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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.<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n A week or so ago, I followed a Facebook<\/strong> share to a segment aired on the CBS SUNDAY MORNING<\/strong> magazine show in March about film preservation, wherein the great Martin Scorsese<\/strong> talks about the painstaking restoration efforts<\/a><\/span> that have been made for more than 30 years by his organization, the Film Foundation<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, on significant films in dire need of help. It reminded me that we\u2019re everyday stewards of our culture in all its forms and should be diligent in safeguarding it for the record.<\/p>\n The first upgrade that is seen in the Scorsese piece is from a recently finished 4K transfer of EAST OF EDEN<\/strong>, the Elia Kazan<\/strong> drama that famously introduced the world to James Dean<\/strong><\/a><\/span>. It reminded me that we need to keep better track of our elders, mentors, and collaborators, particularly in our lines of work and fields of study. I\u2019m still a bit stunned at the loss of Michael Wiese<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, even though we\u2019d rarely corresponded in recent years, and am now concerned about the wellness of Leith Adams<\/strong>, the UIUC<\/strong> alumnus for whom I designed a book in 2021 on the formative years of Dean\u2019s life spent in Indiana<\/strong>. I haven\u2019t heard from him since the hardcover became available, although I knew he was concentrating on health issues.<\/p>\n YouTube<\/strong>\u2019s algorithm pointed me to a brand-new SUNDAY MORNING<\/strong> segment<\/a><\/span> in which Jane Pauley<\/strong> talks with Michael J. Fox<\/strong> about STILL<\/strong>, the documentary on his life with Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/strong>, which is streaming on AppleTV+<\/strong> as of today<\/a><\/span>. I don\u2019t know what kinds of treatment, medicines, or therapy Fox receives to help tolerate the effects, but his body was not having it during taping even though the actor kept his cool and humor. It reminded me of how many people in our lives fight ailments that are both visible and not, often at the same time, such as what I personally witnessed a year ago when complications from Parkinson\u2019s and other infections brought my stepfather\u2019s life to a close.<\/p>\n SUNDAY MORNING<\/strong> was a program that my mother liked to watch. She told me so again and again. The mix of topics appealed to her. She always enjoyed Julia Roberts<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, was very depressed when Queen Elizabeth II<\/strong> died<\/a><\/span>, and appreciated the profiles of artists, whether or not she knew about them, such as this one<\/a><\/span> on the late abstract painter Joan Mitchell<\/strong>. I have no idea if Mom ever saw these segments, which all aired last year, but maybe she can watch a marathon of them up in heaven. It reminds me of her, as do many people, places, and things that I\u2019ve been coming across in the wake of her absence.<\/p>\n The first anniversary of my stepfather\u2019s passing is this Sunday, May 14<\/strong>. It\u2019s also the first Mother\u2019s Day<\/strong> that I\u2019ll not have my mother to spend it with. I may take off next week from CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> and the socials to reflect and grieve. My responsibility to them both is still giant, as it turns out, and I have plenty left to do.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 55 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 May 16-17, 1968:<\/em> Forty-one film shorts are presented to the public over consecutive evenings during the first Champaign-Urbana Film Contest<\/strong> at the McKinley Foundation<\/strong> on the University of Illinois<\/strong> campus. Although the programs for \u201cPart I\u201d on Thursday, March 15<\/strong>, and \u201cPart II\u201d on Friday, March 17<\/strong>, are dominated by student work, the organizers from the Champaign-Urbana Film Group<\/strong> solicited entries from all residents of Champaign County<\/strong> according to a Daily Illini<\/span><\/strong> article run on Thursday, April 4<\/strong><\/span><\/a> \u2013 meaning, it is most likely the first true local film festival to be held in the Twin Cities. Cash prizes totaling more than $500 are handed out to several young directors by a judging panel of theater, literature, and film professionals from the area including Edwin Jahiel<\/strong> of the UI French Department<\/strong> and John Weir<\/strong> of the university\u2019s Motion Picture Production Center<\/strong>. The \u201cfirst place\u201d award is given to CENTURY OF DESIGN<\/strong> by Robert Vollmer<\/strong> and Dean Alexander<\/strong> \u201cfor its imaginative use of documentary technique\u201d per a DI<\/span> follow-up report on <\/span>Tuesday, May 21<\/span><\/strong><\/a>. One of the students in charge of the contest, Ron Epple<\/strong>, would become well known for his movie promotions in the UI community over the next two decades. [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL<\/strong> @ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area<\/strong><\/p>\n @ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL<\/strong> @ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong>
\nHUNTING FOR THE HAG* downstate premiere w\/filmmakers (5\/12, 6 p.m. doors, 5 p.m. film)<\/p>\n
\nChampaign Movie Makers* \u201cOpen Projector Night\u201d (5\/15, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nBLACKBERRY, BOOK CLUB: THE NEXT CHAPTER, CUSTODY (in Tamil or Telugu w\/English sub), HYPNOTIC, AIR*, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES, EVIL DEAD RISE, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3, JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4, LOVE AGAIN, THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE (animation) (5\/12 on), Machine Gun Kelly \u201cMainstream Sellout Live from Cleveland\u201d (concert film) (5\/13, 7 p.m.), ANNI MANCHI SAKUNAMULE (in Telugu w\/English sub) (5\/18, 7 p.m.), FAST X (5\/18 on)<\/p>\n
\nBOOK CLUB: THE NEXT CHAPTER, FOOL\u2019S PARADISE, HYPNOTIC, AIR, ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT\u2019S ME, MARGARET., BIG GEORGE FOREMAN: THE MIRACULOUS STORY, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES, EVIL DEAD RISE, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3, LOVE AGAIN, THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE (animation) (5\/12 on), ROLL WITH IT (faith film, 5\/13, 3 p.m.), GREASE 45th anniversary (5\/14, 4 & 7 p.m.; 5\/17, 7 p.m.), THE WIZARD OF OZ (5\/14, 3 & 7 p.m.; 5\/17, 7 p.m.), PATTERNS OF EVIDENCE: JOURNEY TO MOUNT SINAI II (religious documentary) (5\/15, 5\/17, 7 p.m.), THE WAY (faith film) (5\/16, 7 p.m.), FAST X (5\/18 on)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents \u201cSummer Films on the Quad\u201d feat. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 (5\/18, 9 p.m., free)<\/p>\n