CHICAGO – Seemingly ripped from the headlines, by way of “Dr. Strangelove,” the new Netflix TV series “Space Force” debuted on May 29th, 2020. Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com reviewed the series during the Eddie Volkman Show (Star 96.7 FM in Joliet, Illinois) on June 5th, 2020.
April 2020
Film News: 2020 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Jury Prizes
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 30, 2020 - 10:58amCHICAGO – “The show must go on … “ That became the rallying cry of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, which was physically postponed because of the Covid pandemic (it was originally scheduled from April 15-26). Despite that unexpected turn, the Festival went online, named juries and awarded honors to films on April 29th.
Film News: Asian Pop-Up Cinema ‘Funniest Stay-At-Home Short Film Competition’ Deadline
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 27, 2020 - 8:41amCHICAGO – Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) continues their “Funniest Stay-At-Home Short Film Competition, and the deadline is extended through May 15th, 2020. The idea is – while many of us are staying at home during the pandemic quarantine – to create a one-minute film while you’re “inside.”
Update: Chicago’s Music Box Theatre and Gene Siskel Film Center At-Home Screenings
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 27, 2020 - 8:18amCHICAGO – Both the Music Box Theatre and the Gene Siskel Film Center have continued their at-home screenings, due to the physical theaters having to close during the pandemic quarantine. Below are the updates to their current offerings.
Film News: Patrick McDonald & Eddie Volkman on Star 96.7 Streaming Show, April 24th, 2020
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 24, 2020 - 1:19pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, who appears each Friday at 4:35pm on Star 96.7 FM (Joliet, Illinois) during the Eddie Volkman Show, will participant further with Eddie on a April 26th Streaming Movie Special with the theme of “Comfort Films” to watch during the pandemic quarantine.
Podtalk: Actor David Dasmalchian & ‘Count Crowley’ at Mainframe Comic Con, April 26, 2020
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 24, 2020 - 9:29amCHICAGO – David Dasmalchian is a comic book culture hero, in a sense. The kind, expressive and enigmatic actor (“Ant-Man”) will lend his considerable credentials as a self-professed “comic book nerd” to the exciting Mainframe Comic Con (MCC), the entirely online comic book convention taking place on April 25th and 26th, 2020.
In Memoriam: Oscar Nominated Character Actress Shirley Knight
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 23, 2020 - 10:11amCHICAGO – There was a time in Hollywood when the character actor was a familiar and reassuring presence in great movies and TV series. Shirley Knight, who worked from 1959-2018, was one of those reliable performers. Knight passed away on April 22nd, 2020, at the age of 83.
Interview: Claudia Wells of ‘Back to The Future,' at Mainframe Comic Con on April 25, 2020
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 22, 2020 - 9:13amCHICAGO – Three days to go before the two-day ‘Mainframe Comic Con’ – a completely free-to-join online comic book convention – will kick off, and on the first day (Saturday, April 25th) a rush of movie nostalgia will take place when actress Claudia Wells will be a guest representing the original “Back to the Future.” Wells portrayed Marty McFly’s girlfriend Jennifer Parker in that classic film.
Podtalk: Chuck Lindsey on the ‘Mainframe Comic Con,’ Happening Online on April 25-26, 2020
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 20, 2020 - 11:06amCHICAGO – With large gatherings becoming unlikely in 2020, how will the comic book legion celebrate their heroes? “Mainframe Comic Con” has the solution. Their idea is to put an entire Comic Con – guests, artists, exhibitors and even cosplay – all online.
Podtalk: Michael Glover Smith on His Film ‘Mercury in Retrograde’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 16, 2020 - 11:13am- Cool Apocalypse
- Covid-19
- Film Center From the Sofa
- Flickering Empire: How Chicago Invented the U.S. Film Industry
- Gene Siskel Film Center
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Interview
- Jack C. Newell
- Kevin Wehby
- Mercury in Retrograde
- Michael Glover Smith
- Oakton Community College
- Patrick McDonald
- Podcast
- Podtalk
- Rendezvous in Chicago
- Shane Simmons
CHICAGO – Reviving a film from local cinema treasure Michael Glover Smith is always welcome at any time, but especially now. The Gene Siskel Film Center is enhancing their “From Your Sofa” download-from-home film series with Smith’s seminal release, “Mercury in Retrograde” through April 23rd.
Update: Chicago’s Music Box Theatre & Gene Siskel Film Center Expand At-Home Screenings
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 13, 2020 - 3:36pmCHICAGO – Both the Music Box Theatre and the Gene Siskel Film Center have expanded their at-home screenings, due to the physical theaters having to close during the pandemic quarantine. Below are the updates to their current offerings.
Podtalks: Josh Mostel & Barry Dennen of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 10, 2020 - 9:36pmCHICAGO – In 1973, director Norman Jewison fashioned a radical film version of the rock opera/Broadway show “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and the cinematic innovations plus stellar cast equaled a timeless movie musical classic. Josh Mostel portrayed King Herod and Barry Dennen was Pontius Pilate in the iconic film.
Film News: Asian Pop-Up Cinema Announces ‘Funniest Stay-At-Home Short Film Competition’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 8, 2020 - 3:39pmCHICAGO – Want a unique way to stay creative and support an essential Windy City film festival during the pandemic quarantine? Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) announces their “Funniest Stay-At-Home Short Film Competition. The idea is to create a one-minute film while you’re “inside.”
Podtalk: Director/Lead Actor Chris Roberti of ‘Same Boat,’ Releasing on VOD April 7, 2020
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 6, 2020 - 2:53pmCHICAGO – Time travel “what ifs” and cruise ships has never been so close to our current reality, and it’s present in the unique film “Same Boat,” directed by Chris Roberti and co-written by Roberti with Josh Itzkowitz. The VOD release for the film is Tuesday, April 7th.
Podtalk: Kelly O’Sullivan & Alex Thompson of ‘Saint Frances’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 2, 2020 - 3:00pmCHICAGO – The nationwide release of the locally produced “Saint Frances” was in full swing before the pandemic occurrence, and now there is an opportunity to see it through VOD (click link below). The triumphant feature debut of director Alex Thompson, and co-written by Thompson and Kelly O’Sullivan (who is also the lead actor), is a mature and intuitive emotional journey.
Film News: Music Box Theatre Offers At-Home Screenings ‘The Whistlers’ & ‘Saint Frances’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 2, 2020 - 1:50pmCHICAGO – The Music Box Theatre of Chicago remains the premiere destination for cutting edge art and independent films.
