Jermaine Dupri protoge Maestro Harrell’s – a Rising Star!

While sitting in BD’s office, someone mentioned seeing Billy on MTV’s My Super Sweet Sixteen for Maestro Harrell’s Chicago birthday party (click here for the video!). Of course we had to look up the episode and watch it for ourselves! Being filmed almost four years ago in August of 2007, we all became curious as to where Maestro is today. After a little research and contacting Maestro directly, we’ve got the scoop!

For those that may not know, Maestro is a self-proclaimed producer, actor, singer, and Chicago native who’s making his way to the top. In 2005, Maestro signed a recording deal with hip-hop producer and mentor Jermaine Dupri. He’s also appeared in movies such as Ali and Barbershop, shot a few commercials, and appeared in a view television shows.

Since the filming of his MTV sixteenth birthday party, Maestro has moved to L.A. and has done episodes of Cold Case, ER, Lie to Me, Suburgatory, and Lifetime’s new series, The Protector. Maestro also did the music for Rihanna’s perfume ad which is pretty cool! He has definitely come a long way since his sixteenth birthday bash and he has big plans for the future. To keep up with Maestro and all his projects, check out his website: http://www.maestroharrell.com Also be sure to check out Maestro’s My Super Sweet Sixteen episode on MTV to see if you can spot Billy!

-Dana Ragazinskas, Intern

Tags: acting, Cold Case, ER, Jermain Dupri, Liet to Me, los angeles, Maestro, MTV, Producing, rihanna, Sweet 16

Rockit Ranch Productions and www.aChicagoThing.com win 4 Telly Awards with Billy Dec Avatar Social Media Anniversary Benefit Video!

What if my avatar literally came to life and spoke to people about a gigantic party to celebrate his 2nd birthday as the “person” behind all my social media platforms (facebook, twitter, blog..) that had  been communicating with tens of thousands of people with similar interests for the last 2 years?  And what if he explained in a really fun way that this huge party would benefit one of our favorite philanthropic missions, feeding people in need.  Well, that was the crazy idea we came up with at Rockit Ranch Productions 6 months ago when we produced the attached video- we just never thought we would actually win awards for it!!??!

Telly Awards honor the very best TV commercials, programs, videos, film productions & work created for the web… and we won these 4!
-Silver Award (the highest honor!!) – Internet/Online Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces – Use of Animation
-Bronze Award – Internet/Online Video – Live Events
-Bronze Award – Internet/Online Video – Animation
-Bronze Award – Internet/Online Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces – Charitable/Not for Profit

We had a blast making fun of me & my ridiculous updates, food porn, travel, celebrity encounters, behind the scenes work in our nightclubs & restaurants, contests & giveaways.. I love to share on facebook & twitter (you should be following me if not already!).. But the awards above are really due to the collaboration between the Rockit Ranch team and a number of talented animators, directors, videographers, friends.. below.. Thank you all!

Special shoutout to all the local artists who helped create this amazing video! Director/Editor: Catherine Lynch, Cinematographer: Adam Dick, Sound: Sam Fell, Avatar Lead: James Pawula, Animation: Ian Beckman & Ari Flesch, Texturing: Arwa Dabbakeh, Modeling: Whit Alexander, Music: Don Meyer, Underground Music: DJ Kane, Make-Up: Brenda Arelano, Equipment: Zacuto, Invites: M13 Graphics

And of course, the good people at the Greater Chicago Food Depository for all they do to fight hunger in our city, and for providing others with a way to help bring attention and support to their cause.

Tags: animation, anniversary party, avatar, billy dec, bronze award, chicago, Chicago charities, directors, facebook, food porn, fundraiser, greater chicago food depository, internet programs, live events, rockit, rockit ranch, rockit ranch productions, silver award, Telly, Telly Awards, twitter, videographers

Dempster Family Foundation’s “Casino Night”

Ryan Dempster is a starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and has over thirteen years of MLB experience. He has been with the Cubs for the past eight years! His daughter, Riley, was born in 2009 with the genetic disorder 22q, which prompted him and his wife to start the Dempster Family foundation. The disease is a chromosomal abnormality that causes a very wide range of health issues. Not only does the disease cause developmental issues, but it also is the source of heart defects, autism, and immune system problems. Currently, a cure does not exist and children suffering from the disease require significant medical attention.

I strongly urge you to support the cause. A night filled with mingling with sports celebrities, dining on fabulous food & drinks, gambling, & bidding in a unique auction will be taking place at the Palmer House Hilton on July 20th. Ryan and Jenny Dempster are hosting their second annual Casino Night benefiting the Dempster Family Foundation. The Dempster Family Foundation supports those suffering with 22q11.2 deletion (DiGeorge Syndrome/VCFS). Help raise awareness and support research of the disease by attending this extraordinary event. General Admission, along with “high roller”, tickets are still available through the Foundation’s website: http://dempsterfamilyfoundation.org/casinonight/casino-night-tickets/.

The Ryan and Jenny Dempster Family Foundation aims to support families with children suffering from 22q. The foundation gives back through increased awareness, monetary grants to charities, and programs. Researching for early detection of the disorder and helping children gain confidence and strength is of utmost importance. Along with supporting research and awareness, the Dempster Foundation helps foster a network for the families affected by the disease. This network allows families to determine the best treatment path for the diagnosed and connect with others enduring the same difficult situation.

-Kaitlin Kelly, Intern

Tags: 22Q, auction, autism, Casino NIght, celebrities, charity, Dempster Family Foundation, Drink, food, Heart Defects, Immune System, Jenny Dempster, palmer house, ryan dempster, sports

Lt. Dan Band “For The Common Good”

The Fourth of July has just passed but let’s not let the celebration and support for our troops simmer down. There is a new movie out called Lt. Dan Band: For The Common Good that has a way of helping us continue to say thank you to our war heroes. The documentary walks you through the coming together of a band after September 11 and how their mission has grown over the years. The movie’s cinematography isn’t just something to be amazed by, but the music is as well.

There is a song written in the movie by Gina Gonzalez, who used to play at Rockit Bar and Grill back in the day and was a local fav! Her song is called “A Letter Home” that really captures the essence of the movie and America.  Watch the movie Lt. Dan Band: For The Common Good at  and take a moment to say thank you once more. One out of every fourth dollar of the proceeds goes to the Gary Sinise Foundation, which supports our military, veterans, first responders and their families. The Gary Sinise Foundation also supports other charities such as the USO, Operation International Children and Snowball Express. This movie makes us appreciate how wonderful America truly is and how we can overcome anything with the support of each other.

Tags: documentary, first responders, For the Common Good, Gary Sinise, Gary Sinise Foundation, Gina Gonzalez, Lt. Dan Band, Lt. Dan Band For the Common Good, military, Operation International Children, rockit bar and grill, Snowball Express, tribute, USO, veterans

The Savoy Ballroom – Chicago

Hey aChicagoThing.com readers…Caitlin Presberg here, Summer Intern for Rockit Ranch Productions. Walking down the streets of Chicago everyday can become a bit of a routine, when you travel down there everyday for work.  Your mind seems focused and pre set on the movements that you make day after day.  However, every now and again something changes your focus and diverts you, allowing yourself to be taken in by your surroundings.

While waiting for an approaching Red Line train my ears were filled with the sound of a saxophone, accompanied by the beautiful notes played on a piano.  They were performing “Sweet Home”, a trademark of our Windy City.  The song brought a smile to my face asI thought of how Chicago, unlike others, can take such a simple place, and breathe life into it.  Everyone listening could be seen smiling, even shyly so.  We as Chicagoans can take such an original idea such as music, and form it into our own individual trademark of originality.  The Blues originated in the south, during the Civil War, however it was in Chicago where it really found its rhythm, and started the nationwide focus on performing.  Jazz as well as other music, found itself being transformed and revered in our city.

In the 20’s was when this all occurred, our culture and our pride was instilled in even the most desolate of places.  Places such as, the Savoy Ballroom, now known as the Harold Washington Cultural Center, where criminal activity was at a high, and extra curricular activities were scarce.  The Savoy Ballroom created an outlet for the people, in a place that was known as the Harlem of Chicago. Performers from all around came to perform at this Ballroom.  People such as, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington made it a point to perform there on a regular basis, along with others.

The Savoy Ballroom however, was still in need of money, which brought in other ideas for promotion, such as Semi-Pro Basketball games.  It was because of this that another idea was touched with our Chicago vibe of originality.  Games occurred here, but Savoy, founder of the Ballroom, decided to create a traveling team, called the “Savoy Five”.  It was these five players that later turned into the national phenomenon, known as the “Harlem Globetrotters”.  So many ideas have been transformed in ways that affect our culture in this city of Chicago, which makes me believe that the possibilities here are indeed endless.  So next time you are walking down the streets of Chicago, think about who might have walked them before you, and be ready for the possibilities that you yourself may be presented with, in this city of second chances, and endless possibilities.

Tags: blues music, chicago, globetrotters, harlem globtrotters, harold washington culture center, jazz music, savoy five, sweet home, the savory ballroom

My 1st Katy Perry concert in Chicago was at The Underground over Lollapallooza weekend!

After I filmed my weekly segment on Thursdays at 9am on ABC TV’s “Windy City Live” today (click here to see it!), I had a ton of people asking me about my Katy Perry story that I told on air, saying she performed at one of our spots, The Underground, before she got BIG (before she even had a twitter account, now she has 8+million followers)! Totally true- here’s the video- it looks like she kissed me in it? I’m just saying…haha…

In case you don’t know, she is performing here tomorrow at All State Arena (the same time as Britney Spears at United Center?), and we are psyched to have her back! Enjoy the video!!!!!!

Tags: abc, abc's windy city live, allstate arena, billy dec, britney spears, chicago, chicago concerts, chicago summer concerts, chicago weekend events, katy perry, lollapalooza, the underground chicago, twitter followers, united center, windy city live

Better Boys & Girls Foundation 50th Anniversary Celebration

Hi readers! This is Stephanie Castagnier, I’m a friend of Billy’s, but you probably know me from NBC’s The Apprentice, the 2010 season.  I wanted to share an event with you that I hold near and dear to my heart. On Tuesday, July 12th I have the distinct honor of speaking  at the Better Boys Foundation 50th Anniversary Celebration, and I can’t wait! I will be sharing my story of loosing my parents to AIDS and overcoming adversity as a child, I think this is the perfect platform to speak about my past. The Better Boys Foundation is truly an incredible, unique Chicago organization formed to serve kids in the North Lawndale neighborhood by providing academic, social, emotional and cultural guidance. Founded in the early ’60s by the legendary Buddy Hackett and local businessman Joe Kellman, the BBF has gone through several transformations and has grown substantially over the decades.

It’s amazing to think that it all began with the opening of a boxing gym! From there the foundation worked to create a free breakfast program for needy children, then went on in 1970 and formed the Farragut High School Outpost Classroom to help students that had dropped out, earn their GED’s. They have created scholarships, theatre programs, family based funds, temporary living facilities, teen-parent groups and even art based apprenticeships focused on film, dance, writing and more. It’s really quite impressive and heart warming to see the Better Boys Foundation progression through the years and makes me even more so looking forward to participating in next Tuesday’s festivities.

I hope you can all join me at Carnivale to commemorate the past 50 years of the BBF, it’s definitely going to be a fun evening! And an exciting twist…..guests will have the opportunity to step back in time to learn more about BBF’s beginnings in the 1960s and its evolution across five decades of dedicated service to the North Lawndale community, how cool is that? For more info and tickets please visit http://www.bbf50.com/ and I really hope to see you next week! Thanks….Stephanie

Tags: after school program, aids, better boys and girls, better boys foundation, better boys foundation 50th anniversary, buddy hackett, carnivale, charity, chicago, donald trump, farragut high school, joe kellman, NBC, nbc's apprentice, north lawndale, safe house, stephanie castagnier, the apprentice

Behind the Scenes with Billy Dec – 5 Radio Shows, a Live TV Show on ABC & a PSA all in 5 hours!

I woke up at 5am this morning for a BIG press day with Billy.  We had to do 5 radio shows, a live tv show & a PSA all in 5 hours when he literally just stepped off a plane from France, Hungary, and Austria 12 hours prior.  When he initially told me about how much press he wanted to do BEFORE he was live on Windy City Live- I thought it was absurd, but in all the time I have known him, I can say he pushes himself to work beyond what most people think is feasible.  The main purpose behind all this press was to talk about two events that are the very important to him to support art & theatre in Chicago & raise scholarships for kids -  The Madhatter’s Ball & The Piven Theatre Gala.

The schedule of the day went as follows:
6am – Picked up  Chicago Reader, heard BD won “Best Person to Follow on Twitter”                                                                                                                                          6:15am – Car Pickup

6:30am – Stop at Rockit to pick up Burgers
6:45am – Live on Kiss FM with Angi Taylor at Brother Fred
7:30am – J & Julian Show on B96
7:40am – Fresh with Scotty & Rebecca
7:50am – K-Hits with Eddie & Jobo
8:30am – Make-up & Producer’s Session for ABC’s Windy City Live
9-10am – Live on ABC’s Windy City Live
11am – Steve Dahl Show
11:30am – PSA Shoot for Chicago’s Go Do Good Campaign that Connects Art to Action
1-3pm – Work at Rockit Ranch Productions
3pm – Call in with Andy Giersher

I took my camera with me to show you guys what it’s like to be Behind the Scenes when you are live on radio & tv!!! It was a crazy, fun-filled day, and I was shocked to see that Billy was still even standing to make it out that night! (Billy attended a party for Factor Models and worked at Sunda later that night.  I, on the other hand, was asleep by 10pm)

By the way, for those who follow Billy on facebook & twitter – You may have seen the picture of the bird that he posted that seemed to be injured right outside his office on that day.  I’m very happy to report that by the end of the day, the bird was saved thanks to the help from the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors – we will post a video we took and share the whole story here tomorrow!

-Amy

Tags: abc, abc windy city live, Amy Shah, andy giersher, angi taylor, B96.3, billy dec, brotha fred, chicago, chicago bird collision monitors, chicago events, chicago reader, chicago reader best of 2011, eddie and jobo, facebook, fresh 105.9, fundraiser, j and julian, jeremy piven, k-hits, kiss fm, lookingglass theatre, madhatter's ball, piven theatre workshop, psa, Radio, rockit, rockit bar and grill, scotty and rebecca, steve dahl, theatre, twitter, windy city live

David Schwimmer, Joey Slotnick & I Hosted Our 1st Madhatter’s Ball 10 Years Ago! Don’t miss it this Saturday- 10yrs later!

10 years ago my buddies David Schwimmer & Joey Slotnick were looking for new ways to raise money and awareness for their non profit theatre group Lookingglass to build their first home in the Historic Water Tower Pumping Station on Michigan Avenue. I strongly felt their was an active, art/theatre loving, socially conscious & supportive younger demographic in Chicago that would love to get behind it so I founded the Lookingglass Theatre’s Junior Board and kicked it all off with a giant 1000 person event called the Madhatter’s Ball that David, Joey & I hosted that was a huge success!

Each year the Junior Board got bigger & stronger raising more money & awareness about art & theatre in Chicago, and specifically Lookingglass productions, and their wonderful programs we began to support for kids. The buzz for Madhatter’s Ball has steadily also grown as a crazy, cooky evening of actors, art lovers, celebrities, philanthropists and more all coming together for a night of dining, drinking, auctions, costumes and good times. I am thrilled to say this is the 10 year anniversary of Madhatters and since the junior board has made my dream & vision come true and by taking it upon themselves to grow & produce the event better than ever, I will be attending as a guest and supporter!

I would love to see all of you out there this Saturday, June 25th at 8pm 1000 feet in the sky at the top of the John Hancock Observatory. Tickets also include a wristband to the after party at The Underground… All info on that and more can be found here – see you there!!!!! BTW, heads up, will be giving 2 tickets away Thursday 6/23 on www.twitter.com/BillyDec so make sure you follow me!

Tags: billy dec, chicago, david schwimmer, joey slotnick, lookingglass, Lookinglass Junior Board, madhatter's ball, theatre

Jeremy Piven & Billy Dec host 2011 Piven Theatre Workshop Benefit AfterParty at Rockit!

This video of Jeremy Piven & I on set of HBO’s “Entourage” is not only funny, but explains what kind of work we have been doing to raise money for children’s art & theatre scholarships for about 10 years now- check it out (its from last season, so event info for this year is updated below!).  Actors out of Chicago like John & Joan Cusack, Kate Walsh, Aidan Quinn… Have all benefited from the same classes (I’m giving away a classes below!) and have hosted the same events with us over the years (giving away some afterparty tix below!) and I look forward to seeing who will make it big out of there next!

I also want to give a shoutout to Jeremy’s mom Joyce Piven who has been running their acting school for 40 years!  I have had a chance to study under her this last year at Piven Theatre Workshop, and can say first hand that I am truly impressed, thankful & supportive of everything she has done and is doing to keep talent evolving at its best in our city instead of making them have to flee to the coasts for the best in acting classes & training! I also want to thank her for honoring me with the Byrne Piven (her late husband and PTW co-founder) Community Leadership Award along with Kate Walsh who won the the Joyce Piven Artistic Excellence Award. Click here for info on us that day!
Most important, I’d really like to invite you all to get involved with us now and join the Piven’s this Saturday, June 25th for the 40th Anniversary of Piven Theatre Benefit at the MCA Loft (5p VIP, 6p for all)!!!!!  Here is all the info & tix: http://bit.ly/izeMKd.  Afterward, join Jeremy Piven and I as we host the AfterParty at Rockit from 9p-11p… For tix click the button below!

HEADS UP- GIVE AWAY!  I am buying 100 tix to treat 100 ppl to join Jeremy & I at our after party at Rockit!  I am also giving away an 8wk children’s/teen acting course at Piven Theatre Workshop that was hugely buzzed about when I did it last year….  I will announce the giveaway tomorrow/Thursday 6/23 on either my twitter or facebook just before noon so make sure you click them and get connected with me!  Enjoy and spread the word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tags: 40 Years, aidan quinn, billy dec, Byrne Piven, chicago, chicago theatre, jeremy piven, Joan Cusak, john cusack, joyce piven, kate walsh, piven, piven theatre workshop