C-U Biz-en-scène: 11.24.2011

“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:
Speaking Confidentially du C-U

Rampant thoughts and fervent dreams are scampering underfoot at the ol’ MFHQ. The closer we inch towards 2012, the more strongly your humble editor yearns to shake things up and flip back numerous pages in the calendar of his life – possibly as far as 15 years or more – to reclaim unfulfilled glories with the most future potential. If all goes well according to his nascent plan, our production slate will not only ramp up but diversify well outside familiar C-U Confidential territory. Fans should not fear that we’re giving the movies of Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond the shaft, however, while all onlookers had better be on the alert for Opteryx-approved tomfoolery that will hopefully open everyone’s eyes, ears, minds, and hearts. Look out, world, you’ve been warned!

Until then, enjoy quality time with family and friends this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and maybe even watch a little movie or two if you can. Bonus points will be earned by those who actually cook up projects while relatives sleep off their food comas. Artistic subterfuge will be ours!


ITEMS OF THE WEEK

Until we share the large-size cover art tomorrow on C-U Blogfidential, we’ll direct you to this Amazon listing for the third domestic DVD release this year of a feature film produced by Dreamscape Cinema of Champaign. This time, it’s ACT YOUR AGE, the one starring VERONICA MARSMichael Muhney as a struggling actor who checks himself into a retirement home incognito and learns more about the elderly generation than anticipated. Directed by company president Robin Christian, ACT YOUR AGE also stars Adrienne Franz, Eddie Jones, Max Gail, Pat Morita, Frank Nicotero, and Amber Benson. The Vanguard Cinema release is scheduled to drop on Tuesday, December 20 … And, until we catch a breath and post about the just-elapsed 49 Hour Film Festival next week, we can update you on other Illini Film & Video business involving the “club film,” SNOWBOUND. A cast has been announced, as University of Illinois students Ron Bowden, Austin Gomez, Victoria Thompson, Chuntanay Phillips, Jr., Gordon Agunobi, and Michael Kozuchowski will star as college friends who seek shelter in a campus building inhabited by a slightly creepy janitor to be played by IFV regular Michael Bach. Appropriately enough, production will begin this winter … CUBlog friend Bogdan Heretoiu of Urbana announced via Champaign Movie Makers a new “docu-drama” project he plans to shoot in locations from Champaign-Urbana to Chicago during the first half of 2012. “All positions will require a very good work ethic, passion, professionalism, excellent and prompt communication skills, a positive attitude, and last but not least, commitment,” he writes. Heretoiu does plan to pay crew, so interested parties should send contact information, resume, and minimum daily rates (as well as gear availability) to the filmmaker at HeretoiuHB [at] Arts4Hope [dot] com.


PLAYING THIS WEEK

@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL: MARGIN CALL (11/24, 5 & 7:30 p.m.), STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (11/24, 10 p.m.), MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE (11/25 on), JURASSIC PARK (11/25, 10 p.m.; 11/26, 2 & 10 p.m.; 12/1, 10 p.m.), Charlie Chaplin shorts (11/26, 12 p.m.), THE CIRCUS (11/27, 12 p.m.)

@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL: HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PT. 1 & 2 (11/26, 1 & 7 p.m.), THE HELP (11/29, 12/1, 7 p.m.)

@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL: THE MUPPETS, TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN, Part 1, J.EDGAR (11/23 on)

@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL: HOLIDAY INN (11/24-11/25, 7 p.m.), THE BISHOP’S WIFE (11/26-11/27, 7 p.m.)

@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL: THE MUPPETS, TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN, Part 1 (11/23 on)

@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL: THE MUPPETS (11/23-11/27, 11/30)

@ The Princess Theatre, LeRoy, IL: PUSS IN BOOTS (11/24-11/27)

@ That’s Rentertainment, Champaign, IL: SUPER 8, SARAH’S KEY, CONAN THE BARBARIAN, SPY KIDS 4, THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE, 12 ANGRY MEN (Criterion), more! (11/22 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

12/3: NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL

NEW! 12/6: MIFF presents Best of the Midwest Awards Gala
@ Rockit Bar & Grill, Chicago, IL

NEW! 12/12: SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS w/shorts
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL, 2 p.m.

NEW! 12/15: Central Illinois Film Commission meeting
@ TBA

NEW! 12/15: A CHRISTMAS STORY w/live band
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, 6:30 p.m., free

NEW! 12/16: LOVE ACTUALLY
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, 10:30 p.m., free

NEW! 12/17: HOME ALONE w/HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! animated
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, 10 a.m., free

NEW! 12/22: NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION w/A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS animated
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, 7 p.m., free

4/15, 2012: Buttered Corn on the Cob Film Festival
@ 88 Broadway, Urbana, IL

4/18-4/22, 2012: Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI

NEW! 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

UPDATED! 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.
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.
12/3: NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION


UNIVERSITY FILM SERIES

AsiaLENS: AEMS Documentary/Film Series
@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m.
12/8: WINGS OF DEFEAT

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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!

321 awesome (but way too few) peeps dig our Facebook page, while 23 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.70 © 2011 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential.

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