48 Hour
Film Project
What the 48 is
On Friday night, every team receives a genre, character, prop and line of dialogue, then has 48 hours to write, shoot and finish a short film.
The fun is in having no time to overthink it. You make decisions quickly, build on each other’s ideas and end the weekend with a film that did not exist two days earlier.
Films that make the deadline premiere in a San Diego movie theater, where they screen for an audience alongside the other films made that weekend. They are also eligible for awards at Best of San Diego, with the jury winner going on to compete at Filmapalooza against city winners from around the world.
You do not need a long list of credits to join us, just something you are good at and the willingness to spend a very full weekend making something together.
Note: 48 Hour Film Project rules require all team members to be volunteers.
- Friday7:00 PMDraw the prompts
Genre, character, prop and a line of dialogue. The clock starts here.
- FridayOvernightWrite it
The whole night to get a script we actually want to shoot.
- SaturdayAll dayShoot
One long day on location. Assembly starts as footage lands.
- Sunday7:00 PMCut and hand in
Picture lock, sound, colour, delivered before the deadline.
Team
Crew
Andrés is a screenwriter and filmmaker with 15+ scripts and a handful of productions behind him. His work spans screenwriting, content development and directing, including co-writing the 2021 short Carlo. He is drawn to character-driven stories and brings a writer-first approach to Argos, with a focus on making films that feel specific, intentional and emotionally grounded.
Kubrick
Paul Thomas Anderson
Mariana is a producer who has spent the past four years working on the technology side of a major film studio, leading creative and technical teams across large-scale projects. Her background is in bringing complicated ideas from concept to execution, with a particular focus on keeping teams organized, collaborative and moving. Through Argos, she is bringing that experience into independent filmmaking and building the kind of sets people want to come back to.
Good Will Hunting
Iron Man (superhero nerd)
Mr. Robot
Jose is a cinematographer and camera department professional whose work spans independent film and short-form storytelling. His credits include Lisa’s Sheets, Used, Feel Like Ghosts, and The Quietus, with experience across cinematography, camera, and electrical departments.
Can is a composer and sound designer whose work blends orchestral writing with contemporary textures, always in service of story. A finalist for the Emerging Composers Award at the Apulia Soundtrack Awards, his credits include Cinderella, The Specials, and The Consultation. He holds an MFA in Film Scoring from the Film Scoring Academy of Europe and has also worked as a re-recording mixer across a range of productions.
John is an editor and filmmaker with nearly a decade of experience across narrative, documentary and digital work. A 48 Hour Film Project alum, he brings a strong storytelling instinct, a sharp eye for the edit and firsthand experience taking a film from footage to final cut in a weekend.
Parker is a sound designer and award-winning composer whose work combines storytelling with technical problem-solving. His sound credits include Mercy and Rave Sin Love, alongside scores for films including Burden and Mintrix and the Elven Figurine. He holds an MFA in Scoring for the Screen from the Film Scoring Academy of Europe.
Open seats
Own production audio on Saturday, from dialogue to room tone and everything we inevitably realize we need along the way. Experience with a boom and field recording is ideal; having your own kit is a plus, but not the thing we care about most.
Work alongside our DP to make the lighting plan happen quickly and safely. We’re looking for someone practical, inventive, and comfortable finding the simplest way to get the shot rather than overcomplicating it.
No set experience required. If you’re excited to help out, learn as you go and jump in wherever needed, we’d love to have you.
Why join us
Locations
We have 4 interior and 5 exterior locations secured, from a futuristic apartment complex to a ranch-style home. Whatever we draw Friday night, we’ll have options to build around.
Logistics
Working space, transportation when needed and the production details that keep a weekend moving are already being planned for. Expect call sheets, clear schedules and a team that knows where it needs to be.
Beyond the Shoot
Meals, snacks and drinks will be provided for cast and crew throughout the weekend. Everyone will also receive a digital copy of the finished film to use in personal reels and portfolios.