Local filmmakers will be put to the test during the 48 Hour Film Project, which hits Richmond starting July 12. According to 48hourfilm.com, the 48 Hour Film Project began in 2001, when Mark Ruppert “enlisted his filmmaking partner, Liz Langston, and several other DC filmmakers to form their own teams” in order to make an enjoyable short film in 48 hours.
Local filmmakers will be put to the test during the 48 Hour Film Project, which hits Richmond starting July 12. According to 48hourfilm.com, the 48 Hour Film Project began in 2001, when Mark Ruppert “enlisted his filmmaking partner, Liz Langston, and several other DC filmmakers to form their own teams” in order to make an enjoyable short film in 48 hours.
Since achieving success with his early efforts in DC, Ruppert has expanded the challenge over the past 13 years to include “more than 700 competitions having taken place around the world.” The first 48 Hour Film Project in Richmond took place in 2007, with winning films being screened at the historic Byrd Theatre.
With teams registering left and right, the amount of filmmakers who have participated is enough to populate a small city. “We’ve had about 25,000 teams…and at 13 people per team, that translates to roughly 325,000 people who have answered the call to come on out and make a movie,” stated the 48 Hour Film website.
48hourfilm.com explained that teams who register are given “a character, a prop, a line of dialogue and a genre” to include in their films. 48 hours later, the four to seven minute film must be complete. “In an event like this you learn to trust your gut and your instincts,” said Samantha Tucker, Richmond producer of the 48 Hour Film project. “The films that stand out the most are those that are written very well and performed by talented actors,” Tucker said.
Adam Stackhouse of AVAdventure was part of the 2012 team that created “Knock Knock,” which won for Best Editing and Best Film. In an interview with Richmond.com, he explained the rewards that come with the pressure of creating a film in 48 hours. “It’s really great for even a novice filmmaker,” said Stackhouse. “[The 48 Hour Film Project] really challenges you to execute all stages of a project within a weekend.”
Registration for this year’s competition is officially closed for Richmond, but teams interested can still sign up for the waiting list. Premiere screenings of all entries submitted for this year’s competition will take place July 20 and 21 at the Byrd Theatre, located at 2908 W. Cary St, at 1:30 and 4:00 PM each day. Admission is $10 per screening, or $15 for a weekend pass. An additional screening featuring the films selected as the best of this year’s crop is scheduled for August 3 at 1:30 PM. Admission for this screening will be $10 as well. For additional information, keep up with the Richmond 48 Hour Film Project on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-48-Hour-Film-Project/405899739444769
