QM News 74 (pdf 1.58 MB) - Queen Margaret University

PAGE 14
CREATIVITY AND CULTURE
Ready, set, shoot – Sam makes it happen
with the 48 Hour Film Projects
Sam Goldblatt was never going to be
beaten by the global recession. Even as
an experienced events professional and
a graduate of QMU’s Masters in Festival
Management, he knew that securing
a top graduate position in the Scottish
arts scene was always going to be a
challenge given the current jobs market.
But that didn’t deter Sam.
A charming and talented young man,
originally from Washington, DC, Sam
Goldblatt exudes a warmth and positivity
that is both captivating and inspiring.
And he has used his American ‘can
do’ attitude to great effect. The creative
28 year old decided to carve out his
own niche in the arts world by using
his entrepreneurial skills to develop
and produce Scotland’s most popular
filmmaking festival.
The ‘48 Hour Film Project’, now in its
fourth year in Scotland, has captured
the imagination and enthusiasm of over
2000 budding film makers. Sam started
the festival in Edinburgh in 2008, while
studying at QMU. The Scottish festival is
part of a global film project which spans
approximately 80 countries across five
continents, and challenges teams to
make a film in just 48 hours. However, it
is Sam’s determination and drive which
has brought the festival to Scotland.
The popularity of the Edinburgh 48 Hour
Film Project grew, and such was the
demand from an increasingly growing
group of young film makers to take
part in the world’s largest timed-film
competition, that in autumn 2011, Sam
took the project to Glasgow. And what
a success that has been. The Edinburgh
event is now firmly established as a
significant component in the capital’s
festivals programme, and even in its first
year, the Glasgow event attracted over
400 participants, with teams coming all
the way from Wales, Manchester and
Newcastle just to participate. Over the
last four years more than 200 minimasterpieces
have been shot, produced
and finally screened at Edinburgh’s
Cameo Cinema and the Glasgow Film
Theatre.
Just like Sam, all three film festivals are
bursting with energy. Teams from all
over Scotland, as well as the occasional
enthusiast from Spain and Germany, arm
themselves with caffeine fuelled energy
drinks and knuckle down to a full-on, funfilled,
sleepless weekend of script writing,
acting, filming, producing and editing.
Sam explained: “It’s a challenging 48
hours but it’s exhilarating and very
rewarding. All teams are instructed to
include certain elements in their film - a
line of dialogue, a specific character and
a prop - so they really can’t prepare in
advance. The groups have great fun out
on location and some of the end results
are extremely creative indeed. After the
films are made they are screened over a
series of nights to packed audiences who
then vote for their favourites.”
Sam Goldblatt at the Cameo Cinema Edinburgh
Sam continued: “The aim of the project
is to advance filmmaking and promote
filmmakers. The tight deadline of 48 hours
puts the focus squarely on the filmmakers
- emphasising creativity and teamwork
skills. While the time limit places a
restriction on the filmmakers, it catapults
the team into action - getting things done,
rather than just talking about it.”
Sam has worked single handedly to bring
major arts funders on board and thanks
to the likes of Creative Scotland, some of
the winners can expect substantial prizes
such as free airfares and accommodation
to attend the International 48 Hour Film