Dictionary adds tabletop director Ognisanti to roster

Michael Ognisanti

DICTIONARY FILMS, Cutters’ production division, added a ninth director to its international roster of exclusive representation: tabletop director/DP Michael Ognisanti, whose commercial credits include Bud Light, Coors, Giant Eagle, Bobble and Golden Corral.

Ognisanti had been with MK Films since 2004, where he had been trained by founder Mark Klein as a motion control operator and became an assistant director and shooter under Klein.  He directs/shoots documentaries as well as commercials.

Four of Dictionary directors, including Ognisanti, are based in Chicago, two in LA, one in Toronto and one in London, says Dictionary managing director Chris Rossiter.

HOOTENANNY PROMOTED Carly Mirror to assistant editor and named Hayley Stuber to fill her position as client services coordinator.  Mirro, hired as an intern in May 2014 was given staff status shortly thereafter.  Stuber is a recent Loyola grad, with a degree in Film and Digital Media.  

The Hootenanny team includes editors Liz Tate, Graham Metzger, Sean Halvorsen and Hannah Stephans.  Don Avila is EP and Samm Smith associate producer.  

THREE LA AGENCIES will compete for the estimated $155.9 million Coors brands business that was abruptly swept away from Cavalry agency earlier this month by David Kroll, the brewery’s new marketing exec.  Deutsch, 72andSunny and 180 are the contenders, reports Lewis Lazare in Chicago Business Journals. Kroll said the new Coors Light agency will be announced by the end of September. 

NATAS MIDWEST is calling for nominations for its 24th annual Silver Circle awards.  Nominees are outstanding individuals who have devoted 25 years or more to the TV industry, or have made significant contributions to Chicago broadcasting in the areas of academic, administrative, creative, journalistic, performing or technical roles.   

The nomination form is due by Friday, Sept. 4. The awards ceremony will be held in spring, 2016, at the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel.

Sidebar: Since 1992, when NATAS started the Silver Circle, it has recognized 195 honorees; 154 from Chicago and 41 from Milwaukee, which started its Silver Circle awards in 2009. 

LOCAL BANDS The Lulabelles, a five-piece folk band, and retro rock The Ivorys will perform at Thursday’s Summer Concert Series at the John Hancock Center Plaza, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Music Dealers and Hancock building owners Hearn.

SORRY TO SAY, but a local TV content executive producer has gone missing as he is being pursued by a host of unpaid and unhappy actors and suppliers, who worked on his promising TV project several months ago.  

The EP, of limited experience, reportedly had received funding for the project’s production. During his frequent LA trips to talk to the director and writers, however, he “went Hollywood.” He spent lavishly, stayed at luxury hotels and drove expensive car rentals.  Filmed and finished in Chicago, the bank account had been emptied when the time it came to pay the LA cast and local vendors, including a big editorial house.     

The project is said to have real potential, so hopefully, the EP will emerge from underground and work out a solution that will bring the project to the successful conclusion it deserves. 

WHILE YOU THINK OF IT, send your news and notes to ruth@reelchicago.com, or phone 312/274-9980.