Roger Ebert Returns to Public TV

Roger Ebert Presents At the Movies will begin this January on WTTW Chicago, the same station that presented the legendary film critic’s original series, Opening Soon at a Theater Near You and Sneak Previews, alongside the late Gene Siskel.

The film critic announced his new show earlier this month and said he will be joined on-screen by a host of reviewers, including the Associated Press’s Christy Lemirer, and Elvis Mitchell of NPR. Ebert, who lost his lower jaw and speaking ability to throat cancer, plans to appear in segments on the program through a computerized voice.

Check out a preview of the show below and keep an eye out for Ebert’s trademark thumbs up for the upcoming Independent Lens program 45365, which appears at roughly four minutes into the clip.

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Tags: 45365, Chicago, Independent Lens, public tv, Roger Ebert, WTTW

YOUNG@HEART and a Day of Jazz at the Chicago Cultural Center

WTTW Reception for Young Musicians and Their Families

This past Saturday, Community Cinema hosted a truly one-of-a-kind event for the film YOUNG@HEART in Chicago at the Chicago Cultural Center. ITVS National Community Cinema Coordinator, Naomi Walker, shares her experience at the event.

Thanks to our wonderful partner the Jazz Institute of Chicago who teamed up with Community Cinema, WTTW Channel 11 and The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs to present a screening of YOUNG@HEART and a day of jazz greats both young and old at the Chicago Cultural Center.

The event began at 12:15 PM with a concert by Chicago Public School’s All-City Youth Jazz Ensemble. The young people showed their dedication, passion and talent and played a wide range of jazz forms. Shaunese Teamer, Manager of Community Outreach and National Publicity at WTTW, invited the young musicians and their families and friends to a reception after the concert. The Ensemble and their fans mingled with WTTW members in the beautiful rotunda at the Cultural Center. Our guest speakers all met at the reception to the delight of the jazz aficionados in the crowd. Jazz legends Fred Anderson, Mwata Bowden, and Willie Pickens have all known each other for years. Mwata and Willie have made regular appearances at Fred’s famous club, The Velvet Lounge.

L to R: Fred Anderson, WTTW's Shaunese Teamer, Mwata Bowden, ITVS' Naomi Walker, and Willie Pickens

Over 150 people braved the shopping hordes and the snow to come downtown for the free screening of YOUNG@HEART.

Shaunese Teamer welcomed the crowd and gave a hearty kudos to Independent Lens for its 10+ years of groundbreaking programming.

Audience members commented that the film inspired them to want to go
into show business and take to the stage. Here are some of their other
comments from after the event.

“I’m going to look for a local choir for my husband!”

“Made me want to join a chorus even if I can’t sing.”

“Their singing keeps them going. That gives them something to live for.”

“IT WAS SUPERB! Made our holiday great.”

L to R: Mwata Bowden, Fred Anderson, and Willie Pickens

After the film, the jazz legends came onstage and shared their stories of persistence, passion and their secrets to longevity. Jazz was in its infancy when they were starting out, so there was no one to really show them the way. Now each of them makes it a point to mentor young musicians. Willie and Mwata each spoke of the great contribution that the Velvet Lounge has made in giving jazz musicians young and old a place to experiment and continually push the envelope. Earlier this year, both Mwata and Willie participated in a star-studded tribute to Fred Anderson on his 80th birthday, where Fred’s compositions were performed by a large orchestra in Millenium Park.

Multi-instrumentalist Mwata Bowden speaks about passion.

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Tags: Chicago, Independent Lens, jazz, WTTW, Young at Heart