From being assigned random genres to navigating the rush of last-minute editing, Western Washington University’s 48-hour film festival challenges students to create an original short film in just two days.
Registration for this unique event is open now on the 48-hour film festival website. Kickoff is Friday, May 15 at 5:00 p.m. and films will be screened at the Pickford Film Center on May 21.
Nathan Christner, a design major and Digital Media Center staff member, spoke with The Front about the festival’s process, creative collaboration and the importance of accessible filmmaking opportunities for students.
Responses have been trimmed for clarity and brevity.
Q: Tell me about the process of the 48-hour film festival and what it looks like for students wanting to create a film?
A: Right now, people can sign up. You can go to the DMC website or the 48-hour film festival website, and you put in your team name, how many people are on your team and email. Then on May 15, people come into the DMC and we'll give each team a random genre. Then we'll give every team the same line they have to include in their film – I think this year might be an acronym – and then a prop they have to include in the film.
Q: Why do you think events like this matter for young filmmakers?
A: It's the only filmmaking event we have at Western. As far as I know, we're the only film festival, so it's really important for people (to) go out and have fun and film something with your friends – you don't have to do it alone. You can bring in as many people as you want to film the project. It doesn't have to be an hour-long film. It can be five minutes.
Q: If someone's nervous about participating in this 48-hour film festival, what would you tell them? What kind of support does the DMC offer?
A: In terms of equipment, I would say go to ATUS (Academic Technology and User Services), which is downstairs in the library at the DMC. If you need a camera (or) microphones, you can go downstairs to video services in the library and you can rent out cameras. Everything's totally free.
The DMC is also totally free and you pay for it with your student tuition. So even if you're not doing the film festival, it's really cool to check out the DMC because it's a full TV production studio that cost over a million dollars to build, and very few people know about it. It's just a cool spot to check out.
If you're feeling nervous, I think we're all just trying to have fun and it's not something that you should stress out about. It's a fun activity to do before finals.
Q: Was there a moment during the festivals in the past that really stood out to you personally?
A: It's really cool to see what everyone makes, because you get 48 hours and you get to see what everybody made in that short timeframe. The (films) will be screened at the Pickford Movie Theater, so you get to go there and see what everybody made.
Last year we had some noir detective, black-and-white film that some guy made in Fairhaven and I think it's really cool just to see the local Bellingham area portrayed in a film. It's just really fun to see what everybody else does.
Q: Is there anything else you think readers should know about the festival or the experience?
A: Try to bring an open mind if you're gonna do it and have some fun. Try to do something new.
Manna Spiro (she/her) is a campus life reporter. She is a third-year public relations student excited to start her first quarter writing for The Front. Manna directs the style and beauty team for The Rage Magazine and can be found going on spontaneous adventures with friends around Bellingham. You can contact her at mannaspiro.thefront@gmail.com.
