How to write a 1 actor short ?

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

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I've written a few shorts, and a feature, but I would like to try indie filmmaking on a very low stress level to start out, and for me that means coming up with a story requiring only one actor, an a simple location (interior apartment or house, or outdoors at the beach, cliff, woods, park, etc). This seems like a particular challenge, but I could sure use some ideas on how to come up with such a story. I saw such a film at a local very small film festival for <5min long shorts in my city earlier this year. I would love to write a simple one person short short (1-5 minutes) and actually try filming it to enter that contest Feb 2009. Any help greatly appreciated.
~Randall
 
Well, one actor would likely mean nobody to talk to, so you’ll need a storyline which could be carried entirely by visuals, not dialogue.

Here’s one of the greatest examples in movie history:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNASSON_JMU

If you decide to pick up an already written script instead of writing one yourself, check this out: http://www.moviepoet.com/results.aspx

At the top of the page, select the contest “One is the loneliest number”; all the scripts listed there were written to meet that challenge’s rules: only one actor allowed.
 
Good point. Could use voice-over narration though, right? Like the actor talking/thinking to her/himself? I also see that the actor must interact with himself or something. In the example pixar movie you gave a link to, the actor interacts with himself. In a short film I saw last winter at a film festival (Potato Man) the actor went and got a potato out of the refrigerator, sat and ate it; all while "talking" as voice-over narration about his thoughts and philosophy on life.

Matias Caruso said:
Well, one actor would likely mean nobody to talk to, so you’ll need a storyline which could be carried entirely by visuals, not dialogue.
Click to expand...

 
I did a 1-actor short that was full of dialogue. Treat it like a monologue but the person he's talking too is off screen and can't or doesn't speak back...or...well, you can check it out "True Love, Spaghetti and Wine" in the link on my signature here.

That or I was going to say V.O. like in memento's scenes in the hotel room would work.
 
Anything can be done

Talk Radio has some great monologues.

Consider ideas from films that may not have one actor, but that may have scenes with actor in that scene doing something of substance

21 Grams

Sean Penn in the bathroom sneaking a smokey treat.

Pulp Fiction

Bruce Willis in his apartment; granted Travolta is in bathroom :P

Rear Window

One guy in apartment 'watching what's outside'. You could get real creative just filming from a certain location

Taxi Driver

A ton of the film is all De Niro

Apocalypse NOW

The opening scene with Sheen "Saigon ... ****, I can't believe I'm still only in Saigon ..."

Just some ideas ........................
 
I saw this scenario once in a foreign film, no dialog.
A female factory worker, travelling the trains to work, no ones speaking.
She at work on the machines, repetitive tasks, noisy, no ones speaking.
At home in a small crappy room eating a crappy dinner looking into space.

I forget the details from years ago, but the images always stayed with me.

---

Another unforgettable is an SNL short from maybe 15-20 years back.
All with no dialog...maybe a minute long at most....

A time lapse sequence of an apparaently newlywed couple entering a hotel room, The cam stays in the same position throught the cuts. (a total room view anyways )

You begin to see a falling apart of the realtionship (him showing up later and later at night, her waiting up and going to bed alone, ect), the eventual arguing and eventually the breakup, one sleeping alone and finally an empty room.

You'd have to see it to appreciate it.
 
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Thank you. I can see that technique-- repeating a situation several times but at different times, playing with time. A bit of "Run Lola Run" of a sort.

Raptor365 said:
... Another unforgettable is an SNL short from maybe 15-20 years back. All with no dialog...maybe a minute long at most.... A time lapse sequence of an apparaently newlywed couple entering a hotel room, The cam stays in realatively the same position throught the cuts. You begin to see a falling apart of the realtionship (him showing up later and later at night, her waiting up and going to bed alone, ect), the eventual arguing and eventually the breakup, one sleeping alone and finally an empty room. You'd have to see it to appreciate it.
Click to expand...
 
Raptor365 said:
---

Another unforgettable is an SNL short from maybe 15-20 years back.
All with no dialog...maybe a minute long at most....

A time lapse sequence of an apparaently newlywed couple entering a hotel room, The cam stays in the same position throught the cuts. (a total room view anyways )

You begin to see a falling apart of the realtionship (him showing up later and later at night, her waiting up and going to bed alone, ect), the eventual arguing and eventually the breakup, one sleeping alone and finally an empty room.

You'd have to see it to appreciate it.
Click to expand...

That was on SNL? That sounds sad. How is that funny at all?
 
I have a script for a TWO-actor short -- 5 mins, no dialogue, one location. Doesn't get much simpler. It's called 'Night Watch'. I'd be willing to sell it, if you're interested. PM me.
 
The actor could be holding a one side of a phone conversation, e.g. victim of prank calls, calling leaving messages for girlfriend, etc.
 
Interesting. Yeah there was a movie called Cell Phone I think, used some of that, and of course lots of movies. Could just have the one actor, cell phone, later dub in the second voice if needed as voiceover.

J Michael said:
The actor could be holding a one side of a phone conversation, e.g. victim of prank calls, calling leaving messages for girlfriend, etc.
Click to expand...
 
I had an idea once for a short based on 28 Weeks Later, with a US soldier stuck wandering around an empty London after everything went down, and trying to link up with NATO forces in the Midlands. Just a soldier, walking along, by himself, in absolute empty desolation.
 
Thank you all for the discussion on this thread. With the help from this discussions thread I wrote up a simple 1 actor short short horror script. Just ordered a Canon VIXIA HF100, cheap shotgun mic. Going to give filmmaking a chance, try filming a simple 3 minute horror at a local cemetery using just one actor and my "burrito" camcorder. I need to start simple or I will get stressed and give up before trying. Still concentrating on screenwriting as my main concern, but I want to give indie filming a chance too, at least taste it.
 
I'd like to see your movie. Will you be the actor too? Do every part of the movie.

The second act of the movie "Cast Away" is with one actor, who talks to his ball, who he named Wilson.
 
I plan to film it in about six weeks, early October, creepy cemetery ambience, crows, autumn leaves. I won't act it in; I hope find an actor locally with some talent experience, I do know one actor, hollywood quality, who does local theatre acting and is doing a feature romcom with a local (Duluth MN) production company; I saw him as the lead in "The Crucible" in a local theatre a few years ago, he is outstanding. I really hope he might do the part, could really elevate the quality. Plan is to enter the short in a local short shorts (<5 min) film festival here in Feb.

AuditoryVisuals said:
I'd like to see your movie. Will you be the actor too? Do every part of the movie.

The second act of the movie "Cast Away" is with one actor, who talks to his ball, who he named Wilson.
Click to expand...
 
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