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MOVIES Astrid Ovalles hits the 'Road'
Venezuelan-born actress/writer/director Astrid Ovalles is the secret ingredient in the upcoming kinky dramedy Road of Bygones. The coming-of-age story centers around three women who embark on a road trip to retrieve the ashes of a figure ...
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SHOWBIZ Martha Stewart, Angelica Ross, gay wrestler, Rosie, COVID-19 items
Emmy-winning television personality, cookbook author and lifestyle expert Martha Stewart helps guide six talented amateur bakers in the new primetime series Bakeaway Camp with Martha Stewart, premiering Monday, May 4, on Food Network, a press release ...
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PASSAGES Terrence McNally dies of coronavirus complications at 81
Terrence McNally—a four-time Tony winner who wrote musicals and plays such as Ragtime, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Full Monty and Kiss of the Spider Woman—died March 24 at age 81 of coronavirus-related complications. On social media, ...
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SHOWBIZ Janelle Monae, Harry Hains' death, Sam Smith, COVID-19 cancellations
Janelle Monae will headline the 2020 Pride Festival in New York on Saturday, June 27, BET.com noted. The annual event has been headlined in the past by Grace Jones, Madonna and Patti Labelle, among others. This ...
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Siskel closed until April 10
To support efforts to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) and to protect the health and safety of guests and staff, the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., will be ...
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Billy Masters
"You're full of shit. I support the Second Amendment. I'm not taking your gun away. I did not say that."—Joe Biden responds to a worker at an automobile plant in Detroit who accused him of "actively ...
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Onion City Film Festival postponed, Chicago Filmmakers issues statement
Chicago Filmmakers today issued the following statement regarding the Onion City Film Festival: Dear Onion City Film Festival goers, In light of the growing concern over the Coronavirus outbreak as well as the recent recommendations ...
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SHOWBIZ Halsey, GLAAD, Jonathan Van Ness, Carol Burnett, 'Stranger Hearts'
Halsey said she won't be touring for a while after the year is over, IHeart.com noted. The singer, who is currently traveling for her "Manic World Tour," made the announcement on Instagram March 1. Posting images ...
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SHOWBIZ Angelica Ross, Madonna, 'Love, Victor,' trans writer/activist, Judge Judy
Better Brothers Los Angeles ( BBLA )—in association with award-winning actress/activist Sheryl Lee Ralph and her non-profit organization, The DIVA Foundation—announced that actress and transgender advocate Angelica Ross is among this year's list of honorees for ...
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WORLD Bollywood film, UK employers, assault, Rainbow Railroad
The India film capital of Bollywood is releasing its first major romantic comedy with a lead gay character, Advocate.com noted. Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan ( translation: Be Extra Careful About Marriage ) stars Ayushmann Khurrana as ...
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NUNN ON ONE TELEVISION Actress brings Da'Vine performances to various roles
Performer Da'Vine Joy Randolph grew up in Philadelphia and studied musical theater in school. This led to a Tony-nominated performance in the musical Ghost, in which she played Oda Mae Brown. She landed television roles in ...
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Billy Masters
"I thought, 'Why does he have to do that?' I mean, it seemed like he was living a fine life. Everyone who knew him knew he was gay."—Dame Joan Collins discusses UK personality Phillip Schofield coming ...
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SocialWorks' Black History Month Film Festival through March 1
SocialWorks' 3rd Annual Black History Month Film Festival will run at Showplace Icon Theater, 1011 S. Delano Ct., through March 1. Throughout February, SocialWorks is screening Black movies like Hollywood Shuffle, with Robert Townsend; Set It ...
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Reeling co-director stepping down
Richard Knight Jr. is stepping down from his role as co-programming director of the annual event Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival. In a note sent to Windy City Times, Knight said, "Reeling: The Chicago ...
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NEA supports dozens of Chicago arts organizations
National Endowment for the Arts ( NEA ) Chairman Mary Anne Carter announced that organizations in every state in the nation, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, will receive federal funding for ...
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SHOWBIZ Sean Hayes, Rihanna, Cher, Billy Porter, Laura Dern
Sean Hayes, Carrie Aizley, Margo Martindale, Jim Rash, Matthew Broderick and Allison Janney are part of the cast of the film Lazy Susan, which is coming to theaters April 3, a press release noted. According to ...
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'Parasite,' Zellweger, Elton among Oscar winners
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences distributed the 2020 Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Feb. 9. The South Korean thriller Parasite was surely the most notable winner for the evening, winning ...
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Facets names new executive director
Facets—a nonprofit that connects people to independent ideas through film experiences—has announced Karen Cardarelli as its new executive director. She succeeds founder and longtime executive director Milos Stehlik, who passed away last July after a six-month ...
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'We Don't Want Your MTV' Feb. 10-15
The exhibit "We Don't Want Your MTV" will run Feb. 10-15 at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago ( SAIC ) Sullivan Galleries, 33 S. State St. Drawn from Video Data Bank's significant collection, ...
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TELEVISION Freeform airs LGBTQ, Chicago-filmed film 'The Thing About Harry'
Director/actor Peter Paige, best known for playing Emmett Honeycutt on the U.S. version of Queer as Folk, admitted to Windy City Times that he has long been "a giant rom-com fan." "Back in the '90s and ...
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'A Night with Oscar' viewing party Feb. 9
Center on Halsted will hold its annual "A Night with Oscar" viewing party Sunday, Feb. 9, 6-11 p.m. at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., with the red-carpet arrivals starting at 5 p.m. There will ...
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Billy Masters
"I better hear no lip-syncing tomorrow."—Lady Gaga, from the stage of her Miami show on All Super Bowls Eve. She added, "I love you, J. Lo. I love you Shakira." I think she may love them ...
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SocialWorks' Black History Month Film Festival until March 1
SocialWorks' 3rd Annual Black History Month Film Festival will run at Showplace Icon Theater, 1011 S. Delano Ct., through March 1. Throughout February, SocialWorks is screening Black movies like Hollywood Shuffle, with Robert Townsend; Set It ...
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SAG-AFTRA issues new intimacy guidelines
On Jan. 29, SAG-AFTRA ( Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists ) announced a major milestone in its ongoing work to promote the on-set safety and dignity of its members. SAG-AFTRA's new "Standards ...
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'The Color Purple' in theaters Feb. 23
In honor of the film's 35th anniversary, The Color Purple returns to movie theaters nationwide during Black History Month—its first nationwide release in more than three decades. Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Warner Bros. are ...
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SHOWBIZ Judith Light, RuPaul, queer docufiction film, Lil Nas X, Mika
GLAAD will honor award-winning actress, producer and activist Judith Light with the Excellence in Media Award at the 31st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York, a press release noted. The organization also announced that Lilly ...
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Latinx Short Film Showcase on Feb. 1
Seven films have been selected out of more than 40 entries to create the Gene Siskel Film Center's second edition of the Panorama Latinx Short Film Showcase, which will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, ...
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Planned Parenthood, We Testify release "Ours to Tell" short film
New York, NY — Planned Parenthood Federation of America ( PPFA ) and We Testify, an organization dedicated to the leadership and representation of people who have had abortions, are thrilled to debut "Ours to Tell" ...
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Actors honor their own at 2019 SAG Awards
The acclaimed South Korean thriller Parasite won the Screen Actors Guild's ( SAG ) Award for outstanding performance by a motion picture cast the evening of Jan. 19, the first time that peer honor has been ...
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SHOWBIZ Taylor Swift, GLAAD, music festivals, CW renewals, Jake Gyllenhaal
GLAAD will honor global superstar Taylor Swift and award-winning director, producer, writer and advocate Janet Mock at the 31st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday, April 16, a press ...
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WORLD Trans activist killed, Israeli center, Brazilian priest, Netflix film
In South Africa, Limpopo police are investigating the death of transgender activist Nare Mphela, 28, whose decomposing body was found in a rented room, News24 reported. "The deceased was found with multiple stab wounds and was ...
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Oscar nominations out, with favorites and surprises
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its 2019 Oscar nominations Jan. 13. As widely expected by commentators, films with multiple nominations included critics' favorites such as The Irishman, 1917 and Marriage Story. Joker, ...
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'Michael Hutchence' soon out on digital, DVD and Blu-ray
The new documentary Mystify: Michael Hutchence, about the late INXS frontman, comes to digital and on demand platforms on Jan. 21, and to Blu-ray and DVD on March 31. Mystify: Michael Hutchence arrived in movie theaters ...
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LGBTQ critics name film, TV honorees
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics—composed of 260 mainly U.S. journalists covering film and television—named its final-round choices for 2019's finest movies, performances and more across a host of mainstream and LGBTQ-focused categories. South Korean ...
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SHOWBIZ Best LGBTQ films, Eddie Murphy, Obama's songs, DJ retires
Advocate released its list of the 30 best LGBTQ films of the 2010s. Some on the list include Appropriate Behavior, Moonlight, The Kids Are All Right, Spa Life, The Handmaiden, Colette, Tangerine, Weekend, Booksmart, Rafiki, Beats ...
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Parasite,' 'Peanut Butter' and pachyderms, best and worst movies of 2019
In the cinematic world, 2019 will be forever remembered for its sheer variety. For once, movies did not squeeze into a neat little box or get stuck in a rut as in years past. Bong Joon ...
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WINTER THEATER PREVIEW Classics and revivals abound this season
One advantage to 2019's abbreviated lead-up to the holidays is the number of shows that decided not to close when the mirror-ball dropped, but instead extended into 2020. People can still catch Black Ensemble's The Other ...
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Ellen DeGeneres, Elton John among Golden Globe honorees
The 77th Annual Golden Globes were distributed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on Jan. 5. Contributions from members of the LGBT community in the entertainment industry—as well as ...
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Alla Kovgan dances with Cunningham
Filmmaker Alla Kovgan has created a new 3D documentary depicting the works of modern dance pioneer Merce Cunningham. Moscow born Kovgan has built a career in Europe and the US with dance films over the years. ...
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Queer actor Daniel Kyri on Chicago, coming out on TV
For Chicago-born actor Daniel Kyri, who identifies as queer, working on the NBC drama Chicago Fire has been both "incredible" and "educational." This series, filmed in Chicago, was Kyri's first time working in television. He has ...
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SHOWBIZ Billy Porter, Olivia Wilde, Tessa Thompson, 'Ragtime,' Dan Levy
Stars of stage and screen have come together to celebrate Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning star for Billy Porter's lip-sync video for his chart-topping dance single, "Love Yourself," a press release noted. The video features Porter's ...
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10 Questions with Vic featuring Kit Williamson
It has been a long journey and years of perseverance for Kit Williamson to reach the pinnacle of success in Hollywood. He writes, produces and stars in Netflix's hit show 'EastSiders', nominated for 8 Emmy Awards ...
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SHOWBIZ Trans model search, Noah Galvin, Beyonce, Fortune Feimster
Slay Model Management—the world's first exclusively transgender model agency—will host its first Model Search Feb. 15 at One Culver, in Los Angeles, a press release noted. Slay's models have appeared in campaigns for such companies as ...
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SHOWBIZ Neil Patrick Harris, Mary J. Blige, Jane Lynch, Pet Shop Boys
Neil Patrick Harris and husband David Burtka are in Walgreens' new #TrueHolidayStory campaign, which finds the beauty and humor in memorably imperfect moments, NewNowNext.com noted. In the new spots, Harris and Burtka's holiday is less than ...
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LGBT films and personnel among Golden Globe nominees
The 2019-2020 awards season kicked into full gear with the Dec. 9 announcement of this years Golden Globe nominees, and numerous LGBT-themed films and television shows, as well as LGBT personnel, were among those recognized by ...
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Five Worth Finding: Gay spy movie, Santa Suite and more
—London Spy: In this British-American series that originally aired in 2015, devil-may-care Danny ( played by a fantastic Ben Whishaw ) meets the straight-laced, enigmatic and handsome Alex ( played by Edward Holcroft ). What ensues ...
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Winter movies bring an intriguing mix
We finish out the year with some heavy hitters that we previously mentioned in the fall preview, such as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Cats and Little Women in December. J.J. Abrams has now hinted ...
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Sean Hayes at Feb. 5 Goodman event
Goodman Theatre, now in its 95th season, will host the "Legacy & Promise" Education and Engagement Luncheon Wed., Feb. 5, featuring Emmy-winning and Tony-nominated actor Sean Hayes. The event will take place at The Palmer House ...
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Chicago Filmmakers kicks off 2020 with 'Justice January'
This January, Chicago Filmmakers is pleased to present a series of documentaries that explore current social and political issues around environmental justice, immigration justice, and reproductive justice. These new documentaries reveal personal stories behind the political ...
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Siskel showing LGBTQ+ films in December
The Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 164 N. State St., is showing several LGBTQ+ films of interest in December. They include: —Fleabag ( Dec. 12, 15, 22 ): ...
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TELEVISION 'Work in Progress' spotlights Chicago, LGBTQ+ representation
The new Showtime series Work in Progress really features queer represenation—arguably, more than such landmark series as Orange Is the New Black and Pose. With many of the actors and producers from Andersonville, Chicago audiences can ...
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Holiday rom-com from lesbian filmmakers debuts
Thanks to classics such as Love, Actually—not to mention a seemingly continuous stream of confections from Hallmark and Lifetime Channels—romantic comedies have become for many a tradition during the holiday season. This year, a Los Angeles-based ...
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SHOWBIZ Jamie Lee Curtis, Taylor Swift, trans model/activist, Lil Nas X
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis told interviewer Chris Azzopardi she supports the outing of closeted lawmakers who advocate for anti-LGBTQ causes, The Washington Blade noted. During an interview in support of her knew film, Knives Out, the ...
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WINDY CITY TIMES 2019 Holiday Gift Guide Part One of Two
Feel the heat We all know the polar vortex may be revisiting sooner rather than letter, so be ready with Heat Holders socks and gloves ( various prices; HeatHolders.com ). The socks, specially developed with cashmere-like ...
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Vaginal Davis exhibit at Art Institute in 2020
The Art Institute of Chicago is slated to run "Vaginal Davis: The White to Be Angry" Feb. 1-April 26, 2020. Davis is a key figure in the history of queer music, performance and video art. Naming ...
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Center hosts Oscars kickoff party
Center on Halsted hosted the "A Night With Oscar 2020" kickoff party Nov. 13. The Center presented a panel discussion about Chicago's underground ball scene featuring Legendary Troy Ebony, from House of Ebony; Nikolay Khan, from ...
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TV'The L-Word' follow-up aims for sex, laughs, drama and diversity
During 2004-09, Showtime's The L-Word offered a Sapphic-centric L.A.-set successor to Queer As Folk. While groundbreaking, audacious and sexy—with more than 110 sex scenes during its run—creator Ilene Chaiken and her creative teams were responsible for ...
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WORLD Ugandan raid, pope's statement, Turkish university, Peruvian movie
A Ugandan court charged 67 people with causing a nuisance after they were arrested in a gay-friendly bar, in a move condemned by activists as the latest "homophobic" attack, Reuters reported. The 67—who were among 127 ...
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PFLAG National to honor George Takei with the 2019 Betty DeGeneres Advocate Award
WASHINGTON, DC. | PFLAG National—the nation's first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer ( LGBTQ+ ) people, their parents and families, and allies—will honor actor and advocate George Takei with the 2019 ...
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"Scrooge & Marley" screening Dec. 18
"Scrooge & Marley" is a modern day variation on Charles Dickens' classic story of the holidays, "A Christmas Carol." Recounted from a gay sensibility, with heart, comedy and music, the magic of Dickens' timeless tale of ...
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Gus Kenworthy on skiing, 'Horror Story' and coming out
Gus Kenworthy first made an impression upon many LGBTQ individuals not so long ago—in 2018, when he was one of three openly gay U.S. athletes competing in the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea ( Brittany ...
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SHOWBIZ Out singer, 'Hamilton,' 'Sense8,' Dolly Parton, Shangela
LGBT singer Michael Longoria released a music video for "Kiss Me ( Like They Do In The Movies )," an original song written by Longoria and arranged by James Dobinson, a press release noted. The music ...
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WORLD Movie premiere, Argentina's president, jail sentences in Malaysia
Ultra-nationalist protesters in the former Soviet republic of Georgia clashed with police as they attempted to derail the premiere of a critically acclaimed movie about gay love in the capital, Tbilisi, Reuters reported. Hundreds of demonstrators ...
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NUNN ON ONE, MOVIES Elizabeth Banks spreads her wings helming 'Charlie's Angels'
Elizabeth Banks wears many hats in the third installment of Charlie's Angels. She acted, directed, produced, and wrote the screenplay in the popular story of women working in a detective agency. The film stars Kristen Stewart, ...
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SHOWBIZ Rachel Weisz, John Waters, Jeff Goldblum, Lady Gaga
Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz will play Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor for female directing duo Bert & Bertie and UK-Australia producing powerhouse See-Saw Films in A Special Relationship, Deadline reported. Slumdog Millionaire scribe Simon Beaufoy has written ...
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Oscar 2020 kickoff
party Nov. 13
The "A Night With Oscar 2020" kickoff party—featuring a Chicago ball scene talk back—will take place Wed., Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St. With the success of the FX ...
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MOVIES Ira Sachs on bringing 'Frankie' to life
Gay Jewish filmmaker Ira Sachs has shown a wide variety of topics in his work on the big screen. He has made a semi-autobiographical film called Keep the Lights On, which was based on a past ...
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Chicagoan helps bring nuances of foster system to the screen
Chicago attorney Jay Paul Deratany, who is gay, recently penned the screenplay for a new film about the inherent dysfunction within the U.S. foster care system—a realm he knows well. "Practicing law is telling a story ...
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Gene Siskel events in
Nov.-Dec. include
'Fleabag,' 'Joplin'
The Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., has an extensive list of screenings and events planned for November and December. Among them are the following: —Fleabag ( various dates in November ): This hilarious, ...
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MOVIES Michael Shannon's 'Current' affair
Actor Michael Shannon has built an impressive resume after his film debut in Groundhog Day. He gained widespread attention in 8 Mile and went on make movies such as Man of Steel, The Shape of Water, ...
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MOVIES Ozon layer, French director's new film looks at church coverup
A few years back, French director Francois Ozon, whose films—among them Swimming Pool, 8 Women and L'Amant Double—had largely centered on female characters, decided that his next project should focus on men and their emotional fragility ...
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Moulin Rouge, A Night with Janis Joplin among Gene Siskel Film Center events
OCTOBER SERIES: Screening/Lecture Series: Viewing Positions ( through December 10 ): This series uses a wide variety of films to demonstrate the different relationships that films establish with the viewer, and the thematic, cultural, and ...
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SHOWBIZ RuPaul, 'Grease,' Queen Latifah, LGBT lists
VH1 announced that RuPaul's Celebrity Drag Race, an expansion of the Emmy-winning franchise, has been greenlit for 2020, a press release noted. The four-episode event series will feature 12 celebrities as they sashay into the "werk" ...
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Five Worth Finding: TeaPotBrew, 'The GayBCs' and more
—TeaPotBrew Bakery: Nestled in the South Loop/Prairie District, this bakery ( 1802 S. Wabash St.; 312-966-6001 ) features dozens of teas, delicious sandwiches/pastries and the friendliest staffers you'll likely to encounter. Also, items are available on ...
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Reeling announces festival winners
Reeling: the Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival announced the highly anticipated juried, audience and AARP Silver Image award winners for films screened at the 37th annual festival, held Sept. 19-29. They included: —Jury awards for 15 ...
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