Study Paul Thomas Anderson’s Use Of Steadicam Across 5 Films

In the video, Kevin B. Lee examines the evolution of Anderson’s style with Steadicam. With “Hard Eight,” he only has one notable tracking shot: when Sydney (Philip Baker Hall) is walking through the casino before he eventually stops at the craps table. In “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia” however, PTA’s love for tracking shots really come alive. Lee specifically talks about the opening tracking shot in ‘Boogie’ as well as the long tracking shot in the studio where the “What Do Kids Know?” game show is staged in “Magnolia.” He notes how the shot in ‘Boogie’ is done with specific purpose, introducing each of the main characters in the film. The shot in “Magnolia” appears to have less of a purpose, merely movement for the sake of movement.

Then Lee astutely points out a shift in Anderson’s style in his subsequent films where he starts to use the tracking shot less and in different, more effective ways. It’s really interesting to see how Paul Thomas Anderson slowly shifted away from his Scorsese influences into a completely different realm all on his own. This makes his upcoming film “Inherent Vice” even more worth the watch just to see the continued evolution of the filmmaker. Be sure to watch the video below. [via Rope Of Silicon]