Former Under Amour creative, Karen Goodman, has joined Havas Chicago as Group Creative Director.
According to Agency Spy, she will lead the creative on the agency’s Hefty and Reynolds accounts while reporting directly to ECD, Paul Hirsch.
In a statement, Hirsch said, “The range of experience Karen brings to Havas is invaluable. We’re building a shop infused with heart and soul and culture. There’s so much opportunity to create and Karen has the chops to run with it.”
At Under Armour, Goodman served as a creative and content director for the brand’s global concepts and strategy division since April of 2015. She is most recently credited on digital campaigns featuring athletes such as Misty Copeland, Stephen Curry and Jordan Spieth.
A 2008 Future Lions award winner, she held the “world’s most expensive bake sale,” selling cookies for $500 each in order to finance a trip to pick up the award in person. She’s also the founder and director of the D.C. chapter of women’s global networking organization SheSays.
The Reel welcomes her to Chicago.
Shameless cast returns; Chicago Satan Free
TV audiences will be excited to know that the hit Showtime series, Shameless, is back in Chicago shooting more Gallagher hijinks for Season 8. But can the same be said for the neighbors of Lawndale where the show is actually filmed?
While the jury is still out on that, cast members are scheduled to be here July 31 to Aug. 4, according to the Chicago Film Office. The Chicago-set series is primarily shot in the Los Angeles on the Warner Brothers lot, but the cast typically films in Chicago for about two weeks per season.
If you don’t know by now, the drama follows the dysfunctional Gallagher family led by alcoholic father Frank (played by William H. Macy) and his responsible daughter Fiona (played by Emmy Rossum). Gossip Girl star Jessica Szohr has reportedly joined the Season 8 cast in a recurring role.
A premiere date for the 12-episode eighth season has not been announced. The official Season 8 announcement came hours after the Season 7 finale aired in December. The series’ future was uncertain after Rossum raised issues about her salary.
While the news of Shameless returning is cause for celebration for the Chicago production community, some holy water was thrown on it as news of The Exorcist departing for Seattle for Season 2 spread around town.
Curtains for The Hoovers
Local filmmakers and married couple, Beth and Gar Hoover’s latest film, CURTAINS, will premiere next month at the 21st annual L.A. Shorts International Film Festival, an Academy qualifier and one of the largest and most prestigious international short film festivals in the world.
The film tells the story of Peter Fleming, avant-garde legend and Cleveland experimental theater “bad boy.”
You can view the trailer here.
Loan in Aisle Seven
Hoffman Estates-based Sears holding got a $200m loan from CEO, Eddie Lampert.
ESL Partners, of which Lampert is chairman and CEO, has entered into a short-term line of credit loans. The loans carry a maturity date of 151 days and a 9.75% fixed annual interest rate.
Sears Holdings noted it may entered into additional short-term loans for up to $100 million. Sears Holdings is currently the largest holding in the ESL portfolio, according to CNBC
Follow Colin Costello on Twitter @colincostello10.
