The Sustained Two-Shot

Tony Zhou of Every Frame a Painting has been missing in action for years, and we've missed his insightful look at the details of filmmaking. We are glad to see he is back, in what he calls a limited edition of his series on filmmaking. with a look at a classic type of scene called the sustained two-shot.

The sustained two-shot was common back in the days when film was more expensive than an actor's time. Now, the actors don't have to get minutes of dialogue perfect all the way through, because there are multiple camera angles and the opportunity to edit. But that's only the beginning of how filmmaking has changed over time, and why the sustained two-shot isn't seen much anymore. One simple film technique carries a rich history, and Zhou makes it way more interesting than you would imagine.