Reel life: Two suburban students win honors at 'Say It In 8' film fest
<h3 class="briefHead">They 'Say It In 8'</h3>
Two suburban students won honors in the upcoming "Say It In 8" student film festival sponsored by the After Hours Film Society.
Brian Chval of the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn won Special Mention for his experimental animated short "Dieting."
Nihal Dantluri of Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville won an Award of Excellence for her nonfiction film "Day By Day."
Their works and other winners of the 14th annual "Say It In 8" student film festival will be shown at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove.
Society director Deborah Venezia warns audiences that Daniel Ahrens' German movie "Shell" - winner of the Best of Show award - may not be suitable for all viewers because of its subject matter and intensity.
More than 100 submissions from around the globe entered the contest, judged by film professionals Bob Fritz, John Mostacci and Tony Venezia. Admission costs $5. Go to afterhoursfilmsociety.com for tickets and details.
<h3 class="briefHead">Getting things straight</h3>
Two times in the new bawdy sex comedy "Confessions of a Womanizer" star Andrew Lawrence utters the phrase, "Let me get this straight ..." then goes on to provide a summary of what has happened so far in the story, as if that would ever be necessary in this movie.
When you hear that phrase, that's a cue the screenwriter thinks you might have forgotten plot points or character motivations and you must be reminded of them so you remain clear on what's happening.
The phrase also suggests the screenwriter couldn't think of a more artful, subtle way of seamlessly integrating summaries into the dialogue.
Lawrence has good company with other actors forced to announce their internal summaries, among them Kevin James in "Hitch," Jack Black in "Year One," Annie Corley in "Law-Abiding Citizen," Viola Davis in "Law-Abiding Citizen," Eddie Murphy in "Shrek Forever After," Adrien Brody in "Splice" and many, many more.
<h3 class="briefHead">Little time, 'Little Men'</h3>
The After Hours Film Society presents "Little Men," Ira Sachs' examination of the growing pains of teens and Brooklyn itself. The feature will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. Admission costs $10 ($6 for members). Go to afterhoursfilmsociety.com.
<h3 class="briefHead">Chi's 52nd film fest</h3>
The 52nd annual Chicago International Film Festival runs through Oct. 27 at the AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois St., Chicago. Tickets cost $15 for evening screenings; $10 for shows after 10 p.m. It's $8 for weekday matinees through 5 p.m. Discounts for Cinema/Chicago members, students and seniors apply. Go to chicagofilmfestival.com.