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How to Make a Netflix-Quality Film on Your Own: Behind the Scenes of My Short Film "The Door"

Writer's picture: Ryan CampRyan Camp

What does it take to make a Netflix-quality film with no budget and no crew? Well, I set out to answer that question with my latest project, The Door.


CHECK OUT THIS BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO OF ME MAKING "THE DOOR"

This short film was made using my "solo filmmaking method," which involves one concept, one main character, limited locations, and just one crew member—me. On top of that, I also starred in the film, which brought a whole new set of challenges.


Here’s a deep dive into how I pulled it off, the gear I used, and what I learned along the way. Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker or a curious viewer, this post will give you a complete look behind the curtain.


The Idea Behind "The Door"

I’ve always been drawn to paradoxes—the kind of stories that twist your mind into knots. With The Door, I wanted to mess with the concept of a loop: the story begins where it ends, and the main character faces a sinister double along the way.


The idea first came about while working on another project, Five Doors, with my friend Courtney Jones. We built an actual door in my backyard for that project, and I knew I wanted to use it one last time before tearing it down. From there, I began brainstorming how I could use the door to create an eerie, self-contained narrative.


Planning the Solo Production

Once I nailed the concept, I spent about a month working on the script. Initially, I planned to hire a professional actor for the lead role, which would have included a high-energy chase and fight scene. Unfortunately, my planned actor had to drop out last minute. That left me no choice but to step into the role myself—which also meant simplifying the script to suit what I could realistically pull off.


Picking Filming Locations

Location is critical, especially when you're working solo. I chose two primary shooting spots:

  • My backyard, where the door was already set up.

  • A nearby hiking trail, which added depth and variety to the visuals.

These limited locations not only simplified my setup but also gave the film a cohesive, contained feel.


Gear Breakdown: Working with What You Have

Filmmaking tools can be expensive, but I stuck to what I already had on hand. Here’s what I used to bring The Door to life:

  • Camera: Panasonic GH5

    Let’s just say my camera has seen better days. The hot shoe is broken, the mount is damaged, and the battery door barely holds together. That said, it got the job done, though I’m eyeing the Blackmagic P6K for future projects.


  • Lens: Sigma Art 18-35mm

    I kept the focal length locked at 35mm throughout the film to make color grading and shot matching easier.


  • Sound: Rode Wireless Pro Mics

    These mics were fantastic for capturing clean audio, even though I had to redo a lot of lines later due to road and airplane noise.


I also made use of a Black Flag insect fogger for atmospheric effects. It worked better than a traditional fog machine since it doesn’t require power cords—a lifesaver when filming out in the woods.


Shooting Challenges: DIY Struggles

Filming solo is no picnic. You’re juggling the camera, acting, directing, and sound. One of the biggest struggles was focusing the shots without help. Enter Hank: my trusty mannequin head. Hank stood in for me during setup, helping me lock the focus before I stepped in front of the lens.


Lighting was another challenge. I almost always shoot on overcast days or during the golden hours to avoid setting up lighting gear. This creates a cinematic look, but weather changes can derail everything. Many days were wasted due to sudden rain, wind, or harsh sunlight.


Weather Woes and Green Screen Nightmares

One particularly tricky shot involved placing a green screen over the door to create a portal effect. Everything was set up perfectly—until gusty winds decided to take over. The screen blew around so much that I had to scrap most of the footage.


Tackling Visual Effects

If you’ve seen The Door, you know it’s packed with VFX: portals, doubles, and a mysterious smoke monster. I knew this would be a heavy lift, but I decided to embrace the challenge. After all, what better way to learn new software?


I recently switched from Adobe Premiere to DaVinci Resolve, and this project forced me to dive into its Fusion and color grading tools. The results were worth the effort. For example, Resolve's depth map feature made it easy to layer visuals and create scenes where the main character interacts with his double.


Smoke Monsters and Other Happy Accidents

Originally, the smoke demon was supposed to look like a shadowy version of the main character. However, pulling off this effect proved tougher than expected, so I leaned into a more abstract look instead. Filmmaking often involves adapting on the fly, and this was one of those moments.


Sound Design: Bringing It All Together

Sound design is one of my favorite parts of filmmaking. For The Door, I replaced most of the natural sounds with carefully crafted effects: crunching leaves, distant wind, and subtle ambient noise. The music was another personal touch. I composed and played the film’s synth-heavy score on my keyboard, shaping it around the mood of each scene.

I did run into an issue with my go-to music and sound effects service, Epidemic Sound. Their licensing model doesn’t work well for commercial use outside YouTube, so I may switch to a more flexible service like Soundstripe in the future.


Acting: Stepping Into the Spotlight

Acting in your own film is no small feat, especially when you're reacting to a character who isn’t physically there. For dialogue-heavy scenes, it was hard not to second-guess myself. Did the performance land? Is the timing natural? These are questions I’ll let viewers answer.

Scenes with physical stunts (like throwing myself through a portal) were another challenge. Let’s just say I woke up sore the next day—note to self: I’m not as young as I used to be.


Final Thoughts

Making The Door was a brutal yet rewarding experience. My goal was simple: create a one-man short film that gets closer to Netflix-quality results. Did I succeed? That’s up to you.

If you're an aspiring filmmaker, remember this: you don’t need a big budget or a large crew to tell a compelling story. With some creativity, resourcefulness, and a lot of patience, you can produce work that rivals professional productions.


Let me know in the comments—did The Door hit the mark? What’d you think of the visual effects, story, or even my acting? I’d love to hear your thoughts.


Thanks for reading and for following along on this filmmaking journey. If you haven’t seen The Door yet, check it out. And if you're interested in joining my community, consider becoming a channel member for exclusive perks. See you in the next project!



CHECK OUT MY ONE-MAN HORROR SHORT "THE DOOR" HERE

THE VIDEO ATTACHED TO THIS ARTICLE WAS SPONSORED BY RIGHTBLOGGER—YOU CAN START A FREE TRIAL OF THEIR INCREDIBLE WRITING TOOLS HERE: https://rightblogger.com/?via=campfilms

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