Topic: The college arts club I advise did a 24-hour challenge film festival thinger...

[AQB24712]

...and some of it is awesome. 

Here's the YouTube playlist.

At the start of the 24 hours the teams were given to complete and upload their films (which could be no longer than ten minutes and three seconds), they were given two requirements.

1.  The line "The buffalo's finished.  And it's not even flying." had to be included in the dialogue.
2.  The film had to include a Shorti-sized hoagie from Wawa, the convenience store a block from the campus.  The sandwich had to be completely consumed on camera during the film.

Some of the filmmakers had a story in mind into which they integrated the two requirements.  Several of them, however, obviously didn't start work until they knew the requirements...which really impresses me.  And it was great fun to see how these two elements were incorporated into the films.

The winners were "Hookup Frustrations" and "Requiem for a Sandwich," which display the aforementioned two different approaches.  My other favorite is "Fight Sub," which I think is just wonderful.  "Elmo-Suited Gal" and "LESBIANS!" have their moments.  I love the opening and closing shots in the latter.  (That kid is a real nut.)

(Erm, you can skip "Field of Schemes" and "Hoagie Heist," sorry, kids.)

This was the inaugural Film Fest, and we consider it a huge success.  I was out of town and missed the premiere screening, but I'm told the room was packed.  The freshman who did the terribly meta "Science Research" says that next year, he's going to include the buffalo line and the hoagie along with next year's required components, and keep adding on each year.  So cool!

[pandamonium]

I'll have to come back to this tomorrow.

[AQB24712]

Ha ha, all members of a production team had to appear on camera, which explains the dude wandering into the frame to finish off the sandwich (not a euphemism) at the end of "Elmo-Suited Gal."   

[PANTS!]

I did this a few years back.  It is a total blast, but very grueling.  It is really impressive what folks can do in 48 hours.  Some of the films that year were done by teens with a video camera, and (with some exceptions) they all had some merit to them.

So did you devise this, and is it only on campus?  The one we did is nationwide: 

http://www.48hourfilm.com/

Also, FYI.  I present to you - Brave New Fear

[Henning]

The gratuitous swearing, the mix of half-references to popular and antiquated film piled high, the bad sound and worse light, the credits that are as long again as the movie!
Ah, I miss student film.
I agree, Fight Sub #1 cos it made me laugh out loud and was animated (in a fashion).

[Morvis13]

I feel like *I* should be paid to review these. I think you students could really benefit from my honest hatred.

[AQB24712]

So did you devise this, and is it only on campus? 

It was open only to students, yes.  A couple of my students came up with it, having heard of similar contests.   I was skeptical that it would get much attention or participation, but I was certainly pleasantly surprised.

I feel like *I* should be paid to review these. I think you students could really benefit from my honest hatred.

Oh you hush, Morvie.

The gratuitous swearing, the mix of half-references to popular and antiquated film piled high, the bad sound and worse light, the credits that are as long again as the movie!
Ah, I miss student film.

Ain't it grand?    I was absolutely rolling at the credit sequence for "LESBIANS!"  Oh lordy.  That kid is famously eccentric.  He really did consult with Public Safety and the dean who lives next door to alert them to the fake loud party he was filming. 

I agree, Fight Sub #1 cos it made me laugh out loud and was animated (in a fashion).

I guffawed at both the elevator bit and the dryer bit.  I thought that one also made really good use of music. 

I am so pleased with this project.  It wasn't that difficult or expensive for the club to produce, we now have a structure in place (rules, a good template for a score sheet, etc.), people enjoyed it and seem enthusiastic about continuing, and it gives the club a good film-related project, which we lacked.  (We try to do stuff with all the arts.)

[TheIrreverend]

My ranking:

• Hookup Frustrations (by a landslide)
• Requiem for a Sandwich (winner of Best Costume Design for "80s Groupie")
• Curious Case of the Elmo-Suited Girl (though it lost serious points for inconsistent font usage in the text slides and the lack of a border in said slides)
• Field of Schemes (terrible sound quality at the beginning, but extra points for "Sports=Girls")
• Fight Sub (I really couldn't get past the music mixing; good choices, but the abrupt stops and starts were jarring)
• Scientific Research (I don't really have anything to say about this)
• LESBIANS! (wow)
• The Hoagie Heist (the only one I didn't watch all the way through; I just couldn't manage it)

[Morvis13]

I feel like *I* should be paid to review these. I think you students could really benefit from my honest hatred.

Oh you hush, Morvie.

With Ebert dead I was just offering to do my part.

[pandamonium]

Okay, now I really do have to watch all of these. >.<

[Jeremy's Sea]

Whoa. Fun for the students I'm sure!
There was some hidden gems in there, and I think the low production values and bad acting is fine and expected, but some of them I just didn't even understand...

A friend did this in another city a few years ago and it was a train wreck. I'm down to try someday, you know, when I have free time. Seems like it would be a good challenge.

[AQB24712]

Whoa. Fun for the students I'm sure!

Yeah, that's the idea.  Our club tries to encourage people to explore and exercise creativity in various ways. 

There was some hidden gems in there, and I think the low production values and bad acting is fine and expected, but some of them I just didn't even understand...

I think there was one film and media studies major involved out of all of the students on all of the teams. 

A friend did this in another city a few years ago and it was a train wreck. I'm down to try someday, you know, when I have free time. Seems like it would be a good challenge.

Yes, as I said, or I think I said, it's really interesting to see how different people solve a problem or interpret an instruction.

Hmm, Jeremy, here's one for you.  Looks pretty cool.  Coming up in a few weeks!  ETA:  Woops, looks like that link is from last year.  Here's this year.

[Jeremy's Sea]

You should see some of the stuff these little fests pull in out here. You end up with $5000 short films shot by, literally, top industry professionals who pull together the equivalent of a $20,000 production by calling in friends... It's crazy, and still, the stories suck. Hahahaha
I'm too self obsessed with my own stuff right now to try one of those back breakers, but if I were a college student with lots of friends and time on my hands... that would be awesome! 

[Henning]

Great success.
Was this the inaugural festival? Looks like it will become a fixture, then?

[AQB24712]

Great success.

Was this the inaugural festival? Looks like it will become a fixture, then?

Yes and yes!  There's already lots of "next year" talk.  I'm just so pleased.