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Sometimes a good meal is the perfect setting for love stories. Shot on location in some of the top restaurants in Chicago (Longman & Eagle and Publican) and Paris (Bistrot Paul Bert and Au Bon Accueil), the new film “Open Tables” explores true love over the course of delicious main courses.

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The film follows couple Sam and Kate (Keith Kupferer and Kate Duffy), who host a group of friends for dinner in the hopes that sparks will fly between Kate’s younger sister Cassie (Caroline Neff) and their friend Ryan (writer/director Jack C. Newell). They’re joined by seemingly perfect couple Jon (Desmin Borges) and Dana (Colleen Doyle) and soon the conversation opens up about love, loss and regret. The film also co-stars David Pasquesi (“Veep”) and Joel Murray (“Mad Men”). Watch an...

Chicago – Local filmmaking has always gotten a boost through director Jack C. Newell. His 2015 film “Open Tables,” shot in Chicago and Paris, will get it’s digital release on Tuesday, December 6th, 2016, on iTunes and Video-On-Demand. This coincides with his art project “The Wabash Lights,” and his continued production work.

“Open Tables” features couples and groups meeting in restaurants, talking about their lives and relationships. Although the centerpiece is food, the meal is the conversation, including a story about a sojourn into Paris – shot in black and white. Newell directed the film in the improvisation style rooted in the Chicago comedy scene, much like his first narrative film, “Close Quarters,” which featured many local improvisation artists. He also takes on the lead role as Ryan, who defines himself through the adventure in Paris. The film explores and provides perspective on the elusiveness of relationships.

Jack C. Newell in a Scene...

Chicago – Jack C. Newell will ride his bike when he meets you for an interview in Chicago, naturally. The locally based director is a welcome original, with credits in both documentary and narrative films. His latest feature, “Open Tables,” will screen at the 51st Chicago International Film Festival on October 20th, 2015.

“Open Tables” is operating within the “Taste of Cinema” theme at the film festival, and features couples and groups meeting in restaurants, talking about their lives and relationships. Although the centerpiece is food, the meal is the conversation, including a story about a sojourn into Paris – shot in black and white. Newell directed the film in the improvisation style rooted in the Chicago comedy scene, much like his first narrative film, “Close Quarters,” which featured many local legends in the art of improv. He also takes on the leadrole as Ryan, who defines himself through the adventure in Paris.

Chicago – Director Jack C. Newell ended up meeting one of his great collaborators while taking classes at Columbia College Chicago. His future filmmaking partner turned out to not be a fellow peer, but his teacher, Ron Falzone. Together, they made the acclaimed short, “Typing,” about two Hollywood screenwriters whose brainstorming session draws inspiration from the clacking of typewriter keys in the next room.

Newell and Falzone’s first feature effort is “Close Quarters,” an endearing and insightful collection of parallel vignettes set in a Chicago coffee shop. Baristas Abby (Erica Unger) and Barry (Seth Unger) flirt with the possibility of long-term romance while observing the dysfunctional relationships of their customers. Two friends, Patrick (Tj Jagodowski) and Olivia (Kate Duffy), chat upstairs while their respective partners, Dina (Holly Laurent) and Cary (Dave Pasquesi), make love in the downstairs bathroom. An estranged couple (Susan Messing and Jim Carlson) argue over Skype while...