If your weekly horoscope reads, "You might become an accidental film extra," don't be surprised. This weekend, novice and experienced area filmmakers alike will be jostling for juicy angles, engaging in public fights over script revisions and begging local folks to act natural in the background as they race the clock to wrap up their shoots. It's all part of the fun of this year's i48, the sixth annual 48-hour film competition.
On Friday, May 29, participating teams will receive a packet containing a genre, character and line of dialogue they must incorporate into their less-than-six-minute film. They also have a choice of three different props that must be used, a stipulation that has in the past revealed creative uses of clothespins, latex gloves and fly swatters. Then the countdown to the Sunday evening deadline begins.
"It's two days of running around like crazy," says Melody Herrick, who played the dual role of actress and script supervisor for last year's big winner Honest Abe. "[We're] doing everything as quickly and efficiently as possible, adrenaline running, and improvising when something unexpected happens, which is every five minutes."
All films will be screened the following weekend at The Flicks, with a Best of i48 showing on Sunday, May 31, at the Egyptian Theatre. Prizes are awarded in such categories as Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Use of Prop. The festival is both the reward of a rush-job well done and a chance for filmmakers to gather together: a rare opportunity for Boise's auteurs.
"The one thing that brings everyone together every time is i48," says Gregory Bayne, who founded the festival with filmmaker Andrew Ellis. "It blends competition with the accolade of viewing your film on the big screen and awards."
When the two created the competition in 2004, they were expecting a dozen teams to sign up, considering the inaugural festival a trial run of sorts. They received more than 30 registrations--a number that has since doubled--with teams vacillating in experience from television producers to suburban families. They've been off and running ever since.
The competition is divided into two self-selected categories, a novice and an open division, so newbies are encouraged to participate. Despite the diversity of each team's experience level, every film is a triumph, given the strenuous circumstances under which each is created.
"What's welcoming about the festival is that it's incredibly accepting," says Ellis. "There really is a sort of overall team spirit, even amongst everyone there. It's as friendly an audience as you're ever going to get as a filmmaker. Everybody understands the score; they understand what happened."
Although pre-written scripts are forbidden and each team's packet is about as predictable as a dollar store grab bag, many of the filmmakers have key steps already prepared.
"Getting talented people on board for the weekend is the single most important thing to do," says Herrick. "We have made a list of writers, actors, tech crew and musicians and asked them to be on call, but we really don't know who we will need until the script is written Friday night."
Spontaneity and creativity are two must-have qualities for surviving the i48 experience, so if these two characteristics describe you and your gang, consider rounding up a team. Registrations will be accepted up until the Friday night packet hand-off, so pick up some extra batteries, percolate a carafe of coffee and take two days to delve into your directorial depths.
i48 Competition starts Friday, May 29, at 6 p.m. and ends Sunday, May 31, at 6 p.m. Cost is $100 per team. i48 Film Festival is on Saturday, June 6, from 12:30-6:30 p.m. at The Flicks; Best of i48 screening is Sunday, June 7, at 7 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre. For more information, revivalpictures.com/i48.html.
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You know that classic movie moment when a bunch of kids are in a foot race or soldiers are running to safety and someone falls? You know the heart tweaking moment when someone in front notices a fallen comrade (or competitor) and goes back to help them up and they go on together? If you combine that feel good moment with the urgency of a treasure hunt and the "no sleep, 25 hours of pushing it to the limit" driving force of military boot camp you might begin to imagine what it is like to be a part of the i48 Film Festiaval.
As the owner of a small local production company here in Boise, I am very aware of costs and limitations. The smallest well thought out production must take into consideration costs for equipment and prop rental, location fees and scheduling, feeding and paying actors and and writers, etc. For i48 their is only one limitation - time. You have exactly 48 hours to script, shoot and produce a 6 minute film (you have no idea what your genre is until you are handed your assignment).
I say that this is the ONLY limitation because this was my first year as part of an i48 production team and I now have first hand experience. Everyone on our team, Sidewayz Films, was there to give 150% because they wanted to be a part of the experience, vision and hope. No one was paid, no one was elevated by resume or accomplishments, no one was promised a future of luxury in films or production. We all, to a person, just wanted to be a part of something bigger than our individual lives; we were not disappointed.
From the get go, we slammed it into high gear and didn't stop until the gas ran out and we came coasting, spent and worn, across the finish line. It was demanding, it was frustrating, it was challenging; but that was not the most memorable part for me.
The thing I will remember most about my i48 experience is this: In the Treasure Valley we live in abundance. We have abundant joy, abundant resources, abundant beauty, friendship, hope, trust, companionship, goodwill.... we have abundant abundance! I know I am gushing, but when you do something for a living day in and day out and deal with the industry ups and downs, client and vendor issues, logistics and money, one might tend to become jaded; perhaps resentful of ones choice of career, location, luck and history. Out of necessity and need for expediency, these things are set aside, at least for 48 hours while one becomes clear and focused on the goal: do your best for and give your all to the team; not just your team - the i48 team, the Treasure Valley community team, the 'everyone that might ever watch any of these films' team.
Locations, props, wardrobe, extras and equipment was secured with phone calls, text messages, facebook, email, and good ol' fashion on the spot asking. These are things I must obtain at some cost and then sell at a profit during my daily work week but for 48 hours, the abundance of the Treasure Valley was free for the asking. We asked for a lot and were given much more. We were given the opportunity to be, not just great, but grateful. I was in a state of sublime gratitude from the minute I was invited to join Team Sidewayz (last years winner - Best of Films) through asking for wardrobe from The Costume Shop to filming in business locations during business hours to being rooted on by crowds gathering to watch us film.
It's too much to list every gratifying event that happened in every gratifying minute but suffice to say, I saw my friends, my neighbors and my entire community in a brand new light, actually a new glow of beauty and abundance. All thanks to a little local film festival and competition: i48.
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