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Anthony joins “Mahalia” movie as exec producer

By Ruth Ratny Mar 18, 2015

Chicago based producer/writer Blake Anthony, of Blake Anthony, Inc., has joined Joyful Noise, LLC, producers of the music biopic about gospel great Mahalia Jackson, as executive...

REEL MICHIGAN

House votes to kill Michigan film incentives Oct. 1

By Mike Morgan Mar 17, 2015

After more than six years of Michigan film incentives that brought millions of dollars and thousands of jobs to the distressed state, a bill to end the incentives Oct. 1 narro...

Leo Burnett wins an armload of the CAF’s Addy Awards

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 12, 2015

NO SURPRISE THAT LEO BURNETT, which, with its several other agency divisions, dominated the CAF-sponsored nominations with five out of six nods for Agency of the Year, wo...

The Hideout gives a boost to bands heading to SXSW

By Mike Morgan Mar 12, 2015

A bonanza of bands will play this Saturday, March 14 for nearly 13 non-stop hours at the Hideout’s Annual SXSW Send Off Party for 10 local bands heading to Austin.The mini mu...

“Chicago Made” music, tech talent shows off at SXSW

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 12, 2015

"Chicago Made" music riches and tech innovations will be on display a second year before the thousands of international visitors at SXSW Music, Film, Interactive festivals&nbs...

Doc about famous local chef premieres at SXSW Friday

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 11, 2015

For Kevin Pang and Mark Helenowski having their first documentary accepted for a world premiere at SXSW Film, Music and Digital Festival after more than three years in the work...

REEL THINGS

Filmworkers’ new colorist returns from an NYC stint

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 10, 2015

FILMWORKERS’ CREATIVE STAFF got a boost with the hire of colorist Jeff Altman, who returns to his home town after two years in New York as a colorist with Color Collective, w...

Biopic of family of blues musicians to have cast of 92

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 9, 2015

Producer/director Darryl Pitts’ indie biopic, "The Rhythm and the Blues," is based on true story of a family of Mississippi-born blues musicians who came North during the Gre...

Dramatic “Chiraq” TV pilot to screen publicly Sunday

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 5, 2015

The pilot for “Chiraq,” a dramatic TV series about gang rivalry set in Chicago’s troubled South Side neighborhoods, created and produced by William Pierce of Filmquest, ...

Towers’ realty show gets greenlight for season two

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 5, 2015

Towers Productions’ reality TV series "Strange Inheritance," the half-hour series Jonathan Towers created and produced for the Fox Business Network (FBN) is heading for a sec...

DePaul hosts ‘Art of Pitch’ panel with film, tv pros

By Mike Morgan Mar 5, 2015

“The Art of Pitching” is the panel discussion part of the first Pitch Day hosted by DePaul School of Cinematic Arts Friday, March 6, featuring faculty members who are also...

DDB’s Terry gets Shorty Awards Best Instagrammer nom

By Dan Patton Mar 4, 2015

DDB/Chicago production manager Scott Terry was nominated for Best Instagrammer by the Shorty Awards, an achievement described as being "like a Nobel Peace Prize," but "um, bet...

Harpo’s closing ends the studio’s production legacy

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 4, 2015

All good things that must come to an end, and so Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios, the 26-year old production company and 170,000-sq. ft. four-building studio complex she owns,...

Troika’s 4th film penned by best-selling author

By Dan Patton Mar 3, 2015

"King Ripple" is a "Stand by Me" kind of adventure delivered in a David Lynch kind of vehicle In December, director Luke Jaden finished production on King Ripple, a...

Best of Chicago advertising to be honored March 11

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 3, 2015

The spotlight will be on the best of Chicago advertising March 11 when the Chicago Advertising Federation hosts its annual awards gala at the Museum of Broadcast Communication...