FILM PRODUCER LOUIS FERRARA brings his many years of LA production experience to the Illinois Film Office, having joined last Monday as assistant deputy director.
He fills the position vacated in July by Raul Esperanza, who left the IFO after four years to pursue new production opportunities.
Ferrara’s goal, said the Dept. of Commerce, “is to continue to create economic opportunities for the people of Illinois and the many businesses that support the creative arts economy throughout the state.”
Ferrara most recently was director of development and production for Oscar-nominated writer / producer / director Sergei Bodrov, as co-producer on features “Seventh Son” and “Paradise Club” and EP on the doc “Blacksmith.”
He started his film career as a production assistant on features and then spent five years as a production coordinator on 130-plus episodes of “The Simpsons” and “The Simpsons Movie.”
Ferrara had recently moved to Chicago, where his wife has family.
Esperanza is location scouting for MGM’s “Death Wish” starring Bruce Willis that will film on city locations here Sept. 26-Oct. 2.
FOR THE 6TH YEAR, a new State Farm/DDB spot again features football MVP Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers and also features his teammate, linebacker Clay Matthews in the 30-second “Pep Talk,” as part of a new integrated campaign.
This year’s football creative is different, DDB says, because it drives home the benefit of combining home and auto insurance with State Farm. A second spot in the campaign will air on Thanksgiving Day.
DDB’s CD Chad Broude was the writer, CD Brian Boord was art director, Scott Kemper, EP and Luke LiManni producer. Wayne McClammy directed for Hungry Man and Beast handled editorial.
CRIME THRILLER “DEAD DRAW,” the first indie feature written, directed and edited by Brian Klemesrud, CD at AL Media, founded by noted political strategist Eric Adelstein, will debut at the Sept. 28-Oct. 2 San Diego International Film Festival. Klemesrud co-produced with attorney John C. Hammerle, his friend from college.
“Dead Draw” stars Gil Bellows (“The Shawshank Redemption”) Bitsie Tulloch (“The Artist,” “Grimm”) and Michael Eklund (“The Call”).
At AL Media, award-winning Klemesrud directs, edits and develops original content. He also produces music videos via his Rocket3 production company.
WE HEAR … that location scouting is getting set for two features. One is producer Rupert Wyatt’s Sci-fi “Captive State” that we know is scheduled to film here in February. The other, however, could be director Steve McQueen’s upcoming feature “Widows,” based on an ‘80s British TV mini-series.
WHO’S NEW. Experiential marketing agency All Terrain’s new creative director is April Quealy, who also serves on All Terrain’s Leadership Team and contributes to the agency’s overall strategic direction of the agency, led by recently named president Rick Miller.
IRISH AMERICAN MOVIE HOOEY, aka the Irish Film Festival, comes to the Siskel Film Center over the Sept. 30 weekend for the second consecutive year, hosted and programmed by Mike Houlihan. One feature film will be presented on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon.
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