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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> Once again, we\u2019re going out on the town in Champaign, Urbana<\/strong>, and the cities beyond, this time to investigate the second Savoy Lumier\u00e8 at the Savoy 16 + IMAX<\/strong> over the weekend, so our crib notes will be compact and our observations marked with a fine point as we catch up on the developments in our cinema world. Do us a solid and inform all of your fellow Agents \u2026<\/p>\n News of a casting call made the social media rounds at seemingly the last minute this week for a picture to be produced in the coming weeks by Sarah Sharp<\/strong>, a member of the brain trust behind Flyover Film Studios<\/strong>, for her own firm, The Line Film Co.<\/strong> Fortunately, the deadline to apply and audition for roles has been extended to Monday, May 4<\/strong>, so the industrious can inquire via the Compass Casting<\/strong> website about FIGHT TO THE DEATH<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, an MMA action drama written by Jacob Cooney<\/strong> and Jason White<\/strong> and to be directed by Brian Nowak<\/strong>. According to his professional site<\/a><\/span>, Nowak is a Chicago<\/strong> native who schooled at Northern Illinois University<\/strong> and Columbia College<\/strong>, while the tree of IMDb<\/strong> knowledge tells us<\/a><\/span> that White is a Carbondale<\/strong> native, so this arrangement feels like one part homecoming for folks with extensive credits in the kind of genre fare put out by The Asylum, MarVista Entertainment, VMI, SyFy<\/strong>, and so on. Local filming is set for a tight week beginning Thursday, May 6<\/strong>, in Rantoul<\/strong> at the Flyover complex \u2026<\/p>\n With that said, lovely Judy Greer<\/strong> is going to make an appearance in the Windy City with filmmakers Edd Benda<\/strong> and Stephen Helstad<\/strong> for another CHILI FINGER<\/strong> get-together at the venerable Music Box Theatre<\/strong> on Tuesday, May 5<\/strong>, at 7 p.m.<\/strong> as part of this year\u2019s Chicago Critics Film Festival<\/strong>. If you want another look at the film after it\u2019s packed-house showing at the Virginia Theatre<\/strong> last month as part of the final Roger Ebert\u2019s Film Festival<\/strong>, then get your tickets and plan a trip<\/a><\/span>. This gives us an excuse to drop additional details on you about the future of FINGER<\/strong>, which filmed on location all throughout Champaign County<\/strong> in 2025 as is well known, for we caught an article by Deadline<\/strong> about the rights to the film being acquired by Signature Entertainment<\/strong> for distribution in Ireland<\/strong> and the United Kingdom<\/strong><\/a><\/span>. Of course, this implies the possibility of our sights, sounds, and talents being seen all over the world. Archstone Entertainment<\/strong> of Los Angeles<\/strong> is the sales agent repping the picture and we\u2019ll share when a US deal is reached \u2026<\/p>\n The prolific folks at Acrostar Productions<\/strong> of Chicago have headed east for a change of scenery in which to film their latest yarn, THE LEGEND OF TINKER HELL<\/strong><\/a><\/span>. This fantasy-horror involves a family who is besieged by a smirking sprite with next-to-no good on her mind; Beth Metcalf<\/strong> stars in the title role and the Acrostar clan has gathered in Ohio<\/strong> for a week plus to film beginning today, Friday, May 1<\/strong>. They recently self-released a half-hour slasher parody, YET ANOTHER INDIE HORROR FILM<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, have the dark rural thriller PERFECT SOUL<\/strong> in the wings for distribution through BayView Entertainment<\/strong>, and are prepping to make REVENGE OF THE CORN ZOMBIES<\/strong><\/a><\/span> later this summer and close out the trilogy. Hopefully, they\u2019ll come visit us again downstate to do the honors. We\u2019ll keep an ear out on that one for you \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 CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 20 Years Ago \u2026 Monday, May 1, 2006:<\/em> Comedian and television writer Mark Roberts<\/strong>, a native of nearby Tolono<\/strong> and former resident of Urbana<\/strong>, begins production this week on his self-financed film WELCOME TO TOLONO<\/strong>. Based on the same-named play, written and directed by Roberts as an \u201cartist-in-residence\u201d production at the Station Theatre<\/strong> in Urbana the previous summer, TOLONO<\/strong> is filmed during a five-week schedule in its small town namesake. Much of the original stage cast appears including Brian Reedy, Mike Trippiedi, David Butler, Kay Bohannon Holley, Gary Ambler<\/strong>, and Barbara Evans<\/strong>, who are joined in this screen adaptation by Mike Harvey, Colleen Klein, Joi Hoffsommer, Anne Shapland Kearns<\/strong>, and Rien Rogers<\/strong>. A premiere of the darkly humorous drama, concerning disparate individuals who attend a weekly support group in the basement of a local church, would take place at the University of Illinois<\/strong>\u2019 Foellinger Auditorium<\/strong> in June 2007 after which it played a smattering of regional festivals. TOLONO<\/strong> has yet to be issued on consumer formats or via streaming. As reported on 5\/4\/06<\/a><\/span>, 5\/14\/06<\/a><\/span>, 7\/11\/07<\/a><\/span>, 8\/19\/07<\/a><\/span> at <\/em>CUBlog<\/strong><\/span>.<\/em> [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Analog Wine Library, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL<\/strong> @ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL<\/strong>
\nFilm-Fanatic.Club presents Film Fanatic Movie Nights* feat. CHUNGKING EXPRESS (in Cantonese with English sub) (5\/7, 8 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nHeartland Community College presents the 2026 Heartland Hawk Film Festival* (5\/6-5\/7) Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nChambana Film Society* presents Savoy Lumier\u00e8 2026* (4\/29-5\/5) and post-shows feat. THE CHRISTOPHERS (5\/6, 7 p.m.), EXIT 8 (5\/7, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub) Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n