48 Hours. 1 Potato. 5 Award Nominations.
Ah, the 48 Hour Film Project. The ultimate test of creativity, caffeine tolerance and how well a team can hold it together after very little sleep and far too much pizza.
This year, we threw our creative hats into the ring alongside 29 other brave and slightly sleep-deprived teams from across the Highlands & Islands, joining thousands of filmmakers worldwide in a weekend-long cinematic sprint. The prize? A shot at Filmapalooza in Portugal and potentially *deep breath* a screening at the Cannes Film Festival. No pressure.
Friday: Ready, Steady... Potato?
It all kicked off at 7pm on the Friday night at Eden Court. We were handed our challenge:
- Genre: Food film (delicious)
- Prop: A potato (well, we are fond of tatties in Scotland)
- Line of dialogue: “But why?” (existential and flexible)
- Character: Chip or Charlie Chapman, Cinema Employee (yes, really)
With the brief clutched in our hands and a thousand ideas rattling around our heads, we dashed back to CARZAR Creative HQ. First thoughts? Maybe something metaphorical: food going stale like a relationship. Then came the deep stuff. Emotional dinner conversations. A food blogging Instagram stalker. A potato as a visual metaphor for… well, the size of a foetus (we know, we went dark quickly).
But after much deliberation – and a lot of pizza – we landed on a concept that felt honest and heartfelt; something we knew we could tell with sensitivity and sincerity. And, in a minor miracle, we wrapped scripting earlier than expected (no all-nighters required!) and secured our filming location!
Saturday: Lights, Camera, Carb Loading
We kicked off Saturday with a final script polish (read: obsessing over every line), printed out approximately 674 release forms (give or take) and headed to our filming location. A huge shoutout to the legends at Courtyard by Marriott at Inverness Airport – you gave our potato-fuelled dream a home and for that, we salute you.
Filming a short piece? Sounds quick. In reality? Each moment takes care, time, and a fair few takes… especially when food is involved. Craig, starring in front of the camera for once, bravely worked through a burger and chips that grew steadily chillier as the hours passed. (Macaroni was also harmed in the making of this film: but don’t worry, Helen reheated it for tea. We waste nothing.)
As specialists in marketing and social media video content, short films aren’t our usual format; but the storytelling process is one we live and breathe, and this was a beautiful new outlet for it.
Sunday: The Final Countdown
Saturday night saw Craig begin the edit while the rest of us tried to remember what sleep actually felt like. On Sunday, after working his magic as Director of Photography, Sharif stepped in to compose an original score that gave the film the emotional weight it needed. He’s a musical genius, honestly. (You can often catch him performing with his band Close E’Nuff at bars and restaurants across Inverness; highly recommend.)
By late Sunday afternoon, we had it: a finished film, complete with all the required paperwork and uploaded with time to spare. In fact, we submitted more than two hours early. Who are we?! (Cue Craig and Helen panic-checking the upload at 6:55pm to make sure the film had actually gone through and we hadn’t just dreamed it.)
The Glitz & Glam of a Film Premiere
Fast forward to the following Saturday: back to Eden Court, this time to see all the films on the big screen. The range of creativity on show was incredible and the buzz in the room? Electric. Even better… we were nominated for five awards:
- Best Sound Design
- Best Original Musical Score
- Best Writing
- Best Use of Genre
- Best Actor (Craig – yes, our man who is usually behind the camera – stepped into the spotlight and smashed it. Hollywood, call us.)
Although we didn’t walk away with a trophy this time, the recognition meant the world to us, especially in such strong company. The bar is high and the local talent is incredible. Plus, Inverness’ winner ended up being last year’s worldwide champ. Tough competition, but well-deserved wins all round.
Until Next Time...
The 48 Hour Film Project was an unforgettable experience. It challenged us, inspired us and reminded us why storytelling matters – whether it’s selling a product or exploring life’s tender moments. Will we be back next year? Absolutely. Armed with experience, better time management (hopefully) and more potatoes (probably).
In the meantime, give our short film a watch below… and if you need writers, editors, or someone to creatively repurpose leftover macaroni, you know where to find us.
