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CHICAGO – The funny meter of Netflix went off the scale last week, as the animated series “Chicago Party Aunt” made its debut on September 17th. What began as a Twitter account by comic actor Chris Witaske (who also provides his voice talent) has morphed into the cartoon adventures of Aunt Diane Dumbowski, her nephew Daniel, and an array of familiar Chicago-isms and characters.

CHICAGO – Say the name “Ken Burns” and immediately images are evoked regarding the best of American documentaries. For three films – “The Central Park Five,” “Jackie Robinson” and the latest PBS documentary series, “Muhammad Ali” – Ken’s daughter Sarah Burns co-directed with him. Sarah talked to Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com on the latest film about “The Greatest.”

CHICAGO – Director Michelle Bossy has just put her first feature film into festivals – “Under the Lantern Lit Sky.” But she also submitted her latest short film – the aptly entitled ‘klutz.,” in this case at the recent 24th Dances With Films Festival in Los Angeles. Michelle Bossy is a innovative and sensitive up-and-comer, and in “klutz.” she takes on the delicate subject of mourning.

CHICAGO – If you ever wondered how a polyamorous relationship might play out – in this case He-She-She – then writer/director Marion Hill has created “Ma Belle, My Beauty” as one such delving into the territory. The Gene Siskel Film Center presents the Sundance Film Festival Award Winner through September 8th, 2021.

CHICAGO – Start whistling the theme to “The Andy Griffith Show” and most likely you’ll get someone to whistle along. This is the aura and the premise for the new documentary “The Mayberry Effect,” created and directed by Chris Hudson. Part tribute, part deep dive into nostalgia, the doc is all about the feeling of Mayberry and its legacy.

CHICAGO – Although this former Chicago-based actor has moved on to Los Angeles, she continues as a filmmaker with her excellent second short, “Pick Up.” Clare Cooney wrote, directed and is featured in this poignant journey, as two ex-lovers figure out their current status in the midst of the world pandemic.

CHICAGO – One of the more high profile local film productions this summer was “The Class.” The film essentially reunites Anthony Michael Hall of “The Breakfast Club” with John Hughes-land, and brings him back to high school … this time as the assistant principal. “The Class” was written and directed by Nick Celozzi.

CHICAGO – A cinema treasure, the Gene Siskel Film Center, reopens in-theater screenings on Friday, August 6th, 2021, the first since the pandemic closure in March of 2020. During the closure, they also named a new Director of Programming, Rebecca Fons.

CHICAGO – One of the crueler uses of psychology or religion is as a “cure” for gay or transgender or even fluid orientations to “become” heterosexual. Although this conversion therapy should never exist, the new doc “Pray Away” has filmmaker Kristine Stolakis providing the background and continued use of the therapies. The film premieres August 3rd, 2021, on Netflix.

CHICAGO – The theme song for “The Breakfast Club” is “Don’t You Forget About Me,” and there is no way to forget iconic actor Anthony Michael Hall. After a blazing number of 1980s classics as a teenager, Hall is back in “John Hughes Land” AKA Chicagoland, currently filming here for “The Class.”