Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Carmona & Nando Luis Roman.
Hi Christina & Nando, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The 48 Hour Film Project Orlando is currently run by myself, Christina Carmona, and my business partner Nando Luis Roman. We are award-winning filmmakers, actors, and TV show hosts/producers. We have been the Orlando city producers of the 48 HFP since 2019, but we have a long history with the 48. We started off as participants back in 2014 and when the opportunity presented itself, years later, we thought it would only make sense that we should throw our names in the hat to become the new city producers for Orlando. When we got the position, we made it our goal to make the Orlando 48 Hour Film Project the biggest and best it can be. We have always been known to have our own flair as filmmakers, so you can expect that we brought that to the 48. We wanted to give the 48 participants a fun and different experience than they have had in the past. Over the last three years, we have changed things up by doing things like having the kickoff event at the Medieval Times castle, bringing in special guests like legendary actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mortal Kombat, The Man in the High Castle) and Austin St John (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) to meet with the teams or give them words of encouragement. You never know what we might do each year, which keeps teams on their toes and excited. We take great pride in what we do as Orlando’s city producers and will continue to grow the 48 to make it Orlando’s premiere film competition.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every event has its challenges. For instance, when we came into the roles of city producers in 2019, we were tasked with the challenge of putting together the event in only a month and half. Of course with 2020 being such a challenging year for everyone, we opted to have a virtual nationwide event, where folks could compete from their own homes while in quarantine instead of holding the city’s in-person competition. We came back this year ready to take on the 48 as folks began to acclimate back into society. In order to give folks the option to participate and still be safe, we held both an in-person and virtual event. Anyone who has ever planned an event knows that it’s not for the faint of heart. It requires a lot of hard work and attention to details, but the end result is always worth it.
We’ve been impressed with 48 Hour Film Project Orlando, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The 48HFP was created in 2001 by Mark Ruppert and Liz Langston and is now celebrating its 20th year. Here in Orlando, we are on our 14th year of holding the event. The 48 Hour Film Project is a wild and sleepless weekend in which you and a team make a movie – write, shoot, and edit – in just 48 hours. On Friday night, teams draw a genre from a hat. They are then given a character, prop and line to include in their films. On Sunday night, in a wild dash to upload their films to our servers, the film is turned in – and teams celebrate. The films are then screened at a local theater in front of an audience of filmmakers, friends and families or virtually. The film that wins “Best Film” goes on to compete at Filmapalooza where an international panel of judges will select the Best Film of that year from among the best film of each city. The winner will be announced at our Awards Ceremony at Filmapalooza and they will receive:
The Grand Prize Trophy
$5000 USD Cash Prize
A Special Screening at the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner
The 48HFP is the world’s oldest and largest timed filmmaking competition. If you want the real deal, this is it. We are in 130 cities around the world, on six continents. The 48HFP is all about creativity and fun. It’s also about community. For years the 48HFP has been helping local creative people connect to make films. These connections go beyond filmmaking – taking part in the 48 helps people find friends, collaborators, and even jobs.
The 48 Hour Film Project’s mission is to advance filmmaking and promote filmmakers. Through its festival/competition, the Project encourages filmmakers and would-be filmmakers to get out there and make movies.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The biggest lesson we’ve learned throughout our journey as city producers is the importance of community. In 2020, the entertainment community as a whole took a major blow, but it was no surprise as to how essential entertainers, actors, and filmmakers really are. Throughout this time, many of us came together and continued to find ways to entertain the masses with our art and provided some relief from the struggles we have all been facing. We learned that when you come together in a time of unfortunate circumstances, you can do anything. As city producers, we are so grateful to be in a position that provides an avenue for artists to still be able to create art.
Contact Info:
- Email: orlando@48hourfilm.com
- Website: 48hourfilm.com/orlando
- Instagram: instagram.com/orlando48hourfilmproject
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orlando48hfp
Image Credits
Emmeal Gooden Photography Tavon Carson Photography 48 HFP Orlando Teams
