C-U Biz-en-scène: 08.19.2010
“C-U Biz-en-scène” appears every Wednesday/Thursday on C-U Blogfidential to give our readers a succinct snapshot of the cinema activity in and near Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA. Please support the artists and their work, attend screenings and events, and otherwise become active in our esoteric little world!
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PRODUCTION
Danville independent filmmaker Mike Boedicker of Roselawn Productions, Ltd., dropped CUBlog a line to let us know what is happening with his new film, REVOLTING, which had its public debut last weekend. “We had about 75 people at the screening,” says Boedicker. “The crowd we had was responsive and appreciative.” He and wife/co-producer Leslie have scheduled several more shows in the immediate area starting on Friday, August 20, and Saturday, August 21, at the Fischer Theatre in Danville, to be continued on Saturday, September 25, and Sunday, September 26, at the Art Theater in Champaign as well as Saturday, October 23, at Sleepy Creek Vineyards in Fairmount. They’re also looking beyond the local horizon for audiences and distribution. “I’ve entered the film in the Oxford International Film Festival out in Cincinnati and am investigating other festivals to enter,” continues Boedicker. “The process will probably last a year.”
MERCH
As of last week’s premiere at the Kathryn Randolph Theater in Danville, Roselawn Productions is offering a REVOLTING DVD-R for perusal on your home entertainment system. Included are a 16×9 presentation of the 81-minute feature (letterboxed for 4×3 television screens), an “Anatomy of a Scene” demonstrating the editing changes made to the climactic scene, an “About the Music” essay explaining the director’s choices in music and musicians, a Shooting Script in PDF format, a Trailer, and Cast and Crew Biographies. The first batch only numbers 100 so visit the REVOLTING Web site – or attend any of the upcoming shows at the Fischer, the Art, or Sleepy Creek – to nab one quick! A Blu-ray release may also be issued in the fall.
MEETINGS
Keep in mind that on Tuesday, August 24, 7 p.m., Champaign Movie Makers will meet at Class Act Interactive, 114 S. Neil St., Champaign, to afford area filmmakers and talent an opportunity to discuss and join forces in the making of independent cinema in the area. This month’s presentation by Bill Kephart and Joe Taylor will cover the creation of their PopTent.net spec commercials; additional topics TBD. Feel free to contact Johnny Robinson at johnny [at] johnnyrobinson [dot] com for further information!
We’ll also remind you that the Central Illinois Film Commission meeting will take place tonight, Thursday, August 19, 7 p.m., at the Route 66 Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield!
MEDIA LINKS
Returning to the Windy City press this week, we unearth a commentary by Chicago Tribune media columnist Phil Rosenthal posted on August 11 about the final taping of AT THE MOVIES with A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips. Your humble editor remembers way back when ATM aired on its original station, WTTW-Channel 11 in Chicago, with original hosts Roger Ebert and the late Gene Siskel. It’s been a long road paved with thousands of movie reviews, various content tweaks, and controversial talent substitutions; will the traditional aisle-seat format be missed? Hopefully we won’t get a chance to find out if Ebert himself has his way.
Also threatening to vanish, according to current operator Joshua Caudle, is the venerable two-screen Lorraine Theater in Hoopeston. According to this August 14 article posted by the Danville Commercial-News, Caudle notes that attendance has been off so much in 2010 that he is losing favor with the studios to show first-run titles and thereby attract enough attendance to pay the bills. He then challenges the community to step up their support or likely lose the Lorraine as a movie house. Caudle’s slightly desperate tone is warranted, given how hard he’s busted ass to keep the Lorraine operational and in good shape since his arrival in 2008.
However, threatening to reappear this Friday, August 20 – according to the note currently displayed on the home page – is a new and improved Web site for the Illini Film & Video club at the University of Illinois. Incoming president and swell dude Beanz Ramierz hopefully will have additional surprises in store for the group’s 2010-11 school year; you can trust CUBlog to pass along the scoop once we have it!
And finally, leave it to America’s Finest News Source to break the story on how the State of Illinois is earning itself some funding – if not an improved reputation – through the nether regions of the entertainment industry. Can’t wait for the Illinois Film Office to proudly show this product as part of their “IFO Night at the Movies” series!
PLAYING THIS WEEK
REVOLTING: Friday, 8/20, 8 p.m., Fischer Theater, Danville, IL
REVOLTING: Saturday, 8/21, 8 p.m., Fischer Theater, Danville, IL
@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL: MILLENNIUM: THE STORY (8/19, 6 p.m.), THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (8/19, 7:30 p.m.), HIGH FIDELITY (8/19, 10:30 p.m.), THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE (8/20 on), HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (8/20, 8/21, 8/26)
@ Independent Media Center, Urbana, IL: MILLENNIUM: THE STORY (8/22)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL: THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, EAT PRAY LOVE, SOLITARY MAN (8/20 on)
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL: MID-AUGUST LUNCH (8/19-8/22)
@ Harvest Moon Drive-In, Gibson City, IL: DESPICABLE ME, THE EXPENDABLES (8/20-8/22)
@ That’s Rentertainment, Champaign, IL: FURRY VENGEANCE, CEMETERY JUNCTION, THE LAST SONG, CITY ISLAND, NOLLYWOOD BABYLON, VIVERE, more! (8/17 on)
COMING SOON
8/19: Central Illinois Film Commission meeting
@ Route 66 Hotel & Convention Center, Springfield, IL, 7 p.m.
8/24: Champaign Movie Makers meeting
@ Class Act Interactive, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
NEW! 9/10-9/12: “Lost Survivor” multi-media performance
@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL, 7 p.m. Fri/Sat, 2 p.m. Sun
9/17-9/19: Route 66 International Film Festival
@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL
9/24-9/26: 2010 B Movie Celebration, Franklin, IN
UPDATED! 9/25-9/26: REVOLTING
@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL, 3 & 10 p.m. Sat, 12 p.m. Sun
10/7-10/21: Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
10/14-10/23: Heartland Film Festival, Indianapolis, IN
NEW! 10/22-10/23: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, Midnight
10/23: REVOLTING
@ Sleepy Creek Vineyards, Fairmount, IL, 8 p.m.
10/29-10/31: Freeky Creek Short Film Festival
@ Sleepy Creek Vineyards, Fairmount, IL
11/5-11/7: Illinois International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
NEW! 11/11-11/13: Embarras Valley Film Festival
@ EIU campus/Will Rogers Theater/Charleston Public Library, Charleston, IL
11/11-11/21: St. Louis International Film Festival, St. Louis, MO
11/19-11/21: Dark Carnival Film Festival, Bloomington, IN
2/18-2/27, 2011: Big Muddy Film Festival
@ Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
3/22-3/27, 2011: Ann Arbor Film Festival, Ann Arbor, MI
3/30-4/1, 2011: Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI
4/27-5/1, 2011: Roger Ebert’s Film Festival
@ Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
OUTRO
With a month of “C-U Biz-en-scène” under our belts here at the Secret MICRO-FILM Headquarters, we just have to ask – how do you like the new column? What additions or improvements would you want to see? Post your constructive and civil thoughts below, if you could!
That’s it for the “business of our scene” this week!
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If you have relevant news, opportunities, dates, or promotions that you would like included in CUBiz, please forward the who, what, where, when, and how much to cuconfidential [at] gmail [dot] com.
Compiled by Jason Pankoke
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“C-U Biz-en-scène” no. 4 © 2010 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential.