10 Movies Only Directed As Experiments
5. A Single-Take Movie Recorded & Broadcast Live - Lost In London
The Experiment
In an ultimate feat of "F**k it, why not?" filmmaking, Woody Harrelson decided that, for his directorial debut, he wanted to make a drama film shot entirely in one take, and crazier still, which would be simulcast live to cinemas across the world.
The film, Lost in London, was loosely based on Harrelson's own run-in with the law in London in 2002.
It featured 30 cast members - including Owen Wilson and Willie Nelson - and 14 shooting locations, both interior and out on the London streets where, theoretically, anyone could interrupt the live broadcast, which took place on January 19, 2017.
Harrelson made it clear in pre-film interviews that he simply wanted to see how the madcap idea turned out, whether a success or a failure.
He completed two filmed test runs of the project before the live broadcast, one of which went well, while the other was an abject disaster, with light batteries failing and sound becoming distorted.
How Did It Turn Out?
On the night? Surprisingly well. The material itself isn't great, but the fact that Harrelson is in practically every scene of the 100-minute movie and there are very few technical hitches to take notice of make it an impressive success.
Despite the obvious limitations of the concept, the story keeps up a frantic pace as it switches out actors and locations, while clearly aided by a cameraman with fantastic cardio conditioning.