Now in Chicago

Gen Art Film Festival in Chicago

Last night I was at the final night of the Gen Art Film Festival in Chicago and got see the premiere of Explicit Ills, a home-hitting drama by actor, director, writer, and producer, Mark Webber. Gen Art Film Fest Photos

Being my first movie premiere, I was excited to participate in the function of it all, getting to meet the directors, actors, producers, etc. As well, I got to check out the after party and hang with the all of the above. It was a cool experience to be apart of the process of the distribution of a filmmakers creation to an audience. I can imagine the anxiety of delivering your hard work into a room filled with critics who may, or may not be aware of what goes into the production of film. I have been lucky enough to be involved in two small film projects as producer and as an actor (Women Unscripted and Chasing Erica), so, I understand the venerability of the filmmakers opening up their work to criticism. It was a cool experience being at the Gen Art Film Festival here in Chicago, and I am lucky to have been able to sit on some cool movies, Explicit Ills being on of them.

Explicit Ills was brilliant, through its function, message, style, and cinematography. You could tell that a lot of technical and creative process was put into this movie and everything was very intentional with meticulous detail. This film was a slice of life of the urban poor culture set in Philly, but could be skinned anywhere. The message was delivered through a variety of characters from different lives, but brought together to fight for a movement of change, the human movement.

If I got nothing else from this movie it was that despite our sociological backgrounds, we are all affected by our environment whether we experience it directly, or through degrees of separation. My hope is that this movie will make it into mass distribution, as the message is one that should be heard across the globe. So, if you get the chance and this film is showing near you, catch it, trust me.

Top Tips for Moving from Chicago to the Western Illinois Suburbs

If you are looking to move from downtown Chicago to the Western suburbs, I have found some great resources to help you decide which Western Illinois suburb is best for you;

1. Is it time to make the move; use this link for tips on discovering why people move from Chicago to the Western suburbs.
2. Which Western Illinois suburb is right for you; use this link to learn about the best Western Illinois suburbs.
3. Buy or Build; use this link to learn about the benefits of building a custom home, instead of buying in this difficult marker.

Bulls Take Rose

Its Official, the Chicago Bulls have taken Derek Rose. See my last post about the 2008 Draft. Seems I was right on point. Expect some moves in the next couple of weeks. See full coverage of the 2008 NBA draft here.

Chocolate Company Refuses Bathroom to Girl with Diarrhea

The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Company wouldn't let a 5 year old girl with a bathroom emergency use their bathroom, so she had diarrhea in front of them.

read more | digg story

Celtics Embarrass Lakers, A Celebration to Remember

The Boston Celtics played the best all-around game I have seen in a very long time, beating the Lakers, 131-92, falling short of the largest differential in a playoff of 42 (Bulls over Jazz). While destroying the Lakers is an amazing feeling, it was the celebration that encompassed what this season has meant for the Boston Celtics. YOUR THOUGHTS

It started with Paul Piece dumping Gatorade on Doc Rivers. When have you ever seen that? It was the crowded sidelines with still 2.5 minutes to go. It was Kevin Garnett embracing Bill Russel, expressing that he hoped Bill was proud of the team. It was Kevin Garnett (Hulu Video), Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, the three kings of the court for the Celtics all reaching the pinnacle tonight. And then, each one of them humbled by the reality of reaching their childhood dreams, to be an NBA champion. Finally, it was Paul Pierce addressing the Boston fans after 10 years of battling for a championship, expressing his gratitude for being a Celtic and having the fans support him through the good and bad. All in all, this was the best championship celebration I have ever seen. YOUR THOUGHTS

On a final note, credit goes to Danny Ainge, the man who brought this team together. Amazing moves in the off-season set up the Celtics for tonight's win.

A special shout-out to Scott E (Ghost Poster and Commenter on Nowinchicago.com) - sorry bud, better luck next time...NOT! What do you have to say Scott?

THE CELEBRATION

Tim Russert Dies at Work

Meet the Press giant and political heavyweight has a heart attack at the young age of 58.
Read past Now in Chicago post including Tim Russert.
Nominee address.
See his final interview here.

Cool Video About Cubs New Ownership

And the Cuban's have it! Mark Cuban of Cubs Owner, 2008!

What’s up with Dude’s Wearing Skinny Jeans?

I’m sorry, but this is one fashion trend that needs to be extinguished by force.

How did this happen? Is it the George Costanza variable, do the opposite? I think I hate skinny jeans more than those overly baggy jeans where the waist drags on the ground. I just don’t get it. Is God mad?

Guys, stop it right now. I do not think my eyes can take another glimpse. Last night I saw some dude in overly-skinny jeans and the ugliest (almost as ugly as the ones the guy from ScottDBlog.com bought when he was in 7th grade) purple sneakers I have ever seen. Did he go shopping and say, “Hmmm…what can make me look ridiculous.” I’m all for using fashion to be unique, but dang; seriously? Is this an EMO thing?

I can’t say anything else…at a loss for words.

Erykah Badu in Chicago

A purple mic, a red thermos (most likely filled with tea), an apple laptop (or maybe 2), a drum, some background singers, bass player, rhythm guitar, drummer, key boardist, deejay, a drum machine, mirrors in the back of the stage creating a 3-deminsional view of the band; these things created the Erykah Badu "Live" Experience.

My intention when electing to attend this concert was to see The Roots, a unique hip hop band from Philly who was the opening up for Eyrkah Badu last Saturday night at the Chicago theatre. But, after a dismal showing (by The Roots) and then a 45-minute interlude(?) and finally Erykah, I was thoroughly engrossed in the Badu experience; this was not just a concert, but an anthology of current, past, present, and future, all creatively orchestrated into a complete entertainment experience. It was Erykah’s background in theatre that made Saturday night less like a concert and more like an artsy-eclectic-film noir-underground-movie-house-type-gig with an audience just as diverse as the performance itself.

The Recipe
It could have been her drum machine interludes where Erykah created heavy beats on the fly while the band inserted itself seamlessly to create harmonious sets. Or, perhaps it was her pauses for a sip of tea then a click on her iTunes to run a song she digs that lead to a queue of the band for the next song. Or, maybe it was her physical play of the songs that birthed the organic aroma of the night. On second thought, maybe it was her climb down into the trenches of the crowd, putting herself among the enterainment recipients of the night, becoming not only the driver of the night, but a passenger as well. In the end, it was the blend that made the night; keeping the audience on their toes, not aware of what was coming next, while encompassed by the now, and totally oblivious to time, a recipe for success.

In an a society starving to be moved, this concert was a hybrid entertainment vehicle that is leaps ahead of any concert on the circuit right now…a truly wholisitc production that is not only entertaining, but socially responsible. Hopefully this is the new trend, as the mark has been set high by Badu.