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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 THE BLOGFIDENTIAL TELETYPE | Film News You Can Use, C-U<\/strong><\/p>\n What we\u2019re seeing on our beat this week \u2026<\/em> The heart and soul of who and what we seek out, the indie creators in our midst, provide the beat for the Teletype<\/strong> this week! To start, our friend Kimberly Conner<\/strong> of Predestined Arts & Entertainment<\/strong> in Springfield<\/strong> has announced she is hosting an updated informational session on what it takes to find success in independent production; \u201cHow to Make a Movie in 50 Bite Size Steps<\/strong>\u201d will be reprised on Friday, April 4<\/strong>, from 11 a.m.<\/strong> to 1 p.m.<\/strong> via the WebEx<\/strong> conferencing platform and registration is one click away<\/a><\/span>. Conner has also revealed that she is exploring options and seeking partnerships for launching a full-service soundstage in or near the Capital City to take advantage of the Illinois<\/strong> tax credit program and bring in business; \u201cserious inquiries only,\u201d and she means it<\/a><\/span> \u2026<\/p>\n Elsewhere, our friend Jessie Seitz<\/strong> of Acid Goth<\/strong> in Decatur<\/strong> recently gave her contributors and supporters a sneak peek at a workprint of MONSTER GIRLS<\/strong>, a long-gestating documentary and tribute to women artists who ply their trade in the messy and exacting world of special effects make-up for the screen and stage. The piece is structured around lengthy talks with two trailblazers, the retired Oscar<\/strong>-winner Ve Neill<\/strong> (BEETLEJUICE, BATMAN RETURNS, FACE OFF<\/strong>) and still active Emmy<\/strong>-winner Jennifer Aspinall<\/strong> (THE TOXIC AVENGER, STREET TRASH, PAM AND TOMMY<\/strong>), and loving nods to the late Millicent Patrick<\/strong>, who designed several seminal characters while at Universal Studios<\/strong> including the Gill Man. Narration and an appearance by Diana Prince<\/strong> (THE LAST DRIVE-IN<\/strong>) is woven in along with commentary from several younger artists voicing their perspectives on the modern iteration of this fascinating line of work. Seitz says a distribution deal is near and fine tuning in store for the passion project and historical record<\/a><\/span> \u2026<\/p>\n We also have a few brief notes to share. One, we finally got a look at the concept short film, CHILDREN OF THE CORNFIELD<\/strong>, which we talked about back in December when its director, Crystal Hughes<\/strong>, hosted a premiere for it at Danville<\/strong>\u2019s Fischer Theatre<\/strong>. You can see the offbeat farmland doings of her on-screen alter ego, \u201cZella,\u201d for yourselves here<\/a><\/span> and keep an eye out here for hiring announcements<\/a><\/span> on the feature film version that is set for production in late May and June in Vermilion County<\/strong>, last we knew \u2026<\/p>\n Two, Anne<\/strong> and Chris Lukeman<\/strong> are having a soft opening this weekend for their newest endeavor, Parcadia<\/strong>, an \u201cindoor magical minigolf tavern\u201d concept<\/a><\/span> that is located near their successful escape room business, Champaign-Urbana Adventures in Time and Space<\/strong>; who knew their yarn-spinning and crafting savvy would lead these former filmmakers down such unique paths? The secret formula is probably buried along with the Mummy, Ted Johnson<\/a><\/span>, well beneath the University of Illinois<\/strong> foundations \u2026<\/p>\n Three, Camp Nostalgia Studios<\/strong> recently told their Facebook<\/strong> fans of a programming shake-up<\/a><\/span> that will result in the debut of several new shows in 2026 and 2027; staff storyteller and illustrator Gela Rediger<\/strong> takes charge of this year\u2019s premieres<\/a><\/span> including a collaboration with Earth-217 Studios\u2019 Chase Todd<\/strong> called THE SMALL AND TALL BOOK CLUB<\/strong> and an interview series with local artists called REAL ART<\/strong> \u2026 and that\u2019s what we can reveal for today. Always remember \u2013 this is not just movies, it\u2019s our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Lake County College, Grayslake, IL, etc.<\/strong> @ The Normal Theater, Normal, 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> 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 Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL<\/strong> @ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL<\/strong> @ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL<\/strong> @ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Midwest<\/strong><\/p>\n @ AMC Newcity 14, Chicago, IL<\/strong> @ Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI<\/strong>
\n16th annual Lake County Film Festival* (through 3\/24) Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nRedbird Film Forum at the School of Theatre, Dance, and Film, presents the ISU Student Film Festival* (3\/24, 7-9 p.m., free) Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nDHURANDHAR THE REVENGE (in Hindi with English sub), THE POUT-POUT FISH* (animation), PROJECT HAIL MARY, READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME, Studio Ghibli Fest: KIKI\u2019S DELIVERY SERVICE (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), USTAAD BHAGAT SINGH* (in Telugu with English sub), THE BRIDE!, GOAT (animation), HOPPERS (animation), REMINDERS OF HIM, SCREAM 7, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II: THE SECRET OF THE OOZE 35th anniversary* (re-release), UNDERTONE (3\/20 on), Fan Faves: THE KING OF KINGS* (animation; 3\/22, 3\/25) and AMERICAN UNDERDOG* (3\/22, 3\/25), AMC \u201cScream Unseen\u201d (mystery movie) (3\/23, 7 p.m.), FORBIDDEN FRUITS sneak preview (3\/25, 7 p.m.), THE AI DOC: OR HOW I BECAME AN APOCALOPTIMIST (documentary), FORBIDDEN FRUITS, THEY WILL KILL YOU (3\/26 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nDHURANDHAR THE REVENGE (in Hindi with English sub), PROJECT HAIL MARY, READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME, THE BRIDE!*, CRIME 101, EPiC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT (music documentary), GOAT (animation), HOPPERS (animation), I CAN ONLY IMAGINE 2 (faith film), REMINDERS OF HIM, SCREAM 7, SLANTED*, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II: THE SECRET OF THE OOZE 35th anniversary* (re-release), UNDERTONE, WUTHERING HEIGHTS* (3\/20 on), The Metropolitan Opera: Tristan und Isolde<\/span> (3\/21, 11 a.m., simulcast; 3\/25, 12 & 6:30 p.m.), RAD 40th anniversary (3\/22, 4 & 7 p.m.; 3\/24, 7 p.m.), MATILDA (3\/22, 3 & 7 p.m.; 3\/25, 7 p.m.), THE FIRST HYMN (religious documentary) (3\/24, 3\/26, 4 & 7 p.m.) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nOpens next week!<\/p>\n
\nPROJECT HAIL MARY (3\/20-3\/22, 3\/26 on)<\/p>\n
\nALIEN (3\/20), PULP FICTION (3\/21), GOOD WILL HUNTING (3\/22), ISU Student Film Showcase* (3\/24, 7 p.m.), PURPLE RAIN (3\/25), ISU Queer Coalition, etc., present \u201cQueering Horror\u201d feat. DRACULA\u2019S DAUGHTER w\/discussion (3\/26, 7 p.m., free),<\/p>\n
\nHOPPERS (animation) (3\/20-3\/22)<\/p>\n
\nSophia\u2019s Choice presents 20th Asian Pop-Up Cinema festival (3\/20-4\/12) Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\n64th annual Ann Arbor Film Festival (3\/24-3\/29) Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n