Urbana native Nina Paley discusses the complications of bringing Sita Sings the Blues to an audience and provides an interesting conjecture as to why corporations make it so hard to use cultural artifacts.
Urbana native Nina Paley has a slot at EbertFest for Sita Sings the Blues. She talks to Smile Politely about growing up in Urbana, being a mayor’s daughter, and her former addiction to PLATO computers.
Early birds who want to ensure a seat at the Virginia Theater for next year’s EbertFest can now order festival passes on-line. EbertFest, formerly known as The Overlooked Film Festival, showcases films that are hand-picked …
11:45 a.m.: After being absent from the organ yesterday, Warren York is back and all is right again. As I look around and hear the organ’s jaunty tune, I feel a little bittersweet. It’s the …
11:00 a.m.: Chaz Ebert wastes no time in introducing the director for the first film of the day, the much-anticipated guest, Ang Lee. Mr. Lee is greeted by a chorus of U of I boys …
8:00 a.m.: I arrive at the Illini Union, searching in vain for the Pine Lounge that will hold the panel for “Today’s Writer/Director — It’s Not Just Business, It’s Personal.” It’s serendipitous I get there …
12:15 p.m.: The doors open even later than yesterday’s seven minute delay. It seems the Powers That Be are weaning us on a shorter diet of festival fun by adding heat to the decathlon. I …
5:45 p.m.: I arrive and the line is wrapped around the historic Virginia Theatre down to the light pole at the end of the block. The lawn chairs, laptops and headphones have been broken out …
