The 48 Hour Film Project, the world's largest timed filmmaking competition, is bringing its eco-minded kindred spirit, 48 Go Green, to Houston. The project kicks off Friday and grants participants a mere two days to create an inspired movie embedded with environmental ideals.
The open-call project will draw a mix of local seasoned environmental activists and novice and professional filmmakers to the SWAMP (Southwest Alternate Media Project) headquarters on Friday, at which point the 13 registered teams will be assigned specific cinematic elements and a topic, such as drinkable water, the forest, the next generation and the sea and energy, that must be integrated into a four to six minute film. They'll then scramble to write, shoot and edit their eco-themed film.
"One of the things 48 in general does is support a local filmmaking community and encourage that community to grow," Laura Schlecht, Houston producer of The 48 Hour Film Project, tells CultureMap. "It's just to get out there and do something," she says. "That's kind of the sentiment behind all of this."
"The Go Green version of 48 Hour Film Project started in Washington D.C.," Schlecht says. "Since then, it's just blossomed across the U.S."
Beyond Houston and the nation's capital, 48 Go Green festivals have sprouted in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Portland and Boston.
The contest's winner will be showcased in the Short Film Corner of the Cannes International Film Festival. Cash prizes include $5,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place. Local eco-minded cinephiles can get a piece of the action at two premiere screenings ( 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.) on Wednesday night at Talento Bilingüe de Houston.
Legendary rockers Styx and Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon, will team up to co-headline the “Brotherhood of Rock” tour in 2025, which will include a stop at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands on Friday, June 6.
The large, 40-city tour will take place over three months, starting in Greenville, South Carolina on May 28, and wrapping up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 24.
In addition to Houston, the tour will go to Austin on June 4 and Dallas on August 1. It will include special guest Don Felder, former lead guitarist for the Eagles, at all dates.
Fans can expect some of the greatest rock anthems of all time, including “Renegade,” “Keep On Loving You,” “Come Sail Away,” “Can't Fight This Feeling,” and “Hotel California.”
Styx and Cronin (as part of REO Speedwagon) first toured together in 2000 and in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, coming together to form the Rock to the Rescue 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. This will mark their sixth time joining forces on the road.
2022 was the 50th anniversary of Styx's self-titled debut album, but they have yet to slow down. The band released their 17th album, Crash of the Crown, in 2021. Of course, not everyone is a fan, as this classic clip from The Simpsons illustrates.
REO Speedwagon's recording days appear to be done, with their last album coming out in 2009, but the main group of five has been together since 1989. On this tour, Cronin will be joined by REO's lead guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt.
General tickets for the tour will go on sale starting on Friday, December 13 at 10 am at LiveNation.com.
Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets in the U.S. beginning on December 9 at 10 am through the Citi Entertainment program.
Styx and Kevin Cronin will be offering VIP packages via their own exclusive pre-sales beginning on Tuesday, December 10 at 10 am, as well as at LiveNation.com.
