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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
“There’s a side of you that has this arrogance, and selfishness, and narcissism that is just disgraceful,” Cook County Judge James Linn said in his closing remarks to Jussie Smollett. “You’re not a victim of a racial hate crime, you’re not a victim of a homophobic hate crime. You’re just a charlatan pretending to be … Continue reading “Jussie Smollett: arrogance, selfishness and narcissism that is just disgraceful”
UPDATE and trial timeline at end of story. I swore I would never do another Jussie Smollett story. But he’s baaaack. If it is true that there’s no such thing as bad publicity then Jussie is getting a nice long run on his alleged prank that lead police on an expensive wild goose chase nearly … Continue reading “Guilty! UPDATE and trial timeline: Jussie Smollett is back in Chicago for trial”
Multiple news outlets are reporting that former Empire cast member Jussie Smollett will be indicted on six counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly leading police on an expensive wild goose chase. According to the Chicago Tribune, the 37-year-old actor will be arraigned on the charges at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on February 24, almost … Continue reading “Actor Jussie Smollett indicted, again”
The ongoing case of Jussie Smollett is storming into the new year with a new load of investigatorial twists and turns. The Chicago Tribune reported today that “a Cook County judge has ordered Google to turn over Jussie Smollett’s emails, photos, location data and private messages for an entire year as part of the special … Continue reading “Jussie Smollett probe issues ‘sweeping search warrants’”
Castmates tell Fox that the actor “has shown us who he really is as a leader.” What is a week at Reel Chicago if we don’t have a Jussie Smollett story? On the same day, The Chicago Tribune ran a story about Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx appearing Tuesday night on Girl Talk to … Continue reading “‘Empire’ cast calls for the return of Jussie Smollett”
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints and official policies of Reel Chicago and Reel 360 Dear Jussie, I understand that you sometimes read Reel Chicago. Thanks for that. It’s appreciated. So, if you do read this scrappy daily trade that I have been proud to be a … Continue reading “An open letter to Jussie Smollett”
After his surrender and arrest this morning, the actor’s bail was set at $100K during an afternoon bond hearing Empire star Jussie Smollett has been charged with filing a false police report, a felony. Yesterday, CPD Chief Communications Officer Anthony Guglielmi tweeted, “Felony criminal charges have been approved by @CookCountySAO against Jussie Smollett for Disorderly … Continue reading “Jussie Smollett charged with filing false police report”
The alleged “homophobic” and “racist” attack on Jussie Smollett, which reportedly took place in the early hours of January 29, has taken more twists and turns than an hour of the locally-filmed hit Fox series Empire. One could almost be led to believe a group of writers in a writer’s room was responsible for a … Continue reading “Jussie Smollett: Timeline of a “hoax?””
The “Empire” star talks about the assault and his recovery during an emotional Saturday-night set at the Troubadour “I fought the f–k back.” Only four days after Empire star, Jussie Smollett was allegedly attacked by what sources close to him have called MAGA Supporters, the actor/singer appeared in concert on stage at Los Angeles famed … Continue reading “Jussie Smollett performs in L.A.”
Area detectives and now the FBI continue to investigate the attack on the Empire actor Early Tuesday morning, Empire actor Jussie Smollett was attacked by what has been classified by Chicago police as a possible “Hate Crime.” First reported by TMZ, the actor was on his way home from a sandwich shop (reportedly Subway) at … Continue reading “Questions arise in Jussie Smollett’s alleged attack”
Details suggest the actor was targeted by racist and homophobic attackers during 2 a.m. assault CNN is reporting that Empire star Jussie Smollett was viciously attacked in the early Tuesday morning in what Chicago police are calling a possible hate crime. The 35-year-old actor has starred on the hit Fox series, which is filmed in … Continue reading “‘Empire’ star Jussie Smollett beaten by MAGA supporters”
Cinespace Studios will have a busy season as the Fox series was renewed for Season 6 along with Showtime’s ‘The Chi’ Fox has announced that Empire, which shoots at Cinespace Studios, has been renewed for a sixth season at Fox one week before its Season 5 finale. Jussie Smollett’s, who plays Jamal Lyons, role on … Continue reading “Fox renews ‘Empire,’ Smollett’s return unclear”
Cook County State Attorney drops all 16 criminal charges; and seals all records in a case full of twists and turns Again, the Jussie Smollett case has had more twists and turns than an episode of Empire. Less than two weeks after the Empire actor pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of disorderly conduct for … Continue reading “Updated: Is there finally “Jusstice” for Jussie?”
Report: Chicago Police raided the home of “two persons of interest” on Wednesday night, investigation continues According to The Wrap, two “potential suspects” have been brought in for questioning by Chicago PD for the attack on Empire actor Jussie Smollett. Friday morning, Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi, confirmed they are talking to two men, they … Continue reading “Two Nigerian suspects in Smollett attack arrested”
NEW STAR IN TOWN will be Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson (“Person of Interest”) and Jussie Smollett (“On Our Own”) joining star Terrance Howard in Fox TV’s pilot, “Empire,” director Lee Daniels and Danny Strong’s hip-hop drama. It starts shooting at Cinespace in mid-to-late March.
What a year, huh? 2020, which felt like a decade, will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the worst years ever. And who will argue? Certainly not the staff at Reel Chicago. This year, COVID forced productions to shut down. Then start back up. Then shut back down. Then start back up. It … Continue reading “2020 in Review: Reel Chicago’s Biggest Stories”
Golden Globe-nominated EMPIRE is now in its sixth and final season as one of television’s most popular and groundbreaking shows. A powerful drama about a family dynasty set within the glamorous and often dangerous world of hip-hop music, the show revolves around the Lyons and their media company, Empire Entertainment. Tuesday is the EMPIRE Season Finale, … Continue reading “As EMPIRE series ends, here’s our Top 10 favorite episodes”
What does Fox’s Empire, now in its sixth and final season, have in common with NBC’s Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. have hit E.R. and even Showtime’s Shameless? They are all scripted shows based and filmed in Chicago that have reached the milestone of 100 shows. The hip-hop drama, once a ratings powerhouse and pop culture phenom, … Continue reading “‘Empire’ airs 100th episode tonight on Fox”
The City of Chicago reigned supreme in 2019. Advertising agencies blended social justice with clever branding. Content creators reinforced Chicago’s reputation for inclusivity. Film studios entertained the nation while helping the local neighborhoods. And a handful of friends said goodbye. Below is a list of Reel Chicago’s top articles for 2019, separated by category and … Continue reading “The biggest stories of 2019”
It happened to Rome. Now, it’s happened to the Lyons. Today before the Fall 2019 Upfronts began in New York, Fox announced that Empire, which is filmed locally at Cinespace Studios, would come to an end after the upcoming sixth season. The network also said the drama would return in the fall to its original … Continue reading “Season 6 to be ‘Empire’s’ last”
Awards season finally comes to a curious, confounding and sometimes confusing end this Sunday when the Oscars announce their winners at the Dolby Theater. This year, there is no host (may come to regret that, Kevin Hart detractors) for Hollywood’s version of The Super Bowl. And in a Black History Month where a notable number … Continue reading “No host. No “obvi” winner. Here are our Oscar picks!”
Chicago-based SB Productions announces Radha Mitchell (Silent Hill, London has Fallen), last seen in the faith-based film, The Shack, alongside Sam Worthington and Octavia Spencer, will star and executive produce, The World Without You, based on Joshua Henkin’s best-selling novel of the same name.
The film represents the directorial debut of established actor Damon Shalit, who was the writer and producer of African Gothic and A-List.
It wasn’t too long ago that giant recording studios were the norm in Chicago. There was Streeterville, Universal and Paragon.
Now? All gone. But still left standing is CRC. Recently, the recording studio has provided ADR and mixing for films including Hidden Figures, Spike Lee’s Chi-raq and Michael Bay’s Transformers: The Last Knight as well as numerous commercials and podcasts even.
If you ask CRC business affairs director, Dave Dakich, CRC’s continued success is due in part to their constant mix of music artists, films and commercials.
That sound clinking champagne glasses you hear is coming from the deservedly ecstatic producers, cast and crew of “Empire,” which bowed on Fox network Wednesday night to a 3.8 rating and 9.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings.
The sole pilot that shot in Chicago this year, happily has turned into a series. Fox TV announced yesterday that dramatic “Empire” was picked up as a series for a slot on Fox’ fall schedule, as confirmed by Betsy Steinberg of the Illinois Film Office.
“Empire” filmed here in March at Cinespace.
Retired Chicago broadcaster and Southern Illinois University alum Bob Ramsey passed away suddenly at age 65 on Tuesday at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California at age 65. According to friends, Ramsey succumbed to complications while awaiting a liver transplant, Robert Feder reported. After graduating from Southern Illinois University in 1979, Ramsey started his … Continue reading “Chicago broadcaster Bob Ramsey passed away suddenly at age 65”
