Calendar: June 2-8, 2023
Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.
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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!
6/2: DeShawn Hill (producer, HD Productions Media, Los Angeles, CA)
6/3: Amanda Baker (videographer/editor, Five Foot Productions, Champaign-Urbana, IL)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
In our newest Report, television is in season! WILL Channel 12, the broadcast arm of Illinois Public Media based at the University of Illinois, has revived their cultural magazine program PRAIRIE FIRE. Dormant for more than a decade after a nearly 20-year run on the PBS outlet, PRAIRIE FIRE returned to the air at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, with the station’s senior director Sarah Edwards as its host and three segments that feature wheelchair Paralympian Susannah Scaroni of Urbana, owner and head chef Mubanga Chanda of Stango Cuisine in Champaign, and AMERICAN IDOL contestant Leah Marlene, formerly of Normal, who also sings the show’s new theme song that was recorded in Nashville and written by Graham Edwards and John Pennell. On “The 21st Show” on sister outlet AM 580, Edwards talked with Brian Mackey about the impetus for reigniting PRAIRIE FIRE for their present-day viewers.
We gravitate from central Illinois culture and positive success stories to southern Illinois living and success swelling the heads of the well-off in WELCOME TO CRAPPIE LAKE, a new reality program from the bright minds at the Bravo network that will start airing on Sunday, July 9, at 8 p.m. Central. The limited series presents the efforts of media stars and socialites Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan, two of the original REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY, to allegedly improve the fortunes of small-town Benton in Franklin County after the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged their economy. Right now, if you’re shuddering at the unwanted flashback to Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie living THE SIMPLE LIFE many moons ago, then you’ll be in good company in comments sections everywhere. Presuming that “Crappie Lake” is a stand-in slang for one of the real-life fishing holes in that area like Lake Benton or Rend Lake, this show is bad taste just from the title alone. Many will watch it anyway no matter how much we cringe.
Back north, we recently noticed online a stream of casting notices for bit-part players and background talent to appear in PEORIA, the serialized drama about young professionals and how their walks of life are bound to cross over in a medium-sized Midwestern city. Independently shepherded by creator and producer Michael Mcgruder for the last few years, it caught our eye as we’ve been out of their loop since running an article on PEORIA back in 2020 and had heard little about it since. Fresh research tells us that Mcgruder and company did complete their 44-minute pilot, which was released to Vimeo in June of last year, and are currently shooting scenes for a 10-episode miniseries that will better introduce the primary characters one by one. With plans being made for an additional 26-episode first season, as announced in January via the project’s Facebook page, Mcgruder clearly dreams big on a large canvas. Those who’d like to find out how to participate can write michaelmcgruder [at] peoriatvshow [dot] com to learn more.
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
THE BOOGEYMAN, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (animation), ABOUT MY FATHER, FAST X, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3, JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4*, KANDAHAR*, THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE MACHINE, THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE (animation), YOU HURT MY FEELINGS* (6/2 on), DC LEAGUE OF SUPER PETS (6/3, 6/7, 12 p.m.), TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS (6/8 on) *single shows daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
THE BOOGEYMAN, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (animation), ABOUT MY FATHER, FAST X, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3, KANDAHAR*, THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE MACHINE, THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE (animation), YOU HURT MY FEELINGS* (6/2 on), The Metropolitan Opera: Die Zauberflöte (6/3, 11:55 a.m., simulcast; 6/7, 1 & 6:30 p.m., recorded), Fathom Events presents “Suga – Agust D Tour “D-Day” in Japan” (concert performance) (6/3, 7 p.m., simulcast), PURPLE RAIN (6/4, 3 & 7 p.m.; 6/7, 7 p.m.), RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (6/4, 4 & 7 p.m.; 6/7, 7 p.m.), THE GOD MAN (religious documentary) (6/6, 7 p.m.), TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS (6/8 on)
@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents “Summer Films on the Quad” feat. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES (6/8, 9 p.m., free)
@ Redbox, Champaign-Urbana, IL
65, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES, more! (5/30 on) Online rentals
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
No movies this week!
Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!
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NOW PLAYING | The Cities Beyond
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL
THE BOOGEYMAN, THE LITTLE MERMAID (6/1-6/4)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
MAJOR LEAGUE (6/2, 7p.m.), TO WONG FU, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! JULIE NEWMAR (6/3, 7 p.m.)
@ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (animation) (Screen 1), THE LITTLE MERMAID (Screen 2) (6/2-6/5, 6/7-6/8), “National Drive-in Day Celebration” feat. SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (animation), SHREK (animation) (Screen 1), GREASE, THE LITTLE MERMAID (Screen 2) (6/6)
@ The Little Lorraine, Hoopeston, IL
Private parties and “Family Movie Packs” this week.
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
JOYLAND, ROBIN HOOD (animation) (6/2-6/4), GOLDFINGER (6/8)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
BOOK CLUB: THE NEXT CHAPTER (6/2-6/4)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3. (6/2-6/4)
@ The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL
THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE BOOGEYMAN (Screen 1), SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (animation), FAST X (Screen 2) (6/2-6/4, 6/7-6/8)
NOW PLAYING | Midwest
For detailed and curated listings of Chicago-area film presentations and related events, please visit the fine folks at Cine-File and subscribe to their definitive “Cine-List” weekly blast.
COMING SOON | Area-wide Events
8/19
DESPERATE SOULS* downstate premiere
@ The Princess Theater, LeRoy, IL, time TBD
NEW! 9/13-9/17
30th Chicago Underground Film Festival, Chicago, IL
NEW! 9/21-10/8
41st Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
NEW! 10/5-10/15
32nd Heartland International Film Festival, Indianapolis, IN
NEW! 11/9-11/19
32nd Whitaker St Louis International Film Festival, St. Louis, MO
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
“The Arthouse Experience Film Series” curated by Sanford Hess and sponsored by Illinois Public Media
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
6/30: MAMA BEARS; 7/12: MULHOLLAND DRIVE
Illini Radio Group presents “Rewind 92.5 Movie Series”/“Mix 94.5 Throwback Thursdays”*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
6/29: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK; 7/27: TOP GUN
Illini Union Board presents “Summer Films on the Quad”
@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 9 p.m. Thursdays, free
6/15: ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET.; 6/22: SCREAM VI; 6/29: PAINT; 7/6: RENFIELD; 7/13: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3; 7/20: THE SUPER MARIO BROTHERS MOVIE; 7/27: AIR; 8/3: FAST X; 8/10: THE LITTLE MERMAID
The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
6/17: ENTER THE DRAGON; 7/15: I LOVE LUCY: THE MOVIE
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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
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