SOMERVILLE, June 12, 2023 — Pilotgroove Pictures had another proud showing at the 20th Annual Boston 48 Hour Film Project Best of & Awards Show. The team made 5 trips to the podium, accepting awards for Audience Choice, Best Song, Best Script, Best Acting (Jay Chanoine) and, in an impressive field of over 70 films—2nd Runner-Up for Best Film.

You Make Me Wanna Rock! was the popular vote winner at the Group B screening, earning an Audience Choice Award for the 3rd time. Pilotgroove Pictures—winners previously for A Bloodless Crime (2014, NH) and An Explanation of Loneliness (2019)—was honored alongside the other screening group winners, Angel Slice (Tiny Punk Prod.), Special Delivey (Not Awful), Black Harvest (The Extremely Mature Adults) and Desmond Lewis Presents: The Rise and Fall of Zin (Extra Medium).

The title song, “A Box of Porn in the Woods” by HEELS won Best Song, edging out “There’s a Monkey in the House” (The Rise and Fall of Zin), “Mrs. G I have to Pee” (Reality Trip, G. Cole Productions), “What’s Going on Here” (Knock, Dark Mystery Prod.) and “Go to Mars” (Dibs on Mars, Friendly Filmmaker). It’s the first win in this category for Pilotgroove Pictures, nominated previously for “Wish” by The Whatnot.

Along with the laurels for Best Song, Memphis-based HEELS released the entire 8-minute extended cut of You Make Me Wanna Rock! as the official music video for “A Box of Porn in the Woods”. The video premiered on BlankTV and saw over 600 views in its first day of release.

The award for Best Script (presented by New England Screenwriters) was the 3rd-consecutive for Pilotgroove Pictures, and 4th in 7 years of competing in the Boston 48 Hour Film Project. In accepting the award, P.J. Huot acknowledged the contributions of the writer’s room, led this year by stand-up, Jay Chanoine who brought his personal brand of comedy to the diarrhetic dialogue of Alexander Greene.

Jay Chanoine‘s performance in the required role earned him the award for Best Acting. No stranger to the stage, but stepping into an acting role for the first time, he brought heart and humility to a character who could’ve been mere comic relief in lesser hands—a role Jay described by saying, “I won Best Acting for playing myself.” His was one of 4 acting awards handed out, the others going to Annie Cicero in Acceptance (Wax Idiotical) and the ensemble casts of Algorithm (Fred TV) and Amidst Ourselves (Hop Top Films)

Chanoine is the 2nd member of the Pilotgroove Pictures ensemble to win Best Acting. Ben Peirce won in 2017 for his portrayal of Lawrence Soto in Don Is the New Death. It should be noted that both roles were co-leads, opposite Aaron Compagna. The Pilotgroove mainstay announced he would be stepping back from 48HrFP roles, following this production. Aaron leaves a 7-film legacy at Pilotgroove Pictures and will be dearly missed by our cast, our crew and our audiences. Fans of his work can continue to watch him onstage in his many performances with the Hatbox Theater, Queen City Improv and beyond.

Out of 72 films in this year’s competition, 6 were nominated for Best Film, as announced in a Cameo by Jackie Beat and Boston Rob: Acceptance, Angel Slice, Becoming Whole (Obnots), Black Harvest, Last Supper (Medley of Fresh Vegetables) and You Make Me Wanna Rock! Of those, Pilotgroove took the Bronze Medal as 2nd runner up behind Wax Idiotical and the night’s big winner, The Extremely Mature Adults—whose winning film, Black Harvest was the first 48 Hour Film Project for director, Paul Odgren, who also won Best Directing.

This year marks the 3rd-consecutive Best Film nomination for Pilotgroove Pictures, following Get Your Hands Dirty in 2022 and 2021 winner, Life with the Dead.

As always, Pilotgroove Pictures would like to extend a hearty thanks to our cast and crew, to the judges and producers of the Boston 48 Hour Film Project, and to everyone who’s watched the film, live or online. YOU make me wanna rock!