A Lot Can Happen In 48 Hours

It’s officially been one week since the 48 Hour Film Project hit Nashville, TN, and I have yet to officially recover. Six sporadic hours of sleep over two days has a way of doing that to a man. Anyway, I digress…

For those who are unfamiliar with the 48, it’s a creative, chaotic perennial contest where filmmakers are asked to go above and beyond the call of duty. After drawing a random genre from a hat, each team is given a random character, prop, and line of dialogue from which they have 48 hours to formulate into a 4-7 minute film. 

Last Friday night at 6pm, 54 Nashvillian teams sent representatives to NuMynd Studios (48 Hour HQ) to receive the random elements. As the clock struck 7, the last element was announced and the delegates sprinted out of the studio with the wildest of ideas racing through the air. It was beautiful chaos on the grandest scale. On my way out of the studio I called my team and the creative amalgamation known as filmmaking began. Here’s what my team, Sons of Liberty, came up with:

Title: ” The Accidental Kidnapping of Ellie Minors”

Genre: Dark Comedy

Character: Evan Minors, City Employee

Prop: A Chess Set

Line of Dialogue: “It’s not easy being me.”

Synopsis: An unexpected relationship forms after the mayor’s daughter is accidentally kidnapped.

First of all, I want the world to know how proud I am of my team. Bringing a short film to life in 48 hours is an arduous task that really tests what you’re made of. My colleagues of Sons of Liberty passed with flying colors. For the most part, we had a team of first timers, which is quite admirable. Congrats guys. You rocked it, and I look forward to working with you all in the future.

This two day process is like clockwork. If your work doesn’t flow smoothly, the filmmaking can all fall apart very quickly. People can talk all day about strategy for taming such a beast, but it really comes down to two things - having a strong team dynamic and being adaptable.

When you have 48 hours to completely start and finish a film, a lot can happen. For example, if it winds up raining when you meant to shoot an outdoor scene, then you better have a back up plan (or get a poncho and adapt to the weather). Problems will always arise. It’s just a matter of keeping your cool and transforming the issue into some positive.

Perhaps the most helpful advice I can give to fellow 48 Hour Film Project directors is to surround yourself with a good team. And not just people who are gifted in their craft, but folks who have good heads on their shoulders. In football, they say a quarterback is only as good as his wide receivers. Imagine Vince Young dropping back to hit Kenny Britt on a pass across the middle when, all of a sudden, the play breaks down. If Britt and his fellow receivers freak out and shut down, there’s going to be trouble. On the other hand, if the receivers stay focused and keep the play alive, you can have something beautiful on your hands. I don’t know about you, but I like having people who can keep the play alive.

Along with the team dynamic, it’s important to note that everyone serves a purpose. Whether it’s holding a boom, tossing out an idea, or finding a guy who owns a sweet motorized scooter, EVERYONE has a role to play. It’s critical to realize that even the smallest piece plays a vital role in pulling a project off in a weekend. For example, we had a guy who didn’t get the chance to be behind the camera until the last scene, but then he sparked the idea for a window shot that showcased the Nashville skyline, one of my favorite shots in the entire film. 

Before closing, I want to note what this weekend meant for my journey as a filmmaker. This was my first time to compete in this project in several years. Over the last year I’ve been taking intentional steps in my practice of filmmaking. When I came into this project, I wanted to gauge where I am in my journey compared to where I was three years ago. It puts a big smile on my face to see how I’ve not only developed as an artist, but as a person. Not to be ostentatious, but I’m very happy with the person I’ve become over the last few years. The relationships I have built, combined with the tenacious mentality I take into every endeavor of life, really showed up in the making of this film. When combining this with my freshly acquired knowledge of film, I’m really happy with where I stand. I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to practice the art I adore while spending such quality time with friends.

Lastly, I would like to raise a toast to everyone who competed in Nashville’s 48 Hour Film Project. It takes a lot of hard work and creativity to pull this mother off. You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished.

“The Accidental Kidnapping of Ellie Minors” will be premiering at Belcourt Theater this Thursday night at 9:40pm. If you’re in the mood for a snappy dark comedy, come check it out!

Oh, and of course, it always takes a bit of luck. You know, a lot can happen in 48 Hours.