THE ONE SHOT WONDER
Sam Mendes Explains Landmark Film 1917
In this twisted retelling of the First World War, Director/Writer/Co-Producer Sam Mendes tells of trying to recreate the feeling of the passage of time with these men through shooting the film 1917 with one continuous shot. The cinematographic ingenuity involved with telling such a story allows for the viewer to be transported into the horror of the bunkers and relive the scenes that these soldiers saw. This video describes how Mendes and his director of photography, Roger Deakins, discussed and planned the creation of this movie with one continuous shot. The wide exterior shots made it easy for the duo to capture large areas of space and illustrate the toll of battle on the soldiers.
Mendes says that no location ever repeats in his film, opening up his audience to passing between landscapes. This exterior world was so dependent on reality that weather was a huge deterrent during shooting. Some days footage couldn’t be shot because of weather issues. The sun was a major source of light during production. Most of the crew couldn’t work at all until the sun had passed from behind the clouds. This made shooting a race against the clock itself.
Through his hard work and continuity, Sam Mendes created an interactive piece which is truly immersive. It captures the feeling of battle and scale of war. 1917 wants to take you “inside the trenches” and into the world of these two main characters. The difficulty comes in making such a production. Keeping the cameras focused on the two actors and directing the photography around climate changes becomes a critical task. Here, Mendes succeeds and creates a truly engaging experience on screen. PROVOKR praises this film and encourages all to take a trip in time via the silver screen to one of the most gruesome wars ever.
