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Shortly after I moved to Chicago, I heard someone say ‘thank god for the winters or else everyone and their cousin would move here’. After basking in two summers and surviving one winter, I’m beginning to understand that sentiment. Chicago is an amazing city and as an aspiring filmmaker, I learned that there are […]

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A PRIMER ON SHANE CARRUTH

July 18, 2018 Michael Schiff

By Hank Strickler Hollywood’s great filmmakers often have fascinating debut projects. First works are an auteur’s style laid bare; generally unobstructed by mainstream studio pressure or massive box office expectations. Reservoir Dogs might not be your favorite Tarantino flick, but his knack for making pedestrian conversations essential is unavoidable without the sheen of tens of […]

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“The Civil Hoax: Civil War Deniers” Premieres in Chicago

May 1, 2018 Jonathan Silver

After nearly 2 years of production, our first feature film is premiering May 5 in Chicago. This has been a very long, but enjoyable process and I am excited to share the film. Joey Gartner and I came up with the idea for the movie after seeing several mind-blowing documentaries, which changed our perspectives on […]

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Cannes’ Case Against Netflix is Pretty Weak

April 13, 2018 Jonathan Silver

Image courtesy of france-amerique.com By Hank Strickler In 2017, audiences at the Cannes Film Festival booed several Netflix films when the streaming giant’s logo appeared on screen. The crowd reaction was in response to Netflix’s decision to circumvent a theatrical run and release their films “direct-to-platform.” Well-known for being defensive of their cinemas, French audiences […]

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HOW TO GET ‘PROGRAMMED’ – TIPS ON ENTERING A FILM FESTIVAL

March 12, 2018 Jonathan Silver

By Hank Strickler Since the advent of film festivals, numerous aspiring moviemakers have labored to win the favor of festival judges across the world. Most of the time, their attempts end in disappointment. While an avalanche of advice is available for people willing to ask around, unfortunately it’s often contradictory. Like anyone trying to break […]

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The Miniseries Through the Years: An Art of Lean Storytelling

February 13, 2018 Jonathan Silver

By Hank Strickler In recent years, the miniseries, a short-term, self-contained TV show which runs entire plots in a single season, has exploded in popularity. Big networks, historically the leaders in television, have not been at the forefront of this movement, and we shouldn’t be surprised. Juggernauts like CBS and ABC typically waver between two […]