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How Denis Villeneuve Directs a Film (Filmmaking / Directing Advice)

An analysis of Denis Villeneuve's directing approach, focused on how he maintains intimacy and character focus inside large-scale science fiction productions. Draws on interview clips and specific scene examples.

AlterCine · 18 min · Intermediate · DIR · Directing · 2021

What you take away

Look for the human-scale moment inside a big set piece and protect it in the shot list.

Watch it

Filed under

The films of Denis Villeneuve

Oscar winners for directing

Books on directing

The director’s monitor

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Accsoon CineView SE — Video to a phone, for under three hundred
Accsoon CineView Quad — Four inputs, switchable — a tiny multicamera village
PortKeys BM5 III WR — Monitor that can also run the camera
Hollyland Mars 4K — 4K wireless to four phones at once
Atomos Ninja V — The 5" recorder-monitor that made ProRes RAW normal

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