Top 3 at the La Crosse 48 Hour Film Fest. Here's How We Got There.
This year, BS Creative hosted team "Even Us" for the La Crosse Film Academy's 2026 48 Hour Film Fest and we placed Top 3 both in our category and Audience Choice.
Here's what made the difference.
A Hard Deadline Exposes Everything
A 48 Hour Film Project doesn't give you time to second-guess yourself.
You get a few required elements and then suddenly you're writing, producing, directing, shooting, editing, scoring, exporting, troubleshooting, and keeping your team alive on snacks and caffeine. All before the clock runs out.
A short deadline exposes your process fast. You find out how your team communicates, whether your workflow actually holds up, how well you adapt under pressure, and if you planned for reality or just optimism.
That's true in commercial production too. It's just that in 48 hours, you find out immediately.
Last Year We Survived, This Year We Operated
Last year we made it to the finish line.
This year we actually functioned like a team and the film showed it.
The difference wasn't gear. It wasn't budget. It was fewer decisions during production.
In a compressed timeline, every unnecessary decision is expensive. An extra location? Expensive. An unclear role? Expensive. A complicated media workflow? Very expensive. A lot of creative work fails not because of bad ideas, but because teams burn energy solving preventable problems instead of focusing on the story.
So this year, we simplified.
We leaned into people’s strengths
Instead of fighting over roles or trying to make everyone do everything, we trusted people to own what they were best at. That alone made the entire production smoother.
We reduced locations
Last year we bounced between 6+ locations. This year we kept it to 3. Less driving. Less setup. Less chaos. More time for performance, lighting, and post production.
We built more time into editing
This was probably the biggest improvement. Last year we gave ourselves around 10 hours for post. This year we aimed for closer to 18. That extra breathing room completely changed the final film. The pacing got better. The sound got cleaner. The story had room to actually land.
We simplified audio
We ran sound directly into camera. Is that always the “perfect” setup? No. Is syncing audio during a 48 hour deadline fun? Also no. Sometimes the best production decision is the one that protects your team’s energy.
What We Made
Our film centered around grief, relationships, and the stories people tell themselves just to get through the day.
It wasn't perfect. It wasn't massive. But it was intentional. In a 48-hour environment, that's the difference between something that lands and something that just finishes.
“The whole image feels like it was painted with tea on watercolor paper. Very touching. I really loved it!”
Why the 48 Hour Fest Matters to Us
“Most of my year is spent directing docu-style commercial and brand storytelling work. The 48 Hour Film Fest is different. It's a chance to experiment with narrative structure, visual language, pacing, and performance in a way that commercial work doesn't always allow. It's also one of the few times I get to collaborate with a crew made up of friends, local creatives, and people who genuinely just love making things.” – Sara Sampey
“It was fun and exhausting, but the best part is getting to stretch creative muscles you don’t normally get to. This year I wrote two original tracks and worked on the sound design. I always feel the pressure to write good music. It becomes even more challenging to do it in just hours. Writing was a fun and collaborative effort between our producers and editors to really nail the vibe and I think we did a great job!” – Brett Verlennich
That energy matters. Especially in a smaller Midwest creative market like La Crosse.
There's a misconception that strong creative work only happens in major cities. But some of the most resourceful crews we've worked with are right here in Wisconsin and Minnesota. People who know how to problem-solve, adapt quickly, and make something work with limited time and budget. That's a real skill set and it shows up in the work.
Final Takeaway
Whether it’s a brand film, documentary-style campaign, testimonial, or narrative short, the productions that succeed usually are the ones with a clear story, a calm team, and a process built to support both.
The 48 Hour Film Fest is just that lesson at maximum speed.
And yes, a ridiculous amount of snacks helps too.
Team “Even Us” — 2026 La Crosse Film Academy 48 Hour Film Fest
Director + Producer: Sara Sampey
DP + Editor: Austin Lysaker
1st AC: Andy O'Connell
Assistant Editor + Graphics: Joseph Jacobchick
Original Music + Mixing: Brett Verlennich
Screenplay + Lead Actor: Mike Westberry
2nd Actor + Muscles: Riley Hahn
Cameo: Christian Sveen
Production Assistants: Everyone, team effort!
Hosted out of the BS Creative studio in La Crosse, Wisconsin.