48 HOURS -
From Script to Screen
Filmmaking
at an Accelerated Pace - Two Arizona Tales
Interviews and layout and some photos by Ed Sharpe - Glendale Daily Planet
/ KKAT-IPTV
Phoenix
Film Foundation 48 Hour Challenge
The
48 Hour Film Project
(Phoenix Arizona) Major motion pictures
take months or years to complete but...
how about doing a
complete movie from script to screenable product in 48 hours?
How
did it all start?
The
48 Hour Film Project - Back in May 2001, Mark Ruppert came up
with a crazy idea to try to make a film in 48 hours. He and his filmmaking
partner, Liz Langston, and several other DC filmmakers formed their own
teams and joined him in this experiment. The big question back then was:
"Would films made in only 48 hours even be watchable?"
The answer was a emphatic
YES!, and now six years later and with more than 100 competitions
having taken place around the world, it is amazing to consider the success
of the 'Project'. This year marks the This
was the third year the competition was hosted in Phoenix, the
6th time it was in
Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Austin, and the 8th time for DC. The
National 48 Hour Film Project
had about 3000 teams in the Project over the years, and at 15 people per
team, that translates to roughly 45,000 people who have answered the call
to come on out and make a movie.
The thrill and excitement of
participating in one 48 hour film festival is overwhelming but...
you find out there is not only the
4th Annual Phoenix Film Foundation 48 Hour Challenge offering 33 entry positions for filmmaker but also a week later
the Phoenix city competition for the
National 48 Hour competition .
One right after
the other ... a week apart?
Why Not! So... not only did CouryGraph
Productions dive in for an over dose of
filmmaking but they were joined by
a handful of teams that chose to participate in both 48 Hour
Filmmaking Festivals.
These events event kick off on a Friday evening and assigns the
filmmakers a prop, a line of dialogue and a genre that must be used. All
teams receive the same prop and dialogue, however, teams will be assigned
different genres. You then get 48 Hours to the minute to complete
and turn in your creation.
*The
Line: "That's pretty unlucky" *The
Prop: CHEESE
*The Line: "That's
not what I said!" *The Prop: A
BANDAGE
Teams come in all sizes!
The smallest team has consists of one person who sets up the camera
then runs around to be "on-camera". The largest reported team to
date was an Atlanta based team with 70 people.
Music for the movies entered in the compactions
can be either royalty free music or original compositions,
the odds of clearing rights for
a ZZ top tune are pretty small in one of these events and music
that does not have the rights clearly
((((HELP TERMINOLOGY))))) released or licenses or created
specifically by an individual composer will get you disqualified immediately.
Some background on the two events:.
About
The IFP 48 Hr Film Challenge
IFP 48 Hr Film Challenge, sponsored by
the Independent Feature Project , a non profit organization created to
support the courageous work of artists and technicians working in
independent film and the
IFP is a 29-year old, not-for-profit membership and advocacy
organization that supports and serves the independent film community by
connecting creative talent and the film industry. Wide-reaching programs
provide invaluable information, resources, networking and support to
filmmakers while promoting film as a vital and influential public art
form.
Headquartered in New York, IFP also has offices in Chicago,
Minnesota, Phoenix, Seattle The
national webpage is http://www.ifp.org
The 4th Annual Phoenix Film Foundation 48 Hour Challenge just
wrapped up with 33 films screened at the Harkins Scottsdale/101 Theatre
with over 400 people in attendance. The event was a huge success and was
sold out a week before the screening. The Phoenix Film Foundation started
the challenge in 2004 and has had nothing but success since. The event is
the longest running of it's kind in the Phoenix area and also the only one
run by a non-profit organization. In the first year, 48 teams competed and
the top 25 films were screened. Then in 2005, the organization made the
decision to limit the number of teams to 33 so all filmmakers that entered
would have their films screened. "We felt as part our commitment to
the Arizona filmmakers that they deserved to be up on the big screen after
the hard work they put in completing their films" said Executive
Director, Jason Carney. The event kicks off on a Friday evening and
assigns the filmmakers a prop, a line of dialogue and a genre that must be
used. All teams receive the same prop and dialogue, while the teams will
be assigned one of three genres. The competition is also unique in that
the winning film is an automatically selection to the following year's
Phoenix Film Festival, guaranteeing that the film will be shown as part of
a world class event. Chris LaMont, the Co-Founder and President of the
Phoenix Film Foundation said "The films each year get better and
better. It's to the point where were just blown away that these films are
made in just two days. It just speaks volumes about the quality of Arizona
filmmakers".
The Phoenix Film Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that
also produces the Phoenix Film Festival, Arizona Student Film Festival and
International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival. It also manages the Phoenix
chapter of Independent Feature Projects (IFP-Phoenix) a membership based
group of filmmakers providing network and educational opportunities for
filmmakers. It is the largest filmmaker organization in the state. Finally
it operates the Phoenix Film Society a filmgoing group that views first
run film and holds discussions afterwards.

About
The
48 Hour Film Project
The 48 Hour Film Project
mission is to advance filmmaking and promote filmmakers. Through
its festival/competition, the Project encourages filmmakers and would-be
filmmakers to get out there and make movies.
The 48 Hour Film Project announces
its 7th annual national filmmaking tour visiting over 50 cities across
both national and internationally. New
international cities include Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, and Rome. Over 1,500 48
Hour film teams are expected to make films in the 2007 tour which began in
Philadelphia in March and will continue through August. The top winners in
each city are eligible to compete in the 48HFP Panasonic HD Filmmaker
Showdown—winning film equipment from Panasonic and national
distribution. The International Grand Prize Winner receives a $7,500 gift
card, sponsored by Visa
2007 marked the third year the 48HFP has been hosted in Phoenix.
This year we had 24 teams compete in the competition, although not
all were able to make the 48 hour deadline.
Prizes for City Winner
· A Trophy
· Filmapalooza: The City Winner will be screened at Filmapalooza, the
official 48HFP Awards Weekend, held in the past at SXSW in Austin and
Cinequest in San Jose.
· National DVD Distribution: A selection of the City Winning films
will receive distribution on DVD.
· Second-round contests: US City Winners is eligible for the Fall Shootout and HD
Showdown.
Other Local Prizes
· Awards for Best Directing, Best Script, Best Cinematography, Best
Editing, Best Acting, Best Music, Best Sound Design, Best Effects, Best
Use of Genre, Best Use of Character, Best Use of Prop, and Best Use of
Line.
· Some
cities have additional prizes.
See your city page for more details.
International Grand Prize
The International Grand Prize Winner, chosen from among the City
Winners, receives a Visa gift card for $7,500!
Visa "Life Takes"
Competition
The top ten teams from New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco
receive a $500 Visa gift
card to make another 48 Hour Film. Then they are flown to San Francisco for the finals. The Grand Prize, First
Prize, and Second Prize films from "Life Takes" will receive $10,000,
$5,000, and $2,500,
respectively.
Panasonic HD Showdown
The top five City Winners receive the use of a Panasonic HVX200
High Definition P2 camera to shoot a second 48 Hour Film. The winning team
will go home with the Panasonic
HVX200, a $6000 value.
Of course the information at the beginning
of this article with Mark Ruppert and how the idea for the 48
Hour Challange started applies...
SUNSHINE -
This short film Sunshine is a true
romance.
At it's heart are the sacrifices that loving someone requires... - Cale
Epps
And the Phoenix City Winner ... Best Film of 2007 ... is
"Sunshine" by dEeP fOcUs.
The runners-up are "Dr. Beater" by The Media Guys and
"Recoil" by Dynamicfilm+Never Average.

Matt De Jesús- Director, Cinematographer, Editor
Lourdes González - Producer
Matt De Jesús-
Director, Cinematographer, Editor
Sharpe - Why do you participate in a fast paced production project
such as this?
Matt De Jesús - We participate in a fast paced production
such as the 48 HFP because we want to test our limits; doing so forces us
to be creative with our resources and brings out the best within us. We
love the excitement of getting a short film done in two days and seeing
the reaction of a crowd to our efforts. To be quite honest we tend to
procrastinate a bit and by having a two day deadline it allows us to push
our talents, creativeness, insomnia and passion for filmmaking.
Sharpe - What got you interested in acting or crewing in 48
hr projects?
Matt De Jesús - What got me interested in crewing for the
48HFP was that I would be working with my sister who is into filmmaking
and by seeing her passion for film got me excited as well and now I enjoy
watching what happens behind the scenes. --Karla González, Production
Assistant
What got me interested in crewing for the 48HFP was my joy in
seeing the results of an intense and hard worked for production.
Sharpe - Tell us what job functions or parts everyone associated
with wits movie played.
Matt De Jesús -
Matt De Jesús- Director, Cinematographer, Editor
Lourdes González - Producer
Dulce Estévez - Writer
Cale Epps - Writer, Actor
Lindsey Marlin - Writer, Actress
Jose Luis Estévez - Co-Writer
Karla González - Production Assistant
David Wallace - Production Assistant
Sharpe - What was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved
in and why?
Matt De Jesús - This was the first 48 HFP film we were
involved in, therefore, this one was our favorite! Because it was special
since family and friends were involved in it.
Sharpe - - how does participation in an event as this
enhance your skill set?
Matt De Jesús - Participating in an event as the the 48HFP
allows us to see our strengths and work on our weakness as filmmakers.
Taking note of that and reflecting allows us to improve our skills where
needed.
Sharpe - Any closing thoughts?
Matt De Jesús - We are really happy and grateful to have
won the local 48 HFP. Filmmaking is our passion and we hope we continue to
touch many people's hearts through moving pictures. We would like to thank
everyone who was involved and helped make the project a success and also
everyone who ran the Phoenix 48 HFP who give independent filmmakers an
outlet to show their expression in a very creative way.
About Matt De Jesús's
company -
New Horizons Film & Video:
We
create moving pictures that move people, whether that be commercials,
corporate videos or feature films the quality and attention to detail is
consistent throughout. In our desire for excellence and artistic pursuits
we are acquiring three RED Digital Cinema cameras. This digital camera is
a true replacement for the 35mm film camera. This is something we are very
excited about because not only will it reduce the production cost but it
also has six times the resolution video cameras use today. We are very
fortunate to be one of the first companies in the world to own the RED
camera. We would like for others to also take advantage of this great
opportunity and be able to shoot their projects with a camera that not
only captures images but also offers a true immersive experience.
================================
Lindsey
Marlin - Actress - SUNSHINE
Lindsey Marlin
Actor/Voiceover Artist
www.lindseymarlin.com
Sharpe - Tell us about your participation in the 48 Hour
projects.
Lindsey Marlin - Hello! My name is Lindsey Marlin, and I played
Charlene in 'Sunshine' with dEeP fOcUs for the Phoenix 48 hour Film
Project! My first 48 hour film project just happened to be the weekend
before, so when offered a second opportunity, I jumped at the chance!
There are many great filmmakers in this town, and I am always grateful for
the opportunity to work with talented individuals.
Sharpe - What got you interested in acting or crewing in 48
hr projects?
Lindsey Marlin - I am interested in acting in 48 hour
projects for the same reason that I am interested in acting in short
films, feature films, and plays: Acting is my passion and my career! I
welcome with open arms any project that can further develop my skills.
Sharpe -What was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved
in and why?
Lindsey Marlin -As I previously mentioned, I had acted in
another 48 hour film project the weekend before, and if I had to pick,
'Sunshine' would be my favorite due to the challenges of the script.
Furthermore, I got to work with both Cale Epps and director Matt de Jesus!
I knew Cale personally, and I had seen his great work onstage, but we had
never acted together before, so I was really looking forward to the
opportunity. Furthermore, I had heard of Matt through a mutual contact, so
I was looking forward to working with him as well! Although I really
enjoyed the previous weekend's 48 hour film project, 'Sunshine' was
definitely the most challenging for me.
Sharpe -Anything you would like to add in summary?
Lindsey Marlin -Finally, I would say that your skill set is
enhanced merely by putting together a film in 48 hours. Along with acting
in it, Cale and I helped contribute to the script, and that is typically
something that doesn't happen unless you are specifically the writer! We
were encouraged to bring our ideas to the table and the whole process just
felt incredibly collaborative. It was a very positive experience and the
film was ultimately very well received.
==========================
Cale
Epps - Actor - SUNSHINE
Sharpe - Tell us about the film you participated in.
Hi. My name is Cale Epps. I am an actor in the short film
Sunshine. This
short film Sunshine is a true romance. At it's heart are the sacrifices
that loving someone requires..
Sharpe - How did you get introduced to 48 hr
film projects?
Cale Epps - Matt DeJesus contacted me for this project. I've
been acting in the Valley for the last three and a half years. I've had
some recent success in the commercial market but most of the work I've
committed myself to has been on the stage. A lot fellow performers that
I've worked with have done the 48 hr challenge and I thought that it
sounded like a good, creative way to spend a weekend. My high school
friends and I used to do this sort of thing on the weekends back in those
days, so in a non-professional way, it's a process I'm familiar with even
though it's been a while since I've been a part of something like it. I
worked with Matt on a commercial spec about a year ago and gave him my
headshot when he told me that he made films. He contacted my agent and she
passed the word on to me that he needed actors for this project. I gave
him probably ten or twelve names of other actors that I knew and that is
how Lindsey got involved.
Sharpe - Tell us what job functions or parts you played.
Cale Epps - Initially I figured that Matt would use me
exclusively as an actor, but he was gracious enough to bring me in for the
actual creation of what we would be shooting. The idea evolved throughout
the first evening, but when it came time to write a script, I felt
uncomfortable that we would be putting words in Lindsey's mouth. I thought
that with a seven minute time limit, the whole thing would seem more
realistic and organic if, instead writing dialogue, we came up with who
these people were, what parameters they lived in, what the conflict was,
what both people were trying to get out of this moment in their lives-all
the while making sure to include in a creative way the requirements of the
festival (i.e. the prop, line of dialogue, character name, etc.)- and then
with those elements in mind, Lindsey and I could improvise a scene. I'm
familiar enough with Lindsey's work to know that, ability wise, she could
more than pull something like that off. She is a very talented performer.
And I felt comfortable enough with the idea, having helped shape it, that
I would be able to live in the moment as well and help create a moving
short piece. I'm happy with what we came up with.
Sharpe - What was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved
in and why?
Cale Epps - This is the first 48hour challenge I've
been a part of. So this one is my favorite. I wasn't sure what to expect,
so the outcome being what it is, it's nice to be recognized for hard work
and for a piece that I'm proud of even without the recognition.
Sharpe - - how does participation in an event as this
enhance your skill set?
Cale Epps - As far as enhancing skill set, I think the
time element of this project doesn't allow for a lot of ho humming or la
di da'ing. One has to come up with an idea and then really commit to those
choices in a very short period of time. You have to immerse yourself into
the project very quickly and I think that sharpens one's concentration a
great deal. I remember having this great feeling of relief once my part
was finished. Almost as if I had been swimming under water for 24 hours
and could now let myself breathe. It was cool. I like that feeling. That's
one of the perks of being on the talent end of the camera. You shoot your
stuff and then you're done. For Matt though, his process had a ways to go.
He still had the task of editing and polishing, taking what Lindsey and I
did, and then turning it all into a coherent and compelling story. I
really like the end product and I think he did an impressive job of making
us both look accomplished. That is, I think he cut out most of the bad
shit that I did and left most of the good shit. I'm grateful for that
because it can certainly go the other way.
Sharpe - And in sumary?
This whole experience really was great in terms of what I learned from the
process, in terms of people I've gotten to meet that have been doing this
sort of thing for a few years but are new to me, in terms of exposure to a
different field. All around it has been really wonderful.
RECOIL -Genre -Horror = 2ed
Place - Dynamic Films + Never Average
Austin
Nordell - Brenton Covington
And the Phoenix City Winner ... Best Film of 2007 ... is
"Sunshine" by dEeP fOcUs.
The runners-up are "Dr. Beater" by The Media Guys and
"Recoil" by Dynamicfilm+Never Average.
Sharpe - Why do you participate in a fast paced production project such as
this?
Austin - I have been in Film Production for as long as I can
remember, and doing these events gives me and my team a chance to
challenge ourselves. We always try to bring something new to these
festivals, and being able to capture that creativity and share it with
fellow filmmakers and audiences in such a short time is something that
drives us. We want to network, meet new talent, and push the limits as
much as we can. These events are the perfect place to start when
experimenting or being able to push creativity.
Brenton - The stronger the team the better the product.
We make a heck of a lot of films in a years time. These 48 hour films keep
us on our game in the realms of creativity, teamwork, communication, and
execution. Practice makes perfect.
*********
Sharpe - What got you interested in acting in 48 hr projects?
Austin - I only act when there are roles that do not
require speaking! lol
*********
Sharpe -what was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved in and why?
please also mention who acted in it and crewed it.
Austin - I have a special place in my heart for all the
entries we submitted but for this question, I think our latest submission
"Recoil" has been my favorite. It was a project that fit
perfectly with our busy schedule and was as run and gun as possible. We
knew we wanted to get away from comedies for a little while, and this
project in particular allowed the opportunity to work with some of our
usual cast as well as Dean Ronalds and Cathy Rankin. In this film, we
wanted to expand on time constrained visual effects shots, so we put
ourselves to the test with a couple high concept ideas that would be
challenging in any time frame of completion. We also really wanted to tell
a story through dialogue, since a lot of our films were strong on the
visual side, we really wanted to push our actors. Needless to say, they
pushed themselves. Every single cast member was phenomenal and I would
work with them again any day. "Recoil" starred Eric Zakluciewicz,
Aaron Burckle, Dean Ronalds, Cathy Rankin, Kaily Alissano, Marvin Gunn,
and Kari Shekerjian.
*********

Sharpe - As a crew member or as an actor/actress - how does participation in
an event as this enhance your skill set?
Austin - These film festivals and projects are the perfect
way to make sure that you get the film done! There is no grace period,
there are no reshoots, there is no extra time in postproduction for any
reason. Knowing that, when we start the film, we all know there is a time
limit, however, in that alotted time, we need to wow the audience and
deliver a quality project. It gives us great incentive to be more creative
and dedicated than most other situations when time would be on our side.
Brenton - A lot of filmmakers have told me that
they don't want to do 48 hour festivals because the product is not
representative of them in the end. That's understandable. For me, its
about getting on more sets, encountering more situations, overcoming more
obstacles, and learning how to do our jobs better so when we get on the
spot for high profile clients and producers, we know how to deliver and
how to get out of any problem that arises, because we've been through it
before or we have already learned that lesson.

*********
Sharpe - Any other parting thoughts for others?
Austin - This is my eighth entry, but I doubt it will be my
last. We have a lot of projects coming into production, but as long as I
have those weekends free when these events take place, Ill be there. And
I'll enjoy every minute of it.
Brenton - 48 hours where you run like hell, work
incredibly hard, have an incredibly fun time, make a great film, learn a
little about yourself and the people you work with, and in the end, watch
you work on the big screen in a real theater, ... sign me up whenever I'm
available. ;)

-------------------------------------
Terry
Miller - Still Photographer for Recoil done
by Brenton Covington and Austin Nordell
Sharpe - Why do you participate in a fast paced production project such as
this....
Terry Miller - Because it's fast paced. I love the energy!
Sharpe - What got you interested in acting or crewing in 48 hr projects?
Terry Miller - Shooting actors, models and production stills. Love
the energy and got invited to work with a fine cast and crew.
Sharpe - Well us what job functions or parts you played.
Terry Miller - Production stills.
Sharpe - What was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved in and why?
please also mention who acted in it and crewed it.
Terry Miller - Only one was Recoil done by Brenton Covington and
Austin Nordell
Sharpe - As a crew member as an actor/actress - how does participation in an
event as this enhance your skill set?
Terry Miller - It makes me more resourceful and gives practice in
unusual circumstances.
Sharpe - Do
you have a company?
Terry Miller - Yes - www.TerryMillerPhoto.com
Sharpe - And in closing?
Terry Miller - It's a pleasure to work with people who follow
through with their stated plans and who do their best because that's the
only way they know how to work.

Terry Miller and Brenton Covington
Awards wrap party
Terry Miller - Learn how to replace the words,
"I can't" with, "How can I?" Expect Success! What you
believe, you can achieve. Yes, It's really that simple!"
Dr.
Beater - Genre - Spy - Luke Hansen -
Media Guys


Link to Dr. Beater on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeGj2vOcC64
Sharpe - Luke, you mentioned technology has changed everything for
filmmaking, can you elaborate?

Luke Hansen- It's really the new technology that makes these
contests possible.
Everything is digital and it allows for a much faster and efficient
workflow in doing this kind of stuff. I can shoot directly to a hard
disc, and import that straight into Final Cut. After I got a rough cut
of the film done on Sunday, I was able to post it online for my sound
designer and music composer. My friend Andrew Edman, who did the sound
lives in L.A. He imported the movie into Pro Tools and was able to
send me back an audio mix within a couple of hours. The music
composer, Jephi Robens wrote and recorded an amazing score within a
few hours, and even threw in a Dr. Beater theme song for the credits.
This kind of stuff would have been nearly impossible to pull off in 48
hours twenty years ago.
Sharpe - What got you interested in acting or crewing in 48 hr projects?
Luke Hansen- My first 48 hour film contest was the '07 A3F, which
was a ton of fun.
I saw this contest being talked about on Craigslist, and I immediately
entered. You get hooked on these once you've done one.
Sharpe - tell us what your job functions were Luke.
Luke Hansen- For "Doctor Beater" I was the Director and
Editor. The two lead
actors, Joe and Steve wrote it with me.
what was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved in and why? please
also mention who acted in it and crewed it.
Luke Hansen - This has been my favorite experience with a 48 hour
film contest. As
soon as we drew "spy" for our genre I knew we'd have a blast
making
this. My filmmaker instincts told me to keep the story simple and
manageable, but Steve and Joe wouldn't have any of that, so we ended
up going crazy with the story line. At one point Friday night we were
trying to write in a speed boat chase and a shot of Agent Smith
walking out of a private jet. So we had to scale it back a bit from
that, but still ended up with an insane mess of a script that we had
to shoot in about 12 hours.
Steve Mason played "Agent Broderick Smith"
Joe Defuria played "Dr. Beater"
Sarah Moraes played "Natalia"
Luis Hernandez was the grip, and also played the Henchman
Sharpe - As a crew member as an actor/actress - how does participation in an
event as this enhance your skill set?
Luke Hansen- 48 hour film competitions really test your
ability to work under
pressure. If you can produce something good in that kind of time
frame, making a short film under normal conditions is a breeze.
Sharpe - What awards did Dr. Beater win?
Luke Hansen- Awards we won:
1st Place: Audience Favorite
2nd Place: Best Film (Tied with "Recoil")
1st Place: Best Score
2nd Place: Best Editing
2nd Place: Best Script
2nd Place: Best Sound Design
Sharpe - You
mentioned a film in the A3F festival tell us how you did...
Luke Hansen- Awards won at the '07 A3F for "So Called
Saints":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF-k4GCSO1E
Overall Best Use of Theme - 1st Place
Overall Best Story - 2nd Place
Overall Best Comedy - 3rd Place
Overall Best Acting - 3rd Place
Sharpe - Film
seems to indeed be you passion, do you work in the field full time?
Luke Hansen- I'm 20 years old, graduating this semester from the
Scottsdale
Community College film/television school. I'm going to ASU in the
spring to start their film/television program.
I also work full time as the videographer and editor for "The
Media Guys": www.mediaguys.tv
Tamara McDaniel -
Phoenix Independent Film Makers Group
Sharpe -
Why do you participate in a fast paced production project such as
this...
Tamara McDaniel - I liked the challenge and the fact that it
has the potential to pull you from your comfort zone. For example - in
both challenges - our team needed more actors than we had - so some of the
writers and folks that normally only did crew had to step up and they did
a great job and got to see a side of production from a view they'd never
had before.
Part of the Phoenix Independent Film Group Crew
(R
to L) Tamara McDaniel, Lee
Ann Cone, Kim Wolcott, Sara Clancy and Melissa Foreman
Photo by Laura Durant
Sharpe -
What got you interested in acting or crewing in 48 hr
projects?
Tamara McDaniel - The same thing that got me interested in
acting in general - the challenge just seemed like it would be more
exciting because I also had to be involved in part of the writing process
and producing process etc.
Sharpe - Tell us what job functions or parts you
played.
Tamara McDaniel - For the IFP project, I acted in the movie
and produced it, for the National Challenge I produced and directed.
Sharpe -What was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved in and
why?
Tamara McDaniel - I liked both of the projects, and I
did different jobs in each - I was probably a little more in my element
for the first one as an actress - but in the national challenge I really
liked it because we knew our crew knew what to expect and that made it
quite a bit easier the second time around. Plus, I got to direct which I'd
never really done and that was really exciting as well. I can't say which
I liked best though. Most of our crew was also in the cast. Very few folks
only performed one role or the other. All of our team members came from
the Phoenix Independent Film Makers Group ( http://indiefilm.meetup.com/172/?gj=sj5
).The following were on one or both of our teams: Tim Richards, Lee Ann
Cone, Christopher Miller, Mike Butler, Kim Wolcott, Nadya Britton, Brian
Kille, Sara Clancey, Michele Wilcox, Jom Wilcox, John Johnson, Rebecca
Roos, Robert Friedlander, Scott Haskin, Melissa Foreman, Sharifa Rowe,
Peter Salama, Joe Holt, Bruce Nelson, Mark Stewski, Henry Sanfur
Sharpe - As
a crew member as an actor/actress - how does participation in an event as
this enhance your skill set?
Tamara McDaniel - Well,
you get to see in a more intimate way everything that goes into making a
movie. Also, because of the time crunch and limited people and resources,
it forces you into jobs you might not normally do. Plus, when you're
working under this kind of a time crunch and this type of format, you
really need to be creative and flexible and keep your cool under pressure
- all stuff you need to get a good movie done.

Kim Wolcott as: Charlene
Brennan, Dog Walker
Mike Butler as
Vinny and Robert
Friedlander as Tyrone
=======================

COMPOSER FOR THE HANDLERS Scott
Haskin.- He worked on both films
Sharpe -
Why
do you participate in a fast paced production project such as
this....
Scott
Haskin - I find it to be a unique experience that tests your creative limits
and see what you can really
do. It is also a great opportunity to meet new
people and see films that may not have been created otherwise..
Sharpe -
What got you interested in acting or crewing in 48 hr projects?
Scott
Haskin - I did one about three years ago with a friend of mine. I heard it
was
coming up again and jumped at
the chance.
Sharpe - Tell us what job functions or parts you played.
Scott
Haskin - Primarily, I was the composer but was involved at the
creative meeting that took place once we received the envelope with the
specifics.
Sharpe - What was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved in and why?
please
also mention who acted in it and crewed it.
Scott
Haskin - Having done three so far, I am not sure it would be easy to pick
one.
Each experience gives us great opportunity to grow and work with
different people. I have enjoyed them all. I have a unique perspective
because I spend little time with the crew. Past the initial meeting, the
contact I have is typically with the producer, director and editor(s)
only.
Sharpe - As
a crew member how does participation in an event as this enhance your
skill set?
Scott
Haskin - I think these
opportunities are fantastic and would encourage anyone
interested in the business to join a team and go for it with the
understanding this is different from the normal film making
environment. Every challenge
I have done has brought me something I did not have
before walking in and each one has been an invaluable experience.
Sharpe - What is your workflow on one of these projects?
Scott
Haskin - It pushes us to do things in ways you might not normally do them.
For my part, I stick around
the meeting until the basic script outline is done,
decide the musical cues and then go back to my studio to compose
scenes from my imagination as
opposed to having the clip on my screen since
shooting would not have started yet. Then the script changes and I
have to alter or discard the
cue and start over with something different. Of
course, there are only 48 hours to turn in the final project so
creativity levels must be
high at all times.
Bruce
Dellis - Writer - “Bitter Spirits.”

Bruce Dellis and Daughter
Devany - Photo by Laura
Durant
|
Sharpe -
Why do you participate in a fast paced production project such
as this?
Dellis
- You get a ton of benefits in exchange for a relatively
small time commitment. It provides a great opportunity to work
with people you’ve never worked with before. For example,
I’ve known the Montierth brothers for a few years now, but
this is the first chance we’ve had to do a project together.
Over the past couple of years, their “Brothers’ Ink”
production company has attracted several top-notch, talented
guys (Nick Stahr, Adam Devaney, John Waldron, and Jason
Walters), so I was eager to find a way to work with them. I
also see the 48-Hr film challenges as the best way to
collaborate with some of the best actors in town. We were
really fortunate to get some of the top “known” local
actors (Jennifer Pfalzgraff, Jose Rosete, Laura Durant), as
well as several terrific actors who have become better known
locally as producers and directors in their own right (Brian
Ronalds, Kevin Berman, Deon Doughty, Jeff Goeson, and Greg
Seki). Also in the cast are Tal Goeson and Claudia Rubio – a
real coup for us as she was named Best Actress in last
year’s 48-Hr film challenge.

Montiereth
Brothers
Photo
by - Gregory Seki
Sharpe -
Bruce, what got you started in being a crewmember in 48 hr
projects?
Dellis
- Since I’m a married guy with a nine-year-old daughter
and a full-time job, these 48-Hr challenges can fit into my
schedule much more easily than a more elaborate, longer shoot
would allow. And at the end of the weekend, you’ve got
another completed project under your belt.
Sharpe - Did
you play any parts in the film Bruce?
Dellis
- On this particular challenge, I was the writer
only. This is the first time I’ve done one of these where I
haven’t been the writer AND director. In my discussions with
Adam and Donovan, we decided that we should divide the weekend
into well-defined chunks: Friday night would be for writing;
Saturday for shooting; and Sunday for Editing. So after we got
the genre, prop, and line of dialogue, the entire team went
back to the Brothers’ Ink offices and threw some ideas
around. We decided on the location and set a call time for
8:30am. Then I went home to write. I developed four or five
ideas (which didn’t work for a variety of reasons: too
elaborate; lame endings) before I wrote “Bitter Spirits.”
I was up until about 4:30am (Saturday). Then it was easy for
me – I just handed it off to Donovan and Adam and I went to
sleep! I managed to make it out to the shoot later in the day,
but by that time, they were almost finished.

Deon
Doughty and Claudia Rubio
Photo by - Gregory Seki
Sharpe -
What was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved in and
why? please also mention who acted in it and crewed it.
Dellis
- I think this was my favorite in terms of collaboration. It
felt more like a community project than just something I was
completely responsible for. And it helped that everybody was
in great spirits (no pun intended) through the whole process.
I often hear about how stressful and volatile some 48-Hour
sets are, but I’ve never experienced that myself. Maybe
it’s because we were all pretty well prepared and eager to
do our best. We shot it at John Waldron’s house, and there
were a couple of broken wine glasses, so I suppose the set
didn’t escape unscathed. I’ve done three other 48-Hr
challenges (“Sick Day,” “The Inevitable Reggie Vandevan,”
and “Tribute”), and some are better than others, but none
of them had the production value that “Bitter Spirits”
has.
Sharpe -
As a crew member as talent - how does participation in an
event as this enhance your skill set?
Dellis
- There’s no better way to exercise your filmmaking muscles
like a 48-Hr film challenge. There’s much more instinct
involved because you don’t have time to overanalyze the next
step. From a directing standpoint, it forces you to find some
kind of shorthand with the crew and actors. From a writer’s
perspective, you are often pushed into writing something in a
style or genre that you wouldn’t have tackled otherwise. The
fact that you have to incorporate a specific prop and a
specific line of dialogue actually helps you focus your
creativity in an odd way. It doesn’t necessarily dictate the
story you have to tell, but it helps limit the kind of stories
you might develop.
.
Jennifer
Pfalzgraff, Brian Ronalds, and Claudia Rubio
Photo by - Gregory Seki
Dellis
-I can’t stress strongly enough the notion of collaborating
with other local filmmakers, actors, and technicians. Sure,
you can do quite a bit with a few talented buddies and a
handicam. But participating in these challenges gives
filmmakers an opportunity to raise the bar. It also provides
for a sort of “cross-pollination” among the local talent
pool. Every single person on this shoot was someone I’d met
– directly or indirectly – because I’d submitted one
film into the Phoenix Film Festival a few years back. The
local film community is very welcoming and encouraging (though
competitive) – and I believe this attitude is why the valley
is able to support so many 48-Hr film challenges throughout
the year.
There’s
also a still of the “Bitter Spirits” poster on the
film’s IMDb page…
Directed by
Adam Montierth
Donovan Montierth
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Bruce Dellis
Cast (in alphabetical order)
Kevin Berman ... Kevin
Deon Doughty ... Deon
Laura Durant
Jennifer Pfalzgraff
Brian Ronalds
Jose Rosete ... Gregory
Greg Seki
Produced by
Nick Stahr .... producer
John Waldron .... producer
Cinematography by
Adam Devaney
Film Editing by
Adam Devaney
|
ZEN
- Genre - Detective Movie - Kimber Leigh Actress
Sharpe - What got you interested in acting or crewing in 48 hr film
challanges??
Kimber Leigh - I participate in these wonderful challenges, for
just that reason...The challenge of it all....to put all your creativity
on the line. It becomes a real team of people. You have to all participate
at the utmost level for that committed 48 Hours in order to produce the
best film.
Sharpe - What got you interested in acting or crewing in 48 hr film challenges?
Kimber Leigh - My first interest in participating as an actor came
about, because I had just finished in my first feature film, called the
49th Line. I had a wonderful time with the cast and crew, and so a few
months after filming, I got a call from the same director of the 49th
Line, Drew O Kane, and he said standby...I may be able to use you, and the
rest has been a thrilling, exciting ride.
Sharpe - What was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved
in and why?
Kimber Leigh - My favorite film that I was a part of for the 48
hour challenge was called Credit Whorror. It did not do well with awards,
but it was incredible fun filming it and I believe that if were shown
again it would be fun entertainment! Klor Rowlalnd is in this very funny
short, and I am sure the world is ready for it again!
Sharpe - As
a crew member how does participation in an event as this enhance your
skill set?
Kimber Leigh - What I know about how this 48 Hour Challenge has
enhanced my acting skills, is that I am, for sure, a better actor because
of it. There is not time for rehearsal, so you have a very short time
frame to understand your character and what they feel. And then to
understand the other actors character as well. So you then just all look
at each other and say...Lets Do It!... and every person in that room has
made a 48 hour commitment to be and give there best!
Sharpe - What do you foresee in your future?
Kimber Leigh - As the future looks now, I am very excited about
many projects that have come my way, due to being in the 48 Hour
Challenge. There are many talented, bright, creative and dedicated people
in this community that mean alot to me. If I began to name them all it
would be more than half this article, so if you just go to myspace.com/kimberleigh1
you will see all the talented teams on my top friends list!
Sharpe - And some closing thoughts?
Kimber Leigh - If I have worked with you I am grateful and I love
you, If I have not yet had the pleasure I look forward to the day that we
meet!

----------------------------------------
ZEN
- Genre - Detective Movie - Gloria Jean Actress
Sharpe - why do you participate in a fast paced production project such as
this....
Gloria Jean - It was THE most fun I have probably ever had. it was
stressful, yet invigorating all at once.
Sharpe - What got you interested in acting or crewing in 48 hr projects?
Gloria Jean - I met our director jay lee at a mixer for the a3f and
later he contacted me. i don't think i would have been as comfortable for
my first film ever if i would not have been with my good friends Kimber, Michael
and Klor!
Sharpe - Tell us what job functions or parts you played.
Gloria Jean - I played Fiona Chambers... she was the
"partner" of Kimber's character.
Sharpe - What was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved in and why?
please also mention who acted in it and crewed it.
Gloria Jean - This was my very first movie EVER! it probably shows,
I can be self-depricating about myself, but I choose not to downplay in
any way the job I did for this film. i am exceptionally proud and feel
blessed to have been able to participate in such a wonderful experience!
Sharpe - As a crew member as an actor/actress - how does participation in an
event as this enhance your skill set?
Gloria Jean - I think it was like "baptism by fire" ...
it taught me how to be very focused and memorize lines and try to get into
character in a very short time without having a strong knowledge of your
character's back-story and the relationships of the other characters to
your own.
Sharpe - Any closing thoughts?
Gloria Jean - I enjoyed being immersed in to this industry and be
part of a pool of such talented people. it increased my confidence in
myself and raised my level of respect for all of the other actors after
having seen their films and met them in person. it was also a wonderful
experience being able to see your face on the big screen! I hope I can do
this until i pass on to the big cinema in the sky!
Cheese
All I Need - Genre Romance
Fortune and Merit Productions Alexander
Ramirez
----------------------------------------------------------------

"Life
in 16 x 9"
Alexander
Ramirez Fortune
& Merit
Director / Screenwriter / Editor
Sharpe -Why do you participate in a fast paced production project such as
this....
Alexander Ramirez - I personally love the faced paced production of it all. It is very
stressful, yes...but it is wild to know that everybody is just as rushed
and hyped as you are to finish. The cool part, is when they are all done
and everybody can just relax and watch everybody's hard work on the big
screen.
Sharpe - What got you interested in acting or crewing in 48 hr projects?
Alexander Ramirez - I have always been into film. I love every aspect of it, when I'm
directing or when I'm doing a crappy acting job lol.
Sharpe - Tell us what job functions or parts you played.
Alexander Ramirez - I was the Director, Writer, and Editor of Cheese All I Need.
Sharpe - What was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved in and why?
please also mention who acted in it and crewed it.
My favorite was probably the Almost Famous Fim Fest in which I entered
Coffee Boy. I also wrote, directed, and edited that one. Ryan Mancini and
Nichola White were the main characters and also helped with miscellaneous
crew jobs. My good friend Moses Zarate also helped a great deal in its
birth from concept all the way into post.
Sharpe - As a crew member as an actor/actress - how does participation in an
event as this enhance your skill set?
Alexander Ramirez - Practice, practice, and practice will make perfect some day.
Experience, experience, experience will make us all better prepared for
the next great endeavor.
Sharpe - Tell us about your feelings as a filmmaker.
Alexander Ramirez - I love filming...even if I don't always make something up to par.
What I love most about it though, is the audience's reaction and feedback.
If I put at least one smile on somebody's face then it is all worth it to
me. If I heard at least one giggle then I am more than content. I love
working with people too because they eventually turn into friends and
family once it is all done and finished. And if, you know, I happen to get
a couple bad reviews from peers, then great. I will just use their
feedback to not make the same mistakes again in my future work. You cannot
get anywhere without mishap and failure so that they can push yourself to
get back up and succeed through the failure and learn from your mistakes.
I will always love filming for many things, I try to convey many messages
in my films also and at the end of the day I learn from them as well. If
at least someone got what I was trying to say, then I did my job.

Ryan Mancini, Alexander
Ramirez and Amber Pitts
Alexander Ramirez & Ryan Mancini

Top Left to right: Ryan
Mancini, Alexander Ramirez,Tommy Mancini, Amber Pitts
Bottom Left to right: Adam Lindenmeir, Tendai Mangueraje
Click on photos to make
them larger!
YOUR
MOVE... - Genre Drama - CouryGraph Productions
Ed
and Bette Sharpe Directed - Produced - Edited
"Your
Move" -
Ed Sharpe - 2 People...They move... like a checker game of life........ -
3 min.
Watch- www.smecc.org/media/yourmove512.wmv
or hiband
http://www.smecc.org/media/your%20move%20final%203.1%20mbps%20%20credits.wmv
Jenifer
Reeves -Consultant to CouryGraph Productions

Meet Jenifer Reeves, a talented creative consultant -
"I was honored to be asked by CouryGraph Productions
to creatively consult on the script for the Short "Your Move"
produced by Ed Sharpe for the Phoenix Film Foundation 48 Hour Challenge."
Distance
is never a problem in this age of online communications and Jenifer
continues -
"Since I am in California, we worked on our ideas over the telephone
and computer.
Nothing stops us from getting the job done! We also previously worked
together
with CouryGraph Productions on the infamous film Sphere Factor."
===================
Cam Stryker - Man From Trash - Genre Spy - CouryGraph Productions

Watch: http://www.smecc.org/media/cam spy movie 256.wmv

Kim Wagner-Hemmes
"As a first time producer of this
year's event, one of my most challenging aspects was securing prize
packages for our local winners. Prizes are not required by the national
48HFP headquarters, but are left up to the discretion of each local city
producer. I’m very proud to say that through the generosity of many
local businesses (e.g., Ballet Arizona, Salon Boutique, the Lincoln Family
Downtown YMCA, Phoenix Zoo and Starbucks) we were able to accumulate over
$1000 in prizes which we were able to distribute to ALL of our category
winners.”
“The highlight of the event was the
awards ceremony we hosted at The Paper Heart Arts Venue on August 11. The
positive energy we felt from our local independent filmmaking community
that afternoon made it all worthwhile.”


Paul C. Hemmes
"Hosting the event was a lot of
fun. It was a privilege meeting so many talented local filmmakers. It was
also a challenge, but the positive attitude from the filmmaking community
made it worthwhile."
48 Hour Film Project Winners and
Runners up.
The Best Use of Dialog award goes to "Sunshine" by dEeP
fOcUs.
The runner-up is "Recoil" by Dynamicfilm+Never Average.
The Best Use of Character award goes to "Sunshine" by
dEeP fOcUs.
The runner-up is "Wonder Pugs - The Movie" by Talking Pie
Productions.
The Best Use of Prop award goes to "Sunshine" by dEeP
fOcUs.
The runners-up up are "Fleas of Fury" by WTF Productions
and "The Handlers" by The Phoenix Independent Filmmakers Group.
The Best Sound Design award goes to "Recoil" by
Dynamicfilm+Never Average.
The runner-up is "Dr. Beater" by The Media Guys.
The Best Musical Score award goes to "Dr. Beater" by The
Media Guys.
The runner-up is "The World within the Ups and Down" by
Humble Entertainment.
The Best Acting award goes to "Sunshine" by dEeP fOcUs.
The runner-up is "Recoil" by Dynamicfilm+Never Average.
The Best Editing award goes to "Recoil" by
Dynamicfilm+Never Average.
The runner-up is "Dr. Beater" by The Media Guys.
The Best Writing award goes to "Sunshine" by dEeP fOcUs.
The runner-up is "Dr. Beater" by The Media Guys.
The Best Cinematography award goes to "Recoil" by
Dynamicfilm+Never Average.
The runner-up is "Redimere" by Blue Harvest Productions.
The Best Directing award goes to "Sunshine" by dEeP fOcUs.
The runner-up is "Recoil" by Dynamicfilm+Never Average.
And the Phoenix City Winner ... Best Film of 2007 ... is
"Sunshine" by dEeP fOcUs.
The runners-up are "Dr. Beater" by The Media Guys and
"Recoil" by Dynamicfilm+Never Average.
Congratulations to all the Phoenix 48HFP winners and a Great Big
Thank You to Everyone that participated!!!
---
In May 2001, the nationwide 48 hour film project (48HFP) began as
an experiment in the DC area, when executive producers Mark Ruppert, Liz
Langston and several other local filmmakers
decided to form teams to see if they could make a “watchable”
film in 48 hours. Six years
later, more than 100 competitions have taken place in over 60 cities
around the world.
The 48 Hour Film Project's mission is to advance filmmaking and
promote filmmakers. Its tight
deadline of 48 hours puts the focus squarely on the filmmakers -
emphasizing creativity and teamwork skills. While the time limit places an
unusual restriction on the filmmakers, it is also liberating by putting an
emphasis on "doing" instead of "talking."
To date, the smallest team has consisted of a one person cast and
crew with the largest team to date was an Atlanta based team with 70
people. Over the years, approximately 3000 teams have participated, and
with an average of 15 people per team, that translates to roughly 45,000
people who have answered the call to come on out and make a movie.
2007 marked the third year the 48HFP has been hosted in Phoenix.
This year we had 24 teams compete in the competition, although not
all were able to make the 48 hour deadline.
Prizes for City Winner
· A Trophy
· Filmapalooza: The City Winner will be screened at Filmapalooza, the
official 48HFP Awards Weekend, held in the past at SXSW in Austin and
Cinequest in San Jose.
· National DVD Distribution: A selection of the City Winning films
will receive distribution on DVD.
· Second-round contests: US City Winners is eligible for the Fall Shootout and HD
Showdown.
Other Local Prizes
· Awards for Best Directing, Best Script, Best Cinematography, Best
Editing, Best Acting, Best Music, Best Sound Design, Best Effects, Best
Use of Genre, Best Use of Character, Best Use of Prop, and Best Use of
Line.
· Some
cities have additional prizes.
See your city page for more details.
International Grand Prize
The International Grand Prize Winner, chosen from among the City
Winners, receives a Visa gift card for $7,500!
Visa "Life Takes"
Competition
The top ten teams from New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco
receive a $500 Visa gift
card to make another 48 Hour Film. Then they are flown to San Francisco for the finals. The Grand Prize, First
Prize, and Second Prize films from "Life Takes" will receive $10,000,
$5,000, and $2,500,
respectively.
Panasonic HD Showdown
The top five City Winners receive the use of a Panasonic HVX200
High Definition P2 camera to shoot a second 48 Hour Film. The winning team
will go home with the Panasonic
HVX200, a $6000 value.
--------------
Kim Wagner-Hemmes
first discovered her love of photography during a field trip to the Morton
Arboretum with her second grade Brownie troop.
From that point, she was never without a camera.
This interest was encouraged over the years by her father and
grandfather, both amateur photographers themselves.
After completing 95 semester hours towards a photography major at
Columbia College Chicago, Kim decided to broaden her course of study to
incorporate different art forms. She
received her Bachelor of Arts degree in the History of Art and
Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago, went on to earn a
Master of Arts degree in Art History with a Certificate in Museum Studies
from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and recently completed a
certificate program in Appraisal Studies of Fine and Decorative Arts at
the University of California - Irvine
While pursuing her graduate degree, she also developed a strong
interest in film history and herpetology, which has continued to this day.
A native Chicagoan, part of Kim’s reason for moving to Arizona
was to become involved year-round with reptile organizations.
Besides her involvement with “The Domain” (i.e., associate
producer, second unit director, cinematographer and associate editor), Kim
is finishing up her documentary, “The Reptile Sanctuary”, about a
local reptile rescue, and began principle photography on a comedy/horror
film she’s directing, “Sulcata Bloodbath: Vengeance of a Lovesick
Reptile”.
------
Paul C. Hemmes
developed a fondness for film at an
early age, which was fired by both his paternal grandfather’s flair with
home movies and his first screening of Squirm
in 1976. After
graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in
Communications in 1992, Paul started his first production facility,
EVOLUTION PRODUCTIONS (1993 to 1999).
Heavily Influenced by the work of John
Carpenter, Paul has always gravitated toward character-driven suspense
cinema. “The Domain”,
which represents his directorial debut, reflects his personal vision of
human vulnerability and political failings.
“The Domain” was produced under the
banner of FANCY LAD FILMS, a new multimedia production company formed in
2005. Paul has incorporated
the latest IndieFilm Digital Video Technology while maintaining an
“Organic” film. His other
accomplishments include a Master’s Degree in Information Systems from
the University of Phoenix and he has been involved with several other
local productions in various capacities.
http://www.phxfilm.com/filmchallenge.html
2007
48 Hour Film Challenge Award Winners
Best Original Song
“Nine Steps” from Popcorn Shark
Best Make-Up
“The Sitter” from Flicks of Fury
Best Use of Chicks With Guns
Jacqui Allen and Cathy Rankin from “Miss Matched”
Best Visual Effects
“Revelation Nine” from Xtreme Films
Best Performance by a guy in a bear suit
Roz for “Cue the Bear”
Special Jury Price for Acting Achievement
Aime Thill for “Fine”
Best Cinematography
“Miss Matched” from DIB Pictures
Best Acting Ensemble
The cast of “Tip Jar”
Best Overall Technical Elements
“We’re Closed” from Above-the-Line
Best Screenplay
“Urethane” from Fluxydoodle
Best Use of Prop
“Luna” from Aviator Productions
Best Use of Line
“Like You Said” from IF Factor
------------------------
Top 5 Films ---------------------------
Films will be featured at the 2008 Phoenix
Film Festival when they advance to the final round of the Four Seasons
Short Film Challenge.
________________________________________________________________
|
5th
Place and Best Comedy – “The Addict” from UAT
University
of Advancing Technology (UAT) students and alumni placed among the
top five challengers in the 48 Hour Film Challenge, a Phoenix Film
Foundation-sponsored event that took place July 13-15.
The
entry from University of Advancing Technology (UAT) students
and alumni was "The Addict," which won in the Best Comedy
category, placing fifth overall.
The
production crew for "The Addict," which was produced and
directed by John Ray, was comprised of eleven UAT students. The
comedy told the story of a lactose intolerant man's obsession with
cheese.
According to Ray, the competition was anything but fierce:
"Some of them [the films] were kind of funny, but at the end,
they didn't have the kick that ours did."
UAT
Digital Video Students Advance in 48 Hour Film Challenge- re:
Zoominfo
|
|
|

Jennifer
Pfalzgraff (Karen)
Brian
Ronalds
(Larry)
Jose
Rosete
(Tyler)
Claudia
Rubio (Denise)
Laura
Durant
(Laura)
Deon
Doughty
(Deon)
Kevin
Berman
(Kevin)
Greg
Seki
(Greg)
Jeff
Goeson
(Jeff)
Tal
Goeson
(Tal)
|
4th
Place –
“Bitter Spirits”
from
Brothers’ Ink
|
Ed Sharpe Interviews Bruce
Dellis - Writer -
“Bitter
Spirits.”

Bruce Dellis and Daughter
Devany - Photo by
Laura Durant
|
Sharpe -
Why do you participate in a fast paced production
project such as this?
Dellis
- You get a ton of benefits in exchange for a
relatively small time commitment. It provides a great
opportunity to work with people you’ve never worked
with before. For example, I’ve known the Montierth
brothers for a few years now, but this is the first
chance we’ve had to do a project together. Over the
past couple of years, their “Brothers’ Ink”
production company has attracted several top-notch,
talented guys (Nick Stahr, Adam Devaney, John Waldron,
and Jason Walters), so I was eager to find a way to work
with them. I also see the 48-Hr film challenges as
the best way to collaborate with some of the best actors
in town. We were really fortunate to get some of the top
“known” local actors (Jennifer Pfalzgraff, Jose
Rosete, Laura Durant), as well as several terrific
actors who have become better known locally as producers
and directors in their own right (Brian Ronalds, Kevin
Berman, Deon Doughty, Jeff Goeson, and Greg Seki). Also
in the cast are Tal Goeson and Claudia Rubio – a real
coup for us as she was named Best Actress in last
year’s 48-Hr film challenge.

Montiereth
Brothers
Photo
by - Gregory Seki
Sharpe -
Bruce, what got you started in being a crewmember in 48
hr projects?
Dellis
- Since I’m a married guy with a nine-year-old
daughter and a full-time job, these 48-Hr challenges can
fit into my schedule much more easily than a more
elaborate, longer shoot would allow. And at the end of
the weekend, you’ve got another completed project
under your belt.
Sharpe - Did
you play any parts in the film Bruce?
Dellis
- On this particular challenge, I was the
writer only. This is the first time I’ve done one of
these where I haven’t been the writer AND director. In
my discussions with Adam and Donovan, we decided that we
should divide the weekend into well-defined chunks:
Friday night would be for writing; Saturday for
shooting; and Sunday for Editing. So after we got the
genre, prop, and line of dialogue, the entire team went
back to the Brothers’ Ink offices and threw some ideas
around. We decided on the location and set a call time
for 8:30am. Then I went home to write. I developed four
or five ideas (which didn’t work for a variety of
reasons: too elaborate; lame endings) before I wrote
“Bitter Spirits.” I was up until about 4:30am
(Saturday). Then it was easy for me – I just handed it
off to Donovan and Adam and I went to sleep! I managed
to make it out to the shoot later in the day, but by
that time, they were almost finished.

Deon
Doughty and Claudia Rubio
Photo by - Gregory Seki
Sharpe -
What was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved in
and why? please also mention who acted in it and crewed
it.
Dellis
- I think this was my favorite in terms of
collaboration. It felt more like a community project
than just something I was completely responsible for.
And it helped that everybody was in great spirits (no
pun intended) through the whole process. I often hear
about how stressful and volatile some 48-Hour sets are,
but I’ve never experienced that myself. Maybe it’s
because we were all pretty well prepared and eager to do
our best. We shot it at John Waldron’s house, and
there were a couple of broken wine glasses, so I suppose
the set didn’t escape unscathed. I’ve done three
other 48-Hr challenges (“Sick Day,” “The
Inevitable Reggie Vandevan,” and “Tribute”), and
some are better than others, but none of them had the
production value that “Bitter Spirits” has.
Sharpe -
As a crew member as talent - how does participation in
an event as this enhance your skill set?
Dellis
- There’s no better way to exercise your filmmaking
muscles like a 48-Hr film challenge. There’s much more
instinct involved because you don’t have time to
overanalyze the next step. From a directing standpoint,
it forces you to find some kind of shorthand with the
crew and actors. From a writer’s perspective, you are
often pushed into writing something in a style or genre
that you wouldn’t have tackled otherwise. The fact
that you have to incorporate a specific prop and a
specific line of dialogue actually helps you focus your
creativity in an odd way. It doesn’t necessarily
dictate the story you have to tell, but it helps limit
the kind of stories you might develop.
.
Jennifer
Pfalzgraff, Brian Ronalds, and Claudia Rubio
Photo by - Gregory Seki
Dellis
-I can’t stress strongly enough the notion of
collaborating with other local filmmakers, actors, and
technicians. Sure, you can do quite a bit with a few
talented buddies and a handicam. But participating in
these challenges gives filmmakers an opportunity to
raise the bar. It also provides for a sort of
“cross-pollination” among the local talent pool.
Every single person on this shoot was someone I’d met
– directly or indirectly – because I’d submitted
one film into the Phoenix Film Festival a few years
back. The local film community is very welcoming and
encouraging (though competitive) – and I believe this
attitude is why the valley is able to support so many
48-Hr film challenges throughout the year.
There’s
also a still of the “Bitter Spirits” poster on the
film’s IMDb page…
Directed by
Adam Montierth
Donovan Montierth
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Bruce Dellis
Cast (in alphabetical order)
Kevin Berman ... Kevin
Deon Doughty ... Deon
Laura Durant
Jennifer Pfalzgraff
Brian Ronalds
Jose Rosete ... Gregory
Greg Seki
Produced by
Nick Stahr .... producer
John Waldron .... producer
Cinematography by
Adam Devaney
Film Editing by
Adam Devaney
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Directed
by: Troy Wilson
Written by: Dana Skvarek
Associate Producer: Lyza Wilson
Production Manager: Aaron Ginn-Forsberg
CAST:
Shane Dean
Patrick Giglio
Christine Bierman
Amy Searcy
Aaron Ginn-Forsberg
Alex Stevens
Shane Scott Stevens
CREW:
AC/Steadicam/Jib: Webb Pickersgill
Makeup: Ashley Labord
Grip/Boom: Brandon Ray


The
group photo is by Lyza Wilson
All other photos are by Brandon Ray |
3rd
Place –
“We’re Closed”
from
Above-the-line










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Like You Said - from IF Factor Group Photo
Tracy
Shrier, producer of "Like You Said," was proud of the
film's success. "It felt incredibly awesome to win best drama,
because that is what we set out to do."
"Like
You Said," directed and produced by UAT alum Timothy D. Allen,
captured the Best Drama award and second place overall.
UAT
Digital Video Students Advance in 48 Hour Film Challenge- re:
Zoominfo
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2nd
Place and Best Drama
“Like
You Said” from IF Factor

See
The Movie!
http://www.iffactor.com/media/LikeYouSaid/
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Xtreme
Film_-
Vance,
Jeremey and Charley get pumped_for_48_hours of filmmaking!
------------------------------------------

Amanda Melby,
Vance Null,
Photo
by Laura Durant
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1st
Place and Best Horror –
“Revelation
Nine” from Xtreme Films
Description:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=15509647
A
short film portraying the events described in the Book of Revelation
at the end of the Bible.

Getting
Greg ready to play the fallen angel Abaddon

Winning_1st
Place - Best_Horror Film Best VFX for Revelation 9
- Photo by Laura Durant
Chris
Lamont Amanda Melby, Vance Null, Jason Carney
and Gene Ganffle Arizona Student Film Festival
|
Vance
Null - Interviewed By Ed Sharpe
Sharpe -Vance,
why do you participate in a fast paced production project such as
this...
Vance Null - We
participate in these 48 challenges because we know that if we start the
film, we have to finish it. It's difficult sometimes to coordinate our
..schedules to work on a regular film, but with these, we'll know that
we'll have finished product guaranteed, and soon too!
Sharpe - tell
us what job functions or parts you played
Vance Null -I
direct, write, and edit for our films, and those have always just been
my jobs on the set.
Sharpe - What
was your favorite 48 hr film you were involved in and why?
Vance Null -This
was definitely the greatest 48 hour production we've participated in,
not just because we took first place, but we felt such a peace about
creating a film right from the Bible with a great message, something
we've all wanted to do for a very long time!
Sharpe - Why
do you participate in a fast paced production project such as this....
Vance Null -These
festivals enhance your skills in efficiency, creativity, and persevence.
You need to be able to come up with great ideas on a whim, and to make a
movie out of those ideas on a low scale budget with very little time.
It's also straining mentally and physically because of the timeframe of
48 hours, so you learn to endure the highest calling of the life of a
filmmaker.
Sharpe - What
closing thoughts would you like to share with us Vance?
Vance Null -This
film was definitely a blessing to work on, and a total surprise that we
won anything! Sometimes when you put a Christian film in a lineup of
less-conservative films, you naturally feel that there is going to be a
bias against you. I guess this goes to show that the story and
production value, regardless of the faith portrayed in the film, make a
great movie, not the sex, violence, and profanity!
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The
48 Hour Workstation at Charley's! |
Charley
doing his magic at the FX studio! |
On the
set of Revelation Nine |
Screen
Capture of Revelation Nine |
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