Colin Costello Archives · | Reel Chicago - At the intersection of Chicago Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production

In memoriam

FUNERAL UPDATE: Advertising icon Steve Brodwolf passes at 68

By Colin Costello Aug 16, 2022

The Chicago advertising community was dealt a heartbreaking blow this morning upon learning beloved advertising staple, Steve Brodwolf, had died. He was 68. The multi-talent...

TRAGEDY IN HIGHLAND PARK

Mrs. Maisel star reacts to Highland Park killings

By Colin Costello Jul 5, 2022

It was a day that started ordinarily enough for July 4. The weather was set to be in the 90s. Partly cloudy. And just like on any other Independence Day, families, and friends,...

Reel Ad of the Week

Highdive scores with NHL campaign

By Colin Costello Jun 7, 2022

According to the NHL, the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs proved historic for ESPN and Turner Sports, with ratings for TNT and TBS the highest since the advent o...

BREAKING NEWS

Kwame Amoaku steps down from Film Office

By Colin Costello May 31, 2022

This morning, Director of the Chicago Film Office, Kwame Amoaku, announced that he would be resigning from his position on Friday, June 3. He made the announcement on his Face...

Reel Ad of the Week

Native Content’s Stewart Hendler directs Highdive’s latest Jeep spot

By Colin Costello May 12, 2022

Since Jeep has been with AOR Highdive, we have gone to the edge metaphorically and creatively. However this time, the agency, teaming with director Stewart Hendler and Cutters'...

FILM

Katharin Mraz preps her next feature and launches Ladie K, LLC

By Colin Costello May 12, 2022

Katharin Mraz, a Chicago-based film director, commercial producer, actress and model, has announced the launch of a new venture: Ladie K, LLC. The new entertainment compa...

ACCOUNT WINS

OKRP becomes BKRP

By Colin Costello Apr 28, 2022

Chicago is not a McDonald's town anymore. It hasn't been for a while since the golden arches moved their main account to Wieden + Kennedy, New York. But all of that has changed...

Behind The Scenes

Erin Sarofsky takes us behind the scenes of WeCrashed’s opening titles

By Colin Costello Apr 12, 2022

The founders of coworking space WeWork, Adam Neumann and Miguel McKelvey, believed they were on the brink of making history. The company was valued at $47 billion dollars, rea...

Year in Review

The Best of Chicago Advertising in 2021

By Colin Costello Dec 29, 2021

So, here we are at the end of another year. In 2021, we experienced more freedom from the pandemic during the spring and summer as cases lowered, but here we are, back in a kin...

REEL MOVES

UPDATE: Burrell CCO Lewis Williams to join Weber Shandwick

By Colin Costello Dec 5, 2021

Yesterday, Reel Chicago broke the story that award-winning Chief Creative Officer, Lewis Williams, had resigned from Burrell Communications. He will join Weber Shandwick as EVP...

REEL PRO

Mark Gross takes the Highdive into creating spots for Super Bowl LVI

By Colin Costello Nov 30, 2021

We are now less than 100 days away from Super Bowl LVI. Seventy-five to be exact. While the first quarter of the Big Game has yet to be played, ad agencies, across the country,...

AWARDS

Lovecraft Country represents Chicago with two Emmy wins

By Colin Costello Sep 20, 2021

Last night, the 73rd Emmy Awards were held with Cedric the Entertainer hosting on CBS. While most of the big Emmy news for Chicago will be pointed (deservedly so) toward Ted L...

REEL PRO

Going South Side with Rolando Boyce of ‘The Chi’

By Colin Costello May 21, 2021

If you're a fan of Showtime's The Chi , then you are very aware of track-suit wearing, bluetooth earpiece toting, baby daddy of Emmett, Darnell. Since joining in Season 2,...

Reel Indie

Arianna Lexus’ indie feature wraps production

By Colin Costello May 14, 2021

Local Chicago actress and producer Arianna Lexus, has announced that her first produced independent feature, Hyde Out, has wrapped production. "I'm extremely excited to ann...

Reel Ad of the Week

STORY’s Ky Dickens gets flirty with sandwich making

By Colin Costello May 11, 2021

This is tasty. In a fun new spot for Land O’Frost’s Bistro Favorites and Chicago agency Merge, STORY director Ky Dickens shows that, when it comes to sandwiches, beauty is ...

PRODUCTION CENTRAL

She’s in – Katharin Mraz to direct comedy You’re OUT!

By Colin Costello Apr 12, 2021

Asian American filmmaker and Reel Chicago contributor, Katharin Mraz has been bucking the predominantly white, male cisgender industry for over two decades. In this, her ...

AWARDS

Chicago-based films fare well in Oscar noms

By Colin Costello Mar 16, 2021

Actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas and singer, songwriter and actor Nick Jonas announced the 93rd Oscars nominations today (March 15), live from London, via a global liv...

Super Bowl

Chicago agency Highdive soars again in Super Bowl

By Colin Costello Feb 10, 2021

Congratulations to Highdive for once again landing atop of USA Today's Admeter. The agency's two 60-second Super Bowl LV spots for Quicken's Rocket Mortgage were ranked number ...

REEL LEGAL

Minority New York agency sues DDB over Army account

By Colin Costello Jan 22, 2021

Minority owned New York ad agency HERO Group (aka HERO Collective) filed suit against Omnicom-owned agency DDB in Illinois Northern District Court court this week, alleging DDB...

BREAKING NEWS

Schaumberg CEO fired after storming U.S. Capitol

By Colin Costello Jan 11, 2021

On the same day the U.S. Department of Justice filed charges in federal court against the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol building last Wednesday, Bradley Rukstales, a Schaum...