THE MIDWEST PREMIERE of writer/director Robert Budreau’s “Born to be Blue” biopic of jazz legend Chet Baker will open the 7th annual Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, July 24-31 at the AMC Randhurst 12 in Mt. Prospect starting at 7 p.m.
Presented by IFC Films, “Born to be Blue” stars Ethan Hawke on the fast life and mysterious death of jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. Budreau zeroes in on Baker’s life at a key moment in the ‘60s, just as the musician attempts to stage a hard-fought comeback, spurred in part by a passionate romance with a new flame (Carmen Ejogo).
Five features and 25 shorts from eight countries will be showcased during the week competing for “Best of …” honors in 21 creative and craft categories, including Best of Illinois.
Schedules and ticket/passes information is available here.
NEW AT FCB CHICAGO is design expert SVP/ECD Kevin Grady, who brings more than 25 years of premium design experience, with expertise spanning branding, corporate identity, advertising, editorial design and innovation to the agency.
Prior to FCB, Grady was Global ECD at Siegel+Gale, New York. Prior to that, he was design director at internationally known innovation firm IDEO where he helped rebrand its corporate identity.
Earlier, he was design director at Crispin Porter + Bogusky serving as CD on the Gap account. He also worked on award-winning brands such as Grey Goose, Fage and Benjamin Moore while at the Mullen agency. A television concept he created for Truth, the anti-tobacco initiative, was nominated for two Emmys.
Grady recently designed new Nutrition Facts Labels, which were unveiled at the White House by Michelle Obama.
COMMERCIAL LOCATION FILMING appears to be back in action after an overall relatively quiet period over the past four weeks. Currently on locations in Humboldt is Rumor Productions of Chicago shooting for two different clients, the Chicago Bears and Comcast, reports the Chicago Film Office.
Essanay Studio & Lighting has supplied gear to We Are Famous of Marina Del Rey, Cal. for their Cox Communications shoot, to Moxie Pictures of LA for their Comcast project and international Bunker’s New York branch for an unnamed client.
And on Monday, NBC’s “Chicago Fire” will be filming in the Loop at Lake and Wabash while “Chicago Med” is at Rush Hospital.
BAM STUDIOS HAS BEEN HOSTING a clutch of actors for VO and ADR recording. They include ADR for “Veep’s” Kevin Dunne for his new film, “The Bachelors;” Patti Lupone, in town with the hit stage play “War Paint” at the Chicago theatre, singing for her role in “Vampirina,” an animated project and Jonathan Bennett, host of Food Networks’ “Cake Wars,” recording voiceover for several episodes for the baking competition shows to air next week.
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