There’s no denying that one of the cornerstones of independent micro-budget production is single-location filmmaking.
It’s a virtual rite of passage for a first-time feature filmmaker.
Limiting your build to one (or maybe two) primary locations has long been one of the best ways to save time and money on DIY builds.
That’s why it’s often recommended as a model for your first feature film. The benefits are so obvious…
Working from a single location simplifies production in every aspect. You’ll need less time, avoid company relocation, and significantly reduce logistics costs.
Not to mention, if you’re shooting in your own home (or a location you have access to), you have unlimited preparation time. Allowing you to better stage sets, rehearse with actors, and rewrite to match scenes.
All of this allows actors to spend more time, less time dealing with logistical nightmares, and more time focusing on the craft itself.
Despite the obvious advantages, single-location filmmaking also presents some significant challenges and potential pitfalls.
I dive into some of these issues this podcastbut in a nutshell, here’s a quick summary:
Issue #1 – Maintain visual interest
No matter how great your shooting location is, if you don’t pay attention to your style, your audience will experience fatigue.
You can solve most of these problems at the script level, first make sure you write the script to maximize every corner of the location.
Shoot in every room, every space, every nook and cranny you can. Diversifying your background/setting can make a huge difference.
It’s also a good practice to set up scenes at different times of day to create more dynamic lighting opportunities.
The lighting for a sunrise scene is very different from the lighting for a midnight scene, even though they are in the same room. This small tweak at the script level can create major contrasts from scene to scene.
Once on location, you’ll need to get creative with camera placement, framing, and other visual elements
I recently wrote an article about Unique coverage poor thingwhich is a good reference point. That film used very different lenses in each scene, switching between fisheye and long shots and back again. It keeps your eyes glued to the screen.
Whatever visual style you choose, make it unique. There’s no reason two scenes shot in the same room have to be covered the same way.
Problem #2 – The stakes aren’t high enough
Many of the best single location films are primitive in nature. The stories they tell are about life and death—or at least they are for the characters and the audience.
Ryan Reynolds movies bury Possibly the most limited film I’ve ever seen, at least in terms of scope of locations. The entire movie takes place in a coffin underground, where the main character is buried alive.
The raw nature and naturally high stakes of this story make it captivating.
For this reason, certain genres tend to lend themselves well to single-location filmmaking. Horror films in particular are an obvious choice (especially the “monster in the house” subgenre).
That said, you can make any type of incredible single location/high stakes movie. Drama, comedy, romance, anything is possible. Some types just have more primitive elements than others.
Question #3 – Dialogue
The success or failure of nearly every location film depends on the quality of its dialogue.
It goes without saying that you should always challenge yourself to write the most compelling, nuanced subtextual dialogue possible. Regardless of the production scope.
But in a micro-budget, single-location film, dialogue plays a more important role than usual. With so much removed, it is the ultimate focus for the viewer.
But nailing a conversation depends on more than just what you put on paper. This is equally (perhaps more) important for the actors you choose.
There is no greater gift than a great performance. But it’s a one-two punch – you need a great script to attract great actors, and you need great actors to elevate your material.
So write scenes that excite both the actors and the audience. Don’t be afraid to push your performance into uncharted territory.
Ultimately, for most of the movie, the audience sees two (maybe three) actors talking in a room. This is what you are faced with. There’s no better remedy than a strong cast and a solid script.
All of these elements combined will ensure that your single location film is exciting and unlike anything that has come before.
I discuss all of the above in more depth on my podcast Chapter 226.
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