LITTLE ROCK — Those who were fretting that the 48 Hour Film Project would skip Little Rock this year because its original producer resigned can relax. The Little Rock Film Festival’s staff has stepped in to produce the local version of the worldwide film competition.
It will be held in Little Rock on Aug. 20-22.
The 48 Hour Film Project challenges teams to write, film, edit and produce a short film in two days. Jack Lofton, executive director of the Little Rock Film Festival, says festival staff will share responsibilities.
“The LRFF is looking forward to producing the event and continuing to promote the work of Arkansas’ talented filmmakers.” Screening dates for the films are tentatively set for Aug. 25-27 at Riverdale 10 Cinemas. For more information or to register a team, go to 48hourfilm.
com/littlerock. Entry fee is $135 through Monday, $155 after.
The Little Rock-produced web series The Bloodstone Diaries, which is directed by Gerry Bruno, has been entered into the NexTV entertainment competition.
Bloodstone stars Katy Allen, wife of American Idol-winner Kris Allen, as a woman who must protect herself and a precious jewel with special powers from men who will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.
The NexTV competition examines short films or webseries seeking ones to adapt to television. Visitors to the NexTV site vote on their favorites. Entries with the most votes will be judged by a panel of Hollywood insiders including Randy Cordray, a producer for The Office, and Jay Francis, director of original programming at the Disney Channel. For more information or to see the entries, go to nextventertainment.
com/web.
Cult filmmaker and Camden native Phil Chambliss has been making short films since 1975, but until now copies of his eclectic works have been hard to come by. Now they can be bought at Chambliss’ new website Chamblissfables.com.
Those not familiar with the “folk art” director’s work will find synopses of his films on the website including one for Shadows of the Hatchet-Man, a 26-minute film from 1982: “A bloodthirsty killer must be stopped. Only a few know his identity, and most who see him don’t live to tell about it. Will shirtless Sheriff Dumpling solve the crime before the hatchet falls again?” How could you not go for a synopsis like that?
There is a 10-minute demonstration reel on the web page that shows his unique style of filmmaking. The shorts are available on DVD in six volumes for $16 each or $75 for all six.
Levi Agee is a programmer for the Little Rock Film Festival and the founder and host of Cameras on the Radio. E-mail him at: [email protected]
MovieStyle, Pages 36 on 07/23/2010