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Topic: It's a Loooong shot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79ditPeb … re=related

You don't see shots like this in movies almost ever. Not just the fact that it's un-cut but also the constant flowing camera movement. Any particular reason for that? Sure its a lot of work, (I mean we wouldn't want George to have to get out of his chair and direct a scene) But hell this was cool and very impressive. I'm not saying this kind of stuff is needed a lot, but seriously I would like to see a bit more of it. Maybe it's just me though. Thoughts?

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  • From: Indiana, USA
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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

It's really cleverly done, but from a pure spectator's standpoint kind of dull, in that, since the cameraman is following the character, nearly everything takes place from the same angle, and so we become acutely aware that we are following him, rather than just being there, witnessing the events, altho I know doing them is difficult, and therefore I do understand why film makers are impressed with each other for them, but they've never done anything for me—especially apparent long takes with hidden cuts, Hitchcock's Rope being an extreme example.

It reminds me of the Victorian fad for writing long sentences. ^^^

Warning: I'm probably rewriting this post as you read it.

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  • paulou
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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

They're expensive, and if the film doesn't earn it, it can disrupt the flow of the movie. They can feel stunty sometimes, which makes you aware of the fact that there's a movie being made in front of you. That can either be a good or bad thing. Everything needs to be worked out in advance, and the logistics of resetting a botched take can suck money and time (which really boils down to more money).

But it's not like it never happens.

http://www.steadishots.org/list_popular.cfm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_take

Children of Men, for instance, has a number of very long shots. Atonement has a really killer one.

http://www.steadishots.org/shots_detail.cfm?shotID=298

And there's Russian Ark.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Ark

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  • From: Kent, England
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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

I'm a fan of the long take, and a fan of Hitchcock's Rope too. It can be a very powerful tool to hold on an action or reaction for longer than normal. I agree that not all long takes are equal.

The Atonement clip works far better, putting you admist the action, than the Warrior King clip, which is a following shot. But then the two shots are out to achieve different things. Warrior King's is a demonstration of prowess and skill, a storm being unleashed upon some bad people by an emotionally unbalanced hero in search of his friend. It doesn't relent, doesn't breathe. He's unstoppable. Meanwhile, Atonement's is about the scene of chaos on the beach of Dunkirk, we feel like we're walking through this almost alien landscape following a man who wants to be somewhere else. He's with all these people, but somehow he's alone. Really powerful sense of isolation.

Last edited by redxavier (2011-07-04 12:08:18)

Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere. - Carl Sagan

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  • Phi
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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

The behind the scenes about that shot from Tom-Yum-Goong/The Protector is crazy. It's four minutes long because that's how much film they could fit in the camera, and in one of the earlier takes they ran out of film just as Tony was getting up the last stairs. Once more with faster tongue

I don't know what Zarban is talking about it being dull. It's like watching an impressive performance at a circus. There are no breaks or pauses or cuts around flubs; what you see is what was performed on set. Damn impressive.

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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

Yeah thats true 35mm Film itself is not cheep, but with the digital revolution upon us, that really shouldn't be an excuse.

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  • paulou
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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

A film crew (dozens to hundreds of people, all getting paid) can take days, weeks, whatever, to choreograph, build, light, block, rig, produce, and make a single scene happen. Locations, equipment, sets, lights, cranes, talent, whatever. Big productions aren't cheap. A longer take on a bigger set with more people just takes even longer, so costs more money.

So then you get into the actual logistics of a shot, where if something goes wrong, you have to reset and do it again. It's high risk. More time, more money.

There's a lot more to the cost of making a movie than the acquisition format.

Last edited by paulou (2011-07-05 17:34:25)

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  • Eddie
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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

This is my favorite.  On a hand-cranked 16mm box camera from the forgotten classic I Am Cuba.

Last edited by Eddie (2011-07-05 17:45:30)

Eddie Doty

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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

Phi wrote:

I don't know what Zarban is talking about it being dull. It's like watching an impressive performance at a circus. There are no breaks or pauses or cuts around flubs; what you see is what was performed on set. Damn impressive.

I think we're learning quite a bit about Zarban. Not only doesn't he like live theater, with its fixed view point, but life itself as seen through a persons eyes must frustrate the hell out of him smile

I write stories! With words!
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  • From: Red Deer, AB
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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

...what are you talking about? Life through one persons view must be like heaven. A lifetime permanently bonded to one viewpoint, no cuts, no timeshifts, no tricks. That's exactly what's so awesome about both of those performance styles.

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  • From: Indiana, USA
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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

Pffft. Cinema IS editing.

Warning: I'm probably rewriting this post as you read it.

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  • paulou
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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

And not editing is also editing.

Something something 4' 33".

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  • Eddie
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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

Zarban wrote:

Pffft. Cinema IS editing.

As an editor, I jsut want to say I love a good one'er.  I don't want it for every shot, but one of my most favorite shots EVER is the slow push on Pacino's face before he pops the Turk and the Cop in Godfather.  Had there been a cutaway, it would have cut out the drama significantly.

A good editor knows when NOT to cutaway, just as much when to cutaway.  And if a scene is best told in one take, then a good editor would be first to say.

Eddie Doty

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  • Eddie
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Re: It's a Loooong shot!

Zarban wrote:

Pffft. Cinema IS editing.

As an editor, I jsut want to say I love a good one'er.  I don't want it for every shot, but one of my most favorite shots EVER is the slow push on Pacino's face before he pops the Turk and the Cop in Godfather.  Had there been a cutaway, it would have cut out the drama significantly.

A good editor knows when NOT to cutaway, just as much when to cutaway.  And if a scene is best told in one take, then a good editor would be first to say.

Eddie Doty

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