How do you feel when you see a shot like this?
You feel more present, more in the moment
and perhaps even more anxious.
Today, we are going to discuss the unique power
of the long take.
A long take is
when a filmmaker captures a scene
so that it will appear as a single uninterrupted take in the edit.
"Swan dive into the best night of your life."
When a shot remains uninterrupted,
you are forced to pay attention.
How can you determine the value of a long take?
We found three specific categories
that will better your scene, setting, character and plot.
Our first category is setting.
The physical location.
This scene should fill in all of the rich details
that make that place unique.
It doesn't matter if it is a battlefield,
or a television studio.
The viewer should feel as though they are right there
in that place, at that time.
Let's look at a shot from "Spectre."
In this long take, we are transported to the setting
of Mexico City's Dia de los Muertos Festival.
You feel as though you're walking on the streets,
listening to those drums,
wearing those masks.
At times, could you say you feel like Bond?
Sure.
Does it inform the plot?
In a way.
But the main accomplishment of this long take
is transporting the viewer to the festival.
Let's look at another one.
Our next category is character.
The scene should make the viewer feel like the subject.
Take the Copacabana scene in "Goodfellas."
This is a great example
of how a long take transports viewer
into a character state of mind.
In the case of the Copacabana scene,
the state of mind we find ourselves in is Henry`s date.
Karen Friedman.
"-Nice to see you. - Yeah, good seeing you."
Henry is already seen
the back door, the kitchen, the restaurant a hundred times,
but you know who hasn't? Karen.
And us the viewer.
Placing a bunch of mob movie fans
into the heels of Karen Friedman,
is a real genius of this long take.
Our final category is plot.
How events affect the overall story?
Where each action truly informs the next,
and if you blink,
you might miss something important.
"-We are here for him. Ryan.
-Me, sir?"
This can show, how simple events have enormous impact on the plot.
Here is an example from "Touch of Evil."
The scene begins with a bomb being set to 3 minutes.
You know where the bomb is placed
and when it will explode.
Halfway through the scene,
the attention switches to Mike and Susan Vargas,
as they walk down the street.
But we do not feel like the characters in the scene
because we know more than they do.
And there is a great payoff.
And that is why, they are celebrated moments in film.
We can all agree that long takes
are one of the most exciting gadgets on the cinematic utility belt.
But they can be logistical nightmares,
unless you collaborate
and plan out your shots in great detail.
StudioBinder features were created to streamline your collaboration.
Break down your script.
Create a perfect storyboard.
You're going to want a clear shot list.
What are some long takes we didn't discuss in this video?
Which of your personal favorites?
Let us know, in the comments below.
To help you further understand how to build an effective long take,
check out our video on film blocking.
See you in the next one.
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