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New Michigan guidelines more favorable to state

Mar 27, 2011

Michigan’s new parameters for reviewing 2011 film incentive applications are putting more weight on the economic benefits for Michigan and working under Gov. Rick Snyder...

Columbia College hosts May-July YouTube Creator Institute

By Ed M. Koziarski Mar 27, 2011

Columbia College Chicago is one of two sites nationwide, along with the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, for the new YouTube Creator Institute.The pro...

Indie Focus

O’Keefe’s short posted online before fest run gets 30,000 hits

By Ed M. Koziarski Mar 26, 2011

IN ITS ONLINE RELEASE, director Eddie O’Keefe’s short film, The Ghosts, garnered 30,000 hits in two weeks. It’s a dreamy, black and white, rock-infused ‘50s-style tale o...

Superman flies into Chicago to film here this summer

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 25, 2011

"SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL" lands in Chicago in early summer for a reported 12 weeks of prep and 12 weeks of filming. The Warner Bros. blockbuster-budgeted adventu...

O&M’s Diedrich hits a home run with “Ballhawks” doc

By Ed M. Koziarski Mar 24, 2011

Mike Diedrich was videotaping outside a Cubs-Pirates game in 2004 when there were two home runs in the first inning. “There were four or five ballhawks out there,” Die...

At last, new Cinespace stage complex under construction

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 24, 2011

The timing couldn't be worse. The much-anticipated Cinespace Chicago film studio was into construction on the first phase of the soundstages when the House rushed to pass Senate...

Teamsters’ John Coli urges sunset clause action

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 23, 2011

The Illinois House’s last-minute amendment to Senate Bill 4 (SB4) to add a sunset clause in five years to the state’s hard-earned tax incentives has riled up film workers wh...

Radio Bob Resort teams with Gary Sinise voicing 74 Midas spots

By Mark Frazel Mar 21, 2011

Proprietor of radio ad shop, “Radio Bob Resort,” Bob Monachino writes, casts and produces funny, engaging spots for clients. We badgered the good man to spill the beans for ...

Theatre company’s video plays expand to new media

By Ed M. Koziarski Mar 21, 2011

Silk Road Theatre Project is rolling out a new series of short-form video plays designed to be accessible to mobile device and tablet users, shot cinematically, on theater sets,...

Urgent! Call senators today. Join protest at the Capitol

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 20, 2011

There’s still time on Monday to phone your state senator and urge him to vote “no” on Senate Bill 4 coming up for passage Tuesday in the Senate in Springfield. ...

Classical violinist Rachel Barton Pine plays in heavy metal rock band

By Shaunese Teamer Mar 17, 2011

Metal rock band, Earthen Grave, which marries the sounds of metal past and future, is probably the only metal rock band in the world whose band member is a world famous classica...

Indie Focus

Alshaibi’s “Profane” bows at Boston Underground

By Ed M. Koziarski Mar 17, 2011

USAMA ALSHAIBI’S button-pushing feature “Profane,” starring Manal Kara, as a devout Muslim dominatrix, has its U.S. premiere March 26 and 29 at the Boston Underground...

Beast Editorial’s new Virtual Telecine links to L.A./NY colorists

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 16, 2011

Bi-coastal Company 3 and sister company Beast Editorial opened a Virtual Telecine this week, giving Beast clients access to live, full HD telecine sessions with Company 3's colo...

SolidLine Media grows with corporate, doc work, doubles facility size

By Ed M. Koziarski Mar 16, 2011

Just in time for their 10th anniversary this August, full service video production company SolidLine Media is moving its office a half mile north to a Loop penthouse nearly twic...

Indie Focus

Ron Lazzeretti’s feature opens Lake County Fest, March 17-31

By Ed M. Koziarski Mar 15, 2011

WRITER/PRODUCER RON LAZZERETTI'S Something Better Somewhere Else is the opening feature of the lean, stripped down 8th annual Lake County Film Festival, March 17, and running th...

“The X Factor” auditions coming here April 27

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 14, 2011

The UK hit show, “The X Factor” – still another riff on talented amateur singers seeking fame and fortune – will hold one of its six nationwide auditions in Chicago on A...

Loss of media columnist Lewis Lazare diminishes Chicago adbiz importance

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 14, 2011

SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST LEWIS LAZARE was abruptly fired Friday from his 11 year post as ad/marketing and local broadcasting columnist – a serious blow to the adbiz here, despite m...

50 Cent: Goodbye Grand Rapids, hello New Orleans

By Ruth Ratny Mar 14, 2011

"Freelancer," Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's fifth movie scheduled to start shooting in Grand Rapids March 28, has moved its production offices to New Orleans."That's $20 million th...

MEDIA

One at Optimus Martin Agency spots urge teens not to text and drive

By Ed M. Koziarski Mar 12, 2011

ONE AT OPTIMUS produced two pro bono spots for client The Martin Agency of Richmond, Va. to run on Project Yellow Light's website. The spots' purpose is to inspire teens t...

Burnett wins dominate the Addy Awards comeback

By Ruth L Ratny Mar 12, 2011

The Chicago Ad Federation-sponsored Addy Awards reappeared after a 10 year snooze to reemerge as a low-key event last Thursday at Resolution Digital Studios, attended by a compa...

TOP STORIES

Jeremy Piven returns to Chicago to film stand-up special at The Vic

Director, Duane Edwards talks about ‘Laura Louise’ set to film in Chicago

NBC confirms One Chicago returning cast members