10 Second Rule: Where the Best Moments Hide

Directors, DPs, ACs, etc. Hold your shot 10 seconds more than you think you need to. Actually count to ten if possible, the editor on the project will have all those golden nuggets that make a scene great! Sometimes an actors best facial expressions are hidden after “CUT” and those key camera movements of b-roll can be mixed into other camera moves to create smooth transitions if we have little moments of handles on the end. I could list 10 more reasons why you should keep rolling after you think you got what you need. But for brevity sake I’ll leave you with a metaphor.

​10 Seconds is like the seasoning on food, sure the chef can make do with just the bare ingredients, but spices make the meal succulent and fill the kitchen with smells of beauty, and anticipation for the meal, and when completed, a great chef will serve a great meal because of all the work that went into the care and harvest of each ingredient, just the right amounts, of each one balanced the meal, not too much, not too little, sublime.