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Call Sheet

MADE IN MINNESOTA:  Alan Arkin, Billy Crudup and Greg Kinnear star in “The Convincer,” filming in and around Hopkins, Minnesota through mid-March.  Wisconsin natives Jill Sprecher and Karen Sprecher wrote the script, which Jill Sprecher will direct. Minneapolis-based Werc Werk Works, an independent film and finance company, is producing the film.  Estimated budget is $4-5 million for this movie about a desperate Midwestern salesman who schemes to acquire a rare violin.

TRANSFORMERS 3 IN CHICAGO?  Yet another reason for us to love Michael Bay, who chose Chicago for “The Amityville Horror,” “Horsemen” and, most recently, “The Unborn,” all of which he produced.  According to Bay himself, he is currently busy scouting the Windy City for partial filming of round three of the “Transformers” franchise.

THE REAL MICHIGAN WOLVERINE?  Hugh Jackman (better known to comic book aficionados as the silver screen “Wolverine”) will be in Michigan this summer filming the $80 million movie “Real Steel.”  Steven Spielberg (we’ve heard of him) is one of the executive producers, Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum”) will direct.  “Real Steel” is described as being set against the backdrop of the futuristic sport of robot boxing. Jackman plays a former boxer who teams up with his long-lost son to train a robot for a world championship.  Seriously?  Seriously.

VINCE RETURNS!  Vince Vaughn is set to star in Ron Howard’s comedy “Your Cheating Heart.”  This film is set to start filming in April or May in Chicago.  Vince is a devout Cubs fan and they’re filming in April/May… coincidence?  Probably not.  We’ll take it!

AWARD-WINNER HEADS INTO PRODUCTION: Filming begins in March for “QWERTY,” an offbeat romantic dramedy about two quirky outsiders who help each other through the ups and downs of everyday life in Chicago.  Nat Dykeman, known to many as the founder of the Lake County Film Festival, will executive produce.  Juliet McDaniel won best screenplay for “QWERTY” at The Waterfront Film Festival in 2005. 

“RIDEALONG” NEXT TV SERIES FOR CHICAGO?  Rockford native and “The Shield” creator Shawn Ryan scripted and will be executive producer for the Fox pilot “Ridealong,” currently in pre-production in Chicago.  If picked up by Fox, it’s likely the hourlong cop drama would be shot in its entirety here.  We’ll keep you posted!

TRACKING DOWN “THE REMOVED”: Horror-thriller “The Removed” heads to post after filming on Chicago’s South Side January 15-February 5th. This is the first feature penned by Columbia alum David McElroy and Marc Menet. West Coast director McElroy teamed up with Florida producer Tim Christian and Chicago producers Menet and Scott Prestin for this one. Chicago cast includes Tuckie White, Kirk Anderson, John Turk and Will Clinger… and look for cameos from U of I football greats Brandon Lloyd and Isiah “Juice” Williams. The film also stars Daniel Baldwin (“Homicide,” “John Carpenter’s Vampires”), who was filmed in LA.

CHICAGO YOUNGSTERS ON THE RISE:  Two talented Chicago teens are moving into the national spotlight this month.  Danielle Campbell (“Prison Break”) stars in “StarStruck,” a music and adventure-filled Disney Channel Original Movie, premiering on February 14th.  Meanwhile, Meredith Droeger is currently in theatres nationwide, starring alongside Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser in “Extraordinary Measures,” which opened in January.  Ford has said that “Meredith shines in this film” but I recommend you see for yourself… wonderful performances from both of these young actresses!

HOOP DREAMS DIRECTOR ON ESPN:  Academy Award Nominee Steve James (“Hoop Dreams”) returns with another compelling basketball documentary.  This time around it’s “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson” for ESPN’s critically acclaimed “30 for 30” series.  “No Crossover” makes its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival in March then lands in Chicago at the Midwest Independent Film Festival on Tuesday, April 6th before debuting on ESPN Tuesday, April 13th at 7 pm Central.

Is your film heading into production?  Please drop me a note at mac@midwestfilm.com and tell me all about it.  I’ll do my best to include it in “The Call Sheet.”

Mike McNamara is the Co-Founder of The Midwest Independent Film Festival, www.midwestfilm.org.  Mike pays his rent as an actor in Chicago in theatre, commercials, television and film.  More from Mac at www.findmac.com.