Single Shot
A Look at Shots that Stay.
I can babble forever about what I see. Displays are the only place I’ve been successful. Miniatures of a scene in my head. Once live action is added, I can’t sketch that for you, but I can tell you what does or does not work for me.
I chatted with my third camera guy. He always has the best advice. He asks about framing, light, and then he hit me with a question this week. What do you want to get out of this? My true answer, there are three shots I wrote from imagination that if it could be physically pulled off I would be so happy.
What is it about stills that stay with me? The story they tell before dialogue even begins. This is what we are going to do. I’m not even naming the films. I’m just showing the still and telling you about it.
Colorful supermarket aisle. It’s one of those aisles I don’t frequent. All it has are ingredients and sauces. It’s too much dedication and thought. What is Al Pacino doing here holding a can of sauce? Who is he staring at? Cool shot. This one has been with me for 30 years.
Just hanging out in the basement of a bakery throwing loaves in the oven. A story will be told and one will begin moments later, but if that never happens, they’d still be there churning out those loaves of bread and the world would keep turning.
Fully clothed, obviously headed somewhere, but has been detained. Listening to conversations around the room. The only one that knows how it will end, but also knows that they’ll never believe him if he says he’s not even the worst person in the room.
Just a goat. The goat? Imagery so strong that sending this photo automatically creates a certain level of conversation.
The photographer studied the light out of that window for two months before this shot was taken. I recently asked someone if they could get the same amount of data with half an hour and an iPhone.
If I have ever gone out with you and I’ve told you to try and look cool. This is what I mean. We won’t pull it off, but just try. I’ve written so many “lost in thought” bourbon scenes. This is what I’m picturing.
This scene is someone doing something they haven’t necessarily had to do before and someone will answer for it.
Keep going. It’s been a long day, let me sit here for a minute. Oh, look, the sunrise.
Stills that stay with you. Gotta love it. I will continue to write these. I love the shots and reviewing films that stay with me helps.