48 Hour Film Project blows into Houston
Our mission is to advance filmmaking and promote filmmakers
In 2001, Mark Ruppert had a crazy idea. Make a movie in 48 hours. Not just write a movie or flesh out the beat sheet or brainstorm plot ideas, but to seriously make an entire movie. Ruppert enlisted the help and support of his friend and fellow filmmaker, Liz Langston. With the idea in mind, Ruppert pulled together filmmakers from around Washington, DC to sign on for what must have seemed an impossible mission, at the time. Once the teams were in place, they set about answering the looming question, “Even if you can make a film in 48 hours, will it even be worth watching?” The answer was and still is, a resounding, yes. Now 8 years later, the 48 Hour Film Project kicked off its largest competition to date. With over 80 cities and 2500 teams(approximately 35,000 people) involved. This includes two new International cities, Breda in the Netherlands and Lisbon in Portugal.
This years 48 Hour Film Project – Houston, blew into town on Friday June 5, 2009. By Sunday, June 7, glassy eyed, caffeine hyped, sleep deprived filmmakers from in and around the environs of Houston were making a mad dash to finish their films and get them submitted before the firm 7:30 pm deadline. All told, 43 films were completed and submitted. In addition to Houston, the 48 Hour Film Project also launched in Jacksonville, San Francisco, St. Louis and Milwaukee, this past weekend.
This is the 48 Hour Film Project's fifth year stopping in Houston.
What is the 48 Hour Film Project?
Well the short and sweet answer is a 48 hour film making marathon. Teams are given a character, a genre, a line of dialogue and a prop. With that they build a short film from 4 to 7 minutes long. This includes scouting locations, building a crew, acquiring equipment, casting, scriptwriting, filming, acting, wrapping, editing and scoring.
There's Gold in Them Thar Sleepless Nights
Lest you think all of this running around and filming will all come to naught, there's not only money but prestige and opportunity available for the intrepid filmmakers who take the journey. In addition to a $480 prize for the winning team, there is also the opportunity to have your film chosen for the 48 Hour Film Project's, Best of DVD. Additionally, the winners get the chance to have their films in the running at
Filmapalooza. Filmapalooza is the annual awards extravaganza that the 48 Hour Film Project puts on to honor the year's best films. Filmapalooza 2010 will be held at the
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in
Las Vegas. Winning films will also vie to be one of 12 films chosen to be screened at the 63
rd Annual
Cannes Film Festival in 2010.
The 48 Hour Film Project Experience
The non stop pace of the 48 Hour Film project allows movie makers to get down to the brass tacks of movie making. It also requires a fair amount of organization and time management skills. While it may seem counter to the creative process, Laura Schlecht, Houston producer for the 48 Hour Film Project shared her thoughts about the process. “While the tight deadline may seem like an obstacle, ultimately it places the emphasis on creativity and teamwork, and forces participants into making their films rather than just talking about them. More importantly, it breaks down barriers by allowing anyone in Houston with a free weekend, a video camera, and boundless creative energy to experience the fun, exhilaration, and satisfaction of producing a fully-realized film.” Schlecht has headed up film teams as well as handling producing duties. She has a unique perspective on all the aspects of the project. A recent press release said of the 48 Hour Film Project. “The emphasis is also on building communities of local creative people - facilitating making new connections, showcasing skills, and celebrating what creativity and teamwork can accomplish in just one weekend.”
Rules and Guidelines
There are some guidelines in place that are specific to the 48 Hour Film Project. To keep abreast of the events leading up to next years 48 Hour Film Project, you can check the website at
http://www.48hourfilm.com/houston/. You can also follow the Houston 48 Hour scene on their
Facebook Fan Page. For a complete listing of the rules and guidelines, please check out the
Official Rules as well as the
Filmmaking Rules.
Support Your Local Filmmakers
With all the hard work of movie making behind them, it's now time for the filmmakers and public alike to take a look at the fruits of their labors. Screenings are being held, June 10 and 11, at the new
CityCentre Studio Movie Grill on 805 Town and Country Lane, 77024. For more information, please contact them at 713-461-4449. For map and directions, please click the link below.
Tickets can be purchased online for $8.50 until 9am the day of the screening (June 10). After that they will be on sale at the theater for $10 (cash only) an hour before show time. To purchase tickets online please follow the link.
With nearly 130,000 people having participated and over 9000 films made; what started as one man's crazy idea is now the largest timed film competition in the world. To view any of the previous films, please go to the 48 Hour film archive at
http://www.48.tv.
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48 Hour Film Project blows into Houston
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