What does a local Chicago legendary rock venue and a thriving Texas arts festival have in common? After the Reggies SXSW Throwdown, quite a bit! Started in Austin in 1987 South By Southwest has grown into a week long music, film, and culture festival attended by nearly 20,000 people every year. Their lineup, consisting of musical acts, films, speakers, and others, features a great collection of current hot names but also tons of great up and coming artists.

This year, local venue Reggie’s Rock Club is putting on a Showcase at SWSW and will be taking a local Chicago band with them! Vying for the title is Gun, Tracer Bullet, Yellow Jacket, The Welcome, Yer Mother Lovers, and Fates Furies and Men. Help choose the band that will represent Chicago on Saturday February 4th. Tickets (18+) will only cost you $10 for a night of great local rock. This huge opportunity could help launch one of these bands to national attention so make sure to come out and support Chicago music by casting your vote!

Each band has it¹s own link to buy tickets so, so support your favorite: Tracer Bullet , The Welcome , Yer Mother Lovers, Fates, Furies and Men, Gun.

-Kevin Hartmann

Take a night out of the week to go out with your family and friends to see this special Christmas tradition! This holiday season is the 28^th anniversary with the Music Box!  It all started in 1983, when an operator in Chicago shows two old holiday movies in Christmas Eve. People came out to watch these vintage movies and sing Christmas carols during their intermissions.

By this being able to keep going 27 years later you know many people have made this their favorite family holiday tradition! If you haven’t ever experienced it you should definitely make it a priority this year. When you enter the Music Box Theatre you’re greeted with a jolly hello from Santa Claus.  He even leads you in Christmas carols to classic Christmas songs. If you happen to not know the words to the carols being sung, no worries, lyrics are projected on the theatre’s screen.

The movies that are being played are White Christmas and It’s A Wonderful Life. You can see either one or stay for both! You can check out the single and double feature prices here http://bit.ly/rycwjC. Reserve your tickets today- you don’t want to miss out on this holiday event!

-Rhea Drougas

Watch out, IMAX.  Chicago’s winter skyline is about to become a giant movie screen. On Friday, December 9, The Art Institute of Chicago, supported by the Graham Foundation for Advance Studies in the Fine Arts, will beam Andy Warhol’s celebrated conceptual film “Empire” onto the top 12 stories of the Aon Center to mark the opening of the museum’s new photography exhibition, Light Years: Conceptual Art and the Photograph 1964-1977.

Shot in one, continuous take over the course of a single evening in 1964, Warhol’s silent footage of the Empire State Building observes the famed structure over a period of several hours from dusk to nightfall and finally, darkness.  Our city’s screening will mark the film’s first large-scale, outdoor presentation in the United States.

While the film will be viewable from Millennium Park, the Evening Associates of the Art Institute of Chicago are offering an indoor option. A special viewing party in the panoramic Modern Wing, entitled “Unveiled: Empire,” will give guests a front-row seat from which to consider one of Warhol’s landmark experimental pieces, all while enjoying hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, and music from one of Chicago’s hippest DJs.  Attendees will also get a special sneak preview of the museums new “Light Years” exhibit before it opens to the public.

The event will take place on Friday, December 9 from 8:00-11:00 PM in the Nichols Trustees Suite, located on the second floor of the Art Institute’s Modern Wing. The cost, which includes food and drinks, is $60 for Evening Associates members and $70 for non-members.

Tickets are limited, and those interested in attending can sign up here. Additional information is available at the Evening Associates’ information line (312-443-3710) or by contacting Jaime Norwood (jnorwood@artic.edu)

“Unveiled: Empire” is just one of many cool cultural events put on by the Evening Associates throughout the year. The group’s mission is to bring Chicago’s young professional community into an active, participatory relationship with the Art Institute of Chicago in order to promote an understanding and appreciation of the arts. Evening Associates members enjoy exclusive museum gatherings, gallery walks and other unique “after-five” events throughout Chicago, taking advantage of the city’s vibrant art and social scene.  More information is available at www.eveningassociates.com.

We hope you can make it! – Sean Mogle

Back in 1986, a high school wise guy came to Chicago and stirred things up a bit. People danced in the streets and Wrigley Field was taken over by three juvenile delinquents – all for a day off. Now, 25 years later, the legend of Ferris Bueller lives on.

On October 1, in celebration of the film’s anniversary, Groupon and Wrigley are setting up three giant movie screens in the ballpark to show the classic film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Catch a younger Matthew Broderick, Wrigley Field and the Willis Tower, back when it was known as the Sears Tower. With it taking place on a Saturday night, you don’t even have to skip school to attend.  Additionally, there will be an attempt to break the world record for singing the movie’s anthem, Danke Shoen.

During the movie, pay special attention to the scenes at the baseball game. Do you know the score or what game they are at? Check out some impressive detective work here – you’re sure to impress your friends with your knowledge.

Tickets are $10 for bleacher seats, $25 for an outfield lawn seat or $75 for a VIP outfield lawn seat that gets you access to a pre-event party at the Captain Morgan Club, but also be on the lookout because our CEO, Billy Dec, is giving away some tickets on twitter & facebook!

So, dust off your 80s gear, warm-up that voice and grab some close friends to help “Save Ferris!”

-Evan Jones

The warm weather is on its way out – signaling the end of the Summer Blockbuster. Throughout the past few months countless movies have made their debut; some reaching the coveted ‘blockbuster’ status, while others simply just fizzled. A majority featured A-list cast members and numerous explosions, but few had substance. If you’re looking for something true, local, and inspiring, check out Kartemquin Films (KTQ) newest feature: The Interrupters. Approaching their 45th Anniversary Celebration on September 15th at the Metro, KTQ is world renowned for producing grounding breaking documentaries right here in Chicago. Past films include Hoop Dreams (1994) and No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson (2010). There are various showings of The Interrupters throughout the city. Take a look!

Centered around members of CeaseFire, “The Interrupters tells the moving and surprising stories of three Violence Interrupters who try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they once employed.” Thought of as a virus, these individuals seek to stop the spread of hatred at its source: “go after the most infected.” Ameena Matthews, daughter of Jeff Fort, one of Chicago’s most infamous gang leaders, joins the cause to help educate and promote a positive message of rising above the violence. “From  acclaimed director Steve James and bestselling author Alex Kotlowitz, this film is an unusually intimate journey into the stubborn, persistence of violence in our cities.”

-  Evan Jones, Intern

@ewjonesy

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.

Big congrats to my good buddy, and Chicago native, Joe Mantegna who will be forever immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this Friday April 29th!  I’ve not only had the pleasure of interviewing Joe about his deep love for Chicago in this Olympic video above, but through dinner with him & his wife, visits to his set, time with his fam, phone calls, tweets (haha)… I have not only come to understand that he is an outstanding actor, producer, and writer… But I have found him to be one of the most interesting, honorable, sweet, smart, passionate, cool… human beings I’ve ever met.. And I mean that.

Newer fans may know Joe Mantegna from starring in the hit TV show Criminal Minds, but Joe has had roles in over 100 films and tv shows in his 40 years of show business, notably Godfather III, The Rat Pack, the voice of Fat Tony in the Simpsons, Three Amigos, Up Close & Personal, and Forget Paris.  Mantegna received Emmy Award nominations in The Last Don, The Rat Pack, and The Starter Wife.

My fav stories are when Joe tells me about his theater background.  He made his Broadway debut in Stephen Schwartz’s Working.  He was awarded a Tony and Joseph Jefferson for his performance as a cynical real-estate agent in David Mamet’s (who will be doing Joe’s induction during the ceremony) play Glengarry Glen Ross.  He went on to star in many more productions including A Life in the Theater, The Disappearance of the Jews, and Speed the Plow.  Mantegna also co-wrote the Emmy Award Winning Bleacher Bums, which was inspired from his countless days spent at Wrigley Field watching the Cubs play which was then turned into a made-for-TV- movie in 2002. Joe , you are truly a Chicago Thing… And we appreciate you!!!!!!!!!

After writing, shooting & airing our lil “short movie” / avatar invite this week, the tough challenges of it all really took me by surprise, and made me respect the industry all the more. It also made me take note of this seminar I thought I’d share. Its by la producer & highly sought-after screenwriting teacher/”pitch doctor” barri evans who will be hosting an intensive screenwriting seminar from feb 2-4. from what i hear, her seminars are amazing and really help-

barri evins always wanted to be a storyteller, and after finding out that she couldn’t do it as a ballerina, she realized she could tell stories through film. she’s helped set up pitches at Warner Brothers, Universal Studios, Disney, HBO, and more, and she’s also worked with actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and auto racing enthusiast paul newman on a few political commercials. barri’s currently working on a few projects with spider-man actor tobey maguire and a novel adaptation for lifetime. she heads a nonprofit organization called from the heart which promotes literacy and fosters a love of reading in children living below the poverty line.

i love that her dream and purpose is to help others achieve theirs and that she’s sharing her successes to help aspiring screenwriters achieve
their own. so all you aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters out there, if you’re interested in attending her screenwriting seminar, you can get more info and register by emailing barri@bigbigideas.com!



The Arrival from Fig Media on Vimeo.

if you follow me on facebook & twitter, you know I’m sitting in my trailer for fox’s “chicago code” waiting for makeup & wardrobe, before i deliver my lines in the scene I’m in today! as I look out from my trailer window, I see a very cold lake Michigan nearby, which reminds me of a killer video (above) I just saw, that I thought I’d share with you real quick!

It’s about the race to mackinac, hosted by the prestigious chicago yacht club for the last 100 years, known as the oldest annual freshwater distance race in the world. it starts off at the chicago lighthouse, just off navy pier, and ends 333 miles later at mackinac island. I particularly love how fig media & local artists captured the beauty, energy, spirit.. of the lake, race, city, skyline… chicago!

Speaking of my peeps at fig media, they are showing five cutting-edge short films tmrw 12/15 at the legendary Music Box Theatre (3733 north southport) from 7:00-9:00PM. You must check it! Alright, enough day dreaming for me though, off to break a leg! (will show some behind the scene clips of my scene shooting here on my blog later this week hopefully- stay tuned!)

the chicago yacht club was formed in 1875, and is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the world. their mission is “to find a better way to attract more boats, more sailors, and to organize better races and other yachting events.  the members of the yacht club share a passion for yachting and attract a diverse group of people from all different backgrounds.

not only are they the host of “the mac,” but they also sponsor over 100 races and other yachting activities, as well as hosting a variety of social events and celebrations all year round. this year the chicago yacht club created a short documentary entitled the arrival, which follows some of the most talented and passionate sailors as they set sail on this journey to test their strength, endurance, strategy and willpower. can’t  get on a yacht anytime soon? or just wishing for warmer weather right about now? watch this video, it’s the next best thing! can’t wait for next summer to welcome them all back to chicago!

**UPDATED Nov 29, 2011 :: We’re thrilled to announce we have the honor yet again of being host to 2011′s Best of the Midwest Gala! Tuesday, December 6th come to Rockit Bar and Grill (22 W Hubbard) to celebrate the premier filmmaking talents in Chicago and the Midwest. It’s been an exceptional year for The Midwest Independent Film Festival and here’s your chance to join in the excitement! Click here for more info, a list of the nominees and to get your tickets - http://www.midwestfilm.com/pages/vote_/155.php See you there!**

Everyone knows and loves the mainstream movie festivals across the country; Sundance, Cannes, New York, Toronto, etc, that’s a given.. but let’s not forget our local “Midwest Independent Film Festival” solely dedicated to the Midwest filmmaker, presenting audiences with regionally produced independent cinema (here’s a pic of me, Mancow and Four Time Golden Globe nominee Armand Assante from last year)Celebrating local arts & talent is something I’m personally passionate about, so for the 2nd year in a row, I’ve helped give The Best of the Midwest Awards a warm & festive home at Rockit Bar & Grill (22 W. Hubbard). This year, join us on Tuesday, December 7th starting at 7pm!

There are some great attendees slated to be there, from Oscar nominee Steve James (Hoop Dreams) to screenwriter Steve Conrad (Pursuit of Happyness),.. So its a perfect opportunity for those interested in the film industry to come on out and network w/ people that are excelling in the field. For BMA tickets go to  http://ow.ly/3ke1G (includes two full hours of appetizers & hosted bar), but if you can’t swing the ticket cost you are in luck –I have 20 tickets to giveaway to my ever so loyal & awesome Twitter & Facebook friends (click on each if not connected w/me yet). Just post on my facebook &/or twitter.. “I follow you and want to win the Film Fest tix too!” Enjoy!