OPTIMUS’ PARTY Thursday for 500 invited clients to introduce two new facility features, was one of the most elegant business-sponsored events in recent memory ? and Optimus’ first-ever formally catered party, said president Tom Duff, with catered nouvelle food stations and lavish bars on each of the four floors visited by guests.
Located on the second floor is their new “more tricked out,” bells and whistles audio room, manned by engineer Joel Anderson. The established audio room, the domain of engineer Bruce Lash, is on the fourth floor where Streeterville Studios’ spot tracks rocked around the clock.
Also on four is a new 30×18-foot insert stage, with green cyc, which was built mainly to accommodate the needs of the graphics design department, said executive producer Gretchen Praeger, with the expectation of greater growth from client needs.
Optimus’ 13th anniversary Block Party, which the company produces itself, traditionally is held the first Friday in August, or for those of you who plan ahead, Aug. 1 this year.
HEADED FOR THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL May 14-25 are entries from at least three Chicago filmmakers.
* Chris Davis’ 10-minute “Marshall’s Field of Dreams” will screen in the Student Pavilion.
It was finished by Chicago HD post services’ colorist Andrew Maxwell under the supervision or senior editor Steve Panning. Incidentally, HD Chicago celebrates its sixth anniversary in June.
* Middle Passage Productions’ “Morning Due” will screen in Cannes Short Film Corner. It was produced by M. Anthony Foster, MJ Allen and Barbara E. Allen, who also directed.
* Admen Ferro Boyd of Bep Interactive and Chris Bailey of Bagby and Co. will compete in a team in the cyber category in the 2008 Young Lions Cannes competition.
They will have 24 hours to create an innovative digital ad for a charitable organization to be announced.
ANDREA WASSEL’S COMEDY SCREENPLAY, “Leftovers,” is now one of 40 quarter-finalists vying for the top prize in 2008 the American Screenwriters Association’s Scriptwriters Competition.
The winner will be announced around May 31, and will receive $10,000 cash, a script development trip to Hollywood, a script consultation from a leading industry expert and the envy of all screenwriters who share the dream of winning big.
SCREENWRITERS BETH AND GARY HOOVER actually have been winning big with their screenplay, “The Real Thing.” It has captured $22,000 in cash prizes since the couple first began entering it in contests in 2004. The latest prize of $1,000 comes from the 2008 Phoenix Film Festival.
Previous top prizes were $10,000 from the 2007 American Screenwriters Association, $11,000 in the 2004 American Scriptwriting Competition and $1,000 from the Liberty Film Festival Screenplay Contest.
2008 HUGO WINNERS: TV spot finalists aired on Ch. 11’s “Image Union,” and the public voted thusly: Audience Choice Award to DDB/The Whitehouse for “Swear Jar,” client unknown. Gold Hugo for Best Commercial to DraftFCB for Dow Chemical’s “The Bond between Us All.” Gold Hugo for Best Commercial Campaign to Alturas Films’ The Montana Meth Project 2007 “I’d Never” campaign.
Gold Hugos for Best TV Production went to HBO’s “Big Love” series, and Best Documentary to Dox Productions’ “In the Shadow of the Moon.”
Kartemquin Films received a Commitment to Excellence Award in TV production; L.A.-based Smuggler earned the Commitment to Excellence Award.
PATRICK FRIEL’S WHITE LIGHT CINEMA has lined up a May 18 evening with acclaimed avant garde filmmaker and fascinating personality William E. Jones, whose work was the subject of a retrospective at the Tate Modern in London. Jones, who works in the adult film industry a pseudonym and teaches art and design under his own name, will show and discuss “Tearoom” and another related film.
Friel was Chicago Filmmakers’ program director for 13 years. See Screenings & Events for details of this and other nightly programs.
SEEING STARS. Chicago natives and big time movie stars, Virginia Madsen and her brother, Michael Madsen will host the SAG Foundation’s 75th Anniversary Gala Celebration and Benefit on June 21 ?
*Writer/comedian Jeff Garlin spent last Friday morning giving Flashpoint Academy students the skinny on directing comedy?
*Oscar winner Alan Arkin receives the Gene Siskel Film Center’s Renaissance Award June 5 at the Center’s annual fundraising gala at the Four Seasons.
PATRICK FRIEL’S WHITE LIGHT CINEMA has lined up a May 18 evening with acclaimed avant garde filmmaker and fascinating personality William E. Jones, whose work was the subject of a retrospective at the Tate Modern in London. Jones, who works in the adult film industry a pseudonym and teaches art and design under his own name, will show and discuss “Tearoom” and another related film.
Friel was Chicago Filmmakers’ program director for 13 years. See Screenings & Events for details of this and other nightly programs.
