Calendar: October 4-10, 2024
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!
10/4: Jason Christ (actor/executive producer, ANXIETY, Wicked Pixel Cinema, St. Louis, MO)
10/6: Niccole Powers (art department, BLACK MOLD, Raven Banner Entertainment, Toronto, ON/Tubi Originals, San Francisco, CA)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
“F” is for fall as well as filmmaking, so let’s begin our Field Report dedicated to out-of-town friends and creators who elected for quick shoots over the last few weeks to carve out some creepy stories.
First, Jason Huls of Ten Wing Media in Chicagoland has followed up THAT DAMNED YELLOW RAINCOAT with THE FAWN, which he describes as “a blend of folk horror and cosmic horror.” Facebook photographs show the team of Huls, Paul G. Lyzun, and Paul A. Brooks working away in late September on the private property in Pontiac where Brooks filmed his full-length debut, HUNTING FOR THE HAG, and young Windy City actress and Illinois State University alumna Nora McKirdie, who played the briefly seen “fourth friend” in HAG, is the lead. And then, Shea Kelly of Thousand Yard Stare Productions in Decatur traveled long distance to small-town Rushville on the weekend of September 13-15 to produce the dramatic short, A MAN OF CHARACTER; cast and crew who collaborated with Kelly, a videographer for WAND-TV and host of the “movie game show podcast” Filmwar!, included Christopher Ryan Trone, George O’Brien, Jordan and Jessica Baker, Lee Larkin, Nathan Scott, Shelby Rozanski, and Greg M. Trumbold, who makes a return to acting in a downstate Illinois-made indie for the first time in years.
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Remaining at the home front in the Soy Capital, Ben Harl of Silver Compass Studios filmed the “short psychological thriller” MARA during the same weekend with a cast and crew featuring Dayton Emery, Heather Harlow, Justin Taylor, Katherine Bokenkamp, Laura Richter, Lesley Harl-Black, Mindy Smith, Rick Jensen, Seth Boyer, and Thomas Nicol. Silver Compass is prepping to shoot another short later this month and is still seeking talent, so skim their latest Facebook posts for details. And in the wilds of Carroll County in northern Illinois, Jarod Hussey of Refinery Films directed the horror tale GRINNERS from his script, which pits a cooking show host and retired detective against a pair of serial killers in animal masks during the Halloween season; starring Magdalena Conway, Tanna Jacobs, Andrew Byard, and the great John Bloom (a.k.a. Joe Bob Briggs) and photographed by Derek Huey in primary CREEPSHOW colors, GRINNERS was filmed on a tight schedule in the Mt. Carroll area last week. Got all that? We’re not even sure that we do. Updates and the downlow shall be had in future Reports, dearest grinners.
IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen
Courtesy of writer/director S. J. Hermann and producer Ann Myrna of Acrostar Productions, we share with you an exclusive sneak peek at the recently-wrapped sequel, RETURN OF THE CORN ZOMBIES, which was filmed early September in the northernmost reaches of Champaign County. A large number of performers and behind-the-scenes staff traveled from far and wide to stage for the screen this low-budget adventure, in which survivors of the plague unleashed in ATTACK OF THE CORN ZOMBIES seek refuge at a farming community that is not as welcoming as they had hoped. “Hurrah” to everyone from Myrna and Hermann to co-director Mia Katz, cinematographer Ashley Hefner, make-up effects artist Beth Metcalf, and the rest for their horror film hustle and reminding their set visitor, our very own Mr. JaPan, what it’s like to witness the action. We hope to talk with a handful of Acrostar acolytes about their movie ambitions and fan-fueled success for an article on CUBlog before the end of the year. Chomp, chomp!
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We normally tuck our figure captions in those tidy pop-up blocks you can trigger when hovering an arrow or fingertip over an image but, since we dropped some names that are related to the other groups mentioned in the Report, we’ll also do it for our fine Acro-folks. From top to bottom, talent appearing in the upcoming RETURN OF THE CORN ZOMBIES includes (photo one) Delilah Hefner, Hunter Redfern, Chloe Lutz, Angel Nichole Bradford, Christopher Kahler, Chanda Rawlings, (two) David J. Paul, Mel Heflin, Bradford, Kelsey Ann Baker, (three) Gwyneviere Ray, and (four) zombie players who may be extras or leads turned into zombies or crew drafted to be zombies – we just don’t know who lives, dies, or rises up again! Keep watch on their very active Facebook group for chances to participate in future films and consider visiting this Indiegogo campaign to assist in the finishing funds for putting the final polish on the flick.
CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History
30 Years Ago … Friday, October 7, 1994: SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, the 1952 classic from MGM starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor as talent caught in the Hollywood transition from silent to sound pictures, is the main attraction during the grand reopening of the Normal Theater in downtown Normal, Illinois. Previewed in euphoric terms by Dan Craft of the Bloomington Pantagraph earlier today, the sold-out show marks the end of a long journey by the Town of Normal to restore this venue to the Art Moderne veneer of its earliest years – essentially, harking to the past to ensure its future as did the makers of SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN with the movie musical genre. In its previous era, the Normal had operated circumspectly on West North Street as a second-run house owned and “twinned” by the GKC Theaters chain, closing in May 1991 due to paltry attendance. The Town of Normal purchased the property a few months later and raised the necessary capital through donations, gifts, and taxes for a complete restoration; the Normal of today closely resembles the one designed by Bloomington architect Arthur F. Moratz and opened in 1937 by real estate broker Sylvan Kupfer and his wife Ruth. [R]
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
JOKER: FOILE À DEUX, FURIOUS 7 (re-release), MONSTER SUMMER, THE OUTRUN, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, DEVARA: PART 1 (in Telugu with English sub), MEGALOPOLIS, MY OLD ASS, SPEAK NO EVIL, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10/4 on), AX Cinema Nights presents “Gundam Fest” feat. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM (animé) (10/6, 4:30 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (10/7, 7 p.m.), TERRIFIER 2/TERRIFIER 3 double feature (10/10, 5:30 p.m.), THE APPRENTICE, MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU’RE NEXT (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), PIECE BY PIECE, SATURDAY NIGHT, TERRIFIER 3 (10/10 on)
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
JOKER: FOILE À DEUX, MONSTER SUMMER, WHITE BIRD, AM I RACIST? (op-ed/documentary), BAGMAN*, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE*, DEVARA: PART 1* (in Telugu with English sub), LEE, MEGALOPOLIS, SPEAK NO EVIL, THE SUBSTANCE, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10/4 on), The Metropolitan Opera: Les Contes d’Hoffmann (10/5, 12 p.m., simulcast; 10/9, 1 & 6:30 p.m., recorded), UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree, Jr., more (mixed martial arts) (10/5, 9 p.m., simulcast), MEAN GIRLS 20th anniversary (10/6, 4 & 7 p.m.), HEART OF A SERVANT: THE FATHER FLANAGAN STORY (religious documentary) (10/8, 7 p.m.), THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN, PART 1 (10/9, 7 p.m.), TERRIFIER 3 (10/10 on) *single screenings daily
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents BORDERLANDS (10/4-10/5, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
Illinois Public Media presents “The Arthouse Experience Film Series” feat. MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON (animation) (10/4, 7 p.m.)
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
JOKER: FOILE À DEUX, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10/4-10/6)
@ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL
JOKER: FOILE À DEUX, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, FAITH OF ANGELS (faith film), THE FORGE (faith film), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10/4 on)
@ Crescent Cinemas, Pontiac, IL
JOKER: FOILE À DEUX, THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10/4 on)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
SCREAM (1996) (10/10, 7 p.m.)
@ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (Screen 1), BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, CORALINE (animation) (Screen 2) (10/4-10/5)
@ Marcus Bloomington Cinema + IMAX, Bloomington, IL
JOKER: FOILE À DEUX, MONSTER SUMMER, WHITE BIRD, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, MEGALOPOLIS, MY OLD ASS, SPEAK NO EVIL, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), VINDICATING TRUMP* (op-ed/documentary), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10/4 on), Indian cinema: DEVARA: PART 1 (10/4-10/9, Telugu w/Eng sub) and SWAG (10/4-10/7, 10/9, Telugu w/Eng sub), THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 50th anniversary (10/4-10/5, 9:30 p.m.), The Metropolitan Opera: Les Contes d’Hoffmann (10/5, 12 p.m., simulcast), HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (10/6, 4 p.m.; 10/7, 6 p.m.), MEAN GIRLS 20th anniversary (10/6, 4 & 7 p.m.), Marcus “Mystery Movie” (10/7, 7 p.m.), HEART OF A SERVANT: THE FATHER FLANAGAN STORY (religious documentary) (10/8, 7 p.m.), TERRIFIER 2/TERRIFIER 3 double feature (10/10, 5:30 p.m.), THE APPRENTICE, AVERAGE JOE (faith film), MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU’RE NEXT (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), PIECE BY PIECE, SATURDAY NIGHT, TERRIFIER 3 (10/10 on) *single screenings daily
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
“Cabaret in the Woods” event feat. CABIN IN THE WOODS screening, ISU Drag Royalty performance (10/4, 7 p.m.), HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, PSYCHO (1960), CRITTERS (10/5), GHOSTBUSTERS (1984), THE HAUNTING (1963) (10/6), Normal Theater 30th anniversary reopening celebration feat. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (10/7, 7 p.m.), THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974) (10/8), INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (10/9), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986) (10/10)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
Closed until November.
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
THE FORGE (faith film) (10/4-10/6)
@ The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL
THE WILD ROBOT (animation), DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation) (Screen 1), JOKER: FOILE À DEUX, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (Screen 2) (10/4-10/5)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
JOKER: FOILE À DEUX, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, FAITH OF ANGELS (faith film), REAGAN, SPEAK NO EVIL, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10/4 on)
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
10/16-10/27
60th Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
11/1-11/2
23rd Route 66 Film Festival*
@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL
NEW! 11/7-11/17
33rd St. Louis International Film Festival
@ The Hi-Pointe Theatre, St. Louis, MO
2/15/25
3rd annual CU International Film Festival*
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
3/27-3/29/25
2025 Big Muddy Film Festival*
@ The Varsity Center, Carbondale, IL
4/23/-4/25/25
25th Roger Ebert’s Film Festival*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
Chambana Film Festival* screening series
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 4 p.m.
10/27: HAUNT SEASON; 11/17: THE PROBLEM OF THE HERO; 11/24: THE HOBBY; 12/29: documentary shorts incl. FACING THE FALLS
Illini Radio Group presents “Rewind 92.5 Movie Series”/“Mix 94.5 Throwback Thursdays”*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
10/17: FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980); 11/20: THE BOY AND THE HERON (animé); 12/5: FRIDAY*
Illini Union Board presents “Fall 2024 Weekend Films”
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat, free w/i-card
10/11-10/12: LONGLEGS; 10/18-10/19: DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation); HOCUS POCUS (10/25-10/26); 11/1-11/2: FLY ME TO THE MOON; 11/8-11/9: IT ENDS WITH US; 11/15-11/16: SCREAM (1996); 11/22-11/23: BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE; 12/6-12/7: HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
Illinois Public Media presents “The Arthouse Experience Film Series”
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
10/18: TO LESLIE; 11/22: RUSHMORE
The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
10/19: REAR WINDOW; 11/30: THE WIZARD OF OZ; 12/7: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies* event series
@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Center for World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
10/17: “Kartemquin’s Labor Films: Stories of Working in America” screening; 10/18: “Documentaries on the Frontline of Democracy: How Kartemquin’s Storytelling Works for Stronger Publics” lecture; 11/14: ALIEN: ROMULUS screening; 12/5: GREMLINS screening
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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
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“Calendar du C-U”
© 2024 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential
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