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Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday\/Saturday on <\/em>C-U Blogfidential<\/span><\/strong> and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!<\/strong><\/p>\n 1\/26: Mike Watt (publisher, Exploitation Nation <\/span>, Happy Cloud Media, Pittsburgh, PA) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 10 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 Tuesday, December 1, 2009:<\/em> On the occasion of World AIDS Day<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, a locally-made dramatic featurette called THIS LIFE AIN\u2019T PRETTY<\/strong><\/a><\/span> has its world premiere at Brookens Auditorium<\/strong> on the University of Illinois<\/strong> campus in Springfield<\/strong>. It features Danielle Ward<\/strong> as the main character, Brittney, a heterosexual and seemingly healthy young woman and mother who is diagnosed with the virus that ultimately kills her, hitting her family and community hard with anguish and a test of their faith. A cautionary tale about the health concerns and stigma faced by African-American individuals who contract HIV<\/strong>, THIS LIFE AIN\u2019T PRETTY<\/strong> is the first film release from Predestined Arts & Entertainment<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, an independent company that was established by sisters and Champaign<\/strong> natives Candice<\/strong> and Kimberly D Conner<\/strong> to develop creative media by and for women and people of color. Kimberly, now a resident of the capital city, wore several hats as director, writer, editor, and a producer on the half-hour-long project, which also stars Kevin Craig West, Dingani Beza, Cheyenne Smith-Youngblood, Shirley Crawford, Irma Norris<\/strong>, and James Johnson<\/strong> in the supporting roles. THIS LIFE AIN\u2019T PRETTY<\/span><\/strong><\/a> would soon play numerous festivals and educational events around the world, winning awards and leading to larger feature-length stories for Conner such as JUMP IN<\/strong> and BEFORE \u2018I DO\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/a>. As reported on 12\/1\/09<\/span><\/a> at<\/em> CUBlog<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS, ETC. | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Gregory Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ Shatterglass Studios, Champaign, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area<\/strong><\/p>\n @ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Family Video, Champaign-Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ Goodrich Savoy 16, Savoy, IL<\/strong> @ Gregory Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL<\/strong> Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional \u201cNow Playing\u201d and \u201cComing Soon\u201d listings appear after the jump!<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | The Cities Beyond<\/strong><\/p>\n @ AMC Classic Parkway Pointe 8, Springfield, IL<\/strong> @ AMC Classic Village Mall 6, Danville, IL<\/strong> @ AMC Peru Mall 8, Peru, IL<\/strong> @ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL<\/strong> @ The Lincoln Family Theater & Community Center, Lincoln, IL<\/strong> @ The Little Lorraine, Hoopeston, IL<\/strong> @ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL<\/strong> @ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL<\/strong> @ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL<\/strong>
\n1\/30: Eric Watkins (composer\/engineer, Studio E, Decatur, IL)<\/p>\n
\nC-U Cinefile* meeting, Room 223 (1\/24, 4 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Film & Video* meeting, Room 1022 (1\/27, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nWorkshop Films Collective* meeting (1\/29, 5:30 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nTHE GENTLEMEN, THE TURNING, 1917, BAD BOYS FOR LIFE, DOLITTLE, FROZEN II, JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL, JUST MERCY, KNIVES OUT, LIKE A BOSS, LITTLE WOMEN, STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, UNDERWATER, WEATHERING WITH YOU (1\/24 on), GRETEL AND HANSEL, THE RHYTHM SECTION (1\/30 on)<\/p>\n
\nTHE ADDAMS FAMILY, ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP, BLACK AND BLUE, JAY & SILENT BOB REBOOT, PAIN AND GLORY, IMPRISONED, COUNTDOWN, AGE OUT, THE COURIER, more! (1\/21 on)<\/p>\n
\nTHE GENTLEMEN, THE TURNING, 1917, BAD BOYS FOR LIFE, DOLITTLE, FORD V FERRARI, FROZEN II, JOJO RABBIT, JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL, JUST MERCY, KNIVES OUT, LIKE A BOSS, LITTLE WOMEN, SPIES IN DISGUISE, STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, UNDERWATER (1\/24 on), GONE WITH THE WIND (1\/26, 1\/29), CASHING OUT (1\/27, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFor Art\u2019s Sake\u201d cinema screenings, Greg Hall 100, 7 p.m., free: RASHAMON (1\/24), WILD STRAWBERRIES (1\/31)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents \u201cWeekend Films at the Union\u201d feat. ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, Pine Lounge (1\/24, 7 p.m.; 1\/25, 7 & 10 p.m.; free w\/i-card), \u201cThrowback Films at the Union\u201d feat. THE SHINING, Courtyard Caf\u00e9 (1\/30, 8:30 p.m, free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n
\nReel Deals: FORREST GUMP (1\/28, 1\/30, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nSpringfield Art Association presents Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series feat. CAPERNAUM (1\/26, 1 & 4 p.m.; 1\/28, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nTHE TURNING, 1917, BAD BOYS FOR LIFE, DOLITTLE, FORD V FERRARI, JUST MERCY, UNDERWATER (1\/24 on)<\/p>\n
\nTHE TURNING, 1917, BAD BOYS FOR LIFE, BOMBSHELL, DOLITTLE, JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL, LIKE A BOSS, LITTLE WOMEN, STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, UNDERWATER (1\/24 on)<\/p>\n
\n1917, DOLITTLE, JUST MERCY (1\/24 on)<\/p>\n
\nLIKE A BOSS, UNDERWATER, 1917, DOLITTLE, JUST MERCY, SPIES IN DISGUISE (1\/24 on)<\/p>\n
\nClosed for the weekend!<\/em><\/p>\n
\n63 UP (1\/24-1\/26), REEFER MADNESS (1\/30)<\/p>\n
\nDOLITTLE (1\/24-1\/26, 1\/29)<\/p>\n
\nSTAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (1\/24-1\/26)<\/p>\n