{"id":2069,"date":"2010-08-26T22:01:39","date_gmt":"2010-08-27T04:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/?p=2069"},"modified":"2014-09-06T14:55:53","modified_gmt":"2014-09-06T20:55:53","slug":"c-u-biz-en-scene-08-26-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/?p=2069","title":{"rendered":"C-U Biz-en-sc\u00e8ne: 08.26.2010"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cC-U Biz-en-sc\u00e8ne\u201d appears every Wednesday\/Thursday on <\/em>C-U Blogfidential<\/strong> to give our readers a succinct snapshot of the cinema activity in and near <\/em>Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA<\/strong>. Please support the artists and their work, attend screenings and events, and otherwise become active in our esoteric little world!<\/em><\/p>\n

~~~~~<\/p>\n

PRODUCTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

The most consistent self-promoting local filmmakers may be Ed <\/strong>and Meagan Glaser<\/strong> of Dark Maze Studios<\/strong><\/a>, whom we\u2019ve covered many times here on C-U Blogfidential<\/strong>. Their efforts spent creating fun shorts, animations, and features funded with negligible budgets have gradually paid off as the pop culture pantheon slowly catches on to such projects as PRESS START, RAMPAGE<\/strong>, and ROBOGIRL<\/strong>. A recent e-newsletter updated Dark Maze fans on several current projects including the Webisode \u2018toon SPACE NINJA<\/strong>, for which you can watch a promotional video<\/a> featuring producer Ed, artist\/animator Alex Mitchell<\/strong>, and prolific B-movie composer Chuck Cirino<\/strong> and his awesomely wild-ass hair; the ever-expanding array of PRESS START ADVENTURES<\/strong> episodes; and a brand new Internet show called DEJA VIEW<\/strong> during which Ed discusses the \u201cremakesploitation\u201d movies of the world. Finally, there\u2019s the mystery wrapped in an enigma rendered in 16-bit Stereo goodness known as PRESS START 2 CONTINUE<\/strong>. Ed tells CUBlog <\/strong>that he\u2019s finishing Foley work on the sequel to Dark Maze\u2019s 2007 original and that visual effects and a music score will be added next. We\u2019ll reveal more about PS2<\/strong> when we can, such as tomorrow afternoon. Hint<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\n

PHILANTHROPY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes media can be used as a powerful tool for documentation, social change, and hopefully achieving a greater good. A hearty percentage of filmmakers in our world choose to behold realities that may not be idealistic by a long shot, using their electronic eyes to capture moments that, when strung together contextually, will compel audiences to look a bit harder and think a bit deeper about life. To that end, we\u2019re passing along a short pitch by Champaign Movie Makers<\/strong> members Paul Holze<\/strong> and Stephanie Stean<\/strong> about a project for which they\u2019re raising production needs. If you feel it worth investigating, follow the link for more information and ways that you can show support:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cTHE STORY OF HAPPINESS<\/strong> is a documentary project set to produce six short films in South Africa<\/strong> in 2011, featuring women speaking out about their greatest desires and shaping the futures they seek amidst a nation with the highest rate of rape per capita and the highest prevalence of HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n

\u201cProduced by local movie makers Paul Holze<\/strong> and Stephanie Stean<\/strong> and initiated this past summer via an award from the World Bank Institute<\/strong> program Urgent Evoke<\/strong>, the project is currently raising funds through a challenge on the donation site GlobalGiving<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo support the project in the challenge, a threshold of $3,000 must be raised from at least 50 individual donors by August 31<\/strong>. This allows the project to indefinitely remain a part of GlobalGiving and raise further funds with access to corporate sponsors, worldwide promotions, and periods of matching donations. Additionally, the project can earn a $750 bonus by receiving the most comments by August 31.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo donate, comment, or learn more, visit www.storyofhappiness.com<\/a> or write paul [at] groundworkpublications [dot] com<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

MEETINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although we just posted<\/a> about the first Illini Film & Video<\/strong> meetings of the brand-new school year, we\u2019ll once again encourage the young collegiate types out there to consider it a worthy choice for getting involved in the activity bluntly explained by their motto \u2013 \u201cWe Make Movies.\u201d Regular meetings, barring the occasional break week, will take place Tuesdays <\/strong>at 6:30 p.m.<\/strong> in Room 104<\/strong> of the English Building, 608 S. Wright St., Champaign<\/strong>. Look for the students wearing black t-shirts with \u201cDirector\u201d emblazoned on the back, should you become lost in LAS<\/strong>, and if you otherwise have a hard time keeping up with IFV you can consult the prominent Google <\/strong>calendar on the new Web site<\/a> or ask Mailing List moderator Ashlea Thomsen<\/strong> to add your e-mail<\/a> so you can receive weekly club updates.<\/p>\n

\n

MEDIA LINKS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s turn our gaze westward for a few moments to study the changing landscape of fellow twin cities Bloomington <\/strong>and Normal<\/strong>, reflecting a movie screen saturation problem as described in several recent Pantagraph<\/span> <\/strong>reports. We\u2019re reminded of this phenomenon with the upcoming reintroduction<\/a> of downtown Bloomington\u2019s Castle Theater<\/strong>, which previously had been an independent attempt at upscale movie viewing, as a Canopy<\/strong>-esque music venue. Curiously, it is this very concept employed in recent B-N additions such as the Stadium 14<\/strong> and Galaxy 14 Cine<\/strong> that has helped expedite the demise of older multiplexes as well. Parkway Cinemas<\/strong>, which opened in 1990, ceased operation in May<\/a> when owner Carmike <\/strong>pulled the plug. Closer to the Illinois State<\/strong> and Illinois Wesleyan<\/strong> campuses, Carmike also shut the doors<\/a> of University Cinemas<\/strong>, that area\u2019s first multi-screen theater which began doing business in 1971. (It retains the distinction of being the only theater where your humble editor sneaked into a show without paying, for opening night of BRAM STOKER\u2019S DRACULA<\/strong>. His peers made him do it.) Even the Normal Theater<\/strong> didn\u2019t completely escape \u201cuptownization\u201d with the new Marriott <\/strong>hotel complex looming right behind them, so thank goodness saner heads prevailed and (mostly) left well enough alone. Considering the rumors floating around our neck of the woods concerning one or more possible theatrical additions in Urbana<\/strong>, we wonder just how many frames per second Champaign-Urbana itself can withstand. Should we find out?<\/p>\n

\n

PLAYING THIS WEEK<\/strong><\/p>\n

@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL: THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE<\/strong> (8\/27 on), SPLICE <\/strong>(8\/27, 8\/28, 9\/2)<\/p>\n

@ The Canopy Club, Urbana, IL: Pizza + Pitcher and Movie \u2013 SUPER TROOPERS, WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE<\/strong> (8\/29, 6 p.m.)<\/p>\n

@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL: WINTER\u2019S BONE, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, EAT PRAY LOVE<\/strong> (8\/27 on)<\/p>\n

@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL: WAY OUT WEST<\/strong> (8\/26-8\/27), A NIGHT AT THE OPERA<\/strong> (8\/28-8\/29)<\/p>\n

@ Harvest Moon Drive-In, Gibson City, IL: DESPICABLE ME, THE EXPENDABLES<\/strong> (8\/27-8\/29)<\/p>\n

@ Route 66 Drive-In, Springfield, IL: DESPICABLE ME, GROWN UPS, DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS, SALT<\/strong> (8\/27-8\/28)<\/p>\n

@ That\u2019s Rentertainment, Champaign, IL: THE BACK-UP PLAN, THE SQUARE, THE GOOD THE BAD THE WEIRD, A PROPHET, SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD<\/strong>, more! (8\/24 on)<\/p>\n

\n

COMING SOON<\/strong><\/p>\n

9\/10-9\/12: \u201cLost Survivor\u201d multi-media performance
\n@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL, 7 p.m. Fri\/Sat, 2 p.m. Sun<\/strong><\/p>\n

9\/17-9\/19: Route 66 International Film Festival
\n@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEW!<\/strong> 9\/17-9\/22: Latin American Film Festival
\n@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n

9\/24-9\/26: 2010 B Movie Celebration, Franklin, IN<\/p>\n

NEW!<\/strong> 9\/25-9\/26: LEADING LADIES
\n@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL, 5 & 7:30 p.m. Sat, 2:30, 5 & 7:30 p.m. Sun<\/strong><\/p>\n

9\/25-9\/26: REVOLTING
\n@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL, 3 & 10 p.m. Sat, 12 p.m. Sun<\/strong><\/p>\n

10\/7-10\/21: Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago, IL<\/p>\n

10\/14-10\/23: Heartland Film Festival, Indianapolis, IN<\/p>\n

10\/22-10\/23: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
\n@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL, Midnight<\/strong><\/p>\n

10\/23: REVOLTING
\n@ Sleepy Creek Vineyards, Fairmount, IL, 8 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

10\/29-10\/31: Freeky Creek Short Film Festival
\n@ Sleepy Creek Vineyards, Fairmount, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n

11\/5-11\/7: Illinois International Film Festival, Chicago, IL<\/p>\n

11\/11-11\/13: Embarras Valley Film Festival
\n@ EIU campus\/Will Rogers Theater\/Charleston Public Library, Charleston, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n

11\/11-11\/21: St. Louis International Film Festival, St. Louis, MO<\/p>\n

11\/19-11\/21: Dark Carnival Film Festival, Bloomington, IN<\/p>\n

2\/18-2\/27, 2011: Big Muddy Film Festival
\n@ Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n

3\/22-3\/27, 2011: Ann Arbor Film Festival, Ann Arbor, MI<\/p>\n

3\/30-4\/1, 2011: Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI<\/p>\n

4\/27-5\/1, 2011: Roger Ebert\u2019s Film Festival
\n@ Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

OUTRO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Starting in next week\u2019s CUBiz<\/strong>, we plan to introduce MFHQ & YOU<\/strong> where we regularly discuss projects, upgrades, and \u201cwins\u201d directly related to C-U Blogfidential<\/strong>. We\u2019re also going to consistently address the concepts that A. the Secret MICRO-FILM Headquarters<\/strong> could always <\/em>use the smarts and talents a few good women and men to add to our worth, and B. the Secret MICRO-FILM Headquarters<\/strong> can also use the business (e.g., purchases, ad buys, mysterious cash donations appearing in our P.O. Box without warning) of anyone <\/em>and everyone <\/em>to help fund particulars such as the print C-U Confidential<\/strong> magazine, promotional collateral, and potential excursions into local movie excess such as DVD releases. After willingly slogging through the brunt of the chores at MFHQ <\/strong>for more than a decade, your humble editor would like to effectively open things up and share the love. To demonstrate the possibilities, CUBlog <\/strong>will welcome back the fabulous (and extremely patient) Michelle Kaffko<\/strong> and her Chicago<\/strong> indie film column, \u201cA Knife in a Gun Fight<\/strong><\/a>,\u201d twice in the next few weeks. We\u2019re also establishing a regimented on-line publishing schedule \u2013 which is not <\/em>the same as a regularized, daily <\/em>publishing schedule \u2013 to give you, the discerning reader and hoped-for contributor, a better understanding of what might fill our virtual space.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s it for the \u201cbusiness of our scene\u201d this week!<\/p>\n

~~~~~<\/p>\n

If you have relevant news, opportunities, dates, or promotions that you would like included in <\/em>CUBiz<\/strong>, please forward the who, what, where, when, and how much to <\/em>cuconfidential [at] gmail [dot] com<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Compiled by Jason Pankoke<\/p>\n

~~~~~<\/p>\n

Prior \u201cCUBiz\u201d<\/a> | Next \u201cCUBiz\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

~~~~~<\/p>\n

\u201cC-U Biz-en-sc\u00e8ne\u201d no. 5 \u00a9 2010 Jason Pankoke\/C-U Blogfidential.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this edition of C-U Blogfidential\u2019s all-purpose column, \u201cC-U Biz-en-sc\u00e8ne,\u201d we tell you about the doings of Dark Maze Studios, a South Africa documentary project, the boom and bust of Bloomington-Normal theaters, and what movies are now playing\/renting near you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[406,217,200,12,15,10,18,26],"tags":[436,164,165,84,433,435,283,434],"class_list":["post-2069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-c-u-biz-en-scene","category-column-du-c-u","category-deadline-du-c-u","category-local-meetings","category-media-coverage","category-production-updates","category-student-film","category-theatres-venues","tag-castle-theater","tag-dark-maze-studios","tag-ed-glaser","tag-illini-film-video","tag-meagan-glaser","tag-paul-holze","tag-press-start-2","tag-the-story-of-happiness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2069","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=2069"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2069\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}