Pretty inspiring tale, yes?<\/p>\n
Now in it’s sixth year, the Almost Famous [A3F]\u00a0Short Film Challenge\u00a0has grown to become one of\u00a0the largest\u00a0film competitions of its kind in the country.<\/p>\n But A3F had humble beginnings, too.<\/p>\n Six years ago A3F Executive Director Jae Staats was working up the ranks\u00a0with the Phoenix Suns<\/a>. He started as a ball\u00a0boy and bench boy and\u00a0eventually landed a video assistant internship with the team\u00a0while\u00a0attending\u00a0school.\u00a0At the same time Jae and his brother, Kai,\u00a0were becoming\u00a0immersed in\u00a0filmmaking. They started goofing around\u00a0getting behind the camera and making some mostly funny short films. In the summer of 2004, Jae and Kai\u00a0entered\u00a0a short film festival here in town\u00a0and were hooked.<\/p>\n “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\u00a0at the\u00a0Ice House Downtown\u00a0staging\u00a0the first Almost Famous Film\u00a0Festival. It was\u00a0very organic.”<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “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\u00a0equipment.”<\/p>\n On Friday, teams will start funneling into\u00a0Majerle’s around 5:30\u00a0p.m. in anticipation of the 7 p.m.\u00a0announcment of the rules.\u00a0Once 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\u00a0by 5:30 p.m. on\u00a0Sunday. The Top 20 films will be\u00a0shown at a special screening at AMC Arizona Center<\/a> on Feb. 18.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"A3F4\"](\"http:\/\/www.downtownphoenix.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/A3F41.jpg\" "\\"A3F4\\"")
Over 50 teams of aspiring filmmakers-with a range of talent and experience\u00a0more expansive\u00a0than the floating\u00a0Hallelujah Mountains of Pandora–will converge at Majerle’s <\/a>Friday night for the Almost Famous 48-Hour\u00a0Short Film Challenge<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"A3F2\"](\"http:\/\/www.downtownphoenix.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/A3F21-202x135.jpg\" "\\"A3F2\\"")
Twenty-eight teams entered that first 48-hour challenge back in 2005. Jason Francois and Big Brain Productions\u00a0took fourth place in that festival, losing points for being over the running time limit,\u00a0with their film 48\u00a0Hours\u00a0To Go <\/em>and <\/em>Francois would later join\u00a0non-profit A3F as assistant director. The growing\u00a0popularity of A3F events (an astounding 82 teams entered\u00a0the challenge in ‘07)\u00a0has allowed\u00a0A3F to put on a variety of challenge-based festivals\u00a0through each\u00a0year, including\u00a0one-shot, 72-hour, all-star, and heroes and villains.<\/p>\n