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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 MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!<\/strong><\/p>\n 10\/4: Jason Christ (actor\/executive producer, ANXIETY, Wicked Pixel Cinema, St. Louis, MO) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cF\u201d is for fall as well as filmmaking, so let\u2019s begin our Field Report<\/strong> dedicated to out-of-town friends and creators who elected for quick shoots over the last few weeks to carve out some creepy stories.<\/p>\n First, Jason Huls<\/span><\/strong> of Ten Wing Media<\/strong> in Chicagoland<\/span><\/a> has followed up THAT DAMNED YELLOW RAINCOAT<\/strong> with THE FAWN<\/strong>, which he describes as \u201ca blend of folk horror and cosmic horror.\u201d Facebook<\/strong> photographs show the team of Huls, Paul G. Lyzun<\/strong>, and Paul A. Brooks<\/strong> working away in late September on the private property in Pontiac<\/strong> where Brooks filmed his full-length debut, HUNTING FOR THE HAG<\/strong>, and young Windy City actress and Illinois State University<\/strong> alumna Nora McKirdie<\/strong>, who played the briefly seen \u201cfourth friend\u201d in HAG<\/strong>, is the lead. And then, Shea Kelly<\/strong> of Thousand Yard Stare Productions<\/strong> in Decatur<\/strong><\/span><\/a> traveled long distance to small-town Rushville<\/strong> on the weekend of September 13-15<\/strong> to produce the dramatic short, A MAN OF CHARACTER<\/strong>; cast and crew who collaborated with Kelly, a videographer for WAND-TV<\/strong> and host of the \u201cmovie game show podcast\u201d Filmwar!<\/span><\/strong>, included Christopher Ryan Trone, George O\u2019Brien, Jordan<\/strong> and Jessica Baker, Lee Larkin, Nathan Scott, Shelby Rozanski<\/strong>, and Greg M. Trumbold<\/strong>, who makes a return to acting in a downstate Illinois<\/strong>-made indie for the first time in years<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Remaining at the home front in the Soy Capital, Ben Harl<\/strong> of Silver Compass Studios<\/strong> filmed the \u201cshort psychological thriller\u201d MARA<\/strong> during the same weekend with a cast and crew featuring Dayton Emery, Heather Harlow, Justin Taylor, Katherine Bokenkamp, Laura Richter, Lesley Harl-Black, Mindy Smith, Rick Jensen, Seth Boyer<\/strong>, and Thomas Nicol<\/strong>. Silver Compass is prepping to shoot another short later this month and is still seeking talent, so skim their latest Facebook posts for details<\/a><\/span>. And in the wilds of Carroll County<\/strong> in northern Illinois, Jarod Hussey<\/strong> of Refinery Films<\/strong> directed the horror tale GRINNERS<\/strong> from his script, which pits a cooking show host and retired detective against a pair of serial killers in animal masks during the Halloween<\/strong> season; starring Magdalena Conway, Tanna Jacobs, Andrew Byard<\/strong>, and the great John Bloom<\/strong> (a.k.a. Joe Bob Briggs<\/strong>) and photographed by Derek Huey<\/strong> in primary CREEPSHOW<\/strong> colors, GRINNERS<\/strong> was filmed on a tight schedule in the Mt. Carroll<\/strong> area last week<\/span><\/a>. Got all that? We\u2019re not even sure that we<\/em> do. Updates and the downlow shall be had in future Reports<\/strong>, dearest grinners.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen<\/strong><\/p>\n Courtesy of writer\/director S. J. Hermann<\/strong> and producer Ann Myrna<\/strong> of Acrostar Productions<\/strong>, we share with you an exclusive sneak peek at the recently-wrapped sequel, RETURN OF THE CORN ZOMBIES<\/strong>, which was filmed early September in the northernmost reaches of Champaign County<\/strong>. A large number of performers and behind-the-scenes staff traveled from far and wide to stage for the screen this low-budget adventure, in which survivors of the plague unleashed in ATTACK OF THE CORN ZOMBIES<\/strong> seek refuge at a farming community that is not as welcoming as they had hoped. \u201cHurrah\u201d to everyone from Myrna and Hermann to co-director Mia Katz<\/strong>, cinematographer Ashley Hefner<\/strong>, make-up effects artist Beth Metcalf<\/strong>, and the rest for their horror film hustle and reminding their set visitor, our very own Mr. JaPan<\/strong>, what it\u2019s like to witness the action. We hope to talk with a handful of Acrostar acolytes about their movie ambitions and fan-fueled success for an article on CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> before the end of the year. Chomp, chomp!<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n We normally tuck our figure captions in those tidy pop-up blocks you can trigger when hovering an arrow or fingertip over an image but<\/em>, since we dropped some names that are related to the other groups mentioned in the Report<\/strong>, we\u2019ll also do it for our fine Acro-folks. From top to bottom, talent appearing in the upcoming RETURN OF THE CORN ZOMBIES<\/strong> includes (photo one) Delilah Hefner, Hunter Redfern, Chloe Lutz, Angel Nichole Bradford, Christopher Kahler, Chanda Rawlings<\/strong>, (two) David J. Paul, Mel Heflin<\/strong>, Bradford, Kelsey Ann Baker<\/strong>, (three) Gwyneviere Ray<\/strong>, and (four) zombie players who may<\/em> be extras or<\/em> leads turned into zombies or<\/em> crew drafted to be zombies \u2013 we just don\u2019t know<\/em> who lives, dies, or rises up again! Keep watch on their very active Facebook group<\/a><\/span> for chances to participate in future films and consider visiting this Indiegogo<\/strong> campaign to assist in the finishing funds<\/a><\/span> for putting the final polish on the flick.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 30 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 Friday, October 7, 1994:<\/em> SINGIN\u2019 IN THE RAIN<\/strong>, the 1952 classic from MGM<\/strong> starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds<\/strong>, and Donald O\u2019Connor<\/strong> as talent caught in the Hollywood<\/strong> transition from silent to sound pictures, is the main attraction during the grand reopening of the Normal Theater<\/strong><\/a><\/span> in downtown Normal, Illinois<\/strong>. Previewed in euphoric terms by Dan Craft<\/strong><\/span><\/a> of the Bloomington Pantagraph<\/span><\/strong> earlier today, the sold-out show marks the end of a long journey by the Town of Normal to restore this venue to the Art Moderne veneer of its earliest years \u2013 essentially, harking to the past to ensure its future as did the makers of SINGIN\u2019 IN THE RAIN<\/strong> with the movie musical genre<\/a><\/span>. In its previous era, the Normal had operated circumspectly on West North Street<\/strong> as a second-run house owned and \u201ctwinned\u201d by the GKC Theaters<\/strong> chain, closing in May 1991 due to paltry attendance. The Town of Normal purchased the property a few months later and raised the necessary capital through donations, gifts, and taxes for a complete restoration; the Normal of today closely resembles the one designed by Bloomington<\/strong> architect Arthur F. Moratz<\/strong> and opened in 1937 by real estate broker Sylvan Kupfer<\/strong> and his wife Ruth<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n \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> @ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, 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 @ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL<\/strong> @ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL<\/strong> @ Crescent Cinemas, Pontiac, IL<\/strong> @ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL<\/strong> @ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL<\/strong> @ Marcus Bloomington Cinema + IMAX, Bloomington, IL<\/strong> @ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL<\/strong> @ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL<\/strong> @ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL<\/strong> @ The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL<\/strong>
\n10\/6: Niccole Powers (art department, BLACK MOLD, Raven Banner Entertainment, Toronto, ON\/Tubi Originals, San Francisco, CA)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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\nJOKER: FOILE \u00c0 DEUX, FURIOUS 7 (re-release), MONSTER SUMMER, THE OUTRUN, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, DEVARA: PART 1 (in Telugu with English sub), MEGALOPOLIS, MY OLD ASS, SPEAK NO EVIL, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10\/4 on), AX Cinema Nights presents \u201cGundam Fest\u201d feat. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM (anim\u00e9) (10\/6, 4:30 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), AMC \u201cScreen Unseen\u201d (mystery movie) (10\/7, 7 p.m.), TERRIFIER 2\/TERRIFIER 3 double feature (10\/10, 5:30 p.m.), THE APPRENTICE, MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU\u2019RE NEXT (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), PIECE BY PIECE, SATURDAY NIGHT, TERRIFIER 3 (10\/10 on)<\/p>\n
\nJOKER: FOILE \u00c0 DEUX, MONSTER SUMMER, WHITE BIRD, AM I RACIST? (op-ed\/documentary), BAGMAN*, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE*, DEVARA: PART 1* (in Telugu with English sub), LEE, MEGALOPOLIS, SPEAK NO EVIL, THE SUBSTANCE, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10\/4 on), The Metropolitan Opera: Les Contes d\u2019Hoffmann<\/span> (10\/5, 12 p.m., simulcast; 10\/9, 1 & 6:30 p.m., recorded), UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree, Jr., more (mixed martial arts) (10\/5, 9 p.m., simulcast), MEAN GIRLS 20th anniversary (10\/6, 4 & 7 p.m.), HEART OF A SERVANT: THE FATHER FLANAGAN STORY (religious documentary) (10\/8, 7 p.m.), THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN, PART 1 (10\/9, 7 p.m.), TERRIFIER 3 (10\/10 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents BORDERLANDS (10\/4-10\/5, 7 p.m., free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n
\nIllinois Public Media presents \u201cThe Arthouse Experience Film Series\u201d feat. MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON (animation) (10\/4, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nJOKER: FOILE \u00c0 DEUX, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10\/4-10\/6)<\/p>\n
\nJOKER: FOILE \u00c0 DEUX, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, FAITH OF ANGELS (faith film), THE FORGE (faith film), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10\/4 on)<\/p>\n
\nJOKER: FOILE \u00c0 DEUX, THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10\/4 on)<\/p>\n
\nSCREAM (1996) (10\/10, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nHARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (Screen 1), BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, CORALINE (animation) (Screen 2) (10\/4-10\/5)<\/p>\n
\nJOKER: FOILE \u00c0 DEUX, MONSTER SUMMER, WHITE BIRD, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, MEGALOPOLIS, MY OLD ASS, SPEAK NO EVIL, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), VINDICATING TRUMP* (op-ed\/documentary), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10\/4 on), Indian cinema: DEVARA: PART 1 (10\/4-10\/9, Telugu w\/Eng sub) and SWAG (10\/4-10\/7, 10\/9, Telugu w\/Eng sub), THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 50th anniversary (10\/4-10\/5, 9:30 p.m.), The Metropolitan Opera: Les Contes d\u2019Hoffmann<\/span> (10\/5, 12 p.m., simulcast), HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (10\/6, 4 p.m.; 10\/7, 6 p.m.), MEAN GIRLS 20th anniversary (10\/6, 4 & 7 p.m.), Marcus \u201cMystery Movie\u201d (10\/7, 7 p.m.), HEART OF A SERVANT: THE FATHER FLANAGAN STORY (religious documentary) (10\/8, 7 p.m.), TERRIFIER 2\/TERRIFIER 3 double feature (10\/10, 5:30 p.m.), THE APPRENTICE, AVERAGE JOE (faith film), MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU\u2019RE NEXT (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), PIECE BY PIECE, SATURDAY NIGHT, TERRIFIER 3 (10\/10 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\n\u201cCabaret in the Woods\u201d event feat. CABIN IN THE WOODS screening, ISU Drag Royalty performance (10\/4, 7 p.m.), HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER\u2019S STONE, PSYCHO (1960), CRITTERS (10\/5), GHOSTBUSTERS (1984), THE HAUNTING (1963) (10\/6), Normal Theater 30th anniversary reopening celebration feat. SINGIN\u2019 IN THE RAIN (10\/7, 7 p.m.), THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974) (10\/8), INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (10\/9), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986) (10\/10)<\/p>\n
\nClosed until November.<\/p>\n
\nTHE FORGE (faith film) (10\/4-10\/6)<\/p>\n
\nTHE WILD ROBOT (animation), DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation) (Screen 1), JOKER: FOILE \u00c0 DEUX, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (Screen 2) (10\/4-10\/5)<\/p>\n