Scene Discussion: Children of Men (2006)

‘Children of Men’ featured several complicated long-take action sequences, the most ground-breaking of which being a 247 second tracking shot from the interior of a car. The car itself was modified to allow camera operators to sit on the roof, remotely controlling a mechanized camera built into the ceiling. The setup allowed the camera to rotate 360º without revealing any rigging, and to change position via mechanized sliders. The actors’ chairs were built to slide out of the way to accommodate the camera’s path.

Paired with the incredible efforts of the actors and stuntmen, and some clever digital seam removal, the end result is a beautifully orchestrated action sequence that appears to take place in ‘real life’ and in real-time.

See also: Ava Adore and Strange Days