature grunge look to deck himself out in a tux, his long blondish-gray flowing around his shoulders, to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award from ...

Up and Down the Avenue – 03/10/04

Mar 10, 2004

FLYING HIGH. IFO director Brenda Sexton returns from her sixth L.A. trip in 11 months reporting tremendous interest" in the wage tax credit bill from meetings set up by MPAA lob...

“13” and director Catherine Hardwicke WIDC 23rd festival opener March 13

Mar 10, 2004

Women in the Director's Chair opens its 23rd annual film festival on March 13 with a reception honoring director Catherine Hardwicke and a screening of her acclaimed indie featu...

Joe Mantegna narrates Ron Santo doc premiering at JDRF benefit March 24

Mar 10, 2004

When Jeff Santo's 86-minute documentary about his father Ron Santo ended during a sneak preview at a Cubs convention at the Hilton in January, the SRO crowd of more than 1,000 g...

Caped protector “Batman” flies into city with famous friends this summer

Mar 10, 2004

The city will be replete with A-list actors when the fifth in the "Batman" series films in Chicago starting in late July and running through August. "Batman Begins" is direc...