Time lapse clips are a great way to add high-end style production values to your b-roll. Time lapse clips have become common place in both factual and fiction TV shows as they make for great establishing and transitional clips. I’m going to add the proviso, that they can be over used. As filmmakers we can fall in love with the process and become attached to clips because of the amount of time we have invested in creating them. Time lapse clips can look beautiful but lay-people can become tired of them if they are over used and they are there just for prettiness and not to advance the narrative.

With that said, it is worth seeing what the masters of this genre can produce and “I Left My Heart” shows just that. I may be biased because this is also my adopted home-town, but there are some great clips here and the creator has also provided some behind the scene footage and information if you are interested. And you should be interested. Clients and viewers love these kind of clips, used sparingly.