C-U Blogfidential

“C-U Biz-en-scène” appears every Thursday/Friday 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!

~~~~~

MFHQ & YOU:
Walk Like an Artisan

Brevity is key at the Secret MICRO-FILM Headquarters this week so we’ll lead off by sharing a truism that we believe gets ignored in a culture destined to revolve around electronic portable tablets which, among dozens of other potential uses, may pave the way for accessing independent cinema in the future. We’d like you to step away for a few moments from the glowing rectangle in front of you currently displaying these words and go outside. Only return after you’ve been replenished by the cool autumn air, glowing sunshine, and fallen leaves bursting with flavor. If you don’t have access to these things, still take the time to soak in whatever energizes you that doesn’t involve intense sitting and staring. (The exception, of course, would be waiting in the wings on a film shoot for your moment to shine.) We’ll still be here when you’re ready.

EXHIBITION

This is a quick reminder that Danville comedy REVOLTING will play one last area show this Saturday, October 23, 8 p.m., at Sleepy Creek Vineyards in Fairmount, IL. Consult the vineyard’s Web site for driving directions and plan to be there in filmmaking solidarity!

PHILANTHROPY

Coming from the same neck of the woods, Innocent Words Magazine publisher Troy Michael has announced that he will be accepting donations towards building a video library at the Riley Hospital for Children and Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis, at which he received a vital kidney transplant as a child. Opening at Riley in January is a new wing featuring private rooms and the Organ Transplant unit, for which IWM is collecting DVDs from now until December 15. Prior drives launched by Michel have resulted in money, books, art supplies, and music finding their way to both institutions “all with a simple goal of putting a smile on someone’s face and making their hospital stay a little more tolerable,” he explains in a statement. DVDs should be good-to-new condition in their original cases and can be suitable for children or adults, although recent movies are preferred and graphic material should be avoided for obvious reasons. If you have questions, please write Michael at troy [at] innocentwords [dot] com. If not, feel free to send your contributions to: Innocent Words Magazine, Attn: DVD Drive, P.O. Box 456, Oakwood, IL 61858.

EVENTS

Shawnee Studios of Mount Olive, IL, will be sponsoring an opportunity for area models and actors to build portfolio shots from Friday, November 5, to Sunday, November 7, at a Bloomington-Normal location TBA. Talent can sign up either for a “Photo Movement Seminar” on the Friday, a photo session on the Saturday/Sunday, or both; providing snaps and instruction will be James Pentaudi Model Services of New York. If you want more details about the eventual locale, the program, or pricing – which will increase after Friday, October 22 – contact the studio at (217) 999-2522 or shawnee [at] shawnee-studios [dot] com.

MEETINGS

Don’t forget that tonight, Thursday, October 21, 7 p.m., the Central Illinois Film Commission will meet at a brand-new location, Di Piero’s Sicilian Cucina, 2690 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, to discuss member activities and area opportunities. CIFC head Cameron Counts states in his e-mail message that Brandon Lamprecht of Reality’s End Films in Peoria will speak about his projects (including the asylum-set spooker “II”) during the meeting; you can contact Counts at nmdcone [at] yahoo [dot] com or visit their Web site for more information!

MEDIA NODS

CUBiz is stymied this outing since the token item we’d like to direct your attention to is apparently print-only content. (We thank thee for thy selective posting practices, dearest News-Gazette.) No matter, then! We’ll just give you our first impressions of the new “Mad About the Movies” column by UIUC cinema professor emeritus Richard J. Leskosky which made its debut in the Sunday, October 17 edition. An introduction promises a bi-monthly exploration of “trends on the silver screen as well as provid[ing] historical perspective on the industry” while the inaugural piece name-drops famous industry veterans who grew up in, filmed in, or possibly dreamed about filming in Illinois before invariably finding their way to the West Coast to make their indelible marks. As typical of Leskosky’s writing, “MAtM” is well considered and chock full of details so it has the potential to become a nice body of singular cinema writing if the author sticks with it. We couldn’t help but notice the very last paragraph which states, “In a future column in this series, I will take a look at some filmmakers who have tried to go their own independent ways without leaving the state.” Intrigued? Why not tell Leskosky so at filmcritic [at] comcast [dot] net and let him know C-U Blogfidential sent you!

PLAYING THIS WEEK

@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL: MAO’S LAST DANCER (10/22 on), SHAUN OF THE DEAD (10/22, 10/23, 10/28, 10 p.m.)

@ The Canopy Club, Urbana, IL: Pizza + Pitcher and Movie – THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, SLEEPY HOLLOW, THE SHINING (10/24, 6 p.m.)

@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL: SECRETARIAT, LIFE AS WE KNOW IT (10/22 on), THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (10/22-10/23, Midnight, w/shadow cast)

@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL: THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE (10/21-10/24, 7 p.m.), THE SOUTH IS BACK w/58 DEGREES (10/27, 7 p.m., w/filmmaker)

@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL: JACKASS 3D (10/22 on)

@ Sleepy Creek Vineyards, Fairmount, IL: REVOLTING (10/23, 8 p.m.)

@ That’s Rentertainment, Champaign, IL: PLEASE GIVE, PREDATORS, THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE, GUNS OF THE CLACKAMAS, VIDEOCRACY, more! (10/19 on)

COMING SOON

10/29-10/31: Freeky Creek Short Film Festival
@ Sleepy Creek Vineyards, Fairmount, IL

10/29: THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD – free!
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, 10:30 p.m., hosted by Troy Taylor

10/30: TRICK ‘R TREAT – free!
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, 10:30 p.m., hosted by Troy Taylor

NEW! 10/31: WEREWOLF CEMETERY IV
@ Mike ‘n Molly’s, Champaign, IL, time TBA

11/4-11/13: Reeling 29: Chicago Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Chicago, IL

11/5-11/7: Illinois International Film Festival, Chicago, IL

11/5: REVOLTING
@ The Viaduct Theater, Chicago, IL, 8 p.m. (@ Illinois Int. Film Festival)

11/11: LEADING LADIES
@ Landmark Century Center Cinema, Chicago, IL, 9:30 p.m. (@ Reeling 29)

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

11/20: LEADING LADIES
@ TBA (@ St. Louis International Film Festival)

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

COMMUNITY FILM SERIES

NEW! “Real Vs. Reel” Movie Series
@ Danville Public Library, Danville, IL, 6:30 p.m.
11/8: CITIZEN KANE; 12/13: ROCKY; 1/10/11: SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS; 2/14/11: HOOSIERS; 3/14/11: A PLACE IN THE SUN; 4/11/11: THE FUGITIVE

UNIVERSITY FILM SERIES

AsiaLENS: AEMS Documentary/Film Series
@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m.
11/2: UNMISTAKEN CHILD; 12/7: BURMA VJ

Global Lens 2010: International Films
@ Main Lounge, Allen Hall/Unit One, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m.
10/27: MASQUERADES, Algeria; 11/3: MY TEHRAN FOR SALE, Iran; 11/10: OCEAN OF AN OLD MAN, India; 11/17: ORDINARY PEOPLE, Serbia; 12/1: THE SHAFT, China; 12/8: SHIRLEY ADAMS, South Africa

Global Lens 2010: International Films
@ Latzer Hall, University YMCA, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 5:30 p.m.
10/21: LEO’S ROOM, Uruguay; 10/28: MASQUERADES, Algeria; 11/4: MY TEHRAN FOR SALE, Iran; 11/11: OCEAN OF AN OLD MAN, India; 11/18: ORDINARY PEOPLE, Serbia; 12/2: THE SHAFT, China; 12/9: SHIRLEY ADAMS, South Africa

IPRH Film Series
@ Room 62, Krannert Art Museum, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, 5:30 p.m.
10/28: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968); 11/11: THIRTEEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONE THING; More TBA

Israeli Movie Club
@ The Cohen Center, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, 7:30 p.m.
10/25: LEMON TREE; 11/1: THE SECRETS; 11/8: HALFON HILL DOESN’T ANSWER; 11/29: OR (MY TREASURE)

OUTRO

My family will finally close the circle and allow Dad to “go sleep with the fishes” on Saturday. Your prayers, energies, good vibes, and patience would be much appreciated at this time. Your projects, proposals, and pontifications will return to their rightful prominence in the C-U Confidential psyche shortly, although you can count on CUBiz to be back next week. Thank you.

That’s it for the “business of our scene” this week! Now, go outside … again!

~~~~~

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

~~~~~

Prior “CUBiz” | Next “CUBiz”

~~~~~

“C-U Biz-en-scène” no. 13 © 2010 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 21st, 2010 at 9:00 am and is filed under C-U Biz-en-scène, Central Ill. Commission, Column du C-U, Local Meetings, Media Coverage, Print Matter du C-U, Public Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.