Unit 21 - Single camera techniques
05:48 Posted In Single Camera Techniques Edit This 0 Comments »A single camera format is where one camera is used for all the shots on a TV or Film set. The director may choose to pan between subjects, use longer takes, or stop the camera and film from a new angle to get the shots he needs. A single camera—either film or video—is employed on the set and shots are often taken out of Multiple camera formats are where as many as five cameras are used simultaneously to catch the same action. The shots that are required are then selected and put together during the editing process. Multi-camera set-up which uses two or more cameras running simultaneously.
The advantages of single camera format is gives the director more control over each shot as each scene is shot individually then edited together to get the perfect end result. Single camera format is used in many TV shows, it was used in The Brady Bunch back in the 1960’s. Single camera format is said to give things a more polished look and make television more sophisticated as shots can be jumped so look-a-likes doubles could play a role if the main actor had a dual part, this would have been impossible in a multi-camera format. Due to the tight editing of single camera dramas, it makes it seem very fast paced. When the potential of the single-camera style is fully maximized, camera movement, the way shots are composed and edited, and other directorial flourishes will be as much a source of comedy as the behavior of the characters. On such shows, the creative teams are more likely to include fantasies, daydreams, and surreal, cartoonish gags, occasionally using computer generated imagery. Single camera format overall gives ore control and a better finish even if it is more time consuming.
Even thought Multi camera format does give the director less control over each shot, it was very cheap and very fast so quicker and cheaper than single camera format. Multiple cameras can take different shots of a live situation as the action unfolds chronologically and so is congruent with events that have a live audience. Multi-camera format is very useful in film when shooting a large expensive scene which can not be repeated. An example of a program filmed in Multi camera format is Friends. Friends was one of the first shows to be filmed in this format and it was a big success.
Since its debut on December 17, 1989 the show has broadcast 442 episodes and the twenty-first season began airing on September 27, 2009. The Simpsons Movie, a feature-length film, was released in theaters worldwide on July 26 and July 27, 2007, and grossed $527 million worldwide.
Serials in television and radio are series that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a serial fashion, episode by episode. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from traditional episodic television that relies on more stand-alone episodes. Worldwide, the soap opera is a notable derivative of the serial.
Serials rely on keeping the full nature of the story hidden and revealing elements episode by episode to keep viewers tuning in to learn more. Often these shows employ recapping segments at the beginning and cliffhangers at the end of each episode. Such shows also place a demand on viewers to tune in to every episode to follow the plot. Life on Mars is an example of a serial. We know it is a serial because it follows the same story all the way through the series, rather than changing every week like a series.
Life on Mars is a British science fiction/police procedural television drama . It was first broadcast on BBC between January 2006 and April 2007, lasting for two series in total.
Life on Mars tells the fictional story of DCI Sam Tyler (John Simm), a police officer in service with the Greater Manchester Police. After being hit by a car in 2006, Tyler awakens in 1973, 33 years in the past. There, he finds himself working for the predecessor of his modern day police force in 2006, the Manchester and Salford Police as a DI rather than a DCI under the command of Gene Hunt(Philip Glenister). Over the course of the two series, Tyler faces various culture clashes, most frequently regarding his modern approach to policing and the traditional un-scientific methods of his colleagues.
Mixing the genres of both science fiction and police procedural the series' central plot centers on the ambiguity concerning Tyler's predicament of it being unclear to both the audience and character whether he has gone mad, is in a coma or has actually travelled back in time. Below are the viewing figure for a few of episodes, these reflect the success of the Tv serial.
A narrative is another word for story and like there are many different ways of telling a story there are many different types of narrative. Below I will explain a few of the different types.
Linear or sequential structure:
These are the easiest to understand, it is when an order of event happen in the correct order, in an order the way they happened. A lot of soaps are like this. It is easier for the audience to watch and also if you miss a few episodes, easier to catch on what you might have missed. An example of a soap using this is Eastenders.
Non linear or non sequential narrative:
This is where a sequence of events is not sow in order. The director may use this format and show the ending of a film at the beginning then show different events which unfold to show how the end became like this. This format is used in many films but also in Soaps such as Hollyoaks and series such as Lost. A great example of a non linear is the physiological thriller Donnie Darko.
Flashbacks:
These are a form of non sequential that involves clips of the past been shown up on screen to the audience. These are used to sometimes create enigma or reveal the story line bit by bit. They were used famously in The Butterfly Effects, these are used to fulfill the narrative as the to the main characters they are flashes of his past which is cannot remember. Flashbacks in soaps are used a lot in Doctor Who.
Realist or Anti realist
Realist or anti realist narratives can also be discussed. Obviously, a realist narrative will draw its power from the portrayal of realistic events. This narrative was used in the film ‘United 93’ which reproduced the events on the 9/11 tragedy. An anti realist narrative will have the freedom to indulge in the inclusion of aliens, vampires and all kinds of beastly CGI nonsense. This narrative was used in the film ‘Jennifers Body’ about a girl who is a vampire and feast on boys who adore her! A series which used anti realist narrative can be seen in ‘Primeval’ which was about finding portals which opened areas of the past and prehistoric creatures!
Range of information:
Unrestricted: The audience sees and hears everything and often they already know the ending. This was used in the film Titanic as it was based on non-fictional events of a cruise line sinking after hitting an iceberg. Restricted is when The audience are introduced to information and plot at the same time as the characters.
Propps theory:
Every story has this narrative. It involves a hero, helper, villain and a damsel in distress. This is illustrated very well in ‘Batman and Robin’. Batman is the hero, Robin was the helper, the villain could have been a handful of characters from The joker to Catwoman. The damsel in distress would usually be a good-looking woman of the public. Most films have this portrayed quite obviously and soaps use this narrative also.
When considering Propp's theory, most drama's/ story lines will follow this. However, in some films people's positions will change throughout the feature. This often happens in soaps to keep the viewers watching and change characters perceptions. Fairy tales always use this theory, as it is guaranteed to be successful because of the target audience. Most complicated films partly use this theory - for example a scary film, such as 'Paranormal activity' does not use a resolution, to make the film seem more scary.
Todorovs theory:
Todorovs theory includes an equilibrium when everything is normal, then a disruption occurs which may means something goes wrong which is meant to be fixed and put back to normal. There is then a resolution which can resolves the disruption. These can go in order to a more sequential narrative or in a mixed up order for the Non-linear narrative.
However, other series and serials, such as Life on Mars are non linear. This means that the shots are not in chronological order and it includes things such as flashbacks. This is also an anti realist drama as it does not represent actual events.
When the movie begins there is an establishing shot of the area and the main character. Then the camera cuts to two men getting go out of a car in a car park, this is a long shot but also an establishing shot as it exposes more of the area there are in. There is then a point of view shot of the woman looking in a puddle which reveals her expression through the reflection. After this there is a medium shot of the three characters standing on the edge of a train track, this then cuts to a close up of the woman’s face. Close up are used to focus attention on a persons feelings and reactions. Near the end there is a selective focus shot, the woman is stood forward and the camera is on her with the two men stood a distance behind. The view of her is very clear but the shot of the men is blurred, this then switches to the shot of the men been very clear and the shot of the woman to be blurred. This is done to make the audience focus on a certain character. Through the end of the film, the women climbs on to the train track and a worm eye view shot connotes the train coming towards her.
While the film is going on there are also flashbacks. The camera shot used in these involve and establishing shot that reveals a park with swings and then further on through the film, another establishing shot of a graveyard. There is then a medium shot of s dead person lying on the floor, which then cuts to a point of view shot of someone looking at pills in there hand. The two are linked and this possibly connotes the pills had something to do with the death. There is also an over the shoulder shot used of a women finding the pills in her book, which is placed there by the girl. There is then a shot of the main character and women who has just found the pills; this reflects again the main character has given the women these pills. Near the end of the flashbacks, there is a low shot of the main character as she sits near a gravestone. This makes her appear big and heroic but then a long shot reveals her depressed and bewildered.
After I have recorded all of my sound, I will import it into Garage band, a software which allows you to edit your recorded sound and get the most professional sounding results. On here I can cut out bit of the recording I don't need and even add sound effects or jingles to the recording. It will go onto a page which looks similar to this:
Script for single camera drama:
6.00 am, Cobbled street, Character talking in their head, angry tone:
Music bed: Suspenseful music...
Cigar being lit, cut to establishing shot of cobbled street, with dimmed street lights and shops on either side:
It’s that time again, and people think they can just walk all over me. But its not gonna happen anymore.
Male feet walk into the camera shot, cut to close up of side of his face as he walks past:
Why should these people push me around? I have feelings too. My reputation around here needs boosting, and I’m about to do it…
We see him carry on his journey up the street with different shots which do not reveal the identity of him...
How should I do it? Fast, slow, quick, easy? I can’t think, and I just want it to be over, so I can get on with my life.
Its all I can think about, now Its come to it, I don’t know if I’m regretting it? What if it’s the wrong thing to do?
Will it just harm my reputation even more? Which would be just be defeating the object? Oh no. Too many thoughts in my head. Just do it!
I’m getting closer to it now, its nerve-racking to think it will only take a matter of minutes and it’ll be over.
We see the character turning a corner and then an establishing shot of a old door, which he makes his way up to, he then knocks on the door and a woman answers with a worried look on her face...
dialogue of the man: "Hiya love, got your milk money?" Smiles...
Music bed: Happy, Cheerful music...
The man then skips happily down the road, doing a heel click at the end. Fade to black and words say "The Milkman"
Treatment:
Objective: The proposal for this short film is to make the audience think that a hit man is wandering around the cobbled streets. The objective is to acheive an anti-climax effect at the end of the film where the audience discover the hit man is just infact a milkman doing his rounds.
Setting: Cobbled streets of Pudsey set in the 1920s in the early hours of the morning.
Time: 2 minutes long
Description: The film will be created in the style of 'film noir' so very eery, dark and mysterious. The short drama focuses on a man who is an estranged milkman who is angry about been taken advantage of his customers. However as only body shots and close up of the characters body are shown we do not know the man is a milkman and he appears to be a hit man on a mission. The character is wandering around the streets looking for his victim and he ends up at a house. The woman comes to the door looking scared but then this is when the identity of the milkman is revealed as he asked for his milk money, this therefore causing an anti-climax. The shots will be around 10 seconds long but no longer as film needs to seem edgy and mysterious and not give too much away. The goal of our film is to convince the audience the character is going to commit a huge, horrific crime then shock them when he just a milkman.
Remarks:
- Our film will be shot using a small HD hand held camera. This is too purposely create a imperfect finish and a sort of 'Blaire Witch' feel. This makes the footage seem more real life.
- The face of the character is only shown as the end as this keeps the audience hooked as the do not know his identity and this adds to the anti climax affect.
There will be a music bed to show and reflect suspension, and also a few sound effects and a voice over, running over the music bed.
Proposed Sequence Sample of Events:
Task 9 [P1 M1 D1]
We created a story board so we knew what to film for each scene. Been more organized meant that creating the film was a smoother and quicker process.
Task 10 [P1 M1 D1]
As I working with another person we had to make a schedule to make sure we completed all the work and had some organisation so no tasks got missed. We created a production table, we did the video quite fast so the production schedule is quite short and precise. Below is my production table.
Also when we edited the movie we had to to keep a record of this also. This was so we could keep a check on what had been edited and what still needed to be done.
Audience: The audience said that my film fit with the codes and conventions of both my genres within the film. They all laughed at the anti climax which is what I had hoped to achieve during the filming and editing process. The audience got the preferred reading of my drama and I think this is because they were my primary target audience.
Representation issues:
My single camera drama pretends to have negative messages but in actual fact gives out fun and positive messages. There was only one ethnic group included in my film as it was set in England in the 1920’s when different ethnicities were not always incorporated in films and television. The music, in both parts, added to the mood of my piece as when the tension and enigma was building up, so was the volume and tempo of the music. This helped to create the tension helped with the anti climax effect at the end. After the anticlimax has been given away, the music turns into a fast paced happy tune, which helps to show the comedy and joke element portrayed in my drama.
The locations and cinematography were both extremely important in my film, as it was supposed to be a film noir genre, and this is quite hard to create. To create this, I went to a dark cobbled street with low light that creates shadows to represent the time of day and the element of creeping around in the dark for the horror element of our film.
The language used in the film was appropriate for the target audience of teenagers and adults. The audience thought that my drama looked realistic for the genre’s included in my drama.
Technical issues: The levels of the voices and music both went up and down at appropriate points depending on what effect I was trying to create. For example just as the tension builds up to the top, the music levels and voice levels were very high as it was meant to represent what the character was thinking. My film used a variety of camera shots as I was not giving away the identity of the character straight away, I needed a variety of shots to keep the audience interested and want to keep watching to find out the real identity of the character. An external microphone was used to record the voices as the camera I used could not pick up voices and there would have been too much ambience in the background from outside. The editing process was very demanding as there were a lot of clips that needed effects and transitions put on them to be approraite to the genre. The transitions were sometimes not smooth but this was deliberate as the film was not creating a smooth and easy journey, the transitions were meant to represent this. The credits and fonts were appropriate to the second genre; comedy, as they were at the end and had to portray the joke included at the end of the film.
Conventions/Narrative:
I think that the following things were appropriate the genre’s:
- Locations.
- Cinematography.
- Camera Shots.
- Music.
-Voices.
-Props.
My film included an enigma to keep the audience interested, which is important in a good narrative. It also included an equilibrium, disruption and resolution, which is typical in a drama but also a simple but effective way of keeping the audience interested. We also think that the main character is a villain, but is in fact a hero which is a different way of portraying characters in dramas. I would regard my drama as a single strand, which is appropriate for the audience and genre.
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