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Since 1980, more than 550 feature films and television productions have been made in Chicago, leaving behind $1 billion in the local economy.
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What are the chances of a proposed studio on the West side actually being developed?
There have been delays, but there has been movement afoot. This is certainly due to recent momentum and advocacy. That said, no one thing, including a sound stage, will change or be a stand-alone silver bullet in terms of how things can mature and evolve.
A sound stage by itself is a tough sell to studios because it is only one piece of the infrastructure. What is happening is a multi-platformed approach. You need the infrastructure, tax incentives and leverage from our local film heroes.
In the fifties, because of local innovation in broadcasting, there became something known as the Chicago School of Television. Do you think there can ever be a Chicago School of Film?
Even if there is not, I would like to say that there is because that is a great marketing line. (laughs) There is a Chicago School of Architecture and a Chicago School of Art. It would lend credibility to the increasingly growing community of filmmakers.
There are people that have grown beyond Chicago, like John Cusack, Harold Ramis and John Hughes. But lesser known talents that have capitalized on Chicago's theater, comedy and commercial industries may begin to emerge as part of a Chicago School.
But I also recognize how people talk about Austin, Texas, which has a film culture that is driven by Robert Rodriguez and Richard Linklater. Here is an example of two filmmakers that take tremendous advantage of that community and all boats have risen in their tide. They are also capitalizing on Austin's buzz as a music center in creative industries.
I am currently sitting on a task force related to all industries. How film, theater and design can work together to leverage what is there influence.
Much of the struggle, of course, is access to capital. The more films originating out of Chicago and gaining success, the quicker that bias is going to evaporate.
Kartemquin Films completed a documentary that will air nationally on PBS, in
a production that originated out of WTTW. (See Features, February Issue) This is hugely important. Harold
Ramis just opened up a facility here, and we are waiting for him to get his first
local
production out of the gate.
Chicago can definitely be more than just a niche when it comes to film production. Look at what is happening worldwide. Take ("Lord of the Rings" director) Peter Jackson for instance. He is mainly based in New Zealand.
The entertainment industry is not exclusive to LA. Those walls are coming down. Filmmaking does not have to be exclusively in LA because that is where the distribution systems are. The challenge is letting the financial and venture capital industries understand this.
That is a process that has accelerated over the last few years.
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Written by Brad Spirrison
[1] [2] [3]
003: Rich Moskal
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