C-U Blogfidential

Article and video in Bloomington (IL) daily The Pantagraph about the grand opening of the Stadium 14 cinemas in Normal on Friday, February 27, 2009. Also, your editor is suddenly rarin’ to bitch again like in the good ol’ days.

Asian Cult Cinema magazine reports that staff writer Graham R. Lewis, a faculty member of Eastern Illinois University, has died.

Members of a bridge club in conservative, small-town Farmland, IN, (seemingly) bare all in a fundraising effort to save a historic building in THE COURTHOUSE GIRLS OF FARMLAND, which plays the Normal Theater in Normal, IL, on February 3-4, 2009.

Urbana native Roger Ebert sings the praises of Urbana native Nina Paley’s film SITA SINGS THE BLUES, which might just play in a certain Champaign film festival in April.

Articles in Bloomington (IL) daily The Pantagraph about the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominating Illinois Wesleyan University alumnus Richard Jenkins for an Academy Award as Best Actor in THE VISITOR and recent Illinois State University graduate Ben Marten earning a role on the A&E television series, THE BEAST.

IndieWIRE.com reports that Samuel Goldwyn Films has purchased the U.S. distribution rights to BROTHERS AT WAR, a feature length documentary by University of Notre Dame graduate and Decatur native Jake Rademacher.

One man. One woman. Family. Friends. Customers. Sporks. Who says that Taco Bell nuptials don’t offer the whole enchilada?

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the board of directors of the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum seeking input from area firms about developing a stand-alone museum and revitalizing or selling its current home, the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Champaign.

If a picture paints a thousand words, then what does the sight of Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon) hiding in the shitter with important-looking documents tell us, exactly?

Numerous sources report that science fiction memorabilia collector Forrest J Ackerman, the original editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, has passed away.

Area native Dennis Neal Vaughn will premiere his new short subject, ELECTRIC CITY – FAR FROM NORMAL, at the Normal Theater in (you guessed it) Normal, IL, later tonight, Monday, December 1, 2008.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about Playboy content producer Greg Johnson previewing the upcoming “mobisode” series INTERNS for University of Illinois undergraduate students at Lincoln Hall. Also, your editor grouses about the usual suspects.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the signing of veteran actor Hal Holbrook to appear at LincolnFest in downtown Champaign on March 12-15, 2009. Also, your editor bitches about ill-chosen words by well-meaning people.

Interview on Champaign Web site SmilePolitely.com with Joshua Caudle, the new owner of the Lorraine Theatre in Hoopeston, IL.

Article in Bloomington daily The Pantagraph about the taping of a television special at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in downtown Bloomington, IL, called SKATING FOR LIFE BENEFITING SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE, that will air on the NBC network Saturday, October 25, 2008.