Unit 23 Multi Camera Blog

Unit 23 Multi Camera Techniques

A multi camera setup is a way of filming television programmes and films. It is different to a single camera set up in many ways. Firstly, because of the increased amount of camera equipment, more people will need to be hired to operate them and it means more time is needed to set up each camera to get the right shots needed, which when trying to finish for a deadline can be much harder, whereas in single camera it take much less time to set the camera up.  Having multiple cameras means who can catch everything that happens at the same time from different angles. This is why it is mainly used it live event like in, sports and music. They place the cameras in different places so they know they'll not miss anything. Which is great when something unexpected happens. Even thought that is a great benefit, it also restricts the creativity of the director. Especially in fictional shows like multi camera sitcoms. In these the director is very limited to what he or she can do. With multiple cameras you are stuck in that one place and cannot reposition the cameras or the lightning. It has to all stay where it has been set up before the filming has begun. With single camera you can easily move the camera around and try different shots and ideas that you may have. For example in The Big Bang Theory you have a live studio audience so you have to position the cameras and the lightning so you can record everything that happens from multiple angles but it has to be in a way that works around the audience and doesn't get them in shot. These sitcoms also feature a laughing track which single camera sitcoms don't. With the increased amount of equipment you need in a multi camera set up, it means you do not have the freedom to film anywhere like you would do in a single camera production. If its a live event you are restricted to that location, for example a football stadium or festival. Or if is a sitcom or talk show then you are limited to usually a studio or stage. Because you cannot film on location you have to make the sets look as real as possible, which if not achieved can make the show look cheap and unrealistic. It may take longer to set up but it means its much quicker to film. This is because you don't have to move everything and re frame. Also with single camera you have to get multiple shots of the same scene, especially dialogue scenes, but with multiple cameras you can get it all at the same time. This is good for shows like The Jeremy Kyle Show and Deal or no Deal where they can set up everything and because everything just stays in the same place you can film a few episodes a day. This also means you'll always be ahead of what is being broadcasted. So there will also be a new episode to show each day. This means it will be cheaper. Filming a block of episodes at once means you will save money on hiring studio space, on equipment and the people who have hired. This is the same for other multi camera shows like some sitcoms. One of the other big differences between the two is the way its edited. As you are filming a multi camera show in order, the editing process is much shorter. As there is usually much less to do. Usually its little things like, if its a quiz show, the scores at the end of each round. Or in a show like that or others like a talk show, titles are needed to show who each person is. For example on Newsnight a title appears on screen to make sure the audience knows who each person is, and them depending on how long the interview is, it could appear multiple times to remind the audience and any new viewer. Also a show like Never Mind the Buzzcocks, anything that needs editing out, for example something that's too rude or if it simply needs to be cut down, it can all be done in post-production. But with single camera, you have many different scene from different angles and you need to find which ones you are going to use and put them together and its a much more creative process. Single camera always looks better and more like a movie because you a variety of different shots to use. This also helps when adding in things like CGI. Also there are different roles needed for multi that you would not need for single. For example, a floor manager to make sure everything is right and going the way it should and to tell everyone what is happening, a vision mixer and someone to play the VT's.

 Multi Camera is used in many different formats is usually the only way these events and shows can be filmed. One of the most popular is sporting events. For example, football matches and the Olympics. Music events are also popular. Not being able to go and see their favourite artists, having these shows are very important and get big viewing numbers. For example the Isle of Wight Festival is shown on T.V each year. T.V shows that may not always be live but have a multi camera set-up may have special live episodes. Good examples of this would be the finals of The X factor or Brittan's Got Talent. Also the eviction episodes of Big Brother are so they can interview the person who leaves straight away. Any special events like recently the Royal Wedding are very popular around the world. Studio based shows include talk shows, like The Graham Norton Show, game shows like Deal or No Deal, and news shows like BBC News. These three always have a main set with multiple people on. So the camera will need to be able to capture all of the different people who are on the set and sometimes the reaction from an audience, if there is one. EastEnders is an example of a soap that uses a multi camera set up. The cameras are used to capture the actor’s performance from different angles and to get what’s happening around them and so the audience doesn’t get bored with just the same shot. There are many sitcoms that use a multi camera set up. For example The Big Bang Theory and Friends. This is because they are filmed with a live studio audience so multi camera is the easiest way to do it.  

Multi camera techniques are used in these different formats for many reasons. Firstly it’s there so everything can be captured from all different angles. So no matter what happens a camera will also capture it. This is especially important during sports like Football. This is because needs to be able to see as well as hear from the commentators what is happening. Also if something needs to be replayed. A camera was there to be able to capture the footage. In formats like games shows, talk shows and soaps like Deal or No Deal, The Jeremy Kyle Show and EastEnders,  as wells as being able to capture everything at once, they are able to film multiple episodes in one day which saves on time and cost. Also this means they will always be ahead of what is being broadcasted on T.V. This is especially good for EastEnders as they broadcast episodes 5 days a week every week and by being ahead of what’s being shown on T.V means there will always be an episode being shown and gives the time to plan, write, film and edit  new episodes, even if those episode will not be shown for at least a month. Sitcoms that are filmed using a multi camera set up often have a live audience, so multi camera is the easiest way they can film there episodes. By getting each angle of the scene at the same time, they don’t have to make the audience wait at reposition everything multiple times.  Also a multi camera setup saves time in post-production as there is much less editing to be done. This also can save money as you won’t have to spend as much money on an editing suite. Meaning is communicated by the way it is all cut together and the different shots used. Multi camera makes the viewer feel like they are actually there and more involved. BY cutting to all of the different angles it makes them feel like they are a part of it. Especially in live events. The audience feels like they are a part of it because they are seeing it as the people actually there are. The visual style of multi camera is different to single camera. Single camera sitcoms feel more cinematic because they can go to as many locations as they like where as multi camera are restricted and are mainly on sets. But with a live event, depending on the shots they use they can make that feel cinematic. Lightning is very important. It sets the mood and tone. You want the lightning to fit whatever you are making. Whether it be a serious show or a comedy quiz show, the lightning and the shits used must fit what you are making.



 The studio based production I have chosen is a clip from Mock the Week. It involves the presenter, with two teams =, each with 3 people in it. The round of the quiz show involves both teams going against each other trying to make the best joke. The presenter at the end decides who wins. This section involves many different shots. This includes a shot of the presenter who introduces the round at they often cut back to him for a reaction shot. The other shots used are an establishing shot of all 6 people, this establishing shot is then used multiple times throughout the clip. Then as someone comes to the microphone, it cut to a close up. As the two teams are split. Ones on the left and ones on the right. There is a camera who focuses on the team on the left and there's another who focuses on the right. There is also a lower angled shot which is sometimes used throughout. Altogether there is 6 cameras used. They are positioned so everything can be captured from each angle. So we get two different shots of the person making the joke, so it doesn't get boring for the audience. We get the wide shot of everyone, the individual team shots and the presenter shots, all of these used to get reaction shots so they audience feel more involved. The cameras do not move they stay in those positions. This also helps because the show is improvised, so no one knows what they are going to say so cutting to reactions shots can show the viewer what the people there thought of the joke and seeing other  people laugh at it can make the audience laugh with them. During this clip one of the guests makes n improvised joke about another guest. So they had to cut between he different reaction shots of the person who made the joke, the person it was made to and everyone else. The studio is brightly lit and everyone is lit equally. They are all wearing radio mics, so each person can be heard equally. There is non-diegetic sound, because the other guests, even if not on camera can be heard and the audience, even thought not seen on screen, can still be heard laughing. There are some graphics used on the screen in the background of the shot but none have been edited on.

The live section of a multi camera production I have decided to use is from a Queen performance from Live Aid. I counted at least 14/15 cameras being used throughout. This includes many different angles of the stage so they can get different shots of the band playing the different instruments and they are able to get the shots of Freddie Mercury. As they don't know exactly what he is going to do on stage, having all of these cameras, means no matter what, they'll be able to record it. These shots of the stage are also a different variety of shots. Some are wide shots and some are medium and normal close ups of the different people playing instruments and mainly of Freddie. There is also an close up that is focusing on Freddie's face as he is singing. Both as he is walking about on stage and then another when he is sitting at the piano. At the piano there is a close up of him and a medium shot of him as he plays. As well as the stage there is also different variety of angles of the audience. There is an establishing shot of the audience and the stage, which is often used throughout and other wide shots of just the audience. There is also close up of the audience as the clap, sing and shout while Freddie is singing. There is also an extreme long shot of the whole stadium with the stage and audience inside. Throughout, you can often see the camera move to keep up with Freddie, and to get different shots of the audience. It is a brightly lit set with many lights being used. With the main focus being Freddie Mercury the lightning is set up to make sure he gets the most. There is diegetic an non-diegetic sound. As you can see the sources of some of the sounds but it most of the shots there is always noise, wither it be from instruments or from the audience that is off screen.