Students compete in 48 Hour Film Project

Students representing Greenlee’s Screenwriting Club and Iowa State’s Filmmaking Club had a spooky good time last month when they competed in the annual 48 Hour Film Project, which tasked them to conceive, write, shoot and edit a short film over the course of two days. The global event takes place in some 100 cities throughout the year and includes Des Moines, the local home base for this edition’s horror competition.

The Screenwriting Club, which meets weekly in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication’s Hamilton Hall, produced and shot a 7-minute comedic horror titled “Lober’s Ghost.” The flick centers on a pair of cursed basketball shoes — once owned by legendary track coach Lefty Lober — that brings misfortune into the lives of those who wear them. Luciano Vitelli, a junior industrial design major, directed and co-wrote the project that was shot in Ames the weekend of October 3-5.

“It was a very amazing experience that actually enhanced the process of filmmaking with how quickly you have to think on your feet to account for setbacks and make sure everything can be done with the time given,” Vitelli said. “It was really the restraints that made the group think more creatively.”

Tony Moton, an assistant teaching professor of journalism at the Greenlee School, recruited Vitelli and the Filmmaking Club to collaborate with him and enter the competition. Moton, the producer and co-writer of “Lober’s Ghost,” said he first met Vitelli at a Screenwriting Club meeting a year ago and thought of him when the 48 Hour Film Project rolled around in 2025. 

“I had seen some of Luciano’s horror films and knew he would be great to work with,” said Moton, who advises the Screenwriting Club. “There is no greater joy for me than working with the many talented students here at Iowa State.”

“Lober’s Ghost” was one of about two dozen horror shorts representing the Des Moines area that premiered October 13-14 in screenings at the Fleur Cinema and Cafe. Teams in the 2025 competition each had to make horror films containing some required elements, including a character named “Coach Lefty Lober,” a key as a prop and the line, “How was I supposed to know?”

“I really didn’t have a set plan going into this, which I feel makes it more fun,” Vitelli said. “Things are more chaotic, which makes it all the more interesting to see what we’ll be able to do.”

The 48 Hour Film Project started in Washington, D.C., in 2001 and has involved more than 50,000 filmmakers and 70,000 films during its 25-year existence, according to the event’s website. Amateur and professional filmmakers in some 200 cities and 45 countries have gone up against each other over the years. The film judged the best in each city screens at an annual international film festival called “Filmapalooza.”

“I think the memories of making our film in two days are going to last a very long time,” said Moton, an award-winning screenwriter who graduated from UCLA’s master’s program of screenwriting. “I hope this inspires students to task creative risks and do things artistically out of their comfort zones.”

The crew for “Lober’s Ghost” included 2025 Greenlee School graduate Liam Brennan, a Des Moines-based videographer who served as the film’s editor, cinematographer and camera operator. Other crew members were Iowa State students Abby Todhunter, senior in advertising, (co-director/1st assistant director); Logan Baarda, junior in mechanical engineering, (prop master/practical effects); Sam Bredensteiner, senior in industrial design, (boom operator); Elle Carlson, freshman in art, (cast); Riley Story, freshman in political science, (cast); Charlie Fischer, freshman in computer science, (cast); Emma Boldy, junior in art, (cast); Katherine Watkins, senior in genetics, (makeup artist); and Luke Ficek, freshman in pre-architecture (composer).

When asked about what made the 48-hour process scary, Vitelli said, “The scariest part for me was whether or not the other members of the team would enjoy themselves. It made me happy to hear that everyone had a good time. Everybody’s roles were crucial to the end result, and I’m glad that we all had a fun time making this film.”