{"id":3332,"date":"2011-04-30T17:30:00","date_gmt":"2011-04-30T23:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/?p=3332"},"modified":"2014-09-06T14:54:15","modified_gmt":"2014-09-06T20:54:15","slug":"article-du-c-u-ebertfest-01-pt-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/?p=3332","title":{"rendered":"Article du C-U: Ebertfest ’01, pt.6"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cAll About Ebertfest 2001\u201d<\/strong>
\nWatching Movies and Other Nonesuch
\nat the 2001 Overlooked Film Festival<\/p>\n

by Jason Pankoke<\/em><\/p>\n

The following was condensed for inclusion in issue 13, Summer 2002, of <\/em>Cashers du Cinemart<\/strong><\/span> film magazine published by <\/em>Mike White<\/strong> of <\/em>ImpossibleFunky.com<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

April 29, 2001 \u2013 Sunday<\/em><\/p>\n

1 p.m.<\/em> \u2013 EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU<\/strong>
\n(1996, 101 min., USA, released by Miramax Films<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

\"\"I was dragging by the time we had reached showtime for this film, Woody Allen<\/strong>\u2019s attempt at a contemporary musical and the Overlooked Film Festival<\/strong>\u2019s final movie. I had already plotted that, as soon as Roger Ebert<\/strong> walked on stage and got things underway, I would back my car into the enclosed street and load up my belongings, distribute them, and return in time for the audience to let out.<\/p>\n

One of the curiosities of Overlooked 2001 that I haven\u2019t mentioned yet, although I was quite aware of it from square one, sat upstairs near my original table. It\u2019s little more than an odd juxtaposition, really, but fathom the implications for a moment. In an obvious move to involve UIUC <\/strong>departments other than the College of Communications<\/strong>, the Overlooked allowed for the display of four scale models designed and built by architecture students, depicting how a giant multiplex might be construed in downtown Champaign<\/strong>. I\u2019m certain that the project\u2019s premise was purely theoretical, but didn\u2019t anybody consider that their very presence might just undermine the reasons why the Overlooked is hosted in a glorious, old-fashioned movie theater, the type which has been driven to near-extinction by real-life multiplexes over the last 20 years? Duh<\/em>. End of token rant. Thank you, thank you.<\/p>\n

While everybody sat in on the Wood-man\u2019s lively comedy starring Goldie Hawn, Alan Alda, Drew Barrymore, Edward Norton, Juila Roberts, Tim Roth, Natalie Portman<\/strong>, and kick-ass (but trouble-prone) Natasha Lyonne<\/strong> from BUT I\u2019M A CHEERLEADER<\/strong>, my friend Dann \u201cO\u2019War\u201d Tincher<\/strong> of the C-U art zine The Ides of March<\/strong><\/span> helped me load all my crap into my car. We returned to Park Street<\/strong> just after the first round of movie-only ticket buyers had left, and after Tincher took his own leave I sat at my own private bleacher to soak in the last moments of Overlooked 2001. The crowd poured out soon after the post-film discussion with veteran Allen producer Jean Doumanian<\/strong> concluded, and eventually the Eberts came to offer their goodbyes to the main festival staff.<\/p>\n

Even though the Overlooked had officially wrapped, I wasn\u2019t done with movies yet. Not by a long shot!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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

4:30 p.m.<\/em> \u2013 CHEMISTRY 101<\/strong>
\n(2001, 120 min., USA, in post-production)<\/p>\n

\"\"Whatsa matter, kids, can\u2019t find this flick on the Internet Movie Database<\/strong>? Well, that\u2019s because CHEMISTRY 101<\/strong> is a student production made by three UIUC undergrads and oodles of their friends from the Theatre, Art<\/strong>, and Engineering <\/strong>schools. Despite the fact that it is a Big Ten<\/strong> school with clout, UIUC has never had a formal film school. Some cinema studies classes, some cinematography classes (which recently switched from teaching 16mm to Digital Video), but nothing comprehensive to take students from the beginning to the end of producing a movie. Lately, that hasn\u2019t stopped ambitious kids from making things happen on the sidelines.<\/p>\n

Anthony Fiorentino<\/strong> wrote the CHEMISTRY 101<\/strong> script and auditioned actors. Abby Emmett<\/strong> helped direct the film with Fiorentino and kept watch over continuity. Jennifer Kreiseder<\/strong> took control of the technical aspects as lead cinematographer and editor. It\u2019s a college-set comedy of errors as seniors Stan (Matt Mueller<\/strong>) and Joe (Nick Ferrin<\/strong>) concoct a hare-brained final project for their psychology class in order to pass. Unlike Bill & Ted\u2019s jaunt through time, these guys pick a subject matter more in the here and now \u2013 women. In particular for Stan, gorgeous brunette Chris (Cara Regina Mantella<\/strong>), whose best friends Jesse (Nanette Hennig<\/strong>) and Amy (Elizabeth Biondi<\/strong>) watch in utter amazement as the duo\u2019s \u201cexperiment\u201d plays out.<\/p>\n

The CHEMISTRY 101<\/strong> gang allowed me to come on set several times and participate. And, not unlike Chris Denham<\/strong> with his play, the scheduled screening of their rough edit this particular weekend was no accident. It was fun to see where they had gotten since they started shooting. I also desperately wanted to see myself as a background extra in the bar scene, downing glasses of fake booze all the while. Well, it was soda pop until our waitress, played by the fabulous Ms. Emmett, decided to go for rum.<\/p>\n

Abby, Abby, Abby<\/em>. Tsk tsk.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll save a final verdict on CHEMISTRY 101<\/strong> until after Kreiseder, Emmett, and Fiorentino finish the show.<\/p>\n

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

7 p.m.<\/em> \u2013 SHOT!<\/strong>
\n(1973, 102 min., USA, released by Sony Video<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

\"\"Once I had checked out CHEMISTRY 101<\/strong>, I went home and popped into the video deck a tape handed over by Overlooked director Nate Kohn<\/strong>. It contained a film I had wanted to see for some time, an even more ambitious UIUC student production dating back to the early 1970s. Directed and produced by then-graduate students Kohn and Mitch Brown<\/strong>, SHOT <\/strong>is a conscious rip-off of FRENCH CONNECTION<\/strong>-style hardboiled thrillers. You know the deal \u2013 flawed cops versus legions of drug-runners, jive-talkin\u2019, fast-walkin\u2019, shooting and running and jumping and helicopters and car chases and hookers and checkered threads, oh my!<\/p>\n

The duo had started CinemaGuild <\/strong>back in 1970, a distant forerunner to the current Illini Film & Video<\/strong>, as a means to raise money through on-campus screenings to fund their own movies. After nine months\u2019 hard work, costing $15 thousand (a hefty sum back then for a student film), the 16mm SHOT <\/strong>premiered locally in March 1973, the day after THE GODFATHER<\/strong> swept the Academy Awards<\/strong>. A two-page ad in the Daily Illini<\/strong><\/span> that week even proclaimed SHOT <\/strong>to be the \u201cBest Picture of 1973!\u201d Needless to say, the film sank into obscurity after Kohn and Brown graduated. Although this video dub was hardly mint condition, it was great to see what ruckus these guys caused way back when. A heavily self-depreciative sense of humor runs throughout the flick, letting us know the filmmakers were in it for the fun.<\/p>\n

Trivia cheat sheet<\/em>: One of the hippies shot during the blown drug deal at the beginning of the film was played by Fred Rubin<\/strong>, who has since maintained a steady career as a producer and writer on television sitcoms including ARCHIE BUNKER\u2019S PLACE, MAMA\u2019S FAMILY<\/strong>, and the immortal NIGHT COURT<\/strong>. The sound recordist on SHOT <\/strong>was Tomlinson Holman<\/strong>, known in the industry as \u201cMr. THX<\/strong>\u201d as he was the main engineer responsible for developing George Lucas<\/strong>\u2019 groundbreaking sound system. While living in Europe, Kohn co-produced the African tribal war epic ZULU DAWN<\/strong> for director Douglas Hickox<\/strong>. The other officer, Wilson, was played by Chuck Russell<\/strong>, director of numerous Hollywood <\/strong>films including A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3, THE BLOB, THE MASK, ERASER<\/strong>, and the just-released MUMMY <\/strong>prequel THE SCORPION KING<\/strong> starring WWF<\/strong>\u2019s Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson<\/strong> and THE GREEN MILE<\/strong>\u2019s Michael Clarke Duncan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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

10 p.m.<\/em> \u2013 SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE<\/strong>
\n(2000, 88 min., USA\/UK\/Germany, released by Lions Gate Films<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

\"\"In a nice gesture of cross-promotion, the College of Communications included downtown Champaign\u2019s other active movie house, the New Art Theater<\/strong>, in the festivities by helping them book two high-profile movies, Cameron Crowe<\/strong>\u2019s ALMOST FAMOUS<\/strong>, which stars JESUS\u2019 SON<\/strong>\u2019s Billy Crudup<\/strong>, and E. Elias Merhige<\/strong>\u2019s SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE<\/strong>, which depicts the making of NOSFERATU <\/strong>as a dark seriocomic fantasy. I did not have a chance to watch ALMOST FAMOUS<\/strong>, but I capped my weekend by sitting in on the latter.<\/p>\n

Taking a cue from the real-life mystery surrounding Max Schreck<\/strong> \u2013 very little is known about him apart from the dozen or so German films he acted in prior to his death in 1936 \u2013 screenwriter Steven Katz<\/strong> postulates that F.W. Murnau<\/strong> (John Malkovich<\/strong>) actually recruited a real-life vampire named Schreck (Willem DaFoe<\/strong>) to star in his movie. Everyone from the loyal producer Albin Grau (Udo Kier<\/strong>) to the skeptical scriptwriter Henrick Galeen (Aden Gillett<\/strong>) to the fussy actor portraying Hutter, Gustav Von Wangenheim (Eddie Izzard<\/strong>), is taken aback by Orlock\u2019s first appearance as they shoot on Transylvanian soil, but Murnau verbally dismisses it as a case of \u201cmethod acting\u201d on Schreck\u2019s part. Eventually, as they near the death-bed sequence with prima donna Greta Schr\u00f6der (Catherine McCormack<\/strong>) playing Ellen, Schreck loses control over his bloodlust and starts picking off secondary crew members en route to getting his ratty hands on the ultimate prize \u2013 Greta\u2019s jugular.<\/p>\n

This is a classic case of a well-meaning production running out of steam. I have to admire how Merhige and company take SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE <\/strong>moderately seriously and never pull any punches on Schreck\u2019s vampirism. The production design is stylish yet reserved, and the acting good with the exception of Malkovich\u2019s patented blow-his-lid-off rants as he chews out Schreck for misbehaving. But for every homage to NOSFERATU <\/strong>itself, or fun jab at moviemaking, there are stretches so conventional as to test our patience. Sadly, interest loses out to boredom, as the film becomes a race-to-the-death clich\u00e9 when Murnau tries to prolong the filming of the bedroom scene until the sun can rise and destroy Schreck. I enjoyed SHADOW <\/strong>for its audacious concept, but its net merit has yet to reveal itself to me.<\/p>\n

Trivia Cheat Sheet, pt. 2<\/em>: Follow this string: SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE<\/strong> is the first effort from Saturn Films<\/strong>, whose production personnel include actor Nicholas Cage<\/strong>, star of the black comedy VAMPIRE’S KISS<\/strong> (1988) among many other, better known Hollywood <\/strong>movies. Cage\u2019s brother, Christopher Coppola<\/strong>, made his directorial debut with DRACULA\u2019S WIDOW<\/strong> (1988) starring Sylvia Kristel<\/strong>. Cage\u2019s famous uncle, Francis Ford Coppola<\/strong>, directed BRAM STOKER\u2019S DRACULA<\/strong> (1992). Cary Elwes<\/strong>, who plays the cinematographer Fritz Arno Wagner in SHADOW<\/strong>, also played the yank Lord Arthur Holmood in Coppola\u2019s DRACULA<\/strong>. Udo Kier went down in the history books many moons ago by playing the title role in Paul Morrissey<\/strong>\u2019s BLOOD FOR DRACULA<\/strong> (1974), a 3-D sleaze epic championed by Andy Warhol<\/strong>. Willem DaFoe\u2019s other vampire movie credit was that of \u201cYouth in Phone Booth #2\u201d in Tony Scott<\/strong>\u2019s THE HUNGER<\/strong> (1983) with David Bowie<\/strong> and Catherine Deneuve<\/strong>. And, both DaFoe and John Malkovich were born and raised in the Midwest \u2013 DaFoe in Wisconsin<\/strong>, Malkovich in Illinois <\/strong>\u2013 so there\u2019s proof that some of the best film-related talent emerges from the heartland!<\/p>\n

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

Epilogue<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think I\u2019ve said so much that any sort of proper closing paragraph would sound forced by comparison. I\u2019ll at least take a moment to thank festival director Nate Kohn, producer Nancy Casey<\/strong>, former assistant director Melissa McKillip<\/strong>, and everybody else involved with the Overlooked Film Festival for putting on a fine show. You can find more details at www.ebertfest.com<\/strong> about this and other editions of the event.<\/p>\n

And, whatever your opinion about Roger Ebert\u2019s opinions on film, you can\u2019t go particularly wrong at the Overlooked. With the industry element all but removed, the Overlooked is about watching movies<\/em>. The presentations are spotless. The talks are engaging and amusing. The Virginia Theatre<\/strong> is a work of art. The concessions are damn cheap. The volunteers are darn friendly. And at what other national showcase for cinema will you be guaranteed to run into the editor of MICRO-FILM<\/strong>? I rest my case.<\/p>\n

And that, my friends, is all about Ebertfest 2001.<\/p>\n


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

:: Part 5<\/a> | Part 7<\/a> ::<\/p>\n

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

Article \u00a9 2001 Jason Pankoke. Used with permission.<\/p>\n

Cover Graphic: \u00a9 Roger Ebert\u2019s Film Festival<\/a>\/Daily Illini<\/a><\/p>\n

EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU<\/strong> graphic:
\n\u00a9 1995 Miramax Films\/Available on Disney DVD<\/a><\/p>\n

CHEMISTRY 101<\/strong> photo:
\nJason Pankoke<\/p>\n

DEATH SHOT<\/strong> artwork:
\n\u00a9 1987 Sony Video\/OOP<\/p>\n

SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE<\/strong> artwork:
\n\u00a9 2000 Lionsgate<\/a><\/p>\n


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

\"\"<\/p>\n


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

Back to the fore, MacDuff\u2026<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Visit the Article Index<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Return to Home Page<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our exclusive EbertFlashBackFest continues as editor Jason Pankoke speaks to us from 10 years ago! In this sixth entry, he checks out non-festival films CHEMISTRY 101, SHOT, and SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE while everyone else loves EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55,14,137,13,30,18],"tags":[697,698,72,696,679],"class_list":["post-3332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alums-done-good","category-area-festivals","category-article-du-c-u","category-public-events","category-roger-ebert","category-student-film","tag-chemistry-101","tag-everyone-says-i-love-you","tag-roger-eberts-film-festival","tag-shadow-of-the-vampire","tag-shot"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3332","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=3332"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3332\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}