Unit 22 - Multi-camera techniques
05:47 Edit This 0 Comments »Task 1 [P1 M1 D1]
Multi camera set up has been used for many years and involves many cameras been used to film one scene and been cut to simultaneously. The cuts filming can be editing while filming life programmes or after. Usually there are three cameras, 2 cameras film the whole scene from different angles and the last camera is the central camera which films the most active characters. It was the BBC who first used the Multi camera technique in 'The Queens Messenger' when they used three cameras to film it. After that the BCC regularly used the multi-camera set up.
The advantages of Multi-camera technique is that even though it gives the director less control, it is alot quicker and less expensive than the single camera set up. For this reason multiple camera productions can be filmed or taped much faster than single camera. Single camera productions are shot in takes and various setups with components of the action repeated several times and out of sequence; the action is not enacted chronologically so is unsuitable for viewing by a live audience.
The types of programmes which use multi-camera techniques are usually television dramas, game shows, talk shows and also some sitcoms. A example of multi camera been used in a talk show is the Jeremy Kyle Show, the camera often cut from Jeremy, to the people he is chatting with on his show and then to the audience to show their reactions.
Generally, the two outer cameras shoot close shots or crosses of the two most active characters on the set at any given time, while the central camera or cameras shoot a wider master shot to capture the overall action and establish the geography of the room. In this way, multiple shots are obtained in a single take without having to start and stop the action. This is more efficient for programs that are to be shown a short time after being shot as it reduces the time spent editing the footage. It is also a virtual necessity for regular, high-output shows like daily soap operas. Apart from saving editing time, scenes may be shot far more quickly as there is no need for re-lighting and the set-up of alternate camera angles for the scene to be shot again from the different angle. It also reduces the complexity of tracking continuity issues that crop up when the scene is reshot from the different angles. It is also vital for live television.(http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Multiple-camera_setup)
Task 2 [P1 M1 D1]
When watching the Electricity - Billy Elliot performance on the Blue Peter show there are a range of camera techniques, different camera movement, transitions, videos effects and different camera positions used to create the perfect effect. When the performance begins there is a long shot of the actor and and a panning around the set and the actor. This establishes the locations and the who the main character is, there then is an actual establishing shot of the area which makes the whole performance more clear. The video is shot for the audience to feel a sense of sympathy for the actor and this is accomplished by a crane shot which appear the actor seem small and vulnerable. There is a close up of the boys face to reflect the expression he shows through his performance and later on a close up of his feet to show his talent as he does different types of dance steps. The purpose of the performance is to showcase the young actors talents and these close up of his feet doing the dance steps and long shots of his body, they do it perfectly. There are a lot of head shots of the young actor, especially near the beginning of the performance when the actor is been identified to be playing Billy Elliot. At the end of the performance there is a two shot of the presenter and the actor, however when the conversation focuses on the young boy, the tow shots turns into an over shoulder shot of the presenter to put the him in the lime light.
The camera movement through out the whole performance is very slow and controlled. The shots move swiftly from camera to camera which give it a smooth and professional look and make the performance run smoothly. The direction is either left to right or vise versus and this is in a horizontal manner. There are a few high angle shots which move vertically in a slow manner and then merge into another slow movement. When there are panning shots the movement is slow and precise so stays focused on the actor and established the scene without seeming unprofessional and messy. Even when the pace of the music becomes more upbeat and fast the camera movement is still slow but the cuts between shots, rather than merged to give a flowing effect are just fast cuts which make the performance run faster and match the fast paced music.When the music gradually slows down again, the cuts between shots also begin to merge slightly rather than such a harsh cut.
As the main focus is of the young actor an trying to stage his talents as BluePeter is an educational show and does thrust talented children into the limelight, there are little transitions in the performance. The only one used really is the merging of the shots together from one camera to another. This is a smooth process and makes the video run for smoothly and fit better with the type of music used. Then the other transition used it when the music becomes faster and the clips begin to cut to each other quickly as this keeps the performance seem fast paced. There are no video effects used at all in this clip unless the merging of shots counts as one. The studio where the performance is filmed is full of lots of different pyrotechnics which involve strobe lighting and coloured lights which make the performance seem very busy and youthful which reflect the actor and the song he is singing.
There are around four cameras filming the performance in the studio. All of the cameras are positioned into front of the boy but there is one on the very side of the performance so it can watch the boy from a different angle and catch him running in and out of the stage, this adds a sense of drama as we don’t know which side he is going to come out of. There are a few crane shots which turn into panning shots around the whole set so I think there may be some cameras positioned high up to capture these shots.
There are around four cameras filming the performance in the studio. All of the cameras are positioned into front of the boy but there is one on the very side of the performance so it can watch the boy from a different angle and catch him running in and out of the stage, this adds a sense of drama as we don’t know which side he is going to come out of. There are a few crane shots which turn into panning shots around the whole set so I think there may be some cameras positioned high up to capture these shots.
Task 2 [Continued]
Analysis of Kraftwerk - Awards show.
First when the awards begin we notice the high technology pyrotechnics which straight away reflects a futuristic tone and also it is an expensive set, so serious. It introduces you to each member of Kraftwerk as there is a crab shot going across the row of artists, going slowly so we can identify each one easily. It show the audience a lot of the performance which involves them and show they are a big part of the music. There is an establishing shot of the stage and the four men. There is then a panning shot which goes around the artists which makes them look important and as they are all on computers and there are no other instruments present on stage, this connotes the men and the computers make the music. The music is all very futuristic and this is reflected with the style of pyrotechnics which is all black and green is a very matrix style. The Kraftwerk are in body suit which have green strobes in a vertical and horizontal lines. This looks very modern and revolutionary and relates back to computers and technology. The pattern strobed onto them looks like a computer chip or an item which relates back to IT which again communicates the meaning of the performance to the viewer.
In order to maintain the viewer interest there is a lot of different shots used which makes the performance more diverse and interesting and as the cameras are constantly coming from different angles it makes the viewer wonder which angle its coming from next and if another part of the performance is going to be revealed. As there are many different shots of the band it allows the audience and viewer to stay interested as the can see the band all the time and see what they are doing. If the viewers have not seen this type of performance before and are not sure what Kraftwerk are about there is a large screen behind the band which projects words such as Perfection and mechanic which describe the band as perfect and mechanic reflects the use of no actual instrument but just digital noises.
Task 3 [P1 M1 D1]
We are creating a multi camera production and so we know what to do at each step of creating it, we made a mind map so we had something to follow. Here is a print screen of the mind map.
Click the image to enlarge it.
Task 4 [P1 M1 D1]
As I was working in a team of around five people, so we knew which task we all had to do, a production list was created which involved equipment needed and lighting and the set design we had chosen. This is what it involved:
Equipment needed for broadcast:
- 2 Camera's.
- 2 Lights.
- 2 chairs.
- Talent.
- Personell.
- Backdrop.
- Slate vision Mixer.
- Sound Mixer.
- Live feed to hall and studio from gallery.
- Screen.
- Monitor in studio.
Task 5 [P1 M1 D1]
We then created a floor plan to show how our studio will be set up and also a script. Below is the script and a floor plan of the studio.
Task 6 [P1 M1 D1]
When doing any form of production a risk assessment is carried out in order to take care of the health of colleagues. We are not expected to eliminate the risks but we are required to protect people as far as 'reasonably practicable'. Below are the risk assessments carried out for the productions.
The first page describes how to rate the risk and how often it may occur.
Task 7 [P1 M1 D1]
For our multi camera drama me and a team of 5 people put on a production called 'Friday World' which was aired internally around my school. I was working in the sound studio so this meant my colleague controlled the sound levels of the microphones of the presenters and the sound of the audio which was been aired into the hall when the school production played. I controlled the vision mixer slate so i was in control of mixing different clips together and from cutting from live cameras to pre-recorded produce. There was two presenters and one camera person.
Due to technical issues and the size of the file, our video could not be uploaded to the blog.
Task 8 [P1 M1 D1]
Evaluation on Multi-camera drama
Purpose:
The purpose of our multi camera drama was to entertain and create a show which ran smoothly and showcased our talents. I feel we achieved this as because I was vision mixing I could hear the audience I the hall. They were laughing a lot and stayed right until the end of the show and even watched the end credits which I feel is a sign that the show ran smoothly. Also there were no mess up with the vision mixing or audio levels and the presenters did a great job as they were on queue with everything and also kept engaged with the audience.
In order to find out whether our show was a success or not, we gathered a random audience from different years group across the school, showed them a recording of our live show and asked for feedback.
Audience:
The first feedback we got was that they enjoyed the film, as the content was interesting compared to previous Friday worlds from other groups, which were created poorly, and the content was old and repetitive. Our preferred reading was to entertain the audience and build relationships with the audience; the audience noticed this as they could sense that we had connected with them as they spoke to the presenters after they found all the jokes and gags funny which is what we were aiming. Our primary target audience was students in the years 7-11 as this is who would see the productions as it is only aired internally in school. The main percentage of this audience is years sevens, they probably make up about 40% of the audience and the rest is a mixture of year groups. Year sevens are more popular because they are always in school, where as other ages groups chose to go outside for break.
Representation issues:
We gave positive images out, the whole production was very upbeat and it contained lighthearted, humorous clips. We had one serious clips which was about bulimia, but we portrayed in a positive light so people understand it is a treatable illness and there is support available for people who do have it. Our production included both males and females so it was a not a bias veiw. Both the presenters were male but we did show a clip of us all at work so people did know that males and females were included in it. We did not use clips of different ethnic backgrounds but this is was not on purpose, we did not have any available and our group was of all the same ethnicity but our actual media class has a range of ethnicities. As our whole production was very upbeat we used fast paced and easy listening music. The music we used was all products we had created ourselves, the SPAM title music was created by the presenter. This made our video more original and personal to us.
Technical issues:
The levels of the music and microphones were fine and there was no mess ups. It was me and another member who controlled the volume controls of both the live music and microphones and we did not make any errors. The camera work was fantastic, we only moved one camera as one was set up as a close up on one of the presenters so we just kept cutting back to this. The main camera which was moved alot and zoomed in and out of the presenters went fine. There were no issues as we were communicating with the presenters so when I cut from live to pre-recorded clips and from the main camera to the close up, they knew which camera to be looking in. No editing was done as the production went out live to the whole school.
Conventions and Narratives:
As our production wasn't a film, series or an advert it did not really have a set genre. If it was though it would probably be to be educational with a hint of comedy as well. The comedy factor is more though as the production was meant to give the students a break from school work. In a professional product which is aired on television it would be very similar. I think the only difference would be the camera quality and studios would be of a higher quality. I feel our production was as professional as it could of been. We did not have a narrative as the whole production included lots of different clips which were all of different genres and different topics so it was not available to run to a narrative.
Own performance:
Overall I feel I performed extremely well. I did not learn any new skills but became more confident in the skills I already had. I could not confidently use the 'Broadcast Pix Slate' this is the piece of technology which controls the volume of productions, microphones and live sound going out to the hall and also the transitions of pre-recorded clips to live cameras. I could easily use this now with no prompts of what to do. I do not really feel I had any weaknesses in this production as I had a very good team to work with and we all supported eachother. I feel I did well in using the Broadcast Pix Slate and also communicating to the presenters of which camera to look into. I feel I was a good team member as I did voice my opinion but never argued with anyone, none of us argued and we all got on fantastically.
Improvements for next time:
- Do more presenting
- Have more involvement in the clips to be used in the production.
0 comments:
Post a Comment