Roger Ebert Film Festival with Road Scholars

 CHAMPAIGN — I attended the Roger Ebert Film Festival with Road Scholars, a convivial group  of seniors serious about film, equality, inclusion and diversity.  Several of the films dealt with these topics while the Orange Ogre orchestrated chaos over immigration in the background. No one mentioned the “T word” during the entire week.

Film is the way forward and kudos to festival organizer Chaz Ebert (Roger’s widow) for selecting provacative films and timely panel discussions.

Much credit goes to the University of Illinois College of Media for a wonderful experience.

Appropriate tribute to a Mexican-American immigant is paid by Sam Fragoso in his short film “Sebastian.”  A voice-over reads letters written by Fragaso’s immigrant grandfather while we see an actor in a fruit orchard.  This timely look at immigration was shown at Ebertfest in Champaign.  Fragaso, a journalist, has been attending Ebertfest since he was a teen. http://www.goodshortfilms.it/en/genre/drama/sebastian-sam-fragoso

The Italian revival interior of the Virginia Theater’s balcolny was extremely serene during a bathroom break.  Seating in the theater is mostly uncomfortable, except in the elevated part of the balcony where you can stretch your legs over the railing.  I am not planning a return trip here, but many in the Road Scholar group have been attending Ebertfest for as many as 15 years.  People I met in Champaign-Urbana go out of their way to make you feel welcome to the American heartland, a university community in the farm fields.

Michael Barker, co-president of Sony Classic films, droned on about famous actors he has known.  Less of Barker would have been more.

Unlike Rita Coburn, a director who was stimulating and spoke about her film “Maya Angelou, And Still I Rise.”  The actress and poet rose above adversity.  The film was riveting and was a good introduction for me to Dr. Angelou’s incredible work. http://mayaangeloufilm.com

“Almost Famous,” a 2000 cult favorite, was the one I most wanted to see on the big screen with an appreciative audience.  I missed Mr. Rogers so I could get a nap and see AF, a look at love, heartbreak and tenuous relations with a second rate rock band on the road.  I found a comfortable spot in the balcony for this SRO showing. 

CHAMPAIGN —Random acts of kindness.  Much thanks to the staff person at the Krannert Art Museum, who is a member of the MLK Choir, and her husband, Porter, who drove me back to the Holiday Inn after visitng the campus.  

The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir performed after the showing of the Aretha Franklin gospel concert (Amazing Grace 1972) film at Ebertfest that was never completed until recently.  Who was that famous British rock star in the audience and were you uneasy with the scene of Aretha and her father?

Advocacy for Justice Committee 

Salem Baptist Church

500 E Park St, 

Champaign, IL 61820

Send donation to the MLK Choir scholarship fund.

EQUALITY FOR WOMEN

CHAMPAIGN — Sexism and ageism discrimination undermine careers of talented women artists in the entertainment and film industries.

Film director Rita Coburn at EbertFest panel said “women can’t get in the door.”  Same could be said for women critics.  Writer Carla Renata said “middle age men are afraid that women are trying to take their place.”

Actor Gina Gershon recounted rejections for parts because she wasn’t enough Asian or Black.  “Women don’t want a piece of the pie, they want a different pie,” said actresss and writer Jennifer Merin.

Producers favor ideal types so there are not many parts for her type of actress, said Jennifer Tilly who with Gershon appears in the film “Bound” that was shown at the festival.

COMMENTS HEARD AT FESTIVAL

CHAMPAIGN — After seeing the film “Rachel Getting Married” one of the women in my group who is a marriage counselor said, “I thought I was back at work watching this movie.”  Another quipped:  “They took the fun out of dysfunctional.”

Dale DeVries, professional driver of the University of Illinois bus wrote a heartfelt text message to the U of I coordinator for our Road Scholar group.  Interaction with us seniors enriched this young man’s life.

People I encountered at the Holiday Inn were open and eager to chat.  A young hotel staffer said he couldn’t watch “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” because Mr. Rogers  brought back memories of a difficult time in his life.

Another hotel staffer was in Champaign for a year helping her father who is recovering from heart surgery.