BY BELINDA BREMNER
Word on the street is that Los Angeles is scurrying around filming as fast as they possibly can to get an ample amount of material squirreled away before the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) strike hits at the end of April. Unfortunately, there is limited scouting in Chicago at the moment. As of this writing, the only contender is an independent called Joshua.
So what films are shooting here? Alas, all those stars mentioned in the last report–the ones cast in the remake of Ocean’s Eleven–will not be coming here after all. The crew will be here for a day or two and the studio is not at this time disclosing which actors will be in attendance. Muhammad Ali begins shooting at the end of the month and Road To Perdition has a start date of March 5. Independents Ball In The House and Milwaukee Minnesota (a.k.a. Crazy Love) will also be shooting soon. And our lone television production, "The Joan Cusack Show," has an airdate of March 27.
Booked on the Joan Cusack show through Simon casting was Christian Felix. Simon and the gang are also casting a slew o’ pilots, including "Fair Play," an untitled Jonathan Groff show and "U.C." and an untitled project for Tim Kring. That and the Muhammad Ali film. Lots of commercials as well, including spots for PrimeCo and Reliant Energy. Randy Steinmeyer was booked for Biggs Grocery.
Chicago Casting Center is in serious search mode. Projects on their books include pilots "Small town X" for Fox and "Metropolis" for ABC. They are also casting the following theatre projects: The Producers, Thou Shalt Not and Songs From The Tall Grass.
Tenner Paskal is casting Road To Perdition, the Mendes/Zanack project starring Tom Hanks and the HBO film Jelly’s Last Jam. And they are working on independents Milwaukee Minnesota (a.k.a. Crazy Love) and Ball In The House. For the small screen, they are casting the Bernie Mack pilot for Fox as well as a whole buncha commercials.
Early bookings are coming in for Road to Perdition. Big Mouth Casting clients cast in the feature were Juanita Wilson and Monte.
Emilia Lorence reports that there were commercial bookings for Jason Vizza, Terrence Thompson, John Kachnik, Felipe Camacho, Dawn Bach, Connie Foster, Joe Krowka, Diane Oppenheim, Gerald McQuirter, Varen Black, Francine Locke and Gary Seltzer. Gary Joy, Michael Naggi, Roman Czerwinski, Tom Higgins and Albena Dodeva booked industrials.
And from Lily’s comes word that commercials were booked by clients Christine Huddle, Martin Khoshaba, "Max" McStephan Solomon, Brian McElroy, Lyle Nicholson, Jimmy Martin, Jason Demczak, Kyle Urban and Heidi Lee. Julie Burke, Julie Handy, Michael Bibbs and Dan Waller booked industrials.
Apologies to actor DANE Grove whose booking in the last column was cited as DAVE.
A word to the wise: It’s been a while since we’ve talked about scams, shams and abuses of assumed power. That doesn’t mean they aren’t out there, but just that we haven’t got wind of them. Or can’t confirm. Funny how slippery the slimy can be. You all know this but please pass it along to civilians who know little or nothing about the biz. Businesses (such as agencies) must be licensed by the state. Call the Department of Labor and check them out. If they say that they are SAG or AFTRA franchised and you have any misgiving, call the unions and check them out. Licenses and franchises can’t be inherited or transferred. Casting directors cannot be agents and agents cannot be casting directors. You NEVER pay to register. You do NOT have to have your pictures taken by THEIR photographer. Modeling schools and such are not agents. There really are no managers in town. Particularly if you are a newcomer to the business. Anyone can SAY they are anything. Check them out.
As always, if you come across anything shady then investigate. Call the unions, the Illinois Department of Labor or even this paper. And be a resource, those of you who know the ropes, for those who don’t. We do what we do because we love it so. Alas, there are lowlifes out there who want to defraud and abuse those with more dreams than experience. Those folks can only succeed if we let them.
Peace.