How Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, and a Dream Team Made Movie Magic in 48 Hours
They say you can’t rush art — but in Reno, we make art in under two days, fueled by spaghetti, garlic bread, and a whole lotta heart.
The cast and crew of Reno’s 2025 48 Hour Film Project – powered by spaghetti, bonded by story, and fueled by laughter.
🍿 Watch the Film
🎥 Now streaming: Watch our official 48HFP short film here.
🎨 Official Poster
🍽️ A Taste of Home: The Story That Brought Us Together
This year’s 48 Hour Film Project challenge dropped the perfect combo of chaos:
🎭 Genre: Food Film
📝 Character: Josh, a conflict mediator
📦 Prop: A paper airplane
🗣️ Line: “How’s it hanging?”
Instead of chasing comedy or horror, our team leaned into something real — a story about family, memory, and the kind of love you can taste in every bite.
“It’s about trying. Trying to be seen. Trying to show up. Trying to make the dish just right.” – Ben Stone
The film followed a young man grieving the loss of his mother, as his new stepmom tried — maybe too hard — to recreate her signature spaghetti dinner. What could’ve been a meal became a metaphor. And that’s where the real magic happened.
⚡ Snapshots from the Storm: 48 Hours in Reno Style
From the Friday night genre reveal to the final upload on Sunday, this shoot was peak Reno:
Quick. Gritty. Hilarious. Beautiful.
📍 The house in Carson City transformed into a family kitchen.
🌤️ The weather shifted, but layers and hoodies kept spirits warm.
🎬 The cast brought the heat — even in freezing temps.
“This was the smoothest 48 I’ve ever done.” – Ivey Smith
“We’re not here to outshine anyone. We’re here to show up, have more fun, and work like a family.” – Ivey Smith
And yep — someone remembered the garlic bread.
🎶 The Soundtrack of Emotion: Music Made from Scratch
Ben Stone, Daniel Kather, and the audio crew didn’t just “find” the soundtrack — they built it. Every beat, every underscore, every rise and fall of emotion was composed from scratch over the weekend.
“The music is 100% original. Composed in real time.” – Daniel Kather
It gave the film its heartbeat — a delicate score that hit just right when the spaghetti hit the table and the emotions hit the screen.
💬 BTS Gold: What Happens in the Group Chat…
What would a 48 be without a chat thread full of jokes, typos, costume debates, and duck-shark metaphors?
“Do not question the viciousness of ducks.” – Courtney
“Phones silent during takes, but BTS chaos is encouraged.” – Ivey
Every message — from dolly-track dilemmas to wardrobe wins — reminded us why this community works. It’s messy, fast, supportive, and powered by creativity.
🏁 Final Frame: Uploads, High-Fives, and Proud Smiles
By Sunday, the film was edited, scored, color-corrected, and uploaded on time. The feedback? Overwhelmingly proud.
“The footage looks amazing — and it’s not even color corrected yet.” – Ivey
“Y’all did amazing. The cast crushed it. The story hit home.” – Jessica
It wasn’t about perfection. It was about presence. Everyone brought their A-game — from the cast around the table to the crew behind the lens.
🧄 The Garlic Bread Truth
In the end, it was never just about the food. It was about what the food stood for.
Spaghetti and garlic bread weren’t props — they were storytelling tools. They were memory, love, tension, connection — all in one bite.
And isn’t that what great films are made of?
📸 Relive the experience — Check out the Behind-the-Scenes Google Drive Folder
🎬 #NotAlone_MouseCrew | #Reno48 | #MalevolentMouseProductions
