In "one of the most adrenaline-fueled challenges I've ever been a part of," BFA acting major Lucy Turner '23 and 14 other Baldwin Wallace University students and alumni created a tense short film that earned 10 nominations in Cleveland's The 48-Hour Film Horror Project.
As
the
contest
name
implies,
the
project
was
completed
in
a
two-day
time
frame.
"At
the
beginning
of
the
competition,
each
team
is
given
required
elements:
a
prop
[a
calendar],
a
line
of
dialogue
[Do
you
trust
me?]
and
a
character
name
[Freddy
or
Frieda
Kreske],"
Turner
explains.
"From
there,
I
drew
our
genre
[Escape
Room]
out
of
a
hat."
Based
on
those
elements,
the
writing
team
cranked
out
a
five-page
script
for
"Boiling
Point,"
which
follows
a
group
of
strangers
who
have
been
trapped
in
a
room
together
as
the
temperature
rises.
As
the
room
and
the
story
heat
up,
"the
individuals
are
forced
to
come
to
terms
with
the
worst
thing
they've
ever
done."
The hardest part of bringing their vision to life was shooting and editing under the extreme deadline pressure. "We got our film in with SECONDS to spare," Turner recalls. "We were all on the edge of our seats until we got the confirmation our film had made it in on time, and then we celebrated!"
The
group
had
reason
to
celebrate
again
when
the
judges
chose
"Boiling
Point"
(among
17
competing
films)
for
10
award
nominations,
including
Best
Film
(3rd
place),
Best
Writing,
Best
Use
of
Prop
(winner),
Bloodiest
Film,
Best
Ensemble
Acting,
Best
Actress
and
Best
Villain
for
Ruah
Uhlman
'24,
Best
Actor
for
JT
Lee-Price
'25,
Best
Supporting
Actor
for
Adam
Bash
'23
and
Best
Supporting
actress
for
Turner.
"It
was
a
feat
just
getting
the
film
in
on
time,
so
learning
about
the
nominations
left
everyone
stunned,"
Turner
says.
"We
couldn't
believe
it."
In truth, Turner says the group of acting majors felt confident about their on-screen performances. "The most gratifying nomination has to be best film," Turner reflects. "To know that all of these elements came together to make a cohesive and intriguing product has to be the biggest accomplishment."
Crowned a top three film, "Boiling Point" now moves on to be screened at Cleveland Horror Fest next year. The group also took home a special award given by the producer of the festival: "Best Kill."
A horror film fan, Turner, who's been involved in acting since she was 8-years-old, jumped at the chance to put a team together when she saw Cleveland's 48-Hour project advertised, drawing on a circle of recent BW theatre grads and current classmates.
"I'm still incredibly grateful they all dropped what they were doing for the entire weekend to help me put bloody fingerprints on paper or hold a boom mic for 17 hours."
The experience also has helped broaden Turner's view of her future involvement in filmmaking.
"For the last couple years, I've imagined myself starting my own production company in the future. Luckily, the film festival came along, and I got to call myself a producer much earlier than I could have ever anticipated," Turner says, adding that Cleveland is full of opportunities for aspiring creators.
"As an actor, there is no such thing as consistent work. Shows end, and auditions don't fall into your lap. It's all about your work ethic," she notes. "It's up to you to find opportunities that will help you stand out in the future."
