How to Make a Short Film with JUST ONE PERSON

How to Make a Short Film With One Person (or One Person and a Camera)

So, is there a secret to making a short film with only one person? Probably. Like most things, it depends on a lot of factors: budget, setting, actors, and even the complexity of a plot.

I’ve made a number of short films with only one person, but I’d never actually thought about how to make a short film with one person - I mean, I’ve seen plenty of books and other writings about it, but I’d never actually taken the time to write a short film with one person before. And now here I am, trying to write it for the first time!

So, instead of a long guide to how I made a short film with one person, I want to talk a little bit about how this could work.

In general, I think the idea of a one-person production, especially for a nonlinear narrative, is fun, exciting, and empowering to the person doing it.

It is an empowering exercise

If one person controls every aspect of a film, such as casting, camera, music, editing, and writing, then the person directing can feel like their vision is not only validated, but they can easily prove that they are capable of all these different activities.

Everyone involved feels like they are helping to create something that isn’t in fact a collage of different people’s individual talents, and everyone is focusing their energies on a single purpose - not only to tell the story and make it as good as it can be but to help the person directing figure out how to make a movie themselves.

If everyone is focusing on a single purpose and the person directing feels like they can be the core creative person in the film, then the person directing isn’t so much fighting for control - they feel they are just working on making a good movie, with the benefit of helping to direct, shoot, and edit their own film.

And the person directing can feel, in fact, like a participant - not a control freak trying to be the driving force behind the film but a person who feels like they are a part of creating something bigger than themselves, a community, and a collective art piece.

Direction is key with only one person

As the person directing, I can even get more creative and experiment with things I wouldn’t have been able to do on a larger scale.

The very act of saying no to certain people and projects and situations is what makes the production “creative”: I get to say “I do not want to do this project” and then I get to go do something else.

In a film with one person, I get to make creative choices. That’s what an interesting film is all about.

A one-person film can have its limitations

But on the flip side of this coin, though, is how limiting a one-person production can be. In this case, the director is the most important person in the film, and every decision that is made must be made by them.

If the director doesn’t want to work with a particular person, or if they don’t get along, then there’s no one else to do those parts. Even if they can work together, they may not be able to make a project together, as one person can’t share the input of others.

It’s just the director, directing, and then having to answer to the studio.

In a larger film, of course, different people can help to direct.

In a more traditional narrative movie, the director will have to focus on the narrative and stick to it, but in a one-person movie, the narrative may drive the film.

A director might find a way to make a film where the directing wasn’t as important to the actual story as to the creative aspect.

Narrative is the most important factor to creating a lasting film

But in a one-person film, the narrative has to be 100% the driver of the film, if it is to have any meaning and depth to the narrative.

In general, I think the idea of a one-person production is interesting to me because it is both interesting to watch and fun to work on.

But if a director wants to attempt a one-person film, they have to take it seriously. They must prepare themselves for a six-month to one-year production schedule, even if they only want to make the film for a couple of months and release it in some intimate environment.

Or a director must take the time to learn how to make a film, and then prepare themselves for that commitment of time.

Keep trying if you fail

It’s like a marathon - you have to put your time into preparing and you have to commit yourself, not only in making a film but to producing and promoting.

Just like any other thing you want to achieve in life, it is important to keep pushing and not give up. Thus, when things get a little difficult, it is essential to seek help from your friends and family.

These people are sure to be supportive of your endeavors and will be with you every step of the way.

Aside from this, always make sure to expand your knowledge further in order to boost your skills. Take classes to enhance what you already have.

This will help you become even more successful.