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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 12\/6: Andy Due (producer\/performer, Rubber Chicken Films\/RL3 Productions, Charleston, IL) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n We at CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> plan to petition for this Friday to be designated as \u201cPankoke Comes Clean Day\u201d and the only payment required is you lend us an ear! The Report<\/strong> is therefore turned over to him, for once, and if you listen very closely as you read, you might<\/em> just hear our humble editor orating about a few recent activities he\u2019s participated in apart from the Confidential. All MFHQ Deux<\/strong> and no play makes \u2026 well, you<\/em> know.<\/p>\n At first, let’s flash back. The online Cultured Focus Magazine<\/span><\/strong> talked with our good friend Andrew J. Rausch<\/strong> in November<\/a><\/span> about all things Quentin Tarantino<\/strong> and being a professional author on the occasion of his new book, Generation Tarantino: The Last Wave of Young Turks in Hollywood<\/span><\/strong>, being listed for release in mid-2025 by Rowman & Littlefield<\/strong><\/a><\/span>. As it seems to happen lately when Rausch is interviewed, the article inevitably leans into the topic of the famous filmmaker\u2019s \u201clost first film” and the subject of a prior book, My Best Friend\u2019s Birthday: The Making of a Quentin Tarantino Film<\/span><\/strong>, for which Mr. JaPan<\/strong> wrote an essay<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n Last month, Ye Ed<\/strong> put on his festival cap outside of the late New Art Film Festival<\/strong> and the C-U for the first time in nearly 20 years at the service of the Lake County Film Festival<\/strong> in upstate Grayslake<\/strong>. He volunteered on a jury with veteran comedy writer Steve Young<\/strong> and documentary director Leslie McCleave<\/strong> to view and deliberate over the \u201cNarrative Shorts\u201d selections of the 2024 program; \u201cBest Narrative Short Film\u201d was awarded to AS EASY AS CLOSING YOUR EYES<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, an affecting drama with science fiction overtones about a grieving mother who turns to group therapy and more after losing her son. Nat Dykeman<\/strong> of the Chambana Film Festival<\/strong> organized the LCFF, which took place between October 31<\/strong> and November 11<\/strong>.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n And just yesterday, Thursday, December 5<\/strong>, indie publisher Jason \u201cJava\u201d Croft<\/strong> of Champaign<\/strong> released the digital edition of the 70th issue of Bachelor Pad Magazine<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span>, a compact celebration of the Fifties and Sixties swingin’ lifestyle. It seems like only yesterday \u2013 well, 17 years ago, if we\u2019re real about it \u2013 that Jason \u201cNeeds More Java\u201d Pankoke<\/strong> designed the debut issue of the long-running quarterly and he moonlights today as a proofreader on all the regular and special issues. Breaking news:<\/em> he might earn his first-ever byline in \u201cThe Digest of Atomic Age Culture\u201d if a story prospect or two pan out. Sorry, but they\u2019re top secret for now!<\/p>\n On Tuesday, December 3<\/strong>, boutique juggernaut Vinegar Syndrome<\/strong> launched their annual \u201cPartners Only Month\u201d during which they promote the wares of all the participating video labels who work with their OCR Distribution<\/strong> arm. This usually includes a raft of brand-new December releases for customers to feast upon and, in the POM Class of 2024, we have from Saturn\u2019s Core Audio & Video<\/strong> of New Jersey<\/strong> the Blu-ray debut of Mike Trippiedi<\/strong>\u2019s made-in-C-U-and-Sidney<\/strong> opus, DOGS IN QUICKSAND<\/strong><\/a><\/span>! We\u2019ll comb through the details of this disc for you soon, but we can now reveal that Ye Ed<\/strong> had a slight hand in helping the eclectic video oeuvre of Trippiedi, Bill Yauch<\/strong>, and friends finally make it to the hi-def age.<\/p>\n In closing, we made mention a few weeks ago about Pankoke<\/strong>\u2019s rare weekday trip to Champaign. It happened on a Tuesday and his main destination was the television studio lab for students at Parkland College<\/strong>. It seems that our Confidential associate Drea Aarons<\/strong> is taking a media production class or two per semester and she needed guests for a talk show concept, so myself and the effervescent Kaity Bequette<\/strong> joined her for some seasonal spooky discussion! It\u2019s not intended to air on PCTV<\/strong> or online as it is for her class, but we can share the following sneak peek courtesy of Aarons.<\/p>\n In other words, what a timeline this has been! It almost<\/em> feels like, dare we say it, old times.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n p.s.<\/em> Although AS EASY AS CLOSING YOUR EYES<\/strong> had played in dozens of film festivals worldwide prior to appearing at LCFF, yours truly learned after the fact why this might have been a little more personal for some of the film\u2019s key participants. It turns out that actress\/co-producer Laura Coover<\/strong>, who plays the role of the mother \u201cLila,\u201d and co-writer\/co-producer\/sound mixer Aaron Golden<\/strong> are both from Chicagoland and attended the University of Illinois<\/strong> in Urbana<\/strong> at roughly the same time<\/a><\/span>. On the side during their UI studies, Coover played a minor role in the Mark Roberts<\/strong> movie of his play, WELCOME TO TOLONO<\/strong>, and Golden the lead part in the second dramatic short made by fellow underclassmen Chris Folkens<\/strong>, TOXIN<\/strong>. Assistant camera Chris Blim<\/strong> and executive producer Jon Michael Hill<\/strong> are also alumni of UI.<\/p>\n Considering the pro pedigree of the work on display in CLOSING YOUR EYES<\/strong>, the recurring lesson remains \u2013 we all start out somewhere<\/em>, including the friendly corn-fed confines of Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond, where we learn, experience, grow, move on, and repeat. Kudos to director Parker Croft<\/strong> and his team for crafting a completely realized and compelling portrait with this film. Try to see it when you can, dearest readers, for its success is well earned. You can learn more about the making of the film through the official website of Paper Horse Pictures<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen<\/strong><\/p>\n My primary contribution to the Blu-ray of DOGS IN QUICKSAND<\/strong> was to design the souvenir booklet included in the package. Although I did create a handful of jacket designs for DVD products in the mid-Aughts, this endeavor was on a different level and I relied on my professional training in publication layout to piece it all together. While you will need to purchase DOGS<\/strong> in order to enjoy the full spread in print, which includes a complementary essay on DOGS<\/strong> by Heather Drain<\/strong> and then-and-now interviews between myself and our long-time confidant in film, Mike Trippiedi<\/strong>, we\u2019ve been given the thumb\u2019s up from Ross Snyder<\/span><\/strong> at Saturn\u2019s Core<\/strong><\/span><\/a> to exclusively<\/em> tease the booklet right here on C-U Blogfidential<\/span><\/strong>! You can click on the graphics below to pull up larger versions for easier viewing, and the impressionistic collage of the DOGS<\/strong> cast that appears on the booklet front and the slipcase was created by the artist Nate Higley<\/strong>.<\/p>\n We hope you dig on DOGS<\/strong> once a copy is securely in your paws!<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 15 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 Tuesday, December 1, 2009:<\/em> On the occasion of World AIDS Day<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, a locally-made dramatic featurette called THIS LIFE AIN\u2019T PRETTY<\/strong><\/a><\/span> has its world premiere at Brookens Auditorium<\/strong> on the University of Illinois<\/strong> campus in Springfield<\/strong>. It features Danielle Ward<\/strong> as the main character, Brittney, a heterosexual and seemingly healthy young woman and mother who is diagnosed with the virus that ultimately kills her, hitting her family and community hard with anguish and a test of their faith. A cautionary tale about the health concerns and stigma faced by African-American individuals who contract HIV<\/strong>, THIS LIFE AIN\u2019T PRETTY<\/strong> is the first film release from Predestined Arts & Entertainment<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, an independent company that was established by sisters and Champaign<\/strong> natives Candice<\/strong> and Kimberly D. Conner<\/strong> to develop creative media by and for women and people of color. Kimberly, now a resident of the capital city, wore several hats as director, writer, editor, and a producer on the half-hour-long project, which also stars Kevin Craig West, Dingani Beza, Cheyenne Smith-Youngblood, Shirley Crawford, Irma Norris<\/strong>, and James Johnson<\/strong> in the supporting roles. THIS LIFE AIN\u2019T PRETTY<\/span><\/strong><\/a> would soon play numerous festivals and educational events around the world, winning awards and leading to larger feature-length stories for Conner such as JUMP IN<\/strong> and BEFORE \u2018I DO\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/a>. As reported on 12\/1\/09<\/span><\/a> at<\/em> CUBlog<\/span><\/strong>. [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n DOGS IN QUICKSAND* U.S. Blu-ray Release:<\/strong> Tuesday, 12\/3, Limited via Vinegar Syndrome, Bridgeport, CT\/Saturn\u2019s Core Audio & Video, Bloomingdale, NJ<\/p>\n @ 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> @ 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> @ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Midwest<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse Cinema, Chicago, IL<\/strong> For detailed and curated listings of Chicago-area film presentations and related events, please visit the fine folks at<\/em> Cine-File<\/strong> and subscribe to their definitive \u201cCine-List\u201d weekly blast<\/a><\/span>. And for northern Illinois industry news, be sure to read<\/em> Reel Chicago<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span> and<\/em> Screen Magazine<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n COMING SOON | Area-wide Events<\/strong><\/p>\n 12\/14<\/strong> 2\/15\/25<\/strong> 3\/27-3\/29\/25<\/strong>
\n12\/8: Britten Traughber (photographer, Britten Traughber Photography, Tucson, AZ)
\n12\/10: Sidney Taiko (editor\/publisher, Storm Cellar<\/span>, San Diego, CA)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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\nIllini Film & Video* meeting (12\/9, 7 p.m., Room 1002)<\/p>\n
\nFLOW (animation), GET AWAY, RAY* (re-release), SOLO LEVELING: REAWAKENING (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), WEREWOLVES, Y2K, BONHOEFFER* (faith film), GLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), RED ONE, WICKED (12\/6 on), RM: RIGHT PEOPLE, WRONG PLACE (music documentary; in Korean with English sub) (12\/6-12\/8), \u201cFor King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas Live\u201d (faith concert recording) (12\/6-12\/9), Studio Ghibli Fest: MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (anim\u00e9) (12\/8, 3 p.m., English dub; 12\/9, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), AMC \u201cScreen Unseen\u201d (mystery movie) (12\/9, 7 p.m.), AX Cinema Nights: BABYMETAL: LEGEND \u2013 43 THE MOVIE (concert film) (12\/11, 7:30 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (religious documentary) (12\/12, 7 p.m.), BLACK CHRISTMAS 50th anniversary (12\/12, 7:30 p.m.), INTERSTELLA 5555: THE 5TORY OF THE 5ECRET 5TAR 5YSTEM (anim\u00e9) (12\/12, 7:30 p.m.), KRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation) (12\/12 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nTHE ORDER, WEREWOLVES, Y2K, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film), MOANA 2 (animation), GLADIATOR II, RED ONE, WICKED (12\/12 on), \u201cFor King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas Live\u201d (faith concert recording) (12\/6-12\/10), Studio Ghibli Fest: MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (anim\u00e9) (12\/7, 3 p.m., 12\/9, 12\/11, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub; 12\/8, 3 & 7 p.m., 12\/10, 7 p.m., English dub), The Metropolitan Opera: Die Zauberfl\u00f6te<\/span> (12\/7, 1 p.m., recorded), UFC 310: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura, more (mixed martial arts) (12\/7, 9 p.m., simulcast), BONHOEFFER (faith film) (12\/8-12\/10, 12\/12), LOVE ACTUALLY 20th anniversary (12\/8, 3 & 7 p.m., 12\/11, 7 p.m.), \u201cAndr\u00e9 Rieu Christmas Concert\u201d (faith concert recording) (12\/11, 7 p.m.), I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (religious documentary) (12\/12, 4 & 7 p.m.), KRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation) (12\/12 on)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000) (12\/6-12\/7, 7 p.m., free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n
\nThe News-Gazette<\/span> Film Series presents IT\u2019S A WONDERFUL LIFE (12\/7, 1 & 7 p.m.), \u201cHoliday in Whoville 2024\u201d feat. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (1966) (12\/8, 12 p.m. doors, 1-4 p.m. cartoon (shown hourly))<\/p>\n
\nGLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), WICKED (12\/5-12\/8)<\/p>\n
\nTHE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film), GLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), RED ONE, WICKED (12\/6 on), \u201cFor King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas Live\u201d (faith concert recording) (12\/6-12\/9), THE POLAR EXPRESS (animation) (12\/7, 12 p.m.), IT\u2019S A WONDERFUL LIFE (12\/10, 4 p.m.), BONHOEFFER (12\/10, 7:05 p.m.; 12\/11, 6:15 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nMOANA 2 (animation), WICKED (12\/6 on)<\/p>\n
\nTHE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (12\/7, 2 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nClosed until the 2025 season.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nSOLO LEVELING: REAWAKENING (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), Y2K, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film), GLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), PUSHPA 2: THE RULE (in Telugu with English sub) (12\/6 on), Christmas movies: CANDY CANE LANE, ELF, THE GRINCH (animation), and IT\u2019S A WONDERFUL LIFE (12\/6-12\/11, daily), \u201cLaufey\u2019s A Night at the Symphony: Hollywood Bowl\u201d (concert film) (12\/6, 7 p.m., 12\/8, 3 p.m., IMAX), RM: RIGHT PEOPLE, WRONG PLACE (music documentary; in Korean with English sub) (12\/6-12\/8), \u201cFor King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas Live\u201d (faith concert recording) (12\/6-12\/10), Studio Ghibli Fest: MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (anim\u00e9) (12\/7, 3 p.m., 12\/9, 12\/11, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub; 12\/8, 3 & 7 p.m., 12\/9, 3:30 & 7 p.m., 12\/10, 7 & 10:20 p.m., 12\/11, 5 p.m., English dub), The Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute<\/span> (12\/7, 1 p.m., recorded), Marcus \u201cMystery Movie\u201d (12\/9, 7 p.m.), A24 x IMAX present THE GREEN KNIGHT (12\/11, 7 p.m., IMAX), \u201cNCT Dream: Mystery Lab \u2013 Dream( )Scape\u201d (concert film) (12\/11, 6:30 p.m., Korean w\/Eng sub), \u201cAndr\u00e9 Rieu Christmas Concert\u201d (faith concert recording) (12\/11, 7 p.m.), I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (religious documentary) (12\/12, 7 p.m.), INTERSTELLA 5555: THE 5TORY OF THE 5ECRET 5TAR 5YSTEM (anim\u00e9) (12\/12, 7:20 p.m.), KRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation) (12\/12 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nELF, SANTA CLAWS (12\/6), CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT, IT\u2019S A WONDERFUL LIFE (12\/7), HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS (12\/7, 12\/10), THE GRINCH (animation), WHITE CHRISTMAS, THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (12\/8), THE BISHOP\u2019S WIFE (12\/9), A CHRISTMAS STORY (12\/11), HOME ALONE (12\/12)<\/p>\n
\nMOANA 2 (animation) (12\/6-12\/8)<\/p>\n
\nRED ONE (12\/6-12\/8)<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFor King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas Live\u201d (faith concert recording), THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film), GLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), RED ONE, WICKED (12\/6 on), ELF (12\/6-12\/8, 10 a.m.)<\/p>\n
\nChicago Filmmakers, Nightingale Cinema, and Goethe-Institut Chicago present \u201cKafkaesque: Experimental Short Films from Germany & the U.S.\u201d (12\/6, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nClaudio Simonetti\u2019s Goblin \u201cUltimate Anthology\u201d tour (film music of Argento, Romero, etc.)
\n@ The Canopy Club, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show<\/p>\n
\n3rd annual CU International Film Festival*
\n@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/p>\n
\n2025 Big Muddy Film Festival*
\n@ The Varsity Center, Carbondale, IL<\/p>\n