<\/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 2\/25: Josh Schafer (publisher, Lunchmeat VHS<\/span> fanzine and label, Elmer, NJ) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n Is anyone down for even more<\/em> C-U film news and pertinent dates? Well, then, we shall<\/em> provide! To start, our buds Chase & Shep<\/strong> at Earth-217 Studios<\/strong> have shared over on the Champaign Movie Makers<\/strong> group<\/a><\/span> that a new joint is heating up, the anthology program CAMPFIRE STORIES<\/strong>, and they are looking for filmmakers who might fill out episodes with their own segments including of the found footage variety; this will most likely debut in October, when the fellas love to unleash seasonal horror in legion, at their YouTube<\/strong> channel<\/a><\/span>. Best bet is to contact them through Facebook<\/strong><\/a><\/span> since the C&S website is AWOL for the moment. Speaking of found footage, Joshua Brucker<\/strong> and Horror Dadz Productions<\/strong><\/a><\/span> are casting a handful of roles for a new project called UNTITLED FOOTAGE<\/strong> and looking for \u201clocal talent only\u201d from \u201ccentral Illinois<\/strong>\u201d according to a notice on the director\u2019s personal Facebook account, so presumably the action will be staged in a town or rural area near us. Actors can send in materials or questions to grayskypictures [at] gmail [dot] com<\/strong> if interested; FOOTAGE <\/strong>apparently serves as a sequel to \u201cThe Illinois Valley Murder Tapes\u201d half of SPLIT SCREEN<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, one of several urban legend and Fortean titles the Horror Dadz have fathered in the last few years. Others include THE WOODMEN<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, released last month, and TAHOE JOE<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n A few steps up on the budget scale, the renamed visitor\u2019s bureau of Champaign County<\/strong>, Experience Champaign-Urbana<\/strong>, is taking renewed steps to endear their newly-dubbed film office, Film Champaign-Urbana<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, to the community at large and encourage its participation with visiting and C-U-based producers. This includes lending one\u2019s property as a set, to be discussed next Tuesday, February 28<\/strong>, starting at 5 p.m.<\/strong> in the \u201cA\u201d room of the Robeson Pavilion<\/strong> in the Champaign Public Library<\/strong>. Members of Shatterglass Films<\/strong> and Chicago<\/strong>\u2019s The Line Film Company<\/strong> will help present \u201cSo You Want to Be a Film Location?\u201d with the office\u2019s director, Mark Brown<\/strong>, and attendees are asked to visit the Experience C-U site and reserve their seats<\/a><\/span> due to limited space; the News-Gazette<\/span><\/strong> reports this is the first of a series of informational events<\/a><\/span>. And, even though next week\u2019s Report<\/strong> is shaping up to be a \u201ckids and education\u201d outing, we need to plug Pens to Lens<\/strong> this week since their deadline for accepting child- and teen-written screenplays in their competition is next Thursday, February 29<\/strong>. Visit the revived program\u2019s website<\/a><\/span> for documentation and encourage the budding creatives in your life to write now like there\u2019s no tomorrow!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 18 Years Ago \u2026<\/strong> Saturday, February 25, 2006:<\/em> After the seventh issue of the Champaign<\/strong> film journal MICRO-FILM<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span> is published, Opteryx Press<\/strong> adapts its \u201cC-U Confidential\u201d local-zine section into a new internet variation, C-U Blogfidential<\/span><\/strong>. The first entry written by editor and publisher Jason Pankoke<\/strong>, dated 8:57 p.m.<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, describes an intention of \u201c[making] a minor splash creating a community history through cinema, one that we can definitely call our own,\u201d with CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> as its potential epicenter. Topics to be covered in the following months include the Danville<\/strong> fantasy-comedy SHOW;<\/strong> Dreamscape Cinema<\/strong>\u2019s first features, CRAB ORCHARD<\/strong> and DISCONNECTED;<\/strong> the fan- and convention-favorite spoof of video game tropes, PRESS START<\/strong>, from Dark Maze Studios<\/strong> of Champaign; the second episodes of BrainSmart Productions<\/strong>\u2019 WEREWOLF CEMETERY<\/strong> and THE ADVENTURES OF THE SCREAMING APE<\/strong>, directed by Jason Butler;<\/strong> the infamous UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS VS. A MUMMY<\/strong> and lesser-known ROBOTMAN<\/strong>, made by the UIUC students of Illini Film & Video<\/strong> and directed by Chris Lukeman;<\/strong> a video adaptation of Antigone<\/span><\/strong> by the Creative Dramatics Workshop<\/strong> and its director, Robert Picklesimer;<\/strong> an empowering documentary called AN UPHILL CLIMB<\/strong> from Callan Films<\/strong> of Effingham;<\/strong> Blue Bassoon Pictures<\/strong>\u2019 darkly funny crime spoof MERRY CHRISTMAS!;<\/strong> visits from UI alumni working in professional media like Fred Rubin<\/strong> and Michael Wiese;<\/strong> and numerous community and campus screenings such as a run of MICRO-FILM<\/span> Movie Shows<\/strong> at the beloved bar Mike \u2018n Molly\u2019s<\/strong> in downtown Champaign. As of January 2024<\/a><\/span>, CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> has published content keyed in to the movies of Champaign, Urbana<\/strong>, and the cities beyond in every single month since its launch over more than 1,600 postings. [REV]<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Arlee Theater, Mason City, IL<\/strong> @ Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Foellinger Auditorium, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 5:30 p.m.<\/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> @ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, 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 12, Springfield, IL<\/strong> @ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL<\/strong> @ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL<\/strong> @ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL<\/strong>
\n2\/26: Troy Michael (editor & publisher, Innocent Words<\/span><\/span> website, Oakwood, IL)
\n2\/29: Julia Megan Sullivan (actor, MONTH TO MONTH, Owko Films, Los Angeles, CA)<\/p>\n
\n2024 Short Film Fest* w\/awards presentation (2\/23, 7 p.m., admission w\/ donation)<\/p>\n
\nChampaign County Film Office*, Shatterglass Films*, and The Line Film Co. present \u201cSo You Want to Be a Film Location?\u201d w\/discussion (2\/28, 5-6 p.m., Robeson Room A)<\/p>\n
\nEGSA presents the 41st annual Insect Fear Film Festival* feat. THE ANT BULLY, ANT-MAN (2\/24, 5:30 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. films)<\/p>\n
\nARTICLE 20 (in Mandarin with English sub), DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA \u2013 TO THE HASHIRA TRAINING (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS, ORDINARY ANGELS, STOPMOTION, ARGYLLE, THE BEEKEEPER, BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE, THE CHOSEN: S4, Ep. 4-6 (faith programming), LAND OF BAD, LISA FRANKENSTEIN, MADAME WEB, PEGASUS 2 (in Mandarin with English sub), SOUL (animation) (first US release) (2\/23 on), ORIGIN with Ava DuVernay interview (2\/28, 7 p.m.), DUNE: PART TWO (2\/29 on)<\/p>\n
\nDEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA \u2013 TO THE HASHIRA TRAINING (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS, ORDINARY ANGELS, AMERICAN FICTION, ANYONE BUT YOU, ARGYLLE, BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE, THE BOY AND THE HERON (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), THE CHOSEN: S4, Ep. 4-6 (faith programming), LAND OF BAD*, MADAME WEB, MEAN GIRLS, MIGRATION (animation), POOR THINGS, WONKA (2\/23 on), DUNE: PART TWO preview screening (2\/25, 7 p.m., IMAX), TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (2\/28, 7 p.m.), THE CHOSEN: S4, Ep. 7-8 (faith programming), DUNE: PART TWO (2\/29 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents \u201cSpring 2024 Weekend Films\u201d feat. THE MARVELS, Pine Lounge, 1st floor (2\/23-2\/24, 7 p.m.; free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n
\nFollow the link to view the hottest new releases! (2\/20 on) Online rentals<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\nRoger Ebert Center for Film Studies, College of Media, presents TRAIN TO BUSAN (2\/29, 7 p.m., Knight Auditorium)<\/p>\n
\nNo movies this week!<\/p>\n
\nSpringfield Art Association presents Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series feat. THE INNOCENT (2\/25, 1 & 4 p.m.; 2\/27, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nDRIVE-AWAY DOLLS, ARGYLLE, WONKA (2\/23-2\/25)<\/p>\n
\nNo movies this week!<\/p>\n
\nSOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT DYING (2\/23-2\/25), THE MUPPETS (2\/26)<\/p>\n