natashacurry193.weebly.com€¦ · Web viewThere is also various types of multi camera studio productions, such as: game shows, chat shows, news magazine shows and studio based

NDY2 Creative Media ProductionUnit 23: Multi Camera Techniques

Tutor: Patsy MullanStudent: Natasha Curry

Multi Camera Formats

There are various types of multi camera formats, such as: live events e.g. sports,

concerts, stage productions and public events. There is also various types of

multi camera studio productions, such as: game shows, chat shows, news

magazine shows and studio based dramas. Throughout this essay I will be

analysing four different case studies, two if which will be live events (one stage

production and one concert) and the other two I will be looking at will be studio

based productions (one studio based drama and one game show). I will be

looking into the various reasons for multi camera productions, such as: coverage

of action, communicating meaning to the viewer, target audience, visual styles,

maintaining viewer interest and the constraints of studio or location

environment production and simultaneous multi camera recordings.

The two live events that I have chosen to look at are:

Sarah Brightman & Alessandro Safina – Symphony Live in Vienna

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live –Cinema Screening 2015

The two studio based production that I have chosen to look at are:

Game of Thrones

The Great British Bake Off

Creative Media Production Multi Camera Formats1



Live Events

Sarah Brightman & Alessandro Safina – Symphony Live in Vienna

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xwizb9_sarah-brightman-alessandro-

safina-symphony-live-in-vienna_music

Reasons for Multi Camera Use:

Coverage of Action – This refers to the practical use of multiple cameras to

cover as much of the action as possible.

By using multiple cameras during this concert the coverage of action is better

than that of a single camera production.

By using multiple cameras all of the

action is captured at the same time from

different angles and viewpoints, this is a

clear advantage when shooting live

events such as this concert as it means nothing will be missed during filming.

When watching this live event we can see clearly that a minimum of 8 cameras

were used to film the event, this enables the filmmakers to be able to capture


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xwizb9_sarah-brightman-alessandro-safina-symphony-live-in-vienna_music

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xwizb9_sarah-brightman-alessandro-safina-symphony-live-in-vienna_music



everything that is happening, allowing the public when screened/broadcast to

see more of the performance than they would have had they been sitting in the

audience. This multi camera production covers a lot of different shots, which

include: establishing, wide, close up, ect.. This in turn means that when the event

is broadcast or screened the audience will have the ability to see the performers

facial expressions and the movements of the orchestra, giving the viewer more

viewpoints than the audience at the live event.

Communicating Meaning to the Viewer – This refers to the set up of the

cameras and how they can help communicate the meaning of the production

to the viewer.

“The camera is an “eye.” but whose eye? It can be that of an onlooker,

watching the action from the best possible position at each moment.” ~ Video

Production Handbook by Gerald Millerson and Jim Owens, Fourth Edition,

Published 2008.

Through having a larger number of cameras recording an event it gives the

viewer a more in depth look at what is happening. By having multiple cameras

capturing the action from different angles and achieving different shots its gives

the viewer a sense of clarity, meaning they can get a better grasp on what is

happening during an event. In multi camera production such as this live event

the camera becomes an observer by showing us the action from different

viewpoints, giving the audience the opportunity to develop a mental image of

what is happening outside of the frame. In this live event certain shots, like the

close up shots can be perceived in a dramatic fashion allowing the viewer to




almost feel what the performers are feeling. Through the multi camera use

during this live event the audience is given a sense of emotional sensuality

through the use of different angles and shots combined with the editing

techniques used to create the specific atmosphere that is desired, this in turn will

also keep the audience interested and entertained.

Target Audience – This refers to the specific group of people in which the

filmmakers intended to reach with their product.

This intended audience for this live event would have been fans of both Sarah

Brightman & Alessandro Safina, also fans of operatic and classical music. If we

were to look at the target audience from a gender and age perspective I feel that

this product would have been intended for Male and Females between the ages

of 25-60, this group of people would also most likely come under the social

classification of Upper and Middle class workers, those that appreciate the arts.

However I feel that this performance and they way it was executed by the film

crew could be used as a great learning mechanism for anyone studying film, as it

would give them a better understanding of the importance of multi camera

productions during live events.

Visual Styles – This refers to the visual aesthetic in which a production is

presented.

From watching this live event we can see that the visual style has a mood setting,

this means that the lighting suggests that the lighting technicians worked with




the director to use lighting that would create a distinct mood, in this case the

mood is very relaxed with low lighting (used to create a show effect). We can

also see from this production that various camera angles and shots were used,

this gives the production an aesthetically pleasing look to it, the shots used like

close up shots and mid shots are used to show us the motion and emotion from

the performers, this helps create an ambiance of emotion for the viewer and in

turn makes the video more pleasing and entertaining to watch. Various angles

and camera movements such as crane shots, wire shots and dolly shots were

used to create a sense of movement, making the visual style work well in terms

of how the video can be perceived, this also creates a great sense of movement

allowing the viewer to feel as if they are moving with the camera. The overall

visual style of this production translates well with the audience and allows us to

feel relaxed and content when watching it.

Maintaining Viewer Interest – This refers to how a multi camera production

can keep the viewer/audience interested.

Just like communicating meaning to the viewer, the viewer’s interest is

maintained through the extensive use of various different shots and angles,

allowing the viewer to feel as if they are not missing out on any of the action. By

using multiple cameras for this production and combining this with the editing

techniques used, such as cuts and fades this helps hold the viewers interest as it

gives the production a more pleasing look and feel.




The Constraints of Location Environment Production and Simultaneous Multi

Camera Recordings – This refers to any issues or constraints that may be

linked to filming a live event and why multi camera recordings can benefit or

burden you.

The main constraints that the filmmakers would have faced during this

production would have been the transportation and set up of the filming

equipment, as this production required a minimum of 8 cameras, a crane, wire

and a dolly the set up of the equipment would have needed a larger crew than

that of a studio production. The crew would have also had to take into

consideration the space available for camera set up and ensuring that the

equipment would not be causing any obstructions.

Simultaneous multi camera recordings can benefit a multi camera production as

all of the cameras are linked to a main switching desk, this allows the switcher to

edit as the event is taking place and in turn cuts out the need for any post-

production editing.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live - Cinema Screening 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIPckPtYmXk


Coverage of Action

By using multiple cameras for the live production of The Rocky Horror Picture

Show all of the action is covered including cast interviews during intermission.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIPckPtYmXk



Fans that would be watching the live screening in cinemas worldwide had the

opportunity to witness everything as it happened. When watching this live event

we can see that a minimum of 6 cameras were involved in the filming process,

this means that nothing would have been missed as the cameras would have

been capturing everything from various angles and various shots such as close

ups and wide shots, allowing the viewers to see fuller coverage of the production

than they may have, had they been in the live audience.

Communicating Meaning to the Viewer

“Camera operators need to know their camera so well that they don’t need to

‘think’ about it technically. That knowledge allows them to spend their time

shooting creatively in a way that effectively communicates.” ~ Video


Published 2008.

Through the use of multiple cameras in this production we are given the

opportunity to see the stage production from various different angles and are

entertained by the use of many different shots. This allows the viewer to

experience the production better than we would by watching it live. By using

various cameras to obtain different shots such as close ups, the viewer can

experience the actors emotions and almost feel the same emotions and joy. The

many different camera angles and shots combined with strong editing

techniques help the viewer to grasp the production on a higher level, in turn

making the production more enjoyable.




Target Audience

The intended audience for The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live screening would

have been those who were fans of the original film and stage productions, back

in 1975 when the original film was released the target audience would have been

both male and females aged between 18-30, however due to the films popularity

and the continuous stage production tours throughout the last 31 years it has

gathered a larger following that has captured the interest of male and female

audiences aged between 16-40.

Visual Styles

The visual styles for this productions are bright, loud colours combined with

camp humour and costumes, this creates a very comedic visual style and feel.

The lighting used in this production was bright spotlight lighting; this gave the

production a bright and more dramatic feel. Combining all of this with the

various different camera angles and shots including close up shots, worked to

enforce the comedic and camp feel as we could see the actor’s facial expressions

and reactions to the audience staged hackling.

Maintaining Viewer Interest

Through the continuous use of cuts carried out by the switcher and the various

different camera angles and shots, the

viewer’s interest is maintained. The

production also holds the viewers interest

through the camp humour and




interactions with the cast members during the intermission period. The bright

lighting that was used along with the loud colours helps to keep the viewer

entertained, as it gives them a sense of enjoyment in being able to see everything

that is happening, I feel that if darker low lighting had of been used the viewers

interest would have dwindled as the viewer would have felt that they were

missing out on vital parts of the production.

The Constraints of Location Environment Production and Simultaneous Multi

Camera Recordings

Like the Sarah Brightman and Alessandro Safina production, this live event

would have experienced constraints due to the transportation and setting up of

the equipment, this is due to needing a larger crew for set up reasons to ensure

that everything is in place for filming to begin. Another constraint that the film

crew would have experienced in this production would have been the space in

which was available for set up, due to the production being held in a theatre the

film crew would have little space available for camera placement and would have

had to ensure that the cameras were not going to cause any obstruction.

The benefit of simultaneous multi camera recordings in this production would

have been like the Sarah Brightman and Alessandro Safina production, meaning

all of the cameras would have been connected to a main switcher board

eliminating the need for post-production editing.




Studio Based Productions

Game of Thrones


Coverage of Action

“When shooting with two or more cameras, a director tends to think in terms

of ‘effective viewpoints’ rather than specific shots. The results may be similar,

but the strategy is different; cameras need to be positioned to catch various

aspects of the continuous action” ~ Video Production Handbook by Gerald

Millerson and Jim Owens, Fourth Edition, Published 2008.

Due to the enormity of this production the use of multi camera is needed to

ensure that all of the action that is required to make a scene appealing is covered.

With Game of Thrones being one of the most popular TV series a large film crew

is involved during production, this means that at least 6 cameras are used for

location shooting and a minimum of 6 are used for in studio production, by using

this many cameras it ensures that all of the action is covered, making the

programme more appealing to its target audience. Multi camera use helps this

production run more smoothly than it would if it were being filmed with single




camera, this means that by using multi camera techniques the production time is

cut down significantly.


Through the use of multiple cameras the viewer is given the opportunity to

develop a mental image of a scene that could be happening beyond what is

happening in frame. By capturing a scene in different shots and angles the

audience are able to watch a scene play out from all possible angles, this makes a

programme or production more enjoyable for a viewer to watch. The viewer can

also develop they’re own opinions and reactions on a certain scene depending on

the angle or shot that is being used at the time.

Target Audience

When Game of thrones first aired in 2011 the intended target audience for the

show was males aged between 18-30, this was because of the fantasy and

medieval time in which the show was set. However due to word of mouth and

book readers recommending the show to their friends the target audience has

changed significantly. The target audience for Game of Thrones now stands with

males and females between the ages of 18-35.

Visual Styles

The visual styles that have been created and used throughout Game of Thrones

are that of a fantasy/medieval time. The use of multiple cameras during

production combined with special effects has created a historical type style, in




turn making fans describe the show as “history with dragons”. The lighting that

has been used in Game of Thrones is usually that of a darker lower lighting than

would be used in most studio-based productions; this is to create a more intense

atmosphere. The filmmakers have been know to use a lot of high and low angles,

manly during the scenes which involve Tyrion “The Imp” Lanister, this is to

create a sense of power and vice versa.


Game of Thrones maintains the viewers interest through witty one-liners,

interesting storylines, relatable

characters and blood curdling war

and death scenes. As well as all of

this the use of multiple cameras

capturing interesting things throughout each scene helps entertain and maintain

the viewer interest. The viewers interest is also maintained through the use of

close up shots which allow the viewer to witness each characters emotions and

reactions to certain situations and wide establishing shots which give the viewer

a visual display of the land the filmmakers have created. Multi camera use allows

the filmmakers to create a fantasyland in which the audience can get lost.

The Constraints of Studio and Location Environment and Simultaneous Multi

Camera Recordings

The constraints that the filmmakers of Game of Thrones may face on location

would be the same as if it were a live event, the transportation and set up of




equipment needs a heavily manned crew, this is because for the location filming

of Game of Thrones cranes and heavy machinery are sometimes used, this means

crew members are needed to operate these as well as a camera crew, runners,

director and various other workers are needed for set up. However when it

comes to studio production for the show all of the equipment is kept in studio

and is set up ready for use.

Simultaneous multi camera recordings are used in Game of Thrones but not for

the same reasons as a live event, this is because the show requires post-

production editing, so having a switcher is not needed. However all of the

cameras are set up and recording a scene simultaneously this eliminates the

needed to reshoot an entire scene from a different angle.

The Great British Bake Off


Coverage of Action

By using multiple cameras during the

filming of Great British Bake Off this

eliminates the possibility of missing out on

any of the action that is taking place. With

the show being a game show, various

different shots and angles are needed to capture all of the contestant’s reactions

to each challenge and the judge’s emotions/reactions to what the contestants

produce. Due to the nature of this show a minimum of 4/5 cameras is required in




order to capture everything, this gives the viewers a feeling of content in

knowing that they are not missing anything that may happen out of frame. Like

any studio production having multiple cameras helps the programme and filming

run more smoothly and eliminates the need to re-shoot scenes from different

angles.


“Great Ideas are not enough. Ideas have to be worked out in practical terms.

They have to be expressed as images and sounds, you need to decide what the

camera is going to shoot and what your audience is going to hear” ~ Video


Published 2008.

By having multiple cameras set up in the tent where Great British Bake Off is

filmed help to communicate the shows meaning with the viewer, through

different shots. A camera will be set up to capture the front of the studio where

the judges will be standing this allows the viewer to see the judges and the

setting of the show, other cameras will be capturing the contestants emotions

and reactions throughout the show, this allows the audience to see how the

contestants are feeling throughout challenges and if they are experiencing stress

or pressure. By having intense angles and shots such as close ups the viewers are

informed of the shows competitiveness and the effect it can have on the person

participating.




Target Audience

“The intended audience should determine how the Director covers the

subject” ~ Video Production Handbook by Gerald Millerson and Jim Owens,

Fourth Edition, Published 2008.

The intended target audience for the Great British Bake Off would be male and

females aged between 18-30, this is due to the fact that it appeals to those that

enjoy baking. However audiences can change and in this case people younger

than 18 have begun watching the Great British Bake Off and in turn making it a

popular show for family’s to watch together.

Visual Style

The visual style of the Great British Bake Off is

determined through the choice of shots and

lighting used. The lighting is mostly natural

lighting, however some over head lights are

used, this is because the show is filmed in a tent

during daytime, this means artificial lighting is rarely used making the show look

natural. The main shots that are used in the show include, close up, wide and mid

shots, wide and mid shots allow the audience to see the steps the contestants are

taking to produce their dishes, where as close up shots are used to show

emotion. When you combine the camera angles, shots, set up and strong editing

techniques the overall visual style becomes that of which you would expect a

game show to have.





In the Great British Bake Off viewer interest is maintained through the types of

shots that are used during filming, allowing viewers to feel as if they are

experiencing and feeling what the contestants are and also allowing viewers to

see the setting in which the show takes place. Along with the witty one-liners

from Sue Perkins and her presenting co-star Mel Giedroyc, the camera work and

editing techniques help maintain the viewers interest throughout the show, as

the audience are given what the expect from game show.

The Constraints of Studio and Location Environment and Simultaneous Multi

Camera Recordings

As with any production the Great British Bake Off will experience some

constraints. One of the constraints the filmmakers may experience during the

production of this show would be space issue, this is due to the show being

filmed in a tent with little room for camera set up and movement. However like a

studio production the need for transportation and set up of equipment is

eliminated due to the equipment being kept in the tent for the duration of

filming.

Simultaneous multi camera recordings for this show differ from that of a live

event, this is because post-production editing is required so a switcher is not

needed.




Conclusion

In conclusion I feel that Multi Camera use provides more options when filming,

whether it be live events of studio productions. You as the director have more

power of how much you can capture and by using multiple cameras for your

production you can create better scenes and give the audience a more in depth

look at your product.


Documents

natashacurry193.weebly.com€¦ · Web viewThere is also various types of multi camera studio productions, such as: game shows, chat shows, news magazine shows and studio based