Some of the greatest movie directors of our time had humble beginnings.
Before he directed Alien, The Abyss, Titanic and Avatar, James Cameron was just a truckdriver and machinist. But after seeing Star Wars in 1977, Cameron quit his job driving truck and shot a goofy 10-minute science fiction short film called Xenogenesis on 35mm. That goofy 35mm short helped Cameron land a a job producing low-budget flicks with Roger Corman Studios. He then survived Piranha II: The Spawning and eventually got the nod to direct The Terminator.
Pretty inspiring tale, yes?
Over 50 teams of aspiring filmmakers-with a range of talent and experience more expansive than the floating Hallelujah Mountains of Pandora–will converge at Majerle’s Friday night for the Almost Famous 48-Hour Short Film Challenge.
Now in it’s sixth year, the Almost Famous [A3F] Short Film Challenge has grown to become one of the largest film competitions of its kind in the country.
But A3F had humble beginnings, too.
Six years ago A3F Executive Director Jae Staats was working up the ranks with the Phoenix Suns. He started as a ball boy and bench boy and eventually landed a video assistant internship with the team while attending school. At the same time Jae and his brother, Kai, were becoming immersed in filmmaking. They started goofing around getting behind the camera and making some mostly funny short films. In the summer of 2004, Jae and Kai entered a short film festival here in town and were hooked.
“I literally looked at my brother and said, ‘We should start our own film festival,’” Jae Staats said. “Four or five months later we were at the Ice House Downtown staging the first Almost Famous Film Festival. It was very organic.”
Twenty-eight teams entered that first 48-hour challenge back in 2005. Jason Francois and Big Brain Productions took fourth place in that festival, losing points for being over the running time limit, with their film 48 Hours To Go and Francois would later join non-profit A3F as assistant director. The growing popularity of A3F events (an astounding 82 teams entered the challenge in ‘07) has allowed A3F to put on a variety of challenge-based festivals through each year, including one-shot, 72-hour, all-star, and heroes and villains.
“What makes these film festivals so great is that the focus is always on the filmmakers,” said Francois. “It’s all about making the best experience for them.”
Another reason for A3F’s popularity is an “everyone welcome” approach that attracts every kind of filmmaker–from first-timers in high school and college to advanced amateurs peddling their films at festivals all over the country.
“You’ll see people shooting on $50,000 cameras and you’ll see people shooting on Flip cameras,” said Francois. “But we’re testing creativity, not equipment.”
On Friday, teams will start funneling into Majerle’s around 5:30 p.m. in anticipation of the 7 p.m. announcment of the rules. Once the teams have been assigned their prop, action, line of dialogue and theme, they’ll have 48 hours to write, cast, shoot, edit and submit by 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Top 20 films will be shown at a special screening at AMC Arizona Center on Feb. 18.
There is no cap on how many teams can enter the challenge. For more information visit thea3f.net or just show up at Majerle’s Friday night. Cost is $50 per team.