COMMERCIALS RULE this month, as a slew of bicoastal production companies are here or en route to shoot national spots on city streets with local crews and equipment.
The biggest gig is L.A.-based Form’s six-day shoot for Buick new car introductions. Form will shoot around the city Sept. 5-6 and for six days following the Labor Day weekend.
Directors Bureau shoots for Netflix for two days this week. Crossroads will be around for Kmart. @Radical Media has two jobs that get underway next week: A two day shoot for Titleist golf equipment Sept. 8-9 and a Wal-Mart/Dove shoot Sept. 10-12.
The Cartel, a company formed by veteran director Leslie Dektor and his sons, director Paul and DP Mark, have been shooting more films for the 2016 Committee. Subjects for this round are unknown, except for a triathlon along the lakefront that was shot last Sunday.
All three Dektors were here last week and are expected back Sept. 8-10.
ON THE ENTERTAINMENT SIDE: The 15-month virtually unbroken stretch of no Hollywood business (exception: Platinum Dunes’ indie “Nightmare on Elm Street”) will be broken when Universal’s “Meet the Little Fockers,” the third installment in the “Meet the Parents” franchise, arrives here Oct. 5 for a week’s shoot.
“Ridealong,” a TV pilot for a cop show by “The Shield” creator, Rockford native Shawn Ryan, will shoot here in December.
IN IOWA, state of the super incentives, Steve Coogan has the title role of “Blackbeard” in a family that starts shooting Sept. 9 in Des Moines; written and directed by Kern Konwiser.
“MAKE NO LITTLE PLANS,” a doc about Daniel Burnham fittingly premieres Wednesday at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park at 7:30 p.m. It was Burnham’s far-reaching vision a century ago to keep the lakefront space free and clear for the city’s enjoyment. Producer is the Archimedia Workshop.
CASTING DIRECTOR SHARON KING and actor Craig Harris are hosting a Sept. 12 seminar host for people who want to know about “Breaking into the Entertainment Industry,” at the Encore Talent Agency. They, along with other successful industry professionals, will share advice on “how to enter and navigate the film and TV business,” says Harris.
DOCUMENTARIAN KEN BURNS comes to Chicago Sept. 16 to speak at a luncheon and presentation for his new book, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” at the Union League Club.
The six-episode PBS series of the same name, directed by Burns and written and co-produced by Dayton Duncan, who co-wrote the book, will air this fall. The series recounts the adventures, mythmaking and intense political battles
A NEW ACCOUNT FOR LEO BURNETT. Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Econono Lodge and Clarion) hired the agency for creative duties to help differentiate its hotel chain brands.
MALACHI LEOPOLD’S AFRICAN DOC, “22 Years from Home,” screened at the Village East Cinema in New York, thus completing the requirements necessary for consideration for an Academy nomination in the Documentary-Short Subject category, Leopold reports from Manhattan, where he edited and finished the film.
