Periodicals du C-U

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C-U CONFIDENTIAL | The ‘Zine of Our Scene

Falling somewhere in between cinema journal and fanzine, C-U Confidential takes a year-in-review approach to summarizing the film culture of Champaign-Urbana through original coverage and reprints from C-U Blogfidential. We began issuing CUZine annually in 2007 to provide attendees of Roger Ebert’s Film Festival a look at the immediate community of artists and creators in downstate Illinois they would not otherwise learn about through the event itself. As of April 2020, after publishing 10 print issues over a 12-year span and distributing them for free thanks to the generous support of contributors, volunteers, and advertisers, we are contemplating whether to transform CUZine into a print-on-demand product or download for electronic readers. It costs to continue this bona fide do-it-yourself endeavor, so we will always humbly accept financial support through our PayPal option and specified GoFundMe campaigns. Below you will find summaries and cover art for all issues to date. We will not actively sell CUZine unless an internet storefront is established in the future, but you can certainly contact us about obtaining copies for your personal collection or to submit to an archive, library, café, or infoshop near you. | Jason Pankoke

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C-U Confidential #10
June-July 2019 (“the ‘derelict’ 2016 issue”) | 40 pp. | Digest

Cover: Something is bound to occur in this secluded corner of the city, especially if it involves the Informant (Drea Abbas). Was it fate that finally brought the Junior Reporters (Katherine Bokenkamp, Keenan Dailey) back into the picture, or are they acting in a different capacity beneath the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Illinois campus?

Contents: Greetings from editor Jason Pankoke and guest columnist Troy Michael (Innocent Words); anecdotes from the history of the Hallways Microcinema event space by creator and organizer David Gracon; ruminations on the legacy of the Avon Theater in Decatur including an interview with owner Skip Huston; an examination by Illinois undergraduate James Hall of the MacGuffin student film journal produced on campus in the 1970s; “Imagery du C-U” explains how the show must go on even if one feels like death ridden over; “Retro/Perspective” acknowledges the similar reach of local film culture in consecutive eras; “Splices of Life” summation from CUBlog; “Confidential Review” reprints from CUBlog; “Coming Soon!” area calendar; “Ebertfest” 2018 & 2019 schedules; more! | Back to Top

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C-U Confidential #9
April-May 2017 (“the ‘misfiled’ 2015 issue”) | 40 pp. | Digest

Cover: The tides have shifted hard enough to spill into uncharted waters for Wilhelm (Eric Sizemore) and the Informant (Drea Abbas), who find themselves uncharacteristically landlocked in the case at hand. As they pour over their evidence at the back of Crane Alley in Urbana, a rather obvious anomaly makes itself known to them. Where did it go? What should they do now? Drinks flow harder, tensions rise…

Contents: Greetings from editor Jason Pankoke and guest columnist Jenny Southlynn (Boneyard Arts Festival, The Paper); discussion on the growing popularity of the Pens to Lens Screenwriting Competition + Gala in Champaign including interviews with participants AJ Christensen, Thomas Nicol, and Rachel Rebecca Berry and attendee Eric Benson; remembrance of the late poet, illustrator, performer, and essayist Vachel Lindsay with comments from Melissa A. Higgs and David Logan on his viability today; reprints from Lindsay’s remarkable 1915 book, The Art of the Moving Picture, which paved the way for modern film writing; “Imagery du C-U” portends life in Champaign-Urbana without a long-standing portal for exploring and renting film, That’s Rentertainment; “Retro/Perspective” illustrates just one small treasure made of dreams and suede found within Rentertainment; “Splices of Life” summation from CUBlog; “Confidential Review” reprints from CUBlog; “Coming Soon!” area calendar; “Ebertfest” 2017 schedule; more! | Back to Top

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C-U Confidential #8
April 2016 (“the ‘lost’ 2014 issue”) | 40 pp. | Digest

Cover: Not a creature is stirring – no Wilhelm, no Red Herring, no Creeper, no Informant – as the faded flicker of Hollywood star Peezy Perkins (Andy Due) dances across the screen at a nearby Art Theater in Champaign. All eyes take in the shimmering whimsy, yet this dimly-lit solace is destined to be shattered. Who will ignite the mad dash anew, and where, and when, and why?

Contents: Greetings from editor Jason Pankoke and guest columnist Brian Paris (WILL-TV, DePaul University); reflection on the role of local film writers and scholars including the late University of Illinois instructor Steven P. Hill; reprint of Hill’s critique for the 1963 film NIGHT TIDE starring Dennis Hopper; appreciation of that film’s director, Curtis Harrington, by Greg Woods (The Eclectic Screening Room); observation of the entertainment business climate by Robin Christian (LOWLIFES) based on his attendance of the American Film Market; “Imagery du C-U” exudes cautious optimism for producers testing the ever-shifting channels of distribution for their work; “Retro/Perspective” scares up monster magazine memories circa 1994; “Splices of Life” summation from CUBlog; “Confidential Review” reprints from CUBlog; “Coming Soon!” area calendar; “Ebertfest” 2016 schedule; more! | Back to Top

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C-U Confidential #7
October/November 2013 | 36 pp. | Digest

Cover: The Creeper (Monty Joyce) provides without a doubt to his fellow Hoods (Samantha June Ducey, Aaron Davidson) the pesky Red Herring is in captivity, meaning the secret to succeeding in their scheme is within sight! Will the plot to triumph over detective Wilhelm and the (mostly) good people of this metropolis get any further than Crystal Lake Park in Urbana?

Contents: Greetings from editor Jason Pankoke and guest columnist Geoff Merritt (That’s Rentertainment, Parasol Records); exclusive excerpt from the new book, The Art Theater: Playing Movies for 100 Years by Perry Morris, Joe Muskin, and Audrey Wells, published by Champaign Urbana Theater History; brief conversation with Art Theater Co-op general manager Austin McCann about the venue’s present and future; review of regional Illinois film festivals including interviews with participants Joe Taylor (Freeky Creek Short Film Festival), SamB Davis (Route 66 International Film Festival), Bryan Wolford (Drunken Zombie Film Festival), and Robin L. Murray (Embarras Valley Film Festival); “Imagery du C-U” harkens back to May 1993, when Hollywood had its token day in the Urbana sun; “Retro/Perspective” revisits a more recent WILL-TV community experiment from October 2003; “Splices of Life” summation from CUBlog; “Confidential Review” reprints from CUBlog; “Coming Soon!” area calendar; “Ebertfest” 2013 schedule; more! | Back to Top

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C-U Confidential #6
April/May 2012 | 44 pp. | Digest

Cover: Having allowed the Red Herring to slip from sight due to a heinous kidnapping by unknown forces, our Junior Reporters (Colin Price, Daniela Luisa) attempt to regroup. However, a fresh look at certain evidence might just point them in a different direction other than West Side Park in Champaign

Contents: Greetings from editor Jason Pankoke and guest columnist Richard Leskosky (The Champaign News-Gazette, University of Illinois professor emeritus); discussion on the transformation of Champaign-Urbana into a “film destination” including interviews with Sanford Hess (The Art Theater), Luke Boyce, and Anne Lukeman (Champaign-Urbana Film Society); advice on breaking into local movie acting by William Kephart (REVOLTING); introduction to special make-up effects by Samantha Daley and Joe Lester of The ImageWorks FX in Chicago; CUBlog columnist Tyler Tharpe (RETURN IN RED) pits film stock against digital media in terms of aesthetics and ease of use for contemporary filmmakers; debut of “Image du C-U” queries Chris Lukeman on how that other Lincoln movie is cramping the style of his own creation, THE TRANSIENT; “Retro/Perspective” time travels to the Joseph Tykociner sound-on-film demonstration from June 1922 that occurred on the UI campus; “Splices of Life” summation from CUBlog; “Confidential Review” reprints from CUBlog; “Coming Soon!” area calendar; “Ebertfest” 2012 schedule; EXCLUSIVE CUZine 5th anniversary pull-out poster; more! | Back to Top

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C-U Confidential #5
April 2011 | 44 pp. | Digest

Cover: As the Junior Reporters (Bob Dignan, Elena Levenson) seek guidance from hallowed halls, the Red Herring (Julia Skeggs) is feeling a bit blue with fright as she senses a Creeper (Monty Joyce) within the vicinity of the English Building on the University of Illinois campus!

Contents: Greetings from editor Jason Pankoke and guest columnist Linda McElroy (Route 66 International Film Festival); insight into the current state of Champaign-Urbana-Danville independent film production including interviews with Mike Boedicker (REVOLTING), Johnny Robinson (Champaign Movie Makers), Skye Marcía (DISPOSABLE), Carolyn Kodes, and Bill Yauch (AMBER ROSE); illustrated introduction to stop-motion animation by Thomas Nicol (THE WINDOW INTO TIME); “Retro/Perspective” investigates the spring of 1990 and a grainy cockroach movie bent on survival; “Splices of Life” summation from CUBlog; “Confidential Review” reprints from CUBlog; debut of “Coming Soon!” area calendar; “Ebertfest” 2011 schedule; EXCLUSIVE insert ‘zine C-U Blogfidential Exceeds the Fifth! feat. preview of PRESS START 2 CONTINUE, “Milestone Posts on CUBlog,” “Five Favorite CUBlog Posts,” “Five Favorite CUBlog Pix,” and “Five Goals for the C-U Community;” more! | Back to Top

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C-U Confidential #4
April 2010 | 40 pp. | Digest

Cover: Julie McCormick portrays the Red Herring, now green with envy as the Junior Reporters (Thomas Nicol, Laura McQueen) comprehend the evidence before them by light of the gallery windows at the Independent Media Center in Urbana.

Contents: Greetings from editor Jason Pankoke and guest columnist Eric Hector (Heroic Age Studios); on-set coverage of independent production FINDING VIRGINIA including interviews with producer Stephanie Gold and actress Jessica Alexandra Green; first impressions from Mr. JaPan on the locally-filmed Hollywood feature, THE INFORMANT!; on-set photo gallery of local Web series STILETTOS including interviews with production assistant Agnes Ma and actress Christiana Forsberg; advice from CUBlog columnist Michelle Kaffko (PROCEED AND BE BOLD!) on how to raise movie funds the Chicago way; “Retro/Perspective” remembers the Summer of ’99 and the Secret MICRO-FILM Headquarters in its infancy; “Splices of Life” summation from CUBlog; “Confidential Review” reprints from CUBlog; New Art Film Festival and “Ebertfest” 2010 schedules; more! | Back to Top

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C-U Confidential #3
April 2009 | 36 pp. | Digest

Cover: Paul Brooks and Genevieve Jauquet Perez portray Wilhelm and the Informant, while the Red Herring (Caragh Brooks) stumbles onto the scene in the back stairwell of TheatresCool in Bloomington.

Contents: Greetings from editor Jason Pankoke and guest columnist R.C. Raycraft (INCIDENT AT KICKAPOO CREEK); CUBlog interview excerpts featuring filmmakers Joe Stoltz (MISTER UNDERSTANDING) and Thomas Bender and Jacob Bakkila (HOOPESTON); on-set photo gallery of local film short PRELUDE including interviews with producers Luke Boyce and Brett Hays and actress Vanessa Prokuski; CUBlog features writer Anthony Zoubek compiles highlights from the first decade of Roger Ebert’s Film Festival; “Retro/Perspective” takes stock of October 29, 1999, the night MICRO-FILM finally came home; “Splices of Life” summation from CUBlog; “Confidential Review” reprints from CUBlog; MICRO-FILM Movie Show and “Ebertfest” 2009 schedules; more! | Back to Top

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C-U Confidential #2
April 2008 | 40 pp. | Digest

Cover: Michael Bach and Tonie Sadler portray Wilhelm and the Informant, making wordless contact in the back room of The Bread Company in Urbana.

Contents: Greetings from editor Jason Pankoke and guest columnist Robin Christian (ACT YOUR AGE); on-set photo gallery of local film short THE TRANSIENT including interviews with director Chris Lukeman and assistant director Anne Lukeman; CUBlog interview excerpts featuring filmmakers Ed Glaser (PRESS START) and Daniel Griffith (THE WONDER WORLD OF K. GORDON MURRAY); on-set photo gallery of local music video THE LIFELINE: TRILOGY including interviews with director Chris Folkens and musician Rebecca Faber; “Retro/Perspective” summons The Year 1973 to mind as it illustrates the prototypical film culture Champaign-Urbana once had; “Splices of Life” summation from CUBlog; “Confidential Review” reprints from CUBlog; “Ebertfest” 2008 schedule; more! | Back to Top

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C-U Confidential #1
April 2007 | 36 pp. | Digest

Cover: Enter stage left the Informant (Becky Murphy DeDecker), a streetwise woman with secrets to share when the mood strikes her. Enter stage right the private detective Wilhelm (Mikel Matthews, Jr.), a dogged individual bent on uncovering truths and lifting up the underdogs. What is fated to happen next as they subliminally maneuver the floor of Mike n’ Molly’s in Champaign?

Contents: Greetings from editor Jason Pankoke and guest columnist Mike Trippiedi (DOGS IN QUICKSAND); CUBlog interview excerpts featuring filmmakers Jason Butler (WEREWOLF CEMETERY), Chris Lukeman (THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS VS. A MUMMY), Eleanore Stasheff (EIDOLON), and Alaric Rocha (MERRY CHRISTMAS!); debut of “Retro/Perspective” as it pinpoints The Year 1997 as crucial in birthing the modern Champaign-Urbana film culture; debut of “Splices of Life” summation from CUBlog; debut of “Confidential Review” reprints from CUBlog; “Ebertfest” 2007 schedule; more! | Back to Top

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THE CINEMICROGRAPH | Our World of Movie Media in Minutiae

An attempt to update the residents of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, in between issue releases of MICRO-FILM and C-U Confidential, The CineMicroGraph was a loose revival of an old MF newsletter. Most editorial in CMG took the form of “news tickers” that efficiently covered the topics of interest. CMG was distributed for free exclusively to the C-U community in small numbers and is unavailable in print today, although you may write us and request PDF versions. The title comes from the term “cinemicrography,” which is “the filming of tiny objects or life through a microscope” according to The Complete Film Dictionary by Ira Konigsberg. | Jason Pankoke

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The CineMicroGraph #1.2
March 2009 | 6 pp. | Pamphlet

Front Cover: Dave Ruthenberg and Blake Stubbs star in the comedy short, THE TRANSIENT, from Kill Vampire Lincoln Productions.

Back Cover: Kinsey McCartor appears in the Neon Harbor Entertainment Web series, ROBOGIRL.

Contents: Greetings from editor Jason Pankoke; “Confidential Drift” ticker on local film culture; “Micro-Film Movement” ticker on MICRO-FILM magazine developments; “Issue of the Issue” revisits the first Paper Opteryx publication, MICRO-FILM: The Warning Shot; more! | Back to Top

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The CineMicroGraph #1.1
August 2008 | 12 pp. | Pamphlet

Front Cover: Vanessa Prokuski stars in the Shatterglass Films short, PRELUDE, directed by Luke Boyce.

Back Cover: Daniel Papas, Bob Dignan, Kevin Zaideman, and Elisha Reichert appear in the ensemble cast of the Web series, ONE FINE DAY!, from Premonition Pictures.

Contents: Greetings from editor Jason Pankoke; “Still Shots” photo gallery; “Micro-Film Movement” ticker on MICRO-FILM magazine developments; “Confidential Drift” ticker on local film culture; “Guest Monologue” by Johnny Robinson introduces the Champaign Movie Makers group; “Random Flickers” ticker on broader film topics; “Flight of the Opteryx” editorial by Mr. JaPan on the compromise of living in Champaign-Urbana as an individualistic creator; “Issue of the Issue” highlights MICRO-FILM 5, the “Illinois indie” issue; more! | Back to Top

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© 2007-2024 Jason Pankoke/C-U Confidential
rev. 1-21-24

 

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