Speed film making draws teams from nationwide

New Zealand's largest film contest took place over the weekend, bringing pressure-cooker film-making and sleep deprivation to hundreds of people.

Dozens of teams in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, had 48 hours to write, shoot, edit and score a short film.

The strict time limit, beginning at 7pm, Friday, May 13, and finishing by 7pm last night, was the hardest part of the contest, but matters were further complicated by the addition of compulsory elements and film genres.

The compulsory elements, which each team had to incorporate into their film, were: a character called Bodil de Rezney who is an animal lover; a banana as a prop; and a line of dialogue: "Please don't do that". Plus for a chance to win $2000, teams also had to include a red scarf (optional).

The genres for this year's event, drawn by teams before the competition began, included mockumentary, science- fiction film, pretentious foreign art film, educational film and action movie, Disney family film, mystery, horror, romance, and, the most dreaded genre, the musical.

- NZPA