EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CARRIE HOLECEK left Bridges Media and crossed over to Larry Bridges’ Red Car post facility to become its newly appointed managing director.
Red Car’s executive producer Jon Desir, who also carried the managing director title, will continue to handle EP duties. Desir says the team approach he and Holecek will employ is a new one for the company.
Holecek had been with Bridges Media’s new digital video division, The Cavalry, for six months. Previously she spent four years as The Whitehouse’s EP and before that worked in features in Hollywood for several years.
Her goal, she says, is to cast a wider net, help move Red Car Chicago to the forefront of post picks, and bring relationships and new opportunities to the table.
“It’s a great time head for Red Car,” says Red Car’s veteran editor Bob Carr. Carrie and Jon are top notch, and the great talent we have is only going to get better.”
Red Car employs 12 and counts among its clients McDonald’s, Chrysler, Coors, American Family Insurance and Georgia Lottery.
ON CITY LOCATIONS: MTV/Viacom’s scripted TV series “Underemployed” got underway Monday and will shoot here through August 10 on city locations. The production is headquartered at Cinespace; Rich Lederer is the UPM, Wileen Dragavon the line producer.
Feature director John Singleton (“Hustle & Flow”) is here through Wednesday helming a Jeep commercial for Urban World of L.A.
OSCAR WINNING DIRECTOR ALEXANDER PAYNE (“The Descendants”)will be Chicago June 23 to appear at two back-to-back benefits. He will be the special guest at the National Hellenic Museum at a special fundraiser to support the second season of the Greek Film Fest Chicago!
Payne’s appearance and the benefit were arranged by Zoe Borys, Fletcher Cameras’ general manager, who is president of the festival board.
After his 1 to 5 p.m. Hellenic Museum appearance, Payne heads directly over to the Gene Siskel Center fundraiser, honoring Reese Witherspoon, at the Ritz-Carlton. Borys adds that the Greek film fest will also have screenings at the Siskel Center in addition to its home base at the Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge.
MAIN EVENTS. McGarryBowen presents the campaign strategy behind their Kraft Miracle Whip campaign at Illumedia’s luncheon meeting at the UBS Towers, 1 N. Wacker, starting a 11:30 a.m.
The campaign was launched across multimedia platforms and ageny panelists GCD Michael Straznickas, producer Katie Juras, account director Lindsey Clark and planning director Priya Sanvordeker, will tell how they took the brand through these platforms and their perspectives on the outcome.
On May 12, the newly united One Union, SAG AFTRA, offers members an essential seminar, “Seize the Day and Market Yourself,” with SAG AFTRA member speakers Tony Castillo, Craig J. Harris, Cedric Young and Joe Wright. The Saturday event runs from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Kauffher Center at 1 E. Erie.
Women in Film holds its Members Only Annual Meeting to elect new board members, May 22 at Rock Bottom Brewery starting at 6 p.m.
A FIRST! The University Film & Video Association will have its first Chicago conference ever at Columbia College, Aug. 6-12. Which makes a lot of sense since Columbia is the U.S.’ largest film school. “Imagination in the 21st Century Technology” is the conference theme.
The keynote speaker is best-selling author and entrepreneur Peter Sims. His new book is “Little Bets: How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small Discoveries,” which is what his speech will explore.
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