Now that the limited duration of film magazines has been replaced by digital photography, filmmakers have been challenging themselves to create projects that can be filmed in exceedingly long takes. The 2002 film Russian Ark is a single 90-minute take, filmed in the Hermitage museum. It brings to life the history of Russia, and works as an astonishing technical art project, not a narrative feature. Alejandro G. Iñárritu wanted to make a film where the long takes would be dramatically immersive and not stylishly distracting.
More time was spent on the screenplay because they knew it would be nearly impossible to delete a scene that wasn’t working. Filmed in sequence, they were already in production when the original ending – featuring Johnny Depp caught in a similar dilemma over Jack Sparrow – was changed to the current conclusion.
The final film has sixteen visible edits, scenes would last for up to 15 pages and Emmanuel Lubezki was hired as Director of Photography to help with keeping the film visual and fluid. Camera operator Chris Haarhoff described it as “a type of dance where everyone would hopefully try to peak all at the same moment.” For fun, they kept track of all the times a cast member blew a take. Zach Galifianakis did best, but that’s because he was able to play off his mistakes as deliberate choices, so some of those shots remain in the film.
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