3-31-06
Garlin’s Cheese Premieres at Tribeca
Larry David and Jeff Garlin
A Chicago native, Garlin stars as “an overweight, underappreciated Chicago actor in search of a soul mate,” according to the festival program. “The urban, odd-man-out humor is reminiscent of early Woody Allen, but the angst remains low-key in this highly personal, immensely likable film.”
Co-starring Sarah Silverman, Amy Sedaris and Bonnie Hunt. Featuring Dan Castellaneta, Steve Dahl, Tim Kazurinsky, Paul Mazursky, David Pasquesi, and Larry Neumann, Jr.
Mark Harris of 1555 Filmworks landed a video distribution deal with Echelon-Newmark Entertainment for his standup comedy film Barber Shop Jokes Live in Chicago.
Barber Shop Jokes is hosted by BLT and features Reggie Reg, Ill Will and Bald Head.
“As they said in Barbershop, it’s like the black man’s country club, where we can go and talk about anything,” Harris said. “I don’t think Barbershop one or two were that funny, to be honest with you though. Barber Shop Jokes is funnier than Barbershop one and two put together.”
Harris shot at the Brotherhood Barbershop on 87th Street in October. Jemell Moore is scoring. Ricardo Islas of Alpha Studios is DP/editor.
Harris is in post-production on his music horror/thriller feature Holla If You Hear Me, the story of a group of rappers and R&B singers lured inside a studio and picked off one by one by a killer bent on stealing their music. Starring Cyn Dulay, Lorenzo Hunt, Terrence Mardis, Mel Roberson, Shelia Chalakee, Cherokee Princess, David Leonard, rapper Revelation 810, comedian BLT, and Danielle Carter.
Harris is producing with Dulay and co-producer Mark Armstrong. Islas shot. Harris and Dulay plan to self-distribute the film to major theatrical markets across the U.S. Harris wrote and directed the romantic comedy Why Men Cheat, and wrote Barry Bowles’ L.A.-shot college stepping movie Show Stoppers, now in post-production.
E-mail markharrisfilms@sbcglobal.net.
Annette Galloway of Diverciti Productions premieres her sophomore feature, the thriller Ultimate Betrayal, April 30 at 7 p.m. at I.C.E. Chatham Theatres, 210 W. 87th St.
Ultimate Betrayal is the story of a woman “who fears she is losing her identity,” Galloway said. “Now [she] must fight back to take control of her life.”
Galloway stars with Lee Grant, Christopher Nolen, David Newman, Mike Malloy, Tenique Mathieu and Steffani Fort. DP is David Spearman. Music by Bobby “B-Bop” Ritchie. SFX by Matt Stratton. Galloway directed the hip-hop horror feature Where Sleeping Dogs Lie.
E-mail theultimatebetrayal@yahoo.com.
Steven Luce of Back Burner Films premieres his caper comedy Say Hello To Clive For Me, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pickwick Theatre, 5 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge. Tickets are $10 in advance only. RSVP to tickets@sayhellotocliveforme.com.
Starring Victoria Floro, Levin O’Connor, Joy de la Paz, Dan Kuhlman, Keir Thirus, Bill Redding, Sean Michael Kaplan, Cody Lyman, Ryan Chamberlain, Jenna Hastings and Sal Velez, Jr.
“Say Hello To Clive For Me is the story of five aspiring criminals who, with the help of a local delivery runner, stumble on the biggest heist of their young careers, only to find themselves caught in a spiraling game of cat and mouse with a local crime family,” Luce said.
Luce directed from a script by Larry Kamphausen, Scott Shepherd and Lindsay Strobridge. DP, David Frisk. Casting by Ann-Marie Olson. Sound design, Kyle Mulligan. ADs, Joshua Havens and Joshua Hope. Art director, Kate Setzer Kamphausen.
Laila Ali
Tony DeGuide of Windy City Films is shooting the HD interracial romantic drama Baby’s Got Back, which he said “celebrates the differences and similarities of African-American and Italian-American cultures.” Starring Joe Estevez, Nick Kanari, Joe Farina, Tane McClure, Rebecca Burr, Lonnie Chubb, Patricia Harris, and Kevin Brooks.
See www.babysgotbackmovie.com.
DeGuide’s Windy City Casting is also casting a boxing film starring Laila Ali, Muhammad Ali’s daughter. They’re looking for an actress to play her Russian rival in the ring. Call 630/351-1400 or email windycitycasting@aol.com.
Dan Consiglio’s wiffleball comedy feature Alleyball had its L.A. premiere March 28 at Cinespace. The film, from production company Saltburn, debuted in a local preview screening last December.
Alleyball follows a group of wiffleball-playing friends facing down the threat of impending maturity. Starring Larry Joe Campbell, Keegan-Michael Key, Heather Landry, Kellynn Jones, Danny McCarthy, Mike McColl, and by co-writers Johnny Ray Meeks, and Joel Spence.
See www.alleyballthemovie.com.
John Versical and Bryan Carmody of Screen Door Films are in pre-production on the DV horror feature The Swing. Shot at Versical’s family property in northern Michigan, the film is the story of a lonely landowner haunted by the loss of his wife and daughter, forced to confront the dark memories of his mysterious past.
David Lynch of Element Chicago is editor. Sound by Brian Jennings of Chicago Film Sound.
Founded last year, Screen Door produced the shorts “Trouble with Harriet,” “Conscience” and “Tea Time.”
Joseph Martinez of Creative A.D.D. is in pre-production on his short “The Byrd’s Fear,” the story of a reluctant child actor who dreams of “designing and creating structures,” Martinez said. Martinez hosts a fundraiser for the project, featuring salsa lessons, comedy performances, and tapas April 10 at Vida Argentinean Restaurant, 1248 W. George St. RSVP to soldierfields@gmail.com.
Ed M. Koziarski is a Chicago filmmaker and journalist. He is developing the feature film Okinawa Project. edk@homesickblues.com.