Unit 22: Multi-camera techniques

Task 1: Define Multi-camera techniques through a written report or an audio-visual presentation.

In television, the multi-camera format is used amongst sports programmes, soap operas, game shows, talk shows and most sitcoms. Where it may give the director less control over each shot, it is ultimately less time consuming. It saves editing time as there is no need to set up alternative camera angles for another shot due to the fact that there is already a multi-camera setup in place, so all the necessary angles are recorded, as well as this it allows multiple shots to be captured in one take without having to stop and start the footage like you would in a single-camera setup. It is because of this that daily soap operas like Eastenders and Coronation Street and also live television programmes, deem the multi-camera setup to be a technical necessity in the completion of their final product. 

In the actual process of shooting a scene, the director, assistant director and technical director all combine to create a 'line cut' which allows the technical director to switch the feed to numerous cameras. The camera which will be being recorded from at the exact time of shooting will have a 'tally light' displayed on it as an indication to the actors and fellow camera operators. The multi-camera setup has been a great success and it has a track record to prove it as mass media companies like the BBC and NBC, have used the setup for the majority of their live television programme since 1936 onwards. The main factor of multi-camera being chosen over a single-camera setup for live television programmes is the fact that in single camera, each shot is recorded in takes and various scenes have to be repeated out of sequence, so with it not being in a chronological order, it would be unsuitable for a live audience.

Task 2: Create a written report or an audio-visual commentary that explains the techniques used in the clips below. Comment on the following:

• Camera-angles
• Camera-movement (direction and speed)
• Transitions
• Video Effects
• Camera Positioning

Task 3: Produce a mind-map of ideas.

Task 4: Create a production table that can be accessed by the whole group.
Lighting and Set Design:

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: Create a final shooting script and floor plan for your multi-camera programme.

Task 6: Complete the relevant risk assessment form.

Task 9: Evaluation.

Purpose -

I believe we achieved our purpose with our multi camera production, fulfilling the primary aim of entertaining our audience and secondly informing them also. The target audience which we had to provide our production to was teachers and also students, whom of which were aged 12-18. To create a bond with the audience, we included footage of both students and teachers around the school to make them feel involved in the production.

Audience -

Our target audience appeared to have enjoyed our broadcast, they assessed it by stating it brightened up their start to the day, as it was broadcasted to our audience just after morning lessons, this helped cheer up the students and prepare them for the rest of the day. This means they got our preferred reading, which shows our production was a success. The most favoured  part of our television broadcast by the audience was the ‘Lions or tigers?’ feature, as it included students and teachers. This was because it gave the students to see their teachers in an informal way and made the school setting more relaxed.

Representation issues -

Our production included both positive and negative messages. This is down to the fact that our secondary purpose was to inform, therefore when we included a documentary style drama about an eating disorder, it was important to get the message across to our audience as it a disease which tends to affect younger people, therefore it strongly concerned the majority of our audience. Despite this we also included positive messages, wether it be through our enthusiastic presenters or comedic 'Lions or Tigers?' feature. The location of our multi camera set-up was inside the school television studio, which already had a generic setup suitable for producing a television programme.

Issues:


We included a variety of camera shots throughout our production to keep the audience interested, as just one camera angle would have become repetitive and tedious. The variation of shots worked as with the audience being quite young, they would need a more motivational production to be entertained. There was just the one mistake throughout the film, this being when a microphone was left on for a few seconds, allowing the audience to hear instructions from the producer to the presenters.

Conventions/Narrative:


The quality of our live broadcast was very similar to that of a professional live show, as we had all the specialist equipment needed to produce a professional piece. For example, the transitions from presenters to feature films was extremely efficient, and also the fact that we alternated camera shots from showing both presenters to then providing a close up of just one prevented the live performance from becoming repetitive. Our program didn't have a specific narrative as it was a live morning/breakfast television production with two presenters at the helm of it.

Own Performance -

From my own personal performance, I gained both confidence and experience, as I was one of two presenters along with Elliot. I had to be confident when presenting to the audience, making sure everything I talked about both made sense and was suitable to broadcast to a live audience. I gained a greater understanding by working in a team, as everyone had to listen to one another so that the team could make important decisions together. Communication skills were also a massive factor, as the sound and vision mixing team had to negotiate with the camera operators and presenters via a single microphone. All in all I believe our production was a great success.