DAVID SCHWIMMER AND ALAN CUMMING are the stars at CIFF’s Red Carpet Monday night. The Festival welcomes openly gay actor Cumming, who receives the fest’s Artistic Achievement Award as part of its OUTrageous Program, celebrating contributions to GLBT films.
Cumming also represents the release of his new film, Julie Traymor’s version of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” The brilliant cast includes Helen Mirren, Alfred Molina, David Strathairn and Chris Cooper.
“The Tempest” is followed by “Trust,” directed by Chicago’s favorite “Friend” David Schwimmer, who filmed in Detroit. “Trust” was one of only five U.S.-made films to receive a Hugo statuette, by virtue of co-star Liana Liberato winning Best Actress in the feature competition.
“Trust” ticket proceeds will benefit the local chapter of Rape Victim Advocates. Both at AMC River East, starting at 6:45 p.m.
“T3” PRODUCERS WERE CLEARED by Indiana OSHA investigators of wrongdoing in the Sept. 1 accident that left 24-year old extra Gabriella Cedillo paralyzed on her left side and brain-damaged.
OSHA said it believed the accident occurred “due to a failure of a weld connecting a car to a two cable. The weld was made by a certified welder and all necessary precautions were taken. Thus, no citations or fines will be issued.”
Lawyers on behalf of Cedillo’s family filed a lawsuit against Paramount Studios claiming neglect. The family says in the lawsuit that Cedillo is permanently brain-damaged. Paramount has agreed to pay her medical bills.
ACTOR CARL AMARI, partner in East Dundee’s bmedia digital entertainment company, bmedia partner, will produce a major feature, tentatively titled “WireMan,” in Chicago in early winter, 2011. The rights to Amari’s screenplay, based on true childhood events, were acquired by Warner Bros. and Clint Eastwood in 2009. Tentative budget is $80 million.
Amari is best known as producer/actor in “The Twilight Zone Radio Series,” an adaptation of Rod Serling’s “Twilight Zone” TV series for radio.
ENTERTAINMENT ATTORNEY JERRY GLOVER will be honored at the Lawyers for the Creative Arts luncheon Oct. 28, receiving this year’s Thomas R. Leavens Award. He is a partner in the law firm of Leavens, Strand and Glover, LLC. Leavens, for whom the award is named, was LCA’s first director in the ?80s.
Former SAG/AFTRA executive Kit Woods will receive LCA’s Distinguished Service to the Arts Award, for her years of dedication to union actors and for all aspects of the visual media industry in Chicago.
The luncheon is being held at the Palmer House; tickets are $125.
AN OPEN AUDITION for kids eight to 17 will be held Nov. 6 for a film series tentatively titled “Parables,” being produced by studio veteran Michael Katchman. Each short film in the 12-part series is a modern retelling of a biblical parable with contemporary issues.
Episodes six through 12 will be shot in the winter throughout the Midwest, including Chicago. To audition and receive audition time and details, Email headshot and resume to
