Shooting an Entire Film With One Lens?

[Manfred Lopez]

As per David Mullen's request:

Well, as I said, Ozu's movies are a good example of what a 50mm prime looks like in Academy 1.37.

Wes Anderson's films like "Rushmore" and "The Royal Tennenbaums" are interesting because they are mostly shot on a 40mm anamorphic lens, but when he puts up a zoom lens, it is for an obvious zooming shot. In "Bottle Rocket", which wasn't anamorphic, I think he used a 27mm lens for most of the movie.

Orson Welles made extensive use of the new (then) 18mm lens when he did "Touch of Evil". A lot of "I am Cuba" also used the 18mm. Frankenheimer used it a lot in the 1960's, on movies like "Seconds" and "Seven Days in May".

Most of the first CinemaScope movie, "The Robe", was shot on a 50mm anamorphic lens, since that's all they had to work with.

This discussion should be moved to some other thread though.

[Manfred Lopez]

So now that we have a new thread, I would like to ask David or anyone who knows if there are any rules to follow when switching focal lengths within the same shot (like "never go from this to that" or something like that). Thanks in advance.

[Noah Kadner]

I'm no David :) but I'd say there's no real hard and fast rule per se of what should *never* be done. Best thing is to plan a visual design and make it fit your story. A one lens film just to be one lens could also turn out incredibly uninteresting if not well thought-out. Here's a book that can help you devise such a plan:

http://www.amazon.com/Visual-Story-S.../dp/0240804678

-Noah

[number6]

Interesting thread starter since I am thinking of doing this very thing. Two REDs, each fitted with 30 year old Nikon 50-300 lenses.

When double shooting a scene, will have one camera pulled in to 50 or 60 mm and the other one at a distance and using the full 300mm zoom. Field of view covers approx. 40 degrees at 50mm and 8 degrees at 300mm.

Almost the entire movie will be shot outdoors in daylight... just a few daylight interiors. Also, all the locations have ample room to work.

It's not entirely a budgetary concern that moves me to do this, but I also want the same look from each camera vis a vis any lens nuance.

Am open to any pros or cons.

[Shawn Nelson]

Interesting thread starter since I am thinking of doing this very thing. Two REDs, each fitted with 30 year old Nikon 50-300 lenses.

I don't think that's what the original poster meant. A 50-300 is an exceedingly large range.

Should the title of this thread be "Shooting an Entire Film with One Focal Length"?

[Evin Grant]

I think "Lemony Snicket's a series of unfortunate events" was photographed almost entirely on a 27mm lens. If I remember correctly from the BTS dvd stuff.

[number6]

I don't think that's what the original poster meant. A 50-300 is an exceedingly large range.

Should the title of this thread be "Shooting an Entire Film with One Focal Length"?

I see what you mean, but I was mainly thinking of using these two particular focal lengths and maybe moving forward or backward with either camera rather than use the zoom, thus essentially using them as primes. Still, it wouldn't technically be using one focal length of one lens, so I withdraw my original comment.

[Manfred Lopez]

I don't think that's what the original poster meant. A 50-300 is an exceedingly large range.

Should the title of this thread be "Shooting an Entire Film with One Focal Length"?

Crap. You are right. I tried to edit the original post but I guess you can't change the title. I actually though about it but I guess the need for shorter, 'punchier' titles won out on common sense. :sheep:

[Manfred Lopez]

Still, it wouldn't technically be using one focal length of one lens, so I withdraw my original comment.

Don't withdraw it! It is a very valid post and quite interesting, since it relates to artificially fixating on specific focal lengths. My only question is if the average viewer will notice this. I know they don't notice when everything is one focal length and they don't notice when there is a healthy mixing of several ones... but going back and forth from two extreme opposites? Does this work?

[Shawn Nelson]

Crap. You are right. I tried to edit the original post but I guess you can't change the title. I actually though about it but I guess the need for shorter, 'punchier' titles won out on common sense. :sheep:

Click 'Edit' on your original post then 'Go Advanced' and the title will be in it's own box for edit.