C-U Blogfidential

Ye Ed is rooting for the film culture of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, to rebound from the turbulence of recent years. Not everything will survive, such as the theaters he recently photographed.

Nationwide consensus is that small businesses and organizations will get raked over the coals before the pandemic is over. We look at how a first-run, mixed-use, and former movie theater are doing.

Self-restriction has been lifted as your humble editor rockets out the gate with fresh words on important topics and miscellany as well as dear old Dad. He might mention a few filmy things on top of that.

Once upon a time, next to no one in our society knew how to make movies. Traveling impresarios of a century ago made sure to tease the average citizen with the possibilities in programs like ‘Making Movies.’

University of Illinois students a generation apart do their on-camera best to convince viewers that campus spirits drift among us. Their existence somewhat haunts your humble editor to this day.

Once again, the archives at MFHQ trigger your humble editor into remembering times of a different creative energy. Herein we have evidence of his stab at fashioning attire for a lost short film project.

Our limited series on filmmaking books from the Michael Wiese Productions library continues with ‘Stock Footage + Everything under the Sun’ by James Forsher, reviewed by Jason Pankoke.

It has been a long while since a feature-length project has emerged from the WILL-TV studios in Urbana, so we welcome ILLINOIS COUNTRY with open arms. It airs tonight, March 6, 2020, at 7:30 p.m.

On the lighter side, there are few film things we remember more fondly than the Freaky Film Festival of Champaign. Circa 2019, the internet allows us to revisit a few former Freaky movies, circa 1999. Indulge!

People are paramount over the places and things in MICRO-FILM Country. Agreed? Then, you won’t mind if we address how you can help ease the financial bind of a friend and mother due to a major health crisis.

Espresso Royale on Daniel Street in Champaign, IL, will be closed and torn down, but we’ll always have our memories and film evidence of the coffee spot. What film evidence, you say? It’s minor, but, it exists!

Now that C-U Confidential is guaranteed to return for a tenth round, we simply have to finish it off. Life never makes it that simple, though, even when bonus goodness steps into the pathway before the finish line.

Does anybody remember when your humble editor was an artist and photographer instead of a Confidential provocateur? We present the dirt on his past dalliances in black-and-white and living color!

As movie critics gravitate to on-line podcasts and videos to offer their opinions, several teams in Champaign-Urbana have continued the tradition of televised debate. We share a few examples with you.

We are legitimately excited to be able to issue C-U Confidential #10, folks, although it’s clear we won’t be doing Confidential business as usual going forward. Give us a moment to have a moment, then.