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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\/16: Chaz Ebert (producer\/host, Roger Ebert\u2019s Film Festival, College of Media, UIUC, Champaign, IL) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n Monsters from lore, aliens not of this earth, and beings that are arguably human exist all around us<\/em> if you believe the films being made by a new collective, Horror Dadz Productions<\/strong>, and in this Report<\/strong> we reveal how to find their found footage exploits. Follow our leads (but beware!<\/em>) if you want to explore more\u2026<\/p>\n We\u2019ve mentioned before a Horror Dad named Joshua Brucker<\/strong> who hails from Watseka<\/strong>, a small Illinois<\/strong> town within easy driving distance of Hoopeston<\/strong> and Onarga<\/strong>, and his group specializes in the \u201creality\u201d horror subgenre launched a quarter of a century ago with THE LAST BROADCAST<\/strong> and THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT<\/strong> that has seemingly never let up since. In various producing combinations over the last few years, the Horror Dadz have pumped out around ten shockers so far that are told, at least in part, from the camera\u2019s vantage point.<\/a><\/span> The Report<\/strong> won\u2019t even try to unravel all the nitty gritty of their combined oeuvre within this space, so we\u2019ll focus on Brucker\u2019s own work as director\/writer to send us down a few of their \u201cCryptidverse<\/strong>\u201d rabbit holes. There are four major projects realized under his creative watch so far.<\/p>\n The Clifton<\/strong> native came to our attention about a year ago when he arranged for a premiere screening of his then-new tale, THE WOODMEN<\/strong>, at the former Little Lorraine<\/strong> black box theater<\/a><\/span> in Hoopeston. It is a co-production between Horror Dadz, Brucker\u2019s Gray Sky Pictures<\/strong>, and partner 105ive Films<\/strong>, with the latter releasing the film on Blu-ray commercially back in June<\/a><\/span> and securing it spots at VOD sites like Amazon Prime<\/strong> and AVOD such as Tubi<\/strong>. Filmed in eastern Tennessee<\/strong> in 2023, the film pits a trio of explorers played by Anna Clary, Dan Grogan<\/strong>, and Hunter Nino<\/strong> against a band of the titular creeps who haunt the Smoky Mountains<\/strong> with feral savagery. This is Brucker\u2019s second feature.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Before that came MOTHMAN<\/strong>, a previous joint between Gray Sky and Horror Dadz, in which a couple played by Liz Fletcher<\/strong> and Christopher Kuriata<\/strong> go searching in the central Ohio<\/strong> wilds for the truth behind the disappearance of the wife’s brother (Randall Cole<\/strong>) seemingly connected with the well-known cryptid. This title was issued in both standard and collector Blu-ray editions<\/a><\/span> at the beginning of 2024 by a label called Not Quite Reality Distribution<\/strong>, which counts several of the Dadz\u2019 pictures in its catalog. On a separate site run by Horror Nerd Productions<\/strong> (sounds \u2026 familiar?) is the Blu-ray for SPLIT SCREEN<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, a duology feature with segments shepherded by Dillon Brown<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cGreys: The Nevada Alien Incident<\/strong>\u201d \u2013 and Brucker \u2013 \u201cThe Illinois Valley Murder Tapes<\/strong>\u201d \u2013 the latter of which stars Samantha Hupp, Tayler Holler<\/strong>, and Nino and has the distinction of being the first Cryptidverse story to be shot in our region.<\/p>\n The second, UNTITLED FOOTAGE<\/strong>, is an extension of the \u201cMurder Tapes\u201d serial killer segment<\/a><\/span> and involves the sister of Hupp\u2019s character, played by Tori Zanoni<\/strong>, heading out with a camera-equipped friend (Rodney B. Snyder<\/strong>) to uncover the truth behind Nino\u2019s “Claw Hammer Killer.” It is one of the first features to debut exclusively<\/a><\/span> on the just-launched service, Found TV<\/strong>, which is populated with exactly the types of indies you think such a site would love and curate. Found joins the established POV Horror<\/strong> site as go-to destinations for found footage fare, and you\u2019re guaranteed to find the Horror Dadz lurking within<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n Brucker himself is responsible for a segment in Horror Fix Films<\/strong>\u2019 upcoming anthology, F\u2019D: TALES FROM THE END TIMES<\/strong>, and has more Horror Dadz duties in store. As for what we<\/em> make of it all, right now we\u2019re awaiting copies of his material evidence that allegedly captures the unexplainable in America from our unnamed sources \u2013 why spoil the first-time viewing with commercials? \u2013 and will report back on our findings. That\u2019s assuming we make it through to the final minutes without being abducted or something\u2026<\/p>\n Don\u2019t try it, Dadz. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen<\/strong><\/p>\n Since we spent a lot of effort digging into the on-screen mythology and conspiracy being set up here, we\u2019re keeping it simple with this week\u2019s Images<\/strong> and presenting to you a map of Horror Dadz hot spots (it can be enlarged with a click) and some artwork from Brucker’s contributions.<\/p>\n There is certainly more to unearth (read: Facebook<\/strong>)<\/a><\/span>, and here are a few prompts for your Google<\/strong>-y fingertips. The current Dadz line-up includes Michael Rock, Matt Van Bodegraven, Dustin Tamplen<\/strong>, Nino, Brown, and Brucker, who are located throughout the Midwest and Southwest. [Not twenty-four hours after this Calendar<\/strong> went live, CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> received a mysterious message that pinpointed the artists’ whereabouts as being in Indiana<\/strong>, Michigan<\/strong>, and Nevada<\/strong> as well as Illinois \u2026 the same locations<\/em> as the sightings noted on the map. Coincidence? \u2013 ed.] Other films in the Cryptidverse and beyond include GHOST<\/strong> (demonic forces!), LIGHTS OVER MONTGOMERY COUNTY<\/strong> (aliens!), TAHOE JOE<\/strong> (Bigfoot!), TAHOE JOE 2<\/strong> (Bigfoot back for more!), and MIDNIGHT FEATURE<\/strong>, a five-part, half-hour anthology series with a possibly undead host, \u201cThe Curator,\u201d played by the busy indie horror actor John Potash<\/strong>.<\/p>\n We mere mortals will be swarmed with phenomena films from the Horror Dadz stable in the near future such as a second season of MIDNIGHT FEATURE<\/strong>, Brown\u2019s slasher with a stylistic switch-up<\/a><\/span>, THE SUMMER WE DIED<\/strong>, and Brucker\u2019s newly announced werewolf romp<\/a><\/span>, THE FAIRFIELD COUNTY FOUR<\/strong>. We\u2019re also going to need to set up a custom idea board in the spare office space of MFHQ Deux<\/strong> in order to keep track of all this. Sigh<\/em>. Our work is never<\/em> done\u2026<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 30 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 Friday, October 21, 1994:<\/em> Following early-bird reviews by The New York Times<\/span>‘ Caryn James<\/strong><\/span><\/a> and The Los Angeles Times<\/span>‘ Kenneth Turan<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, The Chicago Sun-Times<\/span><\/strong> would print Roger Ebert<\/strong>\u2019s ecstatic vote of confidence<\/span><\/a> in the documentary HOOP DREAMS<\/strong>, a Chicago<\/strong>-based production about two inner-city high school students banking on college basketball careers as a step towards the proverbial \u201cway out.\u201d His persistent support of this film famously hit a crescendo when the movie critic cried foul over the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences<\/strong> overlooking it in both<\/em> the \u201cbest picture\u201d and \u201cbest documentary\u201d Oscar<\/strong> categories. HOOP DREAMS<\/strong> director Steve James<\/strong> would ultimately return the favor with his work on the Ebert documentary LIFE ITSELF<\/strong>. [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Esquire Lounge, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, 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> @ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Center for World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, 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> @ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Midwest<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse Cinema, Chicago, IL<\/strong> @ Living Room Theaters\/Kan-Kan Cinema and Restaurant, etc., Indianapolis\/Noblesville, IN<\/strong> @ AMC Newcity 14\/Music Box Theatre, etc., Chicago, IL<\/strong>
\n10\/18: Mike Everleth (publisher, Underground Film Journal<\/span>, Los Angeles, CA)
\n10\/20: Lana Wildman (volunteer, Route 66 Film Festival, Springfield, IL)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
We have eyes in the backs of our heads.<\/del> Oh \u2026 wait<\/em> \u2026 we redact that comment. Carry on, then.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n
\nChampaign Movie Makers* meeting (10\/21, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Film & Video* meeting (10\/21, 7 p.m., Room 1002)<\/p>\n
\nEXHIBITING FORGIVENESS, GRACIE & PEDRO: PETS TO THE RESCUE!* (animation), KENSUKE\u2019S KINGDOM* (animation), RUMORS, SMILE 2, STAND BY ME* (in Mandarin with English sub), THE APPRENTICE*, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, IT ENDS WITH US, JOKER: FOILE \u00c0 DEUX, MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU\u2019RE NEXT* (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS* (animation) (re-release), PIECE BY PIECE (documentary\/animation), SATURDAY NIGHT, SPEAK NO EVIL*, TERRIFIER 3, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10\/18 on), DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE* (10\/18-10\/22), AX Cinema Nights presents \u201cGundam Fest\u201d feat. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM II: SOLDIERS OF SORROW (anim\u00e9) (10\/20, 4:30 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), AMC \u201cScreen Unseen\u201d (mystery movie) (10\/21, 7 p.m.), LONGLEGS w\/THE MONKEY sneak preview (10\/23, 7:15 p.m.; 10\/24, 7:45 p.m.), AX Cinema Nights presents \u201cGundam Fest\u201d feat. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM III: ENCOUNTERS IN SPACE (anim\u00e9) (10\/23, 7:30 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), CONCLAVE, VENOM: THE LAST DANCE (10\/24 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nEXHIBITING FORGIVENESS, GOODRICH, GRACIE & PEDRO: PETS TO THE RESCUE!* (animation), HOCUS POCUS (re-release), RUMORS, SMILE 2, THE APPRENTICE, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE*, JOKER: FOILE \u00c0 DEUX, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (animation) (re-release), PIECE BY PIECE (documentary\/animation), SATURDAY NIGHT, THE SUBSTANCE, TERRIFIER 3, THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10\/18 on), MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU\u2019RE NEXT* (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub) (10\/18-10\/19, 10\/21-10\/22), The Metropolitan Opera: Grounded<\/span> (10\/19, 12 p.m., simulcast; 10\/23, 1 & 6:30 p.m., recorded), BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II 35th anniversary (10\/19, 10\/21, 7 p.m.), SAW 20th anniversary (10\/20, 4 & 7 p.m., 10\/23, 7 p.m.; unrated), THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN \u2013 PART 2 (10\/20, 3 & 7 p.m.; 10\/23, 7 p.m.), VENOM: THE LAST DANCE, WE LIVE IN TIME (10\/24 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nRoger Ebert Center for Film Studies* presents \u201cDocumentaries on the Frontline of Democracy: How Kartemquin\u2019s Storytelling Works for Stronger Publics\u201d lecture (10\/18, 2 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation) (10\/18-10\/19, 7 p.m., free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n
\nThe News-Gazette<\/span> Film Series presents REAR WINDOW (10\/19, 1 & 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nCREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (3-D), SMILE 2, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10\/18-10\/20)<\/p>\n
\nHOCUS POCUS (re-release), SMILE 2, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, JOKER: FOILE \u00c0 DEUX, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (animation) (re-release), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10\/18 on)<\/p>\n
\nGRACIE & PEDRO: PETS TO THE RESCUE!* (animation), AM I RACIST? (op-ed\/documentary) (10\/18 on)<\/p>\n
\nA NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984) (10\/18, 7 p.m.), PSYCHO (1960) (10\/19, 7 p.m.), HOCUS POCUS (10\/20, 2 p.m., free)<\/p>\n
\nTHE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (animation), BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (Screen 1), THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 50th anniversary, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968) (Screen 2) (10\/18-10\/19)<\/p>\n
\nBLINK (documentary), GOODRICH, HOCUS POCUS (re-release), SMILE 2, THE APPRENTICE, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, JOKER: FOILE \u00c0 DEUX, MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU\u2019RE NEXT (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (animation) (re-release), PIECE BY PIECE (documentary\/animation), SATURDAY NIGHT, SPEAK NO EVIL, TERRIFIER 3, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10\/18 on), FRIDAY THE 13th (1980) (10\/18-10\/19, 9:30 p.m.), E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTIRAL Halloween party (10\/19, 11 a.m.), DESPICABLE ME 4 Halloween party (10\/19, 11:15 a.m.), The Metropolitan Opera: Grounded (10\/19, 12 p.m., simulcast), TAEYONG: TY TRACK (concert documentary) (10\/19, 1 p.m.; in Korean with English sub), HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (10\/20, 4 p.m.; 10\/21, 6 p.m.), Marcus \u201cMystery Movie\u201d (10\/21, 7 p.m.), BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II 35th anniversary (10\/21, 7 p.m.), A24 x IMAX present THE WITCH (10\/23, 7 p.m., IMAX), CONCLAVE, VENOM: THE LAST DANCE, YOUR MONSTER (10\/24 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nHOCUS POCUS, FRANKIE FREAKO (10\/18), ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974), CEMETERY MAN (10\/19), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986), HOCUS POCUS, CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962) (10\/20), GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) (10\/21), L\u2019INFERNO w\/live accompaniment by Montopolis (10\/22, 7 p.m.), NATURAL BORN KILLERS (10\/23), THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW w\/shadow cast (10\/24, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nClosed until November.<\/p>\n
\nBEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (10\/18-10\/20)<\/p>\n
\nTHE WILD ROBOT (animation), BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (Screen 1), SMILE 2, SCREAM 1996) (Screen 2) (10\/18-10\/19)<\/p>\n
\nTHE SILENT HOUR*, TERRIFIER 3, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, FAITH OF ANGELS (faith film), JOKER: FOILE \u00c0 DEUX, REAGAN, SPEAK NO EVIL, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (10\/11 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nGroup 312 Films \u201c2024 Annual Report\u201d (10\/19, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\n33rd Heartland International Film Festival (through 10\/20)<\/p>\n
\n60th Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago, IL (through 10\/27)<\/p>\n