EILEEN WILLENBORG WAS BOWLED OVER at the National AFTRA Convention Aug. 8 when she received a super prestigious Gold Card, the union’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize, for her contributions to the union and the local film industry, as executive director of the Chicago AFTRA local.
The Gold Card presentation came as a complete surprise to Willenborg, who will officially retire in December after 14 years in her post. She will work part-time for the following year.
Only 55 Gold Cards have been awarded to AFTRA members since 1937, when it was established as the George Heller Memorial Gold Card. AFTRA’s national president, Roberta Reardon, and its national executive director, Kim Roberts Hedgepeth, also received Gold Cards.
Among Willenborg’s contributions: IPA leadership that resulted in the enactment of the filmmakers tax incentive, legislation to eliminate the non-compete clauses in broadcasters’ contracts, leadership in the expansion of services to union members, the continuation of the Kaufherr Resource Center and the services it produces and the increased involvement of members in union issues.
The presentation was made Aug. 6 at the conclusion of the National Convention in Chicago. Also: News broadcaster Craig Dellimore was elected a national vice president, actor Richard Shavzin won the Chevrolet raffle prize.
IT’S A BOY for former Chicagoan Jennifer Hudson. On Aug. 10, she delivered a 7 lb. 14 oz. son, David Daniel Otunga, Jr., named for his father and her finance. They live in Florida.
AN OPEN CASTING CALL will be held Friday, Aug. 15 at 11172 Adams St., Holland, Mich., for TicTock Studios upcoming feature, “What’s Wrong with Virginia?” a drama starring Ed Harris and Jennifer Connelly that will shoot in West Michigan in late September.
Details: Real people, age 18 and up, 18-year olds who can play younger; male and female Caucasians, 18-95, Korean female, African American male and females, 40-50.
THE QUENTIN TARANTINO presentation — the Chicago International Film Festival’s Summa Gala — was completely sold out within 24 hours of the announcement.
TOM FLETCHER WAS OVERWHELMED by the helpful and sympathetic responses he received after he Emailed an alert about the theft of $100,000 worth of Fletcher camera equipment from a vehicle last Tuesday, at Montrose and Racine.
“The outpouring of support was remarkable, and from people I’ve not heard from in a long time,” he says. One sympathetic vendor, who had a similar experience, said Ebay was a good place to watch, since that’s where his stolen equipment turned up a few days later.
Here’s the list of stolen items. If anyone tries to sell you any of them, or if you have relevant information, call Fletcher at 312/932-2700.
Red One Camera Package with Custom After Market Accessories Serial #530; Cooke 20-100 Zoom Lens Serial # 788312; Panasonic 8″ HD Monitor BT-LH 80WP Serial # J8TWB2194; Panasonic 17″ HD Monitor BT-LH 1700 Serial # J8TWB2194 and an Arri Follow Focus, FF-4 Serial #932.
The items were housed in Fletcher’s standard A&J White, with an orange strip case.
KARTEMQUIN FILMS FILLED THE JOB of communications director and office manager with Tim Horsburgh, who has the ideal combination of filmmaking and PR experience and whose excellent stories you read regularly in the Reel. He was chosen from among around 100 candidates for the plum job.
LOCAL SCREENWRITERS are saddened by the death last week of screenwriter, teacher and author Blake Snyder, 52, of cardiac arrest. “He was an active supporter of Chicago talent. He spoke and held workshops at a number of Chicago events over the last few years,” and had many followers here, says Chicago Screenwriters Network officer Linda Frothingham.
His book, “Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need,” continues to be one of the best-selling books on screenwriting.
CSN plans on holding a memorial for Mr. Blake in the near future, Frothingham notes.
ZACUTO FILMS upcoming “FilmFellas” 10-webisode series will highlight avant-garde wedding filmmaking and cinematic storytelling. Among the discussions: The changing model of wedding videography and the emergence of wedding filmmaking with full-scale productions, camera movement, special effects, scripted concept films, same day edits and more.
Steve Weiss, Zacuto co-owner and “FilmFellas” director, spent a few years at the start of his career in 1981 shooting wedding videos. He will lead the round table discussion with six professional wedding shooters.
