HOOPESTON — The Hoopeston name will be in the limelight today in a locale other than Illinois.
A self-titled, independent film about Hoopeston will premiere today at the 15th Annual New York Underground Film Festival in New York City’s East Village at the Anthology Film Archives. A second showing in New York will be held Tuesday.
The feature-length documentary — about 78 minutes long — will tell Hoopeston’s story, both the good and the bad, through the words and film clips of Hoopeston residents taken in August and early September of 2006.
“NYUFF is the perfect festival for this documentary,” said Director Thomas Bender. “It’s a great platform for non-mainstream films like ‘Hoopeston.’”
Bender said he submitted a screener to the New York Underground Film Festival and organizers decided to include it in their program along with a dozen other features and short films.
Prominent in the trailer of the film that can be seen at http://www.synydyne.com/hoopeston is a brief synopsis of the film itself with a quick overview of some of the items in the documentary, including the Witch School.
Debbe Thompkins, Witch School associate, said, “We are mostly excited about it. Everyone is excited about.”
Don Lewis, Chancellor of the Board, and Ed Hubbard, CEO of Witch School, are both attending the premiere of “Hoopeston” today, according to Hubbard.
“On a personal note,” said Hubbard, “I am nervous and a little scared. I do not know what will be said.”
He added he was glad to see First Amendment rights improving and “no matter what the movie actually says, it’s cool be-cause that is First Amendment freedom.”
According to Bender, they hope to make “Hoopeston” available on a DVD at some point after the film festival.
They are still making arrangements on that part of the documentary.
“The primary filming for the documentary was completed in a period of just over a
week in Hoopeston,” Bender said. “It took me about a year to finish the bulk of the editing.”
Bender plans to donate several copies of “Hoopeston” to the Hoopeston Public Library as soon as the DVD arrangements are finalized.
“The people at the Hoopeston Public Library were very helpful to us when we were in Hoopeston, and the library is thanked in the credits of the film,” he said.
Local News
Hoopeston makes its debut in NYC
Film documents town, Witch School
- Local News
-
-
Spirit of the West
Museum workers run out of adjectives when describing the “Spirit of the West” quilt exhibit, which opens Friday. “It’s mind boggling,” Sue Richer, director of the Vermilion County Museum, said as she admired the quilts. “It amazes me. They’re works of art, the way they’re put together.”
-
County looks at power deal
Vermilion County Board committee members will discuss a contract letting Integrys extend electric savings to residents now.
-
Six to retire from Danville High
Six longtime District 118 employees said goodbye to Danville High School at the end of the school year.
-
Teacher’s aide retires after 33 years
Jan Kovacic meets the students at Covington Elementary School when they arrive in the morning, and she is the last one they see in the afternoon when getting on a bus or in a car.
-
Fountain OKs nurse position
Fountain County Council members approved restructuring changes Tuesday in the Fountain-Warren Health Department.
-
United Way close to goal
The United Way of Danville Area is in the home stretch of its annual campaign and wants residents’ help in reaching that goal.
- City rummage sale nears
- Home tour helps museum
- Police, Fire Reports
-
Teacher weaves life skills in with lessons
KaSandra Mitchell’s fifth-graders probably think all the cooking and sewing they do in class is a lot of fun.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
Couple doesn’t let tropical storm ruin their big day
Tori Bares Baby Bump in Monokini
Even Fla. Police Shocked by Face-Mauling Attack
Letterman on Family Life Post-Scandal
Evans: Serena in shock
Pregnant Reese Wears LBD
Volcano covers Colombian cities in ash
Meet the Crew and Good Ship 'Prometheus'
Los Angeles Bar Bans Bachelorettes
Hamster Plays Dead
Beyonce Shows Off 60 Pound Weight Loss at Concert
Drunk Women Breaking Into Houses: A New Trend?
LeAnn Rimes Rocks Short Shorts
Raw Video: Cop Shoots Man Eating Another's Face
Gordon Ramsay Carried Off Field
Man Dies Getting Lap Dance
Kim Kardashian Claims Items Stolen from Her Luggage
Bear cools off in Calif. family's pool
Ep. 3: Chopped Desserts
Air Force dad surprises family at baseball game
