ANDERSONVILLE — An Andersonville filmmaker will premiere his new Web series Saturday at Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N. Clark St., before its online release.
Dan Kolen, producer of Variety Pack, will hold a special screening of the 10-episode series at 8 p.m. Saturday.
“This thing was 100-percent guerrilla,” said Kolen, an Andersonville resident. “We filmed in our homes, in parks, under cars, behind warehouses, often [using] handheld [cameras], always under the radar."
The series, with a psychedelic, stream-of-consciousness feel, was shot all over Chicago, he said: "The whole thing — costumes, food, transportation — cost us $300. We did this as stripped-down as possible. It never would’ve happened without an incredibly talented cast and crew who were ready for anything.”
The show follows Bernie Weintraub, played by Chicago theater veteran Gary Murphy, as he tangles with a deranged therapist, a demonic street vendor and a devious meditation guru in post-recession Chicago, according to a press release for the series.
Weintraub's twisted universe includes characters from Andersonville to Cicero. The show takes a tour through Chicago's diverse neighborhoods through his disturbed reality, the press release said.
The production brings together local actors, filmmakers, musicians and artists for a show that is part-sketch comedy and part-character study. It was created by Chicago's "most financially challenged and mentally tenuous filmmakers," Melané and Roger Jelly, of Cognitive Break, a production company based in the neighborhood.
The series also features longtime director and educator Margaret May, along with Jeremy Soning, Cat Hermes and the late Turk Muller.
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