Single Camera Techniques,Formats and narrative structure (Practice Report)

Single Camera Techniques,Formats and narrative structure

Single Camera production

Single camera production uses a single camera for all the various shots. Productions that are used with a single camera are usually low budget. Music videos, adverts and TV dramas tend to use single camera production. When using this kind of production, scenes are filmed altogether. So if there’s a dialogue scene, all the lines of one person will be shot together and the same will happen for the other person. The scene will then be edited so that it looks like the two people are having a conversation. Unlike Multi- camera production,Single camera production gives the directors more control of each shot.

There are many advantages of using single camera production. One advantage of using Single camera production is that it is low budget. This is because you are using only one camera instead of using multiple cameras. Another advantage is that it is easier to sort and edit shots because all the footage will be on one camera; this allows the editing team to have more flexibility. Single camera production can easily be linear as well as non linear.This is because the scenes are normally filmed in sections rather than continuously flowing which is very typical of multiple camera production. There are also disadvantages in using single camera. One disadvantage is the editing time involved. Using single camera production means that there are going to be lots of shots to edit and put together, this can be very time consuming. Another disadvantage,probably the most noticable is that it is shot at one angle at a time. Unlike multiple camera production which allows you to capture several things happening at once from different angles.

Parks and Recreation is a TV sitcom series that uses single camera production.The whole of the series has been shot using one camera.

Multi camera production

Multiple Camera production is when multiple cameras are used to film different shots. Using multi camera production is often more expensive due to the amount of cameras being used. This type of production is used to shoot live events such as concerts and live sports. Multi camera production is often used to make editing easier and to cover as much of an area as possible, which is why this kind of production is used for live sports. Multi camera production also looks a bit more realistic compared to single camera production. This is because with multi camera production, you can shoot from many different angles and narrate from different perspectives. Multi camera production can also capture more emotions and reactions. One main advantage of using Multi camera production is that the transition from one person to another is a lot smoother. This is because the production is being filmed together rather than being filmed one at a time like single camera production. Though Multi camera production may seem like the better set up to use, it can be very expensive and can take long to set up. Also using multi camera production means that there is a possibility or risk of cameramen getting in the shot. This Live Arsenal vs Stoke City Match is an example of Multiple Camera Production.There are multiple cameras filming the match from different angles.

Formats

Formats are the way in which the final production is presented or laid out. Both single camera and multi camera productions have different formats.

A Serial is when one main story is told through several episodes. The story continues to develop one episode at a time, never deviating from the main plot. Shows such as Game of thrones and Heroes fall into this category. A Series creates and develops characters to tell stories. A series is similar to a serial in that it has a main plot. But unlike a serial, one story isn't told throughout all the episodes. A series uses multiple stories across episodes. Each episode will tell the story of a different character, and no episode's story will continue onto the next, unless it is a series finale or special in which case the story will probably carry onto the next episode. Big bang theory and Friends are examples of series. 
A single drama is a show that has one storyline and it is broadcasted once .The story starts and finishes, there are no episodes.Films or Movies are categorised as Singles because they have one self-contained storyline told in a specific amount of time. Films such as interstellar and King Kong are examples of singles. TV dramas are also examples of singles. Most singles use single camera production as it is the most suited camera production set up for films.This is because the directors and editors can go through the shots and choose which ones work and which don't. Multi- camera production may be used to shoot specific parts or scenes in a film. For example, Stunts. Different angles may need to be filmed when shooting stunt scenes. 


Single camera Formats can have different narrative structures. Linear narratives are stories that have a beginning, middle and end. Because of this linear narratives are also known as 3 act structure stories. Linear narratives tell stories from the beginning to the end. One example of a linear narrative is Disney and Pixar's movie,Up. Up shows how Carl and Ellie's relationship begins.This would be considered to be the beginning of the narrative. 

     The diagram above is a linear narrative diagram (3 act structure)  

A Non-linear narrative is a narrative that does not start from the beginning. Non- linear stories tend to start from a certain point and then build up. It is up to the audience to work out what has happened.Non- linear stories mostly include flashbacks or somekind of skip in time to let the audience know what is happening and what has previously happened in the story. The story must have a reason for using flashbacks or time skips, otherwise the audience will not be able to follow the story. Fight club is a non linear narrative film that uses flashbacks to show that the main protagonist is in a predicament in which he is living as someone else and not as his self.

A narrative that is episodic is a story that is told through a series of segments or episodes. A episodic story is often linked together with each episode. Episodic narratives will also have recaps at the beginning of each episode and a cliffhanger at the end of each episode, Like a soap opera. The main purpose of this narrative is to keep the audience hooked on the show and to leave them wanting to find out more. One example of a episodic narrative is Utopia. 

Realist narratives are stories based on real events that have happened.A Bio pic also known as a biographical film is an example of a realist narrative.Anti- realist narratives such as doctor who and The flash are fictional stories. Unlike realist stories,They are not based on real life events and are made up purely for entertainment.