Variety Artisans: The Seamless Look of 'Birdman'

On "Birdman," “Birdman,” director Alejandro Gonzales Innaritu and cinematographer Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki achieved something very unusual: A film that looks like one continuous shot. But of course, it’s not really a single shot. Digital colorist Steve Scott shows Variety's Tim Gray how they did it.

[filmicfront]

I hate to be THAT GUY, but this video isn't about the continuous shot effect. It's about color timing. All films are color timed to appear seamless. It's the editor and compositor who likely made the film appear to be one seamless shot.

Anyway, great film!

[cognissonance]

Best movie of the year. Not only because of the technical achievements. But for all the meticulousness, there is such a brilliant personal story in there.

[LBJurgens]

No offense, but you're asking the wrong guy, he only knows about the DI process, not the transitions. You can tell because he keeps leading the questions back to color/timing. Go talk to editorial or vfx.

[edergutierreztoledo]

Best Óscar Director & Cinematography This year

[Magspiper]

Best movie. Best ensemble acting. Keaton should have won Oscar.

[BrendanCescon]

Zack Ganifalackis is one of my favorite actors

[jckinnick]

Zach GaNIFlakus, ha, I bet he  told him his name was pronounced that way.

[annacoribioanna]

best movie UNIQUE masterpiece Birdman!

[EinzCrisby]

after seeing "Victoria" (a german one take film) you just can laugh about the "one take / one shot" effect of birdman

[BadMouseProductions]

So they have to hand draw each of the mattes on every single frame? Wow that must take forever!

[EdSeverson]

I know the names might be difficult to pronounce for a non spanish speaker but... maybe  rehearse a bit more the pronunciation before recording...? Just a well intend recommendation haha

[jftvrwk]

it (seamless take) has been done before, by Alfred Hitchcock in Rope (1949). He worked with film, which can record up to 10 minutes a magazine so he also had to work around the fact he couldnt shoot continiously. There's also a movie called Russian Ark (2002) that actually ís one take, filmed with a steadycam (poor operator).

[ThingaMagid]

does anyone know what program they are using to color with?

[CutHardstylez]

even if there were different takes in the film, I could swear there's only a few takes (less than 6) in total 

[MarviNacho]

I don't see how this is "unique", Rope did it I don't know how many decades ago.

[JudgeDredd]

BIRDMAN IS THE MOST OVERRATED movie ever, flat and boring. Acclaimed ONLY because the Jewish Academy chosen it as Best Movie.