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Films ask, “But What About Global Warming?”
By rick | July 24, 2008
The idea of making moves is pretty glamorous. The work involved in producing a short film in 48 hours, I can only imagine, is not.
Last night we saw a dozen of the 45 short films produced for the 48 Hour Film Project, and the entertainment level far surpassed anything showing at your nearest multiplex. The seats were sold out at the Village 8, though many were filled by people who made or appeared in the films. Which in itself was pretty cool.
48 teams got their assignment July 18 and 45 of them turned in films two days later. The assignment sounds simple — filmmakers must use these elements: the name Kevin or Kristin Browning, runner, wrench and the line of dialogue “But what about global warming?”
Teams could choose any genre they wanted — we saw a horror film, some comedy, a drama — but every one was compelling. With a dozen films, audience members couldn’t help but start anticipating how the global warming line would find its way into the scripts. It usually produced some laughs. Not one of the films we saw sucked, which is saying something.
Filmmakers shot a lot of people running on local streets, and many films featured actors working on cars using a wrench. There were murders. In one, a guy keeps running past a gal working in the yard, but can’t come up with anything to talk with her about. Several characters meet untimely deaths as a result of gunshots.
Another part of the fun for locals is scanning the scenery for recognizable landmarks and neighborhoods. I knew the exact spot on Clarks Lane, for example, where a scene took place at a Cissna’s store. I recognized rooftops downtown, parts of Old Louisville and Hikes Point.
The only problem with viewing this kind of thing is that you walk out scratching your head trying to remember the specifics of the films you saw. Each one lasts four to seven minutes. Audiences vote for their favorites, and I’m guessing there’s some advantage to being slotted near the end of the night’s lineup, just because it’s easier to remember what came last.
Of course, one of the most memorable of the films wasn’t in the contest. It was a commercial for one of the sponsors, BBC, produced by Louisville’s Stu Pollard. The plot was that a bald guy put himself on a BBC-only diet, then saw his life improve and a mop of curly hair grow on his head. Damn funny.
There’s more screenings tonight, so you can still go and see the local work. And there will be other opportunties to check out the films — just look it up on the website.
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