In the words of Stanley Kubrick, if it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed.
That seemed to be the way to go for a group of filmmakers from St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton, as they prepared for the 48-hour Film Challenge.
Averaging four hours of sleep and running on energy drinks for two days, the students witnessed the reality of life behind the camera.
Working through to the early hours of the morning, the teenage crew grew tired and there was the occasional hollering.
But things were always bound to get crazy, said director Campbell Massey.
On the announcement night at Hamilton Boys' High School, Campbell’s brother and fellow director Oliver Massey listened as he was given the genre, prop, dialogue, character and camera technique the team would have to incorporate into their film.
From the school hall, Oliver called Campbell, who was back at St Paul’s with the rest of the crew, and relayed the information he had received.
It was all-go from there.
After sitting down for around two hours with a big board and a dozen suggestions, the team combined the better parts of each idea into one.
They began scripting and didn't finish until 11pm.
Drawing influence from one of Stanley Kubrick’s films which only uses candle light, the boys realised they needed to film in the dark, meaning they needed to get the camera rolling that night.
Most of the actors had already gone to bed, but the directors woke them up.
Inspired by George Orwell’s 1984, their film Redacted is a dystopian film set in a world with an oppressive regime.
"Instead of other dystopian films where the character wins, this is more of a one that keeps on going.
"It’s more of an ambiguous ending," Oliver said.
Media studies teacher Joshua Howard has been introducing students to the 48-hour film challenge for six years.
He said there are more non-media students doing it than media students.
Directing films is a first-time stint for Oliver and Campbell, and they said 48-Hours allowed them to "dip their toes" into the water of film making.
"Initially it was more of a 'I'll give it a go'," Oliver said.
"But after this it’s become more of an idea that this might actually be a valid pursuit."
The team was nominated for Best Director, Best Score and Best School Team at the regionals and have been nominated for Best School Team at nationals.
The other crew members from St Paul’s' Grasshopper Productions were: Joshua Andrew, actor; Anakin Frogget-Turner, actor and behind the scenes footage; Invader Singh, actor and editing; Callum Skelton, lighting and photography; Luke Halliwell, story boarding and go-for; Logan Jarvis, main actor; Lachie Wright, actor and assistant camera man; Sam Goodey, returning student and James Ashendon, also a returning student.
