Unit 22: Multi-Camera Techniques

Task 1 (P1, M1, D1) Program Formats

The television industry has been using the multi-camera set up since the late 1930's, primarily for broadcasting live television. This technique was incorporated by the television pioneers of both Britain and America, being the BBC and NBS, who used the set-up in such shows as The Amos 'n' Andy show. The main use of the multi-camera set up is for live television, because of the demanding situation of a live show, the director needs more than one camera to create a good show. For example, talk shows use the multi-camera for various reasons, Friday night with Jonathan Ross uses a multi-camera set up. This enables the director to maintain tight cuts between camera's, to include both Ross and his guest as they enjoy playful banter, to a close up of the guest as he laughs at one of Jonathan's jokes. The multi-camera set up is vital, for shows like this, another key aspect of the multi-camera set up is the inclusion of the audience, most shows have a camera dedicated to audience reaction, the live shows audience is a large part of Jonathan's show, he uses them to make the show better. He will tell a joke or an anecdote which he has specifically chosen to entertain the audience, and use them to back him up in an argument, for example, when he wants to show a clip of an actor/actress's embarrassing past.

But it's not only the live audience thats important to the show. The audience at home can sometimes feel left out a live show, and if there's no interaction with the millions of people watching at home, then there isn't much point in creating the show in the first place. The multi-camera set up aids the director is reaching out to the home audience and drawing them into the show. By focusing close ups on Jonathan at key points in the show, it makes the home audience feel like he is actually speaking to them, keeping them engaged in the show, then by cutting between clips of banter between Jonathan and the guest, to a moving arial shot of the audience laughing, it helps keep the audience interested in the show, and makes them feel like they are included in the show.

It's fairly easy to re-create a multi-cam set up, we planned one for our final production of this unit, but were unable to create the set up because we only had access to 2 cameras. In our production, we planned to use two cameras in the television studio, this allowed us to keep one camera on a medium shot of the presenters, or a wider shot if necessary, we then assigned the other camera man to focus on close ups of the presenters/props. We planned to have another camera in the auditorium at the beginning of the show, to introduce the show with an establishing shot of the audience, but we couldn't get access to another camera. The show was highly successful though, our Switchboard editor managed to seamlessly change between interesting close ups and wide shots of the presenters to keep the audience gripped between VT's.

Task 2 (P1, M1, D1)

The camera, at first, flies down from a bird’s eye view to give the audience a full view of the stage and the performers. It then cuts to an establishing shot of the back of the room to give a shot of everything, connoting that it is in front of a live audience at some kind of awards show. A variety of shots such as wide shot, extreme close ups and tracking shots are used in combination with different angles and fasting moving zooms and transitions to keep the audience interested and feel as though, they are there watching live, it could also make the audience feel privileged as they have a wider viewing range as oppose to those in the venue being able to see just what they can from their seat. The use of the fast moving shots also juxtaposes against the performers stillness, creating an exciting atmosphere and making it seem like there is movement amongst the performers.

The clip opens with a long establishing shot, head on view of the runway, which connotes what the show is about. A medium shot is used to show the audience the clothes, which are the main focus of any runway show, whilst having the audience in the background anchoring the setting of the show. The music being used is in rhythm to the speed and movement with the models making it catchy yet sophisticated and interesting for the viewers. A medium head to toe tilt is used to show the outfit from bottom to top, which will interest the audience, obviously having an enthusiasm for fashion, which will be the reason for their viewing. A lot of similar shots are used for example end of the catwalk long shot, zoom close ups on clothes etc. The majority of camera shots used throughout the clip are basic shots, maintaining the view of the models in the clothes, I believe this is due to the fact that the camera angels do not need to be largely interesting, because the clothes featured in the show are supposed to be.

The shots are immediately rapid and the zooms even quicker, this makes the film seem more exciting and urgent, which will make the viewer feel giddy and interested. The clips fade in and out quickly to not give a full view of what it is they are showing, which again creates tension and enigma to maintain the viewers interest and provoke excited emotions. Sharp images flash on and off screen to build even more suspense and clips of human lungs and skulls are used to connote that the car is accelerating a man’s vital organs, depicting intense excitement and adrenaline rushes. Enigmatic images are used to create a relationship between the connotations and the cars which gives impressions about things such as speed and importance. The cuts are very quick and dynamic to reflect the motion of the cars themselves which will draw in the audience and make them interested and excited. A multi-camera set up is used to capture the speed of the cars, making it clear that a single camera wouldn’t be able to capture the intense speed and glorious sight that is an F1 race.

The clip begins with football league tables and information, which is the main reason to watch match of the day. This will immediately grab the audiences’ attention at is the priority of watching. Then a medium shot of the presenter as he finished the show in front of a football field which anchors the shows meaning if it was not already known to the viewer. A slow build up, accompanied with suspense creating music to symbolise the glory of the sport, the trophy cup zooms in, fading from black with a heaven like beam shining on it to show the importance of this, and a montage of important faces in football slowly flash on either side of the screen, close ups are used to show their emotion and facial expressions with the cup still centre focus, connoting this is their focus too. Highlights of football games then run through quickly showing the main concentration of the show and the main interest of the viewers keeping their attention on the screen.

Task 3 (P1, M1, D1) Planning - Mind Maps

Task 4 (P1, M1, D1) Planning - Equipment List

Task 5 (P1, M1, D1) Planning - Schedule

Script

*Opening Sequence*

* Camera 2 * (Medium shot)

Eddie: Welcome to Friday World! We’ve got an awesome line-up for you this week, and the first of these features is going to be introduced by Arran.

* Camera 1 on Arran * (Close up)

Arran: Hello everybody! This film has been produced by year 13 students for their media course, we bring to you The Silent Treatment.

* Roll VT: The Silent Treatment *

* Camera 2 - Back to Arran & Eddie in the studio * (Medium Shot)

Eddie: Awesome Film. And there will be more single camera drama’s coming up in the next few weeks

Arran: Coming up now we’ve got a trailer that will take you back to your childhood. Here’s toy story 3

* Roll VT: Toy Story 3 *

* Camera 1 on Eddie * (Close up)

Eddie: Arran, what are you doing?

* Camera 2 on both * ( Medium Shot)

Arran: Well Eddie, I’m wearing this banana suit because YOU ATE MY ENCHILADAS!

* Roll VT: Enchiladas *

* Camera 1* (Close up)*

Eddie: Well that was unexpected, and quite br00tal to say the least.

* Camera 2 * (Medium Shot)

Arran: Shut up Eddie, we have breaking news! We go to our man on the ground Christian Place, Christian?

* Roll VT: Zombie Sequence *

* Camera 2 on both * (Medium Shot)

Eddie: Well this could quite possibly be the last episode of Friday world ever! So I think we should all enjoy this next video!

Arran: So here’s MC Hammer voicing his opinions on the zombies!

* Roll VT: MC Hammer – Can’t Touch This *

* Camera 2 on both * (Medium Shot)

Arran: It’s been a pleasure to be your hosts, I’m Arran

Eddie: And I’m Eddie

Arran: Goodbye!

* Outro *

Task 6 (P1, M1, D1) Health and Safety

Evaluation: Multi-camera production

Purpose -

The aim and general purpose of our production, was to create an innovative and entertaining show tailored for our target audience, students in our school, generally from the lower years. To achieve this aim, we created a show which featured appealing, and student-based programs that have been created with the help of our target audience, which allows them to be involved with the creation of the show. In my opinion, we achieved this aim well, i was occupying the role of the producer in the Switch board studio just above the Auditorium, whilst directing the camera men, presenters and VT operator, i witnessed the audiences reaction to our show first hand. They gave us overwhelming support, and genuinely enjoyed the material that we decided to show them, almost the entire audience stayed until the end of the show and interacted with the clips.

Audience-

While working in the Switchboard studio, i received first hand feedback from the audience, as i caught their initial reactions to our videos. The audience were vastly in support of our show, the hall rang with the excited shouts and laughter of school kids as we presented a Toy Story 3 trailer, year 7's and Sixth formers alike connected with characters from their childhood, as the story progresses. Another great audience reaction was in response to our Zombie video, this video, which featured a presenter and scientist reporting on missing bodies, contained farcical comedy which appealed to the audience, regardless of age. We hooked the audience's attention at one final time at the end of the 15 minute show, when we played MC Hammer's 'Can't touch this', the video had the audience on their feet dancing along in the head of the moment. In my opinion, the general audience reaction to our show, was largely positive, huge amount of the audience grasped the preferred reading of our overall show, which was a comedic and fun fueled experience. Although, the audience's ages were between 11 and 18, so there's bound to be a few students who will take a negotiated view towards some of the material which we incorporated in the show. We attempted to be as diverse as possible, including serious material, such as The Silent Treatment VT which followed a young woman who tries to deal with bullying, problems with her boyfriend and alcohol abuse. But, there will be others who have opposed views towards some of our video's, who will not enjoy them at all, but would stick around to see other video's such as the Zombie VT.

Representation Issues -

I believe that we made no attempt to discriminate between any ethnic minorities or gender differences. In the entirety of our show, we included each sex and featured ethnic minorities in our videos. Although our group consisted of only young white males, we included women and ethnic minorities in the creation of our video's, or selected video's made by famous people of a different ethnic background. In regards to the music used to represent the characters, in The Silent Treatment, the music bed used creates a dramatic scene, portraying a troubled girl struggling with life. Whereas the music bed used in Enchiladas, portrays a childishly comedic scene between two young men, ensuring that the audience understands the specific type of surrealistic comedy. The language used in the creation of our VT's and in the presentation of our show is completely harmless, and would neither insult or upset any of the viewers, the most insulting thing i can think that was featured in the show was when Arran was told to tell Eddie to "shut up" because we had more important matters to discuss.

Technical issues -

Our team had a fairly successful venture into the multi-camera genre. Our team member Cliff was tasked with looking after the sound levels, as he is a musician, and has more experience than the rest of the team. Throughout the production the transitions in the sound levels between VT's and the presenter sections were done perfectly. There was one point in the show, at the beginning of one of the presenters sections, where we experienced a minor technical issue, which was completely random, and had not been done by one of our team members. A glitch forced the sound to turn off in the hall, where the show was being showed at the time, and one of Eddie's lines wasn't aired, but the system corrected itself after a second, in time for Arran's introduction. We received feedback from our teacher, that the cuts between camera shots, and the variety of camera shot's themselves were some of the best he had ever seen on the show. Our camera men, Danny and Rob, had memorized the script and their timings, such as swapping close up shots from presenter to presenter to prop, and maintaining high quality shot transitions. I could not give enough credit to our Switchboard operator, Joe, he acted quickly and improvised when he thought things were going to go wrong. I collaborated with Joe in the planning of the camera transitions, and together we planned a successful show, which fulfilled its promise as an entertaining show.

Conventions/Narrative -

Since our show was actually a multi-camera production, there was no narrative to the show, it was a live show, with a mixed genre, as most of the material was a variety of different genres. The equipment and opportunities made available to us were extraordinary, our school has invested in the most up to date equipment around. We have the same resources as some of the best universities around, with visual Switchboards, high definition camera's, and a top of the range projector really made our show stand out. But, I think that professional studios would have an advantage over our production. Their VT's would have been better, featuring trained actors and would have included shots which are unavailable to us, such as arial shots or a steady-cam unit.

Self-Evaluation -

This experience has been one that I will never forget. The stresses of being a producer for a multi-camera show were something new to me, the pace of the show and the responsibility I had over the rest of the team were two crucial things I had to keep in mind constantly. My organisational skills have improved, formulating a shooting script, a camera set up and a proper script only days before we aired to our audience strengthened this skill. I think overall our team was very strong, each member brought something different to our production, whether it be a new perspective on which camera shots would suit certain scenes, or someone who created a brilliant line up for the VT's. Our group worked well together, no ones opinions were overruled, we discussed issues democratically and often had to vote on a change which the majority of the group thought would benefit the show, but all opinions and views were considered. I think the only weakness our group possessed was it's size, there were eight members of our group, and although we worked productively, sometimes there wasn't enough work to go around, and some of the members had to work on different projects during some of the pre-production time. Personally, I think that I was a capable team member. I was open to the rest of my team, and I accepted all suggestions under consideration, I was ready to help anyone who required it, and consider myself easy to talk to. I contributed as much as possible to the planning stages and the general creation of all the VT's we created for the production, having to feature as an actor in some of them (although that is not my forte). On the other hand, I could be argumentative on the odd issue, but I would never have done anything without the consent of the group.