Now in Dallas, Holecek back in town for screening

Post producer Carrie Holecek

POST PRODUCER CARRIE HOLECEK, former executive producer at Red Car Chicago, returns to Chicago Thursday, Sept. 11 for the first time since she left Chicago last year after Red Car’s abrupt closing.

Now EP at Charlie Tango, the Southwest’s biggest editorial company, Holecek will accompany company owner Lola Lott, to celebrate with invited guests the special screening of a massively successful film by three Charlie Tango editors at the Vic theatre.

Indy rock doc “Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All,” has been selling out at screenings around the world, Holecek tells us. It was directed and produced by Deedle LaCour, edited by James Rayburn, Justin Wilson, also the DP and LaCour. 

Holecek is reachable at carrie@charlietango.com

THE JACOBS AGENCY named veteran creative executive Bernie Pitzel full-time group creative director and added 5 new staffers. Pitzel had been the agency’s creative-in-residence since 2011. He reports to ECD Flora Caputo. 

The new additions are the happy result of the agency’s increased new business from client John Morrell Food Group’s Krakus, Armour and Healthy Ones brands, the Chicago Business Journal reports.

The other new hires are Bill Tourlas, director of client services, from stints at FCB, JWT and Havas Worldwide; art director Joanna Mirowsk, designer Kaitlin Severson, account executive Monica Arcaro and traffic/production manager Valerie Sherpa. 

MAJOR ADVERTISER ACTION this week throughout the city: Furlined/LA’s 5-day shoot for BMO Harris. Japan’s Mt. Melville 4-day shoot for Nissan for Japanese TV.  Backyard shoots 2 days for KFC. There’s also a Chicago Bulls direct shoot for Jumbotron scenes. And “Parks and Recreation” was here for one day last week. Grip truck equipment provided by Essanay Studio and Lighting.

BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER. Monday night Studio Mechanics Local 476 welcomed 165 new members, kicking the total membership to “a tad over 1,200,” says president Brad Matthys.

The new members include “a large percentage of minorities and women,” states Matthys and business manager Mark Hogan. “We are very pleased with the diversity we’ve been achieving as we continue to build a work force for the future.”

Speaking of diversity: IFO director Betsy Steinberg reports that the percentage of minorities in film jobs has nearly doubled to 27%, from 15% during the 7 years since she’s headed the film office.

CHRISTMAS IN SEPTEMBER. Filming started Tuesday in the Chicago area on “Waiting for Santa,” Lifetime cable’s very first original production. The low budget film, crewed by young up-and-comers, shoots in the city and suburbs for three weeks.  Carrie Holt deLama is UPM.

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