SCREENWRITER FREDERICK MENSCH’S “NIGHTINGALE,” based on a Palatine man’s horrific murder of his mother, will premiere on HBO Friday night at 8 p.m. The feature, starring David Oyelowo (“Selma”) and directed by Elliott Lester, takes place in one location, the tormented man’s home.
The role for Oyelowe was so intense, says Mensch, that he remained deeply in character throughout the filming, and would not meet with Mensch when he visited the set in Tarzana, California.
Budget for the one character-one location feature was “well under $500, 000,” says Mensch, whose day job is helming Moviebytes, featuring a database of 300-400 screenwriting competitions.
Following its May 29 debut, “Nightingale” will run on HBO for six weeks in rotation and available thereafter on Video on Demand.
Mensch says his latest indie film, “Supreme Ruler,” starring Ron Livingston and Marcia Gay Harden, will “hopefully film in the fall, here in Chicago.”
Y&R’S KARY MCILWAIN, Y&R’s president and North American managing partner will leave the agency in July after 26 years to become VP/marketing of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital — “a world class hospital that deserves world class recognition,” she says.
Says Linda Wolf, Leo Burnett’s former chairman/CEO, Lurie Children’s Marketing Committee Chair who has known McIlwain for many years: “Her deep knowledge of the advertising world and her track record of exceptional outcomes will greatly benefit Lurie Children’s, one of Chicago’s beloved institutions.”
NATHAN SKILLICORN has signed as Midwest rep for bicoastal tabletop company Schrom, which features the talents of award-winning director/cinematographer Michael Schrom and life style director/DP Anneke Schoneveld.
Schrom fills the tabletop directorial void on Skillicorn’s rep roster, with Chicago Big Deahl director David Deahl and Rosemary Deahl’s impending relocations to Los Angeles, where they will continue to work for their present clients.
Skillicorn formed his Heart Brains and Nerve boutique rep company in 2010. He works with New York-based Free Agents handling their Midwest-focused promotions and sales.
He can be reached at nathan@heartbrainsandnerve.com or 312/401-8039.
NEW AT HOOTENANNY: A promotion to editor for Hannah Stephans, who joined the editorial company as assistant editor in 2011. Recently, she’s been helming multiple editorial projects for Whirlpool appliances, a client of DigitasLBi.
Stephans now works alongside Hootenanny’s creative editors Liz Tate, Jerem Sloan, Graham Metzger and Sean Halvorsen. Don Avila is executive producer.
ACTOR/PRODUCER JOE MANTEGNA will be a special guest at The Dinner Party’s June 1, where a portion of ticket sales will be dedicated to CIMMfest.
The evening program also includes Columbia College’s “Cinema Slapdown,” focusing on “Sideways,” the 2004 movie starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Hayden Church and Virginia Madsen, set in Sonoma wine country, and hosted by Ron Falzone.
Other guests are Chef Chris Gawronski of Acanto; sommelier Jon McDaniel (The Gage, Acanto), relationship and dating guru, Bela Gandhi and Dinner Party hostess Elysabeth Alfano.
At City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph. Find details and ticket information here.
LAWYERS FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS’ 14th Nonprofit and Tax Exempt Workshop June 3, led by lawyers in the field, will help startups learn the application procedure for incorporation and how to obtain 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
Fee is $100 for one person or $125 for two people from the same organization and includes a full package of materials.
At LCA’s offices at 213 W. Institute Place, 5:30 p.m. Space is limited. Call Rose Ann Vargas at 312/659-4111 to register.
REMINDER: We love to hear from you – multi-city company or one man band – we want your news. Send a detailed email to ruth@reelchicago.com, event notifications at least two weeks in advance.
