Wednesday, March 10, 2010

John Prine Returns To The Old Town School

John Prine returned to the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago this past weekend. As a boy, he often went there to learn more about guitar and folk songs. This special benefit concert was highlighted in the Chicago Tribune as a truly magical night.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

John Prine Featured In Chicago Tribune

There was a great article on John Prine in a recent edition of the Chicago Tribune. Click here to enjoy the interview about his upcoming benefit concert at the historic Old Town School of Folk Music.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Steve Goodman Featured In Chicago Cubs Film "We Believe"

Director John Scheinfeld (The U.S. vs. John Lennon) has inked a DVD distribution deal for the acclaimed documentary film “We Believe” with New York based distributor Virgil Films & Entertainment (Super Size Me). Following the film’s sold-out premiere screenings at the Chicago Theatre last summer, the DVD release is slated for April 13th. Narrated by award-winning actor and Chicago native Gary Sinise (Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, CSI:NY) “We Believe” features a veritable who’s who cast of Chicagoans and explores the extraordinary love affair between the city of Chicago and its baseball team, the Cubs. In addition to the 104-minute feature length film, the DVD will be loaded with bonus extras including interviews and deleted scenes.

“We’re delighted to be working with Joe Amodei and his team at Virgil Films. Not only for their experience, but equally important for the passion they bring to the titles they represent. After all, passion is at the very heart of a Cubs fan and so, too, it has to be for everyone involved with our film,” said director Scheinfeld.

“Chicago has always been my kind of town and this film reminds me why,” said Joe Amodei, President Virgil Films & Entertainment. “It is a love letter not only to the city itself but the people that live there and in particular the always hopeful Cubs fans. This is much more than a documentary about baseball. It is a film about hope, dedication and the never give up attitude we see in the Cubs faithful. It is a look at what’s best in America. Every Cubs fan and Chicagoan must see this film. It’s about them!”

“We Believe” is the first theatrical documentary to be fully authorized by the Cubs and it is unlike any other team-related production. Produced with the complete cooperation of Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Player’s Association, the film features a distinguished array of journalists, authors, cultural commentators and stars from the worlds of film, TV and music, all offering their unique perspectives on America, baseball, the city of Chicago and its people. Among those interviewed are Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Bob Costas, Dennis Franz (NYPD Blue), Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm), legendary Blues musician Buddy Guy, Hugh Hefner, Bonnie Hunt, Joe Mantegna, George Will and rare interviews with Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball and Francis Cardinal George, the Archbishop of Chicago.

During the 9-month shooting schedule the filmmakers shot more than 220 hours of footage. Cubs officials and team executives committed to participating in the production and provided extraordinary access to players, Wrigley Field and the team’s expansive archive. The result is a compelling and visually striking movie that showcases many neighborhoods within the city of Chicago, seamlessly blended with timeless and beautiful images of legendary Wrigley Field.

The Producers and production staff are Chicagoans, the film was shot by an award-winning Chicago production company (Sedgwick Productions), edited by the city’s finest editor at one of the city’s top post-production facilities (Cutters) and the Director/Writer/Producer is Chicago-born and a graduate of Northwestern University.

“We Believe” is a love story about Chicago and its baseball team and with every love story there is bound to be some heartbreak. So, without a big, happy Hollywood ending in which the Cubs win the World Series for the first time since 1908, the creative team rose to the challenge, employing Bruce Springsteen’s anthemic “Land of Hope and Dreams,” to drive the film to a powerful, emotional, inspiring finish. After all, it’s the journey that’s important, not the destination.

Official website: www.WeBelieveTheMovie.com