C-U Biz-en-scène: 07.30.2010

Greetings, friends of C-U Blogfidential! We apologize for not posting consistently as a heady case of summertime ennui decided to zap us at the conclusion of that fun stretch we like to call “April.” And even though it has little to do with the movies of Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond, our next post will help you understand what else is dampening our motivation at the moment. Since we’ve let a lot slide over the past several weeks, we’re plotting on how to make up ground without grinding out detailed, knowing blurbage on every single little thing. We love you all, but

Resurrecting our old “Coming Soon” feature seemed to be a timely remedy. We’re embarrassed to note that it’s been nearly two years since we ran it last, although its strength – detailing the notable film events in our area having nothing to do with Hollywood blockbusters – runs counter to how we’ve rolled lately, where the news about the makers and their films comes first. We believe a hybrid weekly column may be the answer. Therefore, we’d like to try out “C-U Biz-en-scène” and see how well it rocks you.

The concept here is that “anything goes” as long as it makes sense within the context of our reporting. Some weeks it may be short and sweet, other weeks it may be long and wondrous. We’ll mix in play dates, production reports, first news, media links, quick jabs, and all sorts of other goodness and goofiness as it comes down the pike here at the Secret MICRO-FILM Headquarters. Please feel free to send us tips for what to include in CUBiz!

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“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

A benefit featuring actor Terry O’Quinn of LOST and THE STEPFATHER fame will take place this Saturday, July 31, 8 p.m., at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL, to raise production funds for the independent feature drama USING, which officially began shooting a couple of weeks ago in the Bloomington-Normal area. The Hollywood actor is the sibling of USING writer/director and Illinois Wesleyan University professor Thomas Quinn, who formed the non-profit group Phenom Features earlier this year with cinematographer Peter Gray and actress Kymberly Harris of Fresh Bread Productions and TheatresCool. According to press information, the event will “feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, a silent auction, and selected clips of the film” while some proceeds will be donated to Salvation Army Safe Harbor Shelters. Tickets can still be purchased at this site or by calling (312) 988-9900.

CONTESTS

This is also last minute, but we’ll mention the looming deadline on Saturday, July 31, for turning in entries to the 21 Film Project sponsored by the Land of Lincoln Credit Union in Decatur. They can be any genre but must be all-ages appropriate, run 4 minutes or less, and feature LLCU marketing elements as described on the official Web site. The top entries will be shown on Saturday, August 28, 4 p.m., at the Decatur Civic Center, #1 Gary K. Anderson Plaza, Decatur, IL; awards include Flip video cameras and a $1,500 grand prize.

MEDIA LINKS

The July 2010 issue of the public I, published by the Independent Media Center in Urbana, features an article by your humble editor about this past spring’s IMC Film Fest and the New Art Film Festival. You can pick up the physical issue at many locations in the C-U or download the PDF from this page.

PLAYING THIS WEEK

@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL: SOLITARY MAN (7/30 on), 8 MILE (7/30, 7/31, 8/5)

@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL: INCEPTION, CATS & DOGS 2, CHARLIE ST. CLOUD (7/30 on)

@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL: PLEASE GIVE (7/29-8/1)

@ That’s Rentertainment, Champaign, IL: CLASH OF THE TITANS, ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, REPO MEN, THE RUNAWAYS, THE LOSERS, more! (7/27 on)

COMING SOON

9/18-9/19: Route 66 Film Festival, Springfield, IL

9/24-9/26: 2010 B Movie Celebration, Franklin, IN

3/30-4/1, 2011: Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI

4/27-5/1, 2011: Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, Champaign, IL

OUTRO

One of the very first posts here on CUBlog featured images of an abandoned Super 8 camera rescued by MFHQ neighbors. Last night, dumpster diver extraordinaire Charles presented your humble editor with yet another orphaned artifact of note – a DVD of the Bloomington horror-comedy LATE AFTERNOON OF THE LIVING DEAD (see item: 6/8/07). Usually his video discoveries fall into the camps of either forgettable Hollywood flicks or even more forgettable porn, so call us surprised! We hope that the flick’s makers aren’t too offended and will see the positive in how this LAOTLD copy found a new home.

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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. 1 © 2010 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential.

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