CHICAGO (WGN) — The Blues Brothers and prolific 1980s writer-director John Hughes put Chicago on the map by spotlighting the city’s iconic landscape, but now it’s a massive production facility sprawled across the Near Southwest Side that drives television and film producers from Hollywood to the heartland. 

The largest production hub outside Los Angeles is just a few miles from Chicago’s downtown.

Jane Williamson is the vice president of client services and operations for CineSpace Chicago, the premier studio and service provider in the Midwest for film, TV and commercials.

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“We’ve had TV and film production here for decades and we’re a well-oiled machine and everyone is friendly about it,” Williamson said.

It’s no secret that in the Midwest, hospitality takes center stage and so does hard work. From construction to cameras, the focus is full-service for the directors and writers who set up shop in Chicago. 

“If there was a production that was filmed in Chicago, it was most likely filmed here in the last 15 years,” Williamson added.

Cinespace Chicago is often called ‘The Hollywood of the Midwest.’ It spans 60 acres, includes 51 sound stages, and employs thousands of people. 

“Just a couple of months ago, we had seven productions on the lot,” Williamson said, which included the popular FX series, “The Bear.” 

Back on set, WGN’s Tom Skilling shared that the stage looked nothing like it did when he visited months ago for a cameo appearance on “The Bear.” But what has remained the same, even months after filming, Skilling says, was his amazing experience.

“They have their story, they have their script, they have their crew and they come to us for the space,” Williamson added. “Last year, the state of Illinois had about 7 million dollars in revenue thanks to this industry.”

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In the city of big shoulders, long-running dramas are carrying much of the weight. Popular city-centric shows, such as “Chicago PD” and “Chicago Fire,” film at the space.

“We’ve had anything here. From drug dens to high-end homes. You can have everything in between, but it’s where the magic is. On any given set, you can go from a house to a bar in a matter of steps.

“If you have an idea and the right people behind it, you can build anything,” said Williamson, who started out as a production assistant at Cinespace. Now, she runs the show.

What Cinespace has built in Chicago provides thousands of jobs and countless opportunities for young students, even retired meteorologists! But that begs the question, would Skilling consider more acting roles?

“That would be interesting, but I’m certainly not very talented, Jane,” Skilling said.

“I beg to differ. I think you were excellent,” Williamson countered.

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All told, it’s an experience that Skilling, WGN viewers and “The Bear” watchers won’t soon forget.
It’s all about connection with the community, which is very important at Cinespace. The facility offers a workforce development program called CineCares, which brings in young people to learn trades and critical skills for careers in production. 

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