51ĀŅĀ×

Andie Walla is still recovering from this yearā€™s School of Media Arts and Studies 48-Hour Shootout. But the associate professor of instruction and outreach coordinator already has plans to grow and expand the annual event next year based on this yearā€™s overwhelming success.

ā€œThis was the first year in my memory where all of the end products were really amazing,ā€ said Walla. ā€œIt was a difficult decision for judges because we had such high-quality projects submitted.ā€

The 48-Hour Shootout is an annual competition that pits teams of student filmmakers against each other to see who can produce the best short video in two days. Things get especially interesting when the groups receive the randomly assigned requirements for their projects: each team gets a prop, genre and line of dialogue that they must include. Itā€™s a favorite event among students because the Shootout helps participants build production skills, resourcefulness and community within their group of collaborators. Teams make great use of the equipment provided by the college, borrowing what they need to create professional-quality work in a very short time period.

ā€œI love walking around town and seeing different groups filming at random locations,ā€ said Walla. ā€œIt gets students out in the community to work and capture video. Itā€™s really awesome to see.ā€

This was the 23rd year of the Shootout with 15 teams and approximately 150 students participating. Three high school teams participated this year, Athens High School, Warren High School and Upper Arlington High School. A team from Hocking College also was part of the event.

ā€œThis was my second time in the Shootout,ā€ said Anna Schneider, a sophomore media arts production major from Westerville, OH. ā€œMy team this year was great. We all came together because we wanted to make something fun. We wrote until 2:30 in the morning on Friday, did our filming on Saturday and started editing Saturday night. We were excited to get second place.ā€

While the event is a fun creative exercise, it also teaches important professional skills.

ā€œI learned so much about how to work with others, how to delegate tasks and time management,ā€ said Schneider. ā€œYou figure out what you need to include and what you donā€™t need to include. Itā€™s also a good way to build community and bond. You see everybody in Schoonover and every says things like ā€˜Happy 48ā€™ and ā€˜Good luckā€™ when they walk by.ā€

ā€œIt put into perspective how much goes into creating a film and how much it takes to get something off the ground,ā€ said Brennan Meadows, a freshman media arts production major from Kitts Hill, OH. ā€œThis was the first time Iā€™ve been able to take a leadership role in something like this. We all had a good time, and everybody was trying their hardest to keep smiles on their faces even though we were super stressed out. Even though we didnā€™t place, Iā€™m very proud of what we produced.ā€

The judges for the event were from Scripps College, the College of Fine Arts and Hocking College. Walla says opening the event up to judges and students outside of Scripps in other colleges and even high schools is important.

ā€œItā€™s a really great way to get high school students involved college activity and for others to learn what the Scripps College and Media Arts & Studies is all about. I really would like to get more high school teams involved even to participate virtually through a live stream. Weā€™d like to keep growing this event. We even joke about having a faculty team or an alumni team one year. Maybe we can do that next year, to show them how itā€™s done,ā€ said Walla with a laugh.

48-Hour Shootout 2025 Results

First Place Open Division - TEAM ROCKET (OUAC - 51ĀŅĀ× Animation Club)

Team Captain: Katie Williams

Ellis Smith, Logan Porter, Lloyd Sweeney, Lauren Hines, Kate Anderson,  Dana Nichols, Emma Hews, Hope Sander, Parker McGowan, Ethan Lanz

Second Place Open Division - Team Pasta Cheese

Team Captain: Eliana D'Astici

Daniel Gorbett, Maximilliam Ries, Henry Pausch, Scarlett Fried, Gig Twachtman, Chase Strebel, Zoe Cranfill, Anna Schneider

Third Place TIE Open Division - Hocking Hawks (from Hocking College)

Team Captain: Liam Morgan

Gavyn Monk, Luke Duncan, Hunter Purcell, Ryan Wheeler, William Shope, Lukas Neville, Cole Semmens

Third Place TIE Open Division - Schoon Goons

Team Captain: Ethan Dorman

Evan Casteel, Will Miller, Chance Lane, Emma Anderson, Fitzhugh Lyons III, Ava Buell, Lila Alix, Connor Otte, AnnMarie Palombi, Ryan Humeniuk, Kyle Kerns, Ryan Thomas, Morgan Dilbone, Cameron Davey

Honorable Mention - Goofin' and Gaffin'

Team Captain: Lily Biggs

Cassidy Disantis, Will DeBlock, Conor Mallonn, Addie Knoll, Jacob Smith, Jack King, Cali Christian, Paige Kelly