I’M LOVIN’ IT, McDonald’s first global campaign, that’s easily understood in hundreds of languages, is underway. The new campaign will debut Sept. 2, first in England and in the U.S. Sept. 29. Omnicom-owned Heye & Partners of Germany, creators of the new tagline, have the honor of producing the first five spots.

The agency tapped London director James Brown, 37, giving him an assignment that will certainly secure his U.S. position, although he’s widely known for his Nike and Ikea spots.

Video production and creative web firm AKA Media Inc., is Chicago’s sole privately held media company to make Inc. Magazine’s 2010 list of 5,000 fastest growing companies. The company was also listed in 2009.

“We’re a 12-year overnight sensation,” says CEO/ executive producer Andrew Krause, who is grateful for his company’s success despite the rough economy affecting the industry.

The company ranked #4,615 in 2010, thanks to a continuing 15% growth rate since 2006. Revenues reached $2.4 million in 2009, a $200,000 increase in 12 months.

VINCE LAWRENCE’S Slang Music has added another service — creating iPhone apps under a new company, iLL Concepts, LLC, with partners Thomas Beckmann and Jack Eisenberg. First up is “House Music Ringtones,” whereby users can download the free app and have immediate access to four free house music ringtones.

“Users then have the option pay $1.99 for 21 more original ringtones and a reduced price for each additional library of future house music ringtones from other founding fathers of the genre,” says Lawrence.

Some years ago, spot editor Yamus (real name Jim Mudra) was working on a PSA spot. The footage involved many children and atmospheres, related his friend and colleague Red Car editor Bob Carr.

After reviewing the footage, Yamus called the copywriter and said he’d found a single 30-second take that was perfect. “You don’t need an editor,” he said. “The magic was captured in this one take.”

Called “the consummate craftsman,” Yamus will be inducted into the AICE’s Hall of Fame during the 9th annual AICE Awards Show, May 20 at the Field Museum.

PILOT UPDATES. Networks this week began screening and evaluating 68 pilots that were shot during the first quarter for possible prime-time fall series slots. Here’s the reaction to four of the six that were filmed in Chicago, according to Deadline/Hollywood:

“Ride-Along:” Shawn Ryan’s cop drama is a contender.

“Pleading Guilty:” Not getting a lot of buzz on this legal drama starring Jason Isaacs, but some say it’s heating up.

HUNGRY MAN of New York, famous for its creative directors and take on comedy commercials, has won the Commitment to Excellence Award for TV commercials from the 2010 Hugo Television Awards, announced Jesse Berkowitz, competitions coordinator at a party Thursday night.

Hungry Man’s managing partner/executive producer Kevin Byrne will accept the Gold Hugo on behalf of his company at the April 15 awards ceremony at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Famous for comedy commercials, Hungry Man’s work is always a dominant force on the Super Bowl.

JOYCE KILBURG, the Illinois Film Office’s diversity officer, was seriously injured Wednesday night when the taxi she was riding crashed into a tree. She was heading home after attending the Vince Vaughan premiere. Call the IFO, 312/814-3600 for updates.

DIRECTORS AND STARS will add more glitz and glamour to the 45th Chicago International Film Festival opening tonight through Oct. 22. Tonight, Uma Thurman (“Motherhood”) leads the parade down the red carpet.

Others expected are director John Woo scheduled for Oct.

NOT EVERYONE gets the pleasure and satisfaction of working with their mother, but Oscar winner Virginia Madsen teamed up with her filmmaker mom, Elaine Madsen, to produce a provocative doc. “I Know a Woman Like That,” features interviews with extraordinary women ages 64 to 94.

Produced by Virginia and directed by Emmy-winning Elaine, “Woman” will screen Oct. 13 at Columbia College, prior to which Brenda Sexton and Chaz Ebert will host a cocktail reception in the Madsen’s honor. BTW, the Madsens are Chicago natives.

Albert J. Nader was elated as anyone when the regime of Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003. What he could not have known is just what that would mean for his Assyrian Christian ancestors remaining in the region.

The new documentary that Nader, and his Chicago-based media company, Questar, co-produced with veteran director, Rob Marcarelli, documents the persecution, kidnapping, and murder of Assyrian-Christians in Iraq.

SOME POSITIVE PRODUCTION NEWS. Judging by how busy casting directors are right now, late summer spot production for the city is lookin’ good.

For instance, casting director Mickie Pasal of Tenner, Paskal & Rudnicke, reports a torrent of casting calls for commercials, including those for Leo Burnett clients Secret, McDonald’s and Eggo; Budweiser, DDB and the Illinois Lottery/Energy BBDO.

Paskal is most pleased at having cast six Chicago actors for a Blue Cross-Blue Shield shoot in New York Aug.

The 2009 Advertising Woman of the Year is Draftfcb’s managing director Karen Sauder. She is the latest on a lengthy list of agency leaders who were named to the top honor by the by the Chicago Advertising Federation.

Sauder is an integral part of the management team that leads the single largest concentration of ad talent in Chicago and the Midwest, said the CAF.

As such, she has helped to create unprecedented momentum for the agency that was formed in 2006 following the merger of Draft and Foote Cone & Belding.

When it comes to TV commercial awards shows, the number of Chicago winners is usually in the low single digits, and those winners tend to be the big, familiar names.

While the big, familiar agencies swept last week’s Chicago-based 2009 Hugo Television competition, this time the number of local winners was huge — an incredible 33 out of 85 awards!

Leo Burnett was Hugo’s mighty top dog. It won the single Gold Hugo award for Best Commercial for McDonald’s “Kung Food” spot, plus seven other prizes, edging out worthy competitor DDB by only one award.

The economy has forced a change in the way the international Mobius advertising awards presented those coveted golden statuettes to 2008 winners.

With travel “a tough call,” for the first time in its 38 years of existence, the Mobius Awards canceled its presentation ceremony in a public venue and opted instead to announce the 223 winners on its website.

While 37 Best of Show nominees have been posted on the site, winners will not be announced until Feb. 3 on the site, said Mobius president Lee Gluckman.

ACTRESS HELEN HUNT was in Chicago last weekend with Chelsea Pictures/L.A. to direct a 60-second spot for Frito-Lay’s new TrueNorth healthy snack brand that will air on the Oscars’ Feb. 22 telecast.

TrueNorth launched a consumer contest last summer for stories that described how they or someone they know had the pursuit of their life’s passion. The winner, out of 2,300 entries, will be featured in a spot and receive a cash prize of $25,000.

The Oscars’ spot will kick off the brand’s 2009 ad campaign which will highlight real people who pursued their life’s passion.

ZIG/CHICAGO MAY ZAG with the loss of creative director Kevin Lynch come early February, when he leaves the Chicago branch of Toronto-based Zig. Two years ago Zig acquired hot creative boutique agency Hadrian’s Wall, of which Lynch was co-founder.

Lynch’s stated reason for leaving, he told the Sun-Times, was simply because he wanted a change. He said he is considering all career options in advertising and beyond.

THE SALE OF EQUIPMENT AND FIXTURES at the Avenue Edit auction earlier month “did very well,” although auctioneer Paul Finn of the Boston-based auction house could not reveal how much money was raised by the sale.

He did say, however, that 100 customers were in the house and another 100 bid via the internet. Proceeds from the auction will be used to pay Avenue Edit’s creditors.

FYI: The DGA will bestow an honorary life membership on Roger Ebert at the guild’s Jan. 31 awards dinner in L.A. ?

IRONICALLY, GOV. BLAGOJEVICH was going to sign the Illinois 30% tax credit bill into law next Monday at Essanay Studios! The unconfirmed signing ceremony was being set up because the governor had the time to do so.

We can safely assume that the gov’s photo op signing will be put indefinitely on hold.

That doesn’t mean the bill will languish as it did earlier this year — delayed first by the senate action and then by Blago’s demand for a photo op surrounded by celebs, taking it into May.

Blagojevich will remain governor, however, for the forseeable future.

TABLETOP SHOOTER MICHAEL AZZARITI of Black Bag Films has built a 2,500 sq. ft. HD production studio with a commercial kitchen, on the old horse farm he owns in East Dundee.

A ten year veteran of Peter Elliott’s internationally famous studio, Azzariti’s company is focusing on creating table top using the latest in digital and file based work flow.

The best of Chicago’s advertising is apparently created by a handful of major ad agencies, if the number of prizes they won at the recent Creative Club Awards is any indication.

The big agencies won almost all of the awards in 34 categories at the recent CCC Awards show held at the United Club at Soldier Field and attended by 400 adpeople.

And if Leo Burnett’s 10 awards and DDB’s four weren’t enough glory for one night, they were also named Agencies of the Year and their respective clients, Altoids and Anheuser-Busch, were declared the Clients of the Year.

“Kate,” one of 78 “reporters” vying for five finalist positions, is the highest rated candidate in the competition, and the only “reporter” who actually has been reporting on presidential candidates ever since Sen. Obama announced his candidacy way back when in January.

Unlike “Kate,” creator Lundin is no novice to the political scene. She has been produced political commercials for many winning candidates for 15 years.

CASTING DIRECTOR CLAIRE SIMON is in Detroit last week casting parts for a new ABC series, “The Prince of Motor City,” to be directed by “Lost” writer Jack Bender, known for action and drama.

Cast of the hourlong drama includes Andie MacDowell, Piper Perabo, Aunjanue Ellis and Warren Christie thus far.

According the ABC, “The Prince” is inspired by Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Philosophy lecturer Billy Hamilton is the Hamlet character, questioning whether to take over his father’s business after his scion dad is murdered.

A NICE 10TH ANNIVERSARY PRESENT for Darryl S. Duncan’s Gamebeat Studios was landing the scoring assignment for the Illinois Lottery’s Summer Campaign for the second year in a row.

Gamebeat will compose music for three TV and two radio spots each for the urban market, with version for general and Hispanic markets for lottery agency R.J. Dale and producer Darryl Manuel.

A former songwriter for Warner Bros. and A&M records in Hollywood, Duncan founded his company in April, 1998. He employs seven and works out of a 3,000-sq. ft.

Megan Vidis, deputy director of the Illinois Film Office, will leave in mid-May for a position outside of the film industry, for the first time in her career.

Starting June 15, she will become the director of communications and marketing for the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, a non-profit dedicated to fighting lung disease.

As the mother of a child with asthma, “I find their mission personally compelling,” she said of the Respiratory Health Association. Her 10-year old son, Eli Newman, has suffered from asthma since he was four.

A RARE AND PERFECT CHOICE are Chicago natives Virgina Madsen and her brother, Michael Madsen to MC the SAG Foundation’s 75th Anniversary Gala Celebration and Benefit.

The June 21 event takes place amid the architectural artifacts at Salvage One. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased through the SAG office, 312/573-8081.

As of Monday, April 28, Audio Producers Group (APG) will conduct its first session in a studio across the street from the Leo Burnett building, after four years as an outside-operated, in-house production service within the Burnett agency.

Partners Mindy Verson and David Kaplan purchased a new, 1,500-sq. ft. condo at 200 N. Dearborn, a 309-unit building recently converted to condos from rentals by American Invsco.

APG offers voicecasting, Verson’s expertise, voice recording, sound design, sound effects and manipulation, digital sound mixing and duplication.

Paul Tilley, DDB Chicago’s managing director for creative, 40, committed suicide Friday evening after leaping from a window in the Fairmont Hotel, next door to DDB’s office in the Aon Center.

Mr. Tilley, an 11-year veteran of the agency, had the mission of trying to boost the agency’s growth.

In the fall of 2006, he had replaced Mark Folino a few months after Folino left DDB after six months to rejoin Weiden & Kennedy, Portland, Ore.

Mr. Tilley joined DDB in 1997 as an associate creative director after a lengthy stint at JWT.

THE TAX EXTENSION IS ON ITS WAY! The Illinois House voted 107-7 to extend Illinois’ generous 20% tax credits. The bill was introduced to the House by speaker Michael Madigan .

From there, the bill goes to the Senate and wends its way through committes and ultimately to the Senate floor for a vote ? assuming all goes according to plan. It’s difficult to say when to pop corks — everyone’s hoping before the end of the month — so stay tuned.

WHO SHE IS: A freelace producer and postproducer of commercials and long-form films for 15 years, Sandra Gordon is president of the volunteer Illinois Production Alliance.

As IPA president, Gordon’s goal is to grow and promote the market, and to inform filmmakers about the Illinois filmmakers tax incentives. “The IPA was responsible for their enactment,” she says.

PROS OF FREELANCING: “It’s not a mundane, everyday job.

WHO HE IS: A former adman on the business side, Ryan McDougal made “a turn on the dime” to visual effects artist after an intensive 15 months of animation and effects study at the Vancouver Film School. “It was a big gamble.”

He’s worked at Vitamin, a division of Filmworkers Club, since July for clients that include Nike, McDonald’s and Microsoft.

“I’m humbled by how fast and well-received I’ve been.”

WHAT’S HE UP TO: For the past three months, McDougal’s been creating animation on a teaser for Vitamin’s 5-minute promotion piece.

DIRECTOR ROBERT TOWNSEND will be among the esteemed group of industry professionals celebrating IFP’s first Independent Film Gala, Sept. 28 at Salvage One. All proceeds will go to expand IFP’s services and programs.

They include the Production Fund of $100,000 in in-kind services, the annual Midwest Filmmakers Summit coming up Oct. 19-21, mentorship programs, the Flyover Zone Film Festival and more.

Tickets are $100 ($150) for two and membership is a low $80 a year. See chi.ifp.org for details.

DIRECTOR KEVIN SMITH of Backyard Productions of L.A. and Chicago departs from his role of directing commercials to helm a 20-minute short titled “Bubblerama” around town this week. Leigh Jones is producing.

The story is about a young woman played by actress Annie Paresse, a bohemian artist type, who reinvents herself during the process of researching an upscale life style.

“Bubblerama” will head for the festival circuit when completed.

Drew Weir and Ris? Sanders, husband-and-wife partners in audio post house Vagabond, enjoyed a practical third anniversary celebration in May.

They invested in a $20,000 Avid D-Command mixing board, one of the newest types of medium format mixing control console on the market, which enables them to expand to a second studio.

Radar editor Greg Somerlot’s fifth spot for McDonald’s Mighty Kids campaign/Leo Burnett widens the spotlight from individual youths to group activities showing the ever-changing definition of a “mighty kid.”

Girls are featured in the fast-paced, double dutch jump rope game in the new “Double Dutch” spot, directed by Lesli Linka Glatter of Venice-based Philsfilm.

Glatter used four different camera formats?35 mm, 16 mm, 8 mm, and a mini DV?to capture the girls in a variety of locations, high-rise rooftops, school gyms and the streets of L.A.

Mark Ohlsen’s LRS, Chicago’s largest audio studio specializing in foreign languages, has a roster of 265 foreign-speaking voiceovers, who can deliver 30 different languages?from commonly called-for Spanish to obscure Laotian Mong.

Hundreds of Fortune 500 companies that need the appropriate language translation for their far-flung employees’ E-learning programs are his clients.

Ohlsen estimates LRS has translated/recorded some 3,000 programs?or an awesome 136 jobs a year?since starting the company in 1985 with first-and-continuing client McDonald’s.

WHO HE IS: Bronx native Fred Keller was hired by Filmworkers’ Reid Brody in April of last year as fresh new talent to match a new facility upgrade.

WHAT HE DOES: Operates one of its three $1 million Spirit telecines, including a new 2K DataCine, and one of three DaVinci upgrades to 2K-Plus.

He color corrected Oprah Winfrey’s 2007 Oscar special and spots for McDonald’s, Hallmark, Capital One, Allstate and Blue Cross Blue Shield and KFC.

CHICAGO CINE TECH, a home grown expo for visual media pros set for Sept. 27-29, will focus on new digital technology, its applications and content especially for emerging media.

Among the interesting speakers will be L.A.-based realty TV director and former Chicagoan Rich Kim (“America’s Next Top Model,” “A Simple Life,” “The Real World” ) who’s currently directing a new ABC primetime show called “Fat March.”

Cine Tech will be held at Columbia College’s new and improved eighth floor (walls have been removed to open exhibit space).

BEAT PHIL LEE AT BULLRIDING is the challenge the Avenue editor is hurling to creatives who need an excuse to mash up with other creatives after hours Thursday, June 21.

“We meet up at the Flatwater Grill, 321 N. Clark, from six to nine, then head on over the Hogs & Honeys, 1551 N. Sheffield at 9 p.m. for the contest,” says Lee.

Lee will ride “ferocious” mechanical bull for all it’s worth and anyone who can beat Lee and stay aboard the bull the longest wins a prize.

And a nice one it is, too ? an iPod mini ? plus sundry other souvenirs.

SPINNING HUNK POWER INTO RELIEF AID, “Ocean’s Thirteen” will have a June 7 Chicago premiere to support relief efforts in war-torn Darfur.

Producer Jerry Weintraub and “Ocean’s Thirteen” stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle will hit Chicago on a three-city tour?L.A. on June 5 and Las Vegas on June 6.

Vanity Fair will host the Chicago premiere. It will include the screening at AMC River East 21, followed by a glitzy party at the new Room 21 restaurant and night club due to open at 2100 S. Wabash.

Tom Rovak, S2/Swell’s ace colorist for a dozen years, has been freelancing under the banner of his new company, Highly Defined, Inc., until he opens Chicago’s only independent color room outside of a post house.

A $400,000 da Vinci Resolve? v3.4 digital mastering suite will be the heart of the facility.

The new company probably will be located in 4-5,000-sq. ft. space in a River West building he’s currently negotiating for, Rovak said.

“Most color correction rooms in town are traditional linear rooms.

Once all the counting and accounting was done and preliminary estimates made by the Illinois Film Office, 2006 shaped up as an astonishing year for Illinois production.

What was mind-blowing was the fact that out of the estimated $65 million from production in Illinois, nearly half of the total?$30 million?came from commercial production!

The stunning escalation of spot business can be directly attributed to big advertisers, like Sears, Quaker Oats, McDonald’s, taking advantage of the film industry’s hard won 20% tax credit on labor and suppliers.

CIFF’S CHICAGO AWARD deservedly went to “Street Thief: A Filmed Record,” winning over 12 other Chicago made films. Malik Bader of the Bader Brothers directed, and edited by Outsider’s Nadav Kurtz.

“Thief” competed against 12 other Chicago made films, including 10 entries in the “Home Grown” category. Catch it Oct. 18 at River East 21.

P.R. ACE JOHN DIGLES, an IPA mover and shaker from the get-go, was hired by XanGo, LLC, leader in the mangosteen supplement category, as SVP/sales and marketing.

Austin Powers’ sidekick Mini Me touts the “Set for Life” game, with the biggest cash prizes in any promotion in Illinois Lottery history.

The fast-paced “movie trailers” were directed by Radar’s Don Hoeg with the added panache of photography by a famous Hollywood DP.

Radar produced the Troyer “Set for Life” spot as the payoff to the preceding “Set Up” spot for Lottery agency, R. J. Dale.

Hollywood actor Verne Troyer followed comedian and Chicago native Bernie Mac who was features in two earlier “Pick and Play” commercials.

CHICAGO’S LOSS IS PITTSBURGH’S GAIN. When the Art Institute politely declined to serve as the setting for a new TV pilot about art thieves, Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum said to come on over.

The pilot for CBS will shoot for about five days in Pittsburgh. Ray Liotta stars as “Smith,” the leader of gang looking to steal a pair of Rembrandts.

While the Art Institute wouldn’t have been identified as such, the Chicago setting, the stairs and lions nonetheless would’ve been a dead giveaway.

CHICAGO’S LOSS IS PITTSBURGH’S GAIN. When the Art Institute politely declined to serve as the setting for a new TV pilot about art thieves, Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum said to come on over.

The pilot for CBS will shoot for about five days in Pittsburgh. Ray Liotta stars as “Smith,” the leader of gang looking to steal a pair of Rembrandts.

While the Art Institute wouldn’t have been identified as such, the Chicago setting, the stairs and lions nonetheless would’ve been a dead giveaway.

WHO HE IS: Tom Pastorelle, a senior editor at Cutters Editorial where he’s worked since 1993.

HOW HE VIEWS HIS JOB: As an editor for high-profile clients like Nike, Wrangler, McDonald’s and Michelob Ultra, he says, “It’s great to take all the parts of a project, from agency concept through processing of the film, and turn them into something more fully realized.”

PROS: “Working with great and interesting people, at Cutters and among our agency clients.” He’s also fond of the climate control in his edit suite.

CONS: The sales element.

As video games have shifted away from original scores and toward licensed music from established artists, seven-year-old Matteson-based music house GameBeat Studios has moved into the admusic world.

It’s a transition that’s paid off for GameBeat president Darryl Duncan. “I’m thrilled that I get to use my background as a songwriter more,” he said.

“Advertising incorporates vocal tracks along with the melodies, a lot more than games did,” said Duncan, who wrote songs for R. Kelley, Chaka Khan and Earth, Wind and Fire as a staff writer for Warner Music and A&M.

It was no contest Wednesday night as Leo Burnett pulverized its nearest competition to take home 14 individual and two Best of Show awards at the 3rd Annual Chicago Creative Club awards at the Auditorium Theatre.

DDB Chicago was a distant second with half of Burnett’s prizes.

Leo Burnett scored two Best of Show prizes, Altoids, television and McDonald’s, print. DDB/Anheuser-Busch won a Best for radio.

Leo Burnett/Altoids mopped up television awards: 30-second Single, 30-second Campaign, Cinematography, Direction and Editing, plus Music for Pontiac.

Daily Planet’s motion graphics designers have found another outlet for their creativity. Last week they launched Teetsy.com, an online boutique selling $15 original-design T-shirts.

Said Daily Planet’s president Scott Marvel, who initiated the idea, “The T-shirt site is another way of expressing ourselves and getting our ideas out there.”

The T-shirt line evolved over three months, said Marvel, an editor and motion graphics designer and 15-year Daily Planet veteran who assumed ownership of the 25-year old company last year.

Top agency creatives from around the U.S. will judge the the Chicago Creative Club/Chicago Ad Federation’s third annual competition honoring the area’s best advertising and design work. The awards ceremony will be held Sept. 29 at the Auditorium Theatre. Entry deadline is July 29.

“The CCC’s mission is to honor and uphold the highest standards for creativity in Chicago, for all outsiders to envy,” said Marlena Peleo-Lazar, McDonald’s top creative, a CCC founding member and CAF board member.

McDonald’s/Leo Burnett promotes an expanded Happy Meal Menu in a combination animation and live action spot produced by Radar.

Radar’s Don Hoeg directed the live action at Essanay. DP was Russ Harper. Brian Willard was editor/effects supervisor and Joey Depakakibo, designer and lead animator. Lisa Masseur was executive producer.

Bridget McHugh produced for the agency; commercial created by VP/CDs Keith Hughes and John Hansa.

THE HIP HOP MUSICAL “Pluto: the Opera” with music by Justin J. Mayer lead audio designer at Swell’s audio division BOOM! and librettist Idris Goodwin runs June 10-26 at the Prop Theatre.

Directed by Tony Sancho, in the cast are Nate Delman, Khanisha Foster, Sharrieff Muhammad, Seemore Perspective and Ashley Winston. Mayer and Goodwin, also members of the band Farm Crew, conceived the opera last summer. Mayer’s been with BOOM! for five years.

It’s been a year since freelance editors Mindy Hilt and Karla Svatos opened post house Edit Diva, and while business has ebbed and flowed, they’ve grown enough to start expanding their services and adding a rep.

“It’s been a crazy year, a trial by fire, but it’s worked out really well and we’re definitely here to stay,” Hilt said.

Award-winning spot director and independent filmmaker Ron Lazzeretti joined FCB as SVP/creative development director, a position created exclusively for him.

“How many agencies have an accomplished director in house? Ron gives us a real edge by making our culture more creative,” said ECD Tom O’Keefe.

Added Jonathan Harries, FCB Chicago chairman/CEO: “Ron is a funny guy. He knows funny, he thinks funny and we want funny.”

In 2003, Lazzeretti and partner Ed Amaya started 59 Films, after a three-year stint at Spoke Films.

Back in the day, the center of the known video universe was the Chicago Chapter of ITVA (International Teleproduction Association). With 500-plus members, it was the ITVA’s biggest chapter.

At ITVA’s hub were major Chicago-based corporations?such as Amoco, McDonald’s, Abbott Labs, Allstate, CNA Insurance, Sears, Montgomery Ward’s, Ameritech, and dozens more.

It’s been a long, rocky trek for writer/director Bob Shallcross and producer David James from a lone test in a Grand Rapids’ movie house to major market theatres for their prize-winning family feature, “Uncle Nino.”

Through distributor and “Uncle Nino” true believer Lange Film Releasing, the movie is now playing on 200 screens in 12 cities in 15 states. (See it locally at the Esquire.)

The comedy/drama film stars Joe Mantegna and Anne Archer as parents who are disconnected from their two children and from each other.

GLANT COHEN, Leo Burnett’s SVP/associate director of TV production, retired from the agency after “23 spectacular years” at the agency. He joined Burnett in 1981 to work on McDonald’s and was named an executive producer five years later. “My joke for years has been to retire before anyone asks ?is Glant still there?'” he joked.

Led by head of production Jonathan Davis, Burnett has a massive production department; a total of 80 persons include 30 odd producers.

More than 300 persons attended funeral services Jan. 3 for admusic composer/producer Steve Shafer, 52, who was hailed as a visionary who revolutionized commercial music production through his early use of synthesized music.

Mr. Shafer, 52, died Dec. 30 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital after a long battle with kidney cancer that began last January.

He had been a founding partner in award-winning Spank!Music and Sound Design (with composers Greg Allan and Mat Morse) in 1997.

Let’s take a step back in time in order to bring perspective to Catherine Rategan’s interview with Tony Lorenz, founder/president of 12-year old ProActive, Inc., a business communications company with a staff of 30.

Decades before the digital revolution, Chicago flourished “as the 16mm capital of the world” by virtue of producing more industrial films, or “trips through the factory,” than any other film market in the country, as tracked by Eastman Kodak.

Call it the battle of the big agencies shooting it out for honors at the recent second annual Chicago Creative Club Awards show. Four big agencies won 29 of the 32 categories of awards, while Leo Burnett won half, with 16 prizes mostly for Altoids gum.

DDB brought home seven Bricks (the award trophy) for Anheuser-Busch/Budweiser and Young & Rubicam won six awards mainly Miller Brewing.

Three Hollywood stars from Chicago will be honored at Showtime’s 8th annual Black Perspectives “Homecoming Celebration” Saturday, Oct. 16 at Thorne Auditorium.

Honorees are Chicago resident, stage and screen veteran Irma P. Hall (“Collateral,” “The Ladykillers”), with nearly 50 films to her credit; Robert Townsend, with close to 20 films to his credit, including “Hollywood Shuffle,” “The Five Heartbeats;” and Harry J. Lennix, (“The Human Stain,” “Matrix Reloaded”).

Presenters are Bonnie DeShong, Stella Foster, Jeanne Sparrow and Robin Robinson.

MOVERS & SHAKERS. Editor Adam Soboscienski moves over from a nine-year stint at Red Car, bringing the editing team to seven. His credits include Coors Light, test market spots for new low carb Coors Edge, Cub Cadet tractors, United Airlines, Vidal Sassoon…

Evie Silvers’ new company, Silvers Reps, signed award-winning DP/producer and HD specialist Rick Thompson of Indianapolis-based Richmarc Productions for Chicago representation. Call 312/498-0636 or Email esilvers@aol.com…

Collaboration among three companies has resulted in a unique script-to-screen training program conducted by seasoned pros, that gives the screenwriter and filmmaker a finished film at the end of the program and at a cost no greater than if the filmmaker were to rent equipment for a shoot on his own.

The Script-to-Screen Program took root last last winter when Screenwriters Group’s Dan Decker contacted LimeGreen Productions’ Michael Stratta about turning scripts from the Group’s ProTrack advanced writing class into finished films for the students.

Local 476 is taking action against Paramount to lift its hiring ban against the two white union members who allegedly perpetrated racial harassment against an African-American set decorator. Paramount said the two men would not be hired on a Paramount movie for a period of 18 months. Paramount also sent a two- page “sensitivity training” letter along with paychecks to the union crew that worked on the studio’s movie, “The Weatherman,” that filmed here last winter.

It took Leah Elder less than a New York minute to land a job in L.A. as assistant to the producer of a new TV show, “LAX.” Elder, daughter of Luminair’s Beth and George Elder, spent five years as assistant to Crossroads’ Joanne Bittmann . She moved to L.A. two weeks ago.

Producer Allison Gerlach, formerly in sales for Outsider, joined Crossroads. (She’s now on vacation in Istanbul) … After more than 20 years with Burrell, ECD Alma Hopkins left the agency …

Swell’s newest editor is Masayo Kaneko, who since 2001 was assistant editor in apprentice-like style under ace editor Ed Maroney. Originally from Kawasaki, Japan, Kaneko moved to the U.S. to attend Columbia College, graduating with a film degree.

At the same time, Swell hired creative assistants Matthew Stewart from Leo Burnett and Nikki Mueller of The Whitehouse.

Kaneko joined Swell as an intern and was quickly hired as an assistant editor.

While three Chicago editors ranked among the 34 finalists in the 3rd Annual AICE award show held May 13, only I-Cubed’s Arturo Cubacub rode into the elite winners’ circle of 13.

Arturo’s spot for Hearthland Health/BVK Milwaukee tied with a Dallas editor also for a local health institution. Arturo was also among the three Chicago finalists with a Wrangler/2×4 spot. The others were Red Car’s Greg Sundmark for his Windsprint/McDonald’s spot, and Swell’s Ed Maroney for Maersk Shipping Co. spec spot.

THE FOUNDATION OPENS. When his 10-year Red Car contract ended, editor James Lipinsky decided the time had come to go into business for himself. On March 1, he opened the doors to the Foundation, located in spacious quarters at 200 E. Ohio St., and in West Hollywood, with three employees and a steady stream of major agency clients.

The current staff consists of editor Steve Morrison, who joined after four years at Superior Street, Producer Laurie Abels, an Element 79 associate producer, and assistant Rob Chambers, a Columbia College grad.

Changing spaces. Popular FCB/Chicago president/CEO Dana Anderson is DDB’s new CEO, reporting to chairman Bob Scarpelli. Former agency president Ray Gillette will head a yet-to-launch Chicago office of Downtown Partners DDB, the Toronto- based agency that has become increasingly visible in the U.S. through its work for Anheuser-Busch.

Swell new people and titles: Producer Christine Johnson, from Cutters; assistant directors Jared Sirota from Optimus, Nicole Mueller from Whitehouse and Matthew Stewart who’d been J.R. Porzel’s assistant at Leo Burnett.

PIONEER EDITORS HONORED. Three spot editors from back in the day who virtually invented the modern post house will be inducted into the AICE Hall of Fame at the AICE national meeting in Chicago May 13. They are Optimus founder Jimmy Smyth, Post Pro’s Bob Blanford and Edit Chicago co-founder Tony Izzo. Their 90-second presentation reels are being edited by, respectively, Red Car’s Bob Carr, a long-time Optimus editor; Tom Brassil of Outsiders and Blanford’s son-in-law and Ki’s Anthony Izzo, whose relationship to Tony needs no explanation.

THE WAGE TAX CREDIT BILL (HB 5180) is en route to a five-year extension, having passed the Illinois house and is now under consideration by the state senate. Originally a sunset bill, it was due to end Dec. 31.

NOBLE BBDS’ new EVP/CD is Allyson Hunter, who left Leo Burnett after 17 years where she worked on McDonald’s, P&G, Kraft et al.

VP STRIPES for DDB’s Mike Schif, CD on Home Depot.

THE TRIBUNE’S search for a new agency is down to Burnett, DDB, Draft and Y&R.

EQUIPMENT EXPANSION. SMS Equipment Rentals acquired three Panasonic SDX900 camera packages “that are positioned under HD for people who can’t handle an HD budget,” says owner Man Sung Sun.

CORPORATE PIECE A WINNER. Film & Tape Works shot “a huge project in 24P” for Underwriters Labs that was delivered in 13 languages on DVD, said executive producer Adam Marton. UL’s Peter Sturgis produced and Bob Jacobs edited the 12-minute international sales and marketing piece on a $100,000 budget. FTW’s provided audio editing, visual effects, finishing and transfers.

Joe Pytka needs no introduction. The King of Commercials ? the director who’s made billions of dollars for the biggest advertisers in the world, the winner of every conceivable commercial award, including three DGA Commercial Direction Awards, whose commercials have appeared 30 times on the Super Bowl ? will be in Chicago, in person, to win still another award.

This one is a Career Achievement Award and tribute at Park West March 11 from the Hugo Awards, a division of the Chicago International Film Festival.

“BARBER SHOP 2” BENEFIT MAKES THE CUT. Columbia College alums and “Barber Shop 2” producers George Tillman (left) and Bob Teitel (third from left) join college president Dr. Warrick Carter and film/video department chair Bruce Sheridan at the pre-release reception and screening last week at Piper’s Alley. The event raised $25,000 for the school’s Open Door scholarship program for minority high school graduates. Columbia College enrolls more African-American students in its film program than all other arts colleges in the U.S. combined.

JWT wins the $12 million Illinois Tourism account, resigned last year by BBDO.

Tom Bernadin is Leo Burnett’s new president, from Interpublic’s Lowe’s/New York — the first non-Burnetter to have that post in the agency’s 70 year history.

DDB resigned the Lottery account, citing a difference of opinion over marketing and creative.

Marguerite Juliusson has added director Dennis Manarchy and Big Deahl Productions to her representation roster.

Oh-oh!