Several members of Team Chiaroscuro and I attended the "Best of the 48 hour film festival" last night. Like most awards ceremonies, most of the winners deserved what they got, and some did not. I was sad to hear that one of the best films was disqualified for using footage that was shot prior to the start of the contest. That is cheating, but I know of other teams who used ideas and plots that were developed prior to the start of the contest. The same kind of cheating, but more difficult to get caught at.

There will be those, let's call them 'Americans' for the lack of a better term, whose goal is to 'win' the contest - to get the vote or award, to get on the DVD no matter what, and cheating is OK as long as you don't get caught. Too bad really, because there are other festivals those people could go to, and they can take ten years to make their movie if they like, but the 48-Hour contest is really about accessing that spark of creativitiy and spontenaiety that gets washed out when processed too much - like the difference between raw strawberries and strawberry jelly.

I was glad to see that Central Services "Dangerous Proximity" won the Best Cinematography and Best Picture awards at the 48. They deserved it. Their movie was simply based around one funny and interesting idea, and that idea made the movie entertaining. Anyone else could have had the same idea, and with some reasonable lighting and editing skills come out with a similar movie. I certainly don't mean to say that Central Services are a bunch of hacks, they did a very pro job. I'm saying that same movie with average lighting, sound and acting still would have had my vote.

When you limit the resources of time and format and movie length, it makes it easier for a hobbyist to compete with professionals in this contest. You don't need to be a wizard at Premiere or Final Cut to make a respectable movie in 48 hours. I should know, because Team Chiaroscuro did it. The video will be posted to the web soon, check back here for the link.

It also makes me feel better that our movie was beat out by "Dangerous Proximity", the same way I wouldn't feel bad losing in Snooker to Graeme Dott.

Blog on,
-CZ

Labels: indie movies, Minneapolis Event, movie reviews, Videos