C-U Blogfidential

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.

Boardman’s Art Theatre in Champaign, IL, is playing the Sundance Film Festival winner TROUBLE THE WATER from October 6, 2008, through October 9, 2008, with directors Carl Deal, Jr., and Tia Lessin in attendance.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the hiring of program coordinator Kate Brickman to oversee the transformation of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign basic cable station UI-7 to an academic and community-oriented service.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about a new documentary called MEMORIAL STADIUM: TRUE ILLINI SPIRIT that will premiere on local PBS station WILL-TV Channel 12 this Tuesday, September 9, 2008, at 7 p.m.