Jurassic Park & the Spielberg Oner - How to Direct a Long Take like Steven Spielberg

Learn More: How to Shoot a Spielberg Oner ►► bit.ly/jp-blocking
Jurassic Park (1993) changed what was possible in filmmaking. Steven Spielberg turned a B-movie premise into one of the greatest blockbusters of all time. But what makes Jurassic Park such a good movie has very little to do with the actual dinosaurs. A vast majority of Jurassic Park is dino-free, and what are we left with? Character development, exposition filled scientific jargon, and themes about parenthood. No, what makes Jurassic Park so good is that Steven Spielberg understands how cinematography and film language can make any scene engaging.
In this Jurassic Park analysis, we’re going to look at Steven Spielberg’s cinematography, especially his long takes and camera movement techniques. By now, you probably know enough about Steven Spielberg’s filmmaking style to know that he loves a good oner. Where most filmmakers will shoot simple coverage, Spielberg will take a simple dialogue scene and shoot it in a long take with dynamic camera movement techniques. But why? Is he just trying to show off or are there valuable cinematic techniques on display?
Consider the scene when John (Richard Attenborough) must convince Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) and Ellie Satler (Laura Dern) of his plan to “shut down the system.” Spielberg uses simple blocking, staging, and camera movements to shoot a oner with 4 distinct set-ups. Not only did he save time by shooting this scene in one shot, he made a potentially dry and uninteresting dialogue scene more compelling. As John explains how his plan will work, the camera is drawn towards him and we, the audience, are also being engaged in his plan.
These filmmaking techniques centered around blocking, staging, camera movement and framing are the fundamental building blocks of film language. And no one understands this better than Steven Spielberg.
#filmmaking #directing #cinematography
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[@josefabuaisheh6262]

I love Spielberg exposition... it's some of the most emotional moments in american cinema 😍

[@StudioBinder]

Makes us care about the information 👍

[@harrisonmetcalf3184]

Like someone else commented, this IS the best channel for teaching film making. Love it, thank you so much.

[@StudioBinder]

We appreciate the compliments! Grateful to hear our videos are helping people :)

[@mariopuyat7582]

I AGREE! I also love the Christopher Nolan, Director’s Chair.

[@shaha9]

We studied this movie in film school. The trick is motion, Spielberg is a fan of the famous Akira director among others. Like all good old school directors they used motion and depth in the lense to display information. Updated with beautiful cinematography, visuals, and production design just makes it so juicy. Filmmakers have changed to a new movement lately, but the classics help build a foundation.

[@StudioBinder]

Definitely! Right motion with the right emotion

[@Albanez39]

Watched this film as a kid, and really loved it but never fully grasped its storytelling magic. Now as a 27 year old student of filmmaking, and by watching this video I can fully grasp its power and virtues. Thank you StudioBinder, you're really great at teaching this art!!!

[@JoJo-xp6wr]

If anyone gets to make a movie after years, your names must be in the credits, not because you contributed in it, but you taught the one who made it!

[@StudioBinder]

Haha, we would love that!

[@filmthoughtproject5699]

Another great breakdown. The ‘Spielberg Oner’ is different to other forms of ‘long takes’. Spielberg’s long takes usually attempt to remain unnoticeable to the audience, whereas a lot of modern long takes are there to simply ‘show off’ to the audience. Looking forward to the next video!

[@StudioBinder]

Yes! His incredible camerawork serves the story, not itself

[@RSpracticalshooting]

Exactly! His oners are the kind that you don't even notice unless it's pointed out or you're doing an analytic viewing. A lot of more modern oners tend to be noticeable because the filmmakers try to make it flashy.

[@MarkJohnson-gk6kc]

@@RSpracticalshooting He's also not afraid to break up a oner with inserts from time to time.

[@MusoukaMX]

Jurassic Park was the first movie I remember ever seeing in a theater. Little 7 year old Musouka was a dork and there was nothing he wanted more than to be a paleontologist and he cried his heart out through the whole "Welcome to Jurassic Park" scene. I remember it so clearly after more than 25 years, I'm actually feeling my throat closing up as I write this. It's the most magic moment of cinema to me. Funny enough, I changed my mind in highschool and ended up taking journalism to be a media critic, the most despicable job possible right behind being a lawyer. Then again, growing up wanting to be Dr. Alan Grant and ending up being the blood-sucking lawyer is the story of my generation, I guess.

[@op8726]

I also saw it in theaters when I was seven... I'm writing and directing films now :) I'm not Spielberg but can hopefully give audiences some of what his moves gave me! Maybe someday I'll need a lawyer to protect the rights to my films

[@StudioBinder]

haha no need to be so hard on yourself. We all have that special moment in cinema that sticks with us!

[@kawaiiafangirl]

Your story started out in a feel-good/ happily-ever-after kinda way but devolved into a tragedy. Lol. Jurassic Park was one of the first movies I remember constantly watching on VHS when I was a kid. I was probably 4-5 years-old then. I also wanted to be a paleontologist bc of Dr. Alan Grant. I remember digging around soil just bc I thought I could find dinosaur fossils. Lol.

[@reptongeek]

My Spanish teacher at sixth form college had a young son who wanted to see Jurassic Park. I let him borrow my VHS copy. He was so excited, my teacher told me he told several people in his class that day he was going to see it when he got home

[@petersarubbi]

No matter how many times I see it... That rising epic John Williams score when the dinos are first introduced and the wide eyed wonder in the actor's eyes... Always gives me chills... One of the most perfectly crafted scenes in one of the greatest films ever... Truly masterful movie making from a true master💙

[@WilliamTeller]

This other video is a good companion piece that addresses the power of the music specifically: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKO9f4eYgdGiaLc

[@abelszalontay922]

The video itself is an editing masterpiece :D

[@StudioBinder]

Compliments of our editor!

[@janghasib2090]

I think the secret of spielberg's visual storytelling is 'doing montage in mise en scene'.

[@StudioBinder]

Interesting point! I would say Spielberg has a variety of techniques that make up his visual style

[@alexispapageorgiou72]

He uses everything. Jackie Chan with a camera.

[@DROWYNAUT55]

When you win the best director award at the oscars: "I would like to thank Studiobinder"

[@StudioBinder]

We'll be watching!

[@tturnquest1]

This is educational for anyone who wants to be a filmmaker. Jurassic Park is a masterpiece. And I’m baffled that the sequels didn’t catch the same quality as the first film.

[@StudioBinder]

We appreciate the compliment! And agreed, the same magic wasn't present like in the original. To be fair, there was no way the dinosaurs could give the same level of awe

[@tturnquest1]

StudioBinder agreed.

[@godwinemerine9669]

Steven Spielberg is the reason why I fell in love with filmmaking

[@Jim-iz3oy]

His long takes almost go unnoticed idk how he does it!

[@phantomsoil]

I can't tell you how many times I have watched Jurassic Park and not noticed this. Gives another great tool in the box that I am excited to experiment with. Fantastic video thank you!

[@StudioBinder]

Happy filming!

[@marcomacias3960]

the SUV scene is so funny at the end when Grant closes the door on Tim while he's talking. Great blocking and oner

[@DROWYNAUT55]

Thank you for the awesome video! My favorite Spielberg Oner is the ferry scene from Jaws (My favorite movie). I love it, first, because it is always an active scene, the background is always moving because of the great choice of location. Secondly, I love it because the costume design on the actors is symbolic: The mayor and the other governmental figures that come out of his car are wearing blue suits, while Brody, Hendricks, and the ferry driver are all wearing tan pants. It shows that there is a separation between these groups: One is a powerful government official and the other is your average man. Additionally, the mayor's group are dressed like sharks in their slick blue clothing. Not to mention that the mayor circles Brody like a shark circling its prey; this contributes to the unbelievable blocking of this scene which includes how Hendricks and the ferry driver are standing away from the attack on Brody because they are powerless, and how Brody is trapped by the water around him as well. AN EXTRA COOL THING: The name Brody means "one with the land", and since Brody in the movie hates the water it is a perfectly chosen name for him. Hopefully you learned more about why this scene works so well from my comment.

[@AshArnoldEditing]

One of the greatest films ever! Na na na na naaaa na na na na naaaa nana nana na naaa!

[@StudioBinder]

One of the iconic blockbusters in cinema!

[@pranjalsensua]

God bless the makers of this channel.

[@StudioBinder]

God bless you guys for watching!

[@Hi_Im_Ethan]

This is the BEST channel for movie directing tips!!!! Thank goodness for you all! Also JP is awesome :)

[@StevenAlvarez]

4:06 the taxi driver in the background gives him the 'you hoe' for not closing his door 😂

[@StudioBinder]

😂 that would be seriously irritating

[@ashutoshyadav3897]

StudioBinder - *Spielberg oner* Every frame a painting - First time?

[@StudioBinder]

Lol, Every Frame a Painting is great!

[@slotsartstudio2785]

Many videos on KZbin share the same type of knowledge ... Look at how many art tutorials there are. This is about filmmaking, and Studio Binder did a great job making their version of this topic their own. I avoided it at first, too, thinking the same thing, but am glad I watched it. Was worth it.

[@davidlean1060]

@@StudioBinder Respectfully, he is saying you are plagiarizing an already well known video essay. He has a point.

[@davidlean1060]

I was just about to post the same thing. Covering how Speilberg films a scene is one thing, but lifting the title from an already very well known video is quiet another.

[@DROWYNAUT55]

@@davidlean1060 Yeah, but this is a PG version

[@youjuda]

Studiobinder is an awesome channel which I thought would never existed with related to film. Your explanations of film themes, technicality, editing and directing and especially dissecting a scene is simply WOW. And also in some videos while watching it I do myself a guessing game of which movie you would bring up with related to the subject you're presenting. What you do here makes us watch the movies in a more appreciative way. Thank You

[@facundocampos]

There's one critical thing missing in the "shut down" scene analysis. Spielberg loves a oner, yes, but he uses Sam Jackson's character as a "safety". He lets the take roll, but cuts the shot after Richard says "correct?" to a single of Sam saying his line. Then, he cuts back to Richard and the oner scene goes on. This one element of having a "safety" allows Spielberg to combine different takes. It's not just to hammer home a character's point, it also has a practical use. Had he kept it as a strict oner, he'd be locked into only being able to use one take and gives you much less options. Like this line from take 2 but this line from take 4? Should've gotten a safety. It's a valuable lesson in practical filmmaking as well.

[@santanuc9298]

Wonderfully explained! I wish if you could mention the focal length Mr. Spielberg used to cover the wide, mid, close up frames in a single continuous shot but still looks very cinematic. Which Focal Length?

[@pigeon5613]

I love watching the paddock scene from Jurassic park! The use of sound and lighting in that scene always gets me hyped.

[@StudioBinder]

Agreed, so many gems in this movie

[@naverich4603]

When I was young I love Indiana Jones Trilogy but I never liked other Spielberg's movies (maybe except Jurassic park and its sequel). When I was a teenager I knew Spielberg was a great filmmaker but I found him to be overrated, considering he's for lots of people the best filmmaker ever. It wasn't until I started making my own movies and started studying them at university when I realized how incredible filmmaker this man is. His eye for mis-en-scene is probably the best I have ever seen, not even Godard or Tarkovsky can top him. I now feel a little bit guilty I was ever able to use word overrated in connection to SS

[@yellobee4520]

When is your next “ Directing Styles Explained “ video?

[@StudioBinder]

It'll be awhile, but we're breaking down the Coens next week!

[@LuisSierra42]

@@StudioBinder HELL YEAH!! The Coen brothers are one of my favorite filmmakers

[@ephraimedits]

I must admit,you guys do a really good job on this channel. Your videos are detailed and educational. Much respect to you guys !

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you for saying that! Always nice to hear our content is doing what it was made for

[@danielcardiff3861]

That roar, man. Beats em all.

[@StudioBinder]

Iconic, without a doubt 👍

[@patrickward1470]

What a find this channel has been. Absolutely 10/10 content. Thank you

[@jondwiseman]

This HAS to be the best channel on KZbin.

[@StudioBinder]

Happy to make our contribution :)

[@kawaiiafangirl]

A Spielberg trademark is to have multiple characters (usually 4 or more) having simultaneous conversations at the same time. In other words, there are 2 conversations going on in the same scene. He may be the only director I know that does that. I hope Studio Binder does a video on that.

[@cjkalandek996]

This is one of the reasons why Spielberg is my favorite director (aside from being a master storyteller). He doesn't have his footage cut to shit like a bunch of amateur filmmakers who don't know how to let a moment breathe. He has his camera movements help engage us with the story, due to his subjective storytelling shtick.

[@nigelasipa4150]

Also at 7:11, you can still see Laura Dern’s character in the background within the car window watching the characters in the foreground

[@_thomas1031]

Insightful video!! I loved the movie as a kid and I'm pleasantly surprised to see all the creative details and choices throughout the movie that make me appreciate it even more.

[@StudioBinder]

Great movies only get better when seen with matured eyes!

[@RSpracticalshooting]

Anytime I see a video about Jurassic Park I instantly click, my favorite movie of all time and in my opinion the epitome of what cinema is all about.

[@chriswright4677]

Another superb piece of work. Thank you.

[@astitvaarora3181]

I love this Movie even Today.. Strange that its nearly 20 yrs since I saw this wonderful Amazing Movie on the Big Screen & its still in the long Run..Glad ! Life finds a Way 😊☺️

[@StudioBinder]

Classics are classics for a reason!

[@astitvaarora3181]

@@StudioBinder It Would be great to include Indian Directors as well while analysing the Directorial styles..

[@AliQasim]

Genius at work

[@FilmscoreMetaler]

10:30 Maybe not the most popular pick, but there are some great oners in Ready Player One such as when the Oasis is introduced or during the car race scene.

[@StudioBinder]

Even with his less iconic films, Spielberg still is a master craftsman 👌

[@rryan916]

One of my favs is Saving Private Ryan... Tom Hanks is merely sharing exposition but there's just GOBS of extras and the war looks completely full scale and chaotic with all the troops.

[@nogoogleplus]

Excellent break down!

[@tecnologizateonline1736]

This film is the reason why I studied film.

[@alexandrefrancofilho5041]

I loved Spielberg's movies growing up, then I started liking Tarantino, Fincher, Kubrik....but then I watched them again with my kids and thought "this spielberg Guy got some talent".

[@stuntmandoom7704]

"Welcome to Studio Binder" BA-NANANANAAA BA-NANANANAAA 🎼🎵🎶🎹

[@rohith5788]

Munich and Schindler's list have one of best Spielberg's oners

[@tesconstamylo]

Yes as a kid the brachiosaurus was the one that triggered my interest in science. But now with your analysis, I admire even more Spielberg's work Let's do not forget the empire of the sun, especially the scene with the aeroplane. Still Schindler's list is my favourite.

[@StudioBinder]

Spielberg's the man - he's expertly used these techniques through so many different genres and films, including the two you mentioned!

[@sammyfabelman]

My childhood 😍 Steven Spielberg is genius...

[@dulamprasadcreativevideos9733]

The narrator's voice is very good, and every episode is very useful

[@StudioBinder]

We appreciate the feedback! New video every Monday

[@perspective6288]

I like your detail explanation... But what about Cameron,Cuaron,Tarkovsky,Lynch,PT Anderson ,Iñárritu, Coppola,malick,coen bros, Ford,Lean....??

[@StudioBinder]

They're all amazing! But each of those directors need their own breakdowns 😅. This one is for Spielberg

[@perspective6288]

@@StudioBinder Thank you for your reply... Your channel is only a best resource for aspiring filmmaker.💯 Eager for above directors breakdown.😃

[@Michlwhtn]

Best Spielberg Oner ... probably in his early days on jaws. On the boat. Camera is stationary (if memory serves me correct) while the entire set itself is moving. The shots like 5-6 minutes or something like that.

[@danferraro3598]

another amazing video fro you guys!

[@StudioBinder]

We appreciate it! New video every Monday 👍

[@TheWaynos73]

Spielberg does an incredible oner in the first episode of his TV series Amazing Stories called ‘The Mission’

[@n0zenzur]

Great video. Can you make video about Ari Aster style. Pretty talented director.

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@manjeetnikhilentertainment4837]

Best chanel for learn film making😘🥰

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you! Glad we could help 👌

[@advaithmahadev2646]

How do you blocking this in animation template, which application

[@sivaabhinash2313]

What movie BGM was played at 3:09 till 3:33 ? Anyone?

[@deviandrianto]

_Juraasic Park_ is the classic movie that Hollywood should never made any remake

[@StarWarsOriginsFilm]

We honoured Spielberg with the opening oner to our movie... shot in the Sahara Desert. In fact, our whole movie is an homage to Spielberg & Lucas.

[@StudioBinder]

That's fantastic! All the greats have done homages to their greatest influences

[@StarWarsOriginsFilm]

StudioBinder Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the movie. Took 3 years to make! If there’s a way we can talk about it on your channel, we’d be really keen.

[@andresosorio3463]

Excelent, thanks!

[@margonca17]

At 3:59 I clarify that it is not the city of San José, it is an obvious error by the scriptwriter to set it that way, but the shot is of a coast city in Costa Rica

[@gianlucapistoia8993]

When you love this Oner, you must watch Munich from Spielberg ^^

[@StudioBinder]

👍 Agreed, Spielberg is versatile with his tools

[@aadisharma4744]

Can you explain something. Off the topic though. How did Tarantino shot that anime sequence for O-ren Ishii in Kill Bill Vol. 1

[@janghasib2090]

I had read somewhere that tarantino just write the shot list in text of what happens in each shot and give them to the production house (production i.g.) in japan to make it in anime.

[@StudioBinder]

He gave it to the company (Production I.G.) for the animation and there was a separate animation director working on it (Kazuto Nakazawa).

[@aadisharma4744]

@@StudioBinder thanks man

[@yeboahmohammed2511]

What's an exposition please? What's a montage too? @Studiobinder

[@StudioBinder]

exposition - Characters delivering information related to the plot. Montage - a collection or series of images, still or moving, that are assembled to produce a sequence. A montage is most commonly used to show the passage of time, tell a larger story than the sum of the images it presents, and to compare and contrast.

[@dhananjaynikam4039]

Hii Studio binder please make serise of film lighting Types of lights lighting equipment &Etc... All about lighting Please

[@CluelessIndianGamer]

More power to you guys ❤️

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you!

[@vishalmardi7133]

Really I enjoyed ❤❤❤

[@DelightLovesMovies]

I love Steven Spielberg and his films.

[@filmdirect2355]

This is a great video🔥. StudioBinder, your channel has been a massive inspiration to me. It's given the confidence to start my own channel Film Direct recently. The channel is really new, only a month old so I've still got loads to learn. It would be great to get some feedback from the community on what I've done so far. Much love from the UK

[@K.o.c.h.i.k.a.a.r.a.n]

#WarOfTheWorlds car sequence oner!!

[@ashishrao9588]

Does he decide his moments on set or in pre production itself?

[@StudioBinder]

Probably a mixture of both

[@runxiaoluo7559]

best speilberg long take has to that setting trap one from MUNICH

[@StudioBinder]

Nice! One of his lesser known (but no less impressive) uses of the technique

[@sahilbaxi]

Every Frame a Painting, we haven't forgotten you

[@StudioBinder]

Love his videos, still watch them from time to time

[@brendn]

@@StudioBinder Then you really should have explicitly credited Zhou and Ramos for coming up with the term in the title of this video! This video is well done, but I'm disappointed by that failure.

[@ccvp8985]

Oh definitely best Spielberg long take is drinking game in Raiders of Lost Arc :')

[@nanisampath9998]

Good episode for us

[@StudioBinder]

Happy our video was useful to you!

[@alex.afshar-film]

Maybe the one in Saving Private Ryan, with fighting in a building, walk over streets and a tank pointing to the window where we see it.

[@JacobPatrick1]

Do you get to choose where the ad is ? ... because... it's placed in the middle of a "ONER" ! ...

[@JehanStefanENG]

Bravo for your great video as always!!! I have a technical / legal question. I work in the film music business (mostly for French, UK and Hollywood films) and would love to insert like you movie clip in my KZbin channel about film music . Is it legal to do that? How often do you get copyright strike or infringement ? Do you need to pay a license fee for using the video clip and the John Williams soundtrack ? Thank you and continue the good work :)

[@StudioBinder]

Flagging is more common with music use. As long as it's transformed, as @daniel Menefrego mentioned, you should be fine

[@treeking9445]

It's the little thing of him not closing the car door as well.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

Man, if I had to say the best spielberg oner, it would be the falcon chase scene in the Adventures of Tintin.

[@sabarivasanshanmugam9196]

Each lengthy camera movement in Jurassic park is equally proportional to the human's anticipation to see the animal which lived with them million years ago!

[@donsan6404]

This is why he is the greatest.

[@biggestronald]

What are great channel.

[@dexterdextrow7248]

These kind of analyses are always weird when they say "this makes you feel this" and I'm thinking: Well, No, It really didn't, but ok... you're the professional I guess...

[@gopisasikumar2099]

Spielberg fan from india. Chennai

[@adarshjose3891]

♥️From India

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you for watching! We appreciate the support :)

[@mirsyadhikmatullah119]

Harry Potter The Prisoner of Azkaban used the same technique

[@StudioBinder]

True! Alfonso Cuaron is another master of the long take

[@tony_mucci]

im crying

[@cainazzo1]

I love the opening scene of Amisdad ,for me his most underrated movie

[@StudioBinder]

Nice choice! Agreed it's one of his more underrated works

[@alex.afshar-film]

Spielbergs Oner is the best!

[@lifeIsShorts8]

I watch studio binder, even while cooking, eating, before sleeping, studying...only not in toilets n playground, otherwise I am totally hooked n booked with studio binder. As if she is my gf😂😂😂 I get to learn so much. Thanks studio binder. N I do take notes.

[@arkapravodas2010]

The best Spielberg one take is the bike / car / foot chase in The Adventures of Tintin

[@StudioBinder]

Great call! A one take certainly takes on a new life in animation

[@Mark-fv8vt]

How much does the cinematographer contribute to the set-up? How does Cundey's work differ from that of Slocombe on Indiana Jones? kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJvNZoFqq7KEac0

[@appukshaji9863]

World's two greatest power, homosapiens and dinosaurs, when put into combat! Thats how its preface goes. Spielberg❤

[@StudioBinder]

a killer tagline haha

[@raihanrahaman007]

Make more videos on Spielberg

[@srilankarelaxation5889]

I always double check if i liked

[@ostrichoverlord]

Today I learnt and remembered that Samuel l Jackson was in Jurassic park

[@AdityaSingh-oh2fw]

I learned today from this is, *just learn from everything, its going to work or not is upto your own overall planing.* Because Jurassic Park was incredible but Steven Spielberg also delivered flops.

[@StudioBinder]

Yes! The technique does not exist in a vacuum - it has to work into the overall appropriate visual style of the film

[@devkalotra3982]

When is studio binder going to make some content on Indian cinema??? There some very good movies you should watch

[@StudioBinder]

We have articles covering Indian Cinema on our site! Certainly not against making a video on it, we're just working through our existing material