THE HOTTEST TICKETS IN TOWN were those issued by Universal Studios for the Chicago preview of “Public Enemies” that screened in two theatres in the River East 21 complex Thursday night and the after party at the nearby Arts Center.
Of the 600 invited guests, only a handful were from the local film industry. Apart from governmnt officials and business leaders, many of the guests were consultants who had helped with the film’s scrupulous authenticity.
Before the movie began, director Michael Mann and stars Johnny Depp (a charming, sociopath John Dillinger), Christian Bale (FBI agent Melvin Purvis with a Southern accent), and Marion Cotillard (Dillinger’s sweet girlfriend) made quick appearances at both theatres, each saying no more than a few words.
At the swank Art Center party the stars were surrounded by a phalanx of security guards and entourages, who could fill a theatre by themselves, which made fan adoration impossible.
“Public Enemies” budget was cited as $80 million, but what was on the screen appeared to cost significantly more.
The giant cast of 150 included 95 credited and 55 uncredited actors, not to mention an army (literally) of extras. Several secondary roles with short screen time, usually filled by feature players, were played by name actors Leelee Sobieski, Stephen Dorff, Giovanni Ribisi and Lili Taylor.
A long list of below-the-line positions included 56 in the camera department, 52 in special effects, 29 stunt men (including Chicago native Rick LeFevour, and a miscellaneous crew of 133 (stand-ins, locations, researchers, pilots, PAs, et al).
With such a blockbuster cast and story, “Enemies” could be Hollywood’s best friend by pulling movie audiences out of their box office doldrums and putting them into theatres when the movie opens July 1.
THE BRONZEVILLE FILM FESTIVAL offers a Saturday slate of workshops with leading filmmakers ? including director and Chicago native Bill Duke — plus lots of narratives and docs and Duke’s movie, “The Pact.” All at the Carruthers Center, 700 E. Oakwood.
An actors workshop starts at 12:30 p.m., followed by panels on behind the camera, screenwriting, editing, music business and art of music videos, and a “Making your Film in 48 Hours,” panel.
THE L.A. GREEK COMMUNITY in the entertainment industry will be represented in Chicago this Friday at the first Gabby Awards in Chicago, a tribute to Greeks in various industries. Olympia Dukasis’ Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to her by Fox Studios CEO Jim Gianopulos. Chicago native Nia Vardalos will present the Entertainment and Performing Arts award. Several other prominent Greek performers also are expected.
The SRO event takes place at the Merle Reskin Theatre, with a gala after party next door at the Hilton Hotel and Towers ballroom.
THE ILLINOIS LOTTERY COMMERCIALS were being filmed in and about Chicago earlier this week. The director is Harold Einstein of New York-headquartered Station Films, via spot producer Ed Amaya’s 59 Films, “the production company of record.”
STATE FARM SPOTS will be shot by L.A.-based Smuggler around the city, for client DDB.
WISCONSIN WINS ANOTHER FEATURE. An under $10 million indie feature, “No God, No Master,” from Terry Green’s Strata Productions, stars David Straitharin (“The Bourne Ultimatum”) and gets underway in Milwaukee July 15 and shoots until August 21, reports Film Wisconsin’s Scott Robbe.
The movie is a period piece, with Milwaukee streets and architecture standing in for 1920s New York. The story is a detective (Straitharin) as he unravels a plot to kill millionaire John Rockerfeller, Jr. and bomb the New York Stock Exchange.
Green’s Strata Productions had been located in Evanston, before Green moved the company to Los Angeles several years ago.
Producers are Tom Sesanto (“X Men,” “Transformers”) and Anna Marie Colletti. Green, whose Evanston-based Strata Productions moved to L.A. several years ago, is the director.
MICHAEL GOI, ASC, the newly elected president o the American Society of Cinematographers, is a Chicago native and 1980 Columbia College graduate, who grew up making “little 8mm movies” with the help of neighborhood kids. He upgraded to a 16mm Bolex by working odd jobs.
Goi’s credits include TV series “My Name is Earl,” features “Witless Protection,” “Christmas Rush,” “Megan is Missing,” which he wrote and produced, “Welcome to Death Row,” and Emmy winning doc, documentary “Fired-Up: The Story of Public Housing in Chicago.”
IPA BOARD DIRECTORS elected to serve the 2009-2010 term are: Claire Connelly, Jeff Crabtree, Scott Erlinder, Sally Fletcher, Kate Henley, Mark Hogan, Sharon King, Wayne Kubacki, Rich Lederer, Grace McPhillips, Dan Moore, Claire Simon, Kent Smith, Lars Ullberg (IPA president) and Eileen Willenborg.
MUSICIAN/AUDIO EXPERT LOU MALLOZZI, who heads the Experimental Sound Studio, designed surround-sound for Thomas Gray’s immersive video installation for architect Zaha Hadid’s sinuously-formed aluminum pavilion opening in Burnham Park, in celebration of the Burnham Plan Centennial.
London-based artist Gray’s video tells the story of Chicago’s transition and visions of the future by local architects.
REEL MICHIGAN: Attendance at the Waterfront Film Festival last weekend exceeded expectations, with ticket sales topping 16,000, “making it the best-attended festival since its inception 11 years ago,” says Kori Eldean Rentz, an event co-founder.
TOON BOOM ANIMATE execs CEO Joan Vogelesang and CTO Francisco Del Cueto will present “More for Less,” a demo and discussion of their globally-used Toon Boom Animate tool June 17 at the Chicago Mart Plaza’s LaSalle Room, 6:30 p.m. A copy of Toon Boom Animate will be the attendance prize.
