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Chicago – Chicago-based filmmaker/media producer Jerry Vasilatos is making history as the first amputee in the city to receive a Compress Osseointegrated Implant through a groundbreaking research study at Northwestern University Hospital. As a friend of HollywoodChicago.com, Jerry talked to Patrick McDonald the day before his surgical procedure on March 28th, 2025.

Conducted by Balmoral Medical, LLC, this trial surgery is a pivotal step toward obtaining Fda approval for a procedure that has already transformed the lives of amputees in Europe and Australia.Vasilatos, who lost his right leg above the knee following a near-fatal accident in 1986, has spent decades overcoming the challenges posed by conventional socket-fitted prosthetics. While these devices provide basic mobility, they often cause discomfort and instability, making everyday movement difficult.

Filmmaker/Media Producer/Inventor Jerry Vasilatos

Photo credit: MyOiJourney.com

Jerry Vasilatos is an award-winning Chicago-based media producer, filmmaker, and inventor. Passionate about mobility solutions for amputees,...

Chicago – HollywoodChicago.com presents the 2017 48 Hour Film Project Chicago awards and red carpet at the Music Box Theatre on Sept. 14, 2017.

Kalopsia Films won Best Film of 2017. Their film, “Hammersmith: Hurdle of Dreams,” will go on to represent Chicago against all of the other city winners around the world at Filmapalooza 2018.

HollywoodChicago.com publisher Adam Fendelman presented the audience awards. Watch now!

The 48 Hour Film Project is a wild and sleepless adventure in which emerging filmmakers create a short film in just 48 hours. Teams draw a genre from a hat and then are given a character, prop and line to include in their films. In a wild dash to the drop-off event, the film is turned in and teams celebrate. The film is then screened at the Music Box Theatre and awards are presented.

48 Hour Film Project Chicago 2017 city producer: Jerry Vasilatos

Audience awards presenter: Adam Fendelman, Publisher, HollywoodChicago.com

Filmed...

Chicago – For the 13th straight year, Chicago will host the 48 Hour Film Project. The international competition allows filmmakers to gather their production teams and challenges them to create a short film in only 48 hours. Producer Jerry Vasilatos is in charge of the Chicago competition and is hosting a meet and greet on July 30, 2017 at the Lincoln Tap Room on the North Side.

The Chicago 48 Hour Film Project Kicks Off on July 30th, 2017

Photo credit: 48HourFilm.com

The concept began in 2001 with the first competition in Washington, D.C., and was founded by the current Executive Producers, Mark Ruppert and Liz Langston. It has grown exponentially from there, with Chicago joining the mix in 2005. The competition includes cities from all over the United States and the world, culminating in “Filmapalooza,” where winners from each city will compete against each other. This year’s Filmapalooza is in Paris, France, in March of 2018.

Locally,...

Chicago – The annual Chicago 48 Hour Film Project, 2016 edition, begins on Friday, August 26th. Filmmakers from all over the Chicagoland area will compete in an attempt to make the best short film in 48 hours. Starting at 7:30pm, the movie making teams will be assigned a genre, character, prop and line of dialogue, that they will use to base their film on. By Sunday, August 28th, they must deliver a finished 4-7 minute film. For complete details, click here.

The Competition Kicks Off on Friday, August 26th

Photo credit: 48 Hour Film Project

The 48 Hour Best Film in Chicago will received trophy recognition and prizes, plus will compete in the national contest at Filmapalooza 2017, the official 48 Hour Film Project Awards Weekend. Sitting on the judge’s panel will be Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com, and the Chicago Producer of 48Hpf is Jerry Vasilatos. The 2016 Chicago 48Hpf awards ceremony will take place on Thursday,...