BY BELINDA BREMNER
Hey, more Chicagoans are shining on the Left Coast! The locally produced
Indy, Two Weeks, One Year, has been officially selected to participate
in the narrative competition of the 8th annual Los Angeles Film Festival.
Other such gems discovered there include Kissing Jessica Stein, George
Washington and Kwik Stop. Two Weeks, One Year will be one of the 50 films
and videos from around the world (this marks the first time the competition
has been international) premiering in Los Angeles from June 20-29. The
film is directed by Chris McKay, produced by Carrie Holt
and the cast is FULL of Chicago actors. For more information check online
at www.lafilmfest.com.
One of those Chicago actors is Michael Gilio, who directed the above mentioned Kwik Stop, which has gone on from the LA Film Festival to the Chicago Film Festival, SXSW, Ebertfest, and Buenos Aires International Film Festival. It was at this last fest that Gilio won the Best Director Award. Congratulations! Rachel Tenner of Tenner Paskal produced the film.
Und zo, around town, vat?
According to the fine folks at the Illinois Film Office, we are hosting Normal, Uncle Nino and "Mind of the Married Man." Also for the small screen, the folks from "West Wing" are in town scouting for some possible shooting in August. We are also meant to get some days of first unit shooting on Til Death Do Us Part with Michael Douglas for 20th Century Fox and Christmas Rush for TNT Television. The latter is directed by Columbia College grad Charles Carner, who really wanted to shoot his film here at home and not in CANADA.
So, Jane Alderman is casting Normal and "Mind of the Married Man." Bookings in the next issue. But equally, or more important, is the "Mind of the Married Man" casting assistant. That would be the lovely Kristy Entwhistle, Jane’s every faithful companion, who married Jethro Nolen in her hometown of Pittsburgh (glad they didn’t have to take the production to Canada for more favorable rate) on April 20. Congratulations and a very long and happy life to the couple!
And at Tenner Paskal, they are hard at work on the other flick, Uncle Nino. And a number of commercials.
Chicago Casting Company is focusing on stage at the moment, casting Marvelous Wonderettes, Blithe Spirit and Proof for Madison Rep.
And Claire Simon Casting, whilst searching for Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat and "The Perfect Score," as well as the feature film Daddy Day Care, booked Craig Bryant and Ruth De Bryan for Grange Insurance. Bookings soon on a FedEx industrial.
Ya want bookings? I’ll give ya bookings.
Lily’s had commercial bookings for Audrey Allen, Lynn Eckhoff, Gregory Lacey, Robert Buscemi, Heather O’Brien, Chris Kossen, Adam Silver, Taylor Henderson and Jonah Frueh. Industrials were booked by Cheryl Hamada, Karen Weinberg, Tom Crammer, Lee Fuller, Anita Chandwaney, Shrudi Mehta, Tanya Kim, Ana Maria Alvarez, Joshua Simmet, Gina Rodriguez, Stacey Parker, Brock Nichols, LaMisha Hill, Anjali Thawani, Katherine Lee, Nancy Oda, Phil Tang, David Johnson, Bradley Gabbert and Amelia Cunningham. Voice-overs went to Lisa Stran, Swight Sora, Stacy Parker and Sarah McMaster. Mark Stephen and Sam Colletti were booked in a SAG experimental film. The "Lucky Seven" for June are: Shawn Kucynda, Lijka Teruel, Mikka Olarte, Nicholas Olarti, Sarah McMaster, Audrey Allen and Gregory Lacey.
Catching up with the folks at Emilia Lorence brings word that there were industrials for John Conrad, Jaclyn Holtzman, Dawn Bach, Cathy Breslin, Tim Ballard, Chad Reinhardt, Jason Llamas, Dave Ouano and Chet Dubowski. Commercials went to Helen Merrier, Dennis Stook, Sear Lorenzen, Marlene Paulette, Melissa Culverwell and the lovely Lezlie Rice.
Peace.