WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The Studio episodes 1 & 2.
The second episode of the Apple TV+ showbiz seriesThe Studiofeatures a fictional movie set in which the director is trying to get a “oner”, or a one-take continuous shot. As seen throughoutThe Studioepisode 2, aptly titled “The Oner”,Seth Rogen’s Matt Remick– the newly initiated head of Continental Studios – arrives on set during a crucial golden-hour shot with little time to waste. The conditions of the shot require Greta Lee (Past Lives), the fictitious film’s star, to hit multiple dialogue and blocking cues before driving off into the sunset. This is the nature of all “oners” in the film industry, which quite literally have zero margin for error.
Considering Matt’s rank at Continental Studios, I would think he’d know his way around a movie set. Shockingly, he disrupts the entire production multiple times to the point where the director is unable to get the perfect “oner” shot she wanted.Because Matt is the head honcho, the entire crew has to suck up to himsince he is virtually the only one with the power to write a blank check. This is why the director tolerates Matt’s frequent interruptions and insertions, hoping that her patience will win her an expensive Rolling Stones song to close out her movie.
A “Oner” Is A Long, Continuous Take While Filming
“Oners” Are Some Of The Trickiest Shots In Filmmaking
A “oner” is typically a tracking or “moving” shot that follows the subject of the scene continuously without cutting the camera or editing the footage in post-production. “Oners” are some of the most immersive types of filmmaking shots that are available to directors since they make the scene feel more engrossed in reality, almost like a documentary film would do. “Oners” should be right in Matt’s wheelhouse since he claims to be a big supporter of auteur cinema, or filmmaking in which the director is an author of the shot construction and story.
“Oners” are certainly less efficient and riskier but can be some of the most exciting moments in any film or TV show.They often require meticulous planning and rehearsalsand, as seen inThe Studioepisode 2, multiple takes to get it just right.
There’s an extreme parody and irony in Matt getting in the way of the “oner” inThe Studio, making the impression that it would be much better if he simply wasn’t there.
These types of shots are difficult enough, so Matt coming in andcontinuously screwing up the take as the crew is losing sunlight is such an egregious rookie mistakethat even the most inept production assistant wouldn’t make. There’s an extreme parody and irony in Matt getting in the way of the “oner” inThe Studio, making the impression that it would be much better if he simply wasn’t there.
Why Oners Are So Difficult To Achieve In Filmmaking (As Seen In The Studio)
Every Single Element Of Production Must Be Executed Precisely To Pull One Off
In a typical scene, especially for a single-camera film production, the camera is typically fixed on a tripod or dolly, focused on one or more subjects. “Oners” are inherently tracking shots thatrequire a planned blueprint of every move that the camera will make.
The longer the “oner” is, the more risk there is in pulling it offsince there are more ways to screw it up. A background actor could be in the wrong place, a boom operator could accidentally end up in the shot, a lead actress could forget her line, a prop could not work as intended, a piece of the production design could come undone, etc.
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There’s a great deal of merit in pulling off a successful “oner” because it’s one of the highest forms of technical achievement in filmmaking. It requires all elements of the production – from acting and cinematography to lighting and sound –to be in the present moment and executed with extreme precision. One of the biggest overlooked factors is maintaining or “racking” focus on the subject in the camera frame, a task typically done by the 2nd assistant cameraman. It requires the full talents and force of the production to pull off greatness, whereas other shots have more margin for error and are certainly less stressful.
Notable Oner Shots In Film History
Goodfellas, Birdman & Netflix’s Adolescence
The Studioemploys a cinema-verité style across several scenesin its first two episodes. Many of its scenes change locations, interiors, and exteriors while the camera is still rolling, which is done to create an immersive yet unavoidably more performative effect. Other classic"oner" scenes include Martin Scorsese’sGoodfellas, as well asChildren of MenandBirdman.
There’s actually a famous “oner” at the beginning of the Hollywood insider filmThe Player. “Oners” are also seen throughout TV shows besidesThe Studio.The Bearpulls one off every season while Netflix’sAdolesencebroke new ground with four-episodic “oners”, all at least 50 minutes in length.
