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Lewis Lazare

Modesto and Immesoete bring new spirit to Marc USA

By Lewis Lazare Oct 18, 2011

So now we know. After months of waiting and wondering where Mark Modesto would turn up, it turns out he has landed just a short distance from DraftFCB, the shop from which...

Curtain Calls

Kohler-Drake is back with Actors Talent Group agency

By Kerry Reid Oct 16, 2011

The name “Maryann Ziesch” may not immediately register. But as Maryann Kohler-Drake, she spent over ten high-profile years as a film, television, and theater agent for Stewa...

Director Scott Smith wins IFO’s Shortcuts film contest

By Ruth L Ratny Oct 16, 2011

MULTI AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR SCOTT SMITH won the Illinois Film Office’s 4th annual Shortcuts short film contest with his 12-minute short, “A Certain Breed,” an humorous im...

Producers seek candidates for Chicago reality series

By Mike Morgan Oct 14, 2011

Yuri Rutman of Noci Pictures has teamed with two Hollywood partners to produce a pair of reality television shows that will be set and shot in Chicago and seek candidates for st...

Lewis Lazare

Walgreens’ ‘Ellen and Edith’ spot eases flu shot pain

By Lewis Lazare Oct 13, 2011

And you thought the world was full of them? Well, think again.When we inquired about the making of the latest Walgreens flu shot spot, aptly titled “Ellen and Edit...

Curtain Calls

Sandra Delgado recipient of $15,000 theater grants

By Kerry Reid Oct 13, 2011

SANDRA DELGADO RECEIVES THE $15,000 Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowship from the William and Eva Fox Foundation and Theatre Communications Group. Delgado, a longtime member...

Lewis Lazare

New Yawker Rosie’s show leaves a lot to be desired

By Lewis Lazare Oct 13, 2011

Rosie O’Donnell, the VERY New Yawky talk show host unveiled her new talk-and-whatever fest, “The Rosie Show,” on OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, this week. “The Rosie Sh...

John McGrath a partner in 3D/CGI shop re:think post

By Ruth L Ratny Oct 12, 2011

After an almost two year absence from local production, former Cutters’ general manager John McGrath came back in full force as a partner in one of the city’s first wholly d...

WIF Focus honoree Chaz Ebert reveals favorite films

By Kerry Reid Oct 11, 2011

In his newly released memoir, Life Itself, Roger Ebert begins the chapter about his wife with “How can I tell you about Chaz?” and says that “her love was like a wind push...

Lewis Lazare

“Limelight” nightclub doc also a lesson in marketing

By Lewis Lazare Oct 11, 2011

You really had to be there — to appreciate fully the new documentary film about fallen nightclub magnate Peter Gatien titled “Limelight, the Rise and Fall of New York’s G...

Filmmaker Harris takes a risk with Englewood Film Fest

By Ruth Ratny Oct 10, 2011

Filmmaker Mark Harris of 1555 Filmworks is doing something bold and brave, without any sponsorship support to speak of, for the love and hope of his neighborhood, which happens ...

Michigan’s FY 2012 film incentives up in the air

By Mike Morgan Oct 9, 2011

Michigan’s film fortunes have drastically changed in almost a year, and not in a good way. Big-budget blockbusters, “The Ides of March” and “Real Steel” that sho...

Indie Focus

Richard Cohen’s short debuts with 2 others Oct. 16

By Ruth Ratny Oct 9, 2011

A TRIO OF SHORTS by local filmmakers will screen Sunday, Oct. 16, centered around the premiere of “Song for Pluto,” an 8-minute short by filmmaker/screenwriter Richard Cohen...

Curtain Calls

Second City training pioneer Jo Forsberg dies at 90

By Kerry Reid Oct 6, 2011

Chicago improv legend Josephine Raciti Forsberg passed away at age 90 on Oct. 3. Forsberg was present at the birth of what became the Second City, working with its earliest pred...

Urge Overkill band back in music scene with new video

By Sarah Klose Oct 6, 2011

Urge Overkill is indelibly etched in pop culture history for two reasons. First, the band opened for Nirvana on their “Nevermind” tour, which kicked off 20 years ago this we...

Lewis Lazare

Quinn names savvy marketer Michael Jones Lottery head

By Lewis Lazare Oct 6, 2011

Yes, dear readers, miracles do happen. Even, much to our amazement, in Illinois state government. Certainly one of the biggest miracles in the recent history of this state...

Lewis Lazare

CSNC sends message in new ‘Fans Best Friend’ spots

By Lewis Lazare Oct 6, 2011

It might not have been fully apparent in Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s joke-filled “Fan’s Best Friend”-themed advertising to date.But the message is clear — very clear �...

Aria’s Bob Schroeder named SAG’s Agent of the Month

By Ruth L Ratny Oct 6, 2011

Each month, Screen Actors Guild’s national office designates from the thousands of SAG-franchised talent agents as its “Agent of the Month” and this month’s title goes t...

Indie Focus

Short film producers to get info on low-budget contracts