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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 6\/10: Allen Richards (publisher, B-Independent<\/span>.com, VA)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n Now that we\u2019re back in this space, Ye Ed<\/strong> tells us that we should Report<\/strong>. So, Report<\/strong> we shall. First up is the obvious one \u2013 there\u2019s a new feature film that is currently on location in Piatt<\/strong> and Ford<\/strong> counties, as many of you have probably seen by now on social media and through the local press. CHILI FINGER<\/strong> is described as a dark comedy in previous articles by The Hollywood Reporter<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span> and Reel Chicago<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span> and is directed by Edd Benda<\/strong> and Stephen Helstad<\/strong> of Beyond the Porch, LLC<\/a><\/span>,<\/strong> in Los Angeles<\/strong>, who are teaming with the LA post-production house Gold Tree Studios<\/strong> on the picture. Written by Helstad, the story is about a woman played by Judy Greer<\/strong> who claims to find a human finger in her order at a fast-food restaurant and attempts to cash in on it; John Goodman, Sean Astin<\/strong>, and Bryan Cranston<\/strong> also have roles in the film, the rights for which will be sold internationally<\/a><\/span> at the American Film Market<\/strong> and so on once it\u2019s finished. There is no word that we\u2019ve found about how long the production will be in the area or if they might hit the C-U, but the residents and city leaders of Monticello<\/strong> <\/a><\/span>and Paxton<\/strong> <\/a><\/span>are clearly loving the limelight so far.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n While it will be some time before CHILI FINGER<\/strong> can be seen, we have mere days to wait before we can start watching the television series REVIVAL<\/strong>, a pet project of prolific indie producer Aaron B. Koontz<\/strong> and our own Luke Boyce<\/strong> of Shatterglass Films<\/strong> and Flyover Film Studios<\/strong>, on SyFy<\/strong>. Adapted from the acclaimed series<\/a><\/span> by writer Tim Seely<\/strong>, artist Mike Norton<\/strong>, and publisher Image Comics<\/strong>, the Canada<\/strong>-lensed show will debut next Thursday, June 12<\/strong>, at 9 p.m. CST<\/strong> on the cable channel and each episode will be available to stream on Peacock<\/strong> one week after its debut. The show follows a rural Wisconsin<\/strong> police officer<\/a><\/span> played by Melanie Scrofano<\/strong>, star of SyFy\u2019s previous hit WYNONNA EARP<\/strong>, as she witnesses the phenomena of the recently deceased coming back to life including her sister. Executive producers and showrunners Boyce and Koontz talked with Tara Bennett<\/strong> of SyFy Wire<\/span><\/strong> about switching gears<\/a><\/span> from an independently mounted, feature-length treatment<\/a><\/span> to serialized storytelling for the NBC<\/strong> sister network and briefly brought up REVEALER<\/strong>, the religion-and-end-times thriller that Shatterglass and The Line Film Co.<\/strong> made covertly in the C-U during a low ebb in pursuing this project. REVIVAL<\/strong> also stars David James Elliott, Romy Weltman<\/strong>, and Stephen Ogg<\/strong> along with Chicago<\/strong> native Phil Brooks<\/strong>, famously known as CM Punk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Finally, John Isberg<\/strong> of Swede Films<\/strong> in Champaign<\/strong> announced during our hiatus that, despite all signs leading many to believe that FINAL SUMMER PART II<\/strong> was on deck, his next production will actually be a horror-comedy called BIG MUDDY<\/strong> and take its inspiration from the regional legends of sasquatch-type creatures. Isberg and team are gearing up for a late summer shoot this year and will launch an Indiegogo<\/strong> campaign<\/a><\/span> on July 3<\/strong>, right after they venture to southern Illinois<\/strong> and partake in the annual Big Muddy Monster Fest<\/span><\/strong> of Murphrysboro<\/strong><\/span><\/a> on Saturday, June 21<\/strong>. According to the Internet Movie Database<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, Isberg has already cast a good group of Midwest indie horror regulars for BIG MUDDY<\/strong> such as FINAL SUMMER<\/strong> actors Myles Valentine, Seth Boyer<\/strong>, and Bishop Stevens<\/strong>, ATTACK OF THE CORN ZOMBIES<\/strong> and GRINNERS<\/strong> standout Magdalena Conway<\/strong>, STRANGER THINGS<\/strong> veteran and UIUC<\/strong> professor Aaron Mu\u00f1oz<\/strong>, BLACK MOLD<\/strong>\u2019s Andrew Bailes<\/strong>, and Nathan Brandon Gaik<\/strong>, the towering talent from Bloomington-Normal<\/strong> who will portray \u201cBig Muddy\u201d akin to his turn as the title fiend in Paul A. Brooks\u2019 HUNTING FOR THE HAG<\/strong>, albeit with a more mellow vibe. Also set to appear are Ari Lehman<\/strong> from the original FRIDAY THE 13TH<\/strong> and Oliver Robbins<\/strong> from the original POLTERGEIST<\/strong>. Look for more \u201cBig\u201d news when we get it in\u2026<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen<\/strong><\/p>\n Well, that<\/em> was inspiring to see. Your humble editor escaped the house on the edge of an American small town for a spell and attended the first Savoy Lumi\u00e8re<\/strong> at the Savoy 16 + IMAX<\/strong><\/a><\/span> over the weekend. I only was able to sit in for three shows, but I saw good things and said hello to a few familiar faces. It will be of great interest to see how this endeavor matures and the C-U responds over time. An admirably devoted Daily Illini<\/strong> student writer, Anna Williams<\/strong>, went as well and filed multiple reports on all days of the event starting with this one<\/a><\/span>. Amy Penne<\/strong> has also had the Lumi\u00e8re pulse and shared this notice at Smile Politely<\/strong> on the Audience Award winners<\/a><\/span> tallied up after the screening of SALLY<\/strong>. Below are a few pictures I took on Saturday, May 31<\/strong>, before and during the last show of the day, THE OTHER PEOPLE<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, a very low-key spooker about a family who gets more than they bargained for in their new home. Seated at the check-in table is Thomas Nicol<\/strong>, who has coordinated with the Savoy 16 in the past on behalf of his sadly departed Krampusnacht Freeky Film Festival<\/strong>, and sitting up front with festival director Nat Dykeman<\/strong> in Theater 8 is the festival guest Chad McClarnon<\/strong> who directed, co-wrote, and co-produced THE OTHER PEOPLE<\/strong> for his company, Best Part Productions<\/strong> of Nashville, Tennessee<\/strong>. We\u2019re still going to look at a few aspects of the Lumi\u00e8re and cinema-going in the C-U over the next few weeks before moving on, so stay tuned.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Fire Doll Studio, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Gallery Art Bar, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ Illini Union Ballroom, 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> @ Main Quad, 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 @ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL<\/strong> @ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL<\/strong> @ 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> @ 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 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 6\/25<\/strong> 9\/20-9\/22<\/strong> 11\/8-11\/9<\/strong> 4\/23-4\/26, 2026<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area<\/strong><\/p>\n Champaign Park District presents \u201cMoo-vie Nights at Prairie Farm\u201d<\/strong> Illini Union Board presents \u201cSummer Films on the Quad\u201d<\/strong> ~~~~~<\/p>\n Compiled by Jason Pankoke.<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u201cCalendar du C-U\u201d Select movie listings for June 6-12, 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":[14,22,374,869,2011,376,19,15,10,13],"tags":[3007,3008,870,1824,1248,3009,1502,3010,2683,2438,1037,3006,1128,3011,1823,1505,1198,1821],"class_list":["post-16544","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-area-festivals","category-broadcast-dates","category-business-matters","category-calendar-du-c-u","category-crowdsourcing-du-c-u","category-gone-hollywood","category-images-du-cu","category-media-coverage","category-production-updates","category-public-events","tag-big-muddy","tag-chili-finger","tag-cinema-calendar","tag-image-comics","tag-indiegogo","tag-john-goodman","tag-john-isberg","tag-judy-greer","tag-local-filmmaking","tag-location-filming","tag-luke-boyce","tag-melanie-scrofano","tag-monticello-il","tag-paxton-il","tag-revival","tag-swede-films","tag-syfy","tag-tim-seeley"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16544","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=16544"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16544\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16552,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16544\/revisions\/16552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/p>\n
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\nUI Flatlands Dance Film Festival and Krannert Art Museum present \u201cGood House Keep Film Screening\u201d feat. Laura Chiaramonte (6\/11, 6:30 p.m., free)<\/p>\n
\nUI Flatlands Dance Film Festival presents \u201cExperimental Dance Film Performance and Talkback\u201d feat Laura Chiaramonte, Matt Harsh, and Tessa Olson (6\/10, 7 p.m., free)<\/p>\n
\nThe African Kinship Reunion (TAKiR) present BOUND: AFRICANS VS. AFRICAN-AMERICANS documentary screening w\/filmmaker Peres Owino (6\/14, 5 p.m., free w\/reservation) Tickets<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nBALLERINA, DAN DA DAN: EVIL EYE (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DANGEROUS ANIMALS, THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, THE RITUAL, BRING HER BACK, FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES, FRIENDSHIP, KARATE KID: LEGENDS, LILO & STITCH, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE \u2013 THE FINAL RECKONING, SINNERS*, THUNDERBOLTS** (6\/6 on), DOGMA 25th anniversary (re-release) (6\/6-6\/8), ESCAPE FROM THE 21ST CENTURY (6\/9, 8 p.m., in Mandarin with English sub), HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (6\/11 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nBALLERINA, DANGEROUS ANIMALS, THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, THE RITUAL, BRING HER BACK, FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES, FRIENDSHIP, JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE*, KARATE KID: LEGENDS, THE LAST RODEO, LILO & STITCH, A MINECRAFT MOVIE*, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE \u2013 THE FINAL RECKONING, SINNERS, THUNDERBOLTS* (6\/6 on), UFC 316: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O\u2019Malley, more (mixed martial arts) (6\/7, 9 p.m., simulcast), TWILIGHT (6\/8, 3 & 7 p.m.; 6\/11, 7 p.m.), THE AMERICAN MIRACLE: OUR NATION IS NO ACCIDENT (faith docudrama) (6\/9-6\/11, 7 p.m.), HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (6\/11 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents \u201cSummer Films on the Quad\u201d feat. PADDINGTON IN PERU (6\/12, 9 p.m., free)<\/p>\n
\nBALLERINA, KARATE KID: LEGENDS, LILO & STITCH, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE \u2013 THE FINAL RECKONING (6\/6 on), UFC 316: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O\u2019Malley, more (mixed martial arts) (6\/7, 9 p.m., simulcast), THE BAD GUYS (animation) (6\/10-6\/11, 10 a.m., free)<\/p>\n
\nLILO & STITCH, KARATE KID: LEGENDS (Screen 1), GREASE, DIRTY DANCING (1987) (Screen 2) (6\/6-6\/7), LILO & STITCH (Screen 1), GREASE (1987) (Screen 2) (6\/8), LILO & STITCH (Screen 1), DIRTY DANCING (1987) (Screen 2) (6\/9-6\/11), HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (Screen 1), LILO & STITCH (Screen 2) (6\/12 on)<\/p>\n
\nLILO & STITCH (6\/6-6\/8), HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (6\/12 on)<\/p>\n
\nBALLERINA, DAN DA DAN: EVIL EYE (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DANGEROUS ANIMALS, THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, THE RITUAL, BRING HER BACK, FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES, FRIENDSHIP, KARATE KID: LEGENDS, LILO & STITCH, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE \u2013 THE FINAL RECKONING, SINNERS, THUNDERBOLTS* (6\/6 on), Indian cinema: HOUSEFULL 5* (Hindi w\/Eng sub, 6\/6-6\/11) and THUG LIFE (Telugu or Tamil w\/Eng sub, 6\/6-6\/11), DESPICABLE ME 4* (animation) (6\/8-6\/12), DOGMA 25th anniversary (re-release) (6\/8, 8 p.m.), THE AMERICAN MIRACLE: OUR NATION IS NO ACCIDENT* (faith docudrama) (6\/9-6\/11), HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (6\/11 on), MILEY CYRUS: SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL (\u201cvisual album\u201d music film) (6\/12, 6:30 & 7 p.m.), MATERIALISTS (6\/12 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nTHE NEW ADVENTURES OF PIPPI LONGSTOCKING (6\/9, 6\/11), FRIENDSHIP (6\/12)<\/p>\n
\nKARATE KID: LEGENDS (6\/6-6\/8)<\/p>\n
\nLILO & STITCH (6\/6-6\/8)<\/p>\n
\nLILO & STITCH, KARATE KID: LEGENDS (Screen 1), FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES, SINNERS (Screen 2) (6\/6-6\/8, 6\/10-6\/11)<\/p>\n
\nBALLERINA, FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES, KARATE KID: LEGENDS, THE LAST RODEO, LILO & STITCH, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE \u2013 THE FINAL RECKONING (6\/6 on), THE AMERICAN MIRACLE: OUR NATION IS NO ACCIDENT (faith docudrama) (6\/9-6\/11), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (6\/11-6\/12, 10 a.m.), HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (6\/12 on)<\/p>\n
\n\u201cJay & Silent Bob Aural Sects Tour\u201d starring Kevin Smith & Jay Mewes
\n@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
\nChampaign Film Society presents
\nthe first CineSonic* music film festival
\n@ TBA, Champaign-Urbana, IL<\/p>\n
\nDark History & Horror Con 2025
\n@ The Orpheum Theatre, Champaign, IL<\/p>\n
\nRoger Ebert\u2019s Film Festival*
\n@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL<\/p>\n
\n@ Prairie Farm\/Centennial Park, Champaign, IL, 8 p.m., free<\/strong>
\n6\/13: CHICKEN LITTLE; 6\/27: OPEN SEASON; 7\/11: BABE; 7\/25: HOME ON THE RANGE; 8\/8: CHARLOTTE\u2019S WEB (2006)<\/p>\n
\n@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 9 p.m. Thursdays, free<\/strong>
\n6\/19: SNOW WHITE; 6\/26: A MINECRAFT MOVIE; 7\/3: THE PATRIOT; 7\/10: THE WOMAN IN THE YARD; 7\/17: THE LEGEND OF OCHI; 7\/24: DROP; 7\/31: THUNDERBOLTS*; 8\/7: LILO & STITCH; 8\/14: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE \u2013 THE FINAL RECKONING<\/p>\n
\n\u00a9 2025 Jason Pankoke\/C-U Blogfidential<\/span>
\n[T \u2212115]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"