The long take is one of the most awesome displays of directorial prowess. This nine-minute short film shows off that prowess and adds another variable: a drone.

Written, produced, and directed by Paul Trillo, "At the End of the Cul-de-Sac" is a stunning achievement with its precision of execution and smoothness. Set in an alternate version of the present, it shows a man's public breakdown and his neighbor's calculated and extreme handling of the situation. Pulling off the film, made on a DJI Inspire 1, took creating an animation of the blocking and timing and a lot of rehearsal, all of which you can see in the behind the scenes video below:

Perhaps the most impressive part of the entire endeavor is that the first official take ended up being the final take. Despite the effort, the end result is certainly worth it in my opinion: the lack of breaks creates a much more immersive experience, while the camera weaving in and out allows the viewer to take in the entire scene while still being privy to the closest details. It's an enormously impressive achievement by all involved and yet another sign that drones are becoming powerful tools in the hands of talented filmmakers.

[via Gizmodo]