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has said, "The most important thing about any second unit is that you can't tell the difference between the second unit and the first unit. It must have the stamp of the first unit, both in photography and the style of direction. ... You try to copy what the first unit does as much as possible. You
313:, where several cameras film the same scene simultaneously. Large productions may have multiple second units. Although filmmakers may refer to having "three or four units working", each unit would be called an "additional second unit"; usually none would be described as the third or fourth unit.
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is a discrete team of filmmakers tasked with filming shots or sequences of a production, separate from the main or "first" unit. The second unit will often shoot simultaneously with the other unit or units, allowing the filming stage of production to be completed faster.
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In both of these scenarios, the purpose of the second unit is to make the most efficient use of some of the resources that are expensive or scarce in film production: actors' and directors' shooting time,
365:, who is second-in-command to the main director, a second unit director operates independently, and thus can be a stepping stone for aspiring directors to gain experience, such as
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mustn't be on an ego trip and try to do your own style, because your material has to cut into theirs and it mustn't jar, it must fit in exactly so no-one can tell the difference."
274:, rather than the principal cast, and requiring significantly different filming arrangements than for ordinary scenes. Therefore, they are an opportunity for second unit shooting.
499:""We Kept the Third Act in a Safe": Tarantino's Assistant Director William Paul Clarke on Kill Bill, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Improvisational Logistics"
342:, said, "He has the understanding of what it takes to create a great action sequence and never deviate from the story or the tone of the film."
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The functions of the second unit vary, but typically the first unit films the key face-to-face drama between the principal
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377:. Other times, directors may return to predominantly working as second unit directors for the reminder of their career.
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329:. A key skill for a second unit director is to be able to follow the style being set by the film's primary director.
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often get combined with that of the second unit director. Unlike an
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461:"What is a Second Unit Director & What Does a Second Unit Do?"
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usage and the cost of sets that may have been built on stages.
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The work of second units should not be confused with
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859:Cinematographer / director of photography
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263:. Two frequent ways a second unit is used are:
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345:Because second units often film scenes with
71:Learn how and when to remove these messages
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388:, do not use second units in their films.
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233:Learn how and when to remove this message
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478:Halbfinger, David M. (9 March 2008).
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106:adding citations to reliable sources
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52:This article has multiple issues.
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60:or discuss these issues on the
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353:in action movies, the jobs of
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459:Kench, Sam (1 January 2023).
424:"A Dark Night in Gotham City"
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446:www.actiondirectorconrad.com
321:The second unit has its own
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30:Not to be confused with the
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430:. May 1989. pp. 37–40.
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197:to comply with Knowledge's
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1233:Computer-generated imagery
1038:Special effects supervisor
886:Digital imaging technician
480:"The Dark Knight - Movies"
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359:visual effects supervisor
963:Utility sound technician
380:Some directors, such as
210:may contain suggestions.
195:may need to be rewritten
1263:Unit still photographer
948:Director of audiography
677:Unit production manager
1292:Filmmaking occupations
953:Production sound mixer
682:Production coordinator
406:"Second Unit Director"
311:multiple-camera setups
1223:Visual effects editor
1218:VFX creative director
687:Production accountant
27:Filmmaking occupation
1142:Intimacy coordinator
712:Production assistant
102:improve this article
18:Second unit director
906:Lighting technician
762:Production designer
340:Conrad E. Palmisano
338:, commenting about
1200:Technical director
973:Re-recording mixer
702:Script coordinator
692:Assistant director
631:Executive producer
503:Filmmaker Magazine
484:The New York Times
363:assistant director
295:establishing shots
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1137:Acting instructor
1112:Movement director
901:Best boy electric
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740:Storyboard artist
697:Script supervisor
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428:Starlog issue 142
386:Quentin Tarantino
382:Christopher Nolan
355:stunt coordinator
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199:quality standards
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593:Ensemble cast
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216:December 2023
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119: –
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117:"Second unit"
114:
113:Find sources:
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91:This article
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1185:Sound editor
1152:Stunt double
1147:Stage combat
1127:Talent agent
1097:Acting coach
1020:Orchestrator
1015:Music editor
978:Foley artist
890:
869:Focus puller
767:Art director
621:Screenwriter
502:
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473:
464:
454:
445:
436:
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410:Get In Media
409:
400:
379:
375:David Leitch
344:
336:Brett Ratner
320:
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247:
246:
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204:You can help
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100:Please help
95:verification
92:
68:
61:
55:
54:Please help
51:
1180:Film editor
1102:Body double
983:Voice foley
891:Second unit
851:Photography
832:Illustrator
819:Visual arts
799:Set dresser
784:Hairdresser
753:Production
608:Cameo actor
578:Voice actor
304:sound stage
248:Second unit
1286:Categories
1258:Swing gang
1228:Compositor
1162:Under-five
923:Dolly grip
732:Storyboard
548:filmmaking
392:References
128:newspapers
57:improve it
34:(SI unit).
1238:Rendering
1053:Animation
1000:Subtitles
879:Steadicam
779:Greensman
603:Bit actor
544:Film crew
317:Directors
283:close-ups
208:talk page
63:talk page
1195:Animator
1190:Colorist
1132:Stand-in
1071:Modeling
1061:Animator
1005:Composer
913:Key grip
323:director
291:cutaways
279:Pick-ups
255:Function
1076:Rigging
990:Dubbing
287:inserts
142:scholar
1090:Talent
896:Gaffer
755:design
373:, and
347:stunts
293:, and
261:actors
206:. The
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32:second
1251:Other
1122:Extra
940:Sound
573:Actor
149:JSTOR
135:books
928:Grip
384:and
357:and
349:and
325:and
121:news
995:ADR
104:by
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