Chicago is My Home

30
Nov

Chicago Indie Gangster Film ‘Chicago Overcoat’ Wraps Principal Photography

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Independent Film

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Chicago indie gangster film “Chicago Overcoat” has just wrapped principal photography, according to an e-mail I received on Friday from casting director Chris Charles. He also released to me the following production still of Frank Vincent (“The Sopranos”) with a Tommy gun.

Frank Vincent with a Tommy gun in “Chicago Overcoat”.
Photo courtesy of “Chicago Overcoat” casting director Chris Charles

In addition, Charles sent the following Chicago filming details:

We filmed scenes with Armand Assante (“ER,” “American Gangster”) and Rick Plastina on Wednesday at the Joliet Correctional Center.

On Thursday, the production went out with a bang. We blew up a car just off Damen and 29th.

To follow the progress of the film through post-production, you can check Beverly Ridge Pictures for details. “Chicago Overcoat” will hit theaters in the summer of 2008.

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09
Nov

Scoop: Stacy Keach From ‘American History X,’ ‘Prison Break’ Joins ‘Chicago Overcoat’

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Independent Film

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I just received a detail-packed casting update about “Chicago Overcoat,” which has been and continues to film in Chicago. This information comes from casting director Chris Charles.

Hello, Adam. We are on day 35 of 50 for “Chicago Overcoat” and the production is running smoothly.

I just thought I’d send you an update on the film. I am very pleased to report that veteran actor Stacy Keach (“American History X,” “Prison Break”) recently joined the cast of “Chicago Overcoat”.

Stacy Keach
Photo credit: Jemal Countess, WireImage.com

Keach was in town last week to play retired Chicago detective Ray Berkowski: a character who provides crucial information that propels the plot forward.

Keach, who has performed for years at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, will share screen time with his old friend, Danny Goldring, who plays detective Ralph Maloney in the film.

Goldring was Keach’s understudy for the Goodman’s 2004 production of Arthur Miller’s “Finishing the Picture”. Three years later, they are acting side by side in “Chicago Overcoat”.

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16
Oct

Chicago International Film Festival Announces 2007 Award Winners

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Chicago International Film Festival, Documentary, Film, Foreign Film, Independent Film

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The Chicago International Film Festival on Oct. 14 announced its 2007 award winners.

Mexico, China, Brazil, the United Kingdom and the United States took top honors in the festival’s 43rd iteration.

Chicago audiences selected from 102 feature films, 14 documentaries and 33 shorts and student films spanning 43 countries. Films showcased both well-known and promising new filmmakers.

The festival’s highest honor is the Gold Hugo, which was coined after the mythological god of discovery. When perusing the awardees, notice “Chicago 10” and “America the Beautiful,” which I mentioned back on Sept. 19.

Click here for the full list of awardees…

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09
Oct

‘Slipstream’ Trailer Surfaces; Anthony Hopkins Coming to Chicago on Oct. 14

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

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The official trailer to “Slipstream” is here. The film, which stars Anthony Hopkins and Christian Slater, is written and directed by Hopkins.

Immerse yourself in small.
Immerse yourself in medium.
Immerse yourself in big.
Immerse yourself in bigger.

From left to right, Stella Arroyave, Anthony Hopkins,
Lisa Pepper and Camryn Manheim in “Slipstream”.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
“Slipstream” will show as part of the Chicago International Film Festival on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Music Box Theatre. Hopkins will walk the red carpet. I’ll be there and will be bringing you full coverage.

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08
Oct

Shot in Chicago, ‘Grace is Gone’ Tour Blowing Into Windy City on Oct. 12

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

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In screening the independent film “Grace is Gone” today, I learned that it was shot in Chicago and the Chicago suburb of Itasca, Ill. The film, which stars John Cusack, has been through the Sundance Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival.

“Grace is Gone,” which is scheduled to be released in limited theaters on Dec. 7, is sending writer/director James C. Strouse to Chicago on Oct. 12 for a press day.

Cusack may be attending as well. Young actress Gracie Bednarczyk (from River Grove, Ill.) and Shelan O’Keefe (from northwest Chicago) will also be in attendance. Both Bednarczyk and O’Keefe have their debut performances in this film.

Cusack plays a father who – upon hearing his wife was killed in the Iraq war – takes his two daughters on a road trip.

7:14 p.m. update: I was just informed that “Grace is Gone” writer/director James Strouse is no longer joining this press junket.

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29
Sep

Confirmed: Indie Thriller Filming Now in Chicago is Titled ‘Root of All Evil’

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Independent Film

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Because there has been confusion about the title for this indie thriller, I am now conclusively confirming that “Root of All Evil” is the official title for this Sean Bean picture, which is filming now in Chicago. “The Cache” is its working title.

I learned this at about 4:30 p.m. on Friday when leaving my office. Crew set up directly outside my office on Ravenswood about three blocks south of Irving Park. I spoke with several people there to confirm the film’s official title.

A car was on a rig with lighting. The film stars Sean Bean from “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hitcher”.

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29
Sep

Scoop: Chicago Indie Film ‘Chicago Overcoat’ Adds Armand Assante to Cast Roster

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Independent Film

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Chicago indie film “Chicago Overcoat” has fittingly added Armand Assante (“Fatal Instinct,” “Judge Dredd”) to its cast roster as a mob boss, according to “Chicago Overcoat” casting director Chris Charles.

“Chicago Overcoat” is slated to film in Chicago from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30.

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26
Sep

Chicago’s Allison Silverman Named Executive Producer of Comedy Central’s ‘The Colbert Report’

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Celebrity News, Comedy, Film, Independent Film

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Allison Silverman, a former iO Theater and Boom Chicago comedy favorite, has been named the executive producer of Stephen Colbert’s “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central, according to a Sept. 26 report by Bill Zwecker of the Chicago Sun-Times.

“Allison is a rare combination of funny, kind and intelligent. Unfortunately, in her new job, two of those have to go,” Colbert jested in his announcement of Silverman’s new gig.

In other Zwecker news and for additional coverage of Chicago indie thriller “Root of All Evil,” Sean Bean from “The Lord of the Rings” recently drank it up with cast and crew at Rockit in Chicago to wrap up filming.

Zwecker also touched on the Chicago connection surrounding the controversy with the film adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s novel “The Kite Runner”. The film version will open this year’s Chicago International Film Festival on Oct. 4.

Finally, Zwecker says Chicago’s Bernie Mac is banding together with Samuel L. Jackson in the film “Soul Men,” which is a comedy about two former soul music legends.

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19
Sep

Sept. 19 Filming Location Surfaces For ‘Root of All Evil’ in Chicago

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Independent Film

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“Root of All Evil,” the independent thriller filming now in Chicago, will be shooting at Clybourn and Ashland on Wednesday, a reader wrote on Tuesday at 10:34 p.m.

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17
Sep

Exclusive: Chicago Filming Notice Captured For ‘Root of All Evil’

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Independent Film

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In corresponding with several people about indie thriller “Root of All Evil,” which is filming now in Chicago, I have requested the actual filming notice I mentioned earlier on Monday.

It serves as concrete confirmation that its production company is called Three Good Men. Interestingly, the notice refers to the film as “The Cache”. Nick Rafferty is listed as the location manager.

10:11 a.m. update: HollywoodChicago.com Austin correspondent Shane Hazen just wrote in with an IMDb link to Steve Anderson. He is the director for this film.

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