CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Podcast
Podtalk: Writer/Director Alex Haughey of ‘Under the Influencer
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 7, 2024 - 1:45pmCHICAGO – One of the sauciest new jobs that has arisen from the digital era is that of “Influencer.” Gathering followers, showing off new products and using your personality is the job description in this age of clicks. Writer/director Alex Haughey explores this phenomenon in his new film “Under the Influencer,” which is currently available for download and streaming.
Podtalk: Director Sav Rodgers Finds Salvation by ‘Chasing Chasing Amy’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 3, 2024 - 10:34amCHICAGO – In 1997. Filmmaker Kevin Smith released his third film (after “Clerks” and “Mallrats”) entitled “Chasing Amy.” The story, featuring Joey Lauren Adams, is about a lesbian whose fluidly also includes a romantic relationship with a man. Watching this film was a young female born person who was questioning their own identity, and used the film as a touch point for these feelings. Years later, that person is director Sav Rodgers, and he made a documentary about his experiences with the film in coming to self and its complicated history in “Chasing Chasing Amy.”
Podtalk: Film Editor Ana Christian on Her Craft, First Short ‘Baby’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 30, 2024 - 5:01pmCHICAGO – The cinema scene is vital and growing in Chicago and it has to do with local innovators and contributors like film editor Ana Christian. Along with her husband Ryan Stemple, they have built a post production biz called Journeywork Entertainment, and Ana has recently finished directing her first short film, “Baby.”
Podtalk, Review: Director Ilker Çatak of ‘The Teachers’ Lounge’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 17, 2024 - 4:44pmCHICAGO – Public education is in the fight of its life. As curriculums are determined more through the state, parents and politics, the local authority of a child’s educator is being consistently diminished. This subject is the centerpiece of “The Teacher’s Lounge,” co-written and directed by German/Turkish filmmaker Ilker Çatak.
Exclusive Photo: Cinema Royalty & Character Actor Bob Balaban
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 9, 2024 - 4:32pm- 2023
- Asteroid City
- Balaban & Katz
- Bob Balaban
- Bob Roberts
- Capote
- Catch-22
- Chicago Humanities Festival
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind
- Ed Begley Jr.
- Exclusive Photo
- Fall Season
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Interview
- Joe Arce
- Midnight Cowboy
- Moonrise Kingdom
- Patrick McDonald
- Podcast
- Podtalk
- The Politician
- Uptown Theatre Chicago Theatre
- Waiting For Guffman
CHICAGO – The seemingly middle-of-the-road character actor Bob Balaban has more to his legacy than just a ton of appearances from the 1960s to present in classic films and TV. His Chicago family were pioneers in film exhibition and the movie executive suite during the studio system in the early days of the history of film. It is in his DNA.
Exclusive Photos: Ed Begley Jr. Wants You to Make Resolutions
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 2, 2024 - 10:33amCHICAGO – Although Ed Begley Jr. has had hundreds of roles in TV and film, he is most likely best known as an activist for environmental and sustainability concerns. He highlighted his latest book, “To the Temple of Tranquility…and Step on It!” at the Fall 2023 Chicago Humanities Festival, and HollywoodChicago.com got the Exclusive Photos and Interview. !—break—>
Podtalk: Comedian Fritz Coleman in ‘Unassisted Living’ on Tubi
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 31, 2023 - 8:25pmCHICAGO – The sound of laughter echos on streaming service TUBI, as veteran stand up comic Fritz Coleman presents “Unassisted Living,” his wacky journey with the vagrancies of getting older. The special is currently streaming, and TUBI is a free service to download as an app or to visit at UNASSISTED LIVING.
Podtalk: Director Adrian Buitenhuis on ‘I Am Burt Reynolds’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 29, 2023 - 5:39pmCHICAGO – Arguably, the last great movie star was Burt Reynolds. His everyman attraction, his accessibility and of course his box office made Reynolds a compelling force during his peak in the 1970s. The CW Network will show the doc “I Am Burt Reynolds” on December 30th, 2023, directed by Adrian Buitenhuis.
Podtalk: Playwright Desiree Burcum Wishes Us ‘A Judy Christmas’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 10, 2023 - 2:28pm- 1963
- A Judy Christmas
- assassination
- Chicago
- Desiree Burcum
- Frank Carr
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Interview
- Jack Jones
- Joey Luft
- John F. Kennedy
- Judy Garland
- Liza Minnelli
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- Michael Bratta
- Michael Hora
- Patrick McDonald
- Podcast
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- The Den Theatre
- The Judy Garland Show
- Tina Teske
- Theater, TV, DVD & Blu-Ray
CHICAGO – In 1963, Judy Garland had a CBS-TV variety series, and in December there was a Christmas episode featuring her kids … including Liza Minnelli. Playwright Desiree Burcum and the comedy troupe FAMOUS IN THE FUTURE have created (click link) ”A Judy Christmas” as a stage play.
Podtalk: Costume Designer Holly Waddington of ‘Poor Things’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 9, 2023 - 1:44pmCHICAGO – One of the great “characters” in Yorgos Lanthinmos excellent new film “Poor Things” is undoubtably the costumes that Bella (Emma Stone) wears. The costume designer behind those works of art is Holly Waddington, and HollywoodChicago.com talked to her at the Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) in October.!—break—>