IT WILL BE HERE SOONER THAN YOU THINK...

Get ready for Extremefilmmaker's 11th Annual 48 Hour Film Festival!

The screening is coming up September 2008 at the Hollywood Arclight Cinemas.

Submissions will be due by August 31st, 2008.

Interested in making a film? CLICK HERE to find out everything you need to know!

Filmmaker Interview: Chris Bosen and Maryellen Owens (part 2)

What equipment/software did you use to make it?

Maryellen: Beaux and D'aria was shot on Chris' Panasonic DVX camera, and edited on his Final Cut Pro. The over the credits song, "O God in Heaven"(added since screening) was recorded at my apartment using my Protools and M Box. Sets/locations were Chris' house and my apartment, plus two shots on a public street. Chris also owns one really nice light, so we had like no rentals, our budget was kept  really low....I mean low. Tell  'em  Chris!

Chris: I actually have three very nice lights, thank you! And a shotgun and wireless lavalier microphone to go along with the DVX100. We shot in 24 frames on the Panasonic, which is why it looks less like video, and imported to a Powerbook G4 laptop via firewire and edited on Final Cut Pro 4. The audio was captured in camera and everything editing-wise was done in FCP. I like to say we made the film for $12 (one miniDV tape to shoot on and one submitted to the festival) and it's true because I purchased the equipment last year for a feature-length documentary I shot last fall and am still editing. Without having the tools at our disposal I don't think we would have participated. It sounds cliche but the digital revolution has given us an opportunity to learn filmmaking. Traditional film is just too expensive.

How do you feel about the finished film?

Maryellen: Good!  But wait there's more...(song, b roll).

Chris: Yeah, the credits have changed slightly since the original screening and Maryellen had written this GREAT song which we've included and adds so much to the film. It really defines who Beaux and D'aria are. I actually said to Maryellen that it's kind of like the South Park episode where Lucas and Spielberg keep re-editing their films -- the ease of making changes can be bad. We have tweaked the credits but the core of the film is exactly the same. We knew we wouldn't mess with that when we saw it at the Arclight and the audiences responded so favorably -- it was like, it's right the way it is. Now the film has been accepted to the Oxford Film Festival in Mississippi this June and we're waiting to hear from several other festivals as well. We'll also have a website up at www.beauxanddaria.com in a bit.

So, tell me about your experience at the screening – seeing your film at the Arclight, having the audience react to it, the after-party

Maryellen:Very exciting at the screening. Great to have two packed houses at the Arclight.  Unbelievable, and thrilling to hear folks enjoying our work.  I was very nervous at first but after unclenching my hand from the armrest, I actually enjoyed watching along with the audience. The after-parties were lovely,  met lots of very cool filmmakers and Booger Pres...I mean Curtis Armstrong!!

Chris: As a first-time filmmaker I can honestly say there is nothing like seeing your creation on the big screen with not one but TWO sold-out audiences. I was incredibly nervous leading up to our film and wasn't able to totally relax until after it was done. The audience response was overwhelming. How many chances do filmmakers have to show their movie at the Arclight? Thanks to the 48 Hour Festival, we've done it. The whole evening was first-class from the goodie-bags, to the screening itself to the after-party -- we are still talking about it and looking forward to the next one. Of course, my family was most impressed when they heard Booger from the "Revenge of the Nerds" movies was there. I hope Curtis doesn't take offense to that -- he was great in "Double Shot" and was really nice to us after the screening -- he was just so funny in those movies and it's a compliment that he created that memorable of a character. Hopefully we can work with him in the future (hint, hint)!

How did it feel to win the audience award?

Maryellen: Time stopped...what can I say...I don't think Chris and I think of ourselves as your typical "winners" in life. Frankly, I'm surprised neither of us passed out from the shock.

Chris: I was stunned. We made the film to entertain ourselves and didn't even know if we would get into the festival when we submitted it. The fact that other people were entertained and were so complimentary was icing on the cake. As my wife, Terry, said you really can't ask for anything else. Plus, now we have a real slate to use in our next movie!! Thanks Mark, Keith and John for the great prize!

You're certainly welcome! Any final thoughts or advice for filmmakers thinking of making a 48 Hour Film?

Maryellen: Yes.  Do this festival.  It's fast, cheap and good-looking. 

Chris: Just like me. No, really, I'm just fast. No one else should make a film though, the fewer films entered the better chance of us winning again. Really, make a film and we'll hunt you down. If you're willing to risk facing our wrath though, get your idea in place and just do it (that would be a great shoe company slogan). Push through the 48 hour time limit no matter what and submit the movie. There's nothing to lose and so much to gain. In addition, eat your vegetables, get a good night's sleep every night and wear clean underwear each day - you never know when you may be in an accident - or have the opportunity to meet Curtis Armstrong.

Because of the festival submissions, we can't show "Beaux & D'aria" in it's entirety - but you can see a substantial teaser here.

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Interested in making a 48-Hour Film?

The rules are simple: Make a film, any film, in 48 Hours from the first frame shot to the final edit!