For single camera productions (1)

For single camera productions, filming has to be done a lot more creatively. To film a scene with
multiple angles, the scene has to be reshot multiple times, with each shoot being a different angle.
This can cause problems if the actor’s line deliveries aren’t the same as they were in different shots.
With only one camera, it means that filmmakers can transport the equipment easily as there isn’t as
much to move. Having a single camera can be beneficial as it allows the filmmakers to get all the
angles they need for a shot. For scenes of dialogue, more than one camera may be used. There’s
always a master shot, a camera that captures the entire scene. There is also a second camera for
close ups and filming individual people. Directors can also have direct control over every shot,
helping them achieve their vision. Single camera has its problems though. Doing things like stunts
and practical effects with a single camera is near impossible as you would have to reset everything
between each shot and the shots might not fully match.
Single camera also takes up a lot of storage/film, as
rerecording scenes multiple times will leave the
filmmakers with a lot of footage. An example of using
one camera in a television show is the hallway fights in
Daredevil. The fight scenes are all one take and the
camera follows the main character fighting through the
hallway, with no cuts. This is a good example of action
scenes in a single camera show, as all the fighting was
filmed without having to go back and redo the shots. The camera stays at the end of the hallway,
then follows the main character down it.

Lighting a single camera set is a lot easier as you don’t have to worry about covering the entire set in
equal lighting. In multi camera sets, the lighting has to fill the entire set perfectly but in single
camera productions, the lighting can be focused and moved to only where the camera is pointing.
Single camera sets can be lit perfectly without worrying about anything else. High key lighting may
be used when the director wants a brightly lit scene, reducing shadows. On the other hand, low key

lighting may be used to add shadows and
darkness to the scene. High key lighting is
used for things like adverts and
photography. Low key lighting is used for
film scenes with darker moods. Lighting in
multi camera productions is harder as you
have to have the lighting perfect in all of the set instead of just where the one camera is focused.

Sound in a single camera production can be tricky. Because of the constant cuts in a single camera
production, the audio might sound disjointed. Background noise plays a massive part in this.

Background noise in a shot is quiet but obvious if the scene is
silent. Its easy to notice when the background noise changes from
one shot to another. To avoid this, filmmakers will sometimes use
audio from a different take and match it to the visuals. High quality
microphones like boom mics are also essential for good sounding
audio. The boom mics are connected to a audio recorder and a
battery that supplies power to the mic and captures the audio.
Sound is easier in multi camera as you don’t have to cut all the audio tracks from the separated
audio together.

Editing a single camera production can be a lengthy process. The editors have to go through every
single shot and match them all together in order. Finding all the footage necessary from a single day
shoot can take a while as there is so much to filter through. They then have to make sure there
aren’t any visual or audio mismatches that’ll stand out to the viewer. Editing for a single camera
production can only happen after the filming of that scene has finished, as all shots have to be
completed one after the other. Deleting all the unneeded footage helps as its less clutter to sort
through for the editor. On top of all of this, the editor has to go through all the audio, finding the
audio tracks that match the scenes, then line them up perfectly or use audio from another shot and
match that up to the video, something that is difficult to do.

Different films and shows use differing amount of cameras. For
example, real-time shows like the news, sports and Britain’s Got
Talent all use a multi camera setup. They use multiple cameras as
they are live and can’t be rerecorded. Multi camera setups can be
mixed live, meaning audiences get the best angles. Sitcoms and TV

shows in general are more
likely to use a single camera
setup as they can be reshot
as many times as possible. For example, The Office and
Friends use single camera. Single camera feels more personal
as the camera can be moved closer to the actors as it
wouldn’t be in shot. The personalized feeling helps audiences
relate to the characters more and feel a stronger bond with
them. Horror benefits from single camera setups as the
camera can be put in angles that make the production feel more realistic.

Different formats work with different camera setups. Serials benefit from multi-camera, as they
release three times a week, meaning the editors don’t
have much time to edit together all the footage from
one camera. TV series’ work with any camera setups, as
they take breaks and release as seasons, instead of how
serials release constantly, so there’s more time to edit
them together. Single dramas work better as single
camera productions ad they usually don’t have as large
of a budget, meaning one camera is more optimal than
renting multiple. There is also time to edit them
together, as there is only one “episode” as opposed to
many episodes.