On the weekend of July 10th the Rogy Pro team participated in the 48hr San Antonio Film Project. We first started doing this film competition in 2016 and have done about 7 films altogether in the past 10 years. The crew and talent has changed throughout the years, as we try to bring different talent and crew to our films.
Our first film was an experiment on what we could do in 48 hours as we didn’t have expectations on the possibilities. Throughout the years we have developed systems that have made our films process smoother, and faster but we continue to experiment and grow as filmmakers. There are many reasons we continue to make films for this competition and though we have grown as a production company, one of the reasons we still continue to film for this competition is to continue to contribute to the San Antonio Film community.
What is the 48 hour Film Project?
The 48 Hour Film Project is the world’s largest timed filmmaking competition, challenging teams to write, shoot, edit, and score an original short film in just 48 hours. Held annually in more than 100 cities around the world, the competition brings together filmmakers of all experience levels to create a complete film. However the unique part of this competition is that everyone must be a volunteer. Having professionals volunteer for a film can definitely be a challenge but when the right team comes together it becomes a project of passion and love of the arts.
At the official kickoff event, each team randomly draws a film genre and is given three required elements that must be incorporated into the story. These elements are used to verify that the film was created within the 48-hour timeframe. These elements include a specific prop, a character with a designated occupation, and a line of dialogue that must be spoken in the film. At the end of the two days, we transform this requirement into a completed film .
Why The Rogy Productions Crew Participates in the 48 Hour Film
The first reason the Rogy Pro team participates in the 48 Hour Film Project is to sharpen our skills and push our creativity beyond our comfort zones. As a full-service production company, Rogy Productions is continuously filming, but we don’t always get the opportunity to challenge ourselves creatively or have complete creative freedom.
Sharpening Our Skills and Pushing Our Creativity
The wonderful aspect of this competition is that each year we encounter a new challenge or explore a different aspect of filmmaking. Additionally, over the years we have had the chance to work alongside many of our fellow filmmakers and film industry peers through this competition. Having the opportunity to work with different writers and collaborating with filmmakers has allowed us to try different perspectives and approaches to the art of filmmaking . Therefore through this competition we have learned how important it is to collaborate with other creatives.
Learning to Work Under Pressure
The time constraints of the 48 Hour Film Project is also an excellent opportunity to work within a fast-paced environment while creating something under pressure. Because we only have 48 hours to create an entire film, we have learned how to use our time effectively and make decisions that can save time and make us more efficient. Working under a tight deadline has challenged us to become more organized, efficient, and intentional with our time. This experience has also helped us recognize thatwe have been able to carry those lessons into other productions. Overall, the time constraint has improved our overall filmmaking process.
Learning From Challenges
The Rogy Pro team has also learned that facing challenges is an important part of sharpening our skills. Of course, we would love to create films where everything goes exactly according to plan but the reality is that there will always be challenges in the filmmaking process.
However, we have accepted that the more problems we encounter, the more opportunities we have to learn on how to overcome them. In filmmaking, knowing how to handle unexpected problems is one of the most valuable skills a filmmaker can have. Learning how to adapt during a 48-hour production has helped us prepare to prevent or manage similar issues on larger productions. In this case not only have they become money saving skills but also great tools for our toolkit.
Investing in Our Team and Our Filmmaking Community
For our team at Rogy Productions, the 48 Hour Film Project isn’t just a competition. It is also an investment in our team and in our filmmaking community. One of the most rewarding aspects of participating in this competition is the opportunity to bring peers into the filmmaking process who may have never created a film before or who are looking to grow within the film industry.
We have learned that there is always someone in our community who wants to experience what it is like to create a film or simply be part of the process because they have a passion for the art of filmmaking. The 48 Hour Film Project gives us that opportunity to open the door and create that experience for our film community.
Why we Keep Coming Back
For us, participating isn’t only about the finished film. It’s about the people we work with, the skills we develop, the challenges we overcome, and the opportunity to contribute to the growth of our local filmmaking community. Rogy Productions understands how important it is to support and contribute to the San Antonio Film Community. The beautiful aspect of this competition is that it brings together filmmakers of all experience levels, encourages collaboration, and provides a creative space where we can challenge ourselves while connecting with others who share the same passion for storytelling. Every 48-hour film leaves us with something new to take into our next production, and that is what keeps us coming back.
If you would like information on The San Antonio 48 Film Project, here is the link. Click Here
Check out our Portfolio to see our current work. Click Here