Sweet Home…Los Angeles?

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 29, 2004 5:30PM

The oft-repeated anecdote about the Illinois film industry in the early 21st Century was that we were so unattractive to filmmakers that the musical Chicago was filmed in Toronto. Well apparently things have improved due to the spate of films lensing in the City of Big Shoulders because the Illinois Film Office is throwing a big ass party to celebrate…itself.

According to a press relea…er, news story at ABC7chicago.com, the Illinois Film Office will host “Sweet Home Illinois” on Monday October 4th which will honor those who’ve contributed to Illinois’ film industry like “Phone Joan” Cusack, Harold Ramis, and the producers of “Barbershop” as well as give the IFO a chance to break its collective arms giving itself pats on the back for increasing revenues by 200% over the last year.

The theme of the shindig will be “Midwestern Chic” and feature plenty of Chicago’s favorite foodstuffs like Eli’s Cheesecake, Lou Malnati’s, and Demon Dogs. Yeah. Nothing says “chic” like hot dogs. All this is in an effort to give Chicagoans “a little taste of home…and relive some of the good old days from the times they spent living and working in Illinois.” Why the past tense? Well, this party celebrating all that is great about Illinois and Chicago is being held in… Los Angeles.

So let’s review: The “Sweet Home ILLINOIS” party celebrating “MIDWESTERN Chic” is being held in LOS ANGELES! Nice. All sarcasm aside (for now), you’re never going to get Hollywood bigwigs to leave sunny L.A. especially now that the fall temps have kicked in here. Plus, the IFO has to do something to prevent us from losing out to “the very competitive Toronto and Louisiana.” Louisiana?

Sheeee-it. A check of the Louisiana Film and TV Office website reveals that the big marquee productions there are the new Dukes of Hazzard movie and The Search for the World’s Greatest Kid Magician. Hey Louisiana: we got two words for ya: Batman Begins. Top that, suckas.