<\/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 9\/16: Jay Rosenstein (producer, Jay Rosenstein Productions, Champaign-Urbana, IL) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n PASSINGS | You Will Be Missed<\/strong><\/p>\n 9\/5: Jude Leak (editor, THE LORD IS NOT ON TRIAL HERE TODAY, Jay Rosenstein Productions, Champaign-Urbana, IL)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n This post is for the record. I actually let it go this past weekend, but then decided at the 11th hour to compile it. Did you even notice the Calendar<\/strong> did not appear on or after the 15th? Sigh<\/em>. Case in point.<\/p>\n Also, for the record, we\u2019ll resume the Calendar this week on its normal schedule, tra la<\/em>. Use it well.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 40 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 September-October 1983:<\/em> Extensive filming takes place in the Illinois<\/strong> farming community of Pontiac<\/strong> and other nearby sites for the CBS Theatrical Films<\/strong> production of GRANDVIEW, U.S.A.<\/strong>, lasting the better part of two months<\/span><\/a>. As recounted in an article published on October 1<\/strong> by the Bloomington Pantagraph<\/span><\/strong>, the Illinois Film Office<\/strong> encouraged representatives from CBS to consider locations in the state after they failed to find what they needed in Indiana<\/strong>; a drive south of the Chicago<\/strong> suburbs led the scouts inadvertently to Pontiac, which had never been on their list of possibilities. The Livingston County<\/strong> seat now plays host to numerous craftspeople and performers involved in GRANDVIEW<\/strong>, a comedy with musical interludes that is being directed by Randal Kleiser<\/strong> from a screenplay by Ken Hixon<\/strong>. The story centers on a teenager portrayed by C. Thomas Howell<\/strong> who plans to leave his hometown to study oceanography, but not before he makes summertime waves with the town\u2019s demolition derby promoter (Jamie Lee Curtis<\/strong>) much to the chagrin of her star driver (Patrick Swayze<\/strong>). Jennifer Jason Leigh<\/strong> and Troy Donahue<\/strong> also appear in featured roles while hundreds of locals have been hired to play bit parts, walk through backgrounds, and fill out crowds. Exciting scenes depict the destruction of a mobile home, the burning down of the \u201cCody\u2019s Speedrome\u201d arena, and the pageantry of an agricultural celebration that is captured on the first day of shooting, Sunday, September 4<\/strong>, during the real-life Threshermen\u2019s Reunion Parade<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. Actors also take some time during the final days of production to participate in a fundraiser to help pay for a local teenager\u2019s mounting medical bills, according to a news item in the October 22<\/strong> Pantagraph<\/span>. A follow-up piece eventually ran in the newspaper on August 4, 1985<\/strong>, a year and a day after GRANDVIEW, U.S.A.<\/strong>, was released to theaters across the United States<\/strong> by Warner Bros.<\/strong>, picturing a citizenry that ultimately viewed its Hollywood<\/strong> encounter as a pleasant experience and not much more; very little would remain of the financial gains and positive upswing felt by Pontiac<\/span><\/a> almost two years prior as its people had turned back to their everyday concerns like crop yields and the correctional center<\/span><\/a>. [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ The Lincoln Square Theatre, Decatur, 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> @ Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong>
\n9\/19: Eric Pankoke (webmaster, C-U Blogfidential<\/span>, Mendota, IL)
\n9\/19: Paul A. Brooks (director, HUNTING FOR THE HAG, Into the Night Motion Pictures, Normal, IL)
\n9\/21: Lisa Cerezo (co-owner, ThirdSide, Champaign, IL)<\/p>\n
\nPollack Films, Spencer Films, and the Decatur Herald & Review present FIELDS OF GOLD* Midwest documentary premiere (9\/16, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nA HAUNTING IN VENICE, HEART\u2019S MOTIVE (in Mandarin with English sub), THE RETIREMENT PLAN, BARBIE, BLUE BEETLE, BOTTOMS, THE EQUALIZER 3, GRAN TURISMO, JAWAN (in Hindi with English sub), MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3, NO MORE BETS (in Mandarin with English sub), THE NUN II, OPPENHEIMER, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM (animation) (9\/15 on), EXPEND4BLES, IT LIVES INSIDE (9\/21 on)<\/p>\n
\nCAMP HIDEOUT, A HAUNTING IN VENICE, BARBIE, BLUE BEETLE, BOTTOMS, THE EQUALIZER 3, GRAN TURISMO, MEG 2: THE TRENCH, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3, THE NUN II, OPPENHEIMER, TALK TO ME, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM (animation) (9\/15 on), REN\u00c9E FLEMING\u2019S CITIES THAT SING: PARIS (concert film) (9\/16, 3 p.m.), RAIN MAN (9\/17, 3 & 7 p.m.; 9\/20, 7 p.m.), THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (9\/17, 9\/20, 3 & 7 p.m.), ROUTE 60: THE BIBLICAL HIGHWAY (religious documentary) (9\/18-9\/19, 4 & 7 p.m.), SHAKY SHIVERS (9\/21, 7 p.m.), EXPEND4BLES, IT LIVES INSIDE (9\/21 on)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents \u201cFall 2023 Weekend Films\u201d feat. INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY, Pine Lounge, 1st floor (9\/15-9\/16, 7 p.m.; free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n