How to film an entire series in a single shot without the viewer even thinking it was a trick? The series Adolescence, one of the most popular Netflix productions at the moment, is the answer to this question. But in reality, it is not just a film trick, but a masterful demonstration of how far modern film technology has come, and how important a role people still play – those behind the camera. So - how was the series Adolescence filmed?!
How the series was filmed Adolescence? Some shots are like the Holy Grail in film history – rare, demanding, unforgettable. From Hitchcock's Rope (Rope, 1948), where the director used creative solutions to hide cuts between film reels, to Scorsese's legendary walking scene in Good boys (Goodfellas), where the camera takes us through the kitchen into the heart of the club – these shots were not just a technical demonstration, but a psychological tool. In real time, they created the impression that we were together with the characters. In the same space. In the same moment.
Today, things go even further. Series Adolescence is not shot in one shot as an experiment, but as a holistic narrative decision. What is at stake is not just a “gimmick” – but a true cinematic experience where the viewer becomes a part of the action. And although it seems like pure magic, the truth is quite the opposite: it is pure system.
The camera of the future: DJI Ronin 4D
The heart of this series? The DJI Ronin 4D camera. A compact, versatile, technologically advanced beast that can shoot in 6K and even 8K, with the best stabilization system at the moment and LIDAR autofocus, which allows the use of real cinema lenses combined with the precision of autofocus. One of the secrets of how the Adolescence series was filmed.
But let's not fall for the illusion: the camera is just one cog in a massive mechanism. Production Adolescence used a bunch of other equipment – from tracking vehicles, drones, cranes, wireless image and sound transmissions, to focus pullers, camera vehicles, and costumed crew members who played extras so they wouldn't be in the frame after the accident.
Every move, every breath – planned in advance
The biggest question with projects like this isn’t just “how,” but “how many times.” Episodes were shot over multiple days, often with more than ten retakes. The first episode? They used the second take of the first day. The second? The thirteenth take of the fifth day! A missed line, a wrong move, a wrong focus—and the entire day goes to waste.
Directing a single shot requires more than just acting improvisation. It requires choreography, almost a ballet of camera movements, actors, lights and technicians. The rehearsals were not just for the actors, but for the entire crew. Every step, every movement of the camera had to be coordinated with the movement of the extra who was just going to get a sandwich in the background.
And yes, sometimes someone from the team would end up in the frame. The solution? They put him in a costume and included him as part of the action. Brilliant.
320 teenagers and a single cadre
In one of the scenes of the series, which takes place in a school, more than 320 adolescents participated. It is a logistical nightmare and a directorial feat at the same time. The camera moves between them, the actors improvise, the story unfolds in real time. All without cuts. No filters. Just pure emotions and reality.
There are moments when technology and art go hand in hand. And Adolescence is just that – proof that technology alone is not enough. It needs a vision. A story. People.
What can an indie creator learn?
Although it is possible to shoot a movie with a phone these days, as evidenced by films like The Creator (recorded with Sony FX3) or 28 Years Later (iPhone 15 Pro Max), is a lesson from Adolescence It's clear: equipment alone is not enough. Without a script, a team, a plan, and incredible focus, even the best gear means nothing.
And perhaps this is the series' greatest strength. Adolescence. Not that it was shot in one shot. But that we believed that. Because every detail, every frame, and every movement felt natural, fluid, almost documentary. It was as if we were in the middle of a movie – without even realizing it. So here it is – how the Adolescence series was filmed.
