Jake Lindsay

Unit 22: Single Camera techniques

Format
Single-Camera technique
Single camera setup or single camera mode of production also known as portable single camera by
some people is a method of filmmaking and video production where only one camera is used to film
ever shot in every scene. Single camera techniques can be used for stop motion production also full
flowing dramas. Single camera is employed on the set and each shot is taken independently.
Examples of single camera technique include programs such as Malcom in the Middle which was a
very popular Sitcom in the United States between the dates of January 9 th 2000 to May 14 th 2006. The
sitcom gathered on average around 15 million views per episode for its first two seasons, this piece of
information shows that not all well-known drams and sitcoms are produced with Multi-camera
techniques. Another example would be the British sitcom PhoneShop Produced by Phil Bowker. As
this sitcom was predominantly based within one set area there was no need for mass amounts of
cameras so the producer Phil Bowker decided to use single-camera techniques and by doing this he
has created a British comedy that many people enjoy watching.

Multi-Camera Technique
The multi-camera technique or setup is a way of producing a video through multiple cameras instead
of just one. Several cameras are set up around a set to cover the different angles of scenes. The
cameras can be stand still and operated on their own others are operated by camera operators. With
a multi-camera set up the two outside cameras are set up to shoot close-up shots or crosses of the
two most active characters in the scene at the time. The more central cameras are used to shoot a
wider master shot to capture the overall action going on in the scene. Multi-camera technique
normally uses around four cameras but this can vary depending on the size of the set. An example of
a multi-camera set up would be The Big Bang Theory, which is a highly watched Sitcom watched
predominantly in the United Kingdom and the United States, the reason producers decided to shoot
with a multi-camera set up because when shooting different shots the producer can achieve multiple
angles of shots so when it comes to editing the scene and footage the editors can choose from
multiple angles to get the best one.

Series
A series drama is where multiple episodes are released over a period of time. These episodes can be
related to each other such as Top Boy, this was a 4 part drama based over four weeks which captured
the story of the main character RaNell living in a crime filled area after his mother. Other series such
as Sherlock which aired on BBC1 tells different stories every episode about a detective in London.

Single
A single drama is a one off episode that is normally designed to send a message to the public or the
watchers of the program. A single drama has one episode which tells a full story and normally runs
from about an hour to two hours. An example of a single drama would be Cyberbully which was aired
on Channel 4. The single episode was based on how everyone can be a bully online and not know
about it. The single drama was given a good critical reception such as It was a rare programme that
felt authentic enough to persuade teenagers noted by The Independent.

Jake Lindsay

Unit 22: Single Camera techniques

Mise-en-scene
This term is an expression that is used to describe the design aspects of film production. Mise-enscene is the arrangement of the stage scenery and properties in a film, play or theatre show. Mise-enscene includes costumes and make-up, props and all of the other natural and artificial details that film
the blank space of a set when filming. An example for this would be when directors of a film want to
make a tree look scary they could strip the tree of its leaves and cut of some branches of the tree to
give it a more scary look also by shooting the tree at night with lighting. Take the same tree and shoot
it in the day with children playing underneath it also leave the leaves on and the shot becomes more
welcoming and happy. Whatever is placed within the scene weather this is costumes props or lighting
it all adds effect to the shot.

Lighting
Lighting is very important to film makers and producers as light can give different effects on shots.
Natural light or professional light is used all the time in film production, lighting setups help create the
specific mood, emotion and atmosphere conveyed by the movie. There are two main types of lighting
used in film producing and these are high key light and low key light. High key light is used to create
shadow, it is used to give effect to the show and atmosphere high key lighting is normally used for
more natural shots. Low key lighting on the other hand is mostly used for a scary effect to a shot, the
low key light creates a dark and mysterious effect to shots.

Sound
There are two main sound factors when producing media such as films or dramas, these are nondiegetic and diegetic sound. Non-diegetic sound is sound that is placed into the when editing such as
sound effects or ambience music. Non-diegetic sound is normally used to create effect compared to
diegetic sound which is sound that is within the scene such as vocals and background noise captured
such as footsteps or doors closing, these are sounds that are natural and need to be in the shot for it
to flow and make sense.

Editing
Editing is a major factor for film producing, there are many editing terms such as straight cuts, fastcuts and continuity editing. Continuity is where something does not make sense in a scene for
example an actor wearing one set of clothes and in the next scene wearing a different set of clothes.
Editing is needed to make a film or drama flow otherwise it would not make sense to anyone who
would watch it. Fast-cuts can be used to add tension into a scene, by tweaking audio and length of a
shot J and L cuts can be produced to make the drama flow better.