BY BELINDA BREMNER
In keeping with Lent, this issue’s column will be lean. As usual,
it’s kind of quiet around these parts. No doubt, there’s loads
of activity on the horizon. Let’s hope seeds are germinating and
we’ll soon see sprouts, if not a full garden of projects.
The one thing active SAG members must remember to do is vote and to get those ballots in immediately. Pushing this unpleasantness behind us, we can get on with the business of creating a healthy, strong environment for all actors–both union and pre-union. We have extraordinary local leadership and with any luck Chicago can again lead the nation. Why do we get the heavy lifting? Because we can do it right.
According to the Illinois Film Office, Barbershop is still the only action on the film front. But Artisan has been doing some scouting and that is always hopeful. "Mind of the Married Man" will be back in May for two weeks now that they’ve been picked up. Can anyone tell me why "ER" is going, as reported, to Hawaii? Wimps.
Well, the world’s a buzz with pilot season. I’m considering keeping a list of all these titles and seeing just what percentage wind up in re-runs. Claire Simon Casting is keeping busy with many of these pilot projects. Heading the list, appropriately, is Fox’s small screen version of "Save The Last Dance" (originally cast by Claire). Other pilots include "Saint George’s Island," "Arthur," "War Stories," "Life At 5 Feet," "Boomtown," "Good Morning Miami," and "Miracles." Movie searches include Fat Albert and Terminator III. For the radio version of "The Twilight Zone," they cast Larissa Borkowski, Linda Reiter, Rich Komenich, Guy Barille, Heath Corson, Mike Starr, Daniel J. Travanti and Kim Fields. Commercial projects include casting Paul Velton and Andy Cobb for Bass Ale as well as Lisa Keefe and Dev Kennedy for Biggs. Upcoming commercial projects include Arhaus and Reebok. Someone send these ladies some vitamins.
Chicago Casting Center is working on "Eight Simple Rules" for ABC.
And whilst the lovely ladies of Tenner Paskal are enjoying themselves on holiday, the joint is still jumpin’ thanks to the ever lovely Jennifer Rudnicke who reports that Kelly Longi, Lindsay Teske, Debbie Teske, Patrice True, Henry Gruege and Daniel Hewlett were booked a Meijers commerical. David Gee, Jennifer Tyler, Phil Van Lear, David Coronado and Liza Cruzant were all booked for Sears. All that and they’re also busy casting for the ABC pilot "That Was Then."
Jennifer, through her Jaz Casting, booked Andy Cobb for Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Lily’s brings word that clients Bianca Melone, Cira Vance, Johnny Knight, Debbie Teske and Lindsay Teske had commercial bookings. A television booking went to Kisha Knazze and Lisa Stran booked a voice-over. Liz Isibue and Raquel Mondon were added to the cast of Barber Shop. And clients Lori Garrabrant, Mia Park and Scott Antonucci were booked for student films. And the "Lucky Seven" for March are: Molly Kasch, Susan Sexton, Justin Dene, Jason Cornwell, Franco Campenella, Francielle Murray, and Julius Brandfield.
That’s it for now, boys and girls.
Peace.