STARTING FEB. 13 with State Street Productions’ “Humboldt Park,” principal photography will start in quick order on six studio and independent features.
Next up Feb. 15 is indie “Baby on Board,” starring Lara Flynn Boyle, Heather Graham and John Corbett.
“Baby on Board” producer Emilio Ferrari of Entertainment 7 says he chose Chicago as the ideal city setting for his sophisticated comedy which he describes as “an hilarious clash between the sexes.”
AFTER WRAPPING “Baby on Board,” Ferrari on May 12 will start shooting his second feature here. The drama, “For Love Alone,” which he wrote and currently is being cast, is based on a true story of a woman who set about saving the lives of animals killed by veternarians.
MICHAEL MANN’S “Public Enemies” slated March 3 start in Wisconsin and Chicago will officially inaugurate the “Third Coast” concept of seamless filming in the neighboring states.
BILLY HIGGINS is producing two back-to-back low-budget horror films for locally-based Light Tower Entertainment. The first, “Kept,” is scheduled to start shooting March 17.
NO SHOOTING DATE YET for the untitled Platinum Dunes Project, from Rogue Pictures and Platinum Dunes. Production manager Dimetra Diamantopoulos says the horror film is about a young woman ? played by Odette Yustman (“Cloverfield”) — who becomes possessed. David Goyer directs.
With five more features headed our way starting in May, the city can expect another banner production year.
SAG’S CHICAGO LOCAL will celebrate the Guild’s 75th anniversary at a gala simulataneous with locals across the country June 21. Chicago’s gala will be a lavish cocktail party at Salvage One that’s open to the entertainment industry. Actor Steve Spencer heads the local SAG gala planning committee.
A second celebration planned will be held at the Chicago History Museum with present and former Chicago actors and celebrities as guests and speakers. More details forthcoming after the Feb. 14 meeting.
OVER AT AFTRA new AFTRA national president Roberta Reardon visits Chicago Feb. 11 as special guest of AFTRA’s annual membership committee at the Kauffher Center, starting with a 5 p.m. social hour, meeting at 6.
Casting director Claire Simon will speak on casting and landing a starring role in the AFTRA TV series, “Family Practice,” which shoots in Chicago once the writers strike ends.
VOICEOVER U’S SHERRI BERGER has snagged Bill Dufris (the voice of “Bob the Builder”) and one of the country’s leading audiobook narrators to lead Chicago’s first audiobook workshop, April 25-26. Dufris will share secrets of how to break into and be successful in this growing multimillion business.
ANOTHER CAREER FACET for Emmy winning doc producer Ginny Weissman. She has opened the Chicago office of L.A.-based Martin Literary Management, heading up the agency’s Mind, Body, Spirit Division.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity and a perfect fit,” says Weissman, an author herself. “Books in that genre truly have changed my life. I’m looking forward to finding authors and projects that will make a difference for others and in the world.”
FIRST TIME NOMINEE Nicolai Fuglsig was voted the the best DGA commercial director among five heavy-hitter nominees at the Jan. 26 ceremony in L.A. Fuglsig was one of three MJZ director-nominees.
This year’s nomination marked the fifth for 2007 DGA winner MJZ’ Dante Ariola and the second for MJZ’ Fredrik Bond. Biscuit Filmworks’ Noam Murro, the 2004 winner was a nominee, as was first-timer Frank Budgen of Gorgeous Enterprises.
JOIN THE PARTY Feb. 23 for the televised Independent Spirit Awards hosted by the IFP at the Seneca Hotel. Join kindred spirits to watch the awards on flat screens, with plenty of food and drinks.
REEL/VIDEO is eager to attend your next function and capture the highlights on our new feature. Let us know when and where and we’ll be there. Email Ruth@cometlink.com or call 312/274-9980.
