C-U Biz-en-scène: 12.30.2011
“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:
Partly Cloudy with Highs in the Forties
Not only does the above headline describe today’s Champaign-Urbana weather in a nutshell, but it also reflects how your humble editor feels on the occasion of his 41st trip past the “Go!” square in his lifetime. Elsewhere, we’ve hinted at big plans to take place under the MFHQ roof yet we’re ill prepared to part the fog and reveal our game plan. When the time comes to spill – and we’re not talking about the beer pints to be enjoyed later tonight – you’ll be the first to know. Stay safe if you party hearty on Saturday and create mercilessly once you set foot in 2012 A.D. Happy New Year, dearest readers!
ITEMS OF THE WEEK
Apart from shopping ‘til we drop as suggested in last Friday’s CUBiz, one major way in which we can help local film culture is to locate resources and information for the movers and shakers of said culture. For instance, Danville-based director Mike Boedicker is in need of a working player piano for certain HAUNTINGS scenes yet to be shot; if you’re aware of one, preferably in Champaign or Vermillion counties, please contact Boedicker by writing mboedicker [at] hotmail [dot] com … Abigail Graham, producer of THE ABIGAIL SHOW sketch comedy program as seen on UPTV, is in need of a television or production studio setting to photograph as a background plate for green screen use. Contact her at grahamcity [at] gmail [dot] com to offer suggestions … Stewart Dickson posted to the Champaign Movie Makers forum about an unusual request from indie filmmaker Andrew P. Quinn of Muncie, IN, who needs a full-sized, Fifties style robot prop constructed for an upcoming short subject called YELLOW SPRINGS. Visit this Web site for Quinn’s credentials or e-mail him directly at andrewpquinn [at] gmail [dot] com for specifics … Elsewhere, professor Robin Murray of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston confirmed for CUBlog the next Central Illinois Feminist Film Festival will not only present a juried selection of contemporary shorts on Tuesday, March 27, but also “other documentary and feature films focused on women in the arts” on Wednesday, March 28, and Thursday, March 29. The organizers also have announced a Call for Papers to tie in with CIFFF, the details for which we’ll share when we have them … To conclude, we celebrate the beginning of the Virginia Theatre, which first opened her doors to the public 90 years ago this week on December 28, 1921. The Virginia Web site teases that an anniversary celebration is in the works including the rededication of its classic Wurlitzer organ, currently being restored by John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders a few blocks away in downtown Champaign. Here’s a News-Gazette video about the process made by University of Illinois graduate journalism student Lauren Laws. Hurrah!
LINKS OF THE WEEK
The Herald & Review of Decatur reports on yet another faith-based project, the documentary (or is it an op-ed piece?) GOD’S COURTROOM created by Springfield attorney Bruce Kulger; according to Jim Vorel’s article, it features footage taped in several court houses throughout Illinois and hinges on cases handled by a young Abraham Lincoln for context. A streaming version of the hour-long program as well as study guides for churches are available at this Web site. Also revisiting coincidental tropes is The Pantagraph, which ran a story earlier today about yet another commercial spot taping in the Bloomington-Normal region, this one promoting the Illinois State Lottery. Finally, how in the world did we never notice the intersection of Hollywood & Vine in central Urbana until now? Here’s a Wikipedia entry about the much more famous Hollywood & Vine in southern California, location of the iconic Capitol Records tower.
PLAYING THIS WEEK
@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL: MY WEEK WITH MARYLIN (12/30 on), DRIVE (12/30, 1/1, 1/5, 10 p.m.)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL: WAR HORSE, SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS, WE BOUGHT A ZOO (12/30 on), THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (2004; 12/31, 9:30 p.m.)
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL: KISS ME, STUPID (12/29-12/30, 7 p.m.), THE APARTMENT (12/31-1/1, 7 p.m.)
@ Old State Capitol, Springfield, IL: Route 66 International Film Festival presents “First Night Springfield Movies” (12/31, 8 p.m.)
@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL: ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED, SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (12/30 on)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL: ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (12/30-1/1, 1/4)
@ The Princess Theatre, LeRoy, IL: THE MUPPETS (12/30-1/1)
@ That’s Rentertainment, Champaign, IL: FINAL DESTINATION 5, BRIGHTON ROCK, APOLLO 18, LOVE CRIME, PETE SMALLS IS DEAD, CITY UNDER SIEGE, SHAMELESS (s1), more! (12/27 on)
@ Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In, Gibson City, IL: Closed for the season!
@ Route 66 Twin Drive-In, Springfield, IL: Closed for the season!
@ Centerbrook Drive-In, Martinsville, IN: Closed for the season!
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Locally produced movies and events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Go see ‘em!
COMING SOON
NEW! 1/27-1/28, 2012: B-Fest
@ Norris University Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
4/15, 2012: Buttered Corn on the Cob Film Festival
@ 88 Broadway, Urbana, IL
4/18-4/22, 2012: Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI
4/20, 2012: Issue release: C-U Confidential #6
+ Paper Opteryx, Champaign, IL
4/25-4/29, 2012: Roger Ebert’s Film Festival
@ The Virginia Theater, Champaign, IL
Fall 2012: Issue release: C-U Confidential ‘99
+ Paper Opteryx, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY FILM SERIES
The New Classics: Great Books to Great Films from the Past 50 Years
@ Danville Public Library, Danville, IL, 6:30 p.m.
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 2012
@ The Virginia Theater, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
1/7: CITY LIGHTS; 2/11: THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939); 3/17: CABARET; 4/7: EASTER PARADE; 6/2: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS; 7/7: CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG; 8/4: THE THIRD MAN; 9/1: THE MALTESE FALCON
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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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“C-U Biz-en-scène” no.75 © 2011 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential.