C-U Biz-en-scène: 03.12.2011

“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:
Submersion of the Japans

Anyone remember what happened in Illinois almost 15 years ago? We do, only because of a Hollywood footnote that still tends to weird us out a little bit…

The most prolific outbreak of tornado activity in Illinois history occurred on April 19, 1996, when more than 30 funnels hit the ground throughout the state. The storm inflicted damage in southeast Urbana and all but leveled nearby Ogden; pictures appearing in the following days were not pretty and one area resident died from injuries. A few weeks later on Friday, May 10, the Jan de Bont thriller TWISTER starring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt opened nationwide and grossed $41 million by that Sunday, a tasteless (if coincidental) juxtaposition that rubbed us the wrong way for numerous reasons. What’s much more important now is for you to hit this link as a beginning point and do what you can to offer help to the people of Japan, a country whose entertainment industry is famous for depicting disaster on a grand scale whether or not it involves giant rubber monsters. We’ve been watching video of the destruction left in the northern half of the islands this week by an 8.9 earthquake, aftershocks, and tsunami, leaving us awestruck in its awfulness which we can only imagine because we are here, tucked safe in the middle of a massive continent, and not there, clinging to life or simply washed away. In even queasier irony where art has prematurely imitated life, Japan’s Toho Studios released a remake of their Seventies disaster entry SUBMERSION OF JAPAN in 2006 called JAPAN SINKS while a South Korea company issued their own tidal wave epic HAEUNDAE about two years ago. We’re pretty sure those and other, similar movies suddenly look like the larks they really are, if eerily familiar in a media-drenched world. Unreal.

In much less pressing news, we offer our usual springtime reminder that posting on C-U Blogfidential will be lean for the next few weeks as we shift into overdrive to assemble the new issue of C-U Confidential. Our on-line activity should return to normal after May Day unless, of course, all the hypersensitive religious zealots are correct and the Rapture arrives on Saturday, May 21. We suspect they’re a tad off base on this one and you have our permission, dearest readers, to slap the insensitivity out of them as soon as they claim the Japan disaster is a sign their prophecy will come true. We’re up with people but down with stupidity here at the Secret MICRO-FILM Headquarters, just so you know.

EVENTS

We trust everyone submitting their cinema to the second New Art Film Festival got it in gear, since the official deadline expired yesterday! (Hint: We might be accommodating and take Monday/Tuesday arrivals into consideration. End hint.) First looks indicate this NAFF will be a mostly Champaign-Urbana affair, which is absolutely groovy with us. Even better, we’re going to let a selection out of the bag next week to whet your appetites, so pay attention to CUBlog and other local news outlets for the big reveal! You have marked Friday, April 8, 5 p.m., on your calendar, have you not?

On the other hand, the Buttered Corn on the Cob Film Festival folks already slathered their Web site with a complete schedule for their inaugural event the afternoon and evening of Sunday, April 3, at 88 Broadway in downtown Urbana! Check out their itinerary here; local titles include CONNOR’S WOODS from Joe Taylor’s Sleepy Creek Films, TWO ROWS IN from Bob Zimmerman’s R.A.Z. Films, WITH ME NOW and THE LAST RIDE from Sasan Shabrou’s Gladius Arts, and Thomas Nicol’s BEDTIME FOR TIMMY, selected as a “Juror’s Pick” for the fest. Admission is free!

Three weeks later, another distraction will be keeping us busy and we’re not even talking about Roger Ebert’s Film Festival! Our radical librarian friend Chris Ritzo of the Independent Media Center, also in downtown Urbana, alerted CUBlog that the first Midwest Zine Fest will take place Saturday, April 30, at the IMC building and Sunday, May 1, at La Casa Collectiva in Urbana. The latter venue will host May Day workshops about creating one’s own media, print and otherwise, while the former will accommodate panels, readings, and tabling where attendees can talk to publishers about their wares and purchase or trade for self-made media goods. Further information can be learned at this Web site. Ritzo is organizing MZF ’11 with Jeanie Austin and Maggie Taylor, who would certainly love for you to support your local independent media-makers by participating in this event!

We can’t bring our April-centric blurbs to a close without an “Ebertfest” related item, so we’ll mention the Virginia Theater open house taking place tomorrow, Sunday, March 13, from 2 to 4 p.m., during which Champaign Park District folks will give community members a look at recently completed renovations – including a total overhaul of the front lobby and concession stands – and discuss upcoming phases in building upgrades. Refreshments, door prizes, and a 3 p.m. barbershop performance (!) will also be offered. Or, if this action is a bit too austere for your liking, go tonight instead for THE MATRIX at 7 p.m. to put the slam in your bang!

MEETINGS

Keep in mind that on Tuesday, March 15, 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. The highlight of this month’s meeting is a presentation by Robin Christian of Dreamscape Cinema on writing screenplays! Additional topics are TBA. Feel free to contact Johnny Robinson at johnny [at] johnnyrobinson [dot] com for further information!

MEDIA LINKS

We’re not even going to crack a joke about yet another light week since brevity is key given our lateness. Therefore, we put on a happy face and point you to this announcement about the DVD release of Dark Maze Studios’ sequel, PRESS START 2 CONTINUE, which became available yesterday, Friday, March 11; publicist Meagan Glaser also directs fans to a special video message from Dark Maze mastermind Ed Glaser followed by an exclusive scene pitting Lin-Ku (Al Morrison) against the Spanish Ninja (Dominique Worsley)! We now switch to a quizzical face and bring up this Associated Press wire article run in the Pantagraph last weekend concerning the waning interest in several states for offering movie producers tax breaks in hopes of luring their business; Illinois is mentioned nowhere in the piece so we’re assuming the Land of Lincoln will remain in the hunt for Tinseltown dollars. Finally, we smear together our best Joker-style frowny face while cringing maniacally as we present this horribly written review of the animated feature RANGO by Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly as exhibit “A” of what apparently passes muster in mainstream movie reporting; it makes us sick this draws a paycheck while we bust ass on our lovely non-budget to bring you the best CUBlog possible. Unreal.

PLAYING THIS WEEK

PRESS START 2 CONTINUE* U.S. DVD Release: Friday, 3/11, via Dark Maze Studios, Champaign, IL

@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL: TINY FURNITURE (3/11 on), WANTED (3/11, 3/12, 3/17, 10 p.m.), Romeo and Juliet (3/12, 12 p.m., Shakespeare), La Traviata (3/13, 12 p.m., opera)

@ Krannert Art Museum, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL: NORA (3/17, 6 p.m., w/filmmakers)

@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL: RED RIDING HOOD, RANGO, UNKNOWN (3/11 on), THE QUIET MAN (3/17, 7 p.m., free)

@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL: TAMARA DREWE (3/10-3/13, 7 p.m.)

@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL: RANGO (3/11 on)

@ Gemini Cinemas, Villa Grove, IL: RANGO, JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER (3/11 on)

@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL: RANGO (3/11, 7 p.m.; 3/12-3/13, 2 & 7 p.m.; 3/16, 7 p.m.)

@ That’s Rentertainment, Champaign, IL: FOUR LIONS, INSIDE JOB, JACKASS 3, TALES FROM EARTHSEA, MORNING GLORY, THE NEXT THREE DAYS, THE WALKING DEAD s1, more! (3/8 on)

@ Route 66 Drive-In, Springfield, IL – season begins April 1!

@ Centerbrook Drive-In, Martinsville, IN – season begins March 25!

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Locally produced movies and events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Go see ‘em!

COMING SOON

3/22-3/27: Ann Arbor Film Festival, Ann Arbor, MI

3/26: DIY Film Festival at Chicago Zine Fest, Chicago, IL

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

4/3: Buttered Corn on the Cob Film Festival
@ 88 Broadway, Urbana, IL

4/8: The New Art Film Festival at Boneyard Arts Festival
@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL

4/14: STONEWALL UPRISING screening/discussion/taping
@ Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL, 6:30 p.m.

4/27-5/1: Roger Ebert’s Film Festival
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL

4/30: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
@ The Canopy Club, Urbana, IL, 11 p.m. w/Millikin U. shadow cast

5/4: 2nd Annual Feminist Film Festival
@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL

6/23-6/26: Onion City Experimental Film and Video Festival, Chicago, IL

7/19-7/24: Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, Palatine, IL

9/16-9/18: Route 66 International Film Festival
@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL

COMMUNITY FILM SERIES

“Real Vs. Reel” Movie Series
@ Danville Public Library, Danville, IL, 6:30 p.m.

3/14: A PLACE IN THE SUN; 4/11: THE FUGITIVE

Springfield Art Association 20th Annual Film Festival
@ AMC Parkway 8, Springfield, IL, 1 & 4 p.m. (Sun.), 7 p.m. (Tues.)

3/13, 3/15: MOTHER AND CHILD; 3/27, 3/29: MADE IN DAGENHAM; 4/10, 4/12: MY DOG TULIP

The News-Gazette Film Series 2011
@ The Virginia Theater, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.

3/12: THE MATRIX; 4/23: TOY STORY; 5/14: REAR WINDOW; 6/4: MOULIN ROUGE!; 7/23: BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S; 8/6: ARSENIC AND OLD LACE; 9/10: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT; 10/8: THE EXORCIST; 11/5: THE GODFATHER; 12/3: THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

WILL-TV/Independent Lens “Community Cinema” series
@ Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL, 6:30 p.m.

3/17: PUSHING THE ELEPHANT; 4/26: BHUTTO: 5/10: WELCOME TO SHELBYVILLE; TBA: TWO SPIRITS

UNIVERSITY FILM SERIES

AsiaLENS: AEMS Documentary/Film Series
@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m.

4/5: THE SWEETEST EMBRACE; 5/3: IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE

Global Lens 2011: International Films
@ Latzer Hall, University YMCA, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 5:30 p.m.
3/17: BELVEDERE, Bosnia-Herzegovina; 4/21: DOOMAN RIVER, China; 5/19: THE INVISIBLE EYE, Argentina; 6/16: THE LIGHT THIEF, Kyrgyzstan; 7/21: SOUL OF SAND, India; 8/18: STREET DAYS, Georgia; 9/15: THE TENANTS, Brazil; 10/20: A USEFUL LIFE, Uruguay; 11/17: WHITE MEADOWS, Iran

IPRH Film Series Spring 2011
@ Room 62, Krannert Art Museum, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 5:30 p.m.
3/31: AVALON

OUTRO

Another member of our media clan in Champaign-Urbana has joined the 40-on-up club! Art Theater owner Sanford Hess hit the milestone Thursday and celebrated with several dozen moviegoers that evening by showing Luc Besson’s seminal drama-thriller THE PROFESSIONAL, which effectively introduced Jean Reno to America and Natalie Portman to the world back in 1994. Happily, we sat amongst many CUBlog friends in the audience including Andrew Stengele, Thomas Nicol, Damian Duffy, Cara Day, Trevor Dowdy, John Jennings, Tim Meyers, and Jay Eychaner. We raise a metaphorical Boddington to Hess and wish him many more years in this business we call show!

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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!

276 awesome (but way too few) peeps dig our Facebook page, while 13 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.33 © 2011 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential.

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