BY BELINDA BREMNER
Commercial
production is on an upswing keeping local casting directors very busy,
including Tenner, Paskal, Rudnicke who are casting commercials for Earthlink,
Glade, Mr. Clean, Dirt Devil, Ziploc and Sally’s Beauty Supply.
They are also working on the independent film Sandcastles and the television
reality show “Love Test.”
For
a David Cranfill commercial, Jane Alderman cast Jennifer Joan Taylor,
David Gee and Mark Collins. Stand by for “ER” bookings and
Jane is still working on
the two Mark Medoffb projects.
Claire
Simon Casting is scouting for several features, two starring Ice Cube.
They are also casting the James Brooks feature Spanglish and Paramount’s
Mean Girls. Theatrical casting duties include Duck Hunter Shoots Angel
for Jeff Daniel’s Purple Rose Theatre and The Front Page for Missouri
Rep. Already cast for The Front Page are Larry Neuman, Jr. and Cheryl
Graeff. And for the Fall Festival of New Plays at Madison Rep they booked
Kamilah Rashied, Sameerah Walker, James Scheider, E.J. Murray, Anne Joseph,
Troy West, Karin Aldridge, Dominic Conti, Jeremy Bieler and James Meredith.
Simon
Casting also worked on another episode of the radio version of “The
Twilight Zone” casting Jeff Lupetin, Chris Stolte, Doug James, Turk
Muller and Richard Henzel. And let us not forget those commercials; they
booked J.D. Mathein, Brian Boland and Gary Sivyer for a national Dodge
spot. Other commercial projects include spots for Marshall Fields, Zebco
and the Indianapolis Star.
Tina
O’Brien and Janet Louer will be casting the Pete Jones’ film
Doubting Riley, which will be shot in our fair state. They are also casting
children for Lion King and working on the reality show tentatively titled
“The Kitchen,” which will feature high profile chefs.
The
Illinois Film Office reports that two Miramax projects—Proof and
Shall We Dance—are set for the fall shoot dates.
Looking
for Unconditional Love? Well, the flick that shot here in 2000—starring
Kathy Bates, Rupert Everett, Dan Ackroyd and lots of talented Chicago
actors—did not pass go and went directly to cable. It will be available
on DVD and video after Oct. 7. And finally, “Reel World” is
switching to a monthly column, so keep looking for me every other issue.
Peace.