I survived 48 Hour Film

Techwoman vs The Necktie Strangler from Doug Plummer on Vimeo.

Ages ago, I registered at the Seattle website of the 48 Hour Film project. The idea is, you make a film, 4 to 7 minutes long, in 48 hours. Write the script, get the props, rehearse, film, edit, deliver. It attracts a lot of pro film-type people. I was hoping to join an experienced team so that I could learn something.

The day before the weekend started, I got an email from a Meetup group of “International Women,” wondering if I wanted to join their team. They signed up on a lark, realized they hadn't a clue, and, found my name at the bottom of the resource barrel.

I offered an ambivalent “maybe”, went off to the Fremont Solstice Parade like I planned, and kept in touch by phone as they worked out a story. Their assigned genre (given at the beginning of the 48 hour period, on Friday night) was “Superhero.” At 4pm on Saturday, I was in a condo in Bellevue, with five women, working out a storyline that I thought I might be able to produce.

We started filming two hours later, and finished at midnight, at a Lake Washington park, with our villain tied to a tree with neckties.

That we were a diverse crew is an understatement. Brazilian, Korean, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and me. The film is not likely to win any awards (except, perhaps, entry by most naïve crew), but I had a total blast making it. I loved the collaboration, the challenge (how do I convert my pajama clad character into a superhero?), the command of a story and a process of telling it.

I wish I knew how to handle sound in Soundtrack Pro. I've seen Larry Jorden's Lynda.com training about 5 times now, and it hasn't helped much. I wish I knew how to color correct. Heck, I wish I knew how to properly expose video with my Canon XH A1. I hit many of my limits with this project. It shows.

But boy, was it fun. I logged video until 1am, and was too hyped up to get to sleep for another hour. I was up at 7 labeling clips. By 9 I had a rough cut (funny how much faster it is to edit when you've shot with a sequence already in mind). By 5 I had the rough edges in the sound and color sanded as smooth as I knew how.

The theatrical premiere is this Thursday (6/25), 9pm, at the Harvard Exit, in Seattle.

Comments

[Marie]

I'd love to see the results! I like that you were willing to throw yourself in there as a learning experience. We don't always get those kind of opportunities.

[Marie]

Oh duh, the film is right there in front of my face! Interesting cut choices. Cool! I'm looking forward to watching it again when I can turn up the sound more.

[Marc W.]

I did one for the 48 hr Film Fest in Austin. It was great! Unfortunately we believe the voting was rigged. But I guess voted audience's best is better than not.