Its on our web page, so the fact that it was shot entirely with a DJI Inspire X5 doesn’t count. Watch it first, then read the answer below.
“At The End Of The Cul-de-Sac” short film by Paul Trillo from Paul Trillo on Vimeo.
Figure it out?
Maybe you’re thinking that this film — directed by Paul Trillo and produced by Aerobo — is one of the first films shot on a drone that is entirely dialogue/story driven. In other words, the drone footage is not used to capture action or scenery footage — its here to tell a story. While that is certainly true and makes this film compelling and entertaining, that is not the most exceptional thing about it.
No, the thing that blew us away is more subtle and seamless (literally.) You might not even have noticed it the first time through. (Which is a tribute to how well crafted this film is.)
The entire film — 9 minutes and 57 seconds of it — was recorded in a single continuous shot. Not one edit break — for drone or cast.
Unless you know something about the art and science of film-making, that may not sound like a big deal.
It is.
Consider, nearly a dozen actors deliver interlaced dialogue and move around the scene — and the single camera has to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time for every single second of that 10 minutes, pivoting and changing altitude smoothly to capture it all. Miss a mark or turn too fast and you have to star all over. Its a huge achievement on logistical grounds alone. That it is so interesting and seamless that you don’t necessarily notice the technical wizardry is a tribute to the entire production.
Put simply, drones just made movies a little more magical.
Nope. Didn’t notice until you pointed it out.
I thought it was the conveniently placed pile of rocks everywhere…..
Photographically great, now that you mentioned it… The overall story needs some continuity though.
It didn’t have a single cut for the entire 9 minutes
No, the most extraordinary thing about this film is that the dog wasn’t freaking out with a drone flying so close.