Unit 21: Single-camera Techniques

Task 1:

(P1,M1,D1)

The single camera format, simply means the use of only one camera during filming of a TV show or film, the camera is needed to be reset, and moved for every new shot to be taken, if a scene with 2 people needs to be shot, for example, several scenes in The Office, the camera can either move between the characters, or the camera can film one character’s dialogue, then film the other; allowing the editor to splice and merge the shots together into a single scene. The multi-camera format is also very simple, as several cameras shoot one scene simultaneously. An example of this is the TV show everybody loves Raymond, the show is created using several cameras, and then these shots are cut and put together in the editing process to finish the scene.

There are several advantages of single camera filming, for example, single camera is more popular than ever in modern television, with shows such as scrubs, 30 rock, peep show and the office all using single camera filming techniques. Another advantage is the ability to achieve specific shots and angles, as well as visual set pieces.

However, multiple camera setups are a lot cheaper, and they allow for lees editing time, therefore, most talk shows are filmed through multiple camera setups, this is also because the range of perspectives needed to show a group of hosts as well as the audience requires a lot of cameras to do without cutting and moving the camera, this makes live talk shows impossible in a single camera format.

Examples of single camera TV shows include scrubs, the office (both the UK and the US versions), my name is earl, 30 rock and Peep show. Examples of multi camera TV shows are very different, including the view, loose women, the Paul o Grady show, Friday night with Jonathan Ross and Mock the week.



Task 2:

(P1, M1, D1)

In narratives, there are 3 different formats of the run of the show. These are series, serial and single.

A series is the run of a show, lasting a number of weeks, depending of course on the number of episodes that the show runs for. Shows such as 24, the Simpsons and Lost fall into this category. As the current series is shown for a period of weeks over the year. This then may repeat year after year, but eventually this ends and the series is no longer created. However, the show may be repeated, playing old episodes on a daily/weekly basis for as long as the network desires. Therefore, this can be technically stretched into a serial narrative, even though the storylines never keep in with this.

A serial narrative is where the program’s story runs continuously, with story arcs ending and new ones starting all of the time, leading to an evolving story that runs throughout the “universe” of the show parallel to that of the real world. Most TV shows of this genre are “soap operas” or more widely known as “soaps” popular shows such as Coronation Street and Eastenders are in this category.

Finally, the single drama is a one off broadcast, very similar to a film, providing there are no sequels. As the story of these programs begins and ends within the first broadcast; this type of narrative, a closed ending narrative, is more used in shows such as Christmas specials of existing series, including the office and Gavin and Stacey.

Task 3

(P1, M1, D1)

Shows such as the sopranos and 24 have linear narratives, they operate in real time to the viewer, for example, in 24, each episode is one hour in the timeline of the series, as well as this, the 24 episodes of each season are chronological, meaning the linear narrative follows 24 hours of the show.

The opposite of a linear narrative, nonlinear uses flashbacks/flash forwards to break the linearity of the narrative, be this to reveal previously unknown information, such as the back-story of a character, or to confuse the viewer with random time lurches forward and backward in time; showing different characters, in their story arcs, interacting with future story arcs that are designed to tell the stories of the show in a severely broken manner, a la Lost. This makes the viewer think a lot in order to comprehend what is going on. This type of narrative is not usually seen anymore due to the extreme nature of the delivery of information.



Flashbacks are widely used in nonlinear narratives of TV shows, this is to move the narrative out of the timescale of the original narrative, and into the past, or even future, as shown in the new TV show “Flashforward” as the global population experience a personal vision of the future, and try to work out how an why this happened, and if it will happen again. “Lost” is a notorious TV show for constantly lurching forward and backward in time to reveal information about the narrative and characters, often while raising a lot more questions about the narrative than providing answers. This extensive use of flashbacks/forwards in a non-linear narrative is not necessary to constitute a non-linear narrative, as a single example in the product would mean that it would be classified as a nonlinear narrative.



Anything in the sci-fi genre is obviously anti realist, because it is not what is real in this time. Therefore, all soaps are realist programs, as well as reality TV. Also, realist programs also tend to be objective, because you see everything in the universe of the program, inverse to the restriction of seeing the programs universe form the view of a single character. Cartoons are also anti-realist, and the inclusions of flashbacks in animation only add to the surrealism of the piece.



Open and closed ended narratives apply to the possibility, or impossibility of a sequel broadcast, or a continuation of the narrative. For example, if a film, if the narrative is to continue into another film, there will be an open-ended narrative in the previous film’s ending. But if there are to be no more films in this series, the final film will end in a closed ending narrative; meaning the story must completely end, closing all arcs into one ending, or in some cases, ending the film in an open narrative fashion, allowing for the viewer to make their own decisions about the possibilities of the story. For example, the ending to the matrix trilogy leaves a lot of the narrative unexplained, with a very open, and seemingly irrelevant scene.

A restricted narrative, forces the viewer to see the events of a story only through what the character knows, sees and thinks; a good example of this is the TV show Peep show, as the whole narrative is the lives and thoughts of two people, and their personal thoughts of their lives around them. This is very effective as a restricted narrative as you can only see and know what the two main characters know, because every scene and moment of this show revolves somehow between the two main characters. It is also restricted, as you can never see the narrative through any other character, or even as an outside entity. An example of both of these formats is Scrubs; this show follows both restricted and unrestricted narratives, as you see the events of the show following one character most of the time, but in some occurrences, you see the events of the show from a separate perspective, seeing the entire world and series of events, even those not seen by the main characters.



References:

I got all of my videos form youtube and embedded them in this blog


Task 4

(P1, M1, D1)

This analysis is on the short clip Se7en

The camera techniques used in this clip are very varied; the makers of the film use a wide range of different camera techniques to portray the balance of power between characters and the settings of the clip, for example, the use of close ups and medium angle shots on the main female character – mostly level with her face, show the viewer that the focal character of this piece is the female character. As well as this, several examples of low angle shots and varying zooms on the two male characters connote them to be dominant in the scene, a sign they are aggressors and “evil” This is also shown by the shots showing either the female character or the camera looking up to the two male characters. This is a device used to make the balance of power between characters obvious to the viewer – this is because part of the film industry is to have a hero/villain/damsel in distress this is otherwise known as the Propp theory. In this clip however, there is no hero, only a DiD and two villains, this bends the rules of this theory, and manages to change the rules in effect, making it a very interesting clip to study.

The sound in the clip consists mainly of extensive use of diagetic sound and voices, particularly passing trains and cars – because the clip is set in a train stop within a tunnel. There is little to no non-diagetic sound, this is not the case however when one of the many flashbacks in the piece is played. The people who in the present cannot hear this audio, therefore only the viewer can.

There is not much use of extensive lighting in this piece, this is because the only source of light in the clip is the sun; therefore, the light is restricted by the tunnel setting, although the film itself is not low lighted. This connotes that the lighting is medium.

Editing in this clip is used to create a very non-linear narrative, the use of flashbacks and random time lapses provide a jumpy, and non time centric timeline, this confuses the viewer, and forces them to think about how the narrative moves along, as well as how the flashbacks relate to the current narrative.
save-video.mp4

Task 5

(P1,M1,D1)

The use of modern technology has made it possible for many more broadcasters to reach an audience, so much so that the “mass audience” of 10-20 years ago no longer exists. This is because media is a lot easier to find, through the Internet, digital TV and only 3 channels. At this time, there was a “mass audience” of families who all watched the same program. As in most houses there was only one TV. In 1992an example of this “mass audience”, an astounding 20.1 million people watched an episode of only fool’s and horses. This is unheard of now, as a popular show such as the xfactor only manages to attract 13.4 million viewers. The significant drop in viewers is due to the expansion and diversification of digital television available to millions now. For example, there are over 700 sky TV channels, spanning almost all possible genres of media. Therefore, there is a wide range of entertainment that attracts almost everyone in the country, and even the world. As well as this, how people find this media has greatly changed, from digital TV, such as Virgin Media and Sky; to the internet and mobile technology. All of this and the wide range of products available on the technologies are moving and spreading the audiences, decreasing the effects of the “mass audience” in television today.

Task 6

(P1,M1,D1)

The following table was created to show examples of media consumption based on social class, this was created using a template table found below, and some research about what these classes see in the media.



The website I used to find this information is:

http://www.thinkbox.tv/server/show/nav.914

Task 7

(P1,M1,D1)

Equipment used

Camera:

Canon ZR950 small camera

Computer:

iMac 20” with OS X Leopard

Software:

iMovie HD 2008


Task 9:

Single Camera Drama production schedule





Task 10

The Silent Treatment - Final video

Task 11: Evaluation

Purpose

The purpose of our single camera drama was to create an entertaining and interesting product in the specific format of single camera. Meaning we could not use more than one camera at a time, this allowed us to avoid using pre-built sets, which would have been extremely expensive to use. I think that we managed to achieve this purpose, as we were able to create a thought-provoking piece of video cheaply and effectively with an array of effects and camera angles, allowing the audience to become more involved with the short narrative of the video.

Audience

We showed our video to the rest of our class as an audience, and the reactions were very positive. They understood the topical matter of the video, as well as showing praise towards the editing and camera work for the video. I think that the audience understood the preferred reading of the video as they gave feedback about how they could understand the characters and narrative despite the lack of dialogue in the piece.

Representation issues

The music we included in our video showed the emotional slant of the narrative, as well as how the subject matter was based on an upsetting or traumatic series of events. There was a problem with ethnic diversity, although we had both males and females in our video, in our group we could not find anyone to make the project seem more diverse.

Technical issues

The only problem we had with any of our equipment during the process of making the video was that one of the cameras we used during filming was not functioning properly, and therefore the colour of the video was not right. However, we decided to use this anyway.

Self-evaluation

I think that my part in creating the single camera drama was important, I did most of the filming for the video, as well as some of the editing as well as directing a few of the scenes. I would have liked to do more in the creation of the video, such ad helping more with the editing process, but what I did do I feel I did well.

Task 12

Risk assessment – “The Silent Treatment”

Health and safety risks –

Alcohol – we used an empty vodka bottle, however, we emptied the bottle of contents before filling with water. Therefore, there could have still been traces of alcohol in the bottle. 3

Climbing Trees – one shot in the film required Matty to climb up into a tree, this could have been dangerous as he may have fallen out of the tree and seriously injured himself. 2

Park equipment (Roundabouts, slides) – Matty almost fell off of the Roundabout while it was spinning; this could have caused an injury such as a concussion or broken bones. 3

Risk assessment grid –
VU U P L VL
VS 3 4 4 5 5
S 2 3 3 3 5
M 2 2 3 3 3
L 1 2 2 3 3
N 1 1 2 2 3

The grid categorises the severity and likelyhood of risks on a 1-5 basis.