48 HOURS FROM SCRIPT TO SCREEN
FESTIVAL SHOWCASES FILMMAKING AT AN ACCELERATED PACE

WHEELING, W.Va (May 11, 2009)- - Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre and Cinema will once again host the 48 Student Film Festival at 8 p.m. Friday, May 22. Produced by Visions Production House, this fast-paced movie-making contest challenges local filmmakers to write, shoot and edit a ten-minute film in just 48 hours. The finished works are shown and critiqued by a panel of judges and the public.

Several filmmaking teams are scheduled to participate. Here’s how it works. Teams draw a random topic. Some include a broad plot and a genre. Others may include just a description of a main character or a prop to incorporate into their films. The teams then hit the ground running, putting their imaginations, creativity and energy to the ultimate test.

“The competitors will go through a grueling mental process to get the job done,” Lance Becker, the driving force behind the festival, said. “Forty-eight hours is not much time to come up with a script, find actors, shoot each scene, edit and deliver.”

Becker said teams must juggle how to interpret the topic and how to tell a visually compelling story along with the technical aspects of filming- all while the clock is ticking!

A Wheeling native, Becker is co-owner of Visions Production House, a recent recipient of two prestigious Telly Awards, which honor the very best local, regional and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions and work created for the Web.

He said many area residents are interested in filmmaking, but many don’t have a place to express that interest.

“The 48 Student Film Student Festival is a win-win for budding filmmakers and the viewing audience,” he said. “Filmmakers engage in a exciting, creative challenge and learn firsthand how a live audience interprets their work. Viewers are entertained and get a rare opportunity to talk with filmmakers about the creative process.”

Filmmaking teams will draw their topics at 6 p.m. May 20 and must deliver their short films by 6 p.m. May 22. Films will be shown at 8 p.m. on the Towngate big screen to an audience and a panel of judges, who will score each film according to style, creativity and accuracy to each topic. Prizes will be awarded to the top two films as well as an “audience choice” winner.

Prior to each screening, teams will introduce their film and briefly discuss their experiences making it. The winning team will conduct a question and answer session with the audience. Following the festival competition, the audience can view last year’s 48 Hour Student Film Festival winner “The Porch Incident,” by Josh Jenkins and Robbie Owens.

Towngate Theatre is located at 2118 Market St. in Wheeling’s historic Center Market district and parking is either curbside or in the nearby Center Market garage. Admission is $10. Members of Oglebay Institute receive a discount. Call 304.242.7700 for more information. Tickets are available at the door only, so arrive early for best seats.

This program is made possible through the generous support of the members of the Institute as well as with financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the WV Commission on the Arts.