BILL AND THE GIANT SPIDER INVASION FEATURED IN SCARY MONSTERS MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 61! www.scarymonstersmag.com ***********************************************************A s an Estonian national, born in 1937, Bill (Ito) Rebane came to the United States at age 15 in 1952. After attending school in post war Germany, as a child, he conversed in four, languages, Estonian, Latvian, German and Russian. His passion for Film was incited by the Movies he saw on a daily basis upon coming to America, which helped him to learn and master the English language. With intent to pursue a career in the performing arts, he attended the Art Institute of Chicago / Goodman Theater, majoring in drama and, working his way up through the ranks at Chicago¹ flagship television station WGN Television starting in the mail room (age 17,) advanced rapidly to Floor Manager, Asst. producer and assistant to the Executive producer, providing him the opportunity to partake in countless daily live television productions in a variety of creative capacities. This also afforded him the opportunity to advance his ambitions as an actor and signer resulting in numerous live television appearances in shows like ³They Stand Accused² (courtroom drama- series) and ³The International Cafe,² musical variety syndicated series. At age 19, returning to Germany, he met Producer Adalbert Baltes of Hamburg, Germany, the inventor of the one and only, 360 degree motion picture process. Filmed with one camera and projected with one projector. (Baltes is credited in starting Rebane¹s lifetime career in the Motion Picture Industry.) After working as a production assistant, Asst. Director and Director on numerous Cinema Scope Theatrical Short Subjects for Baltes Film, Bill obtained the United Sates rights to the circular motion picture process ³Cinetarium². And, two years later introduced the process to the motion picture industry of he world. at United Film and Recording Studios, Chicago. Attracting such notable guests as Samuel Goldwyn, Roy Disney, Jack Warner, Hugh Hefner and Michael Todd Jr. Not counting hundreds of industry professionals from Russia, central Europe and Japan. At age 22 Rebane found himself to be millionaire. A short lived experience as, the costs of patents, legal fees and attempts to manufacture vertical projection systems, in that time, were beyond the means of the Company¹s he had formed for the further development of the process. Turning to production, his first independent production effort was ³Twist Craze,² a ten minute musical theatrical short subject purchased by American International Pictures. ³Twist Craze² which became an international success theatrically and financially, enjoyed a 10 week holdover at the Oriental Theater in Chicago and, was a phenomenon. Unheard of, for independent short subject theatrical productions of that time. Having earned twenty times it¹s production costs, Rebane followed this success with another 20 minute theatrical musical short titled ³Dance Craze² which surpassed the success of the earlier one and ultimately was purchased by Crown International Pictures for international release. In 1965, Rebane turned his attention to science fiction feature film, ³Terror at Halfway,² starring June Travis and Peter Thompson, becoming the first producer in Chicago to tackle an independent feature film production with a full union crew and screen actors guild talent. A chance meeting with Ronald Reagan nearly attached Reagan to the film. However, Rebane¹s financial contacts would not go along. Claiming that Ronald Reagan was a ³has been² and not worth investing in. Unable to complete the film, Rebane suffered a financial and career set back and sold the existing footage to Herschel Gordon Lewis. Lewis who went on to complete the film, later released it as ³Monster A Go Go.² A title and effort which to this day, Rebane wishes he could forget. His interests in performing and with the professional contacts he had made by now led to his position as co-host of the Germania Broadcast of Chicago, WGES Radio. Americas largest and most popular German language broadcast in America. This daily evening one hour live show, allowed him to create, produce and host other Radio shows on Chicago's first FM station WKFM Radio. Yet leaving time open for a day time job as National Public Relations Director and Asst. Advertising Director, for the American Distributor for Grundig Radio. At age 21, Rebane returned to Germany to take on the position as Executive in Charge of U.S. co-productions for Studio Bendestorf, Germany, in which he had a small interest, opening offices in Chicago and Hollywood. Commuting on a bi weekly basis, he dealt with all the major studios to attract producers to the then lower costs of production in Germany. Ultimately the films which found a partial or full home at his Bendestorf Studio facility and through his contact efforts were; ³Dollar² (Goldie Hawn/ Scott Brady,) ³How I Won the War² (John Lennon) and ³The Odessa File² (John Voight.) By the time Rebane was thirty, he had become a well rounded out film business man as well as having gained the production and technical experience of a seasoned film maker, even prior to moving to Wisconsin where he established and built the one and only full time feature film studio in the Midwest, that flourished for over a quarter of a century, producing hundreds of commercials / industrial / corporate image films plus a string of theatrical features all of which enjoyed major international theatrical release . In the arena of commercial film production Rebane continues to acknowledge and expresses his appreciation to fellow film maker, producer Jerry Gregoris, of Chicago for entrusting Rebane with the directorial and post production responsibilities and subsequent credits on films made for such prestigious clients as the Teamsters Union, The Republican Party of Indiana, State Farm Insurance, The City of Chicago, and Wausau Insurance, In l984 Mr. Rebane took a break form production to become President and take charge of international distribution for The International Picture show Company in Atlanta Ga. (a public company) for the distribution of such product as; ³Falling in Love Again,² Elliot Gould / ³Slapstick,²Jerry Lewis,/Land without time,William Shatner and many of the Don Knots and Tim Conway comedy features.Mr. Rebane has held a variety of executive positions in the motion picture industry throughout his career . As well as being skilled filmmaker/ writer/ Cinematographer / production designer / editor and film director. He can further be credited with the following accomplishments;* The introduction of the first 360 degree (wrap around) motion picture process to the Motion Picture Industry of the world, that spurred the Cinemax process and todays and Rotascope cameras.* The creation of the Wisconsin Film Office.* Producing, directing, editing and production designing at least on a hundred commercial / industrial / corporate image / documentary and promotion films.* Producer / Director / Writer / Director of Photography on 12 independent feature films, all of which have enjoyed successful international theatrical release.* Producer / director / of one of the fifty top grossing films 1975. Gross 24 million dollars. l975/l976* The creation and successful operation of the one and only full time feature film studio in the Midwest for over 30 years. The Shooting Ranch Studios.Author of the book, Film Funding 2000.Reference materials on Bill Rebane include but are not limited to:Book: Who¹s Who in Leading American Executives 1994 ( U.S Registry) Book: ³God¹s in Polyester² Succubus Press / Amsterdam Book: Famous Wisconsin Film Stars (Badger Books ) Monthly Publications : Nations Business / Dunn& Bradstreet Reports /Wisconsin Report For further information , Manager, Agent, and Executive Asst. to Mr. Rebane Donna Mc Garrity 1760 Wilcox Ave. Hollywood, Ca. 323-516-9193Create or get your
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