The Event: Hollywood did not have dibs on Oscar-fever on Feb. 22. The Gene Siskel Film Center which held its own popular annual viewing party. Nearly 300 haute-coutured guests gathered to watch the 87th Academy Awards telecast across the Center’s big screens.
The custodians of the legendary film critic’s memory recognized four of Chicago’s own filmmakers: Bob Hercules of Evanston, Frank Ross of Westmont, Daniel Nearing of Chicago and Seth McClellan of Oak Park.
“Hollywood on State: A Red Carpet Celebration” is the only Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences-sanctioned viewing party in Chicago and all proceeds go to support film programming and educational initiatives of the Gene Siskel Film Center.
Cause Célebre: “It’s a wonderful way for the film center to raise money and really celebrate the industry,” said Jean de St. Aubin, GSFC executive director. The center offers 400 movies, 1600 presentations and more than 100 filmmaker appearances each year. “Many times when you are going to see a movie here, you’re also going to meet the filmmaker,” said St. Aubin.
The event drew documentary-film students from Northwestern University like Kelsey Christensen of Evanston who wanted to “be here in the culture of all Chicago’s loop has to offer and watch everything in style.”
Filmmaker and honoree, Bob Hercules of Evanston noted: “There is a great untapped resource of talent residing in this city that we have the great fortune as Chicago-based filmmakers to draw from.”
And event co-chairman David Martin noted that the festive party “is an honor and we are keeping it going on behalf of the Siskel family and movie lovers everywhere.”
Bottom Line: The event raised more than $50,000.