{"id":3006,"date":"2011-03-12T16:10:04","date_gmt":"2011-03-12T22:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/?p=3006"},"modified":"2014-09-06T14:54:36","modified_gmt":"2014-09-06T20:54:36","slug":"c-u-biz-en-scene-03-12-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/?p=3006","title":{"rendered":"C-U Biz-en-sc\u00e8ne: 03.12.2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cC-U Biz-en-sc\u00e8ne\u201d appears every Thursday\/Friday 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

MFHQ & YOU:
\nSubmersion of the Japans<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anyone remember what happened in Illinois <\/strong>almost 15 years ago? We do, only because of a Hollywood <\/strong>footnote that still tends to weird us out a little bit\u2026<\/p>\n

The most prolific outbreak of tornado activity in Illinois history<\/a> occurred on April 19, 1996<\/strong>, when more than 30 funnels hit the ground throughout the state. The storm inflicted damage in southeast Urbana <\/strong>and all but leveled nearby Ogden<\/strong>; pictures appearing in the following days were not <\/em>pretty<\/a> and one area resident died from injuries. A few weeks later on Friday, May 10<\/strong>, the Jan de Bont<\/strong> thriller TWISTER <\/strong>starring Bill Paxton<\/strong> and Helen Hunt<\/strong> opened nationwide and grossed $41 million by that Sunday, a tasteless (if coincidental) juxtaposition that rubbed us the wrong way for numerous reasons. What\u2019s much more important now is for you to hit this link as a beginning point<\/a> and do what you can to offer help to the people of Japan<\/strong>, a country whose entertainment industry is famous for depicting disaster on a grand scale whether or not it involves giant rubber monsters. We\u2019ve been watching video of the destruction left in the northern half of the islands this week by an 8.9 earthquake, aftershocks, and tsunami, leaving us awestruck in its awfulness which we can only imagine because we are here, tucked safe in the middle of a massive continent, and not there, clinging to life or simply washed away. In even queasier irony where art has prematurely imitated life, Japan\u2019s Toho Studios<\/strong> released a remake of their Seventies disaster entry SUBMERSION OF JAPAN<\/strong> in 2006 called JAPAN SINKS<\/strong><\/a> while a South Korea<\/strong> company issued their own tidal wave epic HAEUNDAE<\/a> <\/strong>about two years ago. We\u2019re pretty sure those and other, similar movies suddenly look like the larks they really are, if eerily familiar in a media-drenched world. Unreal<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In much less pressing news, we offer our usual springtime reminder that posting on C-U Blogfidential<\/strong> will be lean for the next few weeks as we shift into overdrive to assemble the new issue of C-U Confidential<\/strong>. Our on-line activity should return to normal after May Day<\/strong> unless, of course, all the hypersensitive religious zealots are correct<\/a> and the Rapture arrives on Saturday, May 21<\/strong>. We suspect they\u2019re a tad <\/em>off base on this one and you have our permission, dearest readers, to slap the insensitivity out of them as soon as they claim the Japan disaster is a sign their prophecy will come true. We\u2019re up with people but down with stupidity here at the Secret MICRO-FILM Headquarters<\/strong>, just so you know.<\/p>\n

\n

EVENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

We trust everyone submitting their cinema to the second New Art Film Festival<\/strong> got it in gear, since the official deadline expired yesterday!<\/a> (Hint<\/em>: We might <\/em>be accommodating and take Monday\/Tuesday<\/strong> arrivals into consideration. End hint<\/em>.) First looks indicate this NAFF will be a mostly Champaign-Urbana<\/strong> affair, which is absolutely groovy with us. Even better, we\u2019re going to let a selection out of the bag next week to whet your appetites, so pay attention to CUBlog <\/strong>and other local news outlets for the big reveal! You have <\/em>marked Friday, April 8, 5 p.m.<\/strong>, on your calendar, have you not?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On the other hand, the Buttered Corn on the Cob Film Festival<\/strong> folks already slathered their Web site with a complete schedule for their inaugural event the afternoon and evening of Sunday, April 3<\/strong>, at 88 Broadway<\/strong> in downtown Urbana! Check out their itinerary here<\/a>; local titles include CONNOR\u2019S WOODS<\/strong> from Joe Taylor<\/strong>\u2019s Sleepy Creek Films, TWO ROWS IN<\/strong> from Bob Zimmerman<\/strong>\u2019s R.A.Z. Films, WITH ME NOW<\/strong> and THE LAST RIDE<\/strong> from Sasan Shabrou<\/strong>\u2019s Gladius Arts<\/strong>, and Thomas Nicol<\/strong>\u2019s BEDTIME FOR TIMMY<\/strong>, selected as a \u201cJuror\u2019s Pick\u201d for the fest. Admission is free!<\/p>\n

Three weeks later, another <\/em>distraction will be keeping us busy and we\u2019re not even talking about Roger Ebert\u2019s Film Festival<\/strong>! Our radical librarian friend Chris Ritzo<\/strong> of the Independent Media Center<\/strong>, also in downtown Urbana, alerted CUBlog <\/strong>that the first Midwest Zine Fest<\/strong> will take place Saturday, April 30<\/strong>, at the IMC building and Sunday, May 1<\/strong>, at La Casa Collectiva<\/strong> in Urbana. The latter venue will host May Day workshops about creating one\u2019s own media, print and otherwise, while the former will accommodate panels, readings, and tabling where attendees can talk to publishers about their wares and purchase or trade for self-made media goods. Further information can be learned at this Web site.<\/a> Ritzo is organizing MZF \u201911 with Jeanie Austin<\/strong> and Maggie Taylor<\/strong>, who would certainly love for you to support your local independent media-makers by participating in this event!<\/p>\n

We can\u2019t bring our April-centric blurbs to a close without an \u201cEbertfest<\/strong>\u201d related item, so we\u2019ll mention the Virginia Theater<\/strong><\/a> open house taking place tomorrow, Sunday, March 13<\/strong>, from 2 <\/strong>to 4 p.m.<\/strong>, during which Champaign Park District<\/strong> folks will give community members a look at recently completed renovations \u2013 including a total overhaul of the front lobby and concession stands \u2013 and discuss upcoming phases in building upgrades. Refreshments, door prizes, and a 3 p.m. barbershop performance (!) will also be offered. Or, if this action is a bit too austere for your liking, go tonight instead for THE MATRIX<\/strong> at 7 p.m.<\/strong> to put the slam in your bang!<\/p>\n

\n

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

Keep in mind that on Tuesday, March 15, 7 p.m., Champaign Movie Makers<\/a><\/strong> will meet at Class Act Interactive, 114 S. Neil St., Champaign<\/strong>, to afford area filmmakers and talent an opportunity to discuss and join forces in the making of independent cinema in the area. The highlight of this month\u2019s meeting is a presentation by Robin Christian<\/strong> of Dreamscape Cinema<\/strong> on writing screenplays! Additional topics are TBA. Feel free to contact Johnny Robinson<\/strong> at johnny [at] johnnyrobinson [dot] com<\/strong> for further information!<\/p>\n

\n

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

We\u2019re not even going to crack a joke about yet another light week since brevity is <\/em>key given our lateness. Therefore, we put on a happy face and point you to this announcement<\/a> about the DVD release of Dark Maze Studios<\/strong>\u2019 sequel, PRESS START 2 CONTINUE<\/strong>, which became available yesterday<\/a>, Friday, March 11<\/strong>; publicist Meagan Glaser<\/strong> also directs fans to a special video message<\/a> from Dark Maze mastermind Ed Glaser<\/strong> followed by an exclusive scene pitting Lin-Ku (Al Morrison<\/strong>) against the Spanish Ninja (Dominique Worsley<\/strong>)! We now switch to a quizzical face and bring up this Associated Press<\/strong> wire article<\/a> run in the Pantagraph<\/strong><\/span> last weekend concerning the waning interest in several states for offering movie producers tax breaks in hopes of luring their business; Illinois is mentioned nowhere in the piece so we\u2019re assuming the Land of Lincoln<\/strong> will remain in the hunt for Tinseltown <\/strong>dollars. Finally, we smear together our best Joker-style frowny face while cringing maniacally as we present this horribly <\/em>written review of the animated feature <\/a>RANGO<\/a> <\/strong>by Lisa Schwarzbaum<\/strong> of Entertainment Weekly<\/span><\/strong> as exhibit \u201cA\u201d of what apparently passes muster in mainstream movie reporting; it makes us sick this <\/em>draws a paycheck while we bust ass on our lovely non-budget to bring you the best CUBlog <\/strong>possible. Unreal<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\n

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

PRESS START 2 CONTINUE*<\/strong> U.S. DVD Release: Friday, 3\/11, via Dark Maze Studios, Champaign, IL<\/p>\n

@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL: TINY FURNITURE<\/strong> (3\/11 on), WANTED <\/strong>(3\/11, 3\/12, 3\/17, 10 p.m.), Romeo and Juliet<\/strong><\/span> (3\/12, 12 p.m., Shakespeare), La Traviata<\/strong><\/span> (3\/13, 12 p.m., opera)<\/p>\n

@ Krannert Art Museum, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL: NORA <\/strong>(3\/17, 6 p.m., w\/filmmakers)<\/p>\n

@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL: RED RIDING HOOD, RANGO, UNKNOWN<\/strong> (3\/11 on), THE QUIET MAN<\/strong> (3\/17, 7 p.m., free)<\/p>\n

@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL: TAMARA DREWE<\/strong> (3\/10-3\/13, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n

@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL: RANGO <\/strong>(3\/11 on)<\/p>\n

@ Gemini Cinemas, Villa Grove, IL: RANGO, JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER<\/strong> (3\/11 on)<\/p>\n

@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL: RANGO <\/strong>(3\/11, 7 p.m.; 3\/12-3\/13, 2 & 7 p.m.; 3\/16, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n

@ That\u2019s Rentertainment, Champaign, IL: FOUR LIONS, INSIDE JOB, JACKASS 3, TALES FROM EARTHSEA, MORNING GLORY, THE NEXT THREE DAYS, THE WALKING DEAD<\/strong> s1, more! (3\/8 on)<\/p>\n

@ Route 66 Drive-In, Springfield, IL \u2013 season begins <\/em>April 1!<\/strong><\/p>\n

@ Centerbrook Drive-In, Martinsville, IN \u2013 season begins <\/em>March 25!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

Locally produced movies and events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). <\/em>Go see \u2018em!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

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

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

3\/26: DIY Film Festival at Chicago Zine Fest, Chicago, IL<\/p>\n

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

4\/3: Buttered Corn on the Cob Film Festival
\n@ 88 Broadway, Urbana, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n

4\/8: The New Art Film Festival at Boneyard Arts Festival
\n@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n

4\/14: STONEWALL UPRISING screening\/discussion\/taping
\n@ Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL, 6:30 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

4\/30: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
\n@ The Canopy Club, Urbana, IL, 11 p.m. w\/Millikin U. shadow cast<\/strong><\/p>\n

5\/4: 2nd Annual Feminist Film Festival
\n@ The Art Theater, Champaign, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n

6\/23-6\/26: Onion City Experimental Film and Video Festival, Chicago, IL<\/p>\n

7\/19-7\/24: Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, Palatine, IL<\/p>\n

9\/16-9\/18: Route 66 International Film Festival
\n@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

COMMUNITY FILM SERIES<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cReal Vs. Reel\u201d Movie Series
\n@ Danville Public Library, Danville, IL, 6:30 p.m.<\/strong>
\n3\/14: A PLACE IN THE SUN; 4\/11: THE FUGITIVE<\/p>\n

Springfield Art Association 20th Annual Film Festival
\n@ AMC Parkway 8, Springfield, IL, 1 & 4 p.m. (Sun.), 7 p.m. (Tues.)<\/strong>
\n3\/13, 3\/15: MOTHER AND CHILD; 3\/27, 3\/29: MADE IN DAGENHAM; 4\/10, 4\/12: MY DOG TULIP<\/p>\n

The News-Gazette Film Series 2011
\n@ The Virginia Theater, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.<\/strong>
\n3\/12: THE MATRIX; 4\/23: TOY STORY; 5\/14: REAR WINDOW; 6\/4: MOULIN ROUGE!; 7\/23: BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY\u2019S; 8\/6: ARSENIC AND OLD LACE; 9\/10: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT; 10\/8: THE EXORCIST; 11\/5: THE GODFATHER; 12\/3: THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS<\/p>\n

WILL-TV\/Independent Lens \u201cCommunity Cinema\u201d series
\n@ Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL, 6:30 p.m.<\/strong>
\n3\/17: PUSHING THE ELEPHANT; 4\/26: BHUTTO: 5\/10: WELCOME TO SHELBYVILLE; TBA: TWO SPIRITS<\/p>\n

\n

UNIVERSITY FILM SERIES<\/strong><\/p>\n

AsiaLENS: AEMS Documentary\/Film Series
\n@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m.<\/strong>
\n4\/5: THE SWEETEST EMBRACE; 5\/3: IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE<\/p>\n

Global Lens 2011: International Films<\/strong>
\n@ Latzer Hall, University YMCA, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 5:30 p.m.<\/strong>
\n3\/17: BELVEDERE, Bosnia-Herzegovina; 4\/21: DOOMAN RIVER, China; 5\/19: THE INVISIBLE EYE, Argentina; 6\/16: THE LIGHT THIEF, Kyrgyzstan; 7\/21: SOUL OF SAND, India; 8\/18: STREET DAYS, Georgia; 9\/15: THE TENANTS, Brazil; 10\/20: A USEFUL LIFE, Uruguay; 11\/17: WHITE MEADOWS, Iran<\/p>\n

IPRH Film Series Spring 2011<\/strong>
\n@ Room 62, Krannert Art Museum, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 5:30 p.m.
\n3\/31: AVALON<\/p>\n

\n

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

Another member of our media clan in Champaign-Urbana has joined the 40-on-up club! Art Theater<\/strong><\/a> owner Sanford Hess<\/strong> hit the milestone Thursday <\/strong>and celebrated with several dozen moviegoers that evening by showing Luc Besson<\/strong>\u2019s seminal drama-thriller THE PROFESSIONAL<\/strong>, which effectively introduced Jean Reno<\/strong> to America and Natalie Portman<\/strong> to the world back in 1994. Happily, we sat amongst many CUBlog <\/strong>friends in the audience including Andrew Stengele, Thomas Nicol, Damian Duffy, Cara Day, Trevor Dowdy, John Jennings, Tim Meyers<\/strong>, and Jay Eychaner<\/strong>. We raise a metaphorical Boddington<\/strong> to Hess and wish him many more years in this business we call show!<\/p>\n

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

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

We welcome your virtual presence in the Confidential scheme!<\/strong><\/p>\n

276 awesome (but way too few) peeps dig our Facebook <\/strong>page<\/a>, while 13 astounding (yet way way <\/em>way too few) comrades keep a watchful eye on our YouTube<\/strong> channel<\/a>, the C-U Confidential Revue<\/strong>! We\u2019d place our bets in a heartbeat that many more<\/em> would enjoy our social\/video outreach if they knew about us! Have you <\/em>joined us on-line? Will you be ambassadors for our indie film cause and send your recruits in our direction? The more attention we receive, the better we can serve the interests of local artists and the movies of Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond!<\/p>\n

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

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

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

\u201cC-U Biz-en-sc\u00e8ne\u201d no.33 \u00a9 2011 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 ask that you send prayers and other forms of aid to the people of Japan, scribble all sorts of reminders on your April calendar, and take stock of 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":[14,406,68,217,12,15,13,26],"tags":[508,1704,644,645,400,563,337,564],"class_list":["post-3006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-area-festivals","category-c-u-biz-en-scene","category-champaign-movie-makers","category-column-du-c-u","category-local-meetings","category-media-coverage","category-public-events","category-theatres-venues","tag-buttered-corn-on-the-cob-film-festival","tag-champaign-movie-makers","tag-japan-disaster","tag-midwest-zine-fest","tag-new-art-film-festival","tag-press-start-2-continue","tag-sanford-hess","tag-the-virginia-theater"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3006","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=3006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3006\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}