Single Location films that connect:

[steve hyde]

...as we know, too many locations can destroy the economic feasability of a production. This makes writing screenplays with just three or four locations desirable for low-budget independent projects. A few excellent films have been made using only one location. I have one particular film in mind, but I will refrain from naming it at the outset.

 

Which films come to mind for you? Why do they succeed under the visual constraints of a single location?

 

Steve

[Dan Goulder]

Most of "Downfall" takes place in one location, Hitler's bunker. It was a strong film. OK, don't be coy and please name which film you had in mind.

[James Steven Beverly]

They Shoot Horses Don't they, excellent film.

 

My Dinner with Andre, I'm not counting the opening bus sequence

 

Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Not Neil Simon's best but still funny

 

The Terminal, one location, a VERY BIG location but one location.

 

Cube, There was actually only one cube the cast went in and out of, Brillantly simple and effective.

Sin City & Sky Captain ant the world of Tommarrow, I know that' cheating but there was only ONE location during shooting.

 

That's all I can think of right now, Late night :unsure:

[Guest peter orland]

Phone Booth (Joel Shumacher) was limited locations and primarily all the action and tension was created on the one street of the phone booth.

 

Death and the Maiden (Roman Polanski) was also excelent.

[steve hyde]

I am thinking of Sydney Lumet's 1957 feature: "Twelve Angry Men". There is an opening shot of the exterior of the court house, a crane shot in the interior of the court house, a tracking shot that leads to the court room, a few shots in the court room and then the remaining 90 minutes of this 96 minute film are shot in one room with twelve actors - save for the closing shot on the stairs leading out of the courthouse.

 

Credit certainly must go to Reginald Rose who wrote the story. He succeeds at developing the personalities of twelve characters though the argumentation among the men. Through this process of character development the themes of the story are unveiled: the virtues and flaws of due process and the inevitability of facts being obscured by subjectivity. ( to name just the main strands) The film also unveils some of the ways that racism is produced and reproduced.

 

Not only do I think it stands as one of the great single location films, I also think it stands as one of the most important works of American cinema.

 

Any reactions?

 

Steve

[dudeguy37]

I am thinking of Sydney Lumet's 1957 feature: "Twelve Angry Men". There is an opening shot of the exterior of the court house, a crane shot in the interior of the court house, a tracking shot that leads to the court room, a few shots in the court room and then the remaining 90 minutes of this 96 minute film are shot in one room with twelve actors - save for the closing shot on the stairs leading out of the courthouse.

 

Credit certainly must go to Reginald Rose who wrote the story. He succeeds at developing the personalities of twelve characters though the argumentation among the men. Through this process of character development the themes of the story are unveiled: the virtues and flaws of due process and the inevitability of facts being obscured by subjectivity. ( to name just the main strands) The film also unveils some of the ways that racism is produced and reproduced.

 

Not only do I think it stands as one of the great single location films, I also think it stands as one of the most important works of American cinema.

 

Any reactions?

 

Steve

 

My intitial reaction to the question was also Twelve Angry Men...what an incredible film. Another good one (though more contemporary) is "Tape" featuring Uma Thurman and Ethan something...can't remember his last name. Anyway, it all takes place in one motel room if I remember correctly, and though the story and dialog are certainly the main catylyst for moving the story forward, the use of camera angles and locked/handheld shots keep it at least somewhat dynamic visually speaking. Good question,

Peace,

 

-Harry

[James Steven Beverly]

I jusrt thought of 3 more great ones all Hitchcock, Rope Lifeboat and Rear Window and also for the most part Rebecca.

You cou;d also say Clerks was, for the most part, one location

Edited May 10, 2006 by Capt.Video

[Wendell_Greene]

Alien by Ridley Scott

[Mike Kaminski]

Death and the Maiden. Brilliant film.

[James Steven Beverly]

Also, one of my other favorites, Inherit the Wind. Just plain genius!.

Edited May 10, 2006 by Capt.Video

[Bob Hayes]

Here are two great films with lots of sand. Woman in the Dunes and Flight of the Phoenix

[Paul Maibaum ASC]

"Conspiracy" directed by Frank Pierson, HBO mow, 2001..A dramatic recreation of the Wannsee Conference where the Nazi Final Solution phase of the Holocaust was devised takes place within one location, the mansion where the conference was held.

Gripping.

Paul Maibaum

DP/LA

[Dan Salzmann]

"Sleuth" Brilliant film!

Besides the opening scenes, "The Shining" was one location.

"Dog Day Afternoon" was pretty much one location.

[Leo Anthony Vale]

---'Rope'.

 

Lots of camera movement.

Unity of time. Though it is theatrically compressed.

 

'The Hill'

 

While scenes take place in different parts of the prison camp, it's all inthe prison camp.

 

Other Lumet films like 'Twelve Angry Men'. That was originally a live TV play.

 

'Rope' is rather theatrical too.

 

---LV

[Guest fstop]

A few excellent films have been made using only one location. I have one particular film in mind, but I will refrain from naming it at the outset.

 

There's absolutely no shame in saying THE BREAKFAST CLUB.

 

Not a film as such, but Mike Leigh's TV play ABIGAIL'S PARTY is a masterpiece of single location filmmaking.

[Greg Gross]

IDENTITY

Directed by James Mangold

DP- Phedon Papamichael ASC

 

John Cusack

Ray Liotta

Amanda Peet

 

Location at a single motel throughout most of the film.

 

 

Greg Gross

[Michael Nash]

I'd have to say Alien, Identity, and the Shining don't really count, since the sets/locations were big enough and had multiple rooms/levels/areas/whatever. That sorta defeats the purpose of doing a low-budget, one-location film when you're comparing it to huge, elaborate sets. Thematically yes, those films capitalize on the trapped/isolated story that could only take place in a single location, but functionally they had enough different "sub-locations" to help advance the story. Single-spot films kind of turn me off, since the action is limited to mostly intellectual/psychological. Like two hours at the therapist.

 

Any good production manager will tell you that locations that offer multiple rooms, views, and short distances to alternate locations are a money saver. If there's a nearby park, lonely road, or space large enough to set up as an insert stage, so much the better. Sometimes just shooting a closeup on a long lens against some trees in the BG is all you need for pickups.

 

I worked on a film that built sets in a new unoccupied warehouse, and shot mulitiple scenes at a nearby college campus that was closed for the summer.

[Alex Ellerman]

I would say Carpenter's The Thing was pretty limited... and I love it...

ae

[Alex Ardenti]

Did everyone forget Reservoir Dogs? That's the first one that pops into my head.

 

I'd say 90% of it was in the warehouse, the rest were probably 1-2 day shoots at the diner, boss's office, walking down the street etc.

 

Tarantino probably wrote it with low budget in mind since he wanted to shoot it himself initially on 16mm, b&w

 

Alex

 

www.alexardenti.com

[steve hyde]

Why do they succeed under the visual constraints of a single location?

 

These are interesting selections and I agree some of them, like the Shining, have multiple locations, but the second question is the toughy. Why do they succeed under the constraint of a single location? My selection: "Twelve Angry Men" is definitely a intellectual/psychological drama that is built on the character development of the twleve men. In this sense the location might be characterized as a mental space. But this film is not pretentious in any way. (for me) I don't see a lot of philosphical ruminations going on in the picture, but on the other hand the logic of due process holds the story together - not by explaining due process, but by showing how it works and why it works the way it does. (often times flawed). I love the film because it presents so many questions and really doesn't offer answers to any of them. These seem to be requirements for good psychological drama that doesn't fall the way of insulting didacticism...

 

Thanks for all the input,

 

Steve

[Sam Wells]

Milton Moses Ginsburg's film "Coming Apart" (1969, on Kino DVD) takes place entirely in one room - the apartment of the Psychologist played by Rip Torn.

 

Very interesting use of a single space.

 

-Sam

[Hunter Sandison]

"Sleuth" Brilliant film!

 

I love "Sleuth". Another good one is "Same Time Next Year"(1978) with Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn. For the most part its two actors, one room and it spans something like forty years of their lives. The song over the ending credits is ridiculous though.

[Chris Keth]

How about "Clue." The reason for the single location is even in the script. :)

[J. Soren Viuf]

There is an awesome Korean film....actually, two now that I think about it, from Kim Ki-duk set in one location. "Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring (one of my favourite films) and also the thematic sequel, "The Bow" all takes place on one boat. I strongly recommend you check them out.

 

J. Soren Viuf

[Sean Azze]

"Glengarry Glen Ross"

 

Limited locations. Originally a play by David Mamet. Unbelievable performances. If you're a Pacino head like I am, you have to see this one. I think it has some of the most quotable lines of his career, even more so than "Scarface".

 

"Oh, what a big man you are! Hey, let me buy you a pack of gum. I'll show you how to chew it."