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2012, 03-07:
Review of film: “LAC DE FLAMBEAU” + Q&A with "BOSS" Production people, at MIDWEST FILM FESTIVAL
Every first Tuesday of the month, the MIDWEST FILM FESTIVAL hosts special screenings of films at the Landmark CENTURY theater (2828 N Clark Street in Chicago)-- highlighting work done by people from and / or in the MIDWEST area of the United States...
... On the top level of the theater, (as shown in the photo below), besides a cash bar (highlighting some products of their sponsors Heineken, Grey Goose, Bacardi, etc.), they had booths from various sponsors of the Fest, including CANON (which demonstrated 2 of their professional HD video cameras), SONY, DAUFENBACH CAMERA & others...
Q&A with "BOSS" Production people
... Last nite, they hosted special WORLD PREMIERE public screenings of 3 works. They were preceded by a fascinating Q&A PANEL discussion wherein host “”MAC” McNAMARA introduced two producers from the STARZ TV series “BOSS” set & filmed in Chicago:
... As shown in some photos below, the show’s
a funny comic “RAP” MUSIC-video type short by Mr. J.C. BROOKS – called “EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE” (which I’d rate at 7 of 10 stars), wherein he plays a LAWYER promoting himself in a TV ad with a band & “clients”...
... That was followed by the premiere of a short called “WEDNESDAY'S CHILD” (which I’d rate at 7.00 of 10 stars) starring impressive pre-teen actress MEREDITH DROEGER (who was in “EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES” & “THE LAST RITES OF JOE MAY”)...
... As directed by ROCCO CATALDO, it’s the story of a “strange” girl & her equally strange PARENTS (including her father, played by KIRK ANDERSON)...
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... After that, we saw the main feature, “LAC DU FLAMBEAU”-- written & directed by Columbia College graduate MARK MCNESS ROSENGREN & filmed in Freeport, Illinois by cinematographer MICHAEL KWIELFORD, & produced by CANNON KINNARD (all named people who, along with various other cast & crew members, were in the theater AUDIENCE)...
... The film tells the story of the trials & tribulations of a young man named Milk (played by STEPHEN LOUIS GRUSH, who’s appeared in the TV series “CHICAGO CODE” & “DETROIT 187”), who was distraught at how he’d caused the death of a young woman he loved... As the plot description says, “We ride with him as he struggles to find a place in a world that seems not to want him.”
... Other stars are JUAN VILLA as his friend “Horse”, WARREN LEVON as Stephen’s co-worker named Chunk, ERIN BREEN as a waitress named Aura, young MEREDITH DROEGER as a mysterious girl met at a playground, ROBERT BREULER (a Steppenwolf ensemble member seen in “PRISON BREAK” & “THE CRUCIBLE”) as a mechanic, KIRK ANDERSON as a psychiatrist, and MIKE McNAMARA as Glowstick...
... I’m rating the movie at 6.50 out of 10 stars, because of some good acting by the hard-working main characters. I found the persistent flipping “back-&-forth” of time periods between the PAST, present & “dream” type sequences to be a “slowdown” in the story-telling & “HARD-to-take”...
... Plus, the movie has one of my pet PEEVES in film-making today: a purposely “ambiguous” style ending that leaves you “nowhere”...
... AFTER the screening, “Mac” led an interesting Q&A with Mark, Michael, Meredith, Kirk and Robert (as shown in photos below)...
... They talked about how the movie was made (shot over a period of 14 days, tho it took 9 years of work to put “together”)...
... How it was financed (by a local investor)...
... How the various ACTORS came to the project...
... And what they thought of their roles...
... They answered questions from the audience...
... And, they introduced some more of the cast & crew in the AUDIENCE (as seen by the photo below of a young lady)...
... After the Q&A, people from the audience went up & talked to the director (as seen below) & to others who spoke in the theater...
... Then, many people from the screening adjourned to the FORNO DIABLO restaurant (433 W Diversey Ave.) where they had discussions with each other, enjoyed some of the specially-made Italian food, & shared news, information and thoughts with each other (as seen in some PHOTOS below)...
... The MIDWEST FILM FESTIVAL has a web-site detailing their work & “mission” (at http://www.midwestfilm.com/ ), & they can also be seen on FACEBOOK at https://www.facebook.com/midwestfilm ...
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