One-shot filming – capturing a scene with a single continuous shot without any edits – is always a significant challenge in filmmaking. It is not just a technical feat; it is also an artistic technique that immerses the audience in real-time moments, enhancing the realism and emotional resonance of the film. Many acclaimed works have employed this technique to create breathtaking cinematic experiences, including Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Birdman (2014), Sam Mendes’ 1917 (2019), and Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men (2006). However, few films dare to undertake such a bold step as Adolescence – a series currently captivating audiences on Netflix. Each episode of Adolescence is entirely shot in one continuous take, with no cuts whatsoever.
This ambition does not only require meticulous technical expertise but also challenges the creative abilities of the filmmaking team. Each scene must be precisely calculated to ensure a seamless flow of movement while maintaining visual appeal. The absence of cut points means there is no room for error – a single mistake could lead to the entire scene needing to be reshot from the beginning. This is the allure and the biggest challenge of one-shot filmmaking: it is not just a filming method, but a creative challenge that requires perfect collaboration among all team members.
In Adolescence, director Philip Barantini and cinematographer Matthew Lewis faced some of the most significant challenges in one-shot technique: ensuring continuity in camera movement without interrupting the storytelling flow. Lewis stated, “No shot is ever edited together. Each episode is one single shot, whether I want it to be or not.”
By not using any post-production editing techniques to stitch together shots, every scene had to be perfected with precision. The screenplay, written by Jack Thorne, was continuously revised during rehearsals when the team realized some sequences did not flow well. One of the biggest challenges was connecting different scenes naturally. For example, in the opening episode, the opening shot is a police raid on the main character’s home, which then transitions to a tense chase scene involving the police. To achieve this scene, the team had to find a location with both residential houses and filming areas close together, allowing the continuity of the shot to be maintained.
The challenges of Adolescence are not unique in the film industry. Previously, Sam Mendes’ 1917 utilized one-shot techniques to create a sense of real-time action on the battlefield. However, unlike Adolescence, this war film employed some invisible cut points to create seamless transitions during filming. Another example is Birdman (2014), which used a similar style to immerse audiences into the internal struggles of the main character. However, these films demonstrate that one-shot scenes are not just a technical challenge but also a powerful medium for conveying deep emotions.
One of the most complex episodes of Adolescence is Episode 2, where the scene unfolds in a crowded school environment with hundreds of extras. The need to coordinate and synchronize movements without causing chaos presents a significant challenge. Actors had to play the roles of teachers, guiding students to move at the right moments without the camera losing focus on the action. Meanwhile, the technical team developed a complex connectivity system to help the director track all the scenes, even as the camera moved through various areas in the school.
These challenges are not too different from what director Trần Thanh Huy faced while executing long takes in his film Ròm (2020) on the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City. This film utilized several long takes to portray the vibrant life of street children, helping audiences to feel the rawness of everyday life. While not entirely a one-shot like Adolescence, Ròm still demonstrates the spirit of this technique: a filming style that creates authenticity and immerses viewers into the character’s world.
No Room for Error in One-Shot Filming
After Adolescence aired, some viewers suspected that the filmmakers used VFX techniques to create “invisible cuts.” However, Matthew Lewis firmly stated that aside from a few minor visual effects – like the camera moving through a crowd – every scene was shot in one continuous take with no post-production intervention. Each episode was rehearsed and filmed continuously over three weeks with numerous takes.
This highlights that one-shot filmmaking is not merely a technique but a filmmaking philosophy. It embodies the necessity of perfect collaboration between the director, cinematographer, actors, and the entire crew. To create a flawless one-shot scene, an excellent script is needed – not just any story can be told this way. Next, there must be precise coordination in terms of logistics, from setting up shots to rehearsals, ensuring the camera moves like a well-oiled machine. Ultimately, the most crucial element is the unwavering spirit of the team – because a single misstep can lead to the entire crew having to start from scratch.
This meticulous attention to detail makes Adolescence one of the most ambitious projects ever executed using one-shot technique. While previous films employed one-shot primarily for emphasis on singular moments, Barantini’s film chooses to immerse the audience in the entire narrative through a single continuous shot. This not only sets the film apart in terms of technical execution but also creates a deeply engaging and authentic experience for viewers, as if they were witnessing events unfold in real time without any interruptions.
With the success of Adolescence, it can be said that one-shot has transcended being merely a technique to create impact; it has become a powerful tool for storytelling. This film has opened a new door for cinema, where realism, creativity, and resilience can create extraordinary works that go beyond conventional boundaries.
