Two Days. One Camera. No Crew.

Making a film alone is equal parts freedom and chaos. You're the director, the cinematographer, the gaffer, the grip, and the editor — all at once, all day, with no one to hand things off to. That was my reality shooting this Carhartt film, and honestly, I wouldn't have had it any other way.

The Prep

I shot at my old high school in McIntosh, South Dakota — a location I knew would give me the institutional hallways, bathrooms, and working-class spaces the story needed. Before I even touched a camera, I did my research — stufying Carhartt's existing ads, pulling visual references, and finding the cinematic language that felt true to the brand. That research shaped everything from my shot list to my lighting approach.

Moodboard & References

The day before the shoot, I scouted the entire location. I mapped out each room, planned my lighting, and locked in my compositions before I ever pressed record. That day of prep was everything.

Pre Production Testing

The actual shoot was split across two days — roughly three hours each. My gear was a Sony FX30 with a Sigma 16mm f1.4 as my main lens, supported by a Sony 11mm f1.8 and a Sigma 18-50mm f2.8. A few lights and stands. A small slider. And a trolley push cart that I repurposed as a makeshift camera slider.

A BTS of using the DIY dolly during production.

The Hardest Part

Not having enough hands. When you're moving lights, adjusting a rig, and trying to keep your talent comfortable — all by yourself on a tight timeline — every minute counts. There were moments where I had to improvise fast and problem-solve on the fly. That's just the reality of solo production.

Behind The Scenes

The Edit

I organized and cut the footage in CapCut PC, then brought everything into DaVinci Resolve for color grading. I researched Carhartt's existing visual storytelling — their ad style, their color palette, their tone — and used that as a reference to keep my grade feeling true to the brand. The slow instrumental music and Tagalog voiceover shaped the pacing from the very first cut. Every edit had to give the words room to land.

The result was 45 seconds that felt earned. Next post, I'm breaking down exactly how each shot was built — and why every frame was a decision.