Single camera production is one of the most popular and well known forms of media production in film and television. A single camera either with a motion picture camera or any professional video camera is used on the set, and every shot used to create a scene is taken individually. However, a different method is used but still called single camera, but actually two cameras are being used at the same time (one to capture a medium shot of the scene being filmed, while the other is to shoot the close up).
Using this method allows for more time to be saved because there are less set-ups required for the scenes, it also gives the director more editing choices and filming is quicker. During shooting, action movies will use multiple cameras to get different angles as many action scenes take a lot of time for them to be fully shot it also takes a while. With this method it eliminates set-ups for the same sequence plus cutting down on re-shoot times if needed.
Multi-Camera Production
Multi-camera production is when multiple cameras are used to film an event, TV show or movie simultaneously, this is done so that their is a lot more footage to choose from when editing a show because of the different set of camera angles that can be chosen. The types of TV programming that use multi-cam set ups are: sporting events, concerts, games shows and chat shows.
One way how multi camera productions are different to single camera is that there is more than one viewpoint so there is a lot of footage to show at different times so an audience can see the whole scene from all angles. Another way how it's different is that multi cam can slow down important parts in sporting events to heighten drama, the last difference is that all the shots are filmed at once so nothing feels out of place or changed up.
Advantages of Single Camera Production (SCP)
- The scenes don't need to be shot in order so it lets the editors have more time to add some effects towards the show.
- It's a lot cheaper and easier to shoot because not a lot of equipment is being moved around to try and get the best shot possible.
Disadvantages of Single Camera Production
- Only allowing for one angle at a time so it adds to the editing time, meaning if any outtakes are shot they'll have to be sorted out at a later date.
- When using multi-camera it's easier to edit sequences, camera angles and scenes on the camera used during the shoot.
Analysis of SCP in TV/Film/Corporate Video
The Shining
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtI0uG6tjew
For this clip from The Shining you can clearly see that it is of the horror film genre with the creepy and eerie non-diegetic music playing under the scenes following Jack and Wendy's conversation through the hall and up the stairs, the music also details Jack's slow and mad decent into insanity when it gets quicker paced. For horror movies the general expectations are that they are scary and have a fair amount of gore in to satisfy and entertain the audience so that they have a fun experience, in the 1980's (when The Shining was released) the horror genre was filled with sequels with some living up to expectations but some not being as good as the predecessor.
The reason why the use of single camera is used in The Shining is because for many of the scenes the camera follows and stays on one person, most of the time its Jack (slowly showing his decent into madness), but some times in the clip it shows Wendy wildly backing away up the stairs of the Overlook Hotel. The way how Kubrick pulled this off was by using a dolly so it could easily track Wendy and Jack's movements from the hall to the top of the stairs, the way why this was used could be to show different reactions in quick succession.
Parks and Recreation (Mockumentary)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T5qStMJFQo
When looking at single camera techniques in TV shows its important to note how well the single cam is used and if it is noticeable. In the below clip you can see the different types of camera angles and techniques used. For example, a shot reverse shot is used to have both ends of the conversation filmed at the same time and to be able to cut to other characters to cover their facial expressions.
Another type of camera technique used is the use of a tracking and panning shot, this is used near the the end of the short clip when Andy leaves Ann's house and goes back to the "office". The panning shot is used to show how far away Andy is away from Ann's house for comedic effect playing up to Andy's character traits.
Corporate Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOK9R2_Xj3Y
For this clip it's quite clear that its a corporate type promotion video, from the layout and set up to the language used by the interviewees and businessmen. The whole point of this video is all about informing and selling financial advice safely so that many people can set up and run businesses easily and so they are efficient. The reason why a corporate video would use a single camera set-up is because its a direct address piece to camera so this would be ideal because the audience would feel like the businessmen and clients are speaking directly to them with this advice and knowledge of how to safely and securely start a business and have the financial support to do so.
In the two minute clip there are a few cutaways to people working in a office when talking about how to run and operate a business easily, also the camera doesn't seem to move that much unless its to zoom in on some office work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Single-camera_television_sitcoms
https://prezi.com/rz2bmjjushpv/single-camera-dramas/
https://prezi.com/f-5fbphxw1c5/unit-23-multi-camera-production/
https://www.slideshare.net/RyanJones25/features-of-a-single-camera-production
https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/evolution-sitcom-part-2/
