If you happen upon a frazzled-looking group clutching film equipment this weekend, don't go assuming that Kevin Spacey's MIT blackjack movie has run into tough times. Instead, give local filmmakers a hand (or a triple shot of espresso), because the 48 Hour Film Project is likely pushing them to their creative edges.

Teams in 55 U.S. cities (and a few abroad) will be gathering early this evening to celebrate and prepare for two full days of moviemaking. Boston folks will meet at Lir Irish Pub & Restaurant (903 Boylston) at 5:30 tonight so that teams can draw from a hat the genres of their soon-to-be-created works.

See, that's the tricky thing about 48 Hour - in order to prevent folks from jumping the gun and filming early, teams don't learn until Friday night the genre they must be, and they also are given specific information that they must include in the work. Tricky, project heads, tricky! We like it.

As of 7 p.m., teams will have exactly 48 hours to get the project done - script, shooting, editing, the whole deal - and delivered back to the project organizers waiting at Lir. The completed films will be screened at Kendall Square Cinema on May 8, 9, 10, 15 and 16, with a "best of" screening set for Coolidge Corner in June.