Cindy Adams reports that after seven years of stalled attempts,
Miramax will begin production of the movie version of the hit Broadway
musical revival Chicago on December 4.
The catch? The movie will be filmed in Toronto.
How could Chicago lose a PR campaign to play host to a seeming shoo-in
production?
Ron Verkuilen, managing director of the Illinois Film Office, said the
production went to Toronto to cut down on production costs. "Shame on
David Mamet for letting it go to Toronto after all Chicago did for him
and his career," said Verkuilen, who then detailed 16 other recent reel
rebuffs of the Windy City.
Richard Moskal, director of the Chicago Film Office, was even more
morose about Chicago losing Chicago. "I can't say that we had done much
in the way of any sort of pitching for it," he said. "This office has
not really spoken to anyone from the production."
Yipes. The city's film pitchers had better look out before they reach
the depths of that other Chicago pitching industry - the luckless
Chicago Cubs.
