Filming gets underway on The Elkhorn Special, an independent feature from Chicago’s Redleg Films, set against the suburban backdrop of Berwyn and Riverside. Principal photography is scheduled for October 13–28, bringing cast and crew together in the same communities that inspired the story.
Blending dramedy with magical realism and offbeat comedy, The Elkhorn Special stars Jack Chylinski (Owen), Ellie Duffey (Kitty), Kyle Patrick (Clint), and Noelle Oh (Lexie). The film’s ensemble is made up entirely of Illinois actors, supported by a fully local crew.
Told through a cheeky, fourth-wall-breaking narrator, the film follows Owen Osgood (Jack Chylinski) and Kitty Carter (Ellie Duffey), two 20-somethings who’ve never ventured beyond their town’s single traffic light. As Owen quietly pines for a waitress who doesn’t notice him and Kitty falls for a karaoke-singing newcomer, one transformative night sets their intertwined lives on a course filled with humor, heart, and unexpected magic.
The feature marks a major creative leap for Director, Daniel John Harris, an Oak Park native, Army veteran, and Columbia College Chicago alumnus whose short films have picked up honors from the Oak Park Film Festival, Artemis Action Film Festival, Shortcut 100, and the Canadian Cinematography Awards. Harris describes The Elkhorn Special as a deeply personal project.
“Elkhorn may be fantastical, but the people in it are real,” said Harris. “This story holds my fears, my hope, and my heart. My goal is for audiences to see themselves in the absurdity, beauty, and contradictions of small-town life.”
Behind the camera, the producing team brings deep Chicago and indie film roots. Joshua Schilling, a veteran of more than 20 independent features and a former 1st AD at The Onion, joins Kyle Patrick, founder of SoliFilm Productions and an award-winning producer/actor, along with George Ellzey Jr. (Cottage Grove), Emmy-nominated, two-time Telly Award–winning filmmaker.
In keeping with Redleg’s community-driven approach, the production is fiscally sponsored by The Field, allowing for tax-deductible contributions and underscoring the role of local support in independent filmmaking. By choosing to shoot on location in Berwyn and Riverside, Harris and his team aim to highlight the Midwest’s distinctive character while also taking advantage of the economic opportunities in Illinois.
The Elkhorn Special is slated to run approximately 110 minutes. Its blend of humor, heartfelt drama, and magical realism positions it as one of the more ambitious indie projects to emerge from Chicago this year.
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