Watch an Elaborate One-Shot Montage in ‘Música’ | Anatomy of a Scene

What’s the best way to narratively portray a life that has become nearly impossible to manage? How about with a one-take montage sequence that seems nearly impossible to pull off?
That’s what Rudy Mancuso goes for in his debut feature, “Música” (streaming on Amazon Prime Video), which he directed, composed, co-wrote (with Dan Lagana) and stars in.
The character he plays, Rudy, has been dividing his attention between the three closest women in his life: his girlfriend, Haley (Francesca Reale), with whom he’s hit difficult times; his mother, Maria (Maria Mancuso), and a new woman he is getting to know, Isabella (Camila Mendes). He’s lying to all three. “On the page, it was actually called the ‘Rhythm of Lies,’” Mancuso said in his narration.
The scene is shot on a warehouse stage, with sets flying in and out to represent the different encounters Rudy has with these women. He moves from setup to setup, changing his clothes along the way, with lighting cues syncopated to the music. (Watch for that moment where Rudy starts a kiss with one woman, freezes in place and finishes the kiss with another woman.)
Mancuso said that he and his crew needed half a day of rehearsal and a half a day of shooting 14 takes to pull it all off along.
“This would not have been possible without the hard work of my production designer, Patrick Sullivan, and my amazing DP, Shane Hurlbut,” he said.
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[@lwells3937]

When we watch a scene, we never realize the artistry and work that's involved. We just enjoy! I just want to say thank you all for sharing your gifts

[@ArgoFowl]

nice to see him thriving

[@KhusuusiWoRLdwiThOuTBoRDerS]

This is amazing.

[@moyalol]

This fills the deep need for intricacy in my soul, thank you for showing the world this standard of thought going into your work.

[@BeANicePerson1357]

Amazing

[@amandapriscylla796]

I loved it so much

[@dexciejane2538]

genius.

[@bobbydennis8333]

I found a way to stand for Liberty, Justice, & democracy w/o firing a shot. Take care US!

[@eddyvideostar]

It can and has been done. Kudos to his efforts, though. I don't see the "one-shot montage." Is this an eye-catching title?

[@bobbydennis8333]

“Been that way for 30 years.” - U.S. Justice Department on the lack of Human Rights in Oklahoma County Jail, 2020 “Makes me feel human again after this place.” - Oklahoma City Art Museum review after life in the local shelters (20+ years in the making), 2024 “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” - Nelson Mandela 🥂🥂

[@eddyvideostar]

What did she say at 2:26 minutes?

[@PauloSousaPinto]

"Me ajuda a fechar hoje né?" Brazilian Portuguese.

[@AdrianoFerreiraPaes]

Tá fazendo o L kkkkkkkkjkkkk

[@ems4884]

Montage? There's no montage here. But okay .. it's an interesting take

[@saladman8745]

its a montage of scenes

[@philbelanger2]

​@@saladman8745 aka a movie

[@BLUERAY1611]

NEW YORK TIMES WILL NEVER REPORT ON DEATHS OF INDIAN STUDENTS IN US. 10 INDIAN STUDENTS THIS YEAR ALONE.

[@user-vx9tn3iz4n]

They don't want world to see that

[@liodemirror1775]

The new york times used to be the gold standard for journalism. Now it's just like a tabloid. Just trash

[@anticristopher]

trash