Archive for the 'Education/Classes' Category

Lady MFX artists make MONSTER

Wednesday, June 28th, 2023

In her newest project and Kickstarter push, Decatur-area native Jessie Seitz sets out to course-correct monster movie history in MONSTER GIRLS, a salute to women makeup effects artists.

‘MacGuffin,’ SHOT hit 50th mark

Thursday, April 27th, 2023

Wouldn’t be prudent for us to promote this weekend’s UIUC and ISU student film shows without honoring the 50th anniversary of the UI student-made ‘MaGuffin’ and SHOT as well. Get learned!

10 days left to enter C-U film fest

Friday, August 5th, 2022

Filmmakers of all ages have a week and a half left to submit their short subjects to the brand-new CU International Film Festival, which is set to debut in October on the UIUC campus.

Gettin’ set to enjoy COUNTY FAIR

Friday, July 22nd, 2022

A month late yet in perfect timing with the Champaign County Fair, which opens today, we look at the newest in-house WILL-TV documentary directed by Sarah Edwards, COUNTY FAIR.

Blu-ray SAVES Turkish sci-fi fave

Wednesday, October 27th, 2021

To many, THE MAN WHO SAVES THE WORLD might as well have come from outer space. To cult film connoisseurs like Big Bosphorus Media, it instead holds a place in their movie-loving hearts.

Two days remain for UI Press sale

Thursday, June 24th, 2021

The University of Illinois Press publishes a fair amount of books and journals concerned with cinema, television, and new media. We provide a quick guide to what’s available as their “Summer Sale” winds down very soon!

‘Cinema’ history nods to UI prof

Wednesday, May 12th, 2021

Joseph Tykociner’s fabled sound-on-film apparatus did not find favor in its time. Lenny Lipton provides an appreciation in his new book, ‘The Cinema in Flux,’ from Springer.

ISU video crew high on ‘Mother’

Wednesday, October 14th, 2020

As an aside to a tangent, we vicariously saunter about Mother Murphy’s of Normal, IL, thanks to another student project born at Illinois State University, ANYTHING BUT NORMAL. Take a trip with us!

Hollywood vet ‘Directing’ at MWP

Tuesday, September 15th, 2020

Our limited series on filmmaking books from the Michael Wiese Productions library continues with ‘John Badham on Directing’ by John Badham, reviewed by Andrew J. Rausch.

Student art doc wins BEA award

Monday, August 3rd, 2020

What is reasonable give-and-take when a city is attempting to improve its central hub? The student project MAKING A MURAL illustrates the issue with an artistic conundrum in Normal, Illinois.

Virus fells Orpheum, shorts Avon

Friday, July 3rd, 2020

Nationwide consensus is that small businesses and organizations will get raked over the coals before the pandemic is over. We look at how a first-run, mixed-use, and former movie theater are doing.

Let’s all go to the ‘Movies,’ C-U

Monday, June 8th, 2020

Once upon a time, next to no one in our society knew how to make movies. Traveling impresarios of a century ago made sure to tease the average citizen with the possibilities in programs like ‘Making Movies.’

Online panel will talk indie filming

Friday, May 22nd, 2020

The Central Illinois Film Commission wants to tell you about how filmmakers make it happen in downstate Illinois. Interested in inside knowledge? There’s a Zoom event on Saturday afternoon for that!

MWP home to ‘Shorts’ whisperer

Wednesday, May 6th, 2020

Our limited series on filmmaking books from the Michael Wiese Productions library continues with ‘Making it Big in Shorts: The Ultimate Filmmaker’s Guide to Short Films’ by Kim Adelman, reviewed by Jason Pankoke.

Help fundraise for riot, rock docs

Monday, April 6th, 2020

A pair of documentaries with downstate Illinois ties, WHITE HEAT/BLACK ASHES and WHERE ARE YOU, JAY BENNETT?, are close to completion. If interested and able, why not nudge them along?