<\/p>\n
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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 Seems that a small-scale snafu occurred at the Avon Theatre<\/strong> in downtown Decatur<\/strong> last weekend and caused the premiere of AFTERLIFE<\/strong> from Silver Compass Studios<\/strong><\/a><\/span> to be rescheduled for this Saturday, November 18<\/strong>, with a 7 p.m.<\/strong> showtime. As tickets had sold out in advance of the first attempt to screen Ben Harl<\/strong>\u2019s documentary, you already know at this late date if you\u2019ll be among the first to see it and we expect the second time will be the charm. Now, we move on to the evening\u2019s other<\/em> local movie debut.<\/p>\n Whereas AFTERLIFE<\/strong> was several years in the making and its existence common knowledge within our circle du C-U, IRRESPONSIBULL<\/strong> charged onto the film culture radar a few scant weeks ago and we\u2019re still trying to process the basics, dearest completists. Its producer, the athlete and talent management firm NorthEnd Empire LLC<\/strong><\/a><\/span> that seems to have roots in many corners of central Illinois<\/strong>, landed the Virginia Theatre<\/strong> in downtown Champaign<\/strong> for their own red-carpet premiere at the very same time, tomorrow at 7 p.m.<\/strong> The comedy features Danville<\/strong> stand-up comedians Chris Hightower<\/strong> and DeAndre\u2019 Burns<\/strong> as a pair of men who don\u2019t quite have their lives together and are destined to meet on a collision course, which involves the pickup of a mystery bag and brings the niece and nephew of Hightower\u2019s character, played by Na\u2019Vaiya Lewis<\/strong> and Levi Conerly<\/strong>, along for the ride. Also starring the singer and vlogger Jaraiyia Alize\u2019<\/strong> from Champaign and actor and professional bodyguard Keith Campen<\/strong> from Peoria<\/strong>, IRRESPONSIBULL<\/strong> is an exercise in low-budget misadventures and laughs with a stress on family ties, a nice contrast to the dramatic and horror-laden stories our friends and neighbors in film have been coming up with lately. As seen in the trailer that was only released two weeks ago<\/a><\/span>, scenes were filmed at West Side Park<\/strong> in Champaign, Urbana<\/strong>\u2019s Lincoln Square Mall<\/strong>, and other regional locations including Chicago<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Presumably, we\u2019ll get to learn more about the folks behind IRRESPONSIBULL<\/strong> in the future as, similar to AFTERLIFE<\/strong>, there is very little press and press material to look through online. Burns, a barber by trade, and Hightower, a home interventionist on staff at North Ridge Middle School<\/strong> in Danville<\/a><\/span>, appeared on \u201cThe Stevie Jay Show<\/strong>\u201d at ESPN 93.5 FM<\/strong> last week (start at the 11:30-minute mark<\/a><\/span>) to talk with early morning hosts Stevie Jay<\/strong> and Diane Ducey<\/strong> about making their first movie, while Hightower returned to the station today with his whip-smart son Holden<\/strong>, who played a background role and liked it (start at the 32:00-minute mark<\/a><\/span>). Dad described IRRESPONSIBULL<\/strong> as being a family-friendly watch and part of a \u201cmovement\u201d to make their kind of entertainment with performers and technical pros living in our communities. Good luck to them on growing the media arm of their brewing Empire.<\/p>\n Tickets are $20 and VIP passes are $50 for the show; click here to reserve them<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n IRRESPONSIBULL<\/strong> is a NorthEnd Empire LLC (Peoria\/Champaign-Urbana\/Chicago, IL) production that is written, directed, photographed, and executive produced by Nate Morris<\/strong> (Map Productions<\/strong>) with editing by Hana Mitchell<\/strong> and Christopher Adams<\/strong> (Impakt Studio<\/strong>) and wardrobe by Reesha\u2019s Boutique<\/strong>. Associate producer is Brian Yarbrough<\/strong>, and the film stars Chris Hightower, DeAndre\u2019 Burns, Na\u2019Vaiya Lewis, Levi Conerly, Jaraiyia Alize\u2019, and Keith Campen.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 10 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 Tuesday, November 12, 2013:<\/em> Local historian Perry C. Morris<\/strong> of Urbana<\/strong> unveils his long-in-the-works book, The Art Theater: Playing Movies for 100 Years<\/span><\/strong>, during the centennial celebration of the title venue in downtown Champaign, Illinois<\/strong>. Researched and co-authored with Joseph Muskin<\/strong> and Audrey Wells<\/strong>, the softcover volume is the first to be released under Morris\u2019 Champaign-Urbana Theater History<\/span><\/strong><\/a> imprint and one of the only publications of its kind devoted to the legacy and cultural impact of a single movie house in the region. It traces the origin of the Art from before its first day of business as the Park Theatre<\/strong> on November 12, 1913<\/strong>, to its current iteration as a cooperative funded by community members. C-U Blogfidential<\/span><\/strong> editor Jason Pankoke<\/strong> served as the layout designer for the book through his position at Adept Content Solutions<\/strong> in Urbana and contributed an afterword. As reported on 11\/12\/13<\/span><\/a>, 11\/15\/13<\/span><\/a> at<\/em> CUBlog<\/span><\/strong>. [R] [Rev. 11\/17\/23]<\/strong><\/p>\n 110 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 Wednesday, November 12, 1913:<\/em> Two comedy shorts, one Civil War<\/strong> drama, and an educational piece on milk production enthrall the standing-room-only crowds on opening day of the Park Theatre<\/strong>, the first dedicated movie house constructed in Champaign, Illinois<\/strong>, as chronicled in The Art Theater: Playing Movies for 100 Years<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a> by Perry Morris<\/strong>, et al<\/em>. A natural progression from the nickelodeons and opera houses<\/a><\/span> that had first introduced films to the residents of Champaign and neighboring Urbana<\/strong>, this business venture between B.H. Cooper<\/strong> and Isaac Kuhn<\/strong> complements its showmanship with modern amenities and crucial safety features to provide its audience with the best viewing experience. That includes contributions from Chicago<\/strong> professionals such as projectionist John Meyer<\/strong> and architect Lewis E. Russell<\/strong>, the latter of whom drew up plans based on ideas by Cooper himself. Earlier this year, the trade magazine The Movie Picture World<\/span><\/strong> reported on the specifications for the space: \u201cThe contract for the new theater in Champaign, which will be operated by [Cooper], has been let. The building of which it will form a part will cost $40,000. The front will be of rough mat brick trimmed with cream-colored terra cotta. Steel and concrete will be used in the construction of the theater, which has a round space of 44 x 132 [feet]. It will seat 600 persons. For the ventilating system, two-horsepower fans will force air from the rear of the theater, down through ducts that pass under the aisles. At each row of seats, steel six-inch tubes branch from these concrete ducts and open under the seats. This air will be cooled in the summer and heated in the winter. The decoration will consist of seven handsome panels on each side of the auditorium.\u201d (Vol. 17 No. 5, August 2, 1913, p.541<\/span><\/a>) Additional flourishes that would debut at the theater in 1914 include a pipe organ and console by the screen and an impressive light fixture spelling out \u201cPark\u201d to hang from the fa\u00e7ade over the sidewalk on Church Street<\/strong>. Management also would secure the Champaign County<\/strong> rights to show movies from Paramount Pictures<\/strong>, home to silent stars like Mary Pickford<\/strong>, in the new year. [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ The Avon 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> @ Redbox (streaming), 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 Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL<\/strong> @ The Little Lorraine, Hoopeston, IL<\/strong> @ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL<\/strong> BACK OPEN! @ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL<\/strong> @ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nIRRESPONSIBULL* comedy world premiere w\/filmmakers (11\/18, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nAFTERLIFE* local premiere w\/filmmakers (documentary) (11\/18, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nTHE HOLDOVERS, THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES, NEXT GOAL WINS, THANKSGIVING, TROLLS BAND TOGETHER (animation), THE MARVELS (11\/17 on), FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY\u2019S, JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM (faith film), KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, PRISCILLA (11\/17-11\/21), TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR (concert film) (11\/17-11\/19), NAPOLEON, SALTBURN, WISH (animation) (11\/21 on)<\/p>\n
\nTHE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES, NEXT GOAL WINS, THANKSGIVING, TROLLS BAND TOGETHER (animation), THE MARVELS (11\/17 on), FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY\u2019S, THE HOLDOVERS, IT\u2019S A WONDERFUL KNIFE *, JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM (faith film), KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, PAW PATROL: THE MIGHTY MOVIE (animation), PRISCILLA (11\/17-11.21), TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR (concert film) (11\/10-11\/12), The Metropolitan Opera: X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X<\/span> (11\/18, 11:55 a.m., simulcast), SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (11\/19, 3 & 7 p.m.; 11\/20, 7 p.m.), THE POLAR EXPRESS (animation) (11\/19, 3 & 7 p.m.; 11\/22, 7 p.m.), NAPOLEON, WISH (animation) (11\/21 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents \u201cFall 2023 Weekend Films\u201d feat. BLUE BEETLE, Pine Lounge, 1st floor (11\/17-11\/18, 7 p.m.; free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n
\nTHE DIRTY SOUTH, I HEARD THE BELLS (kiosk), ON FIRE, ONYX THE FORTUITOUS AND THE TALISMAN OF SOULS, YOU’RE ALL GONNA DIE, more! (11\/14 on) Online rentals<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\nIRRESPONSIBULL* comedy world premiere w\/filmmakers (11\/18, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nTHE HOLDOVERS, TROLLS BAND TOGETHER (animation), THE MARVELS (11\/16-11\/19), AFTERLIFE* documentary local premiere w\/filmmakers (11\/18, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nBARBIE (11\/17, 7 p.m.; 11\/18, 2 & 7 p.m.), NATIONAL LAMPOON\u2019S CHRISTMAS VACATION (11\/23, 3 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\n\u201cHot Chocolate & Holiday Movies\u201d feat. THE GRINCH (animation) (Screen 1), ELF (Screen 2) (11\/17-11\/18)<\/p>\n
\nPrivate parties and events<\/p>\n
\nJOAN BAEZ: I AM A NOISE (music documentary) (11\/17-11\/19), STOP MAKING SENSE (concert film) (11\/18-11\/19), PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES (11\/21-11\/22)<\/p>\n
\nWISH (animation) (11\/22-11\/26)<\/p>\n
\nKILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (11\/17-11\/19)<\/p>\n