THE CHICAGO SCREENWRITERS NETWORK is taking comedy seriously by offering its first comedy writing seminar with Gabe Abelson, who’s helped get laughs for such headliners as David Letterman, Jay Leno, Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfield, Adam Sandler and Eddie Murphy, to name a few.
The five-time Emmy winner shares his depth of writing experience Oct. 24-25 at Loyola University’s Lake Shore Campus. Advance registration is $275; CSN members pay $233.75. The fee is $375 at the door, pending available space. Tickets are on sale here.
“THE COCKUPS” MOCKUMENTARY from Mobilewave Films and captured primarily on iPads and iPhones to emphasize the DIY aesthetics of an indie rock band, will screen Oct. 25 as the Brew and View program at the Vic Theatre.
Written and directed by Gerard Jamroz, also the lead actor who co-stars with Marla Seidell, Robert Tobin, Leticha Guillad and RJ Coleman. The story is about a washed up alt-rock band that comes together to make a music video to wash away the past.
It filmed mainly in Ravenswood from late 2013 through spring of 2015, premiering at the Century Cinema theatre in July where tickets sold out in 12 hours.
At 3145 N. Sheffield, 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 and attendees are urged to wear costumes, especially ‘90s garb.
PRIDE FILMS AND PLAYS announce five finalists for its Great Gay Screenplay Contest for scripts with LGBT characters and themes.
The finalists are: “Drowning City” by Chuck Griffith; “Finndale” by Lloyd Ohls; “The Gay Shoe Clerks” by Brad Cryan; “A Place in the Woods” by Erik Gernard and “Somebody to Love” by Jay Cipriani.
The finalists’ screenplays will be performed as enhanced staged readings Nov. 13-15, during Gay Film Weekend at Center on Halsted’s Hoover-Leppen Theatre. Staged reading tickets are pay-what-you-can. Discussions with the writers, directors and actors follow.
Gay Film Weekend kicks off Nov. 9 with Queer Bits Fall Film Festival at Public House Theater.
“GAYBORHOOD” THE WEB SERIES, the multi-award-winning, unscripted mock-reality series exploring GLBT life in Boystown, just posted its eighth episode on YouTube.
New 10-minute episodes are posted bi-weekly.
“Gayborhood” was conceived, directed and produced by freelance producer Colby Holt and Sam Probst, a video editor at Harpo Studios. The story follows a group of young gay men, and one gal pal, as they find their way through mishaps, adventures and glamour in Boystown. Consulting producer Sam Denbecki, is a two time Emmy winner.
This is the place for indie project news. Send to ruth@reelchicago.com. Event listings, too.
