MOVIE ROLE FOR BROADCASTER. Jerry Rose, the Chicago religious broadcaster and head of Total Living Network, is executive producer of “Hangman’s Curse,” a thriller based on Frank Peretti’s book, released through 20th Century Fox’s new Witness Entertainment division. Rose sold Ch. 38 for $120 million in 1998 and subsequently launched TLN-Ch. 38, soon to move to a new Aurora campus.
BUDGET MELTS ICE CUBE. The actor Ice Cube (and a producer of “Barber Shop 2”) was publicly adamant about wanting to film his upcoming movie, “Are We There Yet?” in Chicago. Then he got the word from the production company that shooting in Toronto would be $4 to $4.5 million cheaper. So that was that.
LOCALS VIE FOR NATIONAL AWARDS. Casting director Jane Alderman seems to be a perennial candidate for the Artios Awards, presented by the Casting Society of America. This year joining her in local nominations are Mickey Paskel and Rachel Tenner (Paskel Tenner Rudnicke). Alderman got the nod for “Normal,” in the MOW category, while and Paskel Tenner got the bid for “Road to Perdition,” in the feature category. The awards presentation is Oct. 8 in L.A.
MORE INTERPUBLIC CUTS AHEAD. New York-based Interpublic, parent of FCB, Draft and other marketing companies, will be making further cuts in the upcoming fourth quarter. To date, the company cut nearly 1,500 jobs and closed 30 facilities.
GERE HERE. Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez are at Studio City for two days ? not the week as expected ? for “Shall We Dance” scenes. This is the Japanese-to-American-movie originally slated for Chicago filming, but lost out to Winnipeg’s significant cost savings.
“PROOF” COMES LATER. Anthony Hopkins and Glyneth Paltrow arrive later this month for 11 days of filming the stage play-to-movie, filmed in London, about a U of C professor and his daughter. While officing at Studio City, scenes will be shot at U of C and Hyde Park locations.
REAL LIFE ROLE. Voiceover actor Tom Keevers, who played a cop on “Turks,” helped a real life policeman catch a young man who held up a teller at the Bank One branch in Uptown. An off-duty cop ran after him, yelling for someone to help stop the fleeing thief. Keevers and two other men gave chase, tackling and catching him. Keevers said his father was a Chicago cop.
AN ARTS EVENING. “Build The Rhythm” Sept. 24 is an evening of jazz, blues, dance and poetry to benefit the the health of visual and performing artists in Chicago. Koko Taylor, John Records Landecker, Joel Hall Dancers, blues guitarist Dave Spector, poet Margaret Burroughs and many others will perform. At the Kingston MinesBlues center, 2545 N. Halsted. Tickets are $50 per person. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction. Cash bar. Call 312/355-2799.
