C-U Blogfidential

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

11/5: Nora McKirdie (actress, THE FAWN, Ten Wing Media, Chicago, IL)
11/10: Andrew Stengele (filmmaker, MISSING, Pens to Lens 2025, Champaign-Urbana, IL)
11/10: Andrew Nygard (filmmaker, THE MAN IN THE MOON, Pens to Lens 2025, Champaign-Urbana, IL)

FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said

Dang. Well. Drop the Report-ing ball for a month, and the tidbits and headlines pile up in regards to the movies of Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond. Luckily, we’ve been saving notes and article links to much of what has been announced, revealed, and staged as of late that is relevant, so all we can do right now is pick away at sharing our film culture news with our dearest readers in the language of CUBlog as best and abbreviated as we can over the next month or so. When we hit the late December holiday skids, we do plan to pause on the highlights for January and February because … because.

So, to ramp up on catching up, we’ll start with items connected to people, places, and happenings already present in today’s Calendar, which will appear weekly through the winter in a spartan format. The birthday week of The Andrews – local storyteller and photographer Andrew Nygard and Champaign Movie Makers and Tabletop Central steward Andrew Stengele – always brings thoughts of the mirth and gentle mayhem of Pens to Lens, the screenplay workshop and short film clinic that they and other local creatives have brought back to prominence in the C-U. Recently, the newest batch of films based on the ideas and words of our local youth and premiered at the Virginia Theatre in August were uploaded to YouTube in this playlist, and Stengele just announced the program is already accepting submissions for 2026.

And, in special event news, we’re about as stacked as we can get in our neck of the now-shorn cornfields. Hit the links below for more information about the Route 66 International Film Festival, the Champaign Urbana International Film Festival, and the Screaming Mad Film Festival of the Dark History & Horror Con, all of which happen to coincide this year. University of Illinois students are also at it with their self-contained 48-hour competition over the weekend, resulting in a semi-private campus showing on Monday, November 10. It could be a good thing the ramped-back-up Chambana Film Society is on a short hiatus in this moment, for we wouldn’t want our heads to explode (or get too big) about all this cultural cinema coagulating at the same time! Chaz Ebert even announced today via the News-Gazette that “Ebertfest” may get a one-time reprieve in 2026 if the interest and funding is there. Never say…

IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen

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Maybe the most unique thing to transpire while we were looking but not journaling was the consecutive debuts of a half-dozen locally-connected films during the weekend of October 16-19 that involved old friends like Matt HarsH and Shea Kelly and newer friends like Jill Greenlee and Chase & Shep. We’ll begin recounting the eruption of media goodness in the next Calendar but, for today, we’re giving the floor to yet another short subject, in the works for the last year-plus, that has finally received its private and public unveiling – THE FAWN, a folk/rustic horror piece from Ten Wing Media and creator Jason Huls.

Filmed in the fall of 2024 on private property near Pontiac, THE FAWN involves a young woman played by Chicago actress Nora McKirdie who wanders an eerie burnt-orange forest and encounters strange objects and forces that hint at something way beyond human comprehension. Plot is nascent and the viewer can rationalize what they will from the combination of discreet special effects, uncanny color palettes, odd camera framing, and a creative sound track that set an unnerving tone. Erin Huls, who collaborates with her husband on the Ten Wings films and podcasts, appears on-screen as a hooded purveyor of decidedly dark arts; intercut with the woman’s trek, her ceremony influences what is brewing even though the characters never share a scene. The earthly Fawn is fated to be caught in cosmic headlights.

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A modest effort compared to past film outings, THE FAWN still prances in the realm of its director’s interests of high fantasy, dark horror, and the Lovecraftian unexplainable, which he has also expressed through short story writing that has appeared in several anthologies and online publications. Those interested can learn about Huls’ work at his Substack account where he has also talked about this film and the preceding production from Ten Wing, THAT DAMNED YELLOW RAINCOAT. THE FAWN was premiered for subscribers to his Substack the week of October 20 and will have its first festival screening this Sunday, November 9, in the Screaming Mad Film Festival sideline of the Dark History & Horror Con to be held at the Orpheum Champaign. Enjoy it in the 2:30 p.m. block and then watch for future dates, when the short can be seen at other festivals or online, by visiting Huls’ social media accounts.

THE FAWN is directed, edited, and written by Jason Huls, who also rendered the visual effects. Huls produced with Paul A. Brooks. The cinematography was handled by Paul G. Lyzun, and Ryan Aldrich contributed the sound design, music score, and voice work. Along with Nora McKirdie, who also acted in Brooks’ feature HUNTING FOR THE HAG, and Erin Huls, THE FAWN stars Chris Hutson, the gruff and reluctant hero of the studio’s original adventure from twenty (!) years ago, LATE AFTERNOON OF THE LIVING DEAD. 2025, color, 9 minutes.

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LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL
24th Route 66 International Film Festival* (11/7-118) Information

@ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* 48 Hour challenge (11/7, 4:30 p.m., Room 1002)

@ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* ‘48 Hours Award Ceremony and Film Screening’ (11/10, 7 p.m., Room 1002)

@ The Orpheum Theatre, Champaign, IL
Dark History & Horror Con* 2025 feat. Screaming Mad Film Festival* (11/8-11/9) Information

@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
4th Champaign Urbana International Film Festival* (11/8, 6:30 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show) Information

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
CHRISTY, DIE MY LOVE, GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE* (animation), NUREMBERG, PREDATOR: BADLANDS, SARAH’S OIL (faith film), BACK TO THE FUTURE 40th anniversary (re-release), BLACK PHONE 2, BUGONIA, CHAINSAW MAN THE MOVIE: REZE ARC (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), REGRETTING YOU, SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE*, TRON: ARES (11/7 on), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (11/10, 7 p.m.), KEEPER, NOW YOU SEE ME: NOW YOU DON’T, THE RUNNING MAN (11/13 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
THE CHRISTMAS RING (faith film), CHRISTY, GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE* (animation), NUREMBERG, PREDATOR: BADLANDS, SARAH’S OIL (faith film), ANNIVERSARY*, BLACK PHONE 2, BUGONIA, CHAINSAW MAN THE MOVIE: REZE ARC (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), REGRETTING YOU, ROOFMAN, STITCH HEAD (animation), SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, TRON: ARES, VIOLENT ENDS* (11/7 on), Indian cinema: THE GIRLFRIEND (in Telugu with English sub; 11/7-11/12), THE GREAT PRE-WEDDING SHOW* (in Telugu with English sub; 11/7-11/9), and JADATHARA* (in Telugu with English sub; 11/7-11/12), The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème (11/8, 12 p.m., simulcast; 11/12, 12 & 5:30 p.m., recorded), HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS (11/9, 3 & 7 p.m.; 11/12, 7 p.m.), VIRGIN PUNK: CLOCKWORK GIRL (animé) (11/11, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub; 11/13, 7 p.m., English dub), THE RUNNING MAN (11/13 on) *single screenings daily

@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Center for World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies* presents HEREDITARY screening (11/13, 7 p.m., free)

@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents FREAKIER FRIDAY (11/7-11/8, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

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Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

10/29: Julie Staley (producer/director, FIELDS OF GOLD, Spencer Films, Springfield, IL)
11/1: Amy Lynn Best (co-owner, Happy Cloud Media, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA)
11/3: Wes Melton (actor, PERFECT SOUL, Acrostar Productions, Chicago, IL)

LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
CROSSMARK* feature film premiere w/director Zack Bolden (11/3, 6 p.m. doors, 6:30 p.m. red carpet walk, 7 p.m. film, 8:20 p.m. after party)

@ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* meeting (10/31, 4:30 p.m., Room 1002)

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
Chambana Film Society* presents “The Savoy Arthouse” feat. WEEKEND AT THE END OF THE WORLD (11/2, 3 p.m.)

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
ANNIVERSARY, BACK TO THE FUTURE 40th anniversary (re-release), BUGONIA, STITCH HEAD (animation), VINCENT MUST DIE/HALLOW ROAD double feature*, VIOLENT ENDS*, BLACK PHONE 2, CHAINSAW MAN THE MOVIE: REZE ARC (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), GOOD FORTUNE, REGRETTING YOU, SHELBY OAKS*, SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, TRON: ARES (10/31 on), KPOP DEMON HUNTERS (animation) (“sing-a-long” re-release) (10/31-11/2), DIE MY LOVE preview with simulcast Q&A feat. Jennifer Lawrence (11/6, 7 p.m.), CHRISTY, DIE MY LOVE, NUREMBERG, PREDATOR: BADLANDS, SARAH’S OIL (faith film) (11/6 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
ANNIVERSARY, BACK TO THE FUTURE 40th anniversary (re-release), BUGONIA, MASS JATHARA (in Telugu with English sub), SINNERS (IMAX re-release), STITCH HEAD (animation), VIOLENT ENDS*, BLACK PHONE 2, CHAINSAW MAN THE MOVIE: REZE ARC (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), THE CONJURING: LAST RITES*, GOOD FORTUNE, REGRETTING YOU, ROOFMAN*, SHELBY OAKS, SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, TRON: ARES (10/31 on), KPOP DEMON HUNTERS (animation) (“sing-a-long” re-release) (10/31-11/2), Indian cinema: BAHUBALI THE EPIC* (in Telugu with English sub; 11/1-11/2), IKK KUDI* (in Punjabi with English sub; 11/2-11/3), and THE TAJ STORY* (in Hindi with English sub; 11/1-11/2), HALLOWEEN (1978) (10/31, 4:30, 7 & 9:30 p.m.), THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE (10/31, 1, 4 & 7 p.m.),THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (11/1, 1, 4 & 7 p.m.), THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (11/2, 1, 4 & 7 p.m.), ORACLES OF GOD: THE STORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT (religious docudrama) (11/2, 4 & 7 p.m.; 11/3, 11/5, 7 p.m.), THE CHRISTMAS RING (faith film), PREDATOR: BADLANDS (11/6 on) *single screenings daily

@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents THE CONJURING: LAST RITES (10/31-11/1, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)

@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
Illinois Public Media presents COCO (animation) (11/1, 7 p.m.)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

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Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

10/25: Becca Whitaker (staff cartoonist, Bachelor Pad Magazine, Champaign, IL)
10/26: Joseph F. Alexandre (filmmaker, BACK HOME YEARS AGO: THE REAL ‘CASINO’, JFA Films, Los Angeles, CA)

CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History

20 Years Ago … Week of Monday, October 24, 2005: Opteryx Press of Champaign begins shipping and store placement of MICRO-FILM 7, the imprint’s flagship journal. Articles cover the Lars von Trier “challenge” documentary THE FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS, the Ron Santo biographical film THIS OLD CUB, current productions from Haxan Films (THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT), regional indies such as FIVE YEARS and QUALITY OF LIFE, the passing of Sarah Jacobson (MARY JANE’S NOT A VIRGIN ANYMORE), and more. This 64-page issue is the last print edition of MF to date. [R]

LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ Brookens Auditorium, University of Illinois, Springfield, IL
LIPSTICK* downstate Illinois premiere w/filmmaker Kimberly D. Conner (10/25, 7 p.m.)

@ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* meeting (10/25, 4:30 p.m., Room 1002)

@ The Lincoln Square Theater, Decatur, IL
TRICK AND TREATS* limited run (10/24, 10/29, 10/30, 7 p.m.)

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
Chambana Film Society* presents “The Savoy Arthouse” feat. STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR (10/26, 3 p.m., documentary)

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
BLUE MOON, CHAINSAW MAN THE MOVIE: REZE ARC (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DREAM EATER*, REGRETTING YOU, SHELBY OAKS, SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, AFTER THE HUNT, BLACK PHONE 2, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES*, GOOD FORTUNE, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER*, ROOFMAN, SOUL ON FIRE (faith film), TRON: ARES, TRUTH & TREASON (10/24 on), THAMMA* (in Hindi with English sub) (10/24-10/26), PARANORMAN (animation) (10/25-10/26, 4:15 & 7 p.m., 10/27-10/28, 7 p.m.; 3-D), STITCH HEAD sneak preview (animation) (10/26, 2 p.m.), NUREMBERG sneak preview w/Russel Crowe livestream Q&A (10/27, 6:30 p.m.), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (10/27, 7 p.m.), ANNIVERSARY, STITCH HEAD (animation) (10/29 on), VINCENT MUST DIE/HALLOW ROAD double feature (10/30, 7 p.m.), BACK TO THE FUTURE 40th anniversary (10/30 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
CHAINSAW MAN THE MOVIE: REZE ARC (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), EK DEEWANE KI DEEWANIYAT (in Hindi with English sub), REGRETTING YOU, SHELBY OAKS, SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, THAMMA* (in Hindi with English sub), BLACK PHONE 2, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE, GOOD FORTUNE, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, ROOFMAN, TRON: ARES, TRUTH & TREASON (10/24 on), PARANORMAN (animation) (10/25-10/28; 2-D & 3-D), STITCH HEAD sneak preview (animation) (10/26, 2 p.m.), HALLOWEEN (1978) (10/26, 3 & 7 p.m.; 10/29, 7 p.m.), TWILIGHT (10/29, 1, 4 & 7 p.m.), ANNIVERSARY, STITCH HEAD (animation) (10/29 on), THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON (10/30, 1, 4 & 7 p.m.), TRIUMPH OVER EVIL: BATTLE OF THE EXORCISTS (religious docudrama) (10/30, 7 p.m.)

@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Center for World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Fall lecture by UC Santa Cruz professor Yiman Wang on the career of Anna May Wong (10/24, 2 p.m., free)

@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (10/24-10/25, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)

@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
Mix 94.5 and Rewind 92.5 present THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW 50th anniversary with shadow cast (10/25, 7 p.m., sold out)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

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Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

10/16: Chaz Ebert (founder, Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies, College of Media, UIUC, Champaign, IL)
10/18: Mike Everleth (publisher, Underground Film Journal, Los Angeles, CA)
10/20: Lana Wildman (volunteer, Route 66 International Film Festival, Springfield, IL)

LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ Esquire Lounge, Champaign, IL
Champaign Movie Makers* meeting (10/20, 7 p.m.)

@ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* meeting (10/18, 4:30 p.m., Room 1002)

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
Chambana Film Society* presents “The Savoy Arthouse” feat. PERFECT DAYS selected by Sanford Hess (10/19, 3 p.m., documentary)

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
AFTER THE HUNT, BLACK PHONE 2, EXORCISM CHRONICLES: THE BEGINNING* (animation), GOOD FORTUNE, GROW, TRUTH & TREASON, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, ROOFMAN, SOUL ON FIRE (faith film), TRON: ARES (10/17 on), Studio Ghibli Fest: SPIRITED AWAY (animé) (10/18, 4 p.m., 10/19, 4 & 7 p.m., English dub; 10/20-10/21, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), AMC “Scream Unseen” (mystery movie) (10/20, 7 p.m.), THAMMA (in Hindi with English sub) (10/21-10/22, 7:30 p.m.), THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (animation) (10/22, 6 p.m., 3-D), BLUE MOON, CHAINSAW MAN THE MOVIE: REZE ARC (animé), REGRETTING YOU, SHELBY OAKS, SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE (10/23 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
BLACK PHONE 2, GOOD FORTUNE, GROW, SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE*, TRUTH & TREASON, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE, GOOD BOY, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN*, THE LONG WALK, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, ROOFMAN, TRON: ARES (10/17 on), Indian cinema: BISON: KAALAMAADAN* (10/17-10/18, in Tamil with English sub), DUDE (10/17-10/20, in Tamil or Telugu with English sub), K-RAMP* (10/17-10/19, in Telugu with English sub), TELUSU KADI* (10/17-10/20, in Telugu with English sub),and MITHRA MANDALI (10/18-10/19, in Telugu with English sub), The Metropolitan Opera: La Sonnambula (10/18, 12 p.m., simulcast; 10/22, 12 & 5:30 p.m., recorded), Studio Ghibli Fest: SPIRITED AWAY (animé) (10/18, 2 p.m., 10/19, 4 & 7 p.m., 10/22, 7 p.m., English dub; 10/20-10/21, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (2004) (10/19, 3 & 7 p.m.; 10/22, 7 p.m.), OFF SCHOOL PROPERTY (religious documentary) (10/23, 7 p.m.), REGRETTING YOU, SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE (10/23 on) *single screenings daily

@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Center for World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies* presents screening of PICCADILLY starring Anna May Wong (10/23, 7 p.m., free)

@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation) (10/17-10/18, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

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Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

~~~~~

MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

10/12: Christopher Folkens (producer/director, CATALYST, 4Digital Media, Gerrards Cross, UK)
10/13: Alaric Rocha (producer, LOVE, BLOOD & AZTEC DEMONS, Leomark Studios, Los Angeles, CA)

LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* meeting (10/10, 4:30 p.m., Room 1002)

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
Chambana Film Society* presents “The Savoy Arthouse” feat. 25 CATS FROM QATAR (10/12, 3 p.m., documentary) and MY OMAHA presented by the IRL Movie Club (10/12, 5:30 p.m., documentary)

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, ROOFMAN, SOUL ON FIRE (faith film), TRON: ARES, ANEMONE, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, PERFECT BLUE* (animé re-release) (in Japanese with English sub), THE SMASHING MACHINE, THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2* (10/10 on), THE DARK CRYSTAL (8/12, 4 & 7 p.m.; 8/13, 7 p.m.), 100 METERS (animé) (10/12, 4 p.m., 10/14, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub; 10/13, 7 p.m., English dub), BATTLE ROYALE 25th anniversary (in Japanese with English sub) (10/12-10/15, 7:30 p.m.), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (10/13, 7 p.m.), AFTER THE HUNT sneak preview (10/15, 7 p.m.), WISDOM OF HAPPINESS sneak preview w/Richard Gere livestream (14th Dalai Lama documentary) (10/16, 6 p.m.), BLACK PHONE 2, GOOD FORTUNE (10/16 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, ROOFMAN, TRON: ARES, ANEMONE*, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, ELEANOR THE GREAT, GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE, GOOD BOY, HIM, KANTARA: A LEGEND – CHAPTER 1 (in Kannada or Telugu with English sub), THE LONG WALK, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, THE SMASHING MACHINE (10/10 on), CORPSE BRIDE 20th anniversary (animation) (10/11, 3 & 7 p.m.; 10/12, 3, 5 & 7 p.m.; 10/15, 7 p.m., “WWE Crown Jewel – Perth” (entertainment wrestling) (10/11, 2 p.m., simulcast), THE DARK CRYSTAL (8/12, 4 & 7 p.m.; 8/13, 7 p.m.), TRICK ‘R TREAT (10/14, 10/16, 7 & 9:15 p.m.), “‘Critical Role’ Live” (role-playing game competition) (10/15, 6 p.m., simulcast from New York, NY), THE FAMILY MCMULLEN (10/15, 4 & 7 p.m.), BLACK PHONE 2 (10/16 on) *single screenings daily

@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents THE NAKED GUN (10/10-10/11, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

~~~~~

Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

~~~~~

MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

10/4: Jason Christ (actor/executive producer, ANXIETY, Wicked Pixel Cinema, St. Louis, MO)
10/6: Niccole Powers (art director, SWEET DREAMING, Consumer Grade Film Co., Chicago, IL)

PASSINGS | You Will Be Missed

8/31: Karl Bauer, 53 (co-creator, ONE ROACH FOR SEAMUS, Champaign-Urbana, IL)

FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said

So, we’re forced offline for a spell and a wave of news blows up in the meantime. Because of course it would. We’ll try to hit all the highlights (and not-so-highlights) with brevity over the next few Calendars. The days of mega-Reports are likely over after this run and we are putting the Images of the Week department back on the shelf for a rest. Today, we’ll be talking events that are and aren’t upcoming…

First, our man Nat Dykeman and his Chambana Film Society are taking a big step towards prominence in alternative programming here in Champaign County beginning this Sunday, October 5, when they renew their residency at the Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX in Savoy. Shows will now be weekly instead of monthly, many of them presented under a new “Savoy Arthouse” banner and with participation from the former Art Theater owner Sanford Hess, and the event kicking off this run at 3 p.m. is a collection of contemporary animated shorts called the “Animation Mixtape,” presented by the legendary Don Hertzfeldt (REJECTED).

Then, Mt. Zion filmmaker Eric Hector of Heroic Age Studios called up Ye Ed and graciously invited him to attend the world premiere of their feature TRICK AND TREATS at the Lincoln Square Theater last month on Saturday, September 20; he couldn’t go, but they had a very packed house to soak in the creepy and TRICK has been awarded more play dates in Decatur throughout October. Also, a friend of the Paris Theater in Paris wrote CUBlog to let us know about Halloween classics playing their venue weekly ‘til the end of the month; Wes Craven’s seminal hit SCREAM from 1996 will scare ‘em for free tonight and tomorrow night at 9 p.m., to be followed by other originals: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, FRIDAY THE 13TH, and HALLOWEENs from 1978, 1981, and 1982.

Local teen sensation Max Libman, who is currently attending film school at the University of Southern California and has been making appearances at tony A-list events all over the world, has announced that his fourth Champaign Urbana International Film Festival will return for the second time in 2025; the UI Spurlock Museum will again host the SRO short film showcase on Saturday, November 8. And sadly, Chaz Ebert revealed that Roger Ebert’s Film Festival as we’ve known it at the Virginia Theatre for twenty-six star-studded affairs is no more; her and Nate Kohn’s future plans for translating the late Roger Ebert’s love of film into advocacy for the art form are now uncertain, apart from the Ebert Center itinerary held each semester at Spurlock on the University of Illinois campus. “Ebertfest” proper had an enviable run.

IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scenes on the Small Screen

That leads us to today’s Image. Eric Hector told yours truly in advance of sharing it with the audience at his TRICK AND TREATS shindig that Gravitas Ventures had secured the US distribution rights to the horror-fantasy and Apple TV+ would begin streaming it as of next Tuesday, October 7, for those who are curious to check it out and are unable to visit the Lincoln Square Theater on October 11, 12, 24, 29, or 30. We also confirmed last night that Gravitas is offering MOD Blu-ray and DVD editions of the movie as well, available to order on the same date through online merchants like Deep Discount. Hector was one of the very first local creatives who we interviewed for our coverage, regarding a separate project that never came to fruition, so we know that he must be feeling pretty darn good right now. Below is a product shot, and soon a copy will enter the Confidential film library. One day, that will be yours to enjoy as well, C-U.

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LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL
Champaign Movie Makers* event, “Shooting on Film in 2025” (10/6, 7 p.m., Robeson Pavilion Room C)

@ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* guest speaker, local producer Kevin Lau (10/3, 4:30 p.m., Room 1002)

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
Chambana Film Society presents “The Savoy Arthouse” feat. “Animation Mixtape” presented by Don Hertzfeld (10/5, 3 p.m.)

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
ANEMONE, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (re-release), BONE LAKE, CASPER 30th anniversary (re-release), GOOD BOY, PERFECT BLUE (animé re-release) (in Japanese with English sub), THE SMASHING MACHINE, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE, HIM*, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2 (10/3 on), “Taylor Swift | The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” (album promotion) (10/3-10/5), SPIDER-MAN (2002) (10/3, 7 p.m.), SPIDER-MAN 2.1 (2004) (10/4, 4 & 7 p.m.), SPIDER-MAN 3 (2007) (10/5, 4 & 7 p.m.), “BTS 2019 Live: ‘Love Yourself Speak Yourself: London’” (concert film re-release) (10/5, 2 p.m.), “BTS 2021 Live: ‘Muster Sowoozoo” (concert film re-release) (10/5, 5 p.m.), AFTERBURN, DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE (10/6-10/8), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (10/6, 7 p.m.), KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, ROOFMAN, TRON: ARES (10/9 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
ANEMONE, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (re-release), COYOTES*, GOOD BOY, KANTARA: A LEGEND – CHAPTER 1 (in Kannada or Telugu with English sub), THE SMASHING MACHINE, A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY*, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, DUDE PERFECT: THE HERO TOUR* (performance/documentary), ELEANOR THE GREAT, GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE, HAMILTON (filmed stage presentation), HIM, THE LONG WALK, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2 (10/3 on), “Taylor Swift | The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” (album promotion) (10/3-10/5), SPIDER-MAN (2002) (10/3, 1,4, & 7 p.m.), SPIDER-MAN 2.1 (2004) (10/4, 1,4, & 7 p.m.), SPIDER-MAN 3 (2007) (10/5, 1,4, & 7 p.m.), IDLY KADAI (in Tamil with English sub) (10/4-10/5), UFC 320: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira, more (mixed martial arts) (10/4, 9 p.m., simulcast), THE DEVIL’S REJECTS (10/6, 10/8, 7 p.m.), BROKEN MARY: THE KEVIN MATTHEWS STORY (faith documentary) (10/7, 7 p.m.), ROOFMAN, TRON: ARES (10/9 on) *single screenings daily

@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents F1 THE MOVIE (10/3-10/4, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)

@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
Illinois Public Media in partnership with the UI Beckman Institute present OBSERVER (Beckman “STEM Crawl” in downtown Champaign, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., show 3 p.m.)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

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Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

9/27: Robert Hubbard (contributor, 366 Weird Movies, Louisville, KY)
10/1: Jason Croft (editor/publisher, Bachelor Pad Magazine, Champaign, IL)

FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said

Our Calendar special features are going on hiatus as we spend the time to sort out issues behind-the-scenes with our service provider and hosting. We will resume our regular posting of Calendars and other features at CUBlog as soon as possible. Thanks for your understanding. [Note: If you’re reading this at the website, we’ve clearly gotten past the hump. ~ Ed.]

LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* workshop, “Camera Movement” (9/26, 4:30 p.m., Room 1002)

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
DEAD OF WINTER, DUDE PERFECT: THE HERO TOUR (performance/documentary), ELEANOR THE GREAT*, GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2, THEY CALL HIM OG* (in Telugu with English sub), A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY*, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, HIM, THE LONG WALK, THE SENIOR* (9/26 on), SPIDER-MAN (2002) (9/26, 4 & 7 p.m.), SPIDER-MAN 2.1 (2004) (9/27, 4 & 7 p.m.), SPIDER-MAN 3 (2007) (9/28, 4 & 7 p.m.), “BTS 2016 Live: ‘The Most Beautiful Moment in Life on Stage’” (concert film re-release) (9/28, 2 p.m.), “BTS 2017: ‘The Wings Tour the Final’” (concert film re-release) (9/28, 5 p.m.), AMC “Scream Unseen” (mystery movie) (9/29, 7 p.m.), “BTS 2019 Live: ‘Love Yourself Speak Yourself: London’” (concert film re-release) (10/1, 7:30 p.m.), “BTS 2021 Live: ‘Muster Sowoozoo” (concert film re-release) (10/2, 7 p.m.), ANEMONE, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (re-release), THE SMASHING MACHINE (10/2 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
DUDE PERFECT: THE HERO TOUR (performance/documentary), ELEANOR THE GREAT, GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2, THEY CALL HIM OG (in Telugu with English sub), AFTERBURN*, A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, HIM, HAMILTON (filmed stage presentation), THE LONG WALK, THE SENIOR, WEAPONS (9/26 on), SPIDER-MAN (2002) (9/26, 1,4, & 7 p.m.), SPIDER-MAN 2.1 (2004) (9/27, 1,4, & 7 p.m.), SPIDER-MAN 3 (2007) (9/28, 1,4, & 7 p.m.), Bernadette of Lourdes (faith musical) (9/28, 3 p.m., 9/29, 7 p.m.; recorded), YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (9/28, 3 & 7 p.m.; 10/1, 7 p.m.), SATISFIED (Renée Elise Goldsberry documentary) (9/30-10/2, 7 p.m.), *single screenings daily

@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents 28 YEARS LATER (9/26-9/27, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)

@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
Mix 94.5 and Rewind 92.5 present TWILIGHT w/ImpactLife blood drive (9/27, 2 & 7 p.m.)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

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Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

~~~~~

MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

9/21: Lisa Cerezo (co-owner, Neon Moth, Champaign, IL)
9/22: Sue Trippiedi (actress, DOGS IN QUICKSAND, Shut Up and Do It Productions, Champaign, IL)

FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said

Our Calendar special features are going on hiatus as we spend the time to sort out issues behind-the-scenes with our service provider and hosting. We will resume our regular posting of Calendars and other features at CUBlog as soon as possible. Thanks for your understanding. [Note: If you’re reading this at the website, we’ve clearly gotten past the hump. ~ Ed.]

LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ The Lincoln Square Theater, Decatur, IL
Heroic Age Studios presents TRICK AND TREATS* red carpet premiere w/filmmakers (9/20, 5 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. event)

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
Chambana Film Society presents the first CineSonic Film Festival* (9/21-9/22) feat. WHERE ARE YOU, JAY BENNETT?, more

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
AFTERBURN, A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY, HIM, THE HISTORY OF SOUND, THE SENIOR, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, HAMILTON (filmed stage presentation), THE LONG WALK, SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES, TOY STORY 30th anniversary (animation re-release), WEAPONS* (9/19 on), Studio Ghibli Fest: HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (animé) (9/20, 4 p.m., 9/21, 4 & 7 p.m., 9/24, 7 p.m., English sub; 9/22-9/23, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub or English dub), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (9/22, 7 p.m.), “BTS 2016 Live: ‘The Most Beautiful Moment in Life on Stage’” (concert film re-release) (9/24, 7:30 p.m.), “BTS 2017: ‘The Wings Tour the Final’” (concert film re-release) (9/25, 7:30 p.m.), DEAD OF WINTER, ELEANOR THE GREAT, GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2 (9/25 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
AFTERBURN, A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY, HIM, THE SENIOR, SHAKTHI THIRUMAGAN (in Tamil or Telugu with English sub), THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, HAMILTON (filmed stage presentation), THE LONG WALK, MIRAI* (in Telugu with English sub), THE ROSES, SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES, TOY STORY 30th anniversary (animation re-release), WEAPONS (9/19 on), Studio Ghibli Fest: HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (animé) (9/20, 4 p.m., 9/21, 4 & 7 p.m., 9/24, 7 p.m., English sub; 9/22-9/23, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub or English dub), Sight & Sound Theatres and Fathom present Noah (filmed faith stage presentation) (9/22-9/24, 7 p.m.), THEY CALL HIM OG (in Telugu with English sub) (9/24 on), HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE (9/24, 7 p.m.), GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2 (9/25 on) *single screenings daily

@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Center for World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
UI College of Media presents THE ISLAND OF THE SHARK: GUARDIANS OF MALPELO documentary screening with filmmaker Annie Crawley (9/24, 4:30 p.m.)

@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents SUPERMAN (9/19-9/20, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

~~~~~

Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

~~~~~

MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

9/14: Jason Huls (filmmaker, THE FAWN, Ten Wing Media, Chicago, IL)
9/14: Tim Cain (entertainment reporter, Decatur Herald & Review/Lee Enterprises, Decatur, IL)
9/14: Kimberly Conner (filmmaker, LIPSTICK, Predestined Arts & Entertainment, Springfield, IL/Los Angeles, CA)
9/16: Jay Rosenstein (producer, Jay Rosenstein Productions, Champaign-Urbana, IL/New York, NY)

FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said

Our Calendar special features are going on hiatus as we spend the time to sort out issues behind-the-scenes with our service provider and hosting. We will resume our regular posting of Calendars and other features at CUBlog as soon as possible. Thanks for your understanding. [Note: If you’re reading this at the website, we’ve clearly gotten past the hump. ~ Ed.]

LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ Esquire Lounge, Champaign, IL
Champaign Movie Makers* meeting (9/15, 7 p.m.)

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
THE BALTIMORONS*, DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, ELLI AND HER MONSTER TEAM* (animation), THE LONG WALK, MIRAI* (in Telugu with English sub), SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES, TOY STORY 30th anniversary (animation re-release), THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS*, HAMILTON (filmed stage presentation), LIGHT OF THE WORLD (faith animation), WEAPONS (9/12 on), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (9/15, 7 p.m.), A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY, HIM, THE SENIOR (9/18 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, KISHKINDHAPURI* (in Telugu with English sub), LITTLE HEARTS (in Telugu with English sub), THE LONG WALK, MIRAI (in Telugu with English sub), SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES, TOY STORY 30th anniversary (animation re-release), THE BAD GUYS 2* (animation), CAUGHT STEALING*, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, FREAKIER FRIDAY, HAMILTON (filmed stage presentation), JAWS 50th anniversary* (re-release), THE NAKED GUN, THE ROSES, SPLITSVILLE*, SUPERMAN, WEAPONS (9/12 on), INCEPTION (9/13-9/14, 3 & 7 p.m.; 9/17, 7 p.m.), THE JESTER 2 (9/15-9/16, 7 p.m.), Sight & Sound Theatres and Fathom present Noah (filmed faith stage presentation) (9/18, 7 p.m.), A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY, HIM (9/18 on) *single screenings daily

@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Center for World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies presents 2025-26 welcome event and SINNERS screening (9/18, 7 p.m.)

@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH (9/12-9/13, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

~~~~~

Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

~~~~~

MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

9/5: Anthony E. Cabral (first assistant director, ALBANY ROAD, Faith Filmworks, Los Angeles, CA)

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
BAAGHI 4* (in Hindi with English sub), THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, HAMILTON (filmed stage presentation), LIGHT OF THE WORLD (faith animation), LURKER*, SPLITSVILLE, CAUGHT STEALING, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, FREAKIER FRIDAY, JAWS 50th anniversary (re-release), LILO & STITCH*, THE ROSES, THE TOXIC AVENGER*, WEAPONS (9/5 on), DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE sneak preview (9/10, 7 p.m.), DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, THE LONG WALK, SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES (9/11 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
BAAGHI 4* (in Hindi with English sub), THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, GHAATI (in Telugu with English sub), HAMILTON (filmed stage presentation), SPLITSVILLE, THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation), CAUGHT STEALING, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, FREAKIER FRIDAY, JAWS 50th anniversary (re-release), LILO & STITCH, THE NAKED GUN, NOBODY 2, THE ROSES, SUPERMAN, WEAPONS (9/5 on), MADHARASI* (in Tamil with English sub) (9/5-9/6), GUNS & MOSES (9/7-9/11, 7 p.m.), THE BREAKFAST CLUB 40th anniversary (9/7, 3 & 7 p.m.; 9/10, 7 p.m.), DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE sneak preview (9/10, 7 p.m.), DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, THE LONG WALK, MIRAI (in Telugu with English sub) (9/11 on) *single screenings daily

@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents KARATE KID LEGENDS (9/5-9/6, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)

@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
The News-Gazette Film Series presents THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925) with Wurlitzer accompaniment by Dr. Steven Ball (9/6, 1 & 7 p.m.)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

~~~~~

Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

~~~~~

MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

8/30: John Oak Dalton (director, SMART HOUSE, ITN Distribution, Beverly Hills, CA)
9/1: Morgan Wiley (designer/cartoonist, Morgan Wiley Art, Champaign-Urbana, IL)
9/2: Matt Harsh (videographer/multimedia artist, HarshPro, Champaign-Urbana, IL)

FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said

The days are getting shorter, the Calendars are getting longer, and we want to get outside more while it’s pleasant since we need to neaten up around MFHQ Deux. So, this week, we’re going to stress quick hits and direct you to a set of stories published elsewhere that have caught our eye. A few of them are from a while ago and got a bit lost in the latest crunch of Report-ing, but you can still read and glean from them. Keeping up with the C-Uvians often means neatening up our virtual workspace from time to time.

So, dearest readers and gleaners, have you heard the ones about:

Eastern Illinois University announcing their television service is going to drop its association with PBS due to a major loss in federal funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting? This is the sort of shortfall that will hamper the American people’s ability to access art, performance, history, and news that is unencumbered by the compromises of commercial networks and politically-leaning avenues, yet it will also force institutions like EIU to find other materials to air as well as methods to afford the education and training they can offer undergraduates in broadcasting and journalism, such as at the WEIU-TV studio.

Veteran film critic and “Ebertfest” associate Michael Phillips revealing he was agreeing to a buyout of his contract at the Chicago Tribune, effectively terminating his role at the newspaper, and declining to be reassigned to another department in the newsroom? Following a similar agreement between the Chicago Sun-Times and the former Roger Ebert television co-host Richard Roeper that took place earlier this year, it leaves the dailies of a major American city without chief movie reviewers for the first time in several decades. Across our nation, the devaluing across media forms of critical voices in the arts is striking.

The News-Gazette reporting in late June that a pair of Danville High School students, David Moore and Simone Modest, were writing and singing a song for a music video being made with other area youth during a “Say It With Music” summer camp, facilitated by Project Success of Vermilion County and taught by instructors and professional filmmakers and music engineers through Her Records, Inc., of Atlanta? The theme of the song and video, stopping violence in the community, had personal meaning for Modest whose cousin, Aniyah Davis, was killed by gunfire in Danville right before they began the camp, which is designed to foster creativity and confidence as well as incorporate concepts in STEM and the arts.

Area businessman George Papametro purchasing and beginning the fix-up process of the former Home Theatre in downtown Rantoul, as written about by the News-Gazette in April, with no intent to restore the space as a cinema due to its deterioration and the fickle state of exhibition? A property owner with several locations as well as owner of AG Electric of Thomasboro, Papametro believed that other kinds of groups or businesses could make due with renting space in the Home once his upgrade work is done and didn’t rule out the possibility of live theater being staged in the location. No online update can be found.

WJBC radio confirming the Normal Police Department was incorporated in a throwaway gag on a recent episode of the Netflix series WEDNESDAY, in which a mock-up photo of an arrested “Thing” is shown? The Town of Normal had known about the cameo and kept it under wraps until the episode aired. A spokesperson surmises the inclusion most likely had to do with using “Normal” as easy wordplay against the altogether ooky world of the Addams Family. We at CUBlog absolutely approve of this move.

News-Gazette columnist Bob Asmussen musing on the potential for showing college sports movies on the UI Memorial Stadium scoreboard, which will get its first real-time workout of the season tonight at 6:30 p.m. when Illinois plays Western Illinois to kick off the football season? Apparently, REMEMBER THE TITANS was enjoyed a couple of weeks ago on the screen and family-friendly outings have been hosted there in recent times with Disney and Marvel favorites. Sure, it’s a plausible idea, weather permitting, and could become the athletic equivalent of the weekly Illini Union movies shown every semester. Rah rah!

LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ Champaign County Historical Museum, Champaign, IL
“Downtown Champaign Historic Theater Tour” (8/30, 1 p.m.) Tickets

@ Golden Corral, Springfield, IL
Central Illinois Film Commission* meeting (9/4, 7 p.m.)

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
CAUGHT STEALING, JAWS 50th anniversary (re-release), LOKAH CHAPTER ONE: CHANDRA* (in Malayam with English sub), PARAM SUNDARI* (in Hindi with English sub), THE ROSES, RUN*, SUNDARAKANDA* (in Telugu with English sub), THE TOXIC AVENGER, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, FREAKIER FRIDAY, HONEY DON’T, LILO & STITCH, NOBODY 2, RELAY*, SUPERMAN, WEAPONS (8/29 on), SHIN GODZILLA ORTHOCHROMATIC (8/31, 6:15 p.m.) (in Japanese with English sub), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (9/1, 7 p.m.), THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, HAMILTON (filmed stage presentation), LIGHT OF THE WORLD (faith animation) (9/4 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
CAUGHT STEALING, JAWS 50th anniversary (re-release), PARAM SUNDARI* (in Hindi with English sub), THE ROSES, RUN*, THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation), THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, FREAKIER FRIDAY, HONEY DON’T, LILO & STITCH, THE NAKED GUN, NE ZHA II* (animation; English dub), NOBODY 2, RELAY, SUPERMAN, WEAPONS (8/29 on), SUNDARAKANDA* (in Telugu with English sub) (8/29, 6:35 p.m.), THE BLIND (8/31, 4 & 7 p.m.; 9/1-9/4, 7 p.m.), MADHARASI (in Tamil or Telugu) (9/4 on) *single screenings daily

@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents MATERIALISTS (8/29-8/30, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

~~~~~

Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

~~~~~

MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

8/23: Shannon Beranek (copy editor, Bachelor Pad Magazine, Champaign, IL)
8/23: Luke Boyce (series co-creator and co-executive producer, REVIVAL, Blue Ice Pictures, Toronto, Canada/Syfy, New York, NY)

FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said

It’s an indie film week through and through at MFHQ Deux and we’re manifesting it on the quick and cheap. Might want to fasten those proverbial buckles … if our sub-Cormanesque budget allows!

The Normal Theater in Normal has a few things to offer in this arena. First is a downstate Illinois premiere that is set for next Tuesday, August 26, of a lo-fi feature called SPLIT PERSONALITIES ALTERNATE DIMENSIONS, created by the Chicago filmmaker Johnny Lange who hails from the B-N. Taking a premise of asking its protagonists to “tell us about your dreams” and going gonzo with it across four “terrifying twisted tales,” SPAD (a cheeky acronym possibly preferred by Lange as it is used in previous coverage, like this curious interview with Hollywood Chicago’s Patrick McDonald) apparently took five years to make, beginning as a shorter project mounted with the Windy City’s Group 312 Films. Other than lucking upon a VHS-as-retrofit-art-object release of this opus, taped over recordings on older cassettes and dropped in myriad locations that are revealed on Lange’s Instagram account, the primary way that one can submit one’s senses to SPAD is publicly like at the Normal, where the event will begin at 8 p.m. and be free entry for all. Several teasers exist on YouTube and we think this one might be closest to expressing what can be found in SPAD, starting with performers Christina Wollerman, Elyse Dawson, and Terry Holt giving it all they’ve got for art’s sake. It’s not normal fare at the Normal and we’re down with it.

Speaking of not normal Normal, tra la, the programmers at the Art Deco single-screen house located in the “Uptown” district adjacent to Illinois State University will turn right around and welcome another indie filmmaker, Addison Binek, to 209 North Street on Saturday, September 6, for a 7 p.m. screening of his lively trash-horror-comedy duo, PSYCHO APE! and PSYCHO APE!! PART II: THE WRATH OF KONG. Produced largely in Binek’s home town of Detroit with asides recorded in New York City and Los Angeles, the movies star Psycho Ape (himself?) who escapes the zoo and goes on a murderous rampage in PART I while being brought to justice in PART II; acting alongside the big link are Kansas Bowling as “Nancy Banana” and Bill Weeden as “Dr. Zoomis.” Not unlike with SPAD, PA! and PA!! II may test the fortitude of some in the audience but, if you’re willing to be adventurous and forgive the rough spots in favor of enjoying the offbeat nature of what’s up on the silver screen, then this colorful counter-programming will hopefully hit a heretofore unknown sweet spot. According to a slightly older interview with The Metropolitan online magazine, Binek reveals the first PA! cost $7,000 and was shot using VHS gear; today, glorious banana-yellow VHS editions of both can be bought from Lunchmeat VHS. Yum!

Much higher-budgeted compared to SPLIT PERSONALITIES and the PSYCHO APEs, yet still modest in comparison to the top-line Hollywood productions of its era, is the grande dame of audience participation cinema, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, which turns 50 years old. That will put an extra spin on the Normal’s traditional presentation of the 1975 cult classic during their annual Halloween movie marathon, and they are looking for performers to join the Shadow Cast up on stage in October! Mark the casting call dates on your own calendars right now – Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7, with both sessions lasting from 12 to 3 p.m. Visit this Normal event page for more information!

Finally, right after we made rare reference to the Lincoln Square Theatre of Decatur in last week’s Calendar, they hit everyone with a surprise announcement that Heroic Age Studios’ long-in-the-making fantasy-horror flick, TRICK AND TREATS, will finally see the light of day and a cinema projector during a local premiere to he held on Saturday, September 20. We’re not sure how many seats are now in the auditorium of the venue after all the hard restoration work done over the past several years, but it might be smart to plan ahead and purchase those tickets in advance right here; the evening is certainly priced at a premium and is scheduled to incorporate a red carpet walk and mingle starting at 5 p.m., an introduction and premiere of the feature at 7 p.m., and a question-and-answer opportunity at approximately 8:45 p.m. Conceived by the Heroic Age team of Eric Hector (director/writer/co-producer) and Tim Lynn (editor/cinematographer) as the first feature to be made through a fan-funding initiative, Frightful 5000 Films, it was mostly produced on location in Decatur and Macon County as well as on sets at their Heroic Age Art Center complex in neighboring Mt. Zion before the pandemic struck. The premise fleshes out the eighteenth century “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater” ditty and finds a demonic jack-o-lantern, voiced by Malcolm McDowell, wreaking havoc in the present at a biker bar called the Lucky Lady Tavern. You can look up the cast and crew at IMDb, a fair amount of behind-the-scenes material on Facebook, and a revised trailer also on Facebook.

With that, we have the most MICRO-FILM-y thing that we’ve committed to words in a while. Maybe it’s one part dormant reflex, for PSYCHO APE! and SPLIT PERSONALITIES ALTERNATE DIMENSIONS remind us of the kind of out-of-left-field pet projects that we’d receive in our long-gone post office box with little to no warning, mostly in what was the dominant screener format of VHS, as something to be covered or reviewed. Maybe it’s one part flashback, for it’s been 25 years since we visited Heroic Age and discussed with Hector what was going to be the studio’s first stab at an indie feature, JOHNNY VIOLENCE. Maybe it’s beginning to feel a little like Halloween and it hits the spot. Maybe it’s just … MFing wishful thinking. Erg.

IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scenes on the Small Screen

Looks as if today’s Images department will be a two-month follow-up to our previous home video cover gallery, which itself is a two-month follow-up to a cover gallery before that, and it all goes to show you the movies of Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond never sit still if the makers behind them have the drive and connections! Without further ado, here is our preview of a few new home videos that can be added to your collections right now. Conversation starters du C-U, they are!

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Last time, our first item was NIGHT OF THE DEAD SORORITY BABES from Acrostar Productions and BayView Entertainment, so we’ll follow suit and kick off our parade with the new one from them, a combo release of ATTACK OF THE CORN ZOMBIES and RETURN OF THE CORN ZOMBIES, which will be available to purchase in the BD-R format as of next Tuesday, August 26! We don’t have it in hand yet so we’re uncertain if the set comes with anything other than the corn flicks themselves, homegrown right here in east central Illinois by the Chicago micro-studio; ATTACK is an outbreak yarn and RETURN a tale of roving survivors in the aftermath. Both ZOMBIES have also been popping up on streaming services like Vudu, Hoopla, Plex, and Fawesome. While there is no word yet about a third entry, the team is busy planning an original fright fest, THE LEGEND OF TINKER HELL starring Acrostar MVP Beth Metcalf and to be the directing debut of actress Lynn Lowry, and gearing up for more PERFECT SOUL filming next month. Oh, did we mention the brand-new CD of Edward Grant’s score for SORORITY from Klaatu Records?

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Also, beginning to ship from OCN Distribution as we speak is Shudder’s late-in-coming Blu-ray release of REVEALER, the neon-soaked end times horror-fantasy filmed throughout Champaign-Urbana on the downlow and during the pandemic by director Luke Boyce (REVIVAL) and the Shatterglass Films/Line Film Co./Paper Street Pictures tandem. Available exclusively on the Vinegar Syndrome website for the moment in both a standard edition, dressed with the familiar Shudder artwork from the 2022 streaming and DVD releases, and a sleeved edition, sporting funky and squirmy artwork by Trevor Henderson, the REVEALER disc finally gives us an HD copy of the battle of wills between a bible-thumper (Shaina Schrooten) and pole dancer (Caito Aase) who must team up to survive a satanic event in Reagan-era Chicago. Extras are legion on this edition, with most of them carried over from the DVD, and they include commentaries, interviews, a documentary, a visual essay, and more.

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As we touched on recently, Peter McDowell’s documentary on the shortened and unusual lifetime of his older brother Jimmy as well as its ripple effect on his family, JIMMY IN SAIGON, has been issued on DVD by Dark Star Pictures as of Tuesday, July 22, and features the “distribution cut” of the film that is to be shown tonight, Friday, August 22, and on Sunday, August 24, at the Chicago Filmmakers headquarters in Chicago. The video includes a handful of insightful bonus materials, such as a director’s commentary by McDowell, deleted and extended scenes from the film, a featurette on the animated passages in the film, and a bonus short subject. JIMMY is partly set in Champaign-Urbana due to the filmmaker’s local ties.

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And finally, we were going to report that a wide-release edition of Chicago filmmaker John Borowski’s comprehensive series, THE JOHN WAYNE GACY MURDERS: LIFE AND DEATH IN CHICAGO, would be issued on Blu-ray and DVD by MVD Visual on Tuesday, September 16, but we just checked and the product page that we first looked at a while ago is gone. (We’ll offer an update after we learn more.) Running eight episodes and about four hours total, GACY MURDERS turns over every rock it can to dissect the crimes, police investigation, and aftermath of the accused murderer and sex offender who masqueraded as a children’s entertainer. Thoughtful histories about individuals like Gacy are valuable and the career of Borowski is a singular experience in unearthing their stories, including his prior works on Albert Fish, H. H. Holmes, and Carl Panzram. You might still be able to purchase his own limited-run BD-Rs of GACY MURDERS or you can seek out the streaming versions at Amazon Prime and YouTube. The Dark History & Horror Con set for November 8-9 at the Orpheum Champaign will be steeped in this milieu.

LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse Cinema, Chicago, IL
JIMMY IN SAIGON* screening w/filmmaker Peter McDowell (8/22, 7 p.m.; 8/24, 6 p.m.)

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
HONEY DON’T, NE ZHA II (animation; English dub), RELAY, THE SHADOW’S EDGE* (in Mandarin with English dub), THE BAD GUYS 2* (animation), THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, FREAKIER FRIDAY, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON*, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH*, THE NAKED GUN*, NOBODY 2, SHIN GODZILLA* (in Japanese with English sub), SUPERMAN, WEAPONS (8/22 on), THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN 20th anniversary (8/22, 3 p.m.; 8/25-8/26, 4 p.m.), TRAINWRECK 10th anniversary (8/22-8/23, 6:15 p.m.), Studio Ghibli Fest: PONYO (animé) (8/23, 4 p.m., 8/24, 4 & 7 p.m., 8/27, 7 p.m., English dub; 8/25-8/26, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), CAUGHT STEALING, JAWS 50th anniversary (re-release), THE ROSES, THE TOXIC AVENGER (8/28 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
HONEY DON’T, NE ZHA II (animation; English dub), PARADHA (in Telugu with English sub), PRIMITIVE WAR, RELAY, THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation), COOLIE* (in Tamil with English sub), DEAD TO RIGHTS* (in Mandarin with English and Chinese sub), F1 THE MOVIE, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, FREAKIER FRIDAY, THE NAKED GUN, NOBODY 2, SKETCH*, SUPERMAN, WAR 2* (in Hindi with English sub), WEAPONS (8/22 on), AMERICANA* (8/22-8/24), KPOP DEMON HUNTERS “sing-a-long” edition (animation) (8/23-8/24), Studio Ghibli Fest: PONYO (animé) (8/23, 2 p.m., 8/24, 4 & 7 p.m., 8/27, 7 p.m., English dub; 8/25-8/26, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (8/23, 2 & 7 p.m.; 8/24, 3 & 7 p.m.), EAST OF WALL* (8/25-8/27), JAWS 50th anniversary (re-release) *single screenings daily

@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents “Welcome Back Film on the Quad” feat. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (8/24, 9 p.m., free)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

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Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

8/15: Chuck Koplinski (movie journalist, The Illinois Times, Springfield, IL)
8/18: Jeff Brandt (owner, Exile on Main Street, Champaign, IL)
8/19: Ken Lee (vice president, Michael Wiese Productions, Studio City, CA)

FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said

What else can we talk about in this week’s Report, fearless readers? Plenty, as it turns out, and we’ll take “Miscellaneous of Interest” for $1,000, Alex … The University of Illinois announced last month the release of a new volume from the University of Illinois Press called The Future of Memory: A History of Lossless Format Standards in the Moving Image Archive by Jimi Jones and Marek Jancovic, in which the authors describe the recent development of several electronic methods for archiving holdings in a high-quality digital form and the struggles in not only settling on a universal standard for library work, but also arriving at viable solutions that are often at odds with accepted practices in the entertainment and broadcast industries. Jones, who recently began working for the University of Illinois Foundation and will teach his final iSchool course this upcoming semester, has a long relationship with UI higher education as a student, instructor, and researcher specializing in asset management and preservation.

Out in the C-U community, the bridge between a growing professional filmmaking scene and other arts disciplines has been strengthening on several fronts from Pens to Lens to Flyover Film Studios and on; a current example is illustrated by this Indiegogo campaign to raise funds and augment the budget for “Golden Meadow,” an upcoming music video that will use scenes set in our region’s rural landscape (including underwater footage!) to augment the song by local artist Jill Greenlee that “encapsulates life’s trials and beauty.” Her vision will be in good hands with the production team of director Sarah Cayce, producer Sarah Sharp, and cinematographer Robert Patrick Stearn, all of them critical players in the Flyover startup and usually present on the sets of nearly all the recent major narrative filming to be done in and adjacent to Champaign County; the drive ends after Labor Day and the video will be created this fall after many months of planning. Greenlee often appears at local gigs and is also a portrait and still life painter.

And on a frustrating note, we’ve seen the regional articles about AMC locations being shut down with practically no notice to their own employees or the communities where they operate and it feels like Danville in 2022 all over again. The Journal Gazette & Times-Courier wrote the AMC Classic Mattoon 10 theater would close its doors after the last shows on Thursday, August 7, and one week later on Thursday, August 14, the same would come to pass at the AMC Classic Pekin 14 per the Peoria Journal-Star, which also noted a third location in Marion had also gone out of business. So much for the first-run industry rebound that apparently had been gathering steam since the waning of the pandemic. Maybe the corporate talking heads and industry analysts spinning every last box-office victory are full of it as the sum total weekly numbers are actually pretty stagnant. Superheroes aren’t quite working like they had been. Sequels to modest hits really aren’t working at all. Original smashes like SINNERS and sleeper hits like WEAPONS are very spread out right now. Disney is, well, Disney. Where does exhibition go from here, really? Novelty popcorn buckets can only carry you so far…

IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scenes on the Small Screen

Mr. JaPan actually made progress with picking up the mess in aisle MFHQ and that makes Godzilla jolly…

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Today’s share is pretty self-explanatory and a good instance of an oddball find that is completely related to our delayed show-and-tell of C-U movie ephemera, but also completely outside of that sequence since it’s not something Ye Ed is planning to pick up. Conveniently, this also serves as the first of a few brief notes on the doings at the revived and rockin’ Lincoln Square Theatre in downtown Decatur; organizers have gone all-in on a winning formula for the 109-year-old venue – touring music acts, seemingly half originals and half tributes, but who’s counting? – while rarely dipping a toe in what had been the primary attraction in the mid-20th century, the movies. We’ll discuss that a bit in future Calendars, but for today we’d like to share the following that our rummaging editor found in the dense jungle of eBay way back in April and, lo and behold, is still available today from the reseller “kruhe”:

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Dated February 1960 and described as an Ektachrome slide, despite the fact much of the hue has faded to pink, the image above is one of a few for sale from the merchant that depicts firemen working on this block of Main Street, as certain angles also show a firetruck ladder stretched to the rooftop. Given that it was wintertime when this happened, either Decatur was in a deep freeze and the buildings covered in ice or the fire department had doused the block to put out the fire with so much water or foam that it resulted in a cascading ice effect. Whatever actually happened, the effect is visually striking and, according to local historian and paranormal expert Troy Taylor, the damage suffered by the structures also altered the makeup of the Lincoln Square. It’s unfortunate the name of the photographer is not on the slides, at least what is pictured in the eBay listings, but it leads us to believe they were taken by a bystander and not a member of the press. Maybe the current LST trust can pool together and add this history to their archives.

CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History

10 Years Ago … Sunday, August 16, 2015: That’s Rentertainment in Champaign closes for good at the end of the business day after serving the University of Illinois campus and Champaign-Urbana community for just a little more than thirty years. Remaining stock would be relocated to the Parasol Label Group building on Griggs Street in downtown Urbana and, for a time, made available to walk-in customers in the “Rec Room” wing along with collectibles from Geoff Merritt’s other retired Campustown storefront, Toon Town. As of 2025, Rentertaiment’s DNA is sparse at Parasol, although some items can be found on the floor and others, mostly of the print variety, can be purchased from their eBay account. A little bit of video is also available among a lot of great audio recordings at the Parasol seller account on Discogs.

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LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ Esquire Lounge, Champaign, IL
Champaign Movie Makers* meeting + Pens to Lens recap (8/18, 7 p.m.)

@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
“FischerFest: The Cinematic Legacy of Gene Hackman” featuring: BONNIE & CLYDE (8/16, 11 a.m.), THE FRENCH CONNECTION (8/16, 3 p.m.), UNFORGIVEN (8/16, 7 p.m.), CRIMSON TIDE (8/17, 11 a.m.), “Dessert & Discussion” hosted by Chuck Koplinski and Pamela Powell (8/17, 2 p.m.), and THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (8/17, 4 p.m.) Further details

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
AMERICANA*, COOLIE* (in Tamil with English sub), DEAD TO RIGHTS* (in Mandarin with English and Chinese sub), EAST OF WALL*, JIMMY AND STIGGS*, THE KNIFE*, NOBODY 2, SHIN GODZILLA (in Japanese with English sub), WAR 2* (in Hindi with English sub), WITCHBOARD*, THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation), THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, FREAKIER FRIDAY, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, THE NAKED GUN, SKETCH*, SUPERMAN, WEAPONS (8/15 on), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (8/18, 7 p.m.), NE ZHA II sneak preview (animation) (8/18, 7 p.m.), HONEY DON’T, NE ZHA II (animation; English dub), RELAY (8/21 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
AMERICANA, COOLIE (in Tamil with English sub), DEAD TO RIGHTS (in Mandarin with English and Chinese sub), EAST OF WALL, NOBODY 2, WAR 2 (in Hindi with English sub), THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation), F1 THE MOVIE, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, FREAKIER FRIDAY, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, THE NAKED GUN, SKETCH, SUPERMAN, WEAPONS (8/15 on), TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 35th anniversary (8/16-8/19, 1 & 7 p.m.; 8/20, 7 p.m.), THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (8/16, 2 & 7 p.m.; 8/17, 3 & 7 p.m.; 8/20, 7 p.m.), UFC 319: Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, more (mixed martial arts) (8/16, 9 p.m., simulcast), NE ZHA II sneak preview (animation) (8/18, 7 p.m., IMAX), “Texas Chain Saw Day” feat. THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974), documentary preview (8/18, 7 p.m.), “RiffTrax Live!” presents TIMECOP (8/19, 7 p.m., simulcast), PRIMITIVE WAR (8/21 on)

@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents “Welcome Back Film on the Quad” feat. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (8/24, 9 p.m., free)

@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
40 North, Champaign Movie Makers, Champaign-Urbana Design Organization, and Champaign Park District present the 2025 Pens to Lens Gala and Award Ceremony* (8/16, 2 p.m. doors and red carpet, 3 p.m. presentation) Information

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

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Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

8/12: Ann Myrna (producer, RETURN OF THE CORN ZOMBIES, Acrostar Productions, Chicago, IL)

FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said

The hits keep trickling in to the Secret MICRO-FILM Headquarters, so we’re strategically placing the buckets to capture everything that’s fit to print! This week, we’ll take “Coming soon from the C-U” for $500, Mayim … Keenan Dailey of Visage Entertainment has announced a series of showcases for his completed debut feature, BRIM, which was filmed in Champaign County and debuted here as part of the inaugural Savoy Lumierè in May; the next dates to see the stylistic drama about Black inequality and resilience in 20th century America will be Sunday, August 17, during the Black August Film Festival in Pasadena, CA, and again on Sunday, August 31, during the Urban Film Festival in Miami, FL, and Friday, September 15, at the Lake County Film Festival in Grayslake, IL. More information can be found on the Visage website and an in-depth conversation between BRIM co-creators Trude Namara and Dailey with the hosts of The Filmographers Podcast, Keir Graff and Michael Moreci, can be listened to on YouTube.

Also revealing initial bookings for their newest work is filmmaker Kimberly Conner, who has finished the twisty procedural thriller LIPSTICK and is doing-it-herself in introducing it to audiences; regional dates include its debut on Wednesday, October 1, 7 p.m., at the Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre XQ in Oak Park and a showing on Saturday, October 25, 7 p.m., at Brookens Auditorium on the University of Illinois campus in Springfield, along with events in Los Angeles (October 10), Dallas (October 18), and Brooklyn, New York (October 31). Recently on Facebook, Conner shared that July 31 marked the twentieth anniversary of her production company, Predestined Arts & Entertainment of Springfield, a remarkable feat for the fiercely driven creator who has consistently driven home the worth of women in the industry with her self-promotion and featured Black talent front and center as well as behind the camera in all her work. LIPSTICK, which stars Camille Winbush, was shot in southern California by the Champaign native.

In another screening announcement, this one from fellow Champaign native and LA-friendly producer Peter McDowell, the acclaimed documentary about the mysteries coloring the life and death of his 24-year-old brother, JIMMY IN SAIGON, will receive its first official Chicago screenings at the Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse Cinema on Friday, August 22, 7 p.m., and Sunday, August 24, 6 p.m., with McDowell in attendance to discuss the project and its backstory, involving themes such as generational conflict and LGBTQ+ acceptance. Dark Star Pictures has released JIMMY on multiple streaming platforms and home media in 2025 after it enjoyed a lengthy and awards-heavy festival run.

Finally, Champaign-Urbana transplant Vijay M Rajan, the writer/director behind the unorthodox serial killer chamber drama DARK SOUL RIVER, has unveiled a teaser trailer for the film today, Friday, August 8; the co-production between Kartography Films and Siren Cinema is one of the first independent narrative features to take advantage of Champaign County and the facilities at Flyover Film Studios in Rantoul for almost all its primary filming needs. Rajan hopes to have RIVER “in front of audiences by 2026,” as pledged on his Facebook account, and seems absolutely pleased with how the project has been progressing; in it, Saarathi (Kharti Bargav), a practicing Muslim from India and the brother of a woman victimized by a prolific murderer named Nathaniel Ambrose (Jonathan Thompson), agrees to sit down with the accused at an American prison in the hopes of securing a confession and the hidden location of the bodies before the latter’s execution the following day. Michelle Girolami and Leigha Sinnott also star.

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
FREAKIER FRIDAY, SKETCH, WEAPONS, THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation), F1 THE MOVIE*, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER*, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, THE NAKED GUN, SMURFS* (animation), SUPERMAN, TOGETHER (8/8 on), Studio Ghibli Fest: GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (animé) (8/10, 4 & 7 p.m., 8/11-8/12, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (8/11, 7 p.m.), SHIN GODZILLA (in Japanese with English sub) (8/13 on), WAR 2 (in Hindi with English sub) (8/13 on), NOBODY 2 (8/14 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
FREAKIER FRIDAY, MAHAVATAR NARSIMHA* (animation) (in Hindi with English sub), SKETCH, STRANGE HARVEST, WEAPONS, THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation), F1 THE MOVIE, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, SUPERMAN THE NAKED GUN, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, SUPERMAN, TOGETHER (8/8 on), THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS (8/9, 2 & 7 p.m.; 8/10, 3 & 7 p.m.; 8/13, 7 p.m.), Studio Ghibli Fest: GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (animé) (8/10, 4 & 7 p.m., 8/11-8/12, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), The Metropolitan Opera Encore: Rigoletto (8/3, 1 & 6:30 p.m., recorded), “RiffTrax Live!” presents TIMECOP (8/14, 7 p.m., simulcast), NOBODY 2 (8/14 on) *single screenings daily

@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents “Summer Films on the Quad” feat. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (8/14, 9 p.m., free)

@ Prairie Farm/Centennial Park, Champaign, IL
Champaign Park District presents “Moo-vie Nights at Prairie Farm” feat. CHARLOTTE’S WEB (2006)
(8/8, 8 p.m., free)

@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
The News-Gazette Film Series and Central Illinois Young Farmers Coalition present THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM special event (8/9, 2 p.m. screening, 3-5 p.m. Park Avenue farmer’s market)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

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Read the rest of this entry »

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

8/1: Cara Maurizi (actress, SWEET DREAMING, Consumer Grade Film Co., Chicago, IL + actress, ESSENCE, Refractive Error Media, Champaign, IL)
8/1: Jed Brian (writer, 4TH OF JULY, ACM Official Studios, Los Angeles, CA)
8/2: Jeff Kacmarynski (writer/director, ESSENCE, Refractive Error Media, Champaign, IL)
8/3: Laura Richter (producer, FINAL DAYS: TALES FROM THE END TIMES, Horror-Fix Feature Films, Springfield, IL)

FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said

Hells bells, we did not forecast all that movie news trickling in to MFHQ Deux with little to no warning! Guess we’re needing to dam up the flow for the short term and partition out the scoops in order to cover our ground! We’ll take “Production and Producers” for $300 and the win, Ken … According to the Jacksonville Journal-Courier this week, Subterranean Sound and Vision has raised enough funding through a Kickstarter campaign to soon begin production on a self-described “zombie Western” called HOLLER. The directing team of Devin Smock and Samuel David plan to shoot the feature in the Peoria and Jacksonville areas and take advantage of “big sky” qualities in the Illinois prairie as they depict the survival struggles of Ray Holley (Rick Jensen) and Sydney (Mia Katz), who are navigating a post-apocalyptic world; Joe Rosing, Luis Angel Ventura, Pamela Devon Lovell, and Mercedes DeSilva will also appear in the adventure with camerawork by Kal Kociss and sound work by Lee Hurt.

Also this week, the news bureau of Illinois State University ran a joint interview with business partners David Midell and Enrico Natale, who attended the Wonsook Kim School of Fine Arts in the early 2000s; they eventually founded Redbird Entertainment of Los Angeles, through which they have made a handful of feature films so far including the Al Pacino-Dan Stevens thriller THE RITUAL, which played in theaters nationwide a few weeks ago through XYZ Films, and University of Illinois alumnus Christpher Folkens’ latest, CATALYST, released earlier this year on multiple digital platforms by 4Digital Media.

And, looking mere minutes into the immediate future, writer/director Paul A. Brooks and Into the Night Motion Pictures of Normal have teased that filming on BRING BACK MY BABY, a love story of loss and spectral encounters, would begin tomorrow, Saturday, August 2, in the Los Angeles area. Their second feature, following HUNTING FOR THE HAG from last year, will star Fawn Winters, Emma Broz, Joey Greer, Lesley Powers, and low-budget veteran Joe Estevez; breaking news on both projects and even more will be forthcoming from Into the Night on Instagram and Facebook as well as here at CUBlog. Oh, baby!

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation), THE NAKED GUN, SHE RIDES SHOTGUN, THALAVIAN THALAIVII (in Tamil with English sub), TOGETHER, F1 THE MOVIE*, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, OH HI!, SMURFS (animation), SUPERMAN (8/1 on), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (8/4, 7 p.m.), SKETCH (8/4 on), FREAKIER FRIDAY, WEAPONS (8/7 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
THE BAD GUYS 2 (animation), THE NAKED GUN, TOGETHER, EDDINGTON, ELIO (animation), F1 THE MOVIE, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, THE HOME, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, LILO & STITCH, SMURFS (animation), SUPERMAN (8/1 on), THE BLUES BROTHERS (8/3, 3 & 7 p.m.; 8/6, 7 p.m.), “‘Critical Role’ Live” (role-playing game competition) (8/5, 7 p.m., simulcast from Indianapolis, Indiana), WHAT IF… 15th anniversary (faith film) (8/5, 8/7, 7 p.m.), SKETCH (8/5 on), The Metropolitan Opera Encore: Lucia di Lammermoor (8/6, 1 & 6:30 p.m., recorded), FREAKIER FRIDAY, WEAPONS (8/7 on)

@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents “Summer Films on the Quad” feat. LILO & STITCH (8/7, 9 p.m., free)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

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