<\/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 1\/12: Damian Duffy (co-adapter, Octavia E. Butler\u2019s Parable of the Talents<\/span>, Abrams ComicArts, New York, NY)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n PASSINGS | You Will Be Missed<\/strong><\/p>\n 12\/24: Barbara Evans, 72 (actor, BUCKY McSNEAD, Shut Up and Do It Productions, Champaign, IL)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n The New Year is as good as time as any for a link dump in our Report<\/strong> to share what our online media friends and neighbors are thinking and doing, so, by all means wander a little closer and click away!<\/p>\n Some folks want to foster the funny via their videos. Camp Nostalgic Studios<\/strong> posted a big conclusion to their production season last month, first with the last episode of SATURDAY MORNING<\/strong> for 2024<\/a><\/span> wherein hosts Alex Duquette<\/strong> and Dave Rediger<\/strong> attempt to make it to the end credits with the heat turned off in order to save money; they remember the reason for a different season and share an on-the-street update from Vadim Nuebeck<\/strong> (looks familiar\u2026) as he searches for an elusive toy doll with a certain je ne sais quoi<\/em> that is flying off the shelves. Across the creek at Rubber Chicken Films<\/strong>, versatile impressionist Andy Due<\/strong> (looks familiar\u2026) finished the year with Episode 27<\/span><\/strong> of THE ANY DUE SHOW<\/strong><\/span><\/a> and his patented take on Golden Age and retro Brit humour, this time involving an Irish pastor\u2019s service, a pair of strangers at a park bench, and a surf rock band eulogizing their jalopy. A-hem<\/em>. (Let\u2019s not forget The Andy Due Book<\/span><\/strong>, a print expansion of the programme that is now available on Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.) And floating back down to Camp Nostalgic, we have the finale of LATE NIGHT URGE<\/strong><\/a><\/span> in which host Ariel Julie<\/strong> (looks loverly\u2026) ruminates about Jewish holidays and the seeming lack of sexy in the belief\u2019s public-facing patina.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Other folks have opinions on the movies. Our man Colin Gabriel Price<\/strong> goes over his primary picks for the best releases of 2024 in the most recent episode of Priceless B Movies<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a> and, to no one\u2019s surprise, it\u2019s ladled liberally with horror. Over at Mashley at the Movies<\/span><\/strong>, Matt<\/strong> and Ashley<\/strong> dropped a couple of episodes for Xmas-time<\/a><\/span> where they discuss the Bob Dylan<\/strong> picture A COMPLETE UNKNOWN<\/strong> with fellow C-U podcaster Elizabeth Hess<\/strong> and NOSFERATU<\/strong> with local writer Aaron Polk<\/strong>. A few steps in the other direction, Chase Todd<\/strong> of Chase & Shep<\/strong> fame has a new talker through their Earth-217<\/strong> shingle that is called Phil & Chase Watch Everything<\/span><\/strong> with co-host Phillip Hazen<\/strong> and, in their newest recording<\/a><\/span>, Shep<\/strong> and Bel<\/strong> join them to discuss more than twenty cinematic \u201cslays\u201d for the holidays. And, although their time at WCIA-TV<\/strong> is complete, professional critics Chuck Koplinski<\/strong> and Pam Powell<\/strong> continue their work as Reel Talk with Chuck and Pam<\/span><\/strong> through their own podcast, where they took on THE FIRE INSIDE, BABYGIRL<\/strong>, and more just before 2025 chimed in<\/a><\/span>, and still appear together or solo in various outlets<\/a><\/span> like CBS Channel 58<\/strong> in Milwaukee<\/strong>, The Daily Journal<\/strong> of Kankakee<\/strong>, and The Illinois Times<\/strong> of Springfield<\/strong>.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Even more folks are making the movies. Thomas Nicol<\/strong> went behind the camera for his first short in a few years, THE VENUS GAMBIT<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, in which a date goes charmingly between a duo played by Mindy Smith<\/strong> and Matthew Green<\/strong> as they enjoy a chess game; filmed and premiered at the Analog Wine Library<\/strong> in downtown Urbana<\/strong>, the piece has appeared in a handful of regional festivals. Also returning to filmic business are The Andrews (Andrew Stengele<\/strong> and Andrew Nygard<\/strong>), who made a quickie short named SANTA DOESN\u2019T EXIST<\/strong><\/a><\/span> on behalf of Champaign Movie Makers<\/strong> and for the newest iteration of the annual cable-access tradition du C-U, THE TRAVIS WAYNE HURT CHRISTMAS SPECIAL<\/strong>. Their ditty is pure wryness, a Nygard specialty, and depicts the tragedy encountered by a young girl (Logan Tarr<\/strong>) who can\u2019t sleep on Christmas Eve<\/strong>; the witty that surrounds it is merely AWOL at the moment, for Hurt elected to premiere the sketch comedy at the Channing-Murray Foundation<\/strong> last month instead of on Urbana Public Television<\/strong> where all the prior specials reside. Behind the scenes, local filmmaker John Isberg<\/strong> (FINAL SUMMER<\/strong>) concluded the first season of his talk-shop podcast, Shudder to Think<\/span><\/strong>, with Episode 13<\/strong> where he was joined<\/a><\/span> by a fellow horror storyteller from Britain<\/strong>, Jonathan Straiton<\/strong> (JOHNNY Z<\/strong>).<\/p>\n Finally, certain individuals want to discuss the movies of Champaign<\/strong>, Urbana, and the cities beyond for the record and on the regular like \u2026 oof<\/em>. That doesn\u2019t<\/em> exist in C-U recorded media, does it? No radio show, no podcast, no livestream, no vlogcast, no cable access show to cover the cinema creation and culture of our own making? Oh, don\u2019t do that<\/em>. Stop looking in your humble editor\u2019s direction from a long distance. He can only do so much from here in the Illinois Valley<\/strong>, other than offering up good ideas.<\/p>\n That said, freely return the favor if we forgot to include any similar and relevant outlets for arts and entertainment discourse in the C-U area by writing cuconfidential [at] gmail [dot] com<\/strong> with a tip. Thanks!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen<\/strong><\/p>\n We needed an easy one this week, folks, and a lo-fi photo gallery from THE TRAVIS WAYNE HURT CHRISTMAS SPECIAL<\/strong> is it. All the shows to date that were aired by UPTV 6<\/strong> are available on YouTube<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, with the latest one (apart from the brand-new one we talked about above) being THE TRAVIS WAYNE HURT CHRISTMAS SPECIAL VS. THE NOG MONSTER<\/strong> from 2023. You can find out who\u2019s in which ones at a glance on the Internet Movie Database<\/strong><\/a><\/span> and learn about the making of most episodes with this podcast series hosted by Erin Gillis<\/strong> and TWH<\/strong><\/a><\/span>. As our dearest readers should know by now, movies are not just for careers, resumes, or artistic statements. These folks want to get weird and that\u2019s just ducky with us.<\/p>\n If a few pictures of friendly and game townies (and animated friends) paint a thousand words\u2026<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Happy National Peculiar People Day<\/strong>, C-U! Stay reliably offbeat!<\/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> 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 Springfield 12, Springfield, IL<\/strong> @ 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 1\/24<\/strong> 1\/31-2\/1<\/strong> 2\/15<\/strong> 3\/27-3\/29<\/strong> 4\/3-4\/13<\/strong> 4\/3-4\/10<\/strong> 4\/23\/-4\/25<\/strong> 5\/29-6\/2<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area<\/strong><\/p>\n Chambana Film Festival* screening series<\/strong> NEW! Illini Union Board presents \u201cSpring 2024 Weekend Films\u201d<\/strong> NEW! Springfield Art Association presents the 31st annual Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series<\/strong> ~~~~~<\/p>\n Compiled by Jason Pankoke.<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u201cCalendar du C-U\u201d Select movie listings for January 10-16, 2025 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":[869,1922,2011,200,2093,19,15,1116,20,441],"tags":[2906,2796,996,870,1502,2655,2907,1588,2056,2909,2779,2302,1389,2908],"class_list":["post-16246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-calendar-du-c-u","category-chicago-stories","category-crowdsourcing-du-c-u","category-deadline-du-c-u","category-how-you-can-help","category-images-du-cu","category-media-coverage","category-podcast-du-c-u","category-videos-du-c-u","category-c-u-confidential-youtube","tag-ariel-julie","tag-camp-nostalgic-studios","tag-chuck-koplinski","tag-cinema-calendar","tag-john-isberg","tag-mashley-at-the-movies","tag-phil-chase-watch-everything","tag-priceless-b-movies","tag-reel-talk-with-chuck-and-pam","tag-santa-doesnt-exist","tag-shudder-to-think","tag-the-andy-due-show","tag-the-travis-wayne-hurt-christmas-special","tag-the-venus-gambit"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16246","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=16246"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16246\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16264,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16246\/revisions\/16264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/p>\n
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\nDEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA, FROM GROUND ZERO: STORIES FROM GAZA (documentary; in Arabic with English sub), GAME CHANGER (in Telugu with English sub), THE LAST SHOWGIRL, OCTOPUS WITH BROKEN ARMS (in Mandarin with English sub), A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, THE DAMNED, THE FIRE INSIDE*, HOMESTEAD (faith film), KRAVEN THE HUNTER*, MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, NOSFERATU, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, WICKED (1\/10 on), AX Cinema Nights: PAPRIKA 15th anniversary (anim\u00e9) (1\/12, 4:30 p.m., in Japanese with English sub; 1\/8, 7:30 p.m., English dub), PETER PAN\u2019S NEVERLAND NIGHTMARE (1\/14-1\/15, 7:30 p.m.), ONE OF THEM DAYS THE ROOM NEXT DOOR, WOLF MAN (1\/16 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nBETTER MAN, DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA, THE LAST SHOWGIRL, BABYGIRL, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, THE FIRE INSIDE, HOMESTEAD (faith film), MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, NOSFERATU, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, WICKED (1\/10 on), INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1\/12, 3 & 7 p.m.; 1\/15, 7 p.m.), WOLF MAN (1\/16 on)<\/p>\n
\nSpringfield Art Association presents the 31st annual Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series feat. ONE LIFE (1\/12, 1 & 4 p.m.; 1\/14, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nA COMPLETE UNKNOWN, NOSFERATU, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (1\/9-1\/12)<\/p>\n
\nA COMPLETE UNKNOWN, MUFASA: THE LION KING, NOSFERATU, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, WICKED (1\/10 on)<\/p>\n
\nHOMESTEAD (faith film), SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (1\/10 on)<\/p>\n
\nINSIDE OUT 2 (animation) (1\/11, 2 p.m.), Danville Public Library presents \u201cA Novel Idea\u2026\u201d feat. THE COLOR PURPLE (1985) (1\/16, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nDEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA, GAME CHANGER (in Telugu with English sub), A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, THE FIRE INSIDE, MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, NOSFERATU, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, WICKED (1\/10 on), DAAKU MAHARAAJ (in Telugu with English sub) (1\/11 on), SANKRATHIKI VASTHUNAM (in Telugu with English sub) (1\/13 on), PETER PAN\u2019S NEVERLAND NIGHTMARE (1\/13-1\/15, 7 p.m.), TRAILER PARK BOYS: STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF KITTIES (1\/15, 7 p.m.), AUTUMN AND THE BLACK JAGUAR, ONE OF THEM DAYS, SING SING (1\/16 on)<\/p>\n
\nFLOW (animation) (1\/10-1\/12), THE SUBSTANCE (1\/10-1\/11)<\/p>\n
\nTHE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film) (1\/10-1\/12)<\/p>\n
\nMUFASA: THE LION KING (1\/10-1\/12)<\/p>\n
\nDEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, NOSFERATU, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (1\/10 on)<\/p>\n
\nFlatlands Dance Film Festival* Short Film Competition 2025
\n@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
\nB-Fest 2025
\n@ Norris University Center, NU, Evanston, IL, 6 p.m.-6 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>
\n1\/26: AFTER THE FALL: TWO GENERATIONS OF THE VIETNAM CONFLICT; 2\/2: The IRLMovieClub Screening feat. THE THINKING GAME; 2\/9-2\/23: The Oscar Nominated Shorts 2025 \u2013 Live Action (2\/9), Animation (2\/16), and Documentary (2\/23)<\/p>\n
\n@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat, free w\/i-card<\/strong>
\n1\/24-1\/25 SMILE 2; 1\/31-2\/1: VENOM: THE LAST DANCE; 2\/7-2\/8: CONCLAVE; 2\/14-2\/15: THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (animation); 2\/21-2\/22: GLADIATOR II: 2\/28-3\/1: SEPTEMBER 5; 3\/7-3\/8: WICKED; 3\/14-3\/15: MUFASA: THE LION KING; 3\/21-3\/22: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation); 3\/28-3\/29: PITCH PERFECT; 4\/4-4\/5: NOSFERATU; 4\/11-4\/12: WALL-E (animation); 4\/18-4\/19: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3; 4\/25-4\/26: THE WILD ROBOT (animation); 5\/2-5\/3: CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD; 5\/4: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS<\/p>\n
\n@ AMC Classic Springfield 12, Springfield, IL, 1 & 4 p.m. Sunday + 7 p.m. Tuesday<\/strong>
\n1\/12, 1\/14: ONE LIFE; 1\/19, 1\/21: TAKING VENICE; 1\/26, 1\/28: NOWHERE SPECIAL; 2\/2, 2\/4: CROSSING; 2\/9, 2\/11: THELMA; 2\/16, 2\/18: TOUCH; 2\/23, 2\/25: THE LAST OF THE SEA WOMEN; 3\/2, 3\/ 4: THE TASTE OF THINGS<\/p>\n
\n\u00a9 2025 Jason Pankoke\/C-U Blogfidential<\/span>
\n[T \u2212136]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"