Fast-acting film crew wins honors

A local Cape Girardeau independent film crew had only 48 hours to start and finish a movie short, but at the end they were considered one of the best.

The small crew of 15 people had to write, film and edit a four to seven minute short film for the 48 Hour Film Project two weekends ago. On Monday, they learned they were among 16 selected from a field of 40 as one of the "best of the best" from the competition.

"To be selected as best of the best ... it gives you a real sense of pride," producer Steven Turner said. The same film crew participated last year in the project but failed to advance.

Filmmakers were given a genre in which to work, a character, line of dialogue and prop that must be included in the picture. This year's genre was silent films, something that originally worried film makers.

"We feel good about our lead actor, Joel [McCrary], because he had to carry the film without saying a word," Turner said.

The Cape Girardeau crew's movie, "A Dirty Job," was a comedy revolving around the life of a bank manager who takes his job title literally and picks up trash on the bank of Mississippi River.

The 16 films considered best of the best from the St. Louis region will be screened Thursday night at an awards ceremony. Every film screened will win at least one award, ranging from audience choice to best directing, writing and musical score.

One film out of the 16 will be selected as best overall and will be shown at the national competition in San Francisco.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

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