Chicago

CHICAGO – Man, talk about bad timing. With the Stoneman Douglas shootings still making news, America will now entertain itself with a vigilante doctor shooting anything he sees? Yeesh. Bruce Willis is game in the watchable-but-ultra-violent “Death Wish.”

CHICAGO – At this point in our civilization, the food culture is at its peak. “Foodies” devote themselves to TV networks, celebrity chefs and the latest taste sensations. Director Jack C. Newell explores a portion of this culture in his new documentary profile of Chef Jake Bickelhaupt, as he attempts to build the Chicago eatery ’42 Grams.’

CHICAGO – The education system of America has been ripe over the years for comedic skewering… and with today’s overindulgent parenting style, it’s never been a better time for those knowing laughs. The focus on parent teacher/conferences is the subject of the latest comedy web series, shot in Chicago, called “Other People’s Children.” (OPC).

CHICAGO – The coolest cat on 1970s TV was Huggy Bear, informant to the cop team of “Starsky and Hutch.” The man who portrayed that fly guy was Antonio Fargas, who also could lay claim as the Godfather of Blaxploitation Films (the run of African American cinema in the late 1960s through the ‘70s). Fargas was honored for his contributions with the Career Achievement Award at the Cinepocalypse Film Festival, Music Box Theatre in Chicago.

CHICAGO – Yep, “Eric Roberts is the F**king Man”! That is the name of the podcast, and the mercurial actor recorded it live in front of an audience at Music Box Theatre in Chicago, as part of their Cinepocalypse Film Festival. Roberts’ filmography includes “The Pope of Greenwich Village” (1984), “Cecil B. Demented” (2000), “The Dark Knight” (2008) and “Inherent Vice” (2014).

CHICAGO – What began as a web series has evolved to the stage. “DorkumentaryLIVE!” is the pet project of Tarleton/Dawn Productions, a husband (David) and wife (Adria) team that live and work in Chicago. They developed the series in Los Angeles, and after several episodes online decided to adapt it to the stage. “DorkumentaryLIVE!” will run from Wednesday, November 15th through Sunday, November 19th, 2017, at Stage 773 on Belmont Avenue in Chicago (see details below).

CHICAGO – The issue of mental health is given a celestial spin in the short film “Miriam is Going to Mars,” written and directed by Michael Lippert of Cutters Studios in Chicago. The film recently was the Grand Jury Winner at the Midwest Independent Film Festival “Midwest Advertising Community Shorts Night,” and follows that up with a screening at the Ithaca (New York) Fantastik Fest on November 11th, 2017.

CHICAGO – If you hear the sound of laughter from the vicinity of the Rogers Park neighborhood in Chicago, then most likely it is coming from the New 400 Theater, the base for the 7th Chicago Comedy Film Festival. The Festival showcases features, shorts and experimental films in all styles of funny. It opens on Thursday, November 9th, 2017, with a program of Chicago Short Films at The Second City, and continues through Saturday, November 11th.

CHICAGO – Poet and Activist Lina Ramona Vitkauskas is also a first generation Lithuanian-American. In keeping an eye on the situation in her homeland – part of the Baltic States that broke independently from the old Soviet Union – she discovered a new documentary about the Russian infiltration in the country’s political structure. “The Master Plan” breaks down the several-year campaign by Vladimir Putin to divide opinions and politics, to disrupt the region and confuse the recent independence. Sound familiar? A FREE screening of “The Master Plan” will take place on Tuesday, November 14th, 2017 (7pm) at the historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago.

CHICAGO – The Fall Season Five continues for the Asian Pop-Up Cinema series in Chicago as they roll down the alley for “Split,” Wednesday, November 1st, 2017, at the AMC River East 21 Theatre. This South Korean bowling comedy is directed by Choi Kook-hee. Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com will make an appearance as “the bowler,” with Ron Falzone of Columbia College moderating. For complete details and to purchase tickets, click here.