Filmmaking can be a long, complicated process. Dozens, hundreds, sometimes thousands of individuals are needed to perform the tasks required to produce just one film, be it a student short or a feature-length studio behemoth.

Scriptwriting, location scouting, auditioning, casting, costuming, rehearsing, lighting, shooting, editing, re-shooting, sound design, marketing, and publicity are just a handful of the essential pieces in the larger cinematic puzzle. And they can take months, sometimes years, to complete.

So what happens when you strip them all away? Reduce the filmmaking equation to the bare minimums? All while imposing strict restrictions on the filmmakers? The 48 Hour Film Festival attempts to do just that.

The ultimate creative endurance test, the festival challenges filmmakers to complete a film over the course of one weekend.

Beginning on a Friday at 7 p.m., brave teams of all skill sets — from professional filmmakers to students and amateurs — will write scripts, rehearse actors, build sets, shoot and edit footage, create music and animation — whatever is needed to complete their film.

There are rules in addition to the time restraints, though.

The only prep work allowed involves organizing cast and crew, procuring equipment and location scouting. Write your script or shooting footage early and you’re out. And as a further challenge, teams are assigned certain elements that must appear in their films, ranging from adhering to a particular genre to having a character, a prop or a line of dialogue pop-up somewhere in the picture. The film must run between four and seven minutes, and not one second more or less.

By 7 p.m. on Sunday, final projects must be complete and submitted for approval. After a speedy review, they are presented to the public within days. Prizes are awarded in categories ranging from best overall film to technical achievements, as well.

Originating in 2001 in Washington D.C., the 48 Hour Film Festival has expanded into an international phenomenon running in cities across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and beyond. This year marks its sixth turn in Chicago. It rolls through the city this coming weekend under the tutelage of the LimeGreen Entertainment Group, a local marketing agency with Davey, Aegis and Commercial Telly Awards under its belt.

Five teams are slated to compete, thus far, with more likely to enter by the time the competition kicks off on Friday, August 13.

Should you see mad gaggles of folks with cameras dashing around the city all weekend, you have LimeGreen to thank. The fruits of all their labors will be on display at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema on August 17-19, with the best films receiving special recognition and awards at Lincoln Hall in Lincoln Park on Tuesday, August 24.

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By Mike from Logan Square
Posted: 08/14/2010 10:46 AM

There are almost 60 teams competing this weekend! The article says 5 (think a small typo) Good Luck All!