Silver Oaks team makes award-winning movie in a weekend as part of the 48-Hour Film Project

Two days, one weekend, forty-eight hours...

No matter how you say it, that is how long it took our Silver Oaks team to organize, write, film and edit a movie for the 48-Hour Film Project, which challenges teams to complete an eight minute movie in two days. The international contest takes place in over 50 cities, including Los Angeles, Toronto and Berlin. Finding the right mix of talent, locations and props is no easy task, yet last year the Silver Oaks crew, under the pseudo name of Presto Video, entered the Des Moines competition with a film called Man Eating Dumpster and won the “Best of City” award. We entered again this year hoping to repeat our success.

The competition began with all of the teams drawing one of 14 genres, as well as a line of dialogue, a prop and a specified character. We drew the “Buddy Film” and were charged with including a business card, a character named John/Juanita Schold, and the line, “If at first you don't succeed…oh, you know the rest.” Each team then had from 7pm on Friday evening, until 7pm Sunday evening to complete their respective films.

We began work immediately, writing ideas and planning shots for the project. Filming began after midnight on Friday, and didn’t finish shooting until Saturday evening. From there, the sound, graphics and editing were completed just before the video had to make its three-hour trip from Moline to Des Moines on Sunday.

Our film titled, Checking Out, is based on a man running into a former roommate at a grocery store and stars local professional talent, Adam Michael Lewis and Kimberly Furness. Behind-the-scenes talent included numerous people from Silver Oaks’ video, audio, writing, sales and design departments while outside volunteers pitched in to help wherever they were needed.

On Thursday, August 16, the Des Moines competition displayed the top twelve teams of the competition at the Fleur Cinema and Cafe. Checking Out made the cut, and we eagerly awaited the audience’s reaction and judge’s awards for the contest. We were delighted when Presto Video was credited with Best Graphics and Audience Choice awards. Kim and Adam also received a runner-up award for Best Acting.

Although the team didn’t win the Des Moines competition this year, Silver Oaks is very proud of everyone’s hard work, talented abilities and the terrific turnout of the film. Maybe now we can finally rest…but not for too long.

Watch it!