48-Hour Film Returns to Austin
As a member of Austin Cinemaker Co-op -- a Super 8 filmmaking collective that is sadly no more -- one of the most popular events was our annual Make a Film in a (M.A.F.I.A.) weekend event. Filmmakers had 48 hours to film a short in camera with no editing, incorporating a prop that was provided at the beginning of the event. Nowadays local nonprofit Austin School of Film hosts a Youth M.A.F.I.A. Day Film Festival for SXSW every year. Students have only 24 hours to conceive, shoot, and edit their films.
One of the largest 48-hour filmmaking events, The 48 Hour Film Project, will include an Austin event this year. The project is spread across over 50 cities across the United States and another 34 international cities. Reel Women founder Sherry Mills is organizing the Austin event, which takes place June 25-27. 48 Hour Film Project began in 2001, and Austin filmmakers have participated since 2005. On Friday night, teams receive a character, a prop, a line of dialogue and a genre, all which must be included in their movie. They will then spend a wild and sleepless weekend writing, shooting, editing and scoring it -- in just 48 hours. The winning film will go up against films from around the world.
Want to participate but don't have a team? No problem -- just stop by one of the upcoming Reel Women events including the First Monday Mix at the Stompin' Grounds from 6-8 pm on June 7, or at the monthly meeting at 7 pm on Wednesday, June 16. First-timers can ask questions as former team leaders, cast and crew take part in a Q&A session. If you can't make the events, no worries. To help teams come together, 48 Hour Film Project hosts a networking service that you can join here.
Early Bird registration is $135 per team. Teams must register here on or before Monday, May 31, to get this special rate. Afterwards, registration is $155. Enter soon -- space is limited. Teams will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Once the initial registration is full, teams will be accepted for a waiting list.
Premiere screenings will be held at 6 and 8:15 pm on June 29, 30, and July 1 at the Rollins Theatre at the Long Center.
The 48 Hour Film Project maintains an online catalog of all films submitted, and you can search for Austin short films. My local favorite is N Audible (2006), directed by James Dodson and Bud Hasert and written by Hasert, Dodson and director of photography Justin Esquivel. N Audible won an award for "Best Editing," and is one of the most interesting "silent" films I've ever seen, with the cryptic message -- "3 Strangers, 4 Letters, 0 Sounds, and 1 Way Out." Watch it yourself in the following embedded video.