Fourteen filmmaking teams arrived at Rogelio’s restaurant on Friday evening for the 72-Hour Film Race, Cinema Club’s annual contest wherein participants unveil five surprise prompts their short films must imaginatively satisfy — with only three days to develop, shoot and edit — before a free public screening Monday at sundown in Sean Patrick’s pub.
The legendary Mexican eatery was abuzz with brainstorms from local writers, actors and filmmakers as the five requirements — a scene, an object, a location, a line of dialogue and a character — were revealed.
A fusion of a scavenger hunt with a love letter to San Marcos, the 72-Hour Film Race, in its third year, brings together University students and town people alike, with cash prizes ($100; $75 & $50) on the line for the top three vote-getters.
Filmmaking teams took turns drawing a location from a bucket — each a different noteworthy locale within the extensive Purgatory Creek Natural Area, obligating participants to shoot a portion of their creation amid the 570-acre tract of upland meadows and canyon bluffs.
In tribute to the zip code, films cannot be longer than “6 minutes, 66 seconds” and, per the five surprise prompts, in addition to the Purgatory shot, must include: a purchase in a local business (scene); artwork by Rene Perez (object); the phrase “Tell Kinder Morgan loud and clear, we won’t have no pipelines here” (line of dialogue); and a “wild child” (character).
A bonus riddle, rooted in local history, earns extra points. Filmmakers must include a brief shot of the new monument named for the riddle’s answer: Despite incredible talent apparent to the Naked Eye, this San Marcos-born athlete moved away as a teenager due to segregation keeping them from the sport they adored — for which they’d win Gold at the 1964 Olympics.
The public is welcomed to a free viewing of all the film entries on Monday night, courtesy of generous funding from the San Marcos Arts Commission. Cinema Club will gather at 7 p.m. at Sean Patrick’s pub, with screenings outside at sundown.
Submissions will be judged by Diana Garcia, a teacher at DeZavala elementary school and longtime Cinema Club member; Anita Azenet, a screenwriter who works in the County Judge’s office; and Randy Polk, a cinema-industry veteran.
Azenet and Polk were fundamental collaborators with Cinema Club in the “50 Locations in 50 Days” challenge: an initiative to encourage property owners in Hays County to sign up businesses and homes with the Texas Film Commission database as a way to entice the TV/film industry to the area.
The Greater San Marcos Partnership reports the total economic impact of the “Motion Picture & TV Production” industry in Hays and Caldwell Counties since 2008 has exceeded $26 million.
Now, the prospect of drawing the industry to Hays County is far more likely given a decision by the Board of Regents on August 23 to invest $10 million into creating “a cutting-edge space for new course offerings in film, video, sound and associated technologies” at Texas State University, with a soundstage, green screen, sound-mix studio and screening room on the way.
The Hays County Commissioners Court voted unanimously July 16 to support Cinema Club’s “50 locations in 50 Days” challenge, followed by a Proclamation from San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson on Aug 19.
The Texas Film Commission, in Governor Abbott’s office, alerted Cinema Club on Friday the lofty goal had been achieved, and that their deputy director and community relations director will attend San Marcos City Council on Tuesday to make official their success.
Following the 72-Hour Film Race, Cinema Club sets sights on finalizing preparations for Lost River Film Fest, their four-day exaltation Oct 17-20 of indie cinema, live music, burlesque and a skatepark spectacle dubbed Wheelz & Reelz, this year featuring BMX legend Mat Hoffman, for whom video games are literally named. More info at Lost River Film Fest's website
