This year the Seattle 48 Hour Horror Film Project had the fortuitous occasion to kick off on Friday the 13th. Fortuitous occasion? Wow. I’ve been reading a lot of Lovecraft lately. Anyway, I was on the SubliminalEd Films team again as the editor and a producer. It all came together pretty much the same as any other 48 hour film challenge in that there were plenty of issues that hopefully we all learned from. I know I learned from the experience at the very least.
The summer 48 was amazing, but I had an idea as to how to better approach this particular project that I pitched to Ed–the director and de facto showrunner / exec producer. I pitched the idea of including a second editor on the post production team. You know what? The addition of the second editor allowed me to actually get some sleep over the weekend instead of slogging through two days of production grinding. It was great to have another set of eyes on the project because by virtue of both of us having slept, our decision-making ability was not only better, but faster (fast decision making in the edit is crucial for the 48).
Prompts
- Prop: Sponge
- Character: Izzy Starshine – Astrologer
- Line of Dialogue: “It’s alright. I’ve done this a million times.”
Our particular film was How to Kill a Pisces, and the artwork for the poster came from something our wardrobe / costume person created. I have to say that I think it turned out well.
What I think was really great about this particular project is how we worked as a team to divide the labor rather than all the post production duties fall on (basically) four people. As much as I enjoy doing graphic design mock-ups for posters and thumbnails, it’s really difficult to do everything in such a short period of time and not be completely drained creatively in the process. I mean, we made a short film with pre-production, production, and post-production all occurring in only 48 hours. Granted we did some pre-production like gathering talent, crew, and location, but no script was written until Friday night and the shot list and costumes were developed first thing Saturday morning before we shot the film.
What I enjoy most about doing these 48 hour film challenges is that they are a pressure test to see if a team can come together and be able to release a product in such a ridiculously short period of time. That’s really what it’s all about–discovering how to be a team.
So, our film screened on Halloween at the 9-11pm block and we generated some laughs from the audience as How to Kill a Pisces ended up being unintentionally comedic with the camp that we introduced stylistically. I mean, I laughed. There’s a line of dialogue that cracks me up every time I hear it. Not necessarily the line that’s funny, but the context of it.
Long story, longer, How to Kill a Pisces won an award and we will be presented with it on Wednesday. This is the second 48hfp in a row where SubliminalEd Films team has won an award (Rock Bottom won a well-deserved best actor in a comedy for Jamie Pettito). I guess what my point to all of this is, celebrate the victories. I don’t know what we won, and honestly I’m not thinking about it too much. I am excited to be part of the team that pulls together to create a platform for success.
Below are the Audience Favorites and Award Winning films! | The awards screening and ceremony will be at 7pm on Wednesday, November 8, 2023! https://www.siff.net/cinema/in-theaters/48-hour-horror-film-project-awards
Award Winners 
- Creeeeepy paapeeeer – Path of the Eclispse
- Be TRU Pictures – Bright Future
- Film Vandals – Invaders from beyond the sponge
- JMAK Studio – The Clownish Inquisition
- Kill Rich Productions – Smash that Subscribe Like my Vids and Stream the Rage Bro
- Go Somewhere Cinema – Reset
- Rotten Egg Films – Circosis
- Slasher Studios – Blighted
- Sound Defiance Films – Overdue
- SubliminalEd Films – How to Kill a Pisces
- Team Neanderthal – Prescription DEATH
- That One Scene From Bone Tomahawk – Cuffing Season
- Thors Hammered – Astrology & You
- Transatlantic Films – Lucid Nevermore
- A Flame at Sea Productions – Unaligned
Audience Favorites
- Transatlantic Films – Lucid Nevermore
- Minor Motion Pictures – The Evil Hand
- Li’l Smokees – Full House
- Gold Average Productions – Blood Lust
- JMAK Studio – The Clownish Inquisition
- Rotten Egg Films – Circosis