UNIT 22: Single Camera Techniques

Task 1: Understanding 'single camera production'

a) Define 'single camera production':

When only one camera is used for a production.

b) Identify the advantages and disadvantages of single camera production (refer to examples where you can):

Advantages  small budget easy to set up because there is only one camera less space taken up during production only one cameraman required more realistic results (e.g. in fight scenes) pretty and natural looking shots	Disadvantages can only shoot one angle at a time - longer to film quality of camera might not suit all shots editing has to be done in post production after filming move and relight

• Multi-cam usually works with several cameras on set
• footage is edited live as it's being filmed
• lighting is above studio floor and controlled remotely
• more cameras = more crew (cameramen)
• quicker to produce/film

c) How does multi-camera differ to single camera productions?

A multi-camera shoot doesn't require the cameras to be moved around or re-set up frequently, whereas a single camera has to be moved for to every shot.
Multi-camera is much more expensive than single camera for reasons like insurance costs, less location options.

d) List 3 examples of single camera shows/films (aim for different genres)

1) 

2) Alice in Wonderland (Tim Burton)

3) Doctor Who

List 3 examples of multi-camera shows (aim for different genres)

1) Mock The Week

2) The Big Bang Theory

3) Friends

e) What is the definition of genre? Why is this important for audiences?

The genre is the type of film/show you are watching e.g. horror, comedy. If you want to attract an audience for a comedy production you would need to include jokes. The genre is important to the audience as it lets them know what they're going to watch beforehand.

Single format - film, one instalment with a start, middle and end

Serial format - multiple instalments of one story, several episodes

Series format - different stories each week but continues with same characters

List of Genres

Action

Comedy

Sci-fi

Horror - blood, monsters, storms/bad weather, murderers, 

Thriller
Drama
Fantasy
Romance

Series	Sons of Anarchy
Single drama	Black Mirror - Bandersnatch
Crime drama genre	The Fall
Soap Opera genre	Coronation Street
Sitcom/Comedy	The Office
Linear narrative	Toy Story
Nonlinear narrative	Pulp Fiction
Flashback narrative	Titanic
Open ending narrative	Titanic
Closed ending narrative	The Inbetweeners
Realist narrative
Anti-realist narrative	Donnie Darko

Platforms

• tv shows
• online - youtube
• social media

Framing

• The director has the creative decision on what camera angles and shots to use - effect on the audience
• Change of shots helps to understand who is the main/important character in the scene
• Two elements - shot size and camera angle

Types of Shots

1. Extreme Long Shot

identifies the setting, and that she's alone in the desert

2. Long Shot

establishes who the main characters are

3. Medium Long Shot

shows face and body language

4. Medium Shot

shows body language and face, he's the important character in the scene

5. Medium Close Up

Shows facial expressions and appearance of the character

6. Close Up

show facial expressions

7. Big Close Up

show facial expression + emotions, identifies he's important

8. Extreme close up

puts emphasis on the action, generates fear in audience

Types of Camera Angles

1. Over The Shoulder

establishes who's talking in the scene

2. Low Angle

Shows the dominant characters in the scene, makes them appear scary or higher in power

3. High Angle

shows he's vulnerable and not in control of the situation

4. Canted

shows conflict is about to happen

5. Bird's eye

Identifies that they can see something bigger than them/ above them

6. Worm's eye

identifies that they're looking at something smaller than them

7. eye level



used because he's looking into the mirror, makes the audience feel like they are on the other side of the reflection



Four Categories of Camera Movement

• Pan - A lateral pivot from left to right, used to readjust scene to character movements
• ARC shot - the camera moves 360 degrees
• Tilt - camera pivots vertically up or down, used to call attention to new areas of the scene
• The Dolly or Tracking - the camera on the tripod physically travels
• The Boom or Crane - when a scene needs a larger area to be covered, the camera is mounted on a crane or boom mechanism, sometimes a drone, creates a powerful dramatic effect by showing the scale of the scene e.g. GoT battle scenes
• Steadicam - mechanism is attached to the cameraman/woman to create a shaky effect, often used in documentary

Function of moving camera shots is to reveal dramatic information by enlarging the viewer's field of view, and expresses a dynamic sense of movement that makes a shot more dramatically exciting e.g. fight scenes

Zoom lense for zoom shots

Framing Styles

• Tight - an image where there is a lack of space around the subject, gives a sense of constriction
• Loose - shots that have a lot of space around the subject, gives a sense of isolation or freedom
• Deep focus - objects or characters remain in sharp focus from positions near and far from the camera

Lighting continuity is about the choice to maintain or willingly not maintain lighting consistency throughout a sequence of shots

Narrative

• Classic Hollywood narratives are made up of a 'three act' structure, and have a linear narrative
• Act 1 - The beginning, the main character(s) are introduced and the story begins
• Act 2 - The story becomes more complicated  especially for the protagonist, he/she has obstacles to overcome
• Act 3 - The resolution of the story, various strands of narrative are tied up

'Journey' in Narrative

The protagonist(s) will embark on a journey that could be emotional, physical or psychological

Narrative 5 Step Structure

• Step 1 - Exposition, where the story begins, we are told essential info, setting is established
• Step 2 - Development, the story progresses + the situation changes
• Step 3 - Complication, event(s) occur that change the situation
• Step 4 - Crisis and Climax, events accelerate leading to a crisis where everything is at stake
• Step 5 - Resolution, outcome of the story is revealed

Similar Storyline example

Non-linear Narrative