BY BELINDA BREMNER

A word of clarification: I have never thought, nor meant to imply, that non-union actors were not talented. No one is born with a union card. Some choose to pursue union membership, some do not. There are many, many gifted actors in this city who work non-union, especially in the many excellent non-Equity theatres that make Chicago’s vibrant theatre scene. I count many non-union actors among my good friends, colleagues and students. I have been a long-time supporter of non-Equity theatre. This column has featured several non-union actors as well as union members. Any implication that the only measure of talent was a union card was totally unintentional.

As for Financial Core workers, yes, what they do is legal. Is it helpful to the entire industry? Is it helpful to their fellow actors, regardless of union status? Is it the right thing? I do not think for a moment that all financial core members are out there scabbing. But there is a difference between taking non-union work (work which was never union) and struck work (previously union which, during the strike, is shot non-union).

Good news from the Illinois Film Office: Kevin Costner will be in town shooting Dragonfly for a couple of weeks next month. "ER" comes in at the end of this month. Good old John Hughes will be bringing home an untitled film in February. The same month that Chicago will host some of the shooting for the Muhammad Ali biopic. Tom Hanks is looking closely at Chicago for his project The Road To Perdition and the Farrelly Brothers are checking us out as well. Unconditional Love and What Women Want are doing re-shoots and we may get some of the second unit on Matrix 2. The new HBO show "The Mind of a Marrying Man" will be in for a day November 10th or 11th. Meanwhile, lots of indies are shooting.

And when "ER" returns, our gal Jane Alderman will be there as always to cast. She has just finished scouting for the young Shirley Temple.

Our town’s newest casting office is Chicago Casting Center. Tina O’Brien cast Zach Grey and Ryan Kelly for Stray Dogs, an independent film with Guinivere Turner and Bill Sage. The next project is The New Guy with D.J. Quales from Roadtrip.

Jaz Casting is at work on an industrial, details to follow.

Tenner Paskal is busy with independent films, including Rain which they recently finished. Booked for Janie Van Winkle (formerly In Between Time) were Ed Kros, Eric Johnson, the incomparable Danny Goldring, Deanna Dunigan, Mark Sutton, Rob Riley and T.J. Jagadowski.

Debbie Kotzen of CED checks in to say that she is still actively seeking out and BOOKING jobs for CED voice-over talent until the office closes for good. After that time, she may continue to represent a selected roster of talent, possibly as a manager. Clients with recent interim agreement and industrial bookings include: Dave (Letterman) Kappas, Shelly Carlson, Steve Saige, Patti Voglino and Frank Caeti.

Lily’s reports CD ROM bookings for Kina Nicholas, Hunter Bradley and Jaqcqui Moneson. Non-union, non-struck commercial work went to Laura Sumpter, Kelly Halihan, Charles Young and Chad Brines. Edison Castillo, Richard Teresi, Tiff Alexius, Sean Nix, Jerome Patterson, Jermaine Randle, Trenton Pouncy, Remoh Romeo, Daniel Shelley, Donato Cruz and Jazmyn Haden all booked music videos.

Joining the staff in the commercial print department at Emilia Lorence will be Mark Nagel as of the first of this month.

And during her time spent looking for kids in the Englewood neighborhood for the film Hardball, Claire Simon came to know the residents and their needs. Out of the alliances she made has come an organization called "Hearts of the Arts" which has already helped out with books, supplies and other basic necessities. Simon and others, including Stacey Schaffer at Linda Jack Talent, are planning a benefit on Nov. 9 at Liquid with swing dancing, food and drinks. The proceeds from which will go to benefit the inner city. Save the date. Simon has of course booked the first episode of the Joan Cusack show. Booked are photographer extraordinaire Maia Madison (a.k.a Maia Rosenfeld), Tim Decker, Mitchell Fain, Sara Charipar and Greta Honold. She also just wrapped up a three week search for Nickelodeon’s "All That" and a search for NBC’s "The Downer Channel." And congratulations to Steve Abbott who landed a job in Hardball and a leading role in Oh Well which screened Tuesday at Film Deli.

More on benefits: A chance to "Celebrate Life" and benefit the Actors’ Fund of America as well as AFTRA’s Betty Mitchell is offered to all on Monday, Oct. 23 at the Apollo Theatre. The event honors Dan Frick and will feature the talents of Chicago performers Caitlin Hart, Curt Dale Clark, June Shellene, Bob Heltzinger, Suzanne Petri, Bob Rumba, Judy La Rose, Job Christianson, Kat Taylor, Table for Four, Renee Matthews and Pat Rusk. Tickets for this very worthy cause are $20.00. Call 773/935-6100. See you there!

Peace.

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