Shooting an Entire Film With One Lens?

[Liam Hall]

It would have to be designed from the start as a stylistic element and shots composed with the technique in mind. At the very least it's a music video waiting to happen.

Check out Tim Pope's early work for The Cure; virtually all shot on one lens - he only could afford one!

There are many features that have been shot on just one lens but for an object lesson in how the choice of lens can add to the drama of a film watch Twelve Angry Men - as the tension builds the focal lengths get longer and compositions tighter, creating a sense of claustrophobia.

I shot a 40 minute documentary earlier this year on a 50mm Nikon prime lens, it looked great but I needed quite a few visits to the chiropractor by the end of the shoot.

[Emmanuel Cambier]

It's a well known fact that all of "Touch Of Evil" was shot on a 18mm Lens. Amazing compositions from first to last frames.

Emmanuel

[Jaime Vallés]

I shot a 40 minute documentary earlier this year on a 50mm Nikon prime lens, it looked great but I needed quite a few visits to the chiropractor by the end of the shoot.

How come? (The chiropractor, not the choice of lens...)

[Nils J. Nesse]

I read in an interview with swedish director Roy Andersson that he uses a single lens (single focal length) for all his films. A normal lens, because he's doesn't like distorted perspective.

I don't know if his Du levande (You, the living) has been released in the US yet, but it's one of the year's best films.

[Liam Hall]

How come? (The chiropractor, not the choice of lens...)

No zoom equals a lot of pick it up and run!

[Ash Bolland]

Hello all,

I have a question :)


What lens would you take to the set/location - if you could only have one?
of course depends of nature of the project - but even so...

I think I would take a 50mm...

[David Mullen ASC]

The fastest zoom I could find.

Otherwise, the question is unanswerable. I could take a guess and say a 35mm (in 35mm) because it's moderately wide-angle but you can get close to a face without too much distortion, but someone else would say a 27mm or a 40mm depending on their tastes.

Someone might even say an 18mm because they prefer wide-angle shots, whereas someone else (like Ozu) may say that's unacceptable and would rather deal with the limitations of a 50mm in terms of view because they like that perspective.

And it also depends on if this is an exterior location or an interior one.

And all of that is ignoring the visual intent of the project.

Remember that a 50mm is not as wide vertically in widescreen formats like 1.85 as it used to be on 1.37 Academy. Hence why the 40mm and 35mm have become more common as the "neutral" focal lengths in standard 1.85.

[P Andersson]

shot all on one wide angle lens

http://www.agwah.com/hub/movies/12_the_funeral.mov

[I Bloom]

shot all on one wide angle lens

http://www.agwah.com/hub/movies/12_the_funeral.mov

Nice. Love the way it's cut. IBloom

[Manfred Lopez]

shot all on one wide angle lens

http://www.agwah.com/hub/movies/12_the_funeral.mov

Very cool. I love the bubble in the bedroom. By the way, what exact lens was it? Also what format, etc.