On Friday, Aug. 23, the insanity begins: Film teams in Reno will race to write, shoot and edit the best short film—all within 48 hours, as part of the 48 Hour Film Project.
By mid-July, 11 teams had registered, but Ivey Smith, the Reno producer for the national competition, noted that some teams register as late as two hours before the kickoff event.
“It goes from 0 to 100 mph from the moment it starts until it stops. It really pushes you and tests your skills in such a short amount of time,” said Jessica Melnar, director and editor for the team known as I Ain’t No Scare Productions, winner of Reno’s best film honors in 2022 and 2023.
In its third year of participation, Reno is one of about 135 cities involved in the 48 Hour Film Project, happening worldwide on various weekends throughout the year. The competition, which started in 2001, is open to filmmakers of any level, and all team members must be volunteers. In March 2025, each city’s top films will be screened at Filmapalooza in Seattle, competing for coveted screenings at the Cannes Film Festival.
At the Friday kickoff event, each team receives two genres from a random drawing of 30 possibilities, ranging from horror to mockumentary; the teams are required to use one or both of their genre selections. All teams receive the same prop, line and character to incorporate into their film. The required elements vary by city. Last year, Reno competitors had to build their stories around a basket, an accountant named Larry or Lisa Tuckerman, and the line, “I’ve got a message for you.” One team used the basket as a sacred object, while another wielded it as a weapon.
Films must be four to seven minutes long, including credits. Scoring is based on artistic and technical merit, as well as the integration of the required elements. Smith commented that the I Ain’t No Scare team did an excellent job of incorporating the accountant character into their comedy film, No Accounting for Nature.
I Ain’t No Scare Productions came together in 2020 when Melnar spotted a flier for the Carson Creepy film competition and reached out to several friends to collaborate on a short horror film. Though Melnar had filmed a few class presentations on biology and statistics during high school, the Carson competition was her first experience making a film for public consumption.
“There’s a lot we didn’t know and continue to learn and build upon each time we participate,” Melnar said. “I ain’t no scare,” an expression she heard while gaming online, became an apt moniker for the fledgling production crew equipped with an attitude of “no fear—we can do this!” Six members of the crew are musicians, some of whom have performed with the Reno Video Game Symphony; the group often produces its own music for their films.
Since their first competition, the team members have honed their skills in editing and sound, through practice and by receiving practical advice regarding equipment.
“Seeing our growth over these past few years, looking back on how far we’ve come and what we’ve learned, it’s amazing to see how our films have changed and adapted,” Melnar said.
Smith, who entered her first 48 Hour Film Project competition in Los Angeles—three weeks into film school—said the competition is a wonderful way to jumpstart a film career. After her fourth time in the competition, Smith went on to write, direct and produce her first feature length film, The Scent of Betrayal.
Said Melnar: “I think it’s the most tired I’ve ever been, but at the end, it’s all worth it, getting to see what you’ve made at the end. I’ve never been so proud and in awe of my friends who do this with me.”
The 48 Hour Film Project begins on Friday, Aug. 23. Completed films must be submitted by 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 25, to be eligible for prizes; entry fees are $178-$198. The top local film will be screened at Filmapalooza in Seattle and score a $6,000 script-coaching package. Films will be screened on Friday, Sept. 6, and Saturday, Sept. 7, at Galaxy Theatres Victorian, 1250 Victorian Ave., in Sparks. Tickets are $20. For registration information, visit www.48hourfilm.com/reno.