“Doubting Riley” panel one of 25
ShowBiz Expo keynote speakers

The “Doubting Riley” production team is the latest keynote panel in ShowBiz Expo’s stellar line-up of experts to tell you anything and everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the film business under one colossal roof.

In fact, the Nov. 6-9 ShowBiz Expo & Entertainment Technology Show at the 60,000-sq. ft. Rosemont convention center features 25 keynote speakers, 30 all-day technical classes and more than 100 top technology/equipment companies.

According to Rick Friedman, president of ShowBiz Expo parent, Mindshare Ventures, out of 55 total speakers, 35 will be coming from Los Angeles and New York.

Some 5,000 attendees are expected from throughout the Midwest for ShowBiz Expo’s first-ever Chicago show in its 20 year history.

Friedman, who with partner Guy Epstein, bought ShowBiz Expo last March, said people in the Midwest don’t necessarily want to fly to the coasts or go to NAB for information. “Our goal is to provide the most powerful educational event ever staged in the Midwest,” he said.

ShowBiz Expo under the new management was held earlier this year in L.A. and New York and reached more than 20,000 visitors.

The Saturday, Nov. 8 “Doubting Riley” panel, titled “The Boys of Summer are Back,” features writer/director/actor Pete Jones, producer Pat Peach, co-producer Judd Nissen, first AD Bruce Terris and cinematographer Pete Biagi.

They worked together on the high-profile Project Greenlight-“Stolen Summer” last year and the just-wrapped low-budget indie film, “Doubting Riley.” They will discuss the differences filming the two features.

“Doubting Riley” is a comedy about a gay man whose Irish Catholic brothers don’t believe him when he comes out. Jones’ family financed the $700,000 budget with the help of a Lights, Camera, Illinois low-interest loan.

Prolific writer/producer/director Gary Sherman (“Poltergeist III,” “Wanted: Dead or Alive” and other scary movies), now living in Chicago, also on Nov. 8 explains how he successfully uses CGI, VFX and HD in a creative manner to enhance or create a story. Among the keynoters: Famous screenwriter author/guru Syd Fields; distribution expert John Manulis of Visionbox Media Group; “The Sopranos” editor Conrad Gonzalez; legendary documentarian Albert Maysles; cinematographer Robert Primes, ASC, ideaman Bob Gosberg on what producers want, and reality producer (“Blind Date”) Joel Raatz.

On the technology/equipment side, exhibitors will cover all aspects of visual media, from scriptwriting through postproduction. Locally, Roscor will exhibit 10-15 product lines. Two Canadian companies, Matrox from Montreal and Leitch/DPS editing solutions from Toronto, are also part of the mix.

For meeting and registration information, see www.showbizexpo.com.