ELLEN DeGENERES will tape her popular daytime show here May 3, although the taping venue hasn’t been announced. Since her show airs on NBC, taping at Ch. 5’s big studio seems a natural. DeGeneres declares her Chicago show will be “big, big, big, huge It’s extra-large. It’s super-sized.”
While in Chicago, DeGeneres will headline the nearly- sold out annual black-tie Make-A-Wish Ball at Lincoln Park Zoo. Tickets are $500 each.
SCREENWRITER/DIRECTOR ZACH HELM (“Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,” “Stranger than Fiction”), is the featured speaker on an April 23 panel discussing the recent writers’ strike at DePaul’s College of Law, 23 E. Jackson at 11:50 a.m., free admission.
Never idle, the DPU Theatre School grad is developing a new theatre company in L.A., and working on a new play, film and novel.
BRYAN CARROLL, chief technical advisor for director Michael Mann nowin Chicago lending his digital magic to “Public Enemies, is the keynote speaker at the June 4-5 HD EXPO at Navy Pier.
Don’t miss his talk about acquisition, post and the creative application of technology on “Public Enemies” and the many other projects on which he has worked.
JEFF GORDON, founder of the Writers Boot Camp, speaks at Final Draft and ScriptShark’s May 3 seminar, “The Business of Writing,” with ScriptShark founder Lee Zahavi, an L.A. film development and production veteran.
Date is Saturday, May 3 at a place TBA. Zahavi will to the Chicago Screenwriters Network the following day, Sunday, at the Lincoln Restaurant. See their ReelChicago ad for details.
NEW YORK STATE TRIPLES its tax credit for film and TV productions as a way of regaining an edge over its credit-happy neighbors Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
The state legislature approved extending the program to 2013 and takes the total credit to 30% of all below-the-line costs from 10%.
New York City also offers a 5% credit, so city shoots can reap a total of 35%. The credit will be granted in one lump sum rather than the current method of spreading it across two years of tax returns.
THE REELCHICAGO SCRIPT CONTEST & CONFERENCE will launch this summer as a national competition with big cash prizes, production deals and other good stuff. The 20-year old Chicago/Illinois Screenwriting Contest was recently retired, due to lack of time and resources.
The CFO’s Debbie Beck and the IFO’s Todd Lizak earned plaudits for the many dedicated years during which they helmed the contest in their respective offices.
As the ReelChicago contest is a collaborative affair, your input and/or personal involvement is welcomed. Email to Ruth@ReelChicago.com.
