48-hour mad rush to create, capture new film
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Amanda Blair, 29, of Lawrenceville discusses a shot with videographer Justin Crimone, 37, of Squirrel Hill while filming in Squirrel Hill for the 48 Hour Film contest in Squirrel Hill. They are entered in the dark-comedy category.
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In preparation to act in his first scene of the day, David J. Calfo sits down in a friend's Garfield kitchen, attempting to squeeze his feet into too-small black combat boots.
Mr. Calfo didn't intend to spend Saturday portraying a neurotic ex-military psycho killer, but when you're writing, shooting, performing and editing a film in 48 hours, things don't always go according to plan.
Mr. Calfo, 48, is heading one of 31 teams taking part this weekend in the Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project, the local incarnation of an international moviemaking competition. This is the fourth year that Pittsburgh has participated in the competition, which started 11 years ago in Washington, D.C.
"It's a way for me to branch out, experience something different," said Mr. Calfo, a salvage artist and construction worker who has never made a film before. When several members of his planned team flaked out at the last minute, Mr. Calfo ended up acting in the film as well.
The rules of the 48 Hour Film Project are as follows: Fifteen minutes before the start of the challenge, all teams receive instructions on a character (in this case, Gil or Gigi Walters, retired military), a prop (a pillow) and a line of dialogue ("Take your time. I've got all day") required to be present in their films.
Teams then pick out of a hat to find out their genre; Mr. Calfo drew "thriller suspense" -- hence the bottles of Karo syrup and red food coloring, aka fake blood, on the porch of the house in Garfield.
"It's an adrenaline rush, the whole thing," said Kahmeela Adams, who has coordinated the Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project for two years and participated in it for two years before that. "It's a great big challenge."
Ms. Adams estimated that the 31 teams participating this weekend involve about 400 people.
Pittsburgh teams gathered at Cattivo, a restaurant and club in Lawrenceville, at precisely 7 p.m. Friday to receive their assignments. Their completed entries, which must be between four and seven minutes long, are due there at 7 tonight.
The films will "premiere" Wednesday and Thursday nights at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty. Tickets are $8 for one showing or $20 for all three screenings, with student discounts available. For more information, visit www.48hourfilm.com/pittsburgh.
First Published August 15, 2010 12:00 am
