Long takes are one of the ways great directors love to show off their filmmaking skills. The point of the long take, or the oner, is to film an entire scene in one take or at least make it look like it was done in one take. Long takes are used as a storytelling tool to allow the audience to see the film from a singular point of view. This means that the lens can choose how it’s telling a story from a specific character or a non-subjective point of view. Although there are many great long takes from films like Touch of Evil, Oldboy, and Goodfellas, no long take is better than the car scene from Children of Men. Alfonso Cuarón’s masterpiece features quite a few long takes throughout the film, but the car scene is a masterclass at understanding how to film a great oner while making sure it serves the story. (And how this technique fits into the full array of shot types and angles.) A Matter of Film breaks down the scene and examines how each beat of the long take works for the story in this video. The Opening Beats of a Long Take The long take is mastered by having the frame focus on the subject of the scene. In this case, the frame is focused on the five characters in the car. Each beat drives the story forward as the momentum of the scene’s events unfolds and the characters are adapting and reacting...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Tuesday, 11 June, 2024