AMY LIKUS, former Optimus editor joined Outsider editorial? SMS Productions moved to 1229 N. North Branch after a dozen years entrenched at 676 N. LaSalle. Phone, 312/440-8963, Email, smsrss1327@aol.com? Caption and Subtitle Services is the new name of Terry Thomas’ former Christian Captions.
NBC’S RENEWAL OF “ER” for two more seasons means continued work for local crews. Roger Anderson’s Sterling Films is essentially the show’s local producer. “ER” usually shoots here from three to six days, three to four times a year.
WE HEAR? The IFO is thinking about not filling the deputy director’s position that was left vacant when Bob Hudgins quit on March 10. What may happen is moving a financially-minded or accountant type into the office to clarify benefits of using the tax credit to shoot here.
ANOTHER FEATURE is setting up shop. Don’t know the title, but it stars Chicago native Vince Vaughan and the soon-to-be single Jennifer Aniston, who filmed in Chicago last winter. Heard that it will film in June.
ON THE SPOT. Chicago Story has been all over the map with business. Glenn Ashley from subsidiary The Joneses of New York directs a campaign for the St. Louis-based May Company (new owners of Marshall Field’s) at Essanay… David Orr travels to Biloxi to helm a Mississippi tourism… And Laurie Rubin is in Dallas directing a 9-day shoot for Lowe’s Dallas stores, targeting the Hispanic market.
Bob Ebel directs a spot for Bright Start Savings Fund… Dennis Manarchy helms a Bally’s Total Fitness spot in a Rogers Park Bally facility.
OVER AT MACHETE editor Mark Jepsen is finishing a Taco Bell “I’m Full” campaign and then cuts Shout spots, both FCB… Roman was motion graphics artist on a 60-second Toyota promo, produced by Burrell’s Shirley Portee for National Assn. of Black Owned Businesses… And for Jim Schmidt and Joe Stuart’s Downtown Partners, Mary Roland edited a PSA on deforestation for the Environmental Law Policy Center, directed by Jeff DeChaussey.
ON THE AVENUE JWT added Seng Rimpakone to its production staff, now at work on Stouffer’s spots. A former freelancer, she has continuously worked on JWT commercials… Ogilvy, now in its new Apparel Center digs, hired producer Char Sansone, formerly with A. Eicoff… Ogilvy’s former longterm executive producer Monna O’Brien has been BBDO’s acting head of production, sitting in for Diane Jackson, who’s expected to return soon from maternity leave.
Marketing Store added ACDs Abner Avila and T.J. Rapach, from Flair and 141 Worldwide, respectively, and art buyer Susan Everson, formerly at Frankel.
Rosen & Brichta Advertising anticipates doubling its size with such new business as Wildfire restaurant division of Lettuce Entertain You and Chicago Arby’s Co-op.
COLIN COSTELLO has signed with literary agency Becsey Wisdom Kalajian in West Hollywood. He is also currently repped by LMG Artists management company and law firm, Browning, Jacobson & Klein. A top Burrell creative, Costello has written and produced three urban comedies.
MARY TYLER MOORE is the guest for the season finale of Columbia College’s “Conversations in the Arts.” Bill Kurtis interviews the legendary actress April 14 at the school’s theatre, 1104 S. Wabash, at 7:30. Tickets, $35, are available through Ticket Web, 866/468-3401. (Aside: In case you missed it?Kurtis is the perfectly nuanced VO narrator of “Ron Burgundy: News Anchor,” now playing on pay-TV.)
