When airing productions live either in outside environment such as at a concert, festival or a

sporting event, or filming within a studio to a live audience planning is essential to the
production. There are a variety of shots that are used when filming live and in studio,
although the type of shots depends upon the
type of event. For example, in many live events
the first shot that is used is an establishing shot.
An establishing shot establishes the setting in
which the filming will take place, this is typically
the venue such as the Lagoa Stadium for the
2016 Olympic Rowing or the pyramid Stage at
Glastonbury Music Festival. These shot are
usually long shots, or wide shots, so that whole
area or venue can be seen. These shots are also
used as a background for on screen graphics
such as race information in sports, and title cards
for artist at the beginning of live performances.
Where the camera is placed is important in live
events, especially sports such as rowing as there
are constraints due to the environment and locations and as the cameras must be able to
cover the entire event. In sport, cameras are set up at the beginning, middle and end of the
course. At the starting line of the race the angle of the camera shows all the races parallel to
one another. This camera is specifically set so that all the boats are in view. To get this angle
the camera has been attached to a platform or building, and follows the boats as the race
begins. Throughout the race the cameras continuously zoom into the athletes and boats. If
the camera is fixed in place the shot gives the viewer an impression of the speed, this also
shows the athletes up close so that the viewer is able to see the intensity and emotion of
the sport from the athlete. Close up is also used for a specific purpose when the camera is
focused on the ends of the boats. This angles gives the audience a strong idea of the leaders
of the race, so that they can see the boats competing with each stroke and builds
anticipation in the audience as the boats slip back and forth. Just like the last shot, aerial
shots or birds eye view is used to show the audience clearly the order of the boats and the
leaders of the race as the race progresses. When these shots are being set up,
considerations such as graphics must be taken into account as in world-wide races such as
the Olympics, on-screen graphics as shown. For example, in the rowing, graphics such leader
boards and time splits are shown as the race progresses to clarify the distance between the
boats, which is important when these sports are being transmitted across the world.

Although the Olympics is an example of live event, the

format is very different to live events such as concerts or
festivals. For example, for sporting visuals are more
important to show the race, match or game clearly,
whereas the commentaries cover most video audio. This
is very different to festivals and concerts as these
productions are designed around the music. This means
that the audio is equally as important as visuals. Yet these
two productions use similar shots, of which are evident in
Coldplays performance at Glastonbury Festival. Close up
shots are used of both the band and the audience. By
filming people, especially the audience or crowd it builds
the atmosphere for the viewer to see their emotions. This
is also why wide shots and aerial shots are used. As well
as establishing the setting of the production or show,
wide shots and aerial shots show the amount of people,
and crowds. For famous festivals such as Glastonbury
high numbers of people attend, of which can be hard to
comprehend and are truly appreciated from these shots,
especially when lights are added at night and when the
crowds move. Close up shots are also used to film the
musicians or artists especially when instrument is being
played or when the artist is singing or talking. For
example, when Coldplay played Up&Up at the festival,
the song used a close up of the piano first as the song
started and once the vocals were added the shot moved
to a close up of the artist singing.

In live productions such as concerts and sporting events it is

very often that other cameras are see on screen and to the
audience. This is expected when filming live productions but
not when filming studio productions, whereas in studio
production, the cameras are placed specifically so they are
not seen whilst filming. Studio productions are programmes
such as games shows and chat shows. An example of a
game show is Have I Got News For You. Just like in the
coverage of The Olympics and Glastonbury the show
starts with an establishing shot. This wide shot looks down
onto the stage and set of the game and zooms into the
panels as the lights grow, drawing our attention to the
presenter and panellists, rather than the top of the
audiences heads. A close up shot of the presenter is used as
the show is introduced. The close up shot is continuously

used throughout the programme to focus the attention

on the people within the one shot, and is used to show
their reaction when speaking, or being spoken about.
Another shot that is continuously used is a two shot.
This is s mid shot so that both members of the team or
panel can be shown. This shot is also used to show the
audience the scores on the table from the competition so far. These shots are continuously
used throughout the programme although in rare instances cameras are moved briefly to
display a new shot so that the audience does not become bored and the show is not
predictable. Other than these shots, the programme does not used graphics except for
inserts. This inserts are commonly quotes, entertaining animations and video from the
news, these are used to engage the viewers interest in the competition and programme.

In most studio productions the audience is not featured

within the programme. For example, the only shot within
Have I got News for You that the features the silhouettes of
the live audience within the establishing shot. Whereas in
chat shows such as The Graham Norton Show a live
audience is used in the throughout the programme. For
example, the show is introduced by the presenter Graham
Norton with a mid-shot of him as he speaks with the
audience in the background. This establishes what type or
genre of the show to the viewer, this also draws the
audience into the programme as they are a part of the
show. Once the show has been introduced, the same shot is
used to follow the presenter as he introduces the guests.
The camera then follows the guests in a one shot as they
enter the studio. One shots are to keep the attention of the
viewer on the person on screen when they are speaking. The
production and shots are similar to that of the game show
Have I got News for You and they use similar techniques in
the chat shows. For example, the camera shows groups
shots so that the viewer can see all the guests, yet close ups
or mid shots are used to focus on people when they are
speaking, being spoken about or to show their reactions.

These shots are used for a purpose, and to communicate meaning to the viewer. For
example, in sports such as the rowing at the Rio Olympics the camera is positioned at
specific angles or in a specific area so that the viewer can see which boat is in the lead. To
do this camera are positioned parallel to the boats or above the boats using a drone or a
camera on a wire. By positioning the camera parallel to the boats the viewer can see the
fastest boats fighting for lead, whereas the aerial shot means the viewer can see all the

boats, and their positions. Whereas for music concerts such as Coldplays performance at
Glastonbury close up shots are used more often. This is different to the rowing as there is
less movement which means close up shots can be used to focus on the point that they
want the viewer to see. For example, when an instrument is played, the shot will zoom in on
this artist or the instrument, this means that the audience listens to this part of the song.
This is also why close up shots are used when the artist begins to sing, so that the audience
attentions is drawn to the words of the song. Both studio productions Have I got News for
you and The Graham Norton Show are similar in the way they present the show to the
viewers. For example, both shows use mid shot throughout their programme when showing
the presenters or guests. These shots are mostly one shots so that the viewer focuses on
what the person is saying or their reaction.

Although the cameras are used to for the purpose of informing the viewer, Visual style is
important when presenting the event or production to the viewer. Visual style is important
so that the viewer will be visually entertained. To do this, the scenes are specifically planned
before broadcasting to create photographic cinematic
shots. For example, in the 2016 Mens Olympic Final
longs shots are used so that the Lagoa Stadium and
the mountains and city are clearly visible to viewer
making the shot aesthetically pleasing. Just like the
rowing, Glastonbury also uses dramatic shots to make
the interesting and dynamic. Whereas the rowing
mainly uses the setting to create appealing shots, the
lighting, audience and effects are all used within the
shots for the concert. These shots are especially
interesting when the performance is filmed at night
using the lights on stage and on the crowds. Studio
productions are very different to the live events in the way
they are filmed. Live events used very varied shots as they
have the capabilty to move and change the shots where as
due to the nature of studio productions they dont have the
same amount of variety as in a live production. Because of
this shows like Have I got News For You dont use many
cinematic shots and the visual style of the programme is
very formal and static. This is different to The Graham Norton Show as it a mix between these two
visual styles. For example, The shots are filmed in a similar way to Have I Got News For You for the
interview sement of the programme, aside from shots such as at the beginning of the show and for
cetain sketches. Yet, the show also uses a very dramatic visual style for the live music act towards
the end of the show. These shots are very similar to that of for Glastonbury as both are music acts.

Using cinematic shots is a technique that is used to maintain the viewers interest. This is an
important thing to consider when planning a broadcast. This is also why numerous cameras
are used when filming live event and studio productions. By changing the shots, the image
doesnt become predictable or boring to the viewer. These changes in shots, draw the
attention of the viewer back to the broadcast as well as showing the event or production in
a different way. By doing this it also means that the viewer gains an interest in the event if
the filming is easy to follow. Another way to maintain the viewers interest if the shot is
shown for a long amount of time is by moving the camera, using equipment such as jibs or
simply by zooming in or out. This technique is used especially in music concerts such as
Glastonbury.
Another consideration that needs to be taken into account when broadcasting a production
is the constraints of the location environment or the location. For example, in event such as
the rowing there are constraints that must be taken into consideration because the event
environment. For example, in the 2016 Olympics the race was held at the Lagoa Stadium
which is at the 2. 4 million square meter lagoon called Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. Because
the lagoon is this large, to gain close up shots that are high quality, the images are filmed
from multiple boats, drones and the images that are further away able are filmed on land
via scaffolding, cars or bike. For Glastonbury the audience need to be taken into account
when filming the crowd and the musical artists. For example, to get shots from within the
audience platforms are built with scaffolding so that the cameras are above the audience
which not only gives better shots but also stops the crowd from damaging equipment or
wires. This also why there is a space between the stage and the audience. By cordoning off
this area, the equipment is safer and the
cameramen can move freely and more easily.
This is very different to studio productions such
as The Graham Norton Show and Have I Got
News for You. For studio production they have
to take into consideration the limited amount of
space they have. For example, studios have lower
ceilings meaning platforms cannot be built, but
also because of the live audience. This audience
means that their view of the stage cannot be
blocked and also means that cameras cannot be
placed within them. A major difference between
broadcasting live events and studio productions
is that other cameras can be within shot for live
events yet for studio productions the cameras must be specifically positioned so that they
are not within shot. The only time this rule is ever broken is for certain sketches in The
Graham Norton Show and the introduction and the credits to Have I Got News for You.
Even though these productions have different camera rules both production use multicamera simultaneous recording but for different reasons. For live productions such as the
Olympics and Glastonbury they use multiple cameras to simultaneously record the event.

This then means that the shot can be changed whenever the shot becomes boring to the
audience or irrelevant to situation it can be changed. But
simultaneous recording also gives the production to use multiple
shots of the event later for instancestce such as the news,
promotional videos and recaps of events. These shots can then be
more detailed or stylised using techniques such as slow-motion to
make the programme or media more dramatic. This is different to
the reasons multi-camera simultaneous recording is used in studio
production. Multi-camera recording is used in studio productions
so that the programme can be edited to fit the broadcasting time
slot. For example, Have I Got News for You is filmed using multi-camera simultaneous
recording, and is broadcasted for half an hour, but then the episode is re-broadcasted as
Have I Got a Bit More News for You for an hour another day.

Links:
Live Production

Olympics Rowing (2016) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIetslktFQk

Glastonbury Coldplay (2016) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr2d-Nj9Yw0

Studio Production

Have I got News for You - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eJtDOsxBu8

The Graham Norton Show- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPoPuBjgeHc