Long Take Shots

Definition on a “Long take”

Anything significantly longer than the norm (for its time and place.

E.g. In the 1940s anything over 9 seconds long is considered a long take. à “9 Lives”, “The rope” movies

Deep focus photography

Is where you get the background, middle ground and the frontal ground all in focus. Keeps several planes of shot in focus at the same time.

It is done so that it allows several actions to be filmed at the same time. And it is used in combination with long takes, so decreasing need of editing.



It is used so that they can be various actions happening at the same time and that they are connected in a way and that they make sense.It is combined with long take shots to decrease the level of editing used, so that it is cheaper and easier.

Positive	Negative
Can show many actions happening at the same time.	You can get distracted and not watch a detail as many things are happening.
Less editing used as there are less cuts and shots.	Audience may get bored
Symmetry of scene	Slow shots, more action needed
Establishing and action shot all in once	If actors confuse or ruin the scene they have to start it all over again.
Economical	Suffocating for the audience
No extensive camera movement	A bit monotonous
Audience not distracted when camera is no t moving so they focus at the principal act.	Make feel the audience not involved
Audience feel like they are there and that they can’t do anything, feelings involved.	It can feel as if it one long establishing shot.
No distractions, it focuses attention and ideas about the story.
Emphasises that it is like a reality film show, very similitude (looks as it is real)
Actors are more involved in their part. They are able to develop their characters in real life.
It is clearer for the audience, simple film. Audience feel respected, not manipulated as they don’t have to be so focused on the film.
No sense on no escape.