Building a Boxy World in the Provo Bubble with “Box Boy”

In the quiet city of Provo, Utah, where the “Provo bubble” is as much a joke as it is a reality, an unconventional idea began to take shape. Kelsey Edwards, a filmmaker with a love-hate relationship with the eccentricities of her hometown, drew inspiration from the peculiarities of Provo for her latest project, “Box Boy.” The origins of this unique film can be traced back to Kelsey’s experiences, and it blossomed into a collaboration with her friend Joey Long, whom she met at FilmQuest in 2019.

“Box Boy”, with its premise of a boxy character navigating a boxy world, took shape during the pandemic. After numerous rewrites a dedicated team was assembled and filming commenced in July 2022. Kelsey, primarily an actress, embraced her directorial role with enthusiasm, relishing the opportunity to guide the production and witness her creative vision unfold before her.

“I’m so lucky to have had an incredible cast and crew who supported me along the way and trusted my vision, as weird as it was. Besides Joey, Spencer Allred was the first person to say “yes” to this film and helped me assemble an awesome Utah-based team, which I’m really grateful for.”

As the cast and crew worked tirelessly to bring “Box Boy” to life, Kelsey found herself facing the challenges of fitting a multitude of scenes into a tight schedule. The film, moving at a pace reminiscent of a music video, posed logistical hurdles, but the team rallied under the leadership of first AD Stefania Barr, who also played a crucial role as co-director and editor.

Reflecting on the production, Kelsey acknowledged the wisdom of allocating more time. The decision to add an extra day proved essential, allowing the team to capture missed shots and reinforcing the commitment of the crew, who shared Kelsey’s passion for the project.

“The days were long and hot, and we ended up having to add an extra day anyway to get some of the Flower Girl shots we missed. Thankfully the entire crew was SO COOL about it and almost everyone joined us on the bonus day.”

For aspiring filmmakers, Kelsey offered valuable advice: defy conventional wisdom that suggests focusing on a single niche. Embrace your multifaceted talents and pursue what ignites your passion, whether it’s directing, acting, writing, producing, or all of the above.

As “Box Boy” makes its rounds in the festival circuit, audiences can stay connected with the creators through instagram at @kelseymarieedwards, @joeyvlong, @stefaniabarr and @jumping.the.gree. “Box Boy” is an official selection of the Utah International Film Festival and invites viewers to step into a world where boxes are more than just containers—they define life, until a colorful encounter changes everything.