A Chicago Cubs Cameo Win

The comedy Landline, which hit VOD this week, was made by Chicago Second City alum Matthew Aaron. The writer-director stars as a gay PR executive who angrily disconnects from smartphones and social media after losing out to a younger colleague for the job of leading a new account: the Cubs.

The film features a cameo appearance by former Chicago Cub Ryne Sandberg, filmed at Wrigley Field. How Aaron got the ball rolling on the athlete's participation is also comical.



From a recent interview with WBBM Newsradio 780's Lisa Fields:

“I stalked Sandberg. It was crazy how I found him. I stalked him down at a men’s hair convention. I said, 'Have you heard about our movie we’re doing? It’s me, Tom Arnold, Jim O'Heir, it’s me, will you do it?' He said, 'Sounds great.' It was awesome,” recalls Aaron. “MLB [subsequently] gave us the go-ahead. It was a thrill.”

Added O'Heir: “It’s surreal because I spent many afternoons in the bleachers growing up. We got to go in the locker room and talk to Sandberg.”

Made for around $250,000, Landline was acquired in March by Freestyle Digital Media, part of Byron Allen's ever-expanding Entertainment Studios. Arnold, as Aaron explained during a local Chicago TV appearance, was a last-minute replacement for another Cubs-connected performer.

This is Aaron's third film. He also co-hosts a weekly Internet radio show.