KEVIN COOPER’S 3D dog comedy, “Shakey,” which starts shooting this month in the western suburbs, signed lead actors Steve Guttenberg (“Police Academy”), Beverly D’Angelo of the National Lampoon’s Vacation series) and Alfonso Arau (“The Three Amigos”).
Cooper, a Hollywood executive turned Columbia College professor, makes his directorial debut with “Shakey,” which is possibly the first comedy to shoot anywhere in stereoscopic 3D.
The story is about of a father and young daughter who give up their troublesome dog for adoption, only to find the loyal canine crossing the metro area to reunite with them.
The cast also includes Steve Lemme (“Super Troopers”), Andy St. Clair (Second City Mainstage) and Greg Hollimon (“Strangers With Candy”). See shakeymovie.com
A NEW ARRIVAL on the festival circuit is the Maya Indie Film Series. It will bring six critically acclaimed Latino-themed films to Chicago Aug. 13-19, at the AMC Pipers Alley theatre at 1608 N. Wells St.
ACTOR/RAPPER COMMON will open the Black Harvest International Festival of Film and Video on opening night, Aug. 6, when he receives the Deloris Jordan Award for Community Leadership from Ch. 5 entertainment reporter LeeAnn Trotter.
Of the 42 films screening in the 16th annual Gene Siskel Film Center’s month-long festival, 17 are local: two features, three feature documentaries and 12 shorts.
MADSEN MINAX and SIMON STRIKEBACK’s documentary about transgender musicians, “Riot Acts: Flaunting Gender Deviance in Musical Performance,” has signed to New York-based Outcast Films (“She’s a Boy I Knew”) for festival, DVD and online distribution. See
