WATCH: Meet the Hepburns! Inverness family scoops top movie prize and USA big screen showcase after 48 hour film challenge
A family of aspiring film-makers from Inverness will have their witty work showcased on the silver screen in the USA after triumphing in a movie contest.
The Hepburns, from central Inverness and otherwise known as Hepflicks, produced the hilarious short comedy film ‘Hoops’ for the first 48 Hour Film Project to be held in the Highlands.
They are mum and dad Kim Richmond and Neil, son Robin (10) and daughter Romy (8), who were joined by Neil’s mum Jenny Hepburn and, at the 11th hour, neighbour and acting novice Kevin Gillespie.
Filmed in and around the city, and brought together from scratch over last weekend, the work stars the family’s two young children as competitive hula-hoopers battling it out for the world record.
Their film will be shown at Filmapalooza, the International 48 Hour Film Festival in Seattle, Washington State, in March next year, where it will represent Inverness and the Highlands on the global stage.
As part of their prize, the Hepburns have won funds for one person to attend.
Young Robin, who attends drama classes at Eden Court with sister Romy, said: “It has been great fun making a film this weekend and slightly overwhelming winning! It was a great weekend, a challenging but fun experience.
“I felt so nervous when we were exporting the film on Sunday night but we managed to get it in on time. When we got our genres on friday, which were mockumentary and revenge, I knew we could make a great film and it looks like we did!"
The 48 Hour Film Project began in Washington DC in 2001 and every year attracts more than 50,000 filmmakers in over 100 cities. More than 70,000 films have been made for it in that time.
Dad Neil, who co-directed the film with friend of 20 years Jonathan Ley, explained just how much went into the movie, with so little time.
He said: “Robin and I registered to be in the film for a fun summer weekend challenge and we drafted in my friend Jonathan, who I've made films with before and is an outstanding editor.
“We were a two person crew, co-directing and doing everything ourselves, with a fantastic cast of family and friends who gave it their all.
“Kevin Gillespie, my neighbour, hadn't acted before. I visited him at midnight on Friday and persuaded him to be in the film before the shoot started on Saturday. He's also obsessed with synths and scored the film very quickly over the weekend, between takes, and dealing with his three young kids. What a guy!
“My mum Jenny Hepburn was drafted at the last minute, handed a hi-vis and made to stand in a field for three hours and act as an adjudicator. She didn't complain once.
“I didn't know my wife Kim could act but she hit the ground and was hilarious - and terrifying - in her role as fierce trainer.
“Making a film in 48 hours and directing your family might seem like a sure fire way to ruin your weekend, but everyone really stepped up for it and we had such an adventure.
“Being in an intense, creative headspace pulled us out of our daily routines. It was hard work but we all felt enlivened by the whole process".
The extras who appear as the fans at the end of the film are the MacDonald family - Flynn (11), Alison and Ian, who also answered a last minute call to take part.
The Inverness judging panel included Steven Canny, executive producer at BBC Studios Comedy and producer of Two Doors Down, Still Game and Short Stuff.
He was joined by Fi Milligan-Rennie, head of education for Screen Scotland, Murdo MacSween, who runs Gaelic short-film festival FilmG, and Carolynne Sinclair Kidd, producer at Hopscotch Films.
The judges awarded the Hepburns’ Hoops movie the top prize, finding it to be “a witty and charming commentary on competition culture”.
In all, 20 teams participated, filming all over the Highlands and Islands last weekend.
Although Hoops swept up top prizes for Writing, Directing and Best Film, there were many other acclaimed winners.
Isobella Hubbard won best acting for her performance in thriller ‘See Me’ which she also wrote and directed with Róise Nic an Bheatha.
Composer Alistair J. Brown won Best Original Musical Score for his stunning soundtrack to ‘eighty-six’, a teen drama set in the 1980s.
This heartwarming film also won the Alba Award for outstanding cinematography of the Scottish Highlands.
There was even an award for Best Use of Genre, won by another family team, the Ross family, who made ‘Rebrand’ about a retired superhero who seeks inspiration from a social media influencer.
Teams turned up last Friday and each drew two genres from a hat, choosing to incorporate one or both genres in their films.
Then a character, prop and line of dialogue were announced that had to be included in each film - character: Lee Crompton; prop: a rock; and line: "Pretty please."
Depute Provost of Inverness Jackie Hendry attended, saying, "It is a real treat that it is being held in Inverness."
Teams wrote their films on Friday night, shot them on Saturday, edited them on Sunday and handed them in on Sunday night.
It was the first time in the history of the event in Scotland that all teams handed theirs in on time.
All of the winning films can be watched online here and the “most thoughtful comment” left by August 1 will win the Talk of the Town award.
The 48 Hour Film Project is Scotland's largest filmmaking event, with over 100 films made and screened each year. It is supported by Screen Scotland.
