| Reel Chicago – At the intersection of Chicago Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production
Reel Chicago is a daily digital magazine that covers the news in Chicago on all aspects of advertising, film, TV, media and production. The content is original, written by industry experts and contributing Op Eds
3+ Fantasy, comedy and horror collide at the ‘House of Beetle’ in the South Loop during this year’s Halloween season Indie marketing professionals from Chicago and Houston have teamed up to launch House of Beetle, a Halloween pop-up bar inspired by the critically acclaimed Tim Burton film, Beetlejuice. Described as “a creative playhouse paying homage … Continue reading “Beetlejuice-themed pop-up bar coming to Chicago”
10+ Versatile 25-year vet is the first African-American appointed to vital and visible leadership role The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced Kwame Amoaku as Director of the Chicago Film Office. Amoaku replaces longtime director of the Chicago Film Office, Rich Moskal, who retired last November. The first African American to … Continue reading “Amoaku named Chicago Film Office Director”
2+ With nearly three-dozen films for about $12 apiece, the program offers top-notch viewing for comedy lovers The Chicago Comedy Film Festival has released an all-star lineup for its 9th annual run, April 5th – 7th, at Columbia College Chicago. Fred Armisen, Mel Brooks, Angela Kinsey, Patton Oswalt, Kevin Pollack, Jaleel White, and Fred Willard … Continue reading “9th Chicago Comedy Film Festival, April 5-7”
3+ Artists with “varying levels of experience” encouraged to apply for grants ranging up to $18K by March 25 The Chicago Digital Media Production Fund (CDMPF) application period will open this Friday, February 15! Grants are awarded in amounts of up to $20,000 to artists and filmmakers in the Chicagoland area whose work encourages social … Continue reading “Chicago Digital Media Production Fund open for biz”
4+ “Olympia” received rave reviews at the Chicago Int’l Film Fest and is the latest from Chicago’s growing film community (Chicago, IL — 23 October 2018) Right off of a successful three-screening run at the 54th Chicago International Film Festival, Cow Lamp Films announce the film Olympia to screen for college audiences at the upcoming … Continue reading “‘Olympia’ at Chicago Comedy Film Festival”
5+ New web series features narcissistic characters who go about “undermining each other” with a kind of egotistical finesse that’s a joy to watch Open floor plans, clashing personalities, and corporate insincerity get a hilarious sendup in the first episode of Art of Motivation, a new web series created by John Cuneo. Described as “an … Continue reading “‘Art of Motivation’ at Chicago Comedy Film Festival”
2+ Stars of Dick Wolf’s Chicago franchise will play for the 100 Club of Chicago at SPiN Chicago on Sunday September 30 The stars of Chicago-based shows’ Chicago Fire, Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. will battle it out with a friendly table tennis competition to benefit the 100 Club of Chicago. The participating teams will … Continue reading ““Chicago Fire” | “PD” | “Med” ping pong battle”
3+ Voqal Fund and Chicago Filmmakers’ Chicago Digital Media Production Fund presents a Showcase of Groundbreaking Projects from 2018 (Chicago — 8 August 2018) Voqal Fund and Chicago Filmmakers are pleased to announce the nine new grantees receiving funding from the 2018 Chicago Digital Media Production Fund. In 2018, the Production Fund awarded a total … Continue reading “Digital Media Fund awards $100k to Chicago artists”
4+ The funniest women in Chicago are invited to a free networking panel discussion, and comedy conference. (Chicago) On July 29, Women in Comedy hosts Inside Jokes, a FREE conference for women looking to get involved and ahead in comedy and entertainment! The event will be held from 3:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m. at … Continue reading “Women In Comedy’s “Inside Jokes: Chicago””
4+ The Chicago Film Archives will host a cross-cultural evening of film and music at Millennium Park on July 17 (Chicago — 21 May 2018) The US premiere of Chicago Film Archives new International Media Mixer project will take place on July 17, 2018 as part of the Millennium Park Summer Film Series produced … Continue reading “Chicago premiere of the International Media Mixer”
Congratulations are in order for well-liked and respected advertising veteran, Kurt Fries, as he has been promoted to CCO of Mcgarrybowen Chicago.
According to an Adweek article published last weekend, the agency is shuffling its U.S. creative leadership as Matthew Bull, chief creative officer in New York, has decided to leave the agency.
Media Process Group’s feature doc, “Maya Angelou: And still I Rise,” the first documentary on the late author, poet and Civil Rights activist, will have a two-week US theatrical premiere, Sept. 16-20 at the Gene Siskel Film Center.
“After showing the film in festivals around the world,” including Sundance,” said MPG’s Bob Hercules, “we’re thrilled to finally have a chance to show it in our hometown of Chicago.”
Seven completed projects funded by the 2015 Chicago Digital Media Production Fund of $100,000 in grants from the Vogal Fund, administered by Chicago Filmmakers, will screen at the Chicago Cultural Center, co-presented by DCASE Tuesday, Aug. 2 starting at 6 p.m.
These web projects highlight a range of relevant social issues, from under-representation to ableism to trans bathroom bills. The films screening are:
A few years ago, Shelley LaMantia, Dean of Professional Arts at business-oriented Robert Morris University, had the idea of bringing together students who attend other Loop colleges and are housed in the Loop, to express their creativity through film.
She discussed it with RMU Chancellor Michael Viollt, who liked it and said the school should sponsor a short film festival. This was quite a departure for RMU since its visual media instruction consists of two video classes that are part of the graphic design curriculum.
If there ever were an “overnight success story,” this is it! Unknown Chicago-made and Chicago-set comedy shorts called “The Jamz” is discovered by New York powerbrokers who fund and produce a TV series and will digitally distributing it worldwide.
The first four half-hour episodes of “The Jamz” will have its world premiere Monday night, April 4 at the Logan Theatre, an invitation only event for the creators, producers, cast and crew, followed by a cast talk-back moderated by Eric Ferguson of 101.9 The Mix.
Writer/director Lucia Mauro’s second film and first feature “One Year Later,” currently in post, centers on Liz, a dedicated teacher of comparative literature, who struggles with her post-cancer life and changing priorities.
The first union contract between members of radio’s Chicago Public Media (CPM)
Staff members at Chicago Public Media (CPM) on Wednesday voted 40-7 in favor of joining SAG-AFTRA as their union. The new bargaining unit will cover 49 public media professionals who produce, report, host and present content for WBEZ, Vocalo, Sound Opinions and CPM’s digital services. ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK in Chicago is 8-year old marketing agency Tris3ct, so cited by the Chicago Tribune’s Chicago’s survey of the Top 100 Workplaces and ranking 13 out of 40 small companies. The list was divided into groups of large, medium and small companies. THE MIDWEST INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL’S annual Comedic Shorts night April 2 is doing something different this year by co-presenting with the Chicago Improv Festival. MWFF’s presents its section of the 16-film fest with scripted shorts and the Improv follows with its improvised films. All are shown here for the first time. 
Chicago Public Media pros to join SAG-AFTRA
Tris3ct named one of Chicago’s 100 best workplaces
MWFF, Chicago Improv co-present Comedic Shorts Night
