A TEAM HEADS FOR DURBIN, SOUTH AFRICA to shoot a feature-length documentary in HD about a competitor in the 56-mile ultra Comrades Marathon through the rugged terrain of Africa.
MetroSpace Media’s Jerry Donahue and Genevieve Wolff and producer Laurie Little of Luminist Films will follow race competitor Steve Weeks, a 54-year old Missouri school social worker and cancer survivor.
The first part of the doc has already been shot in St. Louis , Weeks home town. The middle part, says Wolff, will briefly deal with Weeks’ prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, and follow his friendship with the headmaster of a school for physically disabled and visually impaired children. The last part will be the race itself.
Says Wolff, “We will convey Steve’s passion for and deep connection with the Comrades by highlighting the unique aspects of the race, such as geography, people and culture the sheer distance and the grueling race route.”
The doc’s missions are to inspire cancer survivors, introduce the marathon to a wide audience and challenge ideas about physical disability, says Wolff, herself a runner.
Luminist Films, in business for more than 10 years, produces films with an interest in personal stories, like Weeks’, and on issues of social justice, art and education.
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MARIE ULLRICH, a Columbia College grad student and film production teacher at the school, shoots her short film "Faster!" May 30-June 7, about the rising tensions among bike-riders, motorists and pedestrians who compete for space on crowded city streets.
"Faster!" is based on the feature screenplay Ullrich wrote that qualified as a Sundance Filmmakers Lab finalist.
The story concerns a bike messenger who is struggling to stay alive and afloat in a harsh urban environment in which poverty and aggressive drivers threaten her everyday existence.
The short will shoot in HD in the Loop during the weekend and one block Wabash north of Congress will be closed for the action.
Kathryn Henderson produces, Ullrich directs, Tony Santiago shoots in HD and Mike Zak will edit and Gail Sonnenfeld is the production designer. Claire Simon is casting the four principal parts.
Budgeted at $18,000, Ullrich is still in the process of raising funds through grants and events.
Ullrich's 15-minute "Cache," one of three shorts she has produced since 2007, will screen May 9 at 7 p.m. at the Chicago Filmmakers May Shorts Program.
Filmmaker Ruth Leitman's "Game of Love" short also will screen at Filmmakers May 9.
Ullrich's phone is 773/633-6280; Email Marie.Ullrich@gmail.com.
THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER of the 2009 Illinois Short Film Contest, sponsored by the IFO, will land a slot in the Chicago International Film Festival's popular "Made in Chicago" program, the bragging rights that goes with it and a beautiful crystal plaque.
The IFO expects a large number of entries by the July 31 deadline, due to the barrage of information entry forms and posters that was sent to school film studies programs, ad agencies and production companies throughout the state.
Find entry forms at
EARLY DEADLINE for the Chicago Underground Film Festival (CUFF), now a part of IFP, is May 15 and final deadline is June 15. CUFF will be held Sept 10-13.