Making a film by yourself can seem daunting, considering most popular films are presented on the big screen with multiple characters and big budgets to match, which can often discourage aspiring filmmakers who are wanting to create their own stories. However, in the documentary The Making Of Paxford, Hunter Boydell explains his approach to creating a film completely alone.

Paxford is a short film that follows one character, played by Hunter, with one outfit, a few lines of dialogue, and Hunter’s local area as the location. Shot by one man and one camera, Paxford was created during an isolating time in all of our lives, and Hunter took the opportunity to reflect those feelings onto the character of Paxford, creating an independent film about a man experiencing isolation, as an entirely solo project.

Which raises the question – can you make a film completely by yourself? 

When asking this question, it is important to acknowledge the advantages of independent films. As an independent filmmaker, you will have full creative control over the story, away from any influence that may alter your vision. While blockbusters have the budget and the crew for support, those who are creating a film independently can be more hands-on with their work. In The Making of Paxford, we see how Hunter had creative freedom to portray the character in the way he wanted to. 

Another reason why making a film alone is a good move is the learning experience you get from it. Ultimately, one of the best ways to learn the entire process of filmmaking is to create a film by yourself. Hunter makes it clear that he did not attend film school or have any formal training, and therefore his experience has come from hands-on work, allowing him to transform creative ideas into a film that is now shared internationally. 

In the documentary, Hunter is open about the lack of budget and physical support he had while making Paxford. However, the evidence of the completed film is a good enough reason to encourage anyone who wants to get into filmmaking to create their own stories!

As an aspiring filmmaker who is questioning how to make a film with no budget, the motivation of how best to utilize the objects and location around you should be the focus. Hunter used his own clothes, shaved his head to match the picture of the character of Paxford he had created, and used the location around him to transform his surroundings into a short film.

Creating a film by yourself is not always easy for the filmmaker. In the documentary, Hunter highlights his feelings during early stages of production, often being self-critical and feeling unsure if he is doing well. This is one of the disadvantages of creating a film alone, as the responsibility to ensure the film meets the standard you have created in your head lies solely with you, and there is no team around you to support and share the workload. Hunter acknowledged his struggle with motivation when creating a film alone, noting that one thing he discovered about himself while making Paxford was how hard it can be to push yourself with no team to support you. 

While creating a film by yourself limits your access to certain elements – special effects, multiple characters, dialogue – the limitations can often be used to your creative advantage. For Hunter Boydell, creating a film around themes of isolation, the choice to work entirely alone seems especially fitting.

As the creator, it is important to be realistic with your expectations of the responsibilities you can take on while creating your own film. However, as The Making of Paxford shows, it is entirely possible for a film to be created alone – as long as you have the passion and a great story to support you!

Chloe McGill

See the full documentary, The Making of Paxford, plus the original short film, Paxford (2022) – Available now, only at breakingjar.com/paxford