Podtalk

CHICAGO – The combination of the divisive Donald Trump election and the pandemic affected many U.S. communities. David Siev, an American filmmaker from a Cambodian-origin family, turned on his camera to tell the story of that time in his hometown of Bad Axe, Michigan. The results became the documentary “Bad Axe.”

CHICAGO – Lila Neugebauer has made her transition complete. The well-known stage director morphed into a behind-the-camera director, beginning with TV and culminating in her recent Apple TV+ film debut “Causeway,” featuring Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry in a film of hope and redemption.

CHICAGO – One of the most prominent Americans musicians in the 20th Century, if not one of the greatest, was Louis Armstrong. The memorable black trumpeter, vocalist and outsized personality found success in the Jim Crow era, and how he did it is spotlighted in Sacha Jenkin’s documentary “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues,” now streaming on Apple TV+.

CHICAGO – The film “Till” is the story of Emmett Till, a black Chicago boy who was murdered in 1955 while visiting relatives in the American South. Instead of hiding the killing, Till’s mother Mamie (Danielle Deadwyler) chose to show the world the result of her son’s hate crime murder. Chinonye Chukwu directed the film.

CHICAGO – Chicago International Film Festival Founder Michael Kutza will sign his new book – “Starstruck: How I Magically Transformed Chicago into Hollywood for More than 50 Years” – during the current Fest, at Chicago’s AMC River East lobby from 6-9pm on October 19th, 2022.

CHICAGO – The rising star of actor Andrea Riseborough is showcased in another notable film “To Leslie,” releasing in select theaters – including Chicago’s Music Box Theatre – and through Video-On-Demand on October 7th, 2022. Producer Ceci Cleary talked to HollywoodChicago.com about the film.

CHICAGO – Chaz Ebert carries on. The standard bearer for representing Chicago’s film world also continues her advocation for the community beyond film, since the passing of her husband Roger Ebert in 2013. Chaz will be honored by FACETS Chicago at their Screen Gems Benefit on September 28th, 2022.

CHICAGO – After a triumphant tour of Canada, the unforgettable Chicago monologist John Michael is back in the Windy City to perform his award-winning “Meatball Seance.” The internationally staged audience participation event will be in the Raven Room at the Redline VR on this Friday (9/16 at 9:30p). Click Meatball for tickets and details.

CHICAGO – Stand-up comic Liz Miele is a true comedy veteran, even in her current youth. She began her career at age 16 and has kept up with the evolution of both comedy and reaching an audience, as her previous YouTube specials have millions of views. Her new special, “The Ghost of Academic Future,” will be available on YouTube September 6th, 2022.

CHICAGO – Eddie Muller, the film historian known as the “Czar of Noir,” is about to prove his point. In about 20 minutes of PART TWO to an interview conducted a couple weeks ago, Muller shares his rich knowledge about all things shadowy in the 1940s/50s era of film noir.