As part of our studio presentations, Jesse did some research and discussed the coverage of Boxing fights throughout cinema. I am usually a sucker for a boxing flick, so I was drawn to this presentation. I thought Jesse’s discussion on how the coverage of these scenes have changed overtime, due to the advancement of technology and new filmmakers wanting to have their own individual take on the traditional conventions of how you go about shooting these scenes, was very interesting.

One scene that Jesse talked about was from the film Creed (2015) directed by Ryan Coogler. This stood out to me because it’s a scene that I distinctly remember from the film. During the first boxing bout, Coogler decided to cover the fight in a single take. The Camera is on a steady cam and moves around the ring for the entire fight, a 4 and half minute shot. The way the camera moves around the scene, choreographed perfectly with every punch is an amazing spectacle and provides a really immersive experience for the viewer. The one take really puts the viewer into the ring. Apparently it took 6 attempts to get it perfect on the day of production and a three months of fight rehearsals before hand.

This shot is a perfect example of how young modern filmmakers are continuing to build on what great directors have done before them to develop the art of coverage and create great films. This shot is more than spectacle, its actually very effective in immersing the viewer into a very intense situation.

Creed Boxing Scene – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onY5Daq6jD0