Chris Elston, a filmmaker who grew up in Mill Creek, was the co-recipient of the audience favorite film award at the fourth annual 168-Hour Film Competition in Glendale, Calif. on March 11.
Elston’s short film, “The Diner,” is about the aftermath of a bus crash. In the film, three characters end up in The Diner, where their lives flash before their eyes. The film was developed as a parable, based on the Bible verse Romans 13:7.
The 168-Hour Film Project is a competition where all films are created simultaneously during one week or 168 hours. Filmmakers are assigned a theme and a Bible verse for the basis of their film. Verse integration accounts for the bulk of the overall score. The competition included 50 films, including submissions from Italy and Kenya.
Two of Elston’s cast members, Ida Rhem and Sophie Olson, were nominated for awards. Rhem won best supporting actress for her role as Christa, while Olson was nominated for best actress for her role as Jane. The festival was judged by Hollywood executives.
“We won the first award and the last award of the competition,” said Elston, who co-wrote and directed the film. “It means more to us to know that the audience connected with our film. After all, as a filmmaker, that’s really what matters.”
Elston is a graduate of King’s High School. His career began in college with the lead role in the play “Doors” for the 1995 Drama Showcase. He returned to the Drama Showcase the following year with a one-act play he wrote, produced and directed called “The Art of Love” and won the best in show award. His college experience also included involvement in video and radio work, including producing, directing, writing and hosting various radio and television programs.
Since then, Elston has written 19 feature film and television screenplays and has been invited to participate in screenwriting events for festivals in Seattle and Los Angeles. His short films have played at festivals all over the country, including New York and Los Angeles, and on cable television in 166 countries.
Elston has spent the last year and a half working as a writer, director, actor, editor, and producer on various film and television projects in Los Angeles involving networks such as Lifetime, Wealth TV, and Fox Sports Net.
His partnership with Sue Doc Ross, who produced “The Diner,” has lead to the development of Elston Ross, a production company with several feature and short films in development. Already packaged as a Bible study, the film “The Diner” is available at www.elstonross.com.
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