Video School / Lessons
Weekend Challenge: Long Portrait - Monologue
Hey there, my earnest empaths,
This is one of my favorite projects on Vimeo: the Long Portrait. Made popular on Vimeo by Clayton Cubitt, the long portrait takes portraiture photography and transfers it to video form. Like Andy Warhol's Screen Tests, the final product shows a subject's subtle expressions, mannerisms, and gestures in a beautiful way.
Josef Kubota Wladyka does something similar with his One Shot Stories. Here, the voice of the subject in combination with the long portrait makes for a magical storytelling experience, and we've added that "monologue" aspect to our Challenge as well:
With such a simple concept, there's plenty of room for artistic play, like:
The placement and framing of your subject can make your portrait seem especially intimate, or constructed and formal. Since the camera isn't moving, think about what you'd like your shot to feel like. Make sure to check out our lesson on framing and composition to learn more about different shot styles and the Rule of Thirds.
Lighting can really set the tone of your long portrait, just like in a photograph. Whether it be natural or studio lighting, soft or harsh, each setup has a specific feel (which will influence your subject as well as your viewers). Little things, like paying attention to the White Balance or adding color with gels, really affect the mood.
With the visual decisions made, think about what the ears hear while they eyes are occupied. Sound is important, and can be underrated as a filmmaking tool. Your video could be accompanied by music from the music store, the subject speaking on camera, a voice over, or anything else you can come up with. We've got a few tips on capturing good sound.
Check out Oversaturated Inc's winning entry from the last Long Portrait Challenge:
The Rules:
+ Film a long portrait in a single shot with no camera movement, at any length you'd like. Make sure to include something you could describe as a monologue. Remember that only videos made specifically for this Challenge will be considered.+ If you add music, make sure you use a song you or a buddy created, or something from the Vimeo Music Store! If you do choose to use a Music Store song, please throw a link in the description.
+ Add this blurb at the end of your video's description: "Created for the Weekend Challenge: vimeo.com/groups/weekendchallenge"
+ Upload and post your video to the Weekend Challenge Group by ***Tuesday, August 19th, 2014*** at 11:59 PM (EST). Just follow the screenshots below:
All videos must be approved by the Vimeo Staff before appearing in the Group, so don't worry if your video doesn't show up at first; we'll get to it!
The Prizes:
+ The winner will receive a Challenge badge on their video, and free Vimeo Plus account for one year! If you're already a Plus member, you'll get another year tacked on to the end of your current subscription.+ The runner-up will receive an extra 3GB of upload space in their weekly quota!
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/dentonfracking/20141029224916im_/http://f.vimeocdn.com/images_v6/icon_vvs_lg.png)
Ready for a challenge?
Spend some quality time with your subject while filming a Long Portrait!
Accept this challengeLesson Summary
Sit, stare, and film yourself a Long Portrait!
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19 Comments
Maria José Sánchez Plus
I don't quite understand the monologue part, does it need a voice-over monologue or... ?
Cameron Christopher Staff
It can be voice over, or the on-screen subject talking, or even just subtitles — whatever that means to you. We're just adding something beyond the image.
Rhodri Williams
What about the subject? Does it need to be constant? Or could you have things move around the frame, leave and join, as long as the camera doesn't move?
Cameron Christopher Staff
Good question, Rhodri. That sounds fine — let's see what you can do!
Paul Theodoroff Plus
Can we rack focus on different objects/ people while still keeping the camera locked down?
akoto abigail
I LIKE DIS MONOLOGUE
Hector Ortiz Ruiz
I would love to take the challenge but I have no experience making Vemio videos. Is their some way I could learn the basics online. Just asking...
The Voices Project
We have made a series of monologues over on our channel, based on monologues originally written for theatre, all using different filming styles and working with different directors. We can't enter any for this, but if anyone is interested in writing them or different approaches, check them out: vimeo.com/channels/thevoicesmonologues
Jenile Productions Plus
can we green screen? or does it have to be the subject and actual background?
Cameron Christopher Staff
Sure, go for it!
Anna Ehredt
I've got something brewing but before reading the directions carefully, took multiple single shot 5-10 second videos. Wondering if I can play with it and do a montage of sorts with multiple single shots or if it needs to be one single long shot.
Cameron Christopher Staff
Long Portraits rely on a single, continuous shot.
Anna Ehredt
Thanks! Also, I just tried following the guidelines to upload my video to the challenge…it's been about 2 hours and i still haven't seen it post. i even searched for my title. does it take awhile to upload to the challenge?
Craig Welzbacher Plus
What about using music from other licensed sites like Audio Network?
lucas zilke
Is it allowed to use hard cuts in the long shot scene, for exampling im zooming into an object for 3mins ( but use hard cuts for other pic impressions )
Kai Jones-Biscette
I like the technique that you used in your intro video; that of speeding up and slowing down figures around you (whilst your motion of your primary subject seems consistent). Is there a basic video tutorial that would instruct us as to how to how to go about doing such filming and/or editing such a style? Thanks.
taiwo abimbola
what about using video 4rm other licensed site
Benjamin Villeda Plus
Hey, Cameron.
My upload failed and I missed the deadline for a few minutes. I hope I can still be considered as a video for the long portrait challenge. I'm very frustrated right now. Really. Thanks.
vimeo.com/103874506
Benjamin Villeda Plus
Thanks Cameron! I have a question, is it ok if y replace the video that I have uploaded? There are no changes but it's in a better quality (full hd)