http://chicagocinema.net A companion website to Hollywood on Lake Michigan Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:55:04 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en You may have noticed that my posting has dropped precipitously in the past couple months. This has been due to the fact that in November of 2009, Lake Claremont Press "indefinitely delayed" the release of Hollywood On Lake Michigan, 2nd Edition. Since the main point of this blog is to publicize ... http://chicagocinema.net/?p=797 [caption id="attachment_788" align="alignnone" width="214" caption=""I saw a man, he danced on the breakwater." The prophet Elijah gets jiggy with it down on the lake front."][/caption] This is very old news, but the always informative and funny blog of  Lynn Becker hipped me to the new section on Chicago in films that ... http://chicagocinema.net/?p=715 [caption id="attachment_758" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Nathan and the band have been putting in lots of time in the proverbial "woodshed" and are on fire these days."][/caption] There are few things more exciting than being able to witness a band that has been putting in lots of hard work coming into their full ... http://chicagocinema.net/?p=754 Here is the new video from my friend Nathan Xander and his band, Witchouse: Aside from the fact that it is a kick-ass tune (a real "drive around the city at night with the volume way up" kind of song), I really enjoyed the video itself; particularly the footage in Graceland ... http://chicagocinema.net/?p=707 [caption id="attachment_701" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="There's great fun to be had for the whole family at the Chicago Film Archives' Home Movie Day!"][/caption] One of the newer film-related organizations in the city, the Chicago Film Archives has quickly grown into an important resource for all of the Midwest. Like many worthwhile non-profit ... http://chicagocinema.net/?p=694 [caption id="attachment_685" align="alignnone" width="262" caption="Special Effects Coordinator John Milinac's face may not be familiar, but if you are a moviegoer, you've seen and enjoyed his work many times. (Photo by Michele Wiesler.)"][/caption] When I began my research for Hollywood On Lake Michigan, 2nd Edition and was looking for local industry people ... http://chicagocinema.net/?p=654 Those among you who have followed the site from the beginning (both of you) may remember that I promised to get veteran special effects coordinator John Milinac to dish on how he and his crew achieved some of the creepy effects in The Unborn, as well as imparting his knowledge ... http://chicagocinema.net/?p=648 There have been many instances where great composers were not the best conductors. The Book of Musical Knowledge (Arthur Elson- 1915) opines as such: "In general, composers make poor conductors... To begin with, composers are seldom broad enough to judge the music of all others properly...Then, too, many composers lack ... http://chicagocinema.net/?p=629 Made in 2002 by writer/director P.J. Hogan (Muriel's Wedding, My Best Friend's Wedding), shelved by its studio for several years, then released directly to the Starz Cable Network and then to DVD with virtually no mention, Unconditional Love is another of those gems which has fallen through the cracks of ... http://chicagocinema.net/?p=591 [caption id="attachment_551" align="alignnone" width="540" caption="Things Falling Apart (a full Arkestra for this one night). Photo by Miranda Barnes. "][/caption] Please join me for a Pompous, Long Winded Digression: I've seen many things in my day... ATTACK SHIPS ON FIRE OFF THE SHOULDER OF ORION! Oops, sorry. Just a brief, "Rutger Hauer in Blade ... http://chicagocinema.net/?p=489