November an event filled month

Put your roller skates, get out your notepads and party clothes for the busiest, most informative and social November we’ve seen in years. See details in Calendar.

NOV. 6-9: SHOWBIZ EXPO comes to town for the first time ever in its 20 year history, with 100+ exhibitors and 35 panels discussions. At the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

NOV. 6-9 FIRST ANNUAL CINEME animation festival; opening night gala at Le Meridien hotel. Screenings and seminars at the Biograph and DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus. Festival awards Nov 9 at the Cultural Center.

NOV. 6: THE HEROES AWARDS of the Recording Academy honors music makers at the School of the Art Institute, including reception, silent auction and live performances.

NOV. 6-13: THE 22ND ANNUAL GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL; opening night party and screening, at the Music Box Theatre.

NOV. 7: RUTH L RATNY shares Secrets of Selling in this tough economy; at Post Effects, includes lunch.

NOV. 13: FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER PAUL NATKIN joins intellectual property legal experts Bill Rattner and Carol Anne Been, discuss how to protect your work. At the Cultural Center.

NOV. 14-15 2ND ANNUAL VISION BLU SYMPOSIUM; panels with L.A. experts (e.g., Columbia TriStar, Time Warner) on screenwriting, script pitching, auditions, lighting and cinematography and more. At 160 N. LaSalle and 100 W. Randolph; $35 per panel/workshop or $100 for all five workshops. See www.visionsblu.com/discountspecial.htm.

NOV. 15/NOV. 17: CABLE GURU RAY SOLLEY returns to Chicago with a two-part seminar: Nov. 15, inside info on how to develop and sell cable programs; Nov. 17, how to pitch them; both at Post Effects.

NOV. 17: “THE CLIFFHANGER,” the collaboration among nearly 100 Chicago film artists, premieres at Split Pillow’s benefit at the Lakeshore Theatre.

NOV. 20: THE AICP SHOW and cocktail party, advertising’s highlight of the year, convenes at the Chicago Historical Society.