Seth Rogen’s The Studio: One-Shot Technique Explained
- The oner, a continuous, unbroken shot, has long been a cinematic flex, showcasing technical prowess and heightening narrative tension.From Alfred Hitchcock's early experiments to modern masterpieces, filmmakers have...
- Kathryn Hahn, star of the Apple TV+ comedy series The Studio, lauded the show's innovative use of oners.She noted that Seth rogen and Evan Goldberg aimed to film...
- Rogen stars as Matt Remick, a studio head navigating the demands of both artistic vision and corporate interests.
Exploring Oner Technique in TV and Film: From ‘The Studio’ to ‘Daredevil’
Updated May 30, 2025
The oner, a continuous, unbroken shot, has long been a cinematic flex, showcasing technical prowess and heightening narrative tension.From Alfred Hitchcock’s early experiments to modern masterpieces, filmmakers have embraced this challenging technique.Now, television is getting in on the act, with shows like The Studio and Daredevil pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Kathryn Hahn, star of the Apple TV+ comedy series The Studio, lauded the show’s innovative use of oners.She noted that Seth rogen and Evan Goldberg aimed to film much of the series in these long, uninterrupted takes.Hahn said this approach heightened the challenge and artistry for the actors, creating a play-like atmosphere on set.
Rogen stars as Matt Remick, a studio head navigating the demands of both artistic vision and corporate interests. The Studio has garnered acclaim for its satire and its ambitious use of the oner, expanding upon the “walk-and-talk” sequences popularized by shows like The West wing and Scrubs. Instead of focusing solely on the characters’ faces, The Studio‘s camera weaves through the vibrant movie set, capturing the energy of the environment.
Episode two, titled “the Oner,” highlights this technique as Matt assists Sarah Polley (playing herself) in filming a oner for her fictional film within the show.
Historically, the oner has been a mark of prestige. Hitchcock’s Rope (1948) used clever editing to create the illusion of four continuous takes, heightening the suspense of the story. Orson Welles’ A Touch of Evil (1958) opens with a memorable oner, and Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (1990) features a famous oner through the Copacabana nightclub. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Birdman (2014) is perhaps the most ambitious recent example, appearing as one continuous 110-minute shot.
Beyond The Studio,other recent TV shows have experimented with the oner.The Marvel series Daredevil (2015) features several impressive hand-to-hand combat scenes filmed as oners. One standout is a hallway fight where Daredevil rescues a kidnapped child, its lighting inspired by Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy.
The British miniseries Adolescence takes the oner to another level, with each of its four episodes filmed in a single, uninterrupted take. This technique amplifies the unease and unreliable narrator aspect of the drama, though its novelty may wane by the final episode.
While oners can be impressive, they risk prioritizing technical skill over narrative. the Studio, however, uses the technique judiciously, ensuring it serves a clear purpose.
What’s next
As technology advances, expect to see even more innovative uses of the oner in both film and television, pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling and immersing audiences in new and exciting ways.