Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Confessions of a 48 Hours judge

Margaret Agnew is bracing to judge the 48 Hours film-making competition for the seventh time. She has memories and advice.

I must need my head examined. It was early March when I agreed to be a 48 Hours judge again for the seventh time.

Every year, I swear this will be the last time and every year, I come back for more – much like many of the competitors, I imagine.

It's a huge, frantic, sleepless marathon of hard graft for the entrants, no doubt. But it's also a huge commitment for the numerous judges up and down the country who donate their time to watch dozens – sometimes hundreds – of short films. Many of them include extremely dubious content and suspect quality.

In all my years of 48 Hours judging, I have only been paid once and that was contra – a choice of either a pack of beer or a box of energy drink (neither of which I drink).

I have been the only girl among the several members of the Christchurch judging panel every year (not that I'm complaining – they're a lovely bunch of blokes and always share the armrests at the theatre).

It's a lot of late nights and often hard on the eyes and ears – so many questionable films with horrendous sound. But I can also guarantee that several gems will pop up.

It's rewarding, especially when you see people try different, cool and experimental things on film. It's often those people who go on to achieve great things. As a judge, I've felt in some tiny, insignificant way I've encouraged them on towards a film career.

Last year, the Christchurch leg of the competition was tinged with sadness as one of 48 Hours' usual suspects, Rhys Brookbanks, who also freelanced for The Press, died in the CTV building on February 22.

That year, as a tribute to him, his team carried on, and as well as using his catchphrases in the movie, dedicated their short film to his memory. It was played last at the screenings – a poignant moment for everyone there, whether they knew Rhys or not.

While I have this golden opportunity to pass on wisdom ahead of the frenzy that is shoot weekend, I've included a few "don'ts".

Surely you jest

Don't include the first joke you think of involving the year's assigned prop. You can guarantee at least 12 other teams have thought of the exact same obvious banana/rope/screwdriver/whatever gag.

Innuendo

Don't get sucked into easy, sleazy sexual innuendo – you can guarantee we judges have seen it before and possibly in the film that screened just before yours.

Aim for fun (not gross)

Funny is good. Gross is not (unless it's also really funny). Alien anal probes are sooo 2000-and-late. Don't copy jokes verbatim from The Family Guy (seriously, it has happened).

Cameos

Cameos of famous folk, while cute, do not win you the gorilla, so stop stalking the Briscoes lady.

Have funEnough "don'ts". Here's a "do". Have fun. The weekend should be a blast.

Margaret Agnew is a Press film reviewer and edits GO and Your Weekend sections.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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