Table of Contents
The enchanting world of filmmaking relies on the collaborative efforts of a dedicated crew, often underappreciated once the movie is released. Their contributions, while acknowledged in behind-the-scenes content and through the film’s success, don’t receive the recognition they truly deserve. Movie sets and sound stages are being constructed, casting decisions are being finalized, and the intricate coordination of locations and scenes is underway. The process of creating films is a joyful yet demanding endeavor, especially when directors have high expectations for their actors and artistic elements.
Sponsered English Shortfilm Playlist
10 Movie Scenes That Took Forever to Film
City Lights (1931) – Buying Flowers
City Lights is a classic silent romantic comedy featuring Charlie Chaplin in his iconic role as the Tramp. The story begins with the Tramp inadvertently falling asleep on a monument, only to be ridiculed by passersby. Unfazed, he continues wandering through the city until he crosses paths with a visually impaired woman, portrayed by Virginia Cherrill, who mistakenly believes him to be wealthy. In his quest to win her affection, Chaplin insisted on shooting the scene where the Tramp buys a flower from her an impressive 342 times to perfect its believability.
Dragon Lord (1982) – Shuttlecock Soccer
“Dragon Lord” is a martial arts comedy featuring Jackie Chan in the role of Dragon, a trouble-prone son of a Chinese aristocrat, and his close friend Mars as Cowboy Chin. Dragon’s penchant for mischief and poor academic record leads to a misadventure when he attempts to deliver a love letter to a girl using a kite, accidentally landing it on a gang’s hideout.
In order to protect their temple from this gang, Dragon and Cowboy Chin must undergo a series of challenging experiences that serve as life lessons. The film is notable for Jackie Chan’s trademark combination of technically demanding yet practical stunts. One of the most intricate and memorable scenes involves a shuttlecock soccer match at Dragon’s school, which required more than 1,000 takes to achieve its desired effect.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999) – Walking Through the Door
“Eyes Wide Shut,” a psychosexual thriller starring Tom Cruise as Dr. Bill Harford and Nicole Kidman as his wife Alice, explores Bill’s unease about the possibility of his wife having an affair. As he navigates a world of seductive socialites, he is drawn into a secretive society centered around sexual rituals.
Stanley Kubrick, a renowned director known for his meticulous approach, maintained his high standards with “Eyes Wide Shut.” Notably, the film’s production set a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous shoot, spanning 400 days. Additionally, Kubrick had Tom Cruise go through a door a total of 95 times during the filming process.
Oldboy (2003) – Corridor Fight
“Oldboy” is a South Korean neo-noir film that tells the story of Oh Dae-su, a man who is abducted and wrongfully accused of his wife’s murder. He spends 15 years imprisoned in a sealed hotel room, during which he is drugged and subjected to hypnotic conditioning. Upon his unexpected release, Oh Dae-su embarks on a mission to track down the enigmatic individuals responsible for his captivity. In a remarkable scene, he confronts and engages in a brutal battle with them in a corridor. Notably, this iconic single-shot sequence, devoid of CGI effects, required three days of meticulous effort to perfect.
RoboCop (1987) – Catching the Keys
In the dystopian setting of a crime-ridden Detroit, RoboCop serves as a cyborg law enforcement officer. When police officer Alex Murphy, portrayed by Peter Weller, is killed by criminals, he undergoes a revival process by the powerful corporation Omni Consumer Products (OCP), which controls the Detroit Police Department.
He is equipped with three core directives: to prioritize public trust, safeguard the innocent, and maintain the law. Weller adapted to wearing the RoboCop suit relatively easily, but he had a whole day of difficulty attempting to retrieve his police chief’s keys.
Release and distribute your short films, web series and album songs through Shortfundly and earn monthly. Click here to learn more.
Spider-Man (2002) – Lunch Tray Scene
Peter Parker, portrayed by Tobey Maguire, is the alter ego of the beloved superhero Spider-Man in New York City. He gains incredible powers and agility after being bitten by a genetically modified spider during his high school years, resulting in enhanced vision and reflexes.
During a cafeteria scene, Peter’s romantic interest, Mary Jane Watson, played by Kirsten Dunst, experiences a mishap when she slips on a wet floor. In a remarkable display of his newfound abilities, Peter manages to save MJ and her lunch from hitting the ground. Notably, this challenging lunch-catching scene was accomplished without the use of CGI and required an impressive 156 takes to get it just right.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) – Battle of Helm’s Deep
“The Two Towers,” an epic fantasy adventure, is adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s high fantasy novel. Saruman, the wizard, has become corrupted by his lust for power and seeks to conquer the kingdom of Rohan. In response, King Théoden orders the evacuation of his people from the oncoming Uruk-hai army led by Saruman, taking refuge in the Hornburg fortress at Helm’s Deep. This leads to a night battle in pouring rain, a sequence that required over three months of filming.
The Shining (1980) – Baseball Bat Scene
“The Shining” is a psychological and supernatural horror movie that follows the Torrance family as they take on the role of winter caretakers at the eerie Overlook Hotel. During their stay, the hotel’s malevolent supernatural forces, known as “the shining,” begin to unravel the sanity of its guests.
The husband, Jack, whose troubled history with alcohol and insistence on solitude, drives his wife Wendy to a state of extreme distress. Shelley Duvall’s iconic and harrowing performance in the film was marked by director Stanley Kubrick’s demand for 127 takes of a particular scene.
The Usual Suspects (1995) – Line-Up Scene
“The Usual Suspects” is a neo-noir mystery film that revolves around the enigmatic criminal mastermind known as Keyser Söze and the sequence of events that eventually lead to his unmasking. Initially, a gang of criminals is suspected of hijacking a truck, but during the identity parade, none of them confess to the crime and instead share a jovial moment. The actors portraying the experienced felons found the situation so amusing that director Bryan Singer opted to shift the scene’s tone from serious to irreverent.
V for Vendetta (2006) – Dominoes Scene
“V for Vendetta is an action movie set in a dystopian world, adapted from Alan Moore’s DC Vertigo graphic novel. In this story, a totalitarian government holds sway over Britain, and an enigmatic anarchist known as V operates in the shadows to spark a revolution.
This mysterious vigilante encourages the public to rebel against their oppressive rulers on November 5th, all while donning Guy Fawkes masks and causing widespread disorder. Before initiating his movement, V arranges a line of falling dominoes, which, when knocked over, reveal his emblem. It’s worth noting that it took 200 hours to set up a sequence involving an impressive 22,000 dominoes.”
Note:
*Shortfundly is hiring for multiple roles in Chennai. Start referring your known connections to these openings*. Check it out – https://lnkd.in/erZm6rzh
About Shortfundly
Shortfundly is an OTT marketplace platform available to share the best short films and web series through global multi-platform network. Their editorial platform enables global audience to easily discover, watch, and share unique contents anywhere on their desktop, connected TV and mobile devices.
If you are planning to release and earn on an OTT platform, learn how to distribute your short film via Shortfundly.
For publishing an advertorial article about your digital news/product launch/ short film/web series/album song on our website, drop an email at [email protected]
Hey Cinephiles! We welcome guest blogging on our platform. Do share your article with us.
Check out our Shortfundly YouTube channel for other interesting podcasts & interviews with filmmakers.
To watch unlimited premium short films & web series, Download the Shortfundly mobile application now available on Google Play Store and Apple App store.
