JOYCE KILBURG, the Illinois Film Office’s diversity officer, was seriously injured Wednesday night when the taxi she was riding crashed into a tree. She was heading home after attending the Vince Vaughan premiere. Call the IFO, 312/814-3600 for updates.
DIRECTORS AND STARS will add more glitz and glamour to the 45th Chicago International Film Festival opening tonight through Oct. 22. Tonight, Uma Thurman (“Motherhood”) leads the parade down the red carpet.
Others expected are director John Woo scheduled for Oct. 9 in connection with his epic “Red Cliff;” Willem Dafoe scheduled for director Lars Von Trier’s “Antichrist,” Oct. 12; Martin Landau, and director Nicholas Fackler for “Lovely, Still,” and French director Patrice Chereau for “Persecution,” both Oct. 17 — with more to come.
ILLINOIS REVENUES were enriched by approximately $2.73 million from the 17 day Downstate shoot of “The Informant!” starring Matt Damon and directed by Steven Soderbergh. The comedy about a double-dealing whistleblower at agri-giant Archer Daniels Midland, filmed last May, in and around ADM’s Decatur headquarters and the Springfield areas last year.
The Illinois Film Office estimated that the Warner’s $21 million-budget feature created approximately 83 crew jobs, who received a total of $856,000 in wages. In addition, vendors and local businesses received nearly $1.4 million in sales from the movie.
SAVE THE DATE for Cutters first-ever Halloween party, “Blood Bath”, for clients Oct. 29 at its facilities. In its Santa Monica office, Cutters added award-winning editor Rick Lobo. The recipient of two AICE awards, he was most recently with Beast in L.A. A native Californian, he started his career with FilmCore, San Francisco.
CHICAGO’S VIRGINIA MADSEN teamed up with her filmmaker mom, Elaine Madsen, to produce a provocative feature-length doc, “I Know a Woman Like That,” that captured interviews with extraordinary women ages 64 to 94.
Produced by Virginia and directed by Emmy-winning Elaine, “Woman” will screen Oct. 13 at Columbia College, prior to which Brenda Sexton and Chaz Ebert will host a cocktail reception honor of the Chicago native.
OSCAR WINNER ERNEST BORGNINE, the memorable captain of “McHale’s Navy,” will be one of the extraordinary array of 26 famous movie and TV stars appearing Oct. 17-18 at the Hollywood Celebrities and Memorabilia Show at the Wyndham O’Hare hotel.
Here’s a small sample of some of the celebs expected: Larry Hagman of “Dallas” and “I Dream of Genie” fame; Jonathan Frakes of “Star Trek; Tia Careere (the voice of Nani in “Lilo & Stitch”); soap opera star Genie Francis; “Marnie” and “The Birds'” star Tippi Hendron; “MASH’S” Hot Lips, Sally Kellerman ; Val Kilmer of “Batman Forever,” and currently the voice of K.I.T.T in “Knight Rider;” Chicago native Larry Manetti of “Magnum P.I.”; Cindy Williams, the Shirley of “Laverne and Shirley,” plus Mickey Rooney and many more.
Most of the celebs will have memorabilia to sell and autobiographies they will personally autograph. Show hours Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10-4. Admission is $15; $25 for the weekend.
IN MEMORIAM: Joe Slattery, a longtime voiceover actor famous as the voice of Jewel food stores for three decades, died Oct. 2 at age 87. A Memphis native, he moved to Chicago in 1960, signing with agent Shirley Hamilton as one of her first talents.
His extensive broadcasting career included voice and on-camera work for Wrigley, Oldsmobile, Allstate, Amana, McDonald’s, Ford, Sears, and many more. He also hosted the Pillsbury Bake-Off spots at state fairs across the country.
An active SAG/AFTRA member, Mr. Slattery was national AFTRA president, 1976-79, the first non-New York or L.A. actor to hold that office.
HEADS UP FOR OUR L.A. READERS: Chicago-made indie “Hannah Free” starring Sharon Gless, opens theatrically Oct. 23 at Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills. Gless will make a special appearance at the 7:20 p.m. opening night screening.
The story is about a lifelong love affair between an independent spirit and the woman she calls home. Also stars Maureen Gallagher, Taylor Miller, Ann Hagemann, Kelli Strickland and Jacqui Jackson. Screenplay by Claudia Allen based on her acclaimed play. Wendy Jo Carlton directed.
A REEL MILESTONE: Our content meter registered 2,275 stories written and archived since we started the Reel in 2007. More great stories ahead, along with big changes coming in early November.
