STARTING FEB. 13 with State Street Productions’ “Humboldt Park,” principal photography will begin in quick secession on six different studio and independent features from now through May, when five other films are slated to star.
L.A.-based Entertainment 7 will start shooting the romantic comedy, “Baby on Board,” Feb. 15, followed by a drama, “For Love Alone,” scheduled for May 12.
A monster-budget film, Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies” and “Kept,” the first of two low-budget horror films from local Light Tower Entertainment, are both scheduled to start production March 17.
A PRODUCTION OFFICE was opened here by Rogue Pictures and Platinum Dunes to gear up for another horror film. Untitled, this one stars Odette Yustman (“Cloverfield”). No start date has been announced.
ROBERTA REARDON, new AFTRA national president, visits Chicago Feb. 11 as special guest of AFTRA’s annual membership committee held at SAG/AFTRA’s Kauffher Center, starting with a 5 p.m. social hour, meeting at 6.
Casting director Claire Simon will speak on casting and landing a starring role in the AFTRA TV series, “Family Practice,” which shoots in Chicago once the writers strike ends.
SAG’S CHICAGO LOCAL will celebrate the Guild’s 75th anniversary at a gala simulataneous with locals across the country June 21. Chicago’s gala will be a lavish cocktail party at Salvage One that’s open to the entertainment industry. Actor Steve Spencer heads the local SAG gala planning committee.
A second celebration planned will be held at the Chicago History Museum with present and former Chicago actors and celebrities as guests and speakers. More details forthcoming after the Feb. 14 meeting.
VOICEOVER U’S SHERRI BERGER has snagged Bill Dufris (the voice of “Bob the Builder”) and one of the country’s leading audiobook narrators to lead Chicago’s first audiobook workshop, April 25-26. Dufris will share secrets of how to break into and be successful in this growing multimillion business.
FEATURES FILMED IN HIGHLAND PARK will be featured in the first annual Port Clinton Film Festival to be held in Highland Park next August. Nicolas DeGrazia and Daniel Kullman, partners in Bitter Jester Creative Productions’ are organizing and programming the 4-day event.
FIRST TIME NOMINEE Nicolai Fuglsig was voted the the best DGA commercial director among five heavy-hitter nominees at the Jan. 26 ceremony in L.A. Fuglsig was one of three MJZ director-nominees.
This year’s nomination marked the fifth for 2007 DGA winner MJZ’ Dante Ariola and the second for MJZ’ Fredrik Bond. Biscuit Filmworks’ Noam Murro, the 2004 winner was a nominee, as was first-timer Frank Budgen of Gorgeous Enterprises.
APPLE HAS FOLLOWED AVID’S LEAD and announced it will not exhibit on the show floor at this year’s NAB in Las Vegas, and in fewer trade shows. Instead, it will find better ways to reach their customers.
Avid this month will reveal full details of its plans for new user-community initiatives, tech support programs, product announcements and other advancements it will initiate throughout the year.
REEL/VIDEO is eager to attend your next function and capture the highlights on our new feature. Let us know when and where and we’ll be there. Email Ruth@cometlink.com or call 312/274-9980.
