TV Trend Alert: Is the One-Shot Take Becoming Overused?

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Caution: Light Spoilers Ahead! Read further at your own risk if you wish to maintain maximum surprise about ‘The Studio’ when you tune into the 2025 TV series, as some details may catch your attention prematurely.

I’m thrilled to have another reason to appreciate my Apple TV+ subscription, and that reason is the show The Studio. In this comedy series, Seth Rogen, who co-created and co-directed it, plays a studio head grappling with choices that could boost profits but potentially harm the “art” they produce. I find myself in agreement with many critics who praise The Studio as one of the finest Apple TV+ original TV shows so far. Its biting satire, uncanny portrayal of Hollywood realities, and technical finesse are truly impressive.

Despite my admiration for the advanced technical aspect of the Apple TV+ series, I find myself harboring a concern. The way this technique is used within The Studio doesn’t bother me in the least, but its growing prevalence, particularly in television, has me questioning whether it might be becoming too ubiquitous. Let me elaborate…

Every Scene In The Studio Is A Oner

Being a big enthusiast of movies like “Birdman” that utilize long, uninterrupted takes, I was thrilled to learn that every single scene in “The Studio” is filmed this way. Intriguingly, the whole second episode, named “The Oner,” is a single, continuous shot, mirroring the challenges involved in creating such scenes. According to Seth Rogen and co-creator/co-director Evan Goldberg, they drew inspiration for this technique from the opening scene of Robert Altman’s 1992 movie, “The Player.

In my opinion, employing one-shots taken with a 21mm lens by cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra at The Studio is an excellent fit for the show, as it accentuates its swift pace and tense atmosphere. Yet, I’m concerned that these shots are being overused in television nowadays, and there’s a risk they may become excessively common and potentially lead to saturation.

Adolescence Just Used Oners To Brilliant Effect Only Weeks Before

Currently, the Netflix series “Adolescence” has been streaming for about two weeks now and remains the most-watched show on the platform. Not only does it boast exceptional acting and a haunting narrative, but its unique production style sets it apart. Each episode is filmed in a single, unedited take, unfolding events in real time, which adds to its raw intensity. This innovative approach is particularly noteworthy as “Adolescence” premiered just days before another production, “The Studio,” that also heavily relies on this style. This raises an intriguing question: Can too much of a good thing become overwhelming?

Previously this month, Disney’s fresh Marvel TV series titled “Daredevil: Born Again” commenced with a single-shot battle scene, which has been customary for the original Netflix version of the show. Similarly, “The Bear” exhibited a one-take episode during its debut season that left fans astonished, leading to additional full oner episodes and probably numerous other shows and films adopting this concept. The truth is, what truly makes shots like these “awe-inspiring” isn’t just their difficulty, but their rarity. However, as one-shots have grown more common recently, I find myself questioning how long it will be before they lose their uniqueness.

It seems to me that Mike Flanagan, with his exceptional sixth episode in the series or movie The Haunting of Hill House, has set a high bar for this trend. The continuous shot from beginning to end left me astonished. I suspect some viewers felt let down by the sequel, The Haunting of Bly Manor, because it didn’t offer anything as technically impressive as that, despite its compelling and chilling narrative. In essence, I believe that maintaining the use of such long takes will keep this technique engaging. Here’s hoping that TV producers and filmmakers share my sentiment.

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2025-04-02 03:07