LONG TAKE
This is the opposite technique to continuity editing. It involves a camera shot of long duration, the concept of ‘long duration’ dependent on the average shot in the films of the era in question; e.g. in Hollywood in the 40’s this would mean a shot of longer than 9 seconds.
Long takes tend to minimise and distance the spectator from the characters and the action. The camera does not follow the characters but stays in one place. Long takes can lend a static ‘stagey’ feeling to the proceedings.
Long takes adhere to the dramatic unity of time and space.
They also allow an actor’s performance to develop uninterrupted, therefore placing greater emphasis on the actor in the scene. Activity
Group Questions Which do you find more involving as a spectator, editing or long takes?Why? How do you editing would change the meaning and impact of the Goodfellas (STC*) clip? Would it improve it in any way? *Subject to Change