THIS WEEKEND: FREE Open House Chicago Festival & WIN A 3D Willis Tower Puzzle #giveaway #chiarchitecture

Disclosure:  Thanks to Chicago Architecture Foundation for giving us 3D & 4D puzzles to give away and to review in exchange for spreading the word about the FREE Open House Chicago Festival.  All opinions are our own.

   Highly recommended happenings:   

ChiIL Picks List for This Weekend

Open House Chicago

Looking for a fun, family-friendly upcoming event in Chicago – the Chicago Architecture Foundation is hosting their big Open House on 10/19 and 10/20, where they open the doors to 150+ neat old/historical sites in the city for the public to explore. There are a bunch of family-friendly sites to geek out on, including Berghoff's Bakery and the model train set at Clarendon Park Community Center. This year also features a free family program, where families can use found objects to build the city of their dreams based on the historic Chicago plan by famous city planner Daniel Burnham.

We've taken the Chicago Architecture Foundation walking tours and highly recommend them.   We also suggest checking out the architecture boat tours as well.   Get out this weekend and enjoy a sneak peek at 150+ buildings, including behind the scenes tours.   

Looking for educational gifts for the holidays that kids will actually enjoy?!

In the spirit of building, we have a 3D puzzle of the Willis Tower to give away, and a 4D puzzle of the Chicago Cityscape we'll be reviewing.   You can find both of these and more great gifts at The Chicago Architecture Foundation Gift Shop.

Enter to Win:

Willis Tower 3D Puzzle

Formerly the world’s tallest building when completed in 1974, have a blast putting together this 3D puzzle of the Willis Tower. Easy to assemble, no glue required, sturdy construction, museum quality.

Suitable for ages 5+

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win.

Entry open nationwide.   Enter through midnight 11/1/13.



**a Rafflecopter giveaway**

We'll also be reviewing the following:

Chicago Cityscape 4D Puzzle

The puzzle includes 127 plastic buildings that depict the city as it appeared as far back as 1873 through to 2015, including icons such as the Willis Tower, John Hancock, Navy Pier and the Chicago Spire.

Suitable for ages 8+

My family has called Chicago home for over 100 years.   My great grandfather was a magazine magnate in publishing here in the city (editor of Better Roads Magazine), and my great grandmother was an actress & painter during prohibition.   So, I'm continuing the theatre, art, and publishing branches of the family in Chicago today.   My father and my children, my family's past & future, are born and raised here, so Chicago history is especially fascinating and compelling to me.

We'll be posting photo recaps from the weekend and more original photo filled Chicago architecture features next week.

More about Open House Chicago This Weekend:

The Chicago Architecture Foundation’s

Open House Chicago is a free public festival that offers behind-the-scenes access to 150 buildings across Chicago.

Click the links below for the full listings.

Explore the hidden gems and architectural treasures of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods—all for free.

150 cool places. 48 hours. Go.

www.architecture.org  |  facebook.com/chiarchitecture  | Twitter @chiarchitecture

Review the Chicago Architecture Foundation on Yelp and Trip Advisor

Disclosure:  Thanks again to Chicago Architecture Foundation for giving us 3D & 4D puzzles to give away and to review in exchange for spreading the word about the FREE Open House Chicago Festival.  All opinions are our own.

FLASH GIVEAWAY-- 3 FREE Pairs of Tickets To Dirty Dozen Brass Band & Van Ghost at Bottom Lounge THIS Sunday #NCMF13

ChiIL out with ChiIL Live Shows and enter here through midnight TONIGHT 8/29 to win a pair of tickets to this official North Coast Music Fest after show!  (3 pairs available/ $24 value each). 17+
Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter.   

**a Rafflecopter giveaway**

Disclosure:  Thanks to NCMF and Bottom Lounge for kicking us review & giveaway tickets for our readers. 

Bottom Lounge

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
featuring Van Ghost

Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 10:00 PM CDT 
Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL
17 years and over

Call me old school, but I still dig bands that play INSTRUMENTS, and Dirty Dozen Brass Band can PLAY.   Don't get me wrong, I do my best work on a silver Macbook Pro.   And I've got nothing against DJs.   Still, there's nothing like some down n dirty R&B and New Orleans brass to get your groove on to!

Whether you scored tickets to the sold out North Coast Music Festival or not, anyone can go to the after shows.   And even better, ChiIL Live Shows can get you there for FREE!   We're your music source in Chi, IL and beyond.   

Check back with ChiIL Live Shows like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often for great giveaways, free downloads, original content video band interviews, pit photos, tour coverage, music reviews and more.

*Click here for some of our past original photo filled coverage on local Chicago favs, Van Ghost.

*Click here to check out Dirty Dozen Brass Band via their YouTube Channel.

To describe how the Dirty Dozen Brass Band has arrived at its 35th Anniversary, trumpet player Gregory Davis employs a tried-and true New Orleans-centric analogy: “It ends up being like a pot of gumbo – you drop in a little okra, drop in a little shrimp, you drop in some crabs. Before you know it, you’ve mixed in all these different ingredients and you’ve got a beautiful soup. That was our approach to music early on and it still is today.”

Baritone sax player Roger Lewis — who, like Davis, has been with the combo since its inception in 1977 — echoes that sentiment: “It’s a big old musical gumbo, and that probably made the difference, separating us from other brass bands out of New Orleans. It put a different twist on the music. We were not trying to change anything, we were just playing the music we wanted to play and not stay in one particular bag.”

An appetite for musicological adventure, a commitment to honor tradition while not being constrained by it, and a healthy sense of humor have brought the world-traveling Dirty Dozen Brass Band to this remarkable juncture in an already storied career. To celebrate its 35th, the band is releasing Twenty Dozen, the septet’s first studio release in six years. The new album, cut at the Music Shed in New Orleans, reunites the band with producer Scott Billington, who helmed DDBB’s first major-label release, Voodoo, in 1989. 

It’s a resolutely upbeat effort that seamlessly blends R&B, jazz, funk, Afro-Latino grooves, some Caribbean flavor, and even a Rihanna cover. Twenty Dozen mirrors in flow and feel a vibrant DDBB live set. The disc reaches an exuberant peak with a medley of New Orleans staples, including a particularly high-spirited rendering of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” The final track – or, as Lewis puts it, “the after-party” – is an audience encore favorite, the ribald “Dirty Old Man,” with Lewis doing an outstanding job in the title role. 

Twenty Dozen, says Lewis, is “classic Dirty Dozen. It’s got something for your mind, body, and soul. We’re gonna get you one way or another.”

Disclosure:  Thanks again to NCMF and Bottom Lounge for kicking us review & giveaway tickets for our readers. 

Also check out these Fri/Sat night NCMF after shows at Bottom Lounge:

WIN a Jack the Giant Slayer Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet) US & Canada $44.95 value #giveaway #ad

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama and win a Jack the Giant Slayer Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet).  Giveaway open to residents of the USA and Canada).    

Click here to check out our photo filled past Jack the Giant Slayer coverage & our full movie review.   

We were thrilled to give away 100 family four packs of tickets to a special advanced screening  of Jack the Giant Slayer and loads of cool swag to our readers.   Now YOU can own it to watch again and again.  Thanks to Warner Bros. for providing us with a Jack the Giant Slayer Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet) for our giveaway.


Enter here for your chance to win 

Open through midnight July 9th to any residents of the US or Canada.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Warner Bros. is proud to announce the arrival of Jack the Giant Slayer now released on DVD & Blu-ray as of June 18!

Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing Jack (Nicholas Hoult), into the battle of this life to stop them and rescue the princess! 

The question is... are you courageous enough to rescue the princess? Are you brave like Jack?  Take the quiz to find out!

Celebrate this classic story with NEW content exclusive to the Jack The Giant Slayer Blog App! 

• Control the Action! - Move your mouse across the GIFS and take control of action-packed scenes from Jack the Giant Slayer. YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF THE ACTION!

• How Brave Are You? QUIZ - Are you brave like Jack? Do beanstalks and "giant" challenges make you afraid or courageous? Take the quiz to find out!

• Giant Soundboard - Jack the Giant Slayer is filled with epic giant stomps, sword slashes and thunderous sounds! Play with official sound effects from the movie and compose your own "giant hit song"! 

Get Social With It!

• Tweet with the #JackTheGiantSlayer hashtag 

About Jack the Giant Slayer:

Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing Jack (Nicholas Hoult), into the battle of this life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom and its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend... and gets the chance to become a legend himself! Directed by Brian Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns)

Starring: Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy), Ewan McGregor (Star Wars, Moulin Rouge!), and Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones).

Thanks to Warner Bros. for providing us with a Jack the Giant Slayer Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet) for our giveaway.

WIN a FREE Pair of Tickets to Summer Party Power of Choice ($120 value) #Personal PAC #abortionrights #giveaway #ad

You've gotta fight for your rights with a party...

Seems like women's rights should be a given in this century, yet every day we hear about more scary attacks on our rights to choose, rights to our own bodies, rights to sound medical information and more!   Step up and help ensure that US stays out of your uterus.

Meet up with others who care about keeping this choice between a medical provider and the woman involved.  If you want to keep abortion safe and legal for Illinois women, please share this link and enter below for your chance to win two tickets to Personal PAC's fundraiser.

Come join us for the party of the summer! This year's Power of Choice will be bigger and better than ever- with food trucks, craft beers, music, and an AWESOME auction! Come party for your rights!

Thanks to Personal PAC for donating tickets for our giveaway and for us to attend.

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win 2 free tickets ($120 value)  Enter through midnight 6/6.   Please help us spread the word.  Sharing rocks and the more you share the better your odds or winning.    

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It’s the Party of the Summer .. Come Party for Your Rights!

Chicago, Illinois May 2013

Come out and support women’s reproductive rights while enjoying a great evening. Here in Illinois women have the Power of Choice but that isn’t the case in many other states where women’s reproductive rights fall under attack.

Today’s younger generation is too quiet, not expressing their opinion one way or another. Young people need to get involved in order to protect their future rights in the state of Illinois.

A great way to get involved is by coming out to Personal PAC’s Power of Choice event Party for Your Rights on June 14th.

The event is at a new venue, the posh Gallery 1028 located at 1028 N. Hooker St.

The Party starts at 5:30pm and will last until 8:30 with plenty of free parking. Tickets start at $60 and all proceeds go directly to supporting the work of Personal PAC.

Guests will enjoy live music, live art, craft beer & drinks and delicious edibles by a variety of food trucks. There will be raffles, silent and live auctions throughout the event.

Prizes include: Round trip airline miles for 2, Vacation House in Cabo San Lucas, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox Sport Packages, Choice of 3 Dream Vacations: New Orleans, New York or Napa Valley.

Personal PAC, a bi-partisan political action committee dedicated to preserving abortion rights in Illinois by electing pro-choice candidates to state and local office.

Your donation helps support the efforts of Personal PAC and the Power of Choice!

Personal PAC

For More Information Click Here 

Disclosure:   Personal PAC donated tickets for our giveaway and for us to attend in exchange for promoting this fundraiser.   All opinions are our own.

The Elephant & The Whale Ticket Giveaway & Original Video Interview With Three of The Creative Masterminds Behind The World Premier #originalvideointerview #giveaway #review #ad

ChiIL Out with ChiIL Mama.   Pop a bowl of popcorn and get ready to see something amazing.  We're so excited to bring you our original video interview with the Co-Directors of The Elephant and The Whale, Frank Maugeri (Redmoon) & Leslie Buxbaum Danzig (500 Clown) and with actor, David Catlin (Lookingglass).   All 3 are parents and theatre professionals and they graciously took time out of their busy lives for an interview with us about the show.  They also shared their insights on "How Creatives Parent and How Parents Create" for ChiIL Mama's long running series on the theme.



We generally try to keep our original videos around 15 minutes, but these three had some seriously sweet gems of info on parenting and great stuff about The Elephant and The Whale, so we're going to go ahead and run it as a longer feature.   I'll also break the material down into shorter 15 minute individual interviews at a later date, to add to our Creative Parenting series.




Win 4 Free Tickets:

ChiIL out with free tickets to Chicago Children's Theatre & Redmoon's stellar collaboration!   Our last giveaway was so successful, we're going to do it again!  Enter now through midnight on 5/13.   This giveaway is short, sweet & hard to beat.    We highly highly recommend you catch this show before it closes May 26th.

Click The Rafflecopter Link Below For Your Chance to Win 4 Tickets To The Elephant & The Whale AND a free pizza party Thurs, 5/16, 6:30 pm.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ChiIL Live Shows caught the opening weekend of The Elephant & The Whale at Chicago Children's Theatre and we were enormously impressed by this mammoth undertaking.   We've long been fans of Redmoon's mission statement "engineering wonder" and of the fabulous physical comedy and energy of 500 Clown.   These world collided in a BIG way for this show and adults and hard to please tweens and teens will dig this one, too!   Yes, Chicago Children's Theatre is not only for the littles, my friends.   A lot of blood, sweat & prep went into this production, but the end result is pure magic.

Credit for all Production Photos Charles Osgood

Click here for ChiIL Mama's past coverage of The Elephant and The Whale including ticket links, show times and plot points as well as more show footage & stills.

Check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often for loads of original content, fabulous happenings and great giveaways.   

**Final footage footnote:  It took me longer than I'd hoped to don my editor's hat and finish the interview above.  There were so many insightful comments in the interviews that I tried to chop it to about 20 minutes for days, and finally surrendered, and decided that this needs to be published as a longer piece... at least once.
   
We also got caught up in crazy busy parenting land over here, with two kids in and out of their own performances with CircEsteem, 2 Roller Derby halftime shows, a school variety show and 2 gymnastics team showcases.   And I had a 4 day International film fest to cover, and a German filmmaker to interview.

Thanks for your patience.   It's worth the wait!   






SPECTACLE IN MINIATURE TELLS THE TALE OF A GIANT FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE LARGEST ANIMALS ON OUR PLANET, APR. 10-MAY 26 AT THE RUTH PAGE CENTER  


This all-new family fable features sea voyages, wild mechanical objects, circus songs, panoramic paintings, exquisite shadow puppets and an innovative sound design. Performances through May 26, 2013 at Chicago Children's Theatre's new home, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn, Chicago.

The Elephant and The Whale is recommended for all ages.

Schedule through May 26:  Tuesday at 10 a.m.; Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.; Thursday at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Friday at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Saturday at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2p.m. 

Run time is approximately 60 minutes with no intermission.

FREE PIZZA PARTIES ON THURSDAYS & ART PARTIES FRIDAY

As if you need any more reasons to see this show...

Note:  Family-friendly 6:30 p.m. Thursday shows are preceded with a free pizza party starting at 5:45 pm.  Thursday evenings are $25 for dinner and show. On Friday evenings, families are encouraged to kick off their weekend at the 6:30 p.m. show, and stay after for a fun post-show craft party.  Friday evenings are $25 for show and party.

Regular single tickets are $26 for children, $36 for adults. To purchase, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555. For discounted school, scout, playgroup, extended family and other group rates, visit GroupTix.net or call (773) 327-3778. 

Disclaimer:  Thanks to the fabulous folk at Chicago Children's Theatre for giving us family 4 packs of tickets to share with our readers.   All opinions are our own.

ChiIL Mom's Day Blu-Ray Giveaway With Warner Bros #giveaway #BestofWB #ad

We’re proud to announce the Best of Warner Bros. Mother’s Day Movie Night Blog App!

Something old... something new.   Cinema Classics meet new Blu-ray technology here at ChiIL Mama's cool Mother’s Day Giveaway!   

Thanks to Warner Brothers and ChiIL Mama, you can chiIL out and watch some classics while the kids treat you like a star!   Here at ChiIL Mama, we're excited for the release of The Best of WB 100 Film Collection and jazzed to be able to offer a free Blu-ray for YOU. 

One of our lucky readers will win one of the following Blu-ray titles (Prize will be chosen randomly from the titles below!)

- A Star is Born (1976) (Blu-ray)

- Cabaret (1972) (Blu-ray)

We think that most can agree... Moms are the best - and they do a lot for us! Now it’s time to return the favor and celebrate this Mother’s Day by giving mom the movie night she deserves! Celebrate Sunday, May 12th in the best way possible by spending quality time with your family and watch one of YOUR favorite classic films! Watching a classic flick together tells the story of a different time and place, and is the perfect opportunity to catch up and share stories with your family... tell them something that they never knew about Mom!    

Enter to win:  Click the Rafflecopter Link below to enter.   Entries accepted through midnight on Mother's Day 5/12.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Feeling Playful?

•    Guess-the-Scene Game! - How well do you know the silver screen’s most famous love stories and sing-a-longs? Play the Guess-the-Scene game to test your knowledge on the world’s greatest films! The quicker you pick, the more points you score. Ready? Action!

•    Words in Film! - Select your mood and let quotes and images from film express how you’re feeling!

•    Movie Night Conversation Starters! - Watching a classic flick together is the perfect opportunity to catch up and share stories... this Mother’s Day make it a point to connect with your family and give them a chance to learn something about mom they never knew!  Here are some conversation starters to get you started.

Win Extra Entries! 

•    Post your results from the Guess-the-Scene Game in the comments below. 

•    Share your favorite classic film, romance or musical flick from when YOU were a kid in the comments below.

•    Share our contest on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter 

Disclosure:  Thanks to Warner Brothers for supplying us with a Blu-ray for our giveaway. 

Win 4 Free Tickets to CircEAU High-Seas Circus Adventure #giveaway #sponsored

ChiIL out with ChiIL Live Shows & family friendly circus arts from Chi-town's own CircEsteem! Click here for your chance to WIN 4 FREE tickets ($64 value).   Entries accepted through midnight 4/18. (Disclosure:   Thank to CircEsteem for providing the tickets for our giveaway.   All opinions are our own.) WHEN: Saturday April 20th          11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Sunday April 21th              2:00 p.m. Friday April 26th                7:30 p.m. Sunday April 28th              1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Buy your tickets now for  CircEAU A High-Seas Circus Adventure    April 20th, 21st, 26th & 28th

CircEsteem, Chicago's largest youth circus, invites you to CircEsteem's CircEAU - a performance by the youth of CircEsteem, taking place April 20th, 21th, 26th, and 28th 2013 at Alternatives Inc., 4730 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60640. CircEAU will take you on an undersea adventure including shimmering mermaids on the trapeze (including ChiIL Mama's own Sagezilla) and salty pirate clowns juggling.   Don't miss the chance to see CircEsteem's amazing performers.  Tickets are going fast. Buy yours today!

General admission is $16 for adults and $5 for children. Purchase two general admission adult tickets and receive a child's ticket free.  VIP reserved seating is $35 and parking is available for $20. For tickets and more information please

click here

FILM OPENING & TICKET GIVEAWAY: The End of Love #review #giveaway

OPENING at Facets Multimedia, Chicago 
March 15th.   

ChiIL out with ChiIL Live Shows and win a pair of tickets to The End of Love showing of your choice here.   Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter through midnight 3/12.   Recommended for ages 15+ (MPAA RATING:  Not rated. Contains some strong language and mild drug content.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We had a chance to check out a press preview of The End of Love and we were blown away by the poignant plot and genuine rapport of Mark Webber and his toddler son.  The fact that they have an actual father/son relationship and bond makes the characters realistic and the improvised dialogue natural in a way even a great script struggles to approach.  It's intriguing to me that Mark pulled this off without a crew, generally in single takes.  My husband's been in the film/TV industry for over 25 years as a location sound engineer, and I know what a behemoth behind the scenes production usually is!  Mark is on to something vital and dynamic with his hybrid reality show/art film genre.

The End of Love is a must see.  This film has beautiful camera work and deals with matters of life and death, the intensity, fear and exhaustion of being responsible for another little life, and conversely the pure creativity and silly joy that spending 24/7 with a toddler can bring.  It's tough to grieve and recover from the loss of a loved one, through death or even a break up, and far more so when you've got to mentally and physically keep it together for a child.  This is a tribute to that struggle; a coming of age story and a family love story unlike any other I've seen.   

When the mother of his two-year-old son suddenly passes away, down-on-his-luck actor Mark (filmmaker Mark Webber) is forced to confront his shortcomings. He can no longer avoid his responsibilities, but he continues to cope with his reluctance to mature, struggling with the demands of being a single father. When he has a meaningful encounter with a young mother, Mark is no longer able to live in the comfort of denial, as this relationship offers not only a reprieve from loneliness, but a glimmer of hope for the future as well.

The End of Love is an intimate and honest slice-of-life portrait of a father and son (played by Webber's real life son, Isaac) in transition. This semiautobiographical drama is an achingly honest portrait which tells a story about the universal pain of loss and the courage it takes to change. With Michael Cera, Amanda Seyfried and Aubrey Plaza.

Directed by Mark Webber, U. S.A., 2012, 90 mins.

Onion AV Club     Los Angeles Times     RogerEbert.com            

Facets Showtimes:
Fri., Mar. 15 at 7 & 9 pm
Sat., Mar. 16 at 3, 5, 7 & 9 pm
Sun., Mar. 17 at 1. 3, 5 & 7 pm
Mon.-Thurs., Mar.18-21 at 7 & 9 pm   

NOMINATED Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic Feature Sundance Film Fest

"The threat [of economic collapse] is brought home by the extraordinary intimacy and tenderness with which The End Of Love captures the relationship between father and son"
  -Onion AV Club

"Exceptionally intimate... Told in a loose, surprisingly involving cinema verité style, the film is as successful depicting the smallest daily routines between parent and child...as it is at portraying life's more overwhelming moments"
  -Los Angeles Times

 "The End of Love excels at conveying the moment-to-moment frustrations and exhilarations of being a dad"
  -TimeOut NY

"The End of Love connects and lingers by making incredible effort seem natural"
  -RogerEbert.com

DIRECTED BY Mark Webber

STARRING

Mark Webber (Save the Date, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), Shannyn Sossamon (Rules of Attraction, 40 Days & 40 Nights)

Michael Cera (Juno, Superbad, Arrested Development), Jason Ritter (Parenthood) Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia, Chloe), Aubrey Plaza (Parks & Recreation, Safety Not Guaranteed)

When the mother of his two year old son Isaac suddenly passes away, struggling actor Mark (played by writer/director Mark Webber) is forced to grapple with his ability to grow up.

 

As he kindles a relationship with a young single mother (Shannyn Sossamon, 40 Days and 40 Nights), he begins to realize that he can no longer remain in denial about the real life consequences his choices have on Isaac (played by Webber’s real life son to phenomenal affect).   

Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles, The End of Love is an intimate and stunningly honest portrait of a young father in transition between the life he’s been working for and the one that’s waiting for him.

A Here Now Production

in association with

Poor Rich Kids

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

I starting writing The End of Love right after the relationship with my son's mother was coming to an end.   My son was a year old at the time. My passion for making another film was reaching a fever point.   I've always been obsessed with realism in film, and I knew my next project needed to explore that obsession.

It hit me suddenly: why not take what I was going through in my life and use that to build a character and create an ultimate situation where I could live in character for the duration of the shoot.  I never had a father growing up, and I myself at the time was a brand new dad.  One night playing with my son, the story of The End of Love was born.

I rehearsed with my cinematographer Patrice Cochet on how we could film the movie in a way that would not obstruct the real life moments happening.  He came over and played with my son and me for a full month before we even got started.   

The filming was very experimental in nature. It is mostly shot in real time utilizing just single takes.   

We had no crew.

Patrice and I got to the point of being so in synch with one another, I would make a small gesture or glance and 

he knew where to move the camera. 

In this day and age where millions of people are tuning into reality television, I hope audiences will connect with my cinematic version. In so many ways as an artist, my work is a reflection and reaction to what I'm experiencing in my life. I love leaving a film where I felt a connection with its characters, where I feel I have related somehow, and I believe The End of Love successfully blurs the line between reality and fiction in a way where the raw emotion is so easy to tap into.

It's been a huge eye opening journey for me, and I hope you enjoy the film as much as I do. 

Thank you.

MW