National Broadcast Society hosts 48-Hour Film Competition Oscars

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Forty-eight hours of pressure producing 10 minutes of film all came down to one night.

The National Broadcast Society, a registered student organization, hosted their third annual “Oscar” night for the 48-Hour Film Competition on Thursday  in Anspach 161.

NBS is for students looking to make connections within the broadcasting field, said Grass Lake senior Colin Hennessy.

“We put on the film competition to help aspiring film writers at CMU,” Hennessy said. “It’s a great opportunity for people to show they are willing to get involved and have their film projected on a big screen in front of a big audience.”

Hennessy said the competition included five different elements: scene, line, prop, theme and location. Each element had to be included in the seven different groups’ films.

“For each film, one scene had to include a dance number, they had to drop the line ‘get off my stage,’ use piano keys as a prop and use a stage of some sort for the location,” Hennessy said. “And the overall theme was Shakespearean.”

After given the elements, each group had 48 hours to create a short film to be judged by professionals in the broadcasting industry, he said.

This year’s judges included Chicago screen writer Paul Hennessy, New York producer Danielle Mann and Lansing actor Jim Selleck.

“I think doing this competition really helps (students) become better film makers because they are getting professional criticism,” Hennessy said.

Clarkston freshman Lauren Culver and Troy sophomore Dana Kuntuzler helped make the night possible for the NBS students.

“Each group paid ten dollars to compete, and that money along with being sponsored by NBS, helped pay for the event,” Kuntuzler said. “We put everything together from decorating and buying the food to renting out the room and advertising the event.”

Kuntuzler’s group of about ten people worked together to produce a modernization of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

“It’s pretty much the college version,” Kuntuzler said. “We named our film ‘Pucked Up.’”

Group member Devin Reuter was excited for the night to bring together different broadcasting RSOs on campus.

“A lot of different groups come and everyone gets to know each other,” the Clarkston freshman said. “MMR, F1rst Post, Film Society and Women’s Alliance all come to support the different films.”

Each winner of a category was granted a trophy while both best-dressed male and female received certificates, according to Culver.

To show support for each other and for the tragedy in Japan, each team brought a decorated box or cup that was set on the stage. After viewing the films, a person could contribute however much they wished by putting their donation in their favorite film’s container.

The People’s Choice Award was given to the film with the highest amount. A total of $43.47 went to the Red Cross to help the Japan relief.