Single camera Techniques in film

The pros and Cons of Single Camera.

Pros and comparison
It is Cheaper than a multi camera setup as
there less camera men needed and you
dont need as much expensive lighting
control.
It is simpler to use and more mobile as it
only uses one or two moveable cameras
unlike the huge immobile cameras that are
used in multi camera setups.
You need much less staff to keep and look
after a small single camera like a DSLR than
a large fixed camera and so it is easier.
You have more control over lighting as the
cameras arent fixed to the ground and so
you can move to better areas if it is too
dark or too light.
You are never limited to how much space
you need to set up your shot where as if
your camera is still you can only shoot from
its FOV and thus your space is limited.

Cons and comparison

Its harder to get seamless continuity with a
single camera setup as each shot is
recorded seperatly
It takes longer to set up as there are lots of
camera men and it all comes from off site
where as in a studio for example with fixed
cameras they stay there and just need to be
switched on.
You get less realistic reactions from you
actors as they all have to be filmed at
different times.
You may have to repeat shots to get
multiple angles whereas with multiple
cameras all the angle are captured
simultaneously.
Editing will be tedious and longer as you
will have a lot more clips where as if you
have a multi camera setup its usual all one
take.

Format.
Format is different to genre as it is the general way the show is made and published. This
means that you could have two shows of the same genre but they could be different
formats, one could be a series and have regular weekly episodes until the end of the series
and another could be a serial as it could have regular daily episodes and go on indefinitely.

Series.
A series is a piece that is separated into episodes usually weekly and there are set amount
of episodes in a series; these series are made one at a time. There is a story that carries on
over each of the episodes and will continue to affect the future series. An example of this is
the episode of red dwarf when they final find the ship again after hundreds of years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOtXXLXkLqg
This is at the end of series and it majorly effects the next series story line as the nanobots
have rebuilt red dwarf with a new crew who imprison the team.

Another example of how a series works is the killing off of a character like in this clip from
games of thrones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MgjP_0iFm0
in the clip Eddard Stark is executed this effects the story as in the next series it causes Rob
Stark (Eddards son) to march on his fathers killers and go to war.

Serial
A serial drama is one that continues to be broadcasted usually daily and it has an endless
storyline that means that whatever happens the show will go on even after the death of a
protagonist or antagonist. They are usual serious and comedy based ones are rare. An
example of a serial show is EastEnders which is broadcasted every weekday and has a
constant storyline.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an3w68-iN5s
In this clip from EastEnders main character Bradley dies, in some other forms of show this
would be an end to the show or a series but EastEnders doesnt have a series it is
broadcasted constantly so the show must go on. Another example of a constantly
broadcasted serial program is Hollyoaks .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S56EFKa36s
The clip shows a Minibus crash and the lasting result of it on the characters of the show, in
this way serial shows are similar to series the only real difference is the way that they are
broadcasted as serial is never ending but series is made one series at a time.

Genre
Genre is the type of program and what its about it is defined by the setting and characters,
for example Star Trek is a Science Fiction because it is set in the future ad has Aliens and
other exiting characters whereas a show like Downton Abby is a period drama set in the
past with only humans as characters, thats how a genre is defined by the setting and
characters.
Period Drama
A period drama is genre of show that is set in the past for example Hell On Wheels would be
a Period drama as it is set in 1800s America during the railroad tycoon, like any period
drama it has lots of costume, it is set in the right locations (the American wastelands) and it
has accurate criticisms of the culture of the time which was the racism towards the black
people of America as it is set just after the American civil war and so it portrays how black
people are still poorly treated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWx0Gy7FitA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge9nsfWxVjg
Another example of a periodic drama is Vikings, this is set at the start of the Viking invasion
of Saxon England. It is an example of how a periodic drama can be based on a true story as it
is based on the story told about Ragnar Lothbroke in pagan sagas who was the first man to
make the crossing to England. The show also has lots of costume and criticises the violence
of the Vikings.
Crime
Crime is a genre that focuses on criminal activity and usual portrays a protagonist, usual a
police officer or a detective, trying to solve a crime or stop a crime happening. It usual
features an intelligent and morally correct protagonist an example of this is the BBCs
Sherlock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OmdF290gOg
Crime dramas like to criticise the police force and show conflict between different police
departments, an example of this is Life On Mars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIMP6-KBSCs
Life on mars focused on police brutality and was a strange combination between crime and
science fiction. It criticises the sexist and politically incorrect culture of the 70s and portrays
a protagonist that works with the police and sometimes operates outside of the law.
Narrative.
Narrative is the way that a story is told, and the order that events in a story or plot unfold.
To compare narrative to story and plot, narrative is the way that the plot unfolds. What
happens in the whole film is story, each individual significant event is the plot and the way
they are put together is the narrative. The narrative decides whether a story starts at the
end or the beginning.
To explain some of the features of narrative:
A linear or sequential narrative is when a story starts at the beginning and progresses and
then eventually ends and the story has been shown from start to finish. As an example look
at this short film with a linear narrative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVgeJ5eqlSM
the films narrative is nonlinear because the films story goes from start to finish in a
sequential and chronological order.

In contrast a non-linear piece of film is one that does not go from start to finish it might
start at the end or the middle of a story. As an example look at this short film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weuUmwimb4o
in the film the narrative structure drops us closer to the end of the story and it plays back to
the point of the start of the story when the main character profess his love to some on the
internet and get rejected then the film takes us forward to the end of the film and shows
him committing suicide.
A flash back is a technique used to show an event in the past it can be used to show a
characters past and thus shows their emotions this helps for character development. An
example of a flash back is this clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weuUmwimb4o
in this clips from the Godfather II Michael reflects on the past and remembers how his
father has high hopes for him, this lets us inside his mind and shows how he feels like he is a
disappointment to his father.
A realist narrative, story and plot are when a whole piece is set around ordinary people and
involves no high content of fantasy. An example of this is the show The Inbetweeners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5lV-Ry9-tU
in this clip will has a bad reaction to drugs this is a real issue and thus is an example of a
realist setting and piece.
Anti-realist is basically the opposite of realist it is a piece set in an unrealistic or with
unrealistic characters and plots look at this clip from the scifi show red dwarf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar7u8zBbUJE
in this clip Kryten breaks into a AR simulation to make the crew have supper using a tank
needless to say this is not the sort of thing that happens in real life and so is anti-realist.
An open ending is one that leaves possibility for another instalment of a piece look at this
clip from pirates of the Caribbean as an example.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS-exXgIeeg
In the clip jack reveals a plan to get the black pearl back leaving space for another Pirates Of
The Caribbean Film
A closed ending is one that leaves no space for a carry on film. Look at this example from
Layercake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tFBAJFVF0E
this is the final scene from Layercake, the ending to this film is a closed ending as the main
character dies at the end meaning that there could not be another film without him so the
series is closed.

The technical aspects

Lighting
Lighting a single camera production can be difficult because there is only one camera. as
there is only one camera that camera has to move and this means that as that camera is
moved to different locations the lighting conditions will change. This means that the lighting
needs to be adjusted less it looks unnatural, this can be done by using additional lighting or
by changing the settings on the camera.

Sound
The problem is the same with sound as you move the camera, the actors or objects making
the sound become closer or farther away. This mean that the sound will be louder or
quieter and again ruin the feel of production, this can be solved by using an extendable
boom mic or by dubbing over the sound latter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5lPWegq11o
this clips shows the behind the scenes filming of Peep Show you can see how it is all one
take and uses primarily point of view, the filming is very fast paced and all of Marks audio
will be dubbed over before release.
Building a scene
Directors usual build single camera production scenes in small locations eg a house because
it easy to control an example of this is outnumbered which is almost entirely filmed in a
small suburban house they do this because in a small space it is easier to control lighting and
sound and prevent the problems listed above. Also the angles in a scene can also build a
story, they use high angles to portray a characters weakness as the camera looks down on
them and with low angle shots it paints a story of strength as the camera looks up at the
character this effect can also be used to show one characters dominance over anothers.