Your mission (if you’re mad enough to accept it) is to create a four to seven minute film in 48 hours.

The film must include the line: “Where the bloody hell are ya mate.” (from that shit-house Australian Tourism commercial).

Your film genre is Film de Femme, (whateva that means).

The prop is a Piggy Bank and your character is Lili Walker (profile unknown), who both need to appear somewhere in the film.

OK, GO!

Such was the challenge faced by a group of twelve amateur filmmakers who for the first time took part in the Melbourne 48 hour Film Challenge.

Preparation and practice had readied the group, but the magnitude of making a short film interesting in 48hours was beginning to set in.

“Arrgh, we’re screwed!” Were initial reactions… but as the hours went by the group would pull together from moments of frustration to moments of glory.

Now, four to seven minutes may not seem like a long time, but remember you need to write a script, film 360 seconds of footage, video and audio editing and all in under 48 hours - it’s a nightmare.

Lets start with the first step: Script writing.

Three writers including myself, who admittedly haven’t had much experience writing scripts, came together with a strong wiliness, the right skills and confidence that we could pull something together.

“Let the brain storming begin!”

Like most brain storming sessions, the more ideas thrown around the better, but when do you decide there are enough ideas?

“I know… what about this? A hot lesbian-phone-sex-worker, takes a few too many calls from a man who has a fetish for girls peeing in buckets?”  And that was one of the more tame suggestions…

Alas, slowly but surely the characters and plot began to take shape. The group had agreed the film should include three strong female characters (hence the Film de Femme genre), who lead double lives as deadly assassins and work for an underground crime syndicate known as piggy bank.

Ten hours later and disillusions of fairies attacking me at my laptop, the crew had a seven-page script including locations and running sheet.

Time for the second step: Shooting

“Who’s got camera one? Do we know where we’re going? Wait, what suburb are we in at the moment? ” A few early hurdles and we’re off and racing.

Location one: The Dojo. Where every morning our lead assassin Lili Walker, goes to train in the art of killing.

“QUIET ON SET…” by far the most important words you will ever hear (EVER)…

Thirty five takes, seven locations and forty thousand audio problems later, the group had gone from a motivated, aspiring film crew, to a rowdy mob of exhausted, disgruntled geriatrics – but determination and encouragement would prevail.

Time for the showdown, step three: Editing (sigh)

So, at this point the creative energy, which was once shared by the group, particularly during the brain storming session, had all but vanished. This would leave our humble editors the difficult task of ensuring our “ Great Little Film” would make any sense, a task which is easier said then done.

After 20 something hours straight on a computer, the world can become a strange place, even for the sanest of editors.

“Man I’m freeeeaking out… I’m seeing sounds n shit maaan. This is like craaaaazy shhhhit… [climbs on top of computer desk]”

“Is he alright?”

“I don’t know, he’s been in and out for a while now.”

Until the last ounce of energy is sucked from your lifeless carcass, then suddenly, a voice from somewhere utters those sweet-sweet words: “It’s finished, we’ve submitted the film!”

Thus, the first Great Little Film, was completed and submitted on Sunday, November 8 at 7.20pm.

Knowing how we will fare in the competition or whether we win a category prize – yet to be decided. Although this is of little concern, for the journey and experience with like-minded, enthusiastic and more importantly fun people, was worth more than any prize or category award.




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