A whirlwind weekend of filmmaking is coming to Missouri Western State University. The department of communication studies, theater and cinema is offering students and the public the opportunity to participate in Above the Line 48 HOUR Film Project, a competition designed to energize the filmmaking process and challenge filmmakers to put their visions into action. All community members are eligible put together a team to participate in the competition and they do not have to be affiliated with Missouri Western. Teams must consist of a minimum of three individuals with one designated as the leader.

At 5 p.m. on Friday, March 22, all pre-registered teams will gather on campus in Spratt Hall’s Kemper Recital Hall. Teams will draw a genre for their film and all teams will be given the same prop, the same line of dialogue and assigned a character that must be included in their films. The team leader must attend this orientation, but all members are encouraged to attend. Specific output requirements will be demonstrated and given to each team leader at the orientation.

Once the teams receive their assignments, all the filmmaking, including writing, shooting, editing and adding a musical soundtrack, must occur within the 48-hour window beginning at 5:30 p.m. March 22 and ending at 5:30 p.m. March 24.

At 7:30 p.m. on March 24, there will be a live festival screening in Kemper Recital Hall that is free and open to the community, and a live jury will determine the award-winning shorts. A number of prizes will be given to the filmmakers.

Dallas Henry, assistant professor of theatre and cinema, said his students are very excited about the competition. He had participated in the Project in Los Angeles several years ago and had always wanted his students to try it. Students in his classes are required to participate, but Henry wanted to open it up to the community, as well. “It’s interesting to see the creativity in 48 hours. People have to work together at a very quick pace.”

To enter the competition, teams must complete a registration form, copyright form and release of liability form. There is no entry fee. Teams must turn in their completed registration packet by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 21. Packets can be dropped off to Henry in Potter Hall room 206 or scanned and emailed to dhenry2@missouriwestern.edu. There will be no registration forms accepted after the cut-off time.

The length of the short film, including introduction and closing credits, can be anywhere from four to seven minutes. Total combined credits can be no longer than 30 seconds. All furnished work must be submitted on or before 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 24.

For more information about Missouri Western’s Above the Line 48 HOUR Film Project or to print the registration forms go to http://www.missouriwestern.edu/theatrecinema/news.asp.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.

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