Year in Review

Reel Chicago top 23 stories in 2023

By Reel Chicago
December 29, 2023

While the news of our favorite TV firemen, cops, doctors, druglords, and chefs may sometimes be our top stories, we are also the news source for our production companies, post and music houses, and our ad agencies. As well as promoters of our indie film community.

So what does that make us?

Well, we’re 100% Chicago. We love it. We support it. We promote it — 100%

It is truly the perfect moniker for 2023 as our entire community came together during the almost six-month work stoppage. Yes, the strikes by WGA and SAG-AFTRA delivered a hard blow. Our friends, actors, and fellow crew members, above and below the line, were strapped for cash. Some lost their insurance and even, their homes. It was not a good year, especially coming off two years of a pandemic slowdown.

But, our community didn’t give up. Instead, we were “100% Chicago.”

IATSE Local 476 helped our out-of-work crews with donations, food and fundraisers. The General Executive Board unanimously approved an additional $2 million to be distributed through industry-recognized charities to support IATSE members in-need. The International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600) announced a comprehensive series of financial relief policies for members affected by the 2023 WGA strike, including the creation of a Work Slowdown Hardship Fund. Through all of this we came together, joined the picket lines, and locked arms with our fellow WGA & SAG members. It was a heartwarming display of community — But that is how Chicago is.

In 2023 commercial production, saw Burrell get a facelift as new owners, FYLCRUM Holdings, stepped in. Cutters, Optimus, STORY, October, The Colonie, ColorNation, Tessa, Hootenanny, and 11 Dollar Bill all continued superb, visionary work. And McDonald’s launched an adult Happy Meal.

‘Bout time.

On TV, it was the year of The Bear, Somebody, Somewhere and Power Book IV. And Alex Hibbert left The Chi.

There were losses in the Chicago community. From director William Friedkin, to Chicago film industry icon Archie Fletcher, and our beloved AD, Lorin Fulton, our “100% Chicago” community was rocked by their deaths and others.

Reel Chicago told all of their stories and so much more. 2023 was quite the year and these are a few of the stories that had an impact on all of us.

Reel Chicago’s top 23 stories of 2023