C-U Biz-en-scène: 08.12.2011
“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!
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MFHQ & YOU:
It’s Time for CUBiz: The Short Form!
This week we offer a neat and petite Biz again, partly necessary to make time for your humble editor to assemble the next issue of fellow C-U publication Bachelor Pad Magazine! Not only that, he and BPM guru Java will represent the swingin’ Atomic lifestyle at this weekend’s Wizard World Chicago Comic-Con in Rosemont, IL, which began last night and runs through Sunday, August 15! Look for us at table 3529 in the Artist’s Alley along with Chris and Anne Lukeman (and Bruce!) of Kill Vampire Lincoln Productions at table 3537! If you can’t make it upstate for the madness … well, keep on reading to locate a little local madness near you, MacDuff.
ITEMS OF THE WEEK
Skip Huston of the Avon Theater in Decatur announced that a revised edition of Flickering Images: The History & Hauntings of the Avon Theater by Troy Taylor is now available in the lobby; Whitechapel Press’ original Flickering first hit the presses a decade ago … Taylor will also provide live running commentary during an Avon late-night reprise on Friday, September 2, of THE ST. FRANCISVILLE EXPERIMENT (2000) in which he “plays” himself; this BLAIR WITCH PROJECT cash in co-produced by Charles Band poses as a shaky-cam documentary in which students investigate a purportedly haunted house … Our friends at Microcinema International of San Francisco are seeking material for their annual touring “Independent Exposure” program with the 2011 theme “Visual Architecture;” entries will be judged by Houston architect, academic, and writer Carlos Jiménez. Go here or write submissions [at] microcinema [dot] com for more information. The company also opens the acclaimed Welsh documentary SLEEP FURIOUSLY today in Chicago at Facets Cinematheque.
LINKS OF THE WEEK
With Chicagoland on our mind, we think a geographically themed Links collection is in order! First, those of you braving the aforementioned Chicago Comic-Con would do well to plan a bit ahead; as you can see from this Web site, the 36th annual pop culture gathering is brimming with attractions and distractions! Keeping up traditions is also paramount with Roger Ebert, whose revived AT THE MOVIES has devoted much of its late summer episodes to airing vintage minutes shared with the late Gene Siskel during precursor SNEAK PREVIEWS; Ebert’s take on the legacy appeared last week in his Chicago Sun-Times journal. We’d also like to note the amazing and macabre work of Windy City make-up and costume firm The ImageWorks FX, founded by Joseph Lester and managed by unofficial CUBlog muse Rissa Grandone. The reason we discovered C-U Confidential is listed in the Illinois Film Office’s Production Guide, as mentioned a few weeks back in the Biz, is that Palatine writer/actor/producer/comedian Victor Greywolf phoned the Secret MICRO-FILM Headquarters to let us know he will be recording his first stand-up album in six years at summer’s end; the New York City native has little Web presence so we suggest you watch ReelChicago.com for career updates or send correspondence to: P.O. Box 2172, Palatine, IL 60078-2172. To end with one big dollop gratitude and one itsy bitsy pinch snark, we point you to stylish site Chicago D.I.Y. Film which ran our CUBlog 5th anniversary springtime press release, albeit with the tacked-on subtitle, “C-U Blogfidential Expands from Champaign to Bloomington, Normal, Decatur, Springfield, and Danville (but still not Chicago).” Apparently, our practice of regularly sprinkling Chicago items throughout our coverage (such as, oh, right now) or launching a suburban-focused column (albeit dormant, for the moment) means we don’t quite register in their indie art/media scene … yet.
PLEASE. WRITE. NOW.
Time is ticking away, dearest readers! Treat us to your tales of cinematic wonder experienced as academic or permanent residents of MICRO-FILM Country, and in turn we’ll share it with all your fellow readers as those “five significant movie milestones” become part of CUBlog lore! Check out this earlier post which roughly describes what we’re looking for and then exercise those typing fingers by drafting anecdotes that illustrate how you live la vida cinema in Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond. Submission deadline is Friday, September 30, 2011!
PLAYING THIS WEEK
ACT YOUR AGE*: Friday, 8/12, 8 p.m., outdoors @ downtown Monticello, IL, free
@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL: SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN (8/12 on), SUPER 8 (8/12, 8/13, 8/18, 10 p.m.), DHADA (8/13, 10:30 a.m.), “The State of the Art” public address (8/14, 1 p.m., free)
@ The Virginia Theater, Champaign, IL: SUPER 8 (8/16, 8/18, 7 p.m.)
@ Class Act/SODO, Champaign, IL: Champaign Movie Makers meeting (8/16, 7 p.m.)
@ Faith United Methodist Church, Champaign, IL: “The Biz of Show Biz” talent seminar w/Melanie Paxson and Bridgett Newton (8/15, 6 p.m.)
@ Heartland Gallery, Urbana, IL: Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones (8/13, 8 p.m.)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL: THE HELP, COWBOYS & ALIENS, CRAZY STUPID LOVE (8/10 on)
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL: HEY, BOO: HARPER LEE & TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (8/11-8/12, 7 p.m.), TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (8/13-8/14, 7 p.m.)
@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, COWBOYS & ALIENS (8/12 on)
@ Gemini Cinemas, Villa Grove, IL: COWBOYS & ALIENS, MONTE CARLO (8/12 on)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL: COWBOYS & ALIENS (8/12-8/14, 8/17)
@ Princess Theatre, LeRoy, IL: TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (8/12-8/14)
@ Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In, Gibson City, IL: 30 MINUTES OR LESS, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (8/12-8/14)
@ Lake Pointe Grill, Springfield, IL: Central Illinois Film Commission meeting (8/18, 7 p.m.)
@ Route 66 Twin Drive-In, Springfield, IL: COWBOYS & ALIENS, LARRY CROWNE, ZOOKEEPER, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (8/12 on)
@ That’s Rentertainment, Champaign, IL: SUPER, PAUL, JUMPING THE BROOM, MARS NEEDS MOMS, YOUR HIGHNESS, THE LAST GODFATHER, TAQWACORE, CLASH, more! (8/9 on)
@ Centerbrook Drive-In, Martinsville, IN: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (8/12 on)
@ Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL: Wizard World Chicago Comic-Con (8/11-8/14)
@ Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare, Rosemont, IL: Flashback Weekend Horror Con (8/12-8/14)
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Locally produced movies and events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Go see ‘em!
COMING SOON
UPDATE! 8/19: FRIGHT NIGHT (1985)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, 10:30 p.m., free
UPDATE! 8/20, 8/25: LEADING LADIES*
@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL, times TBA
NEW! 9/2: THE ST. FRANCISVILLE EXPERIMENT w/Troy Taylor
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, time TBA, free
9/2-9/4, 9/8: THE ROOM
@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL, times TBA
NEW! 9/3: OUR DECATUR – 1955*
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, 11 a.m., free
9/9: COPS and THE KID w/live accompaniment
@ Ellnora: the Guitar Festival, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 6:30 p.m.
9/10: THE GREAT FLOOD w/live accompaniment
@ Ellnora: the Guitar Festival, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 1:30 p.m.
9/13: DVD release: LEADING LADIES*
+ Wolfe Video, New Almaden, CA
9/15-9/17: IMC Film Festival*
@ Independent Media Center, Urbana, IL
9/16-9/18: Route 66 International Film Festival*
@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL
9/22: GREEN FIRE: ALDO LEOPOLD AND A LAND ETHIC FOR OUR TIME
@ The Virginia Theater, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
9/23-9/25: Chicago Horror Film Festival, Chicago, IL
9/23-9/25: B Movie Celebration, Franklin, IN
10/6-10/20: Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
10/13-10/22: Heartland Film Festival, Indianapolis, IN
10/21-10/22: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, time TBA
10/21-10/23: CHICAGO 8: Small Gauge Film Festival, Chicago, IL
10/21-10/23: Dark Carnival Film Festival, Bloomington, IN
10/28-10/30: Freeky Creek Short Film Festival
@ Sleepy Creek Vineyards, Fairmount, IL
11/3-11/12: Reeling Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
11/4-11/5: Drunken Zombie Film Festival
@ Peoria Theater, Peoria, IL
11/10-11/12: Embarras Valley Film Festival
@ EIU campus/Will Rogers Theater/etc., Charleston, IL
11/11-11/13: HorrorHound Weekend (Horror culture), Cincinnati, OH
11/10-11/20: St. Louis International Film Festival, St. Louis, MO
4/15, 2012: Buttered Corn on the Cob Film Festival
@ 88 Broadway, Urbana, IL
4/18-4/22, 2012: Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI
4/25-4/29, 2012: Roger Ebert’s Film Festival
@ The Virginia Theater, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY FILM SERIES
Horror Films
@ The “Haunted” Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, 10:30 p.m., free
10/7: THIR13EN GHOSTS (2001); 10/8: DOG SOLDIERS; 10/14: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968); 10/15: DAWN OF THE DEAD (2004); 10/28: JEEPERS CREEPERS; 10/29: TRICK ‘R TREAT
The New Classics: Great Books to Great Films from the Past 50 Years
@ Danville Public Library, Danville, IL, 6:30 p.m.
9/12: TRUE GRIT (2010); 10/10: THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS; 11/14: ORDINARY PEOPLE; 12/12: FAIL SAFE (1964); 1/9/12: NEVER CRY WOLF; 2/13/12: AWAKENINGS; 3/12/12: ADAPTATION; 4/9/12: UP IN THE AIR
The News-Gazette Film Series 2011
@ The Virginia Theater, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
9/10: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT; 10/8: THE EXORCIST; 11/5: THE GODFATHER; 12/3: THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
UNIVERSITY FILM SERIES
Global Lens 2011: International Films
@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL
8/18: STREET DAYS, Georgia; 9/15: THE TENANTS, Brazil; 10/20: A USEFUL LIFE, Uruguay; 11/17: WHITE MEADOWS, Iran
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That’s it for the “business of our scene” this week!
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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We welcome your virtual presence in the Confidential scheme!
309 awesome (but way too few) peeps dig our Facebook page, while 21 astounding (yet way way way too few) comrades keep a watchful eye on our YouTube channel, the C-U Confidential Revue! We’d place our bets in a heartbeat that many more would enjoy our social/video outreach if they knew about us! Have you joined us on-line? Will you be ambassadors for our indie film cause and send your recruits in our direction? The more attention we receive, the better we can serve the interests of local artists and the movies of Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond!
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“C-U Biz-en-scène” no.55 © 2011 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential.