A Race Against the Clock

First prize and bragging rights were on the line in the West Chester University-sponsored competition. With only 48 hours to make a movie, Neumann student Tyler Hauser and his friends raced against the clock. In the end, it was victory with Hauser in the starring role of "Rocky's Terrific Time."

Along with other companions, Hauser, a senior CDM major, took first place in the West Chester University 48-hour Film Race. Students are challenged to create, shoot, and edit a production in under 48 hours (about 2 days) as part of West Chester University's 48-Hour Film Race "Just the process is really fun; I loved playing the character of a person I could never be in real life," explained Hauser.

Hauser decided to join the contest when his friend, Casey Costigan, a West Chester student, entered the contest and asked him to be a part of his production. Costigan was also the executive producer of the film. "I am always willing to take an acting opportunity," Hauser said.

The short film by the name of "Rocky's Terrific Time" tells the story of a guy named Rocky and his attempt to save his dying father, which comes along with some obstacles.

With only 48 hours to make a movie, Hauser and his friends raced against the clock. The process of creating this project consisted of filming for about nine hours and editing for five hours over the two-day period. According to Hauser, "This process helped me to think on the spot because you do not have a lot of time to shoot the film in the short amount of time.”

Reflecting on his overall experience regarding being involved in a creative project such as a film race, he concluded, "For all people, art is important because you can make a film about any situation you are going through. It can be very therapeutic, almost like a journal. Many times, in the workplace, our creativity is limited. Instead of doing that, it should be increased because it helps us get in tune with our true self."