Stuff staff win big for 48hr film about their dream job
A team of journalists have taken out the Taranaki leg of the 48 Hour Film Festival, and some.
The group of nine Stuff Taranaki staffers going by the name Currie Street Creatives put forward a short film, Charlie Echo
Alpha, about two uncomplicated buddies who aspired to be council workers. The film was judged best overall film for the Taranaki region on Monday.
The annual movie making competition sees hundreds of teams across the country spend a furious weekend making a film that must be scripted, shot and edited within 48 hours.
Currie St Creatives picked up a slew of awards on Monday including best director, best script, best male actor, best editing, regional best female director, best use of physical element and best use of sound effect.
Taranaki’s runner-up award for best overall film went to Hi Stranger’s The Princess and the
Neighbor. Best female actor went to Through the Lens’ Hannah Collinson.
Currie Street Creatives director Brittany Baker said she was ‘‘shocked’’ to have won, especially in light of the filming being ‘‘a mess.’’
‘‘Our main actor was actually working, so he had to rush between filming scenes,’’ she said.
‘‘Then of course you’re managing a team of people who all want to contribute in some way, you’re racing against the clock, and then you sit down to edit and all you see are the things you’ve missed.’’
Baker said she was unhappy with the first watch of the finished product but in hindsight she put that down to working too closely with the project and a lack of sleep.
It’s the team’s second year in the competition, with main actor Andy Jackson being awarded best male actor both times.
‘‘It really is a collaborative project. Every single person played a role, whether they knew or not,’’ Baker said.
Festival co-organiser Anand Rose said the winning team had presented an engaging and indepth story which was complimented by the comedic offerings of actors Jackson and Simon O’Connor, both visual journalists for Stuff. ‘‘I really liked the story it reminded me of the Blues Brothers, with Simon being John Belushi.’’