Small crew split from the main unit to shoot inserts, B-roll, or actor-free scenes simultaneously.
Technical Details
A typical splinter unit consists of a cinematographer, a camera assistant, a sound recordist, and a maximum of two additional crew members. Equipment is limited to a main camera (usually identical to the A-camera of the main production), a compact lighting set with a maximum total output of 2kW, and portable sound equipment. Shooting days rarely last longer than 6-8 hours, as the shots are highly specific and predefined. The unit works with detailed shot lists of 15-40 setups per day.
History & Development
Steven Soderbergh first systematically established splinter units for complex detail shots in 1991 with "Kafka." Directors like Christopher Nolan ("Memento," 2000) and Darren Aronofsky ("Requiem for a Dream," 2000) perfected the method for psychological close-ups and macro sequences. Since the 2010s, productions have increasingly used splinter units for social media content and behind-the-scenes material parallel to the main shoot.
Practical Application in Film
In "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015), a splinter unit shot over 200 isolated shots of vehicle details and props. "Blade Runner 2049" (2017) employed splinter units for extreme macro shots of eyes and technical details. The units often work 2-3 days before or after the main production in the same locations. Typical subjects include hands writing, watches, jewelry, textures, weather phenomena, or architectural details.
Comparison & Alternatives
Unlike second units, splinter units never shoot independent scenes with actors. They differ from insert units by their complete autonomy – insert units usually work parallel to the main production. Pick-up units work retrospectively, while splinter units often work preventively. In low-budget productions, the director often takes on this role themselves with a cinematographer. Modern alternatives include specialized macro units with robotic camera systems for millimeter-precise repeatability.