Lecturer Peter Janes and programme coordinator Tessa Tylee stock up on energy drinks and snacks to fuel those taking part in the HP48Hours film-making competition.
EIT’s Screen Production department is backing the Bay’s film-makers for a weekend promoted as “New Zealand’s largest guerrilla film-making competition”.
“For year after year, Auckland has won,” Screen Production’s programme coordinator Tessa Tylee says of the annual competition, now in its 16th year. “It’s time that changed and the regions fought back.”
Film-makers New Zealand-wide are given just one weekend – this year, from 11 to 13 May – to make a short film. The teams are not told what genre they will be shooting until the start of the competition, at 7pm on the Friday night.
They must then write their script, shoot the movie, edit the footage and add a musical soundtrack – all within 48 hours. A few days later, the completed films are screened in heats and the best are selected for the finals.
Three wildcard entries chosen by film director Peter Jackson join the list of finalists.
Last year, just six teams entered from Hawke’s Bay – all from one high school. Tessa says EIT’s ideaschool is putting its weight behind the competition to encourage more local participation.
“We’re the ideal local base as we are all about film,” she points out. “I’ve never taken part in HP48Hours but have been around people who have and they throw themselves into the weekend and come out of it exhausted but exhilarated.
“It looks so much fun.”
While Gisborne is the East Coast base for the competition, Hawke’s Bay, for the first time, will be a satellite for those taking part in the event.
Teams will come into EIT on the Friday night for their briefing and will be able to return to the campus to download their entries ahead of the Sunday deadline.
EIT’s Screen Production students are expected to rise to the challenge, forming their own teams to make short movies.
“We’ll be topping up the supplies of energy drinks and fruit and nut bars to help keep everyone awake through the event. There won’t be enough time for anyone to sleep,” Tessa jokes.
EIT is also supporting the competition by covering half the registration fee for five entries. And as a further incentive, the HP48Hours organisers are, for the first time, offering an outstanding female film-maker award in the regions.