Reel Chicago - Midwest film, production, TV, commercial, music, ad agency

Memorial service for composer Shelly Elias, 58, Jan. 2 at Alice Millar Chapel

Dec 29, 2004 0 Comment

A memorial service for multifaceted musician/composer Shelly Elias will be held Jan. 2 at 2 p.m. in the Alice Millar Chapel at Northwestern University. A Chicago native, Mr....

Former agency CD Lucia Blinn’s new book of poetry wittily confronts life after advertising

Dec 20, 2004 0 Comment

How do you confront life after advertising ? or the act of leaving a lengthy career in the commercial creative arts? Many, like former DDB creative director Lucia Blinn, "the Do...

Chicago’s loss is L.A.’s gain as director Willy Laszlo sets out to conquer comedy

Dec 20, 2004 0 Comment

Comedy genius Willy Laszlo says he had the time of his life in Chicago. He had creative freedom. He had a good full-time day job. He worked hard. But he was always broke. "S...

Venue’s demands for changes cause for JoyArt Wrigley Bldg. party cancellation

Dec 20, 2004 0 Comment

What does an agency person look like, and how can anyone tell one's occupation by the way he looks? That was a question JoyArt Music asked the management of the 410 Club in ...

Chicago Community Cinema changes identity, plans new theatre venue

By Ed M. Koziarski Dec 13, 2004 0 Comment

After five years as Chicago Community Cinema, the monthly screening/networking event is reinventing itself as the Midwest Independent Film Festival. "It's time to take it...

Aljazeera 15-part series on religious minorities shoots episode on Chicago Baha’i community

Dec 13, 2004 0 Comment

Producer Maya Ghosn of Lebanese-British production company Firehorse Films shot an episode on Chicago Baha'i here last November for the forthcoming Aljazeera series "Religious...

New Styx music video created by Jones-Hale streaming on Apple’s iTunes Dec. 14

Dec 13, 2004 0 Comment

Come Dec. 14 Styx fans will see a locally-produced streaming video of the great band playing the Beatles' "I am the Walrus" over Apple's iTunes Web site. Director Stev...

Husband-wife filmmaking team on the road making political doc, “Red, White and Blue”

By Ed M. Koziarski Dec 13, 2004 0 Comment

Eric Anderson and Amelia Dellos are out to prove that America isn't as divided as it's made out to be.The husband-wife filmmaking team are poised to embark on a Midwest tour, in...

Independent Production Roundup

Dec 13, 2004 0 Comment

PHIL DONLON'S Super 16mm short "A Series of Small Things," which shot here last May, has its local premiere in a private screening Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the A...

Fatcake follows “Stuffed” with second Mexican-set travel pilot “Tracking Expats”

By Ed M. Koziarski Dec 13, 2004 0 Comment

Fresh off Jeff Garlin's feature debut and the season premiere of CBS' "The Amazing Race," Misty Tosh of Fatcake Productions is on her way to Baja, Mexico to produce a pilo...

Product placement fastest growing ad phenom

Dec 13, 2004 0 Comment

Product placement veteran George Simkowski recalls the glory days when he placed client Budget Rent a Car in the 1987 John Hughes hit comedy, "Planes, Trains and Automobil...

Chicago advertising HUGE: ’05 ad spending to hit $182 billion, says Ad Coalition study

Dec 13, 2004 0 Comment

We always knew Chicago was an enormous advertising market?second only to New York in North America?and that advertising was big business. Now thanks to a new study by Globa...

Paul Cotter debuts short at Sundance Fest; “Swingers” producer developing his feature

By Ed M. Koziarski Dec 13, 2004 0 Comment

It was five days before Richard Dresser's play "Wonderful World" would open at the Athenaeum Theatre, and director Paul Cotter had the day off.It was Sunday, Aug. 15 and Cotter ...

Taproot’s bullfight doc attracts broadcasters at Santa Fe festival; will play Chicago Latino

By Ed M. Koziarski Dec 13, 2004 0 Comment

Taproot Productions' bullfighting documentary "The Bulls of Suburbia" has charged its way through the festival circuit this year, drawing broadcaster interest at the Santa...

Overwhelming industry support persuades Hudgins to keep IFO job

Dec 13, 2004 0 Comment

He's back by popular acclaim. Bob Hudgins, deputy director of the Illinois Film Office, said he was convinced by "a long list of people" to remain on the job after he had ...