Rproductions’s Weblog


Final Bow For New Age Vaudeville Comedian
May 29, 2009, 9:49 pm
Filed under: NEWS

Bobby McGuire, Caroline Schless in the play "Elmore & Gwendolyn Putts"

Robert G. “Bobby” McGuire passed away in Milwaukee at 50 years old on May 26, 2009. He was a natural talent. He sang, acted, played a variety of musical instruments, and was even a great comedian. Like Tim Conway or Lou Costello before him, Bobby had the ability to make you laugh with a simple glance or gesture. He was, as they say, gifted.

When Bobby auditioned for the Chicago theatre company New Age Vaudeville back in the mid 80’s, he was so funny that they asked him to join the group right on the spot. He stayed with them for over four seasons performing supporting roles in many of their biggest hits. In An Evening With Elmore and Gwendolyn Putts – The Neighbors Next Door, Bobby created the role of the ever-loveable greaser Helmet Head. He recreated that role at their Crosscurrent’s Location to rave reviews, landing on the inside cover of the Chicago Tribune Art section .

Bobby later Co-starred in the Fox, Chicago TV variety show R. Rated, which aired midnights following Jerry Springer. As a regular player, Bobby created the controversial advertisement wearing only an orange Speedo and wig while lying on the Lakeshore Beach blowing bubbles announcing the show’s upcoming arrival on channel 32. It played consistently for two weeks prior to the airing of the show, and was responsible for building a substantial following.

A Memorial Mass will be held for Bobby on Saturday, May 30, at 10:00 AM, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, at 41st and Oklahoma. He was cremated and will be buried at a private ceremony along side his maternal grandfather with whom he shared the love of laughter. Inquiries: Bruskiewitz Forest Lane Chapel, (414) 321-1700.



‘Finch & Lily’ Film Crew Twitter Away
May 21, 2009, 3:19 pm
Filed under: NEWS | Tags: , , , ,

Finch & Lily screengrab

Finch & Lily feature film crew join the twitter phenomenon.

Starbrite Pictures, a division of R. Productions in Chicago , is developing a script by award-winning writer Richard O’Donnell entitled  Finch & Lily . Columbia College’s Katie Mahalic is in talks to direct.

Ms. Maholic was this years recipient of Columbia Colleges Big Screen 13 film festival Audience Award for her short film Michael Saints, and her film The Mole, a 10-minute short is circulating through domestic and international film festivals. The film has screened in the U.S, Canada, Australia, and has just recently been accepted to the Euro-Asian Film Festival held in Washington D.C..

Appearing out of nowhere, a mysterious Albert Finch takes up residence at a rundown transient hotel in Chicago. There he befriends agoraphobic Lily Crumb and an array of characters that benefit in odd and miraculous ways from his simply being there. But Finch has a secret that will alter their lives forever, bringing a little bit of heaven to the residents of the Star Brite hotel.

Broadway composers Dianne Adams and Jim McDowell are tapped to score while stage, film and TV actress Megan Cavanagh is slated to star as Sister McGee.

Pre-production begins Fall 2009.

Finch & Lily twitter



‘Finch & Lily’ Film Crew Gets the Word Out
May 20, 2009, 8:49 pm
Filed under: NEWS | Tags: , , , ,

Finch & Lily screengrab WORDPRESS

The feature film Finch & Lily launches wordpress blog by the same name.

Starbrite Pictures, a division of R. Productions in Chicago , is developing a script by award-winning writer Richard O’Donnell entitled Finch & Lily Columbia College’s Katie Mahalic is in talks to direct.

Ms. Maholic was this years recipient of Columbia Colleges Big Screen 13 film festival Audience Award for her short film?Michael Saints, and her filmThe Mole, a 10-minute short is circulating through domestic and international film festivals. The film has screened in the U.S, Canada, Australia, and has just recently been accepted to the Euro-Asian Film Festival held in Washington D.C..

Appearing out of nowhere, a mysterious Albert Finch takes up residence at a rundown transient hotel in Chicago. There he befriends agoraphobic Lily Crumb and an array of characters that benefit in odd and miraculous ways from his simply being there. But Finch has a secret that will alter their lives forever, bringing a little bit of heaven to the residents of the Star Brite hotel.

Broadway composers Dianne Adams and Jim McDowell are tapped to score while stage, film and TV actress Megan Cavanagh is slated to star as Sister McGee.

Pre-production begins Fall 2009.

Finch and Lily blog



After Dark Jewelry, Fine Art
April 15, 2009, 3:03 am
Filed under: NEWS | Tags: ,

after-dark-1

Darla Teagarden Photography – Model: Courtney Ford

Natasha Frost has been happily designing and crafting her own unique jewelry items since early childhood, slowly honing her creative style over a 20 year period. After Dark Jewelry is the culmination of a life-long dream for Natasha: to develop an artistic business based on uplifting, inspiring and adorning the female form. Her goal throughout the creative process is to encourage women to be bold, daring, and utterly extraordinary — to embrace their own individually unique qualities, both inside and out. Her hope is that those who choose to wear her handiwork will feel the warmth and love she infuses into each piece.

After Dark Jewelry is a tantalizing fusion of Medieval, Renaissance, Dark Victorian and Vintage designed to unleash your inner siren! Our elaborate, lavish creations are individually hand-formed with the finest quality stones and materials. We strive to push the boundaries of creativity to bring you unique, wearable art pieces that will impress and inspire! We specialize in necklaces, bracelets, earrings and bridal adornment, and are open to adapting existing pieces to suit your particular specifications.

After Dark Jewelry



Chet Zar’s Fantastic World of Paint
April 7, 2009, 5:18 pm
Filed under: NEWS | Tags: , ,

chetzarclown

The combined interest in horror films and art eventually culminated into a career as a special effects make up artist, designer and sculptor for the motion picture industry, designing and creating creatures and make up effects effects for such films as, “The Ring”, “Hellboy”, “Planet of the Apes” and the critically acclaimed music videos for the art metal band, Tool. For the last decade Zar has also embraced the digital side of special effects as well, utitlizing the computer to translate his dark vision with 3D animation for Tool’s live shows and subsequently releasing many of them on his own DVD of dark 3D animation, “Disturb the Normal”.



Fine Artist Scott Radke Keeps Busy
April 7, 2009, 4:00 pm
Filed under: NEWS | Tags: , ,

journal4871

“This is what i have been working on for the last 4 months or so. its a commission i did for Mark Parker. it was so nice to work so large and to really spend some time on one thing and basically have all the freedom in the world. thanks to Brad at Loop-Tremont for letting me use his space to shoot this.”

-Scott Radke

Website



Little Miss Matched Short Film Something Out Of The Ordinary
April 7, 2009, 3:43 pm
Filed under: NEWS | Tags: , , , ,

 

Chicago-based film director Katie Mahalic presents Just Something Out Of the Ordinary for the Little Miss Matched’s Film Contest.

Warning: the “awe”factor is pretty high.

Little Miss Matched



R. O’Donnell Gets Shot!
February 21, 2009, 5:06 pm
Filed under: NEWS | Tags: , ,

r-white-seamless-161

Gothic poet R. O’Donnell gets his picture snapped by Fine photographer Eric Hoffhines who graduated with a BFA in Photography & Cinema from Ohio State University. He has freelanced for CNN and worked in all areas of production for ABC Network News, Nightline, and the original Oprah Winfrey Show.

Eric has worked as a cameraman and editor on the Fox Chicago comedy special Twisted starring Matt Besser of Comedy Central’s The Upright Citizens Brigade. For continuity, Eric co-created, along with O’Donnell, commercials featuring Besser that were shot and edited ala Ernie Kovacs for a seamless hour of programming. Sponsors included McDonalds, Toyota, Jiffy Lube, Ameritech, and Office Max.



Bloody Valentine Gift From The Kreep
February 3, 2009, 5:22 pm
Filed under: NEWS | Tags: , , , ,

What if Cupid watched the slasher flick My Bloody Valentine 3D?

Cupid is right outside a suburban window. An old angel with dirty wings, he stands there peek-a-booing through the frosty glass of someone’s living room. He takes a withered hand and wipes away the chill, wonders why the roses and the paper hearts aren’t hung around the living room akin to the holly and blinking lights that the Christmas angels all adore. He thinks his lovely celebration is dwindling. Cupid deems our hearts are growing bitter. So our wee-sized cherub with a duffle bag filled with dusty arrows and a bow shakes his head, walks away bewildered.

Cupid passes a movie theatre where the marquee flickers the latest show: My Bloody Valentine, now in dazzling 3D. He buys a voucher as the ticket taker rips it with a smile full of metal. The young boy behind the ropes doesn’t even notice the seraph, not at all. Which is a trick that Cupid mastered long ago. If you saw him, he would simply appear as someone you once loved.

Now Cupid hasn’t taken-in a picture show for ages. Of course he knows that this is a really creepy one, but he’s watched a few before. He remembers Alfred Hitchcock’sPsycho and Steven Spielberg’s Jaws and figures incorrectly that the valentine in the title suggested something easygoing; at least it was “theme appropriate” to his cause.

It wasn’t long before the first 3D gore hit the big screen with a splatter. He ducked, stopped eating his popcorn too. More than anything, Cupid loved to munch on buttered popcorn. After today, he would never eat another kernel. He spit the rest back into the greasy cardboard bowl and slid it under his seat. He was glad no one noticed that he did that. They were all too busy screaming.

Kreep’s Korner

source: R. Productions



Coraline Film Made The Old Fashion Way: By Hand

coraline-teaser

Coraline is a 2009 animated stop-motion fantasy film based on Neil Gaiman’s novella of the same name. It will be animated and co-directed by Henry Selick and Mike Cachuela and is scheduled to be released in theaters on February 6, 2009.

The story of a young girl who unlocks a mysterious door in her new home, and enters into an adventure in a parallel reality. On the surface, this other world eerily mimics her own life–though much more fantastical. In it, Coraline encounters such off-kilter inhabitants as the morbidly funny Miss Forcible and Miss Spink, and a counterfeit mother–who attempts to keep her. Ultimately, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home.

Coraline as depicted in the film.Laika Entertainment House (formerly Vinton Studios) has funded the film with around $50 to $70 million. Coraline is the first stop-motion animation to be shot stereoscopically with a dual digital camera rig for digital 3-D exhibition. New tools are being developed which will give the stop-motion creators the same flexibility as CGI animators, making it possible to push objects forward and back in post-production. Dakota Fanning will star as the voice of Coraline. Teri Hatcher will lend her voice to the roles of both Coraline’s Mother and her Other Mother. Ian McShane will voice Mr. Bobinski, a beet-eating Russian giant who lives upstairs from Coraline in her alternate reality.

Coraline Teaser