Take: Meaning in Film Production

Take

Definition

A take is a single recorded attempt at a shot, starting when the camera rolls and ending when the director calls cut. Each setup usually gets several takes, numbered from 1 on the slate. The script supervisor logs every take with its length and notes, and the director picks favorites to circle.

The rhythm of doing takes

After cut, a few things happen quickly. The director gives notes to the actors, the DP and operator talk about the move, the script supervisor tells the director if a line changed, and the 1st AD calls "Back to one, going again." Departments reset: props put the coffee cup back to full, hair fixes the strand that fell, background walk back to their first positions. Then the roll sequence starts over and the 2nd AC changes the take number on the slate.

Variations you'll hear:

"Keep rolling" or "Rolling reset": the camera doesn't cut, everyone resets and goes again. The script supervisor logs it as a new take even without a new slate, or the AC tail slates it.
"Pick it up from 'I never said that'": a pickup take that starts partway into the scene.
"Series": several attempts at a short action inside one roll, common with inserts and stunts.

An example log

For setup 42A, a dialogue close-up:

Take	Result	Why
1	NG	Actor went up on line
2	NG	Camera bump on dolly start
3	Good	Circled
4	Pickup	From "I never said that"
5	Good	Circled, alternate reading

NG means no good. Five takes of 50 seconds each is about 4 minutes of footage for one setup.

Takes and budget

The number of takes adds up across a shoot. Your shooting ratio is recorded footage divided by final runtime, and a director who averages eight takes per setup will fill more cards, spend more time in dailies syncing, and eat into the day's setups. The shooting ratio calculator helps estimate storage and data management needs.

Common confusions

Takes are not setups. A 1st AD who says "we're on take 12" is telling you the company is stuck on one shot, not that it's moving fast.

Circled takes aren't the only usable takes. The circle take notation shows the director's preference on the day, but editors look at everything.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a shot and a take?

A shot is the planned image, like a close-up of Maya at the counter. A take is one attempt at filming it. You might do seven takes of that one shot.

Do take numbers reset for each setup?

In US-style slating, yes. Scene 42A take 1, take 2, take 3, and then 42B starts again at take 1.

What is a false start?

A take that gets cut almost immediately, often before action or in the first line. Some crews keep the take number and mark it as a false start. Others reuse the number. Pick one convention and tell the script supervisor and editor.