<\/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 2\/8: Robin Christian (producer\/director, C.O.R.N. II: MIND HARVEST, Dreamscape Cinema, Champaign, IL) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n PASSINGS | You Will Be Missed<\/strong><\/p>\n 1\/28: Kay Bohannon Holley, 71 (actress, WELCOME TO TOLONO, Me Me Productions, Los Angeles, CA)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n We suppose a fresh Report<\/strong> on timely filmy things wouldn\u2019t hurt anyone this week, but we swear<\/em> that we\u2019re keeping this one short. And by that, we mean shorts! First, it sounds like a few entrants as well as past projects were screened by Champaign Movie Makers<\/strong> at the Phoenix Savoy 16<\/strong> this past Tuesday, February 4<\/strong>, to mark the conclusion of another 48-hour filmmaking contest; the winner for this outing is a gooey lark titled THE BLUE OOZE BROTHERS<\/strong> from Andrew Nygard<\/strong> and company, which can be viewed right here<\/a><\/span> at YouTube<\/strong>. Also on the \u2018tube is a teaser for AN AFFAIR AT THE END OF TIME<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, the first \u201cofficial\u201d short subject from Earth-217 Studios<\/strong>, which features local talent Myles Valentine<\/strong> and Katherine Bokenkamp<\/strong> in the lead roles; producer Phillip Hazen<\/strong> and director\/writer Chase Todd<\/strong> are submitting the piece to film festivals as we write. And then, we\u2019d love to tell you that free tickets are still available via the CU International Film Festival<\/strong> website for their February 15<\/strong> event at the UI Spurlock Center of World Cultures<\/strong>, but<\/em>, not so fast; skip to this page instead<\/a><\/span>, since all the tickets have apparently been claimed, and add yourself to the wait list by February 12<\/strong> in case any seating opens up. Good luck!<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Back in Savoy<\/strong>, the Chambana Film Festival<\/strong><\/a><\/span> invites you to cavort about the Savoy 16 en route<\/em> to the auditorium where they will be presenting all of this year\u2019s Academy Award<\/strong>-nominated short subjects over the next three weekends with the following schedule: \u201cLive Action\u201d category on Sunday, February 16, 4 p.m.<\/strong>, followed by the \u201cAnimation\u201d category at 6 p.m.<\/strong>; \u201cDocumentary\u201d category on Sunday, February 23, 4 p.m.<\/strong>; and, an \u201cAnimation\u201d reprise on Sunday, March 2, 4 p.m.<\/strong>, which should conclude before the televised Oscar<\/strong> ceremony gets underway. You can also feel free to hit the Savoy 16 on Saturday, February 22, 6 p.m.<\/strong>, when, as was probably expected, the folks behind the locally-made documentary THE EVOLUTION OF THE BARBER<\/strong> will host an encore after all the tickets to their first screening were snapped up in advance through specific channels \u2013 hint<\/em>, Beard Culture Barbershop & Gallery<\/strong> of Urbana<\/a><\/span>, hint<\/em> \u2013 as with the CU International fest in the last week. Pens to Lens<\/strong> is still accepting student-crafted screenplays for short films<\/a><\/span> through Friday, February 28<\/strong>, to be reviewed and possibly produced by local film pros. And, Scott Murphy<\/strong> of Neon Street Productions<\/span><\/strong> in Danville<\/strong><\/span><\/a> shared with CMM on Facebook<\/strong> that his film, SHUTEYE<\/strong>, was completed and finally released to YouTube<\/strong> as of January 16<\/strong><\/a><\/span>; the 22-minute mystery, shot at locations in Vermilion<\/strong> and Douglas<\/strong> counties, stars Aereol Murphy, Pamela Adam<\/strong>, and Makiah Payne<\/strong>.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n We\u2019ll tack on a mention of the following project that was recently introduced on CMM FB since the indie features are what we really<\/em> like to see taking root in Champaign-Urbana<\/strong>. Despite the deadline of January 31<\/strong> to apply for both crew positions as stated in the following graphic \u2013 you can click it to enlarge \u2013 and in this online notice at Backstage<\/span><\/strong> for acting positions<\/a><\/span>, we encourage you to contact the producers of DARK SOUL RIVER<\/strong> by writing darksoulriverfilm [at] gmail [dot] com<\/strong> to show interest in case they still need help in certain departments. There is not much that is freely available about this film at the moment; writer-director Vijay M. Rajan<\/strong>, who is a recent transplant from California<\/strong> to central Illinois<\/strong> based on what we have<\/em> found online<\/a><\/span>, talks about the cross-cultural concept behind his psychological thriller in the materials he has posted on a fiscal sponsorship platform<\/a><\/span> called Filmmakers Collab<\/strong>. He has at least ten narrative films under his belt, as noted on the Internet Movie Database<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, and also directed for the stage, produced industrial and online content, and taught courses and seminars at colleges and community organizations as well as through his own virtual studio, The Hive SJ<\/strong><\/a><\/span>. Rajan is clearly an enterprising fellow and that\u2019s pretty key in getting any substantial movie off the ground, especially in our neck of the cornfields, so feel free to welcome him aboard to the C-U and also tell him CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> sent you if you decide to check in!<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen<\/strong><\/p>\n In the course of digging up this\u2019s and that\u2019s for today\u2019s Report<\/strong> that we didn\u2019t know a week ago we\u2019d be writing, we came across evidence that the first of two sequels to Dreamscape Cinema<\/strong>\u2019s horror yarn C.O.R.N.<\/strong> is finally being primed for release. Below we share with you the one-sheet design that is now on the Internet Movie Database<\/strong> page for C.O.R.N.II: MIND HARVEST<\/strong> and, if you hit this link<\/a><\/span>, you can watch the trailer for it over at the Vimeo<\/strong> account of Playa Media Group<\/strong>. The series is a \u201ctaxidermists of death in the cornfields\u201d concept and in this outing, per the description available at the official Dreamscape website<\/a><\/span>, \u201cThe C.O.R.N. people want to perform taxidermy on 13-year-old Summer after she took down their leader, her father known as the \u2018Doctor.\u2019 Summer soon realizes her scarred face will prevent her from ever blending in. She befriends Maggie, a criminal psychologist, who becomes her replacement mother. But when Maggie decides to bring the law after the C.O.R.N. cult, she might have guaranteed her and Summer will become C.O.R.N.\u2019s next stuffed art display.\u201d Clearly, a dark sense of humor nourishes this variety of C.O.R.N.,<\/strong> which, by the way, stands for \u201cCollective Order of Recreational Necrophilanthropists.\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Maggie is played by Jessica Morris<\/strong>, a busy character actress with lots of television and genre work to her credit<\/a><\/span>, while Summer Olshefski<\/strong> and veteran heavy Robert Donovan<\/strong> (who appears briefly in SHUTEYE<\/strong>, talked about in the Report<\/strong>) return from the first adventure as Summer and the Doctor, respectively. Keep an eye out for MIND HARVEST<\/strong> and its follow-up, KISS OF DEATH<\/strong>, to soon sprout among the rows of entertainment viewing options out there along with the original C.O.R.N.<\/strong>, which has been available to watch on Tubi<\/strong><\/a><\/span> and other services since 2021. We also wish a happy birthday to C.O.R.N.<\/strong> series creator and Dreamscape founder Robin Christian<\/strong>, who we presume will be cranking some Beatles<\/strong> music to eleven for the occasion at his home in Monticello<\/strong> this weekend. Upcoming projects for Christian and his Champaign<\/strong>-based studio include a long-in-the-works pair of music culture movies: JOY TO THE WORLD<\/strong>, a period comedy, and THE PRINCE OF MATHEW STREET<\/strong>, a biographical portrait of an early Fab Four manager, Sam Leach<\/strong>. Dreamscape releases that debuted in between parts one and two of C.O.R.N.<\/strong> include A FARGO CHRISTMAS STORY<\/strong>, the feel-good drama starring the late Ed Asner<\/strong> that is available for free on YouTube<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, and BELOW<\/strong>, a shark thriller that recently premiered on Amazon Prime<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Danville Public Library, Danville, IL<\/strong> @ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ University YMCA, 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> 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> BACK OPEN! @ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, 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<\/strong> 2\/22<\/strong> NEW! 2\/22<\/strong> NEW! 3\/25, 3\/27<\/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> NEW! 9\/21<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area<\/strong><\/p>\n UPDATE! Chambana Film Festival* screening series<\/strong>
\n2\/12: Gela Rediger (producer\/designer, Camp Nostalgic Studios, Champaign-Urbana, IL)
\n2\/13: Steven Bentz (director, The Virginia Theatre, Champaign Park District, Champaign, IL)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nDanville Library Foundation and DPL present \u201cFilmmaking 101\u201d seminar with Demetrius Witherspoon of DV Entertainment Pictures (2\/8, 12:30-1:30 p.m., free, Howard Rutan Meeting Room)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Film & Video* meeting: \u201cSpeed Dating\u201d (2\/10, 7 p.m., Room 1090)<\/p>\n
\nUI Global Relations, etc., present \u201cUman Tok: Tailoring Hope, Renewing Futures\u201d discussion and trailer screening of documentary made by students at the University of Illinois-Urbana, Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone, and the University of Birmingham, UK (2\/13, 6-7:30 p.m., free, Latzer Hall)<\/p>\n
\nHEART EYES, I\u2019M STILL HERE (in Portuguese with English sub), LOVE HURTS, COMPANION, CREATION OF THE GODS II: DEMON FORCE (in Mandarin with English sub), DETECTIVE CHINATOWN 1900 (in Mandarin with English sub), DOG MAN (animation), THE FIRE INSIDE*, FLIGHT RISK, THE FORGE* (faith film), MUFASA: THE LION KING, ONE OF THEM DAYS, WICKED*, WOLF MAN* (2\/7 on), KRAVEN THE HUNTER (2\/8, 1 p.m.), PADDINGTON IN PERU preview (2\/8, 1 p.m.), AX Cinema Nights presents COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE (anim\u00e9) (2\/9, 4:30 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), ATTACK ON TITAN: THE LAST ATTACK (anim\u00e9) (2\/10-2\/12, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub; 2\/10, 8 p.m., 2\/11-2\/12, 3 p.m., English dub), MEMOIR OF A SNAIL event with filmmaker Q&A (animation) (2\/11, 7 p.m.), BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN (music documentary), CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, NE ZHA 2 (animation) (in Mandarin with English sub), HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER\u2019S STONE (re-release, standard and 3-D), PADDINGTON IN PERU (2\/13 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nBECOMING LED ZEPPELIN (music documentary, IMAX), HEART EYES, LOVE HURTS, THE BRUTALIST, COMPANION, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, DOG MAN (animation), MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, NOSFERATU*, ONE OF THEM DAYS, PRESENCE, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, VALIANT ONE, WICKED (2\/7 on), PARASITE (re-release) (2\/7-2\/8, 9:45 p.m.; 2\/10-2:12, 9 p.m.; IMAX). UFC 312: Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland, more (mixed martial arts) (2\/8, 9 p.m., simulcast), CASABLANCA (2\/9, 3 & 7 p.m.; 2\/12, 7 p.m.), CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER\u2019S STONE (re-release, standard and 3-D), PADDINGTON IN PERU (2\/13 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents CONCLAVE (2\/7-2\/8, 7 p.m., free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n
\nSpringfield Art Association presents the 31st annual Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series feat. THELMA (2\/9, 1 & 4 p.m.; 2\/11, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nDOG MAN (animation) (2\/7-2\/9) [Reduced showings due to heating issues in the Avon Twins]<\/p>\n
\nHEART EYES, BRAVE THE DARK (faith film), COMPANION, DOG MAN (animation), FLIGHT RISK (2\/7 on), UFC 312: Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland, more (mixed martial arts) (2\/8, 9 p.m., simulcast)<\/p>\n
\nDOG MAN (animation), FLIGHT RISK (2\/7 on)<\/p>\n
\nHARRIET (2\/7, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nCAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD (2\/13-2\/16)<\/p>\n
\nBECOMING LED ZEPPELIN (music documentary, IMAX), HEART EYES, LOVE HURTS, THE BRUTALIST, COMPANION, DOG MAN (animation), FLIGHT RISK, GREEN AND GOLD*, MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, ONE OF THEM DAYS, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3* (2\/7 on), Indian Cinema: HARIDASARA DINACHARI (Kannada w\/English sub, 2\/7-2\/12), THANDEL (Telugu w\/English sub, 2\/7, 2\/9-2\/12), and VIDAAMUYARCHI (Tamil w\/English sub, 2\/7-2\/12), VALIANT ONE* (2\/7, 2\/9-2\/12), IF* (2\/7-2\/9), IU: THE WINNING (concert film) (2\/8, 3:30 p.m., IMAX), \u201cThe Twilight Saga Marathon\u201d (five films) (2\/8, 12, 12:30, 1 & 1:15 p.m.), Black History Month: NOPE (2\/9, 12 p.m.) and GET OUT (2\/9, 1 p.m.), ATTACK ON TITAN: THE LAST ATTACK (anim\u00e9) (2\/10, 6:10 p.m., in Japanese with English sub; 2\/10, 8 p.m., English dub), THE MONKEY preview (2\/12, 7 p.m.), CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, PADDINGTON IN PERU (2\/13 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nMEMOIR OF A SNAIL (animation) (2\/7-2\/9), THE SUBSTANCE (2\/7), THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG (2\/8-2\/9), The African American Studies Program at Illinois State University presents I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO (documentary) (2\/10, 7 p.m., free), DINNER IN AMERICA (2\/12)<\/p>\n
\nClosed for the week.<\/p>\n
\nA COMPLETE UNKNOWN (2\/7-2\/9)<\/p>\n
\nHEART EYES, LOVE HURTS, COMPANION, DOG MAN (animation), FLIGHT RISK, MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING (2\/7 on), GREEN AND GOLD* (2\/8-2\/9)<\/p>\n
\n3rd annual CU International Film Festival*
\n@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/p>\n
\n42nd Insect Fear Film Festival*
\n@ Foellinger Auditorium, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 5 p.m., free<\/p>\n
\nTHE EVOLUTION OF THE BARBER* documentary showing
\n@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
\nRantoul Film Festival*
\n@ Rantoul Business Center, Rantoul, 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
\nThe Chambana Music Film Festival (title TBA)
\n@ TBA, Champaign-Urbana, IL<\/p>\n
\n@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL<\/strong>