DAILYSIZZLE
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‘The Matrix’ masterminds give TV a try
Beverly-bred filmmakers Andy and Lana Wachowski made their fortune — a vast one — on the wildly popular “Matrix” trilogy. To date, it’s grossed more than $1.5 billion worldwide and has allowed its creators to work in luxury in a slickly remodeled former scenery design space in Edgewater.
But the siblings’ more recent cinematic effort, “Cloud Atlas” (made with co-director Tom Tykwer), garnered mixed reviews and was considered by many to be a flop, seeing as it grossed only $124 million on a $100 million-plus budget.
Perhaps sensing the creative need to step away from the big screen for a while (and surely aware that television is nowadays more cinematic than ever), Andy and Lana have entered into an agreement with online movie/TV site Netflix to distribute their science fiction series — and television (whatever that term connotes in this digital age) debut — “Sense8.” It’s slated for late 2014.
It will be the latest TV foray for Netflix, which also funded and broadcast the recent original thriller “House of Cards” (starring Kevin Spacey) and is set to release a spring horror series called “Hemlock Grove.” The site also is behind a single-season rebirth of the widely beloved comedy “Arrested Development,” which was canceled by Fox after three seasons in 2006.
According to a Netflix statement, “Sense8” is “a gripping global tale of minds linked and souls hunted.”
And if it isn’t gripping, there’s bound to be griping. — Mike Thomas
Nashville’s Hatch Show Print makes trip to Firecat Projects
The connections between Hatch Show Print in downtown Nashville, Tenn., and Chicago are strong and true.
The historic woodblock poster shop opened in 1879 and made Negro League baseball posters for the Chicago American Giants. In recent years Hatch created posters for Buddy Guy, the Waco Brothers and FitzGerald’s in Berwyn.
Hatch Show Print manager Jim Sherraden tells his staff, “If it looks good, run it!”
Hatch makes a rare visit to Chicago with an exhibit that opens at 7 p.m. Friday at Firecat Projects, 2124 N. Damen (773342-5381; firecatprojects.org). All posters (including Chicago American Giants) will be for sale, ranging in price from $10 to $150. (Firecat takes no sales percentage). Gallery director Stan Klein said after a sale he’ll simply remove the poster and put up another one.
The Hatch Show Print exhibit will be up until April 20. — Dave Hoekstra