Ruth Ratney's latest article in REELCHICAGO gives the lowdown on the utter collapse of the commercial film and video advertising world in Chicago. It isn't pretty.
"The extent of the slowdown How deeply did spot production sink in recent months? Fifty percent from August to October, according to the Chicago Film Office, which tracks the number of productions and shoot days that require permits for filming on city locations. August was pretty hefty, says CFO director Rich Moskal, with 15 productions over 22 shoot days on big-budget spots for Budweiser, Harris Bank, Career Builders and AT&T, produced by out-of-town companies, and for low-budget spots for local and regional advertisers.
In September, the number skidded to seven productions, 11 shoot days and - so far in October - the number is four productions and seven shoot days with two weeks to go before the presidential elections. Essanay had dark stages and idle trucks, except for a few days here and there, charting a 23% plunge in business from June 1 to Sept. 30, as compared with 2007."
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