CapTV’s 48-Hour Film Royale will be happening on campus this weekend. The competition, in its third year at the university, is open to all Capital students.
The 48-Hour Film Royale is a competition that requires registered teams to come together to plan, shoot, and edit films in one weekend.
The premise of the competition consists of each team receiving a prop, a line of dialogue, and a genre that must be incorporated into a 3-5 minute film within the 48 hours allotted. Genres can include, but are not limited to, horror, thriller, romantic comedy, action, or war.
Teams are not limited in number. As of Tuesday, there were 18 teams already registered.
The prop, line of dialogue, and genre are used to ensure that each film was produced within the given time and adds to the challenge of the competition.
Betsy Pike, director of the electronic media and film at Capital, started the Royale three years ago as part of a class.
“I wanted the class to do some sort of big event that would showcase what the students do,” Pike said. “The students decided they wanted to do the 48 Hours. It went well. The students enjoyed themselves and it’s gone from there.”
An additional film festival, Just an Independent Film Festival (JIFF), is hosted in the spring.
Senior Josh Vanderzyden, who majors in electronic media and film, has participated in the Royale each year it’s been held at Capital and enjoys the challenge it brings.
“The 48-Hour Royales are always stressful but also incredibly worthwhile,” Vanderzyden said. “The 48 hours might seem like a long time, but to make a five-minute film of good quality is difficult in that span of time.”
Registered teams will receive their necessary film components Friday evening and have until Sunday evening to submit their films.
“In the past we would over-crowd in the Bridge of Learning to see the submitted films,” Pike said. “This year we are able to utilize the Drexel, which will be very exciting.”
A panel of judges will hand out awards to the first place and second place winners. An Audience Vote Award will also be presented to a winner.
The panel of judges varies year to year, ranging from professors at Capital, alumni, local filmmakers, and even producers from Columbus’s own 10TV.
Vanderzyden, with his team, has followed a particular strategy when competing in the Royale.
“We get together on Friday night and come up with the idea for our film and how we are going to approach it,” Vanderzyden said. “Then on Saturday we shoot all day and through until the middle of the night. On Sunday we do our editing and submit the film. It’s a lot to do in 48 hours.”
Vanderzyden likens the atmosphere of the Royale to that of a football game.
“The competition itself is very stressful yet exciting, kind of like a football game,” Vanderzyden said. “Everyone is so supportive of each other when all the finished films are shown at the end. The finished products make the stress of it all worth it.”
In the first year of the Royale, Vanderzyden’s team produced a gangster film that did not rank. Last year, however, his team placed first by the judges’ panel.
“Last year we had a thriller genre. We created a story of two guys that explore an abandoned house to take pictures ,and they get chased out of house by some sort of monster,” Vanderzyden said. “One of the guys goes missing and another goes back in and had to encounter it. The monster, which was a cannibalistic woman, wasn’t revealed until the last two shots.”
Vanderzyden has advice for the new participants in this year’s Royale.
“Be creative within your means. Come up with something innovative and cool but remember you have 48 hours to prepare it, so use your best creative ability. Think outside the box,” he said.
Vanderzyden is excited to see what films will be produced at this year’s Royale.
“I am expecting to see some really good films,” Vanderzyden said. “Especially with this senior class of EMF students that I have been a part of, we have seen the program and the Royale grow exponentially the past few years. I can’t wait to see what all the seniors come up with.”
Pike also believes the competition this year will be strong.
“There are some strong teams that have won in the past. There are others that will feel like they have something to prove,” she said. “I’m excited to see what they come up with.”
Teams are able to register until 5 p.m. Friday at the CapTV station in the basement of the library. The submitted films will be presented at 5 p.m. Sunday at The Drexel Theatre. All can attend and admission is free.
