ML - Michigan Avenue

2014 - Issue 6 - October

Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!

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"It feels like returning home," says Jack C. Newell, 32, of heading the newly launched TV, Film & Digital program at Second City, where he once studied. "I've been trying to bring improvisation and film together in my own work for a long time, so it feels like a really good fit." The Old Town resident's comic connections have come in handy. His movies, such as the shorts Typing and Stages of Emily and the feature film Close Quarters, have employed some of the city's top comedic talents, like T.J. Jagodowski, David Pasquesi, Susan Messing, and current SNL performer Vanessa Bayer. I knew I wanted to be a film- maker when: My parents bought me a camera in high school. I was a nerd—I was in yearbook, theater, choir—and film just really con- nected with me. When I wanted to go to film school, my parents were like, "Sure." Teaching philoso- phy: The best teacher is experience, especially in film. Comedic screenwriters' most common pitfall: Creating movies that are funny scripts but not pieces of cinema. Also, not trusting that the joke is apparent. Overwriting happens a ton. Favorite Second City alum: Harold Ramis. He made really good, cinematic, funny films that actually meant something. Funniest movie: Ghostbusters. Most inf luential film director: Charlie Chaplin or Woody Allen. Up next: Open Tables, a romantic comedy, will come out next year. And since 2011, I've been working on a documentary called How to Build a School in Haiti. JACK C. NEWELL THE SECOND CITY DIRECTOR WANTS TO CRACK UP AUDIENCES—AND MAKE THEM THINK. Suit jacket ($6,495) and tie ($295), Kiton. Dress shirt, Ike Behar ($245). Trousers, Isaia ($2,595). Neiman Marcus, 737 N. Michigan Ave., 312-642-5900; neimanmarcus.com. Pocket square, stylist's own 114 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM

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