Chicago is My Home

18
Jan

Chicago’s Oprah Winfrey to Start Own Television Network

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Business, Celebrity News

The more you have, the more you often want. As many people flush with cash, fame and power know all too well, you can never have it all and often never can have enough. For Chicago’s Oprah Winfrey, her own nationally syndicated talk show was only a stepping stone to greater ambitions.

Her goal all along has been to leverage its top-rated prowess to satiate a “vision of creating my own network” and motivate the masses “to be all they can be in the world and living their best lives”. On Tuesday, Winfrey in bed with the Discovery Channel revealed the realization of that long-standing reverie.

Coined with vanilla the Oprah Winfrey Network, it’s slated to open for business in the second half of 2009 in 70 million households on what’s currently the Discovery Health Network.

By Adam Fendelman

20
Dec

Interviews: Chicago Natives John Cusack, Gracie Bednarczyk, Shélan O’Keefe on ‘Grace is Gone’

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Celebrity News, Film, Film Festivals, Interviews

On Oct. 12, 2007, I interviewed Chicago native John Cusack along with first-time Chicago actresses Gracie Bednarczyk and Shélan O’Keefe on “Grace is Gone,” which opened in theaters on Dec. 14.

John Cusack in Chicago on Oct. 12, 2007 at the
Chicago International Film Festival for “Grace is Gone”.
Photo credit: Joe Arce

In our interview, Cusack speaks on the film as a whole, cell phones, sister Joan Cusack and his views on the war. Cusack speaks loudly in our interview with a soft-spoken voice. Here’s just one quotable:

I knew I wanted to do the film when the Bush administration banned photos of the dead coming from the coffins. That’s the most disgraceful, political, cowardly act I’ve seen in my lifetime.

These soldiers are making the ultimate sacrifice and we’re censoring it. There’s no draft, yet you’re willing to pay mercenaries more than our soldiers and not give them body armor.

You want to send them over there and deny this is happening or let FOX News tell us how we should view the war? I said: ‘All right. I’m going to do a story about one of these coffins coming home.’

My full, 23-minute audio interview with John Cusack is below.

My full, 14-minute audio interview with first-time Chicago actresses Gracie Bednarczyk and Shélan O’Keefe is below.

09
Dec

Podcast: On Chicago Keynote Address From ‘Star Wars’ Producer George Lucas

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Business, Celebrity News, Film, Podcast

Legendary writer, director, editor and producer George Lucas (“Star Wars”) spoke in Chicago on Dec. 3 at the Economic Club of Chicago. In this podcast, Adam Fendelman and colleague Brad Spirrison discuss the keynote address and why industry change is in the air.

Samuel L. Jackson (left) and George Lucas on the set
of “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”.
Photo credit: IMDb

07
Dec

John C. Reilly Delivers Dewey Cox at Chicago’s Cubby Bear For ‘Walk Hard’

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Celebrity News, Film, Music

We reported on Wednesday that man-of-many-faces John C. Reilly would be performing in character as Dewey Cox on Thursday in Chicago to pump his upcoming film “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”.

Excellent photos are in from the Chicago native’s packed show. These are credited to Joseph Mohan and have been published by Pitchfork. The show took place at the Cubby Bear by Wrigley Field in Chicago.

The group will also play at Stubb’s in Austin on Dec. 7, the Mercy Lounge in Nashville on Dec. 8, the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on Dec. 10 and the Knitting Factory in New York on Dec. 19.

“Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” hits theaters on Dec. 21.

05
Dec

John C. Reilly to Perform in Chicago in Character For ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story’

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Celebrity News, Film

John C. Reilly will perform in Chicago on Thursday at the Cubby Bear (1059 W. Addison) by Wrigley Field in character to pump “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”. The Chicago native stars as Dewey Cox in the film from “Superbad” and “Knocked Up” talent Judd Apatow.

John C. Reilly in “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”.
Photo credit: IMDb

The film is directed by Jake Kasdan – the brother of Jon Kasdan (who I interviewed for “In the Land of Women”) – and the son of the legendary “Star Wars” writer Lawrence Kasdan.

The poster for “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”.
Image credit: IMDb

Stay tuned for our full review on “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” from critic Dustin Levell. As a sneak peek into his take, he says it’s one of the funniest films of the year. The film opens on Dec. 21.

03
Dec

‘Star Wars’ Producer George Lucas to Speak in Chicago on Monday

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Business, Celebrity News, Film

Legendary writer, director, editor and producer George Lucas (“Star Wars”) will speak in Chicago on Monday night before a business crowd at the Economic Club of Chicago. Lucas will be joined by Ariel Capital Management President Mellody Hobson.

Samuel L. Jackson (left) and George Lucas on the set
of “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Though Lucas and Hobson decline to speak about their romance, they no doubt have been seen together at events for more than a year and are furthering the trend of making stops in Chicago.

08
Nov

Robert Redford to Walk ‘Green Carpet’ Tonight in Chicago For ‘Lions For Lambs’

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Celebrity News, Film

I just learned moments ago that Robert Redford will be in Chicago tonight at AMC River East 21 to walk an environmental “green carpet” to promote “Lions For Lambs”. The event is a private benefit.

Robert Redford in “Lions For Lambs”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Redford directs and stars in the film along with Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise. “Lions For Lambs” opens wide on Nov. 9.

05
Nov

‘Transformers’ Star Shia LaBeouf Arrested in Chicago, Charged With Criminal Trespassing

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Celebrity News, Film

When “Transformers” star Shia LaBeouf was in Chicago this weekend, his trip went awry and he spent some time with Chicago police.

Shia LaBeouf
Photo credit: CBS 2 Chicago

The 21-year-old actor was reluctantly handled by security guards at a downtown Walgreens at 757 N. Michigan Ave. Around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, Chicago police arrested him due to his unwillingness to leave the store.

Chicago police said a security guard excessively told LaBeouf he wasn’t welcome and had to leave because he appeared to be drunk. LaBeouf refused and a guard called the cops.

Once the cuffs went on, police said LaBeouf was “very courteous and polite”. Police said he posted bond before 7 a.m. on Sunday. He is a resident of Glendale, Calif.

LaBeouf, who was charged with a misdemeanor for criminal trespassing, is slated to appear in court in on Nov. 28 at 9 a.m.

He was in Chicago to film a movie. IMDb only lists him as having two projects in the works: “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and “Eagle Eye”.

01
Nov

Vince Vaughn to Walk Chicago Red Carpet on Nov. 5 For ‘Fred Claus’

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Celebrity News, Film

I have just learned that Vince Vaughn is confirmed to walk a Chicago red carpet on Nov. 5 for “Fred Claus”. Red-carpet arrivals start at 5 p.m. that day on the second floor of AMC River East 21 at 322 E. Illinois St.

Paul Giamatti (left) and Vince Vaughn in “Fred Claus”.
Photo credit: IMDb

The event is presented by Warner Bros. and American Eagle Outfitters. Directed by David Dobkin (“Wedding Crashers”), the film features Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Elizabeth Banks and Ludacris.

“Fred Claus” was filmed in Chicago and parts of England. The story centers around Fred Claus – Santa’s bitter, older brother – who is forced to move to the North Pole. The red-carpet event is open to the public.

17
Oct

Laura Linney, Director Tamara Jenkins Walk Chicago Red Carpet For ‘The Savages’ Premiere

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Celebrity News, Chicago International Film Festival, Film

Laura Linney and writer/director Tamara Jenkins walked a Chicago red carpet at the Harris Theater on Thursday for the Chicago International Film Festival premiere of “The Savages”. The event was the festival’s final act for 2007.

Linney, who said she had never been to the Chicago International Film Festival before, was proactive about looking right into press cameras even without them having to prompt her. Hence, this reporter shot her head on below.

Click here for more coverage and photos…