Archive for the 'Alums Done Good' Category

‘Thirty’ for Murray, more in 2022

Thursday, June 1st, 2023

We pause to reflect on those who did not get to share their creativity, compassion, and community with the rest of us in 2023, except for in the memories and legacies they’ve left in our care.

HAG to bedevil Normal on May 12

Thursday, May 11th, 2023

The Normal Theater in downtown Normal, Illinois, will allow local filmmaker Paul A. Brooks and friends to unleash HUNTING FOR THE HAG on their silver screen on May 12, 2023. Dare to dig the Hag!

‘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!

Local lore informs SIGNAL, LANE

Tuesday, January 11th, 2022

The specters of Illinois urban legends form the basis of a pair of brand-new indie features, LANTERN’S LANE from Vertical Entertainment and BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION from Dark Sky Films.

‘Thirty’ for Murray, others in 2021

Friday, December 31st, 2021

This has been a very long year. Whether it’s been better or worse than the year before is debatable. Let’s put the soapboxes aside and remember those who are no longer here for 2022.

Lost IL indie flays DEAD BODIES

Monday, November 8th, 2021

Illinois native Shea VanLaningham tried to crack the indie horror market with DEAD BODIES EVERYWHERE some 10 years ago. We thought it had been long buried. We were dead wrong.

Coeds, film crew aim to bag HAG

Thursday, August 19th, 2021

When Into the Night Motion Pictures of Normal, Illinois, emerges from the Pontiac woods at the end of August, they will be haggard due to long hours spent HUNTING FOR THE HAG. Is the flick worth the risk?

One of these days, I’m going to…

Tuesday, January 5th, 2021

There might as well be something soothing about this and, surprise, it doesn’t come from the cinema.

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.

UI ghosts linger on and off screen

Friday, May 29th, 2020

University of Illinois students a generation apart do their on-camera best to convince viewers that campus spirits drift among us. Their existence somewhat haunts your humble editor to this day.

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.

MWP volume sifts ‘Footage’ gold

Friday, March 27th, 2020

Our limited series on filmmaking books from the Michael Wiese Productions library continues with ‘Stock Footage + Everything under the Sun’ by James Forsher, reviewed by Jason Pankoke.

MWP begins again with ‘Writing’

Thursday, March 12th, 2020

We relaunch our limited series on filmmaking books from the Michael Wiese Productions library begins with a complete posting on ‘Writing for the Cut’ by Greg Loftin, reviewed by Daniel Tice.

COUNTRY to encore on WILL-TV

Friday, March 6th, 2020

It has been a long while since a feature-length project has emerged from the WILL-TV studios in Urbana, so we welcome ILLINOIS COUNTRY with open arms. It airs tonight, March 6, 2020, at 7:30 p.m.

MWP reviews begin with ‘Writing’

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2020

Our limited series on filmmaking books from the Michael Wiese Productions library begins with ‘Writing for the Cut’ by Greg Loftin, reviewed by Daniel Tice.