When life hands you lemons, make the best movies possible with limited means! This is the lesson behind the children-led Pens to Lens show that premiered virtually at Facebook on August 15, 2020.
Posted in Area Festivals, Broadcast Dates, Champaign Movie Makers, Competition du C-U, CU Film Society, For the Children, Happy Places, Student Film | 
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‘Tis the season for learning as the school year rushes in, but any time is golden for inspiring our youth. Students living in the Champaign-Urbana area have options aplenty to do just that, even with filmmaking.
Posted in Competition du C-U, CU Film Society, Education/Classes, For the Children, Media Coverage, Public Events, Student Film | Comments Off on Youth expressed positively in films
If you did not attend the Pens to Lens Gala on August 11, 2018, you missed out on a fantastic chance to see children’s imaginations in action. Lucky for you, P2L always releases the goods shortly after!
Posted in Area Festivals, Competition du C-U, CU Film Society, Education/Classes, For the Children, Public Events, Student Film | Comments Off on View Pens to Lens ’18 films today
From the “Images of the Week” Dept.: Before the students in your life go back to school, take them to the Pens to Lens Gala on Saturday, August 15, 2015, at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, IL. Good things will be learned!
Posted in Area Festivals, Champaign Movie Makers, CU Film Society, For the Children, Images du C-U, Media Coverage, Public Events, Student Film, Videos du C-U | Comments Off on IOW: P2L kid films debut Aug. 15
We challenge you, dearest arts supporters, to jump right on in and help out these efforts. We would not have Champaign-Urbana film culture without ’em!
Posted in Alums Done Good, Competition du C-U, CU Film Society, Deadline du C-U, For the Children, Job Opportunities, Student Film, Theatres & Venues | Comments Off on Noting the needful film things
From the “Images of the Week” Dept.: Just because it’s back-to-school time doesn’t mean we can’t recall what everybody (and we mean EVERYBODY) filmed on their summer vacation! Behold, a Pens to Lens 2014 update…
Posted in Area Festivals, CU Film Society, For the Children, Images du C-U, Public Events, Student Film, Videos du C-U | Comments Off on IOW: I spy KEVIN and big P2L fun!
From the “Images of the Week” Dept.: In this extra-length IOW, we flash you with Pens to Lens brilliance and then talk with short film organizer and director Thomas Nicol about this unique C-U activity.
Posted in Area Festivals, Champaign Movie Makers, CU Film Society, For the Children, Images du C-U, Public Events, Videos du C-U | Comments Off on IOW: Our kids stay in the pictures
The second annual Pens to Lens Awards Gala will take place Saturday, August 9, 2014, at the Virginia Theatre in downtown Champaign. Here is the line-up of all our children’s wild story ideas brought to life by the filmmakers of Champaign-Urbana!
Posted in Area Festivals, Champaign Movie Makers, CU Film Society, For the Children, Public Events | Comments Off on Virginia hosts Pens to Lens gala
In the second of several (belated) CUBlog reports examining Champaign-Urbana film events from recent months, Confidential agent Lauren Laws reports on film feminism as created through the efforts of University of Illinois students, alumni, and staff.
Posted in Area Festivals, Article du C-U, CU Film Society, Education/Classes, Public Events, Student Film | Comments Off on UI student films express feminism
A completely unofficial prelude to the wonders one might watch at the New Art Film Festival next month, the local film “double feature” at Figure One in downtown Champaign on Saturday, March 22, 2014 aims to educate and inspire.
Posted in CU Film Society, Education/Classes, Public Events | Comments Off on HOUSE, shorts to play on Porch
From the “Images of the Week” Dept.: Does your child have great imagination? Can she or he put it into words? Then, she or he might have fun writing a short film script for the 2014 Pens to Lens competition sponsored by the Champaign-Urbana Film Society!
Posted in Competition du C-U, CU Film Society, Education/Classes, Public Events, Student Film, Videos du C-U | Comments Off on IOW: P2L2 seeking K-12 scripts
In this edition of C-U Blogfidential’s all-purpose column, “The C-U Film Leader,” we talk about THE GARDEN OF CHLOE auditions, the passing of Gary Gardner, on-line Pens to Lens videos, the Avon Theatre’s new little sister, and film contests galore!
Posted in Area Festivals, C-U Biz-en-scène, Competition du C-U, CU Film Society, Job Opportunities, Media Coverage, News Ticker du C-U, Public Events, Sad Places, Theatres & Venues | Comments Off on C-U Film Leader: 6.27.2013
Once again, we feel behind the times in our own reporting niche but that will not stop us from encouraging you last-minute to support Urbana Basement Sessions, engage in “Dinner and Bikes,” and revel in the success of Pens to Lens!
Posted in Area Festivals, Champaign Movie Makers, CU Film Society, Education/Classes, Media Coverage, Music Video, Public Events, Student Film | Comments Off on Events we RIYL DIY filmmaking
Champaign Movie Makers will meet during a special screenwriters’ session at Quality Beer in downtown Champaign, IL, later tonight, Thursday, May 2, 2013. We also discuss the Pens to Lens screenwriting competition for children and an unique screenplay collection at UIUC!
Posted in Champaign Movie Makers, Competition du C-U, CU Film Society, Gone Hollywood, Local Meetings, Preservation, Public Events | Comments Off on Scripting is the thing at CMM
It’s time for the Champaign-Urbana community to give itself a boost in supporting the integration of film and media production into our very fabric of being. That includes teaching the kids that making movies is alright.
Posted in Competition du C-U, CU Film Society, Education/Classes, JP Confidential, Student Film, The Old School | Comments Off on C-U film not yet over the hill