3-2-07
Two Chicago Films at San Jose’s Cinequest Fest
Ben Byer’s documentary Indestructible, about the Chicago stage actor and playwright’s own battle with the neurodegenerative disease ALS and his globe-spanning search for effective treatments, has its world premiere in the Cinequest Film Festival’s Maverick Competition March 8, with an encore screening March 10.
Byer was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in 2002, and began the documentary soon after. Indestructible presents a distinctly bold and empowered representation of a young single father facing the rapidly debilitating condition.
Byer is producing with his sister Rebecca Rush, and DP Roko Belic (Genghis Blues), through the nonprofit ALS Film Fund. Brendan Canty of hardcore rock band Fugazi recently signed on as composer. Canty has composed scores for the Sundance Channel, Discovery Channel, and Learning Channel, and produces the Burn to Shine burning-house rock concert DVD series. See www.indestructiblefilm.com.
Dimension, the debut feature from Rusted Rhino Production Company, also has its world premiere at Cinequest in San Jose, Calif., where it is one of 14 narrative features in the Maverick Competition, out of 1,872 submissions. It’s debuting March 3, with four follow-up screenings. Dimension was also one of only two narrative features in competition at the Big Muddy Film Festival in Carbondale, screening Feb. 28.
Matthew Scott Harris wrote, produced and directed the film, about the residents of a Chicago neighborhood who are given the opportunity “to alter three inches of their lives.” Once this enigmatic gift is presented, the film explores the characters’ myriad interpretations. Starring co-producer Mary Kay Cook, Paul Turner, Deanna Dunagan, Harlan Hogan, Marco Kyris, and Cedric Young. Rusted Rhino is in post-production on their second feature The Half Life of Mason Lake, the story of a woman coping with her husband’s critical brain injury. Half Life shot last spring. Writer/director Tim Lotesto is producing with Harris and Christopher W. Marty. See www.rustedrhino.com.
Carl Seaton, the Chicago native and Columbia College alum who made his debut feature HIV drama One Week here in 2000, returns to direct Of Boys & Men, which starts lensing for 18 days beginning this March. West Sider Robert Townsend, more active behind the camera of late, stars as a father holding together his family after his wife’s fatal car crash. With Angela Basset and Faizon Love. Script is by Michelle Amor. Pemon Raimi is producer through Anointed Harvesters NFP. UPM is Carrie Holt de Llama. AD is Forrest Futrell.
Pete Schwaba’s Wisconsin romantic comedy The Godfather of Green Bay was released on Netflix Feb. 20. Writer-director Schwaba, a former Chicago stand-up, stars as an L.A. comedian who falls in love while slumming at a backwoods open-mic to catch the eye of a “Tonight Show” talent scout. With Lauren Holly, Thomas Lennon, Tony Goldwyn and Lance Barber. Producer Brian and Josh Etting self-released the film in 22 theatres last spring in Wisconsin and Chicago. Schwaba is co-writer of A Guy Thing with Gregg Glienna (Meet the Parents). See www.godfatherofgreenbay.com.
Catherine E. Rubey is writer and executive producer of the feature film Baggage, now in pre-production for a planned shoot this summer/fall. Chelcie Ross stars as an airline pilot whose tropical retirement plans take an unexpected detour. Featuring Jose Pablo Cantillo and Joe Farina. Casting by Tenner, Paskal & Rudnicke. Rubey is an ad copywriter, and associate producer of the 2006 film Swipe.
“The script for Baggage was inspired by mature actors such as Goldie Hawn and Robert Redford, who complained there were too few projects addressing issues relevant to folks their age: relationships, family, aging, retiring and the like,” Rubey said. “Nancy Meyers did a great job with Something’s Gotta Give, and I wanted to continue in that tradition.”
John Yaworsky, Dianne Ancona and Patrick Q. Roberts are producing. DP is Pete Biagi. Composer is Alex Wurman (March of the Penguins). Director has not been announced. See www.baggagethefilm.com.
Danny D’Agostino is in pre-production on the comedy Crazy Neighbors From Hell, slated for a summer production. It’s “an ensemble comedy film project with lots of drama, outrageous, obnoxious neighbors, and people with passionate, unfulfilled dreams.” D’Agostino is producing with his co-writer Michael D’Agostino and Donald Albert. See www.sketchzillatv.com.
Nicholas J. Michalak of RavensFilm Productions is in production on the 50-minute HDV neo-noir thriller The Fixer. He’s been shooting since November. Starring Nick Doetsch, Carmina Elizabeth, C.J. Koenig, Jake Perry, Glenn Allen, Lucy Arenberg and Heather Schlitt. See www.ravensfilm.com.
Peter Morentz of L.A.-based Advantage Films is developing the feature Licked for a Chicago shoot. Morentz is producing with Roberto Alacantra of Draft/FCB. Former Swell editor Joe Otting is in talks to direct Licked. Otting directed the horror thriller feature Already Dead for Darclight Films, a division of Arclight. Already Dead stars Christopher Plummer, Ron Eldard, Til Schweiger, Patrick Kilpatrick and Marisa Coughlan. Morentz can be reached at peter@bdeentertainment.com.
Tripod Films’ horror feature Drawing Blood, previously part of the compilation DVD “Mental Maniacs” from Brain Damage Films’ Pendulum Pictures, was released as a solo DVD Feb. 6. Writer/directors Michael and Jeffrey Wolinski shot Drawing Blood here in summer 2004. Robert Z’Dar, Joe Estevez, Brian Irzyk and Mianda Watts star in the ‘70s-style slasher pic. Producer is Sean Fox. See www.tripodfilmsllc.com.
The Powder Puff Principle, edited by local freelancer Ryan Koscelniak, won the $10,000 grand prize at the Hayden Film Festival. Directed by John Burgess, the L.A. short stars Linda Blair, Clint Howard and Art LeFleur. Koscielniak is onboard to edit Burgess’ feature debut, the romantic comedy One Small Hitch, which is planned for a late 2007 Chicago production. See www.29point97fps.com.
Sergio Mims, co-founder of the Black Harvest Film Festival, was a top-10 finalist in the Nevada Film Office Screenwriters Competition for his screenplay Blood Creek. It’s the story of a reformed outlaw escorting another criminal to justice through treacherous terrain. Email blackstarline@yahoo.com.
Ed M. Koziarski is in post-production on the untitled feature film Okinawa Project. Email edk@homesickblues.com.