C-U Blogfidential

If you think we’re going to dredge up the story about Brendan Fraser and co. filming the Harvard graduation scene in WITH HONORS on the UIUC Main Quad in 1993 … well, we’ll get to that one later. Right now, let’s talk real life instead of reel life.

To be honest, we’ve always hedged at the thought of awarding our own annual “Oscars” to the significant movie achievers of Champaign-Urbana for the sake of film scene parity. Smile Politely has now beat us to that punch, thank you.

We wish the best of success for every media-making business out there, but sometimes certain good things must end. The Movie Fan of Normal and Prairie Production Group of Champaign, for instance, both quit doing business at the end of April.

Select movie listings for May 17-23, 2013 in Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond!

Filmmakers should take note of several outlets in the immediate region at which their films could possibly play in late 2013! These include the Freeky Creek Short Film Festival, Drunken Zombie Film Festival, Route 66 International Film Festival, and – gasp! – Chicago International Film Festival!

Select movie listings for May 10-16, 2013 in Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond!

From the “Images of the Week” Dept.: Here’s the best exercise video a movie fan could ever hope to see – Tilda Swinton jumping around with more than a thousand “Ebertfest” attendees in utmost glee!

Select movie listings for May 3-9, 2013 in Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond!

Champaign Movie Makers will meet during a special screenwriters’ session at Quality Beer in downtown Champaign, IL, later tonight, Thursday, May 2, 2013. We also discuss the Pens to Lens screenwriting competition for children and an unique screenplay collection at UIUC!

In this edition of “The Double Life of a Cinéaste,” author Tyler Tharpe finally takes a stand by electing to produce his next feature film, PHANTOM COMPANION, on 16mm instead of digital.

Select movie listings for April 26-May 2, 2013 in Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond!

From the “Images of the Week” Dept.: Sandwiched in between a double-dose of rubber monster cheese are previews of this weekend’s C-U movie activity including the Illini Independent Film Festival, Feminist Film Festival, James Bond Film Festival, and GOING ATTRACTIONS at the Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in!

Select movie listings for April 19-25, 2013 in Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond!

From the “Images of the Week” Dept.: WILL-TV 12 will air a compilation of clips featuring the late Roger Ebert, EBERT REMEMBERED, later tonight, Thursday, April 18, 2013, at 8 p.m. Also, take a look at Shatterglass Studios videos about Ebertfest and the Virginia Theatre!

The College of Media at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has announced the panels to be held in conjunction with the fifteenth annual edition of Roger Ebert’s Film Festival.