Everyone knows the Internet can be a nasty place. From bloggers who bore their readers and wage war on grammar to commenters who spend their entire day viciously tearing others to shreds under pseudonyms, most of the opinions being touted aren’t always taken seriously. But how will this lovably effed up relationship evolve if the legal stakes are raised? We’re interested to see what will happen with the suit brought against an anonymous blogger in... more ›

We’ve all taken demeaning jobs to help pay the bills. (Don’t get us started on the number of times we dressed up as cartoon animals for children’s birthday parties.) One Chicago man figured he could get some work in the porn industry and keep it on the down low. Unfortunately, he discovered that not everyone in the porn industry is forthright and true. Also, the Easter Bunny isn’t real. A man going by the name... more ›

Independent film festivals are often a hit-and-miss affair. For every film that combines humor, insight, or drama with the visual excitement that is the medium of film, there are usually two or three works that sap your will to live just by watching them. Moreover, August is usually the month when major film studios start dumping the lesser lights in their summer release schedule. Oh save us, Chicago Underground Film Festival! This is CUFF’s 12th... more ›

Much of the ink spilled over Chicago’s renaissance as a filmmaking hotspot touts all the big Hollywood productions that have set up shop here like Batman Begins and the currently in production Stranger Than Fiction. But independent artists are the ones who are keeping the scene viable and giving local crews the chance to work and network. Several small fests showcase the work of guerilla filmmakers; recent gatherings include Fast Forward, the Really Short Film... more ›