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FilmSkool — a free film school

THE ONER - A Definitive Guide!

A thorough survey of the long take, tracing its history and breaking down what makes a oner work technically and dramatically. Aimed at more experienced filmmakers ready to attempt complex continuous shots.

Phil Moore | Virtual Worlds · 15 min · Advanced · DIR · Directing · 2020

What you take away

A oner only earns its runtime if the blocking generates rising tension — plan the choreography like a stunt sequence.

Watch it

Filed under

Famous long takes

Oscar winners for directing

The Hurt Locker (2008)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
The Departed (2006)
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Books on directing

The director’s monitor

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
Atomos Ninja (5") — The current 5" recorder-monitor
Hollyland Pyro 7 — Wireless monitor and receiver in one

More Directing

Akira Kurosawa "My Life in Cinema" - 1993 — Luca De PALMA · 116m · Advanced
David Fincher: Se7en - The Directors Series — Indie Film Hustle Podcast · 30m · Advanced
Memories of Murder (2003) - Ensemble Staging — Every Frame a Painting · 7m · Advanced
'Parasite' Director Bong Joon-ho Breaks Down the Opening Scene | Vanity Fair — Vanity Fair · 13m · Advanced
Martin Scorsese: American Boy - The Directors Series — Indie Film Hustle Podcast · 26m · Advanced
Big Screen Symposium 2015 - In Conversation with Jane Campion (Moderated by Philippa Campbell) — Script to Screen · 70m · Advanced
Chloé Zhao Directing Masterclass | IFTA Skills in Focus — IFTA Academy · 89m · Advanced
'Dune' Director Denis Villeneuve Breaks Down a Scene | Vanity Fair — Vanity Fair · 11m · Intermediate
Masterclass de Wes Anderson & Joel Coen (2019) — La Fémis · 91m · Advanced
2001 A Space Odyssey (1968): 2001 The Making Of A Myth — Top 10 Movies · 42m · Advanced
Director Rian Johnson Breaks Down a Scene from 'Knives Out' | Vanity Fair — Vanity Fair · 9m · Intermediate
'Wicked' Director & Cinematographer Break Down the 'Dancing Through Life' Scene | Vanity Fair — Vanity Fair · 14m · Intermediate

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