BY BELINDA BREMNER
Get out your diaries, Palm Pilots, shirt cuffs or whatever you record important dates on and write this down: Illinois Production Alliance (IPA) meeting, Thurs., Dec. 5, 4 p.m. at the Hilton, 720 S. Michigan Ave. You remember the Hilton, surely. A prime location for films such as The Package and The Fugitive. You remember when films used to be shot here, right? In the good ole US of A? Well Bunky, that’s why there’s a meeting.
According to the IPA, it's "a non-profit organization, formed to promote, maintain, increase and expedite the development, creation and production of film, video and new media content in the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois. The organization intends to do this by representing all segments of our industry, enabling us to speak with one voice to our elected leaders. This includes: commercials, new media, feature films, television, corporate media and emerging technologies. It is the desire of the organization to have its membership include production and post production companies, talent and craft unions, support and service companies, industry related governmental, educational and professional institutions and organizations. "
And who organized this assault against runaway production in an effort to get some work here at home (talk about your real homeland security)? The IPA was formed by none other than AFTRA, the Association of Independent Commercial Producers, the Association of Independent Creative Editors, Chicago Film Office, Digital Kitchen, Directors Guild of America, Essanay Studio and Lighting Company, International Cinematographers Guild, Illinois Development Finance Authority, Illinois Film office, Jellyvision, Screen Magazine, Swell and WTTW Channel 11.
Yeah, the big guys.
So be there and bring a friend. Lend your voice. The Hilton gets a big thank you for their support.
And a big thank you to reader Victoria Flora who answered my plea to help a young, struggling social worker out in Des Moines that was trying to make Christmas happen for a bunch of families on a $200 budget. Thanks to Ms. Flora’s generous heart, their holidays will be brightened not only with food and gifts but the knowledge that someone far away, who doesn’t even know them, cares about them. This is, after all, the season where light and warmth are hallowed and celebrated against the gathering, deepening dark and cold.
And now, the bookings.
Claire Simon Casting booked Michelle Wilson for the Indiana Repertory production of Blues For An Alabama Sky. Stay tuned for Bad Meat bookings.
And here’s the wrap up from Tenner Paskal Rudnicke on The Company. Chicago actors booked include: Tonray Ho, Sarah Wellington, Larry Neumann, Barbara Robertson, Phil Riderelli, Meg Thalken, Yasen Peyankov, John Lordan, William Dick, Marilyn Dodds Frank, Deanna Dunagan, Marianne Mayberry, Paul Oakley Stovall, Rick Peeples, Marc Grapey, Brad Armacost, John G. Connelley, Keegan Michael Key, Emma Harrison, Peggy Roeder, Danny McCarthy and Robert Brueler.
TPR cast spots for Sears, Coca Cola and Publix as well as holding an open call for kiddies for Robert Zemenkis’ Polar Express.
Lily’s reports that Dominic Civito, Nicole Nance, Danielle Sloane, Alex Boustany, Caroline Gehrke, Taylor Henderson, Lexi Levato, Jessica Tam, Bianca Melone and Emma Neistat booked commercials. Joe Sherman had a voice-over, and Dean Karfis had another independent film booking. Industrial bookings went to Betsy Blake, Carlos Bendfeldt and Gerald McQuirter.
Peace.