Single camera techniques

Single camera techniques

In this essay, I will be writing how single camera production is lit, how sound is reordered, how
scenes are shot and edited as well as the advantages and disadvantages single camera productions
may have. I will also discuss the genres and formats of where single camera or multi camera are
preferred and how single camera production differs from a multi camera production.

Camera

As it may suggest, one camera is used during a
single camera production. A single camera allows
the filmmakers more control over the camera
and able to set up the shoot a lot easier and be
able to get the camera to film certain locations
where multi camera production would straggle.
However, for certain scenes like dangerous stunts
or large amounts of dialog in one scene, then the
production may get more than one camera to
shoot that scene to avoid errors during dialog or
get as much footage as possible for a stunt that
can only be done once. A difference between
multi camera and single camera is that a single
camera will have multiple shoots to be made of the same
scene, probably the same amount of times that they will be
cameras in a multi camera production. The diagrams show
how different single camera production regarding multi
camera production. The equipment shown in the diagram for
single camera production may not be showing lighting or
sound, but still shows the different the room needed to get a
multi camera production functioning while a single camera
production does not need a ton of room to function, this is
implied more with the screen’s shots below. The images show
how big a multi camera production can be as it requires a lot of set up, but when you compare it to
the image of the single camera production, despite not having sound equipment shown the room
required is a massive difference allows scenes that take place in cars, corridors or other small places
to be accessible.

Lighting

The lighting process can be just as easy to set up
for single camera production, as the filming
process as you are able to craft each and every
shot to try and get consistence in the filming and
the lighting. However, you must set the lighting
each time for a different shot, the lighting can be
more consistent than a multi camera production
and it also allows more direction to be put into
lighting for someone’s style or setting up a
character that might have a bad side and shows
this by use of shadows, but setting up for a shot
each time can lead to an increase of continuity
errors. The differences of single camera and multi
camera can be shown in the four scene shoots at
the side, the single camera production would
have lighting set differently for each shot, take
this scene from ‘Moonlight’ where the scene had
three different shots, one of the passenger of the
car, the driver and a master shot where it shows a
view from outside the car. The light is affecting
their faces in more consistent way, by having the
light coming from the front of the car, it is shown
in all shots by having the master shot have light
on both faces and the light coming from the front
of the car due to where the light is hitting their
faces. The single camera production has access to
use low key lighting as you are able to control the
lighting and not worry about another camera
having different lighting. The multi camera
production has a high key lighting to avoid
shadows and inconsistency between each shot,
just like the shot of a news broadcast where multi
camera production is heavily used in the studio,
however where performing interviews they will
probably use single camera production, once
again do to less equipment needing less room
and probably expenses of getting equipment out
there.

Sound

In single camera production sound is always recorded separately from the

footage and filmmakers will always record audio little bit after and before

the footage to make sure the audio has been captured. In single camera

productions mics are usually hidden from sight. Filmmakers will often use

boom mics to hold above the camera to get audio from one direction, or

a shotgun mic above the camera. Some filmmakers will make sets so then

mikes can be hidden in shot to record the sound. Single camera

productions may use the same audio for a different take when a

conversation is taking place, take the scene from ‘Moonlight’, that scene

had three different shots, but that scene may have used the same audio

clip for the entire scene despite the cuts to other shots during the Figure 1 Boom mic in use of single camera

conversion. In multi-camera production the mics can be visible, these are production

usually the small little ones that attach to clothing, they are called

Lavalier Mics. These are usually used in Games shows and the news, as the audio

is important and having the mic next to the person so then the audio can be as

clear as possible.

Figure 2 Use of lavalier mic in multi-
camera production

Editing

Editing in a single camera production can be time consuming, Figure 3 Clip from Emmerdale, click on either photo to get
this is due to the amount of shot types and retakes of same clip.
scene. A shot log can be vital to help editing as it will state good
and bad shots before viewing the footage. A shot log is a
document of shot done for the day and how successful they
were. Due to the number of retakes that will be done, filming
and editing will be done at the same time during a single camera
production, some of the crew can film while other group can
edit and clear any bad takes and stop footage building up and
making the editing longer. Multi-camera production will be
easier to edit as the take will be the same at the same time
and will be easier to make cuts with no worries of continuity
errors, unlike single camera where these errors can be a big
problem and making cuts to different angles difficult, as the
shoot is not the same, and done at a different time. This clip
from the show Emmerdale, this is a multi-camera production

that is a serial, a show that may never end. In this Figure 4 Clip from Cloverfield, click on either image for a clip from the film
clip it shows how shots go from one person to the
next, uses of over the shoulder shots and mid shots
to get more than one person in shot are all used, as
well as some panning shots. Most of these shots
would have been taken all at once and then cut to
during dialog-based scenes to keep a flow going and
keep the conversation more engaging rather than
one camera, and may not be able to get as many
different shots due to the time and amount of
episodes that get pumped out, at least 3 or 4 new
episode are shown every day, hence why these are
multi camera productions, to make the editing
easier and not be too considered at continuity
errors. An example of a film that used single camera
production throughout the entire film is Cloverfield.
Cloverfield is a found footage film that uses one
camera throughout the film, so they are not many
cuts and some shots are continuous, unless a large
amount of time passes with no narrative to the
story that is unfolding, like someone sleeping. That
means this example has basic editing as shots are
continuous, a shot log would have helped to known
whether a take would have been good or bad,
saving time at looking back at the bad footage.

Single camera genres and formats

Some TV series or Single drama can easily be done by single camera production. These shows will
have time to edit and would like a certain style that may be hard to create in multi-camera
production. Serials like EastEnders will always be multi-camera production, this allows them to be
produced at a quick pace and will be able to show multiple views from different points of view, allow
a character to get their opinion across. Several genres are generally filmed with a single camera,
genres like Horror and Crime drama will often use low key lighting due to only needing the light set
up for one camera. Comedies can be both multi or single camera production. Comedies filmed in
front of an audience will be multi camera production while TV shows that are comedy based will be
single camera productions to try and get the jokes to be funnier for the audience. Serials and a
number of big budget films will always shoot multi camera productions, these are usually the case to
meet strict deadlines and pump out as much material as possible. Tv shows will most likely be multi-
camera production, such as Frasier, Friends, Mike & Molly and Seinfeld. 1Shows that require low key
lighting or benefit from single camera production such as horrors, crime drama or even some found
footage films will all be single camera. Some Tv shows that are single camera include Everybody
Hates Chris, Last Man on Earth, Life in Pieces and Modern Family. 1 These shows would have been
shot due to most of them set in houses or places that would lead to not having much room to work
with for multi camera production, so a single camera would free up a lot of room and have better

1 https://screencraft.org/2016/06/21/differences-single-camera-multi-camera-tv-pilot-scripts/

control off the lighting. Also, unlike serials, these TV shows will only need to film an episode a week,
giving more time for actors to have reshoots, and screens to be shot from different angles and
allows more time to be given for a team to edit the footage and make it look more professional.

Single camera production Cons
Can lead to continuity errors due to changing
Pros nearly everything when filming from another
Each shot can be controlled to get the perfect angle.
angle and lighting. Editing can be longer
Can cost more due to equipment you use
Allows you to film in small places (mainly old film cameras) and may lead to
Low key lighting can be easily be filmed paying more people to film and edit at the
same time and pay them for longer worker.
Filming stunts or heavy dialog scenes can be
very difficult to pull off in single camera
production.

Multi camera production

Pros Cons
Allows the mics to be shown, depending on the Equipment needs a lot of room and need to
genre or show consider placement to avoid get the equipment
in shot.
Allows multiple angle and different shots to be Not much room to play with lighting in shots
done at once
Can help out when editing a scene, Cut down
on time and money
Filming heavy dialog scenes and stunts allowing
multiple shots without redoing the scene (helps
with stunts that can only be done once)