Mike McNamara chats with Brian Stever on the Take Too Podcast about everything from coronavirus insanity to off the beaten path cinema picks to the award-winning sci-fi thriller THE REPLACEMENT…
MIKE ON THE TAKE TOO PODCAST WITH BRIAN STEVER
MIKE ON POPCORN TALK WITH NELL TEARE & ELIZABETH MIHELICH OF ALWAYS REMEMBER ME
Host Ty Matthews chats with director Nell Teare, producer Elizabeth Mihelich and associate producer Mike McNamara of award-winning dramatic short film ALWAYS REMEMBER ME on the blue carpet of the 2020 Mammoth Film Festival!
MIKE AND WENDY JO CARLTON ON WGN RADIO
Co-Producer Mike McNamara and Director Wendy Jo Carlton sit down with WGN Radio’s popular duo Bill and Wendy to talk about their new film “Good Kisser”. The film follows a woman named Jenna who agrees to a sexy weekend fling with materialistic girlfriend Kate and the worldly Mia. As the night unfolds, Jenna realizes she’s bitten off more than she can chew, and the love triangle begins to crack.
Click here for the full interview live from the WGN Radio Studio!
RED CARPET INTERVIEW AT TWIN CITIES FILM FESTIVAL
Politically charged sci-fi thriller THE REPLACEMENT made its Minnesota Premiere at the Twin Cities Film Festival in St. Louis Park, MN. Lead actor and co-producer Mike McNamara chatted with Miss Shannan Paul on the red carpet just before the premiere...
MIKE MCNAMARA AND NAZ KHAN LIVE FROM HOLLYSHORTS!
Politically charged sci-fi thriller THE REPLACEMENT made its Los Angeles Premiere at the Oscar-qualifying short film showcase that is the 14th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival. Producer Naz Khan and lead actor Mike McNamara chatted with Americo Galli of popular publication Jean Book Nerd.
SONOMATV CHATS WITH MIKE AT SONOMA INTL FILM FEST
Politically charged sci-fi thriller THE REPLACEMENT made its West Coast Premiere at the 21st Annual Sonoma International Film Festival. Lead actor and co-producer Mike McNamara chatted with Rick Love of SonomaTV as part of their Filmmaker Interview Series...
4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE REPLACEMENT FROM PAT MCDONALD
Film critic Patrick McDonald reviewed THE REPLACEMENT following its World Premiere at the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival...
"Mike McNamara, a veteran Chicago actor, produces the energy to convincingly portray different sides of the same physical form. His talent is apparent as the multiple characters are so sharply separate from each other that even though they of course look alike, they each have a distinct persona. From the smarmy bartender, to the confused state of a sanitary engineer, and finally to unctuous evil of a man in power, McNamara is able to produce all the emotions and characteristics necessary...
...The atmosphere created by producer Naz Khan and director Sean Miller is Blade Runner-esque in its dread, and McNamara is a revelation as he portrays his multiple selves."
Click here for the full review from film critic Patrick McDonald
WGN RADIO INTERVIEW WITH NICK DIGILIO
“The Replacement” is a dark comedy set in a future where growing your own clones is as common as getting a new outfit. But sometimes your flawless clones make you feel like a loser… especially when he goes on to be President. Nick Digilio is happy to welcome Sean Miller (director), Naz Kahn (producer) and Mike McNamara (star) to talk about the movie and its World Premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival!
Click here for the full on-air interview with Nick Digilio on WGN Radio!
"MCNAMARA TURNS IN A DELIGHTFUL PERFORMANCE" SAYS TIME OUT CHICAGO
The longest-running film festival in North America was the site for the long-awaited World Premiere for THE REPLACEMENT. The 52nd Annual Chicago International Film Festival brought this Chicago-made short film to the big screen on October 15th at AMC River East.
THE REPLACEMENT enjoyed some outstanding press during the run, including a glowing review in Time Out Chicago, in which Michael Smith declares "Mike McNamara turns in a delightful performance as Abe Stagsen, a janitor in a futuristic America who becomes outraged when one of his many clones successfully runs for President."
Click here for the full review.
MM Returns to NewCity Film50
Mike was once again named to NewCity's esteemed Film50 list, honoring the leaders of Chicago's burgeoning independent film community. Here's a clip from the magazine:
“We’re here to strengthen and celebrate the Chicago and Midwest filmmaking community, plain and simple,” Mike McNamara enthuses of the first Tuesday screening and film community meet-and-greet series, the Midwest Independent Film Festival. In its eleventh year, “We bring together directors, writers, producers, actors, editors that are building their career here in Chicago, we want to keep everyone busy working on each other’s projects here in town, making a living here rather than bouncing out to this coast or that. We shine a big fat spotlight on the great films being made here in Chicago and the Midwest.” McNamara also brings his energy to acting and the board of IFP/Chicago.
Click here for the full article and the other 49 of NewCity's Film50!
The Inaugural Film50
Mike was named to NewCity's inaugural Film50 list, honoring the leaders of Chicago's independent film community. Here's a clip from the magazine:
An understated but vibrant mood prevails at the Midwest Independent Film Festival at Landmark Century, which has the tagline, “The Best Films of the Midwest. The First Tuesday of Every Month.” Informal cocktail mixers precede a producer’s panel on the night’s program, followed by an independent feature from Illinois or surrounding states, with an after-party for further conversation. “It’s a full evening,” says Mike McNamara, a Chicago actor who co-founded the group in 2005. “That first Tuesday, if you’re just coming out for a great time, it’ll rival your Friday.” McNamara hates the word “networking.” “We celebrate strength in the community, you go to Sundance, you’re networking, but then everything’s a networking event if you look at it that way.” At first, the programmers didn’t know if they could even find the content to last six months, but as 2014 marks their tenth anniversary, McNamara says “it’s kind of mind-blowing” that they’ve established “a film festival for filmmakers. It’s for film lovers but we specifically focus on bringing the filmmakers together.” The most recent outreach has been to show films from “folks in the advertising community, this whole other creative community we’ve worked hard to welcome in.” The monthly setup is unusual in the film festival world. “The reason we make it a year-round event as opposed to ten or twelve straight days so that there is a place for the entire independent film community to come together all year round.”
Click here for the full article and the other 49 of NewCity's Film50!
Theatre Reviews: THE FRONT PAGE at TimeLine
The Front Page received multiple Joseph Jefferson Award nominations, including Best Ensemble. Here are a couple of press exceprts about THE FRONT PAGE:
"All praise, then, to Chicago’s TimeLine Theatre for resurrecting “The Front Page” and giving it a staging so full of brassy brio that you’ll wonder why you ever settled for less" - Terry Teachout, Wall Street Journal
"I must state that every performance here is first-class — making for one of the finest ensemble plays in years" - Tom Williams, The Chicago Critic
THEATRE REVIEWS: MACBETH AT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE
Here are a couple of review excerpts. Click on the quote to read the full review.
Click here for more reviews and information about this production at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
THEATRE REVIEWS: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AT NORTHLIGHT
Pride and Prejudice received multiple Joseph Jefferson Award nominations, including Best Production. Here are a couple of press exceprts about Pride and Prejudice:
"...a domestic epic in all its showcase glory. And given the sterling Chicago cast looking thoroughly secure in their solid work, it will be exactly what many people will be hoping to see." - Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune