SPI Moderating Discussion on Future of Chicago’s Film Industry

SPI’s Managing Director will today moderate a keynote discussion on the future of film in Chicago.

The panel, part of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce’s annual all-industry tradeshow The Exchange, also features:

• Sheila R. Brown, Executive Director, CineCares Foundation at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios

• Brian O’Leary, Senior Vice President, Tax Counsel for NBC Universal Media, LLC

• Jay Roewe, Senior Vice President, Production & Incentives, HBO/Warner Media

The discussion, which starts from 2pm CST on Wednesday 24th February, looks at what is in store for the future of content creation and this means for Chicago’s economy as it continues to build up the capacity, supply chain, and diverse workforce needed to support this growing industry.

Since 2010, an estimated $3.1 billion in direct spending has been pumped into the Chicago film economy, catalyzing an annual average of over 10,000 job hires, while sparking a proliferation of linear broadcast, cable, and streaming series that have filmed or are filming locally. These include shows like the One Chicago Franchise (NBC), Fargo (FX), The Chi (Showtime), Southside (Comedy Central), and LoveCraft Country (HBO), as well as feature films such as The Chicago Seven, Southside with You, I Used to Go Here, Widows, An Acceptable Loss, and Hala.