<\/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 12\/16: Lauren Laws (vlogger, Nyx Namor<\/span> YouTube channel, Champaign-Urbana, IL)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n This week, the Report<\/strong> would like to give credit to the C-U online magazine Smile Politely<\/span><\/strong> for their unwavering coverage of the arts and culture of our communities, especially when they put front and center the local folks and their creations, vocations, and activism that might be readily glossed over or ignored in the mainstream press outlets of the immediate region. We also love the enthusiasm that is expressed by their Arts Editor, Amy Penne<\/strong>, and her willingness to incorporate film doings in that overall space embraced by the magazine\u2019s mission. Among the virtues of their editorial breadth, SP<\/span> more readily picks up on and address C-U Blogfidential<\/span><\/strong> topics in a timely fashion than we\u2019re able to right now.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a good thing in our removed-from-the-milieu situation. Film culture usually receives the coverage elsewhere when something is actively filming, about to premiere publicly, wins an award, appeals to families, or is \u201cEbertfest<\/strong>\u201d branded. Ye Ed<\/strong> knows because he still looks through the websites and socials of central Illinois<\/strong> sources for story ideas. From afar. Daily<\/em>. Whether it\u2019s good or bad, for C-U\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n Several recent pieces on SP<\/span> that we\u2019ve read are solid examples. Your humble editor was invited to attend a work-in-progress screening of BRIM<\/strong>, the period-shifting drama about systemic racism in American health care that has been in the works from Keenan Dailey, Trude Namara, Kevin Lau<\/strong>, and their collaborators at Visage Entertainment<\/strong> and partner companies, but could not go; plenty of others apparently did including Penne, who digs into the film\u2019s heady aims and themes<\/a><\/span>. SP<\/span> also shared another press release from the Champaign County Film Office<\/strong> and Flyover Film Studios<\/strong> that highlights regional production, in this instance a few selections with elements of the Christmas<\/strong> holidays in their storytelling and design; we will Scrooge a bit again as we did at Halloween<\/strong> and clarify that half the movies mentioned are Chicago<\/strong> productions made with a helping hand from professionals with east central Illinois ties, in particular the Flyover folks. Still, feel free to check them out regardless of their overall C-U DNA<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Last month, Penne wrote eloquently about the \u201cpatchwork quilt\u201d qualities of the revived magazine show PRAIRIE FIRE<\/strong>, once a WILL-TV<\/strong> staple in the Nineties and now an upgraded and award-winning program that basks in the glow of down-home localism, often with portraits of folks who flourish with their creative passions and better their communities in the process; the recent article touches on several high points of the current second season of episodes<\/a><\/span>. One can also find relevant nods in SP<\/span>\u2019s omnibus pieces; the brand-new and annual \u201cBEST of 2024\u201d concludes with a big hat tip to Flyover<\/a><\/span> and its commercial potential for the county coffers and those who want to work in entertainment media for a living, while the also-new and annual \u201cWORST of 2024\u201d ends with \u201cheartbreak\u201d<\/a><\/span> as it reiterates Caf\u00e9 Kopi<\/strong> will close its downtown Champaign location after 31-plus years in business on Sunday, December 22<\/strong>. The homey coffee house is a seminal location for Ye Ed<\/strong> due to the indirect role it has played in our Confidential doings.<\/p>\n And, inherent in the ways that SP<\/span> likes to dissect the arguable deficiencies of the C-U in order to arrive at constructive solutions for us all to consider, their \u201cempty spaces\u201d round-up piece from September<\/a><\/span> includes the umpteenth reminder that we don\u2019t have the Art Theater<\/strong> anymore to enjoy. I visited town on Monday for personal reasons and drove past the dimmed marquee with the current $870,000 asking price hung on it \u2013 still sad looking, still a bit irritating to think about, and fated to be a recurring topic now that the city is digging up its central downtown parking lot a mere block away to make room for a beautified public plaza in order to attract all the foot traffic they\u2019re hoping for. The blight has<\/em> to be documented, whether it\u2019s the Smile Politely<\/span> way or otherwise, because it isn\u2019t just about a vacant movie house, folks.<\/p>\n It\u2019s our<\/em> lives and we\u2019re definitely the lesser for it. We don\u2019t want to hear or read it sometimes, but thanks to the mettle of publisher Seth Fein<\/strong> and his editorial staff, we can keep thinking and learning about the C-U. As a former contributor and employee of what was the most comparable precedent, the alternative print weekly The Octopus<\/span><\/strong> founded by Paul Young<\/strong>, it\u2019s heartening to see SP<\/span> stay the course. Well done.<\/p>\n You know the drill, then. Read SP<\/span>, send in your story ideas and words and feedback to SP<\/span>, contribute with your wallet to SP<\/span> to help float the modest operating capital they need each year<\/a><\/span>. Two full decades of fostering low-budget public service and journalism for Champaign-Urbana<\/strong> and its citizens is certainly nothing to take lightly. May they continue to highlight our worthwhile and needs-improvement sides for twenty years more, and make sure Amy Penne is always caught up<\/a><\/span> on our weird little film culture world.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen<\/strong><\/p>\n To that<\/em> end, however, we wouldn\u2019t be CUBlog<\/span><\/strong>-ging if we felt there was nothing more for us to contribute about the cinematic arts of Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond. After nearly twenty years of keeping a sharp eye on our topics of choice, we\u2019re versed in putting together the two-and-twos that might just go over the collective heads at our area\u2019s television and radio stations, newspapers, websites, podcasts, and other blogs. The following is a case in point and, honestly, even we<\/em> didn\u2019t see it coming.<\/p>\n CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> watches over the intriguing fare that is presented in Chicago and the suburbs along with what goes down in the C-U and we\u2019re subscribed to a few relevant email sources on that front. It includes Chicago Filmmakers<\/strong>, a long-running non-profit center that teaches filmmaking skills and also screens non-mainstream fare<\/a><\/span>. So, when we receive an announcement about a CF program called \u201cPicture ReStart<\/strong>,\u201d we have<\/em> to take notice. Why? It\u2019s because 31-plus years ago \u2013 that fateful time again, 1993 \u2013 we lost a fellow named Ron Epple<\/strong> who once was the<\/em> one-man film force of Champaign-Urbana, and in particular on the University of Illinois<\/strong> campus, before he relocated to the Windy City. Among his achievements<\/a><\/span>, Epple operated a short film distributor called Picture Start<\/strong> out of his home in Champaign.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n The company\u2019s library of 16-millimeter prints was acquired by Chicago Filmmakers in the Nineties, initially to make them available as viewing and research copies, but now the group acts as a caretaker for the collection. They and curator Ben Creech<\/strong> will share some of the spoils in their new and monthly \u201cPicture ReStart\u201d series beginning on Saturday, January 18, 6 p.m.<\/strong>, at the Historic Firehouse Cinema<\/strong> on 1326 W. Hollywood Avenue<\/strong> in Chicago. The first grouping is called \u201cHer Expansive Self,\u201d the show on February 15<\/strong> is \u201cSurface Tensions,\u201d and the follow-up on March 25<\/strong> is \u201cAnimated Breakdowns,\u201d all teasing at what lies therein. CF should announce the individual films of each program on Facebook<\/strong><\/a><\/span> prior to the events, and you can read more about Creech, Epple, Picture Start\/\u201cReStart,\u201d and future dates on this web page<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n It is a neat offering for those who appreciate the experimental and art films of yore, while it is certainly relevant to us as a body of work assembled by a C-U original in the C-U<\/em>. We don\u2019t often get windows into our cinema past from an era previous to, say, when Mike Trippiedi<\/strong> and his creative clan made DOGS IN QUICKSAND<\/strong> in 1997<\/a><\/span>, so this is an effort we should support however we can. Maybe a C-U screening of a \u201cPicture ReStart\u201d compilation could be arranged for later in 2025 or early 2026? Let\u2019s dream into action, ambassadors and promoters du C-U! In the meantime, let your minds wander with the following \u201cteaser films\u201d of sorts photographed by Chicago Filmmakers, which includes the wonderful Maya Deren<\/strong> in her classic dreamlike meditation, MESHES OF THE AFTERNOON<\/strong>, from 1943. Otherwise \u2026 what are they?<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Esquire Lounge, Champaign, 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> @ The Canopy Club, 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> @ 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 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 2\/15\/25<\/strong> 3\/27-3\/29\/25<\/strong> 4\/3-4\/13\/25<\/strong> 4\/3-4\/10\/25<\/strong> 4\/23\/-4\/25\/25<\/strong> 5\/29-6\/2\/25<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area<\/strong><\/p>\n Chambana Film Festival* screening series<\/strong> ~~~~~<\/p>\n Compiled by Jason Pankoke.<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u201cCalendar du C-U\u201d Select movie listings for December 13-19, 2024 in Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond! Don\u2019t forget to peruse this week\u2019s Field Report! And, did you take a peek at the Images of the week?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1922,53,2489,19,15,1994,23,13,31],"tags":[2876,2780,2880,700,870,2878,915,2775,2883,2882,2879,2881,2877,183,377],"class_list":["post-16175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chicago-stories","category-educationclasses","category-films-in-retrospect","category-images-du-cu","category-media-coverage","category-personalities-du-c-u","category-preservation","category-public-events","category-the-old-school","tag-amy-penne","tag-brim","tag-cafe-kopi","tag-chicago-filmmakers","tag-cinema-calendar","tag-film-coverage-in-c-u","tag-film-preservation","tag-flyover-film-studios","tag-picture-restart","tag-picture-start","tag-prairie-fire","tag-ron-epple","tag-seth-fein","tag-smile-politely","tag-the-art-theater"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16175"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16187,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16175\/revisions\/16187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/p>\n
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\nChampaign Movie Makers* meeting (12\/16, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nHER STORY (in Mandarin with English sub), KRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LAST DANCE (in Cantonese with English sub), THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation), THE MAN IN THE WHITE VAN, FLOW (animation), GLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), RED ONE, WICKED, Y2K* (12\/13 on), I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (religious documentary) (12\/14, 4 p.m.; 12\/17, 7 p.m.), RM: RIGHT PEOPLE, WRONG PLACE (music documentary; in Korean with English sub) (12\/14, 2 p.m.), BLACK CHRISTMAS 50th anniversary (12\/15, 4 p.m.), AX Cinema Nights: BABYMETAL: LEGEND \u2013 43 THE MOVIE (concert film) (12\/15, 4:30 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), HOMESTEAD advance screening (12\/16, 7 p.m.), AMC \u201cScreen Unseen\u201d (mystery movie) (12\/16, 7 p.m.), HOMESTEAD (12\/18 on), MUFASA: THE LION KING, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (12\/19 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nKRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation), THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film), GLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), THE ORDER, RED ONE, WEREWOLVES, WICKED, Y2K (12\/13 on), \u201cFor King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas Live\u201d (faith concert recording) (12\/13-12\/18, 1:30 p.m.), \u201cSeventeen: \u2018Right Here\u2019 World Tour in Japan\u201d (concert performance) (12\/14, 7 p.m., simulcast), I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (religious documentary) (12\/14, 12\/17, 4 & 7 p.m.), \u201cAndr\u00e9 Rieu Christmas Concert\u201d (faith concert recording) (12\/14, 3 p.m.), WHITE CHRISTMAS 70th anniversary (12\/15, 1 & 7 p.m.; 12\/16, 7 p.m.), HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000) (12\/15, 3 & 7 p.m.; 12\/18, 7 p.m.), MUFASA: THE LION KING, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (12\/19 on)<\/p>\n
\nClaudio Simonetti\u2019s Goblin \u201cUltimate Anthology\u201d tour (film music of Argento, Romero, etc.) (12\/14, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show)<\/p>\n
\nIllinois Public Media presents \u201cThe Arthouse Experience Film Series\u201d feat. ROBOT DREAMS (animation) (12\/14, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nMOANA 2 (animation), WICKED (12\/12-12\/15), ELF (12\/12-12\/15, 7 p.m., free)<\/p>\n
\nKRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation), MOANA 2 (animation), WICKED (12\/13 on), ELF (12\/14, 11 a.m.), A CHRISTMAS STORY (12\/17, 4 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nMOANA 2 (animation), WICKED (12\/13 on)<\/p>\n
\nTHE GRINCH (animation) (12\/14, 2 p.m.), WHITE CHRISTMAS (12\/15, 2 p.m., free), Danville Public Library presents \u201cA Novel Idea\u2026\u201d feat. THE WIZARD OF OZ (10\/19, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nKRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation), THE MAN IN THE WHITE VAN, GLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), PUSHPA 2: THE RULE (in Telugu with English sub), WICKED, Y2K* (12\/6 on), Christmas movies: A CHRISTMAS STORY, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000), NATIONAL LAMPOON\u2019S CHRISTMAS VACATION, and THE POLAR EXPRESS (animation) (12\/13-12\/18, daily), \u201cFor King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas Live\u201d* (faith concert recording) (12\/13-12\/18), \u201cSeventeen: \u2018Right Here\u2019 World Tour in Japan\u201d (concert performance) (12\/14, 7 p.m., simulcast), I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (religious documentary) (12\/14, 4 p.m.; 12\/17, 7 p.m.), \u201cAndr\u00e9 Rieu Christmas Concert\u201d (faith concert recording) (12\/14, 3 p.m.), \u201cNCT Dream: Mystery Lab \u2013 Dream( )Scape\u201d (concert film) (12\/14, 12 p.m., Korean w\/Eng sub), WHITE CHRISTMAS 70th anniversary (12\/15, 4 & 7 p.m.; 12\/16, 7 p.m.), RM: RIGHT PEOPLE, WRONG PLACE (music documentary; in Korean with English sub) (12\/15, 1:40 p.m.), Marcus \u201cMystery Movie\u201d (12\/16, 7 p.m.), HOMESTEAD (12\/18 on), MUFASA: THE LION KING, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (12\/19 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nWHITE CHRISTMAS, BLACK CHRISTMAS (12\/13), THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER, NATIONAL LAMPOON\u2019S CHRISTMAS VACATION, THE BRAIN (12\/14), THE POLAR EXPRESS (animation), IT\u2019S A WONDERFUL LIFE, TOKYO GODFATHERS (anim\u00e9) (12\/15), MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1994) (12\/16), GREMLINS (12\/17), CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (12\/18), ELF (12\/19)<\/p>\n
\nMOANA 2 (animation) (12\/13, 12\/15)<\/p>\n
\nWICKED (12\/13-12\/15)<\/p>\n
\nDIRTY ANGELS*, KRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation), \u201cFor King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas Live\u201d* (faith concert recording), GLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), RED ONE, WICKED (12\/13 on), THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER* (faith film) (12\/13-12\/14, 12\/16-12\/18), THE POLAR EXPRESS* (animation) (12\/13-12\/15), I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (religious documentary) (12\/15-12\/17), WHITE CHRISTMAS 70th anniversary (12\/15-12\/16, 1 & 7 p.m.; 12\/17, 7 p.m.),<\/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
\n35th Onion City Experimental Film Festival, Chicago, IL<\/p>\n
\n27th annual Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI<\/p>\n
\n25th Roger Ebert\u2019s Film Festival*
\n@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL<\/p>\n
\nThe Chambana Film Festival
\n@ TBA, Champaign-Urbana, IL<\/p>\n
\n@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 4 p.m.<\/strong>
\n12\/29: documentary shorts incl. FACING THE FALLS; 1\/26\/25: AFTER THE FALL: TWO GENERATIONS OF THE VIETNAM CONFLICT; 2\/2\/25: The IRLMovieClub Screening: TBA<\/p>\n
\n\u00a9 2024 Jason Pankoke\/C-U Blogfidential<\/span>
\n[T \u2212140]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"