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SATURDAY JULY 16 | SUNDAY JULY 17 2016
SUNDAY BREAKFAST ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
After a rash of suicides in 2012, North Shore residents took action to help teens in crisis. P50
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SPORTS
Winnetka's Thomas Fawcett unleashes a running forehand at the USTA Men's Challenger Tournament. P43
SOCIAL SCENE
The Chicago Cultural Center hosted a fundraiser for The Headstrong Project. P19 FOLLOW US:
NO. 196 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION
NEWS
D-112 Mulls Boundaries As Enrollment Drops BY JULIE KEMP PICK DAILYNORTHSHORE.COM
HIGHLAND PARK— orth Shore School District 112 is considering new boundaries and increased class sizes in preparation for the mid-2017 school closings. The plan, known as BDR 3 (Budget Deficit Reduction), is to close Lincoln and Ravinia Elementary Schools, Elm Place Middle School and the Green Bay Early Childhood Center in mid-2017, to save an estimated $5 million a year. “It’s certainly not a long-term approach to our problem, but I’m pleased that we are able to do this without touching any of our programs,” said Superintendent Dr. Michael Bregy at the June 29 board workshop. Braeside, Red Oak, Indian Trail, Sherwood, Oak Terrace and Wayne Thomas Elementary Schools will remain open under the BDR 3 plan, as well as Northwood Junior High
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Mom Turns Book Into Local Movie BY JULIE KEMP PICK DAILYNORTHSHORE.COM
HIGHLAND PARK— hen Nancy Goodman wanted to direct a scene for a movie about a book she wrote, she did not need to go further than her own bedroom in Highland Park. “These set designers are so creative that they turned my bedroom into Genie’s apartment,” said Goodman. Goodman’s novel Surprise Me! published by Diversion Books in 2012, is a romantic comedy about a surprise party planner who hates surprises. A film based on the book is being shot this summer on the North Shore and in Chicago. Goodman said Genie, the main character in Surprise Me! is a younger version of herself in many ways, and she knew it wasn’t in the budget to find another location that would fit all of the apartment’s specifications. The crew also filmed at Goodman’s ex-husband’s house and her parents’ apartment in the city. Surprise Me! pays homage to the Chicago area, and many of the scenes are being filmed locally at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe and Ravinia Festival in Highland Park. Goodman moved with her family to Highland Park in 2001. In the film, Genie visits the Chicago Botanic Garden with her best friend Danny and later attends a concert with her boyfriend Jeff at Ravinia Festival. Genie is portrayed by Fiona Gubelmann (Wilfred); Jonathan Bennett (Mean Girls) plays Danny, and Sean Faris (Pretty Little Liars) plays Jeff. “On the second day, Fiona
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Nancy Goodman with her children Lani and Sam Goodman at Chicago Botanic Garden. PHOTO SUBMITTED
said I’m moving in with you, and she stayed at my house,” said Goodman. “Jonathan Bennett said he wanted to change his last name to Goodman. It’s just such a feel-good project.” The scenes filmed so far have featured more than 100 extras, and the actors and crew had to stop filming several times to wait for barking dogs, strange noises and helicopters to pass during the June 29 filming, said Patricia Dolins, Goodman’s step-sister, whose mother is married to Goodman’s father. Dolins said she is thrilled to be working with the media and extras, and she even has a few lines in the film. Goodman began her writing career with the memoir It Was Food vs. Me and I Won, which later became a sub-plot the Sur-
prise Me! novel. “When I wrote my memoir I wanted to talk about the fact that you don’t have to be overweight to be obsessive about food and diet.” Though Goodman received a six-figure advance from Viking/Penguin, she said the book didn’t do well in 2004 because “at the time the media thought it was sensationalized, and eating disorders were considered taboo.” After that experience, she decided to write a romantic comedy and sneak the message from her first book in the subplot. “When Genie’s life starts to go awry, she goes into therapy, which is based on my life,” said Goodman. “I wanted to start a conversation in our country
about where food and feelings intersect. I learned not to deprive yourself, because it sets you up to overeat and binge. Now I try to eat mostly healthy, and if I want something junky, I have it and there’s no guilt.” Goodman explained that she was going to hire someone to write the screenplay, but Jeff Marsten, who became her coproducer, suggested she write it. She wrote it in two weeks and submitted it to a pitch contest in Los Angeles, and was awarded first prize. Over the next three years she went to producers and directors but was told she’d be removed from the project once a director took over. “I was so afraid that they would be dishonest in the message, and just focus on the
comedy,” she said. “One guy told me that I had a winner, but I had to drop the food from the story. That’s when I decided to do this as an independent film, and two months ago I signed on as director.” Goodman said another producer put her in touch with casting director Leah Daniels. Her brother is Lee Daniels, director of The Butler. Leah Daniels cast The Butler, and Empire. “She has relationships with the agencies, and did a wonderful job on casting our movie,” said Goodman. Goodman still can’t believe how her life as a quiet author has quickly evolved into becoming a writer/director. Continued on PG 12
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