FANS OF GREAT BANDS and ground-breaking Chicago composers and musicians of the ‘90s are invited to The Hideout Wednesday, July 27, to see a preview of a feature doc by Paris-based filmmakers, called Parallax Sounds.
In short, award-winning Italian director Augusto Contento, who lives in Paris, aims to show “two sides of the city” and how it inspired Generation X’s transformational music, as exemplified by five world famous Chicago artists.
And just what are those “two sides of the city?” Are you ready? According to producer Giancarlo Grande, they are … our big brutal winter and glorious hot summer. (Think about it.)
Chicago’s great musicians featured in the doc are producer/guitarist Steve Albini, (Nirvana, Cheap Trick); singer/instrumentalist Ian Williams (Battles); jazz musician/composer/improviser Ken Vandermark, named by the Reader as 2011 Best Jazz Musician; vocalist/keyboardist Damon Locks (The Eternals), the Reader Best’s 2011 Dancing Front Man and composer/singer/guitarist David Grubbs.
“Interviews with the musicians are about the experience of the ‘two cities.’ When you hear the music you know the city,” says Grande, who has fallen in love with Chicago (weather notwithstanding) its architecture, friendly, helpful people, and wants European cities to know Chicago as he and Contento have discovered it.
Parallax’ budget of $400,000, supported with a Dreihaus Foundation grant, is shy $100,000, says Grande, but they are hopeful of filling the gap and The Hideout event will help.
“We want Chicagoans to be part of this, to be engaged in a movie about them and that show the feeling of the city, its beauty and culture” says Grande, who would have a great future in city tourism if he settled in Chicago.
When the film wraps in October, they would love to screen at Sundance and thereafter at film festivals in Europe.
The $20 Hideout ticket includes the doc preview, a DJ set by Damon Locks, other special guests, food and drink, 5:30-8 p.m.
NOTED. The indie drama previously known as Untitled Farm Film now has an official title: It’s Heartland, and it started filming July 19 for three weeks in DeKalb, starring Zac Efron and Dennis Quaid and directed by Ramin Bahrani … New York’s Moxie Pictures will be in town for a big 6-day location shoot next week for Harris Bank spots, via its agency, Element 79.
SAN FRANCISCO-BASED Tavistock Restaurants has reached out to Chicago’s Lime Green to help market and promote ZED451, the unconventional steak house for large group dining at 739 N. Clark, and its 2,300-sq. ft. rooftop bar with a fab view of the skyline.
THE GREEK MEDIA CLUB will gather in support of the Sept. 29-Oct. 2 Greek Film Festival Chicago! Aug. 11 at the Vertigo Lounge at the Dana Hotel. Entertainment will be provided by New York singer-actress Arianna Savalas (Telly Savalas’ daughter), who flies here especially for the event, and local singing favorite Jimmy Damon.
More than 100 media and communications people belong to the club, including NBC/5 anchor Kim Vitas, Fox anchor Anna Davlantes and sportscaster Lou Canellis, and Resolution Digital Studios’ owners Lee and Jeff Facklis. Directors’ rep Valerie Gobos is coordinating the evening. Donations are $10; cash bar. .
ORBIT MEDIA, web development company founded and helmed 10 years by Andy Crestodina, was recently named 34th among the national’s fastest-growing companies on Fortune magazine’s Inner City 100 list.
Inner City recognizes companies that are growing, creating jobs and implementing innovative business practices in distressed urban neighborhoods.
The company is environmentally and socially conscious as 60% of the staff rides public transportation or bikes to work, and donates web design to a nonprofit organization.
Orbit Media’s studio is located at 4043 N. Ravenswood, just a few blocks south of the Wachowskis’ Ravenswood Kinowerks.
What’s new with you? Share your news with the Reel.
