Going The Distance

Video Editing in Chicago: The Extra Mile

When it comes to video editing in Chicago you need to realize there are different stages of editing. In a similar manner, there are different ways to shoot a scene but there is a genuine art involved with doing a continuous shot or a long take. It is extremely difficult to do a continuous shot, but the advent of the digital age has enabled more directors to be able to experiment with this art form and even shoot full feature length films as one continuous shot.

What is a Continuous Shot or Long Take?
Basically, it is a portion of the scene that is shot over a longer period of time than a conventional shot. For example, if a conventional shot, which makes editing easier, takes 30 seconds, then a long shot could take approximately 2 or more minutes. It is the continuous, uninterrupted filming of a scene. Shorter shots enable you to have more control once you’re doing the post production editing.

A Few Famous Examples:

• I am Cuba (1964)
  This film was largely ignored until the early 1990s and can only be described as an inspirational work of art. One particular scene involved a 3 minute long shot of a student’s body that is being carried through the streets. What made this scene amazing was the fact that it was shot without the use of a crane.
• Rope (1948)
  Although many argue that Rope was not done in one continuous take, the cameras available in the 1940s could not hold as much film, approximately 10minutes worth, as more modern cameras. This Hitchcock film, however consists of only 10 shots which are each 5 to 10 minutes long, and shot in a way that hides the ‘cutting’ to create the illusion of a continuous shot.
• Goodfellas (1990)
  An iconic long take is seen in this film when the camera trails behind Henry and his girlfriend into the Copacabana. It was executed in a flawless manner that highlights how Henry’s connections could literally open doors for him.
• Boogie Nights (1997)
  What makes this film’s shot a standout is the harsh contrasts between the flawless continuous take during the New Years Eve seen as the camera trails behind the Little Bill who makes a shocking discovery and the cuts that follow this scene.

Granted, the above only lists a few famous examples of the long take and it is currently a rarity in films today. Regardless of the type of film or scene, the shot in itself is a massive undertaking. A day in the life of a video editor can be exhausting, and when it comes to these kinds of shots every member of the production team needs to be involved from the start in order to ensure a seamless scene. However, as the digital age advances directors and producers alike have more freedom to explore with various filming styles. The planning and work that goes into executing a long take or continuous shot is nothing short of masterful.