FAVORITE SON Steve Poster did double duty when he was in town last week. The American Society of Cinematographers president received the Professional Achievement Award from IIT/Institute of Design, and to lens the pilot for director Betty Thomas, another former Chicagoan. Look for Poster’s next film early next year: “Mrs. Harris,” starring Annette Bening and Sir Ben Kingsley,
JOHN RAUSCH is Draft’s new VP/CD, coming from DDB as VP/CD working on Anheuser Busch, Discover Card and FTD. He started his copywriter career at Keroff & Rosenberg. His Draft assignments are DeVry and Fleetwood and new business.
DIRECTORY BRETT RATTNER (“Rush Hour,” “Red Dragon”} will shoot the pilot for his new 20th Century Fox series, “Prison Break,” Dec. 2-22 at the Joliet Correctional Center. If it goes well, all 22 episodes could be filmed here.
TWO CHICAGO FESTIVALS received grants, thanks to the Motion Picture Academy. Roger Ebert received a $10,000 grant for his annual Overlooked Film Festival at the U of I? And a $15,000 grant went to the Chicago International Latino Film Festival. They were two of 25 nationwide fests to receive a total of $300,000 in grant money.
IFO deputy director Bob Hudgins and wife Tamara on Nov. 11 welcomed daughter Madeline, 7 lbs. 8 oz., 20 inches.
LEO BURNETT cut 25 employees last week, accounting for 1-2% of the agency’s U.S. staff and reached across all departments.
CAROLE DEAN holds “The Art of Funding Your Film: Alternative Financing Concepts” workshop at Chicago Filmmakers Dec. 4 and 5. Topics: creating the perfect pitch, writing and packaging your proposal, raising funds from local corporations, reduce production costs, how and when to brand your film, more. Also: How to apply for seven Roy W. Dean grants valued at $370,000+. Guest speaker is author Mark Bosko. Fee $165 until Nov. 30. Call 773/293-1447.
“COURT TV” producers are in town researching the Riley Fox murder case for upcoming trial coverage of three-year old Riley’s father, Kevin Fox, who was charged with first-degree murder and predatory sexual assault.
HOOKED ON PHONICS new Learn to Read Campaign now airing was produced by Shirley Feldman for TargetCom. Testimonials with parents and children were shot on HD 24p by Sid Lubitsch.
SOME 700 GUESTS attended AICP’s glitzy Nov. 19 Art and Technique of the Commercial show at the Historical Society. Local agencies included in this year’s presentation reel (no surprises) included Miller spots from Y&R, Bud Light from DDB and Altoids from Burnett.
CHICAGOAN PAUL ZBYSZEWSKI is the screenwriter of the hit “After the Sunset,” starring Pierce Brosnon and Salma Hayek, achieved after six years of hustling in L.A. to achieve his dream. Zbyszewski worked for Ch. 32 as a sports and morning news producer before moving to L.A. in 1998.
FOR E-BAY power seller, Perlson Enterprises, SPI-tv produced a 30 for its Oak Lawn E-Bay drop off store. Theme was based on an old grammar school, projection screen movie slide show. Spot got a vintage look with film scratches and stains visible on old super 8. Original music by Mitran Mitran.
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