HERE IS HOW THE WEEKLY VOLCANO SEES THE FILMMAKING CONTEST GOING DOWN NEXT MONTH >>>

It's 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, and sitting scattered in The Grand Cinema's theater seats are amateur filmmakers representing 30 teams - all listening to the rules of The Grand's 72 Hour Film Festival.

"We're going to win it," Tacoma artist Teddy Haggerty yells - thinking Alec Baldwin is going to burst into the theater any second. "We're going to kill it."

The competition Haggerty expects to "kill" - the Grand's annual 72 Hour Film Festival - has drawn the aforementioned filmmaking production teams to Tacoma to produce a short film from April 29-May 2. The rules are simple: each team has 72 hours to write, shoot and edit one 5-minute film. Each team is required to turn in their finished product by 7 p.m. May 2, and all films must include a few components, like a specific situation, prop, action and line of dialogue or location. The Grand mixes it up each year, so each team will not know the specific requirements until April 29.

Once the competition is completed, a panel of judges will select the best overall film, best use of prop, best line of dialogue and best use of required action - among many other categories — at the fetsival's screening May 7 at the Rialto Theater. The coveted Audience Award will also be bestowed upon a team of lucky 72-hour filmmakers.

Only a few minutes before hearing the criteria, Haggerty and his team are unfazed by the uncertainty of what lies ahead.

"Give me the makings for a silent horror taco truck vendor story," Haggerty jokes. "I don't care."

Thursday, April 29, 7 p.m.

"I can't stand the suspense," Haggerty says, running up the theater aisle slapping each seat like he's Wolverine. "I'm so freaking excited."

The 30 teams anxiously wait to hear this year's 72 Hour Film Festival criteria.

Then, out of nowhere, The Grand's Executive Director Philip Cowan is front and center holding a scroll. 

Cowan wastes no time. He lets the scroll unravel to the floor, looks left ... looks right ... then flatly says:

"Required prop: Noxzema shaving cream; required action: speaking even when told not to by Gwen Stefani; required situation: dynamite blows up rock, scissors cut fuse; required dialogue: ‘Flash me in such an oblique way that I can still post the pics on Facebook!'"

He pauses.

"Now go."

Such specifics from Cowan garner groans from most of the crowd.

Initially, the four requirements don't sound like a good fit for Haggerty and his crew, who don't know who Stefani is, and don't have much use for shaving cream. Plus, "They don't want unicorns, which really kills all my creative juices," Haggerty adds, seeming momentarily dejected before catching his second creative wind.

"Now we take this and turn it into the winning short film," he says, walking out of the theater.

Thursday, April 29, 7:30 p.m.

All 10 members of Haggertonians gather in the freezing Old City Hall tower. The space serves as the team's home for an intense brainstorming session.

Chairs are quickly arranged in a square, and ideas immediately shoot across the space.

Haggerty spits out the first idea. As is his style, it involves unicorns, which the Stefani chick can ride. But other team members have doubts.

To be continued... (Maybe)

Get your 72 Hour Film Festival tickets

The Grand Cinema with host the 2010 72 Hour Film Festival screening Friday, May 7 at the Rialto in downtown Tacoma. 

Everyone is invited to enjoy this collaboration of 30 films written, directed and produced by local filmmakers. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the films will begin at 7. Tickets are available for $13 general admission or $11 for Grand Cinema members. You can purchase tickets by stopping by the Grand Cinema, or by visiting The Grand's Web site. Tickets will be available at the Rialto Theater's ticket office May 7 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Day of event ticket prices will be $15 GA, $13 members.