13 Filmmakers in 3 Cities in 1 Frantic Weekend Tackle the Theme "Dangerously Disconnected From Our Food"
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Contact: Rodney North 774-776-7398 Rodney@equalexchange.coop 13 Filmmakers in 3 Cities in 1 Frantic Weekend Tackle the Theme "Dangerously Disconnected From Our Food" West Bridgewater, MA - Nov. 4th, 2008 - Question: Could you conceive, write, cast, shoot, score, and edit a short film in one weekend? What if someone else assigned the theme and genre? That was exactly the challenge recently for 15 competing teams of filmmakers in Boston, Seattle and Portland (Oregon) as part of the Equal Exchange / 48 Hour Film Project Invitational. For seven years the 48 Hour Film Project (48HFP) has organized unique, crazy speed film-making competitions around the world. Once a year an organization like Equal Exchange, The Red Cross or VISA, sponsors a 48HFP Invitational where a small number of the best teams from past 48 HFP competitions compete to create a 3 minute film focused on a theme selected by the sponsor. This Invitational's theme was "Dangerously Disconnected From Our Food" - in keeping with Equal Exchange's 22 years of advocacy as a leader in the organic and Fair Trade food movements. The frenetic creativity began at exactly 7 p.m., Friday, September 19, when five teams in each city met 48HFP and Equal Exchange representatives to receive their instructions. Genres for each team - ranging from sci-fi to musical to mockumentary - were randomly assigned and all teams were given a character (Rick Dickinson), a prop (a burlap coffee bag) and a line of dialogue ("It doesn't have to be that way") they had to incorporate into their film. Then they were off to the races. The following Monday 13 teams submitted their creations. A team of three special guest judges then convened to determine Best Film (prize $1,000) as well as Best Directing, Best Acting, and other awards. "Hard to Swallow" by Portland's Bouncing Poodle Productions won the grand prize. On October 21st Equal Exchange held public screenings of all 13 films in Boston, Seattle and Portland. At the screenings the audiences got their chance to vote, too. "How Vast A Sea" by the Seattle team We Were Hot And We Were Hungry, was the clear People's Choice for Best Film. The films will be promoted by Equal Exchange online and elsewhere as part of their ongoing campaign to encourage the public to think a little longer and harder about where their food comes from, and about the significance of their food choices. The 13 completed films are a comical and sometimes outlandish take on our relationship with food - from a future where people survive on indeterminate food stuffs (think of the Charlton Heston classic "Soylent Green") to a TwinkieTM-as-villain thriller. The films offer a fresh, irreverent look at the issues of food, agriculture and food politics. According to Equal Exchange co-founder and Executive Director, Rink Dickinson: "These are some very innovative, funny, even outlandish films. But more importantly even when they make you laugh they also get you to stop and think about your relationship with food. We've been talking about these issues since 1986 and wanted to get others more involved. The 48HFP Invitational offers a way for us to bring these talented filmmakers into the national conversation about food. " All 13 films may be viewed at www.EqualExchange.coop/48hr About Equal Exchange A pioneer and U.S. market leader in Fair Trade since 1986, Equal Exchange is a full-service provider of high quality, organic coffee, tea, chocolate and healthy snacks to retailers and food service establishments. Major customers include Shaw's, Whole Foods, Hannaford, Ten Thousand Villages, hundreds of natural food stores, restaurants, and thousands of places of worship nationwide. 100% of Equal Exchange products are fairly traded, benefiting more than 40 small farmer co-operatives in 22 countries around the world. In keeping with its commitment to Fair Trade and economic democracy, Equal Exchange is a worker co-operative, 100% owned and governed by its employees. About the 48 Hour Film Project The 48 Hour Film Project, sponsored by Panasonic and Rumblefish, is the oldest and largest timed film competition in the world. The 48 Hour Film Project's mission is to advance filmmaking and promote filmmakers. The tight deadline of 48 hours puts the focus squarely on the filmmakers-emphasizing creativity and teamwork. While the time limit places an unusual restriction on the filmmakers, it is also liberating by putting an emphasis on "doing" instead of "talking." For more information go to http://www.48hourfilm.com Photographs available upon request Equal Exchange 48 Hour Film Project Invitational The films 1st "It Doesn't Have To Be That Way" Judges award - Best Seattle Film & Best Editing by 911 Media, Seattle 2 "The Only Way To Eat" Judges award - Best Director & Best Cinematography by Stop Talking, Seattle 3 "Easy Eats" by Baugh Klemm's Tea Party, Boston 4 "Organic Coffee and Gorgonzola" People's Choice - 1st Runner-up overall by We're Making a Movie, Boston 5 "The Beginning to the End of Rick Dickerson" Judges award - Best Writing by Mine Production, Seattle 6 "The Bean & The Bean" by Summer Villa, Boston 7 "Gigantoman" by Glasseye Productions, Boston 8 "Nourish" by Tiny Mini Films, Portland 9 "FLASTE!" by Cinema Queso, Portland 10 "How Vast a Sea" People's Choice - Best Film, Judges award - Best Acting by We Were Hot and We Were Hungry, Seattle 11 "The Fish" by Overcast Productions, Portland 12 "Food Plus" Judges' award - 1st runner-up & Best Boston Film by Bait & Tackle, Boston 13 "Hard to Swallow" Judges award - Best Film & Best Portland Film by Bouncing Poodle Production, Portland CONTACT: Equal Exchange West Bridgewater, MA & Hood River, OR |
- Posted on: January 16, 2009
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