Tuesday 9 June 2009

Unit 22: Multi-Camera Techniques





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

Multi-camera settings are programmes filmed using 2 or more cameras, both handheld and on equipment such as cranes.[1]


[2]

The cameras are set up around the studio, football pitch or stage, to ensure that the whole performance can be filmed.

Programmes that use this format are ones that would be impossible to film with a single camera such as; chat shows (Jeremy Kyle, Trisha),


[3]

Live concerts and live award ceremonies.[4]

[5]

Sports events such as football matches, tennis, rugby etc

[6]

Sitcoms such as Friends.

[7]

And soaps.

[8]

There are advantages of using the multi-camera technique, this setup means that editing time is reduced as single shots are not having to be taken so the action of characters does not have to be stopped and repeated to catch the right shot, this also means that continuity is reached easily. Multi-camera setups also enable the crew to shoot scenes more quickly as there is no need for re-lighting and the cameras are all at different angles already so there is no need for re-adjustment of the cameras. [9]

All the pictures from the cameras are recorded and then in the editing process the director decides which is the best shot, where as in live TV, such as live football matches, the director will be able to see the shots from all the cameras in ‘real-time’ and will decide which camera to use live to show the audience the best shot and alternate between them as the programme is broadcasted.

Foot Notes

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_crane
  2. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Multicamera-diagram.png
  3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJBGrRPBuBg
  4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD6AYk-k7d8
  5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZvwYFsmpkc
  6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKa0nL6K5xo
  7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oGuIj_5yLI&feature=related
  8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd0vaLMY0wY&feature=PlayList&p=hIQWCQgkjj0
  9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple-camera_setup


Task 2: Create a written report that explains the techniques used in the clips below.


[1]

Throughout the clip the camera angles change and move in time with the music. Camera angles such as extreme long shots and medium shots are used to create establishing shots showing the audience the whole set up, including lights, banners, crowd, and the size of the arena. This gives the audience a sense of being there themselves. Close up shots of each DJ are used to show the audience their costumes. These shots also show the audience what the DJ's are doing, this connotes professionalism and shows the DJ's skills. When the camera is crabbing along the DJ's the movement is in time with the music. When the camera is panning over the crowd, through the banners etc the speed creates suspension before the performers start. The absence of transitions and video FX signifies the genre, as it is a live concert the shots are done in "real time" so therefore it would be impossible to edit the shots and add transitions. Adding transitions would also go against the conventions of this genre, as the programme is intended to make the audience watching it live feel as though they are there.

The establishing shot is created by a camera that is positioned on a crane above the crowd and stage, this allows the camera to show the whole arena as it isn't as restricted in it's movement as cameras on the floor. This allows the camera to seamlessly move without having to cut to other cameras, making the establishing shot of the hole arena smoother. There are also cameras in front of the stage, this allows medium shots, these cameras will be on a dollie on a tracker. This will enable the camera man to pan and crab smother to create different movement shots of the stage. Some cameras will be hand held therefore allowing the camera men to move around to get different angles of the DJ's, most of these cameras will be on stage.

[2]

This clip uses a variation of shots but unlike clip 1, more close ups and medium shots are used due to the purpose of the piece. An extreme long is is used to create an establishing shot, to signify the set up immediately to the audience. Low angle shots are also used to create a sense that the model is superior to the audience. This also aids the piece in achieving the preferred reading, as the audience are made to "look up" to the model they almost become a heroine that the audience aspire to be, therefore the designers' clothes/styles are an icon, making them sell. There are also extreme close ups of the models them selves, which become movement shots, as the camera pans down the body to show the clothes she is modeling. The camera at the end of the catwalk also tracks the model walking towards it, as she is walking down the catwalk the camera is moving backwards so the audience can see her walk right to the end of the catwalk so they can see her pose. This also allows the camera to focus on the model that is next, as they can zoom back in to the model behind the first one to start the tracking shot again. By panning up and down the model they can create a smoother image of her walking and posing than they would if the cameras were stationary as they would have to cut between cameras.

[3]

This clip uses the most camera shots of all three clips. The opening of the clip appears to be a VT, the first camera shot is a slightly high angled medium shot of the presenter, this connotes he is talking directly to the audience but has more power. It could also be denoting his power as he has quality background knowledge on football. It also shows his body language, facial expressions and his clothing, the shirt connotes professionalism again connoting his knowledge in the area. Close ups are used throughout the clip showing managers and the crowds facial expressions. Extreme close ups are used to capture the goals that are scored, this creates a sense of importance and builds up tension to the audience, as the crowd would be experiencing, fulfilling the purpose of the clip. Long shots are used to show the players celebrating their goals, long shots are used as players usually move along the pitch which would be too difficult to capture with a good quality. Extreme long shots are used as establishing shots, the camera is situated at the back of the seats/arena it shows the full size of the pitch, and the amount of fans there. Banners and interviews are shown in medium shots. These also creates a sense of being there live. There is an over the shoulder shot used on a manager which pans round the pitch and stadium from his perspective then goes to an extreme close up of his face to show his facial expressions. throughout the clip the movement of the shots is extremely quick as they have to follow the ball but show the fans reactions without missing any important part of the game. This all keeps the attention of the audience. To capture all the various shots they use/need the cameras need to be positioned all down the edges of the pitch, on cranes and in the stadium.

Foot Notes.

  1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMZdJePz62I
  2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biZ0Xfixqb8
  3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK16ihc6ESw

Task 3: Produce a mind-map of your ideas.




*Click to enlarge images.

Task 4: Create a production table.







Task 5 Create a final shooting script and floor plan for your multi-camera programme.





*Click to enlarge images.

Task 6 Complete The Relevant Risk Assessment.




Task 8 (D1, M1, P1)

Evaluation

The purpose of our production was to entertain and inform our audience of 11 to 18 year olds during their morning break at school.

When we had gathered our audience feedback by showing the production a group of people and noting what the said about it, we found people had "enjoyed the show" and found it "funny" and thought the "theme was a good idea and the clips all worked together with the theme". When watching the video the audience were laughing and smiling which connotes they were reacting positively which is what we had aimed for. They all got the preffered reading of the show but as the show was quite straight forward and to the point there was not much room for them to take a negotiated or oppositional reading.

The production gave out positive messages as the audience were students at a school. The contents of the show included students watching an orchestra performance, the students doing a huge conga around the school, this allowed the students to see themselves and their friends on the show, it showed them enjoying themselves and having fun which portrays positive messages. We also used video clips of a popular TV series Glee. We used this as it is extremely popular with the audience and as it has the same demographics as we did it allowed us to appeal to the audience in our show. We also created and showed a spoof video of the film Scream. The spoof appeared succsesful with the audience, possibly because it was filmed in the school grounds so was familiar and was entertaining and funny, appealing to the audience. As we had a theme of Valentines Day all the music played was of a love song nature. We created a game called the name game which also followed the theme, as we used only love songs in this particular one, we used artists that were in the charts then such as JLS and Jason Derulo, for the younger scale of our audience but we also incoporated Jackson 5 into it for the older end of the audience. All of the clips we used were familiar to the audience which would have made it appeal more to them. Through out the show the presenters were informing the audience of things going on round school such as the year 7s charity day. Over-all I believe the messages portrated were positive and linked well with our theme. Having done things to both inform and entertain our audience I think the show was sucsessful and and appealed to them well as they all appeared to enjoy it.

We had a male and female presenter as the audience was made up of females and males. This allowed them to relate to at least one of the presenters. They were situated in the Friday World studio with a backdrop that is always used to keep the show recognisable. The studio was a typical studio setup for multi camera production, so it looked and worked professional which enabled us to make the production as professional as possible. We did not include people from different ethnic groups as the opportunity did not arise, as we were working in set groups and there was no one in our group from another ethnicity.

The links between the videos with the presenters had a range of close ups and medium shots to show the conversations between them. We also had the cameras set at different heights to get a variation of camera angles. As the show was not only for our coursework but for the schools programme we were not given much space to change much of the studio or camera set ups. It also didn't run as we wanted it to as the "director" who works for the school and was not in our group kept changing things at the last second which made me believe it was not truly our own production. We did plan a script with conversation topic hints as we wanted the show look realistic and relatable. By not having to read a script word for word the presenters seemed more relaxed and informal which would make it appeal more to the audience. The language used was informal because due to the context of the show it would have been innapropriate to use any taboo language. It would have also been pointless to use very formal lexis as the age range of our audience was 11 to 18 uear olds. As we used clips and people from in and around the school and clips from programmes that the audience would watch out of school the show was very realistic for the genre.

In our production there wern't any major technical issues, we came across one where by one of the microphones lost connections for a feww seconds but as the presenter had the microphone close to her mouth and was talking quite loud the audience could still here her. The cameras didn't occur any issues and the sound and vision mixer worked seemlesly through out the whole production.

I think typical conventions of this genre are things including; informal tones and modes of address from the presenters, clips that entertain, information the audience need to know about events happening in the next week as the show is only broadcast once a week, a variation of camera angles and positions to show the interaction nd relatioship between the presenters. There should be music used through out the show. The music should be up-beat and familiar to a certain extent to keep the audience interested, this also enables them to sing along if they want and enjoy themselves. A familiar set-up and the same opening and closing titles to keep continuity.

I believe in a professional product the set up would be similar and the content would be similar. For example the all professional broadcasts use the same set up and titles to keep continuity. The One Show is a professional chat show and is very similar to what we produced, using both a male and a female presenter, having a theme for each show, and using music and clips that relate to the theme, and appeal to the audience. However as The One Show is a professional product they will have alot of advantages over us. The technical team would have had alot more training and experience than us, the presenters are alot more confident as it is there job. And the equipment they will use will be to a higher standard than what we had, although ours was very modern equipment. They will also gain advantages over us when it comes to the studio, their studio will be alot bigger than what we had to work with so therefore the would have been more space to move around and get different camera angles. They will also have alot more equpiment than us, allowing them to get more shots, this also means the shots can be cut between each camera quickly allowing the audience to feel more involved. Their team of professionals will also be alot bigger than what we had, giving them more specific jobs wereas we we having to do a bit of each job together.

Evaluating my own performance I would say that as I have had experience doing this type of production before I knew what to expect. However I learnt personal skills, such as was type of job I am better at within this type of production, as we worked in a small group we all pitched in with each job, this enabled me to realise what I am capable of doing to a high standard and what I am capable of doing but not to such a high standard. This has helped me as I now know what I need to work at to better my skills and what sort of job role in the future I would enjoy and be sucsessful at.



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