The films

Essential Essence

48 Hour Film Project Des Moines July 28-30, 2023

Vibe. Dip. Rise.

A group of sales people test out a new product that provides an experience of unexpected highs and lows.
Premiering at The Varsity Theater in screening group A 
Closing film at Best of City screeningBest EditingAudience Award for screening group
Required Elements
Genre: Fish Out of WaterProp: A TrayDialogue: "I can't remember where or when"
Character: Jada or Jared Vanson, door-to-door sales person

Elf Off the Shelf

Yes We Cannes Global Film Challenge(48 Hour Film Project) December 2-4, 2022

Some families refuse to give up the magic of Christmas..


Tiny Explosions jumped at the opportunity to participate in a second stage 48 Hour Film Project competition before the end of 2022. 16 Films would be selected to screen at Filmapalooza and 9 selected to screen at Cannes. Total 72 films submitted so we had a 2-in-9 shot at Filmapalooza and a 1-in-8 shot at Cannes. This will be update when we know anything.

Screened online in YWC Screening Group 5
Required ElementsGenre: Fish Out of WaterProp: WalletDialogue: "What Does it Taste Like?"Character: Alex Seabra, Inventor

Murder Farm

48 Hour Film Project Des Moines HorrorOctober 7-9, 2022

A lot of people died here.

After a delay due to sickness, Murder went from not existed in any fashion to submitted film in less than 8 hours.
Debuted at Copper Creek Cinemas in screening group A Screened at Best of Horror Des MoinesBest Gore award winner
Required Elements
Genre: Supernatural HorrorProp: PumpkinDialogue: "Maybe you should wash that"
Character: Fran or Fred Mixter, Doctor

The Run

48 Hour Film Project Des Moines July 29-31, 2022

A stupid mistake leads to one man's journey into madness.


For the first time in our 11 year run at the Des Moines 48 Hour Film Project, Tiny Explosions took home the big prize. Our 2022 short "The Run," won "Best of Des Moines." That is the top prize. We were all in complete shock when our team name was revealed on the screen at the Best of City screening.. 

Screened at Best of CityBest of Des Moines award winnerBest use of Line award winner
Required ElementsGenre: Thriller/SuspenseProp: TV RemoteDialogue: "I forgot to mail it."Character: Casey Karver, Delivery Driver

The Special

48 Hour Film Project Des MoinesJuly 30-August 1, 2021

A diner having a slow day is thrown into chaos when two fugitives decide to stop in for lunch.

The annual tradition of 48 continues.
Programed to screen at:Wednesday, August 11 at DSM48HFP
Required Elements
Genre: Fish Out of WaterProp: Paper BagDialogue: "Do you have a package for me?"
Character: Tim or Tina Woods, Tour Guide

El Engaño!

48 Hour Film Project Des Moines September 25-27, 2020

An inventive, but misguided man ventures to travel back in time to prove everyone wrong.


Covid-19 pushed the ended up pushing back the normal 48HFP window to September. Trying to be safe we scaled down our cast, shot entirely outside, and worked together as little as possible. The end result was one of our best films. 

Screened at Best of CityBest Editing award winner.
Required ElementsGenre: Time TravelProp: A PencilDialogue: "She told me to tell you, she's leaving town."Character: Les or Lily Rostinger, Landscape Designer

Family Tree

Film Racing's 100 Hour ChallengeDecember 5-9, 2019

The holidays can be hard, marriage is harder.

Feeling the to keep creating, Tiny Explosions jumped into an online film challenge based out of Georgia and decided to make a horror film. Kind of wild to have three days of shooting time to work with. The results was our longest film and one of our best. 
Programed to screen at:Des Moines Underground Film FestivalInterrobang Film FestivalSnake Alley Film FestivalAlternating Currents - Best Local Film award

The challenge is similar to 48 except every film had to include:
Theme: Sacrifice
Prop: A Calendar
Action: Reading

Weekend #5: Citizen Wayne

May 22-24, 2020

Having skipped the fourth challenge, Tiny Explosions jumped back in with the fifth challenge; making a traditional 48 short with featuring the theme of "missing someone or something" as well as an original sound effect produced specifically for the challenge.

Weekend #3: Quarantrims

April 17-19, 2020

Tasked with making a 2-5 min film with a roll of the dice genre selection and a choice of themes, we made a short based on the covid-19 trend of cutting your own hair.

Weekend #2: Citizen Wayne

April 3-5, 2020

Instead of a film, teams were required to make a trailer based on the titles and premises from a list of classic feature films. Obviously we chose Citizen Kane and The Dark Knight.

Weekend #1: Black Hat Bingo

March 27-29, 2020

Teams were tasked with making a 2-7 minute short of any genre as long as everything was shot at home. The only requirement was the inclusion of two lines of dialogue provided in two lists: a classic feature film and a 48 classic line of dialogue.

red flag

48 Hour Film Project - Des MoinesJuly 19-21, 2020

Someone for Everyone.


It was bound to happen and in 2019, Tiny Explosions ran into it's first genre duplicate. Of course we couldn't do a straight romance, in fact we produced quite a radical spin on romance. The general idea, these people have been black listed from dating sites and have one last resort that is full of misfit lovers.
Debuted Wednesday, July 31st in Screening Group A.
Awards received: Audience Award Group AScreened at Best of City
Required ElementsCharacter: Rihanna Hilton, BookkeeperProp: water bottleLine of Dialogue: "Something isn't right"Genre: Romance

Palle Amorevoli

48 Hour Film Project - Des MoinesJuly 21-23, 2018

Love strikes a win on the lanes. 


*** ALL MUSIC streaming on this channel 
Tiny Explosions entry in the 2018 Des Moines 48 Hour Film Project. Debuted Thursday, August 2nd in Screening Group C. Awards received: Audience Award Group C Screened at Best of City
Required Elements Character: Michael D'Amato, Chef Prop: Headphones Line of Dialogue: "Why am I always Last?" Genre: Musical 

Palle Amorevoli – Soundtrack

Tiny Explosions received an added boost of talent in 2018 when multi-faceted musician Jordan Mayland offered up his skills to produce the score for Palle Amorevoli. All the music in the film was produced within the 48 Hour filmmaking window and recorded by Jordan. He worked his brain out his ear to make these songs happen and they are flipping awesome. An additional thank you goes out to Jill McLain for joining the team in 2018 and writing the lyrics for Jordan's tunes with the added help of Nate Carlson, Erin Hogan, Brian Hogan, Jon Hoffmann, and team leader Patrick Boberg. These songs are unquestionably awesome. Take a listen and please throw some love Jordan's way.

Snap Back

48 Hour Film Project - Des MoinesJuly 21-23, 2020

Four friends out for a joy ride get trapped on a mysterious road.


Tiny Explosions entry in the 2017 Des Moines 48 Hour Film Project. 
Screened at Best of City 2017
Required ElementsCharacter: Freddy or Fiona Brown, PoetProp: Rubber bandLine of Dialogue: "You heard what she said."Genre: Road Movie or Sci Fi

Almighty Haul

48 Hour Film Project - Des MoinesJuly 21-23, 2018

Two feuding criminals are caught off guard by a baptismal congregation.


Tiny Explosions entry in the 2016 Des Moines 48 Hour Film Project. 
Awards received:Best Film, Runner-UpBest Use of PropAudience Award Group A
Required ElementsCharacter: Tiffany Sporeka, Vice PresidentProp: Photo of MomLine of Dialogue: "I just can't believe it!"Genre: Fish Out of Water

Culling of Heirs

2015 Des Moines 48 Hr Film Project

Two Men and a Backpack

2014 Des Moines 48 Hr Film Project

Just a Few Tips

2013 Des Moines 48 Hr Film Project

Trigger Words

2012 Des Moines 48 Hr Film Project

Non-48 Hr Short Films

Lost Soulmates

2014

The Haircut

2013

Creat-Ur Own Fun!

2013

Game Night

(2012)

Desperate Times

(2012)

The Chase Begins

(2012)

Master of Puppets

(2012)
Sooooo, you noticed the ridiculous number dividers. That can mean only one thing... more TE.
Sooooo, you noticed the ridiculous number dividers. That can mean only one thing... more TE.
So here's the thing, there is one more Tiny Explosions short and it is not embedded on this page. Why, pray tell, has it not been posted here? Welllll... It's hilarious, but Pat dances over and behind the line of tastes that short kind of crosses. So if you're really looking to watch something that will make you do a spit take, but end with you going "WHY!?!?" Then you need watch, Balls.