Filmmakers Embark on $1 Million 168-Hour Race

Photo by Pete Brown

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

FILMMAKERS EMBARK ON 168-HOUR RACE TO DELIVER SHORTS ON

‘ATONEMENT’-THEMED BIBLE VERSES

Best Short to Win a Feature Film Production Budget up to $1 Million

150  Teams from Around the World Turn Cameras On To Mold Randomly Assigned Scriptures Into Quality Cinematic Entertainment

LOS ANGELES (May 23, 2013) -- God may have rested on the seventh day after a stunning six-day burst of creativity, but not so for over 150 filmmaking teams from across the U.S. and as far away as Australia, Ethiopia and Zambia that have entered in this year’s speed filmmaking contest, the 168 Film Project.

Sponsor EchoLight Studios is providing the 2013 Grand Prize, a feature film production budget up to $1 Million for the producer of the Best Film of the 168 Signature Speed Film Competition.
On May 13, 2013, the filmmaking teams -- an estimated 1,500 film professionals and amateurs alike – received a luck-of-the-draw Bible verse plucked from scriptures that relate to “Atonement,” this year’s theme.

They were given ten days to prepare, including writing, casting, scheduling and rehearsals and then seven days, or 168 hours, to shoot and finish a short film of 10 minutes or less.

If the previous ten editions of the annual competition are any indication, producers, directors, editors and composers will likely use every last minute of their final 24 hours to perfect their creations.

“This is the week our filmmakers put the rubber to the road,” said 168 founder and director John David Ware. “They find out how effective their planning has been as they work to make memorable films that will earn them invitation to and nominations at the 168 Film Festival (August 8-10 in Glendale, California).”

New this year, the finished films are due to be uploaded at 168film.com (Southern California Teams will submit in person in Burbank) no later than 11:00 AM on Monday May 30, exactly 168 hours after the production start.

Video updates from the 2013 production week will be posted on the 168 Film Project YouTube channel.

For an example of the excitement, see the Turn-in Drama from 2011 as David Holechek & Jerrold Launer sprint across the finish line with just under 1 minute to go! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KokzQYFQkEE

The 2013 stories are just now coming to light and some are still being written.  Here are some of the planned productions.

Directed by Bob Arvin, "An Ocean Away" is filming onboard the U.S.S. Iowa, a WWII era battleship, which has become a floating museum.  The team has been allowed access to the decks and levels forbidden to tourists so they can tell the story.

"An Ocean Away" is a dramatic story set in WWII.  A young man longs for his "freedom" from the Navy to return home to an ailing child.  Echoing Exodus 6:6, he must learn to trust that God will bring his deliverance.

"My grandfather was onboard the battleship U.S.S. Tennessee in World War II, so we have gained some inspiration from that experience to help us tell our story onboard this amazing ship," said Arvin.

Travis Mendel’s team will tell the story of an up-and-coming fashion designer, who decides to donate all proceeds to charity.  It’s based on  Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Artie Delgado’s team will describe "CUE," a Hip Hop artist-turned-Pastor on a mission to redeem and re-make lives skid row.  Based on Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

Veteran Producer Mike Wech will tell the harrowing story of a man, who after surviving 6 days of sharks and rough seas on a raft makes atonement & reconciliation his business.  Based on 2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

Tickets to the 168 Film Festival will be on sale starting June 3rd at 168film.com.

To schedule interviews with 168 or one of the filmmakers, contact John David Ware, 818-557-8507,  john@168film.com or Jerry McGlothlin at: 919-365-6149 jerry@specialguests.com

A Thank You from Anthony Chiles

Anthony Chiles

This is a thank you note from a friend from my hometown Columbus, Ohio.  Thank you Anthony!  It really helps to know that we are making a difference!

ANTHONY'S NOTE:

John,

First I'd like to thank you for having the vision and commitment to create the 168 Film Project. I thank God everyday for the talents I've been given and I appreciate that there are people such as yourself who offer creative individuals the opportunity to use those God given talents to glorify Him. 

I am a civil engineer by degree. I moved to Columbus, Ohio after graduating from Missouri S&T because I was offered a job at American Electric Power's corporate headquarters. I quickly discovered that sitting in a cube, day-after-day, was not my calling. So in an effort to learn something new I decided to take acting classes and I fell in love.

I took as many classes and read a many books as I could get my hands on. I managed to get involved in some commercial work and an indy film that never made the light of day, but the 168 was the first time I worked on a movie that resulted in a final product. It was also one of the most professional settings I had been on to date as well. The G&P Productions team was great and everyone involved was committed and focused. And from that project I went on to work with director Jack McClintock on three additional shorts one of which I was the lead.

Being part of the 168 Film Project helped me realize just how passionate I was about the craft of acting. It showed me that this talent I'd been given could be used to tell stories that impact and change lives. I resigned from my job as an engineer and moved to LA to act full time because I wholeheartedly believe that being a storyteller is how I will make the greatest impact that I can. And the 168 Film Project was a major part of my journey toward that discovery.

Truly grateful,

Anthony Chiles