At first glance Birdman may just look like another one of those award-bait fanfare films because it is so meta and aware of the state of movies now. The film follows Riggan (Michael Keaton), a movie star whose claim to fame was portraying a superhero called Birdman in three films, but wants to regain the respect of Hollywood and his family by staging a play based on his career of being Birdman. But the way that director Alejandro González Iñárritu constructed the film from scene to scene will look almost as if he shot the film in one single take. Every transition so seamless and carefully planned.

Naturally, the logistics wouldn’t allow the film to be shot in one take. Birdman uses many locations and takes place over the course of a few days; and there is also the fact that Riggan’s heroic consciousness pops up from time to time, so a single take would be impossible. But a new video has surfaced showing how Iñárritu and cinematographer Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki made the impossible, possible. Hit the jump to check it out.

Getting into the video, provided by Variety, we learn that there is a bit of digital manipulation when it comes to the coloring, shadows, and tints seen in the film. Other technologies and programs are also used to give the illusion of the one shot take.

It is a very exciting process, and though it is not a dense explanation, it does give some insight in the Birdman filmmaking process. No doubt this will only get people to talk more about the film as we head into the awards season.

Birdman is out now in theaters.

Video

[Source: Variety]