<\/p>\n
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.<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!<\/strong><\/p>\n 3\/18: Joseph Muskin (co-author, The Art Theater<\/span>, Champaign Urbana Theater History, Urbana, IL) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n PASSINGS | You Will Be Missed<\/strong><\/p>\n 3\/8: Bert I. Gordon, 100 (producer\/director, BEGINNING OF THE END, Republic Pictures Corporation, Los Angeles, CA)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n Local-adjacent movies are cruising towards completion and distribution in this week\u2019s Report<\/strong>. First, April Wright<\/strong>\u2019s second exploration of the world of automotive filmgoing, BACK TO THE DRIVE-IN<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, has been acquired by Uncork\u2019d Entertainment<\/strong> and released to video-on-demand outlets<\/a><\/span> as of this past Tuesday, March 14<\/strong>; one of the 11 locations featured in this installment, which shares the stories of a drive-in landscape affected greatly by the pandemic, is the Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in<\/strong> of Gibson City<\/strong>, which plans to open for the season next weekend with JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4<\/strong> and SCREAM VI<\/strong>.<\/p>\n And then, Champaign<\/strong> filmmaker John Isberg<\/strong> announced that his retro slasher hit FINAL SUMMER<\/strong> will continue its festival run at Panic Fest<\/span><\/strong> of Kansas City<\/strong> in April<\/span><\/a>; the event will also host the world premiere of indie horror BLACK MOLD<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, which was filmed in Rantoul<\/strong> with a largely Chicago<\/strong> and downstate crew, as well as BROOKLYN \u201945<\/strong>, a period supernatural drama from Ted Geoghegan<\/strong> (WE ARE STILL HERE<\/strong>) shot last year in the Windy City, and THE THIRD SATURDAY IN OCTOBER<\/strong> duology, sporting practical make-up effects work by local artists Jessie Seitz<\/strong> and Marcus Koch<\/strong>. Of course, one year ago, Panic Fest provided the U.S. theatrical berth of Shatterglass Studios<\/strong>\u2019 neon-soaked REVEALER<\/strong>, the C-U produced shocker set during an Eighties apocalypse and released to all platforms by RLJE Films<\/strong> and Shudder<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In closing, Chicago producer\/director Stacey Carpenter<\/strong> reached out to CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> about a topical drama coming soon from her studio, Land of Misery Films<\/strong>, for which they are raising funds to continue production later in 2023. WE WOKE<\/strong> retells a true-life story about how a well-meaning theater troupe focused on teaching young students of color from the South and West neighborhoods of the city have to reckon with what it means to be inclusive and adaptable for the sake of everyone involved; readers can visit their website to learn more about the company and this project<\/a><\/span>, which Carpenter developed with her partner Bradford S. Stevens<\/strong> as a vehicle to discuss racial strife and cancel culture in a creative manner, or visit their fiscal sponsor From the Heart Productions<\/strong><\/a><\/span> to donate towards their budgetary needs.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 25 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 Friday, February 27, 1998:<\/em> The Blind Pig Co.<\/strong> in downtown Champaign<\/strong> hosts the CD release party for the Hammerhead Records<\/strong> album Get a Load of This<\/span><\/strong> by the Funky Butt Drum Club<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, a sextet of seasoned local musicians including Josh Quirk, Josh Walden, Ian Shepherd, Jesse Brown, Peter Roubal<\/strong>, and charismatic singer Brandon T. Washington<\/strong>. Opening the show is fellow Hammerhead act The Vibe Tribe<\/strong> from Terre Haute, Indiana<\/strong>, providing a full-bodied rock sound in contrast to Funky Butt\u2019s dance-groove anthems. Word on the street is the lyrics of the second track on Get a Load of This<\/span>, \u201cNo Movie<\/strong>,\u201d<\/span><\/a> inspired the mantra of a certain independent film journal that would claim \u201cthis is not just movies, it\u2019s our lives<\/strong>\u201d in print for the first time nearly two years later. [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n BACK TO THE DRIVE-IN* U.S. streaming release: Tuesday, 3\/14, nationwide via Uncork\u2019d Entertainment, Flager Beach, FL\/Going Attractions, Los Angeles, CA<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area<\/strong><\/p>\n @ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL<\/strong> @ Redbox, Champaign-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 @ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL<\/strong> @ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL<\/strong> @ The Little Lorraine, Hoopeston, IL<\/strong> @ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL<\/strong>
\n3\/18: Katrina Catizone (pop culture artist, Studio Art de Katrina, Champaign, IL)
\n3\/19: Andrew F. Gleason (coordinator of video production, Public Affairs, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL)
\n3\/22: JC Culp (multimedia artist, Unpopular Arts, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)<\/p>\n
\nFULL RIVER RED (in Mandarin), SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS, 65, ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER, CHAMPIONS, COCAINE BEAR, CREED III, DEMON SLAYER: TO THE SWORDSMITH VILLAGE (anim\u00e9; Japanese or English language), EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, JESUS REVOLUTION, SCREAM VI (3\/17 on), JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 (3\/23 on)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents \u201cSpring 2023 Weekend Films\u201d feat. BONES AND ALL (3\/17-3\/18, 7 p.m., free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n
\nSHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS, A SNOWY DAY IN OAKLAND, 65, ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER*, CHAMPIONS, COCAINE BEAR, CREED III, JESUS REVOLUTION, PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH, SCREAM VI (3\/17 on), The Metropolitan Opera: Lohengrin<\/span> (3\/18, 11 a.m., simulcast; 3\/22, 12 & 6:30 p.m., recorded), UFC 286: Leon Edwards vs. Karamu Usman, more (mixed martial arts; 3\/18, 4 p.m., simulcast), SIXTEEN CANDLES (3\/19, 3, 5 & 7 p.m.; 3\/22, 7 p.m.), GODZILLA: TOKYO S.O.S. (in Japanese w\/English sub) (3\/22, 7 p.m.), JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 (3\/23 on) *single shows daily<\/p>\n
\nLEGACY PEAK, A MAN CALLED OTTO, THE WHALE, more! (3\/14 on) Online rentals<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe News-Gazette<\/span> Film Series presents A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (3\/18, 1 & 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nCOCAINE BEAR, CHAMPIONS, SCREAM VI (3\/17-3\/19)<\/p>\n
\nBELFAST (3\/17, 7 .m.)<\/p>\n
\nPrivate parties and \u201cFamily Movie Packs\u201d this week.<\/p>\n
\nTHE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (3\/17-3\/19), EXTRA ORDINARY. (3\/17, 3\/22), THE LOST KING (3\/23)<\/p>\n