WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? Michael Mann’s 1930s crime movie “Public Enemies,” which spent $25 million filming in Chicago and the state last year, will have various premieres, advance and special showings everywhere else except Chicago before the movie’s national July 1 opening.
Its world premiere will be the centerpiece of the Los Angeles Film Festival June 18-28.
In Wisconsin, which is already benefiting from tourism to movie locations, has at least two pre-release events planned so far. Madison, where Mann went to college, and where a pivotal scene was filmed at the Capitol, hosts a special advance screening June 30.
The $50 event, starting at the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace, turns the clock back to the Roaring ?30s and invites guests to come in period attire. The screening will be held at the Marcus Point Ultra Screen.
Columbus, one of several small town Wisconsin locations and whose downtown was transformed into a 1930s street scene, hosts a July 1 “Public Enemies” Premiere Night at the Eastgate Marcus Movie Theaters in Madison. The $30 ticket includes a bus ride from Columbus to the theatre, the movie and post screening reception.
RECORD BREAKING ATTENDANCE is expected for the June 11 HD EXPO-Createasphere at Navy Pier June 11. EXPO officials report a whopping 91% higher registration than last year.
On the Expo’s conference side, one of the four intensives will be on the Red camera. The Red’s Jon Sagundo, Tom Fletcher, Fletcher Camera and DP David Kessler (“Osso Bucco”) on decking out the camera for outrageous results.
FOR WOMEN ONLY! The Midwest Independent Film Festival will hold its first Female Filmmakers Night later this year. Deadline is July 7. You can submit as many films as you like for just one $25 submission fee. For details, see midwestfilm.com
FOR MEN ONLY! The PR firm holding a screening of “The Proposal,” a fish-out-of-water comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, wants a predominantly male audience to gauge interest in this movie among men. Hosted by the TV Academy, the screening is June 11 at the Kerasotes City North. The movie opens nationally June 19.
LIZ LAINE REPS adds two new companies: L.A.based Dandy Dwarves, a young, up-and-coming production company, with a core group of directors, producers, designers, and new London-based Rubber Studios, specializing in animation, mixed media, and visual effects.
DID ANYONE CATCH THE IRONY in Ch.7’s sudden firing of longtime staple, announcer Ron Rolland and replacing him with an L.A. announcer who is going to PHONE it in?
Producer Skip Waggoner of Cutting Room Floor Productions pointed out in a letter he sent to Ch. 7 VP/general manager Emily Barr, who did the firing, that one of her predecessors, the late, great Red Quinlan, had worked for years to keep Chicago production going jobs like Rolland’s would be preserved.
A $1,000 SHOPPING SPREE at Ralph Lauren is the grand prize for the best costume at the June 12 Facetini Costume Gala at Architectural Artifacts, where guests come dressed as their favorite character from a film. Lots of other terrific prizes, too.
Celebrity costume judges include Chicago actor and 2008 Oscar nominee Michael Shannon, Amy Landecker, star of the upcoming Coen Brothers’ film “A Serious Man,” her dad, DJ John Landecker and doc filmmaker Jon Siskel. The $100 gala ticket benefits Facets Multimedia’s educational programs.
THE FIRST ONLINE AUCTION of Theatre Building Chicago is ongoing now through June 14, awaiting bids for some very excellent items.
Consider: Opening night tickets to Mel Brooks’ new musical, “Young Frankenstein,” White Sox and Cubs tickets, a diamond tennis bracelet, a private hot air balloon ride, theatre-themed books, videos and posters and a whole lot more. Your donations to the auctions also will be appreciated.
Proceeds go into TBC’s general operating fund to support more great theatre – plus TBC’s Musical Theatre Writers Workshop, STAGES, August 21-23, 2009, which attracts producers, directors, writers, composers from all over the country. See
