Film Police!

Naomi Klein signs her best-selling book

as she is filmed for "The Shock Doctrine"

Film Police film crew with Naomi Klein

for "The Shock Doctrine" directed by Michael Winterbottom & Mat Whitecross.

Arts, Briefly

Naomi Klein Disagrees With Film of Her Book

Published in The New York Times: August 29, 2009

"The makers of a film adapted from Naomi Klein’s book “The Shock Doctrine” probably knew it would provoke arguments, but not like this: The Independent of London reported that Ms. Klein, had withdrawn from participation in the film and does not appear in its credits as a writer or consultant or serve as its narrator. In the book Ms. Klein wrote about how politicians and corporations have taken advantage of countries that have suffered wars, terror attacks or natural disasters, finding examples from postapartheid South Africa to post-9/11 America. A film adaptation directed by Michael Winterbottom (whose films include “A Mighty Heart”) and Mat Whitecross had its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival and is to be shown on Britain’s Channel 4 on Tuesday. But Ms. Klein told The Independent she had disagreed over “the content, tone and structure of the film” with Mr. Winterbottom. “As often happens, we had different ideas about how to tell this story and build the argument,” she said. “This is Michael’s adaptation of my book, and I didn’t want there to be any confusion about that. I wish the film success.” Plans for distribution in the United States have not been announced."

"The American Flag" on PBS

View the "Tropicana Orange Juice" commercial!

Locations include the Chicago lakefront, the El train, and downtown Chicago! Film Police provided Line Producing, production management, crew, location scouting and management, casting, actors, equipment rentals, transportation, and more!

Check out our latest project for "Play For Peace" on You Tube!

Director Michael Winterbottom and Cameraman Bob Long filming "Genova" in Chicago

Film Police has been busy lately. Line Producer Phil Koch just wrapped a brisk two-week production for Michael Winterbottom, a British director best known for directing "A Mighty Heart," the 2007 drama about the search for Daniel Pearl in Pakistan by his wife Mariane Pearl starring Angelina Jolie. Winterbottom is also notable for directing "24 Hour Party People" and "Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story" both starring British Comedian Steve Coogan. Winterbottom came to Chicago to direct introductory scenes for his latest feature film "Genova," a ghost story inspired by Nicolas Roeg’s 1973 thriller "Don’t Look Now" starring Colin Firth ("Bridget Jones," "Pride and Prejudice"). "Genova" mainly takes place in Genova, Italy but Colin Firth’s character is a University of Chicago professor who has two daughters. Phil Koch said, "Michael needed to complete a number of scenes within a tight indie-film budget and schedule. He could not afford to fly his British crew over here, in fact he traveled alone without department heads, a support staff or even an assistant. When a filmmaker of Michael’s stature travels out of his comfort zone, we have to work extra hard to ensure a smooth production and positive experience that may result in a return shoot in the future. We coordinated the casting and location scouting during pre-production and we line-produced and production managed the shoot days." Leading man Colin (modern Darcy in both "Bridget Jones" movies and period Darcy in "Pride and Prejudice") Firth was not on the Chicago call sheet. Casting Director (and Film Police co-owner) Sally Marschall was able to work with the director by email and telephone in setting up casting sessions. Veteran Film Police cinematographer Bob Long was the cameraman. Fletcher Chicago provided the camera equipment including a Sony F900 High Def camera package. Film Police was recommended to Winterbottom by a producer at BBC London who has worked with Film Police on other projects. Sally Marschall said, "Michael told us that if he had known in advance how beautiful the skyline, the downtown and the parks appear on camera, how easy and efficient it is to shoot in Chicago, and the depth of the crew and talent base, he would have scheduled more scenes here."

Earlier this year, Film Police worked with another world-class director, Lars Von Trier ("Dogville" with Nicole Kidman, "Dancer in The Dark") and his Zentropa Entertainment. Zentropa is the largest production company in Denmark. Zentropa was commissioned by the Chicago-based Weber Stephens company to produce a corporate film for the European market for Weber Grills. Zentropa called Koch who Line Produced talent, crew, vehicles, equipment, locations and other production requirements. Koch said, "We shot in Weber’s factories and test kitchens in Palatine and Huntley, Illinois." Filming involved staging two backyard barbecues at a Weber employee’s house in Long Grove, a one week shoot in January to get footage of a Bears Super Bowl party with outdoor grilling in the snow and a one week shoot in May to get beauty shots of an All-American Midwest backyard barbecue with Spring in full bloom. Marc Menet was the camera assistant, Andy Cook was the gaffer, Bill Lindgren and Bily Salazar were grips, Steve Lafayette and Mike Capulli were the soundmen, and Fletcher Chicago provided the Sony F900 High Def camera. Lars Von Trier famously does not travel by air, only by train or by auto, so Zentropa flew in from Denmark two directors, a Steadicam operator, a cameraman, a writer, a marketing director, and two producers, everyone making two round trips, Chicago/Copenhagen, for the two shoots. All the Danes spoke fluent English so there were no communication problems.

PBS broadcasts "The American Flag" currently!

Producer/Director Phillip Koch & TV/Film Producer Norman Lear

NEW! Check local listings for PBS broadcast!
"The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord & Conflict" already seen in Los Angeles, Boston, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Baltimore....PBS stations all over the country, check your local listings

Go to www.pbs.org/americanflag

A One-hour television documentary produced for prime time national broadcast on PBS stations in 2007 and 2008. Featuring renowned flag historians Howard Madaus and Whitney Smith, leading flag collectors Ben Zaricor and Louise Veninga, graphic designer Kit Hinrichs, and prominent Americans including legendary television ("All In The Family") and film ("The Princess Bride") producer Norman Lear, and famed filmmaker Harold Ramis ("Ghostbusters," "Caddyshack," "Analyze This"). Also respected historian Wayne Fields. Flag stories will include the oldest known revolutionary battle flags recently auctioned at Sotheby’s breaking records for flag sales, Custer flags, Civil War flags, Lincoln flags, WWII flags, Kennedy flags, 9/11 flags and many more. Also, the origin of the Pledge of the Allegiance. Includes new, provocative information that challenges our pre-conceptions about the flag.

BBC/History Channel "Days That Shook The World" Al Capone

BBC/History Channel/Lion TV "St. Valentine's Day Massacre"

Sean Connery and Director Phil Koch on a BBC-TV shoot

Film Police is an award-winning film and video production company. We specialize in high-quality commercials, documentaries, corporate films, and feature films.

We will assist you in developing your feature film projects, preparing screenplays, budgets, and schedules for investor presentations. We are experienced in casting and production managing. We produce films in the U.S. and around the world.

"PINK NIGHTS"

"Charming, well-written...a few of the supporting roles are creations of genius! A fabulous soundtrack! Pink Nights nicely captures the wonder and puzzlement of being a teen-ager."--Chicago Sun-Times

"Splendidly acted, civilized, droll and well-written, Pink Nights is the kind of thoughtful coming of age movie you didn't think they made anymore."--American Film Insitute Preview

"Recommended...a few of the bit parts are inspired off-the-wall creations."--Chicago Tribune

"A rosy indie charmer. Perceptive, a bright nicely sketched tale of teen-age romance. The performances are gold and silver."--Hollywood Reporter

"Acting credits are tops and even the marginal roles are expanded with a charming humor."--Variety

Online review: "The Unknown Movies Page"

"Pink Nights is a breath of fresh air in the teenage genre…blessed by having taste, intelligence, and heart."

From "Yahoo movies":

"What a Gem!
by jimparkey_1999 Oct 10, 2004

It's a wonderful story with a wonderful cast. It's in the "Risky Business' type 80s genre, but much, much more heartfelt and satisfying a film. I highly recommend it!"

Order your copy today!

"Medusa Challenger"

Short dramatic film Starring Joe Mantegna and Jack Wallace

WINNER:

Blue Ribbon of the American Film Festival

Gold Plaque of the Chicago Film Festival

Gold Medal and Special Jury Award of the Virgin Islands Film Festival

Special Jury Award of the San Francisco Film Festival

A Selected Film for Young Adults by the American Library Association

REVIEW QUOTES:

"A gem. A minor masterpiece of economic cinematic storytelling…that in its flawless economy recalls classic shorts such as Roman Polanski’s ‘Two Men and A Wardrobe.’ Generates considerable suspense because Wallace and Mantegna are such good actors."—Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

"Every once in a while a film comes along which is a pure joy to watch. The film is a gem, a ray of sunshine that brightens the day. ‘Medusa Challenger’ is such a film. Anyone who sees this film will come away richer for it."—Barbara Flynn, Film News

"Engaging and quietly touching…The movie has the clarity of narrative and bittersweet view of human nature of an O. Henry story."—Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"Beautifully acted and produced…a moving and loving short film."—Richard Christiansen, Chicago Daily News

"Excellent. Mantegna’s performance is a masterpiece. A hauntingly beautiful musical score. A cinematic folk poem."—David Jones, Chicago Reader

"MEDUSA CHALLENGER" is one of the first American films to be broadcast on television in the People's Republic of China. Mr. Koch was awarded the Emmy Award for Individual Excellence for "MEDUSA CHALLENGER

Order your copy today!

"NIGHT OF THE LAWYERS"

"Very clever! The acting is great, wonderful music, a very amusing, deeply wacky script! Tom Towles pulls off two really amazing double roles. A strange, silly, funny, very well-produced movie that should attract a cult following!"--Artistic License, WBEZ Radio, Chicago

"Tom Towles astonishes in a double role as the alien and killer lawyer!"--Alissa Simon, Film Center, Art Institute of Chicago

"Cheerfully venemous! "Nice double role by Tom Towles"--Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

"Hilarious! Like an X-Files on laughing gas!"--Daniel Bhatty, Trial Diplomacy Journal

PBS broadcasts "The American Flag" in 2008!!

Producer/Director Phillip Koch &TV/Film Producer Norman Lear

Photographed at Second City in Chicago

Harold Ramis interviewed for the PBS program "The American Flag"

"Betaville" Distributed by Porchlight Ent.

Phil Koch and Lou Rawls on the set of "Betaville"


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