Andy's Assignment - Single Camera

 Single Camera

During the production of a media product you have two choices; single camera or multi-camera. A single camera production uses just one camera, each shot is taken from one angle and then the camera is set up again for the next angle. Unlike a multi-camera setup where you can have multiple cameras set up in different angles with different shots in order to film a sequence simultaneously. While the single camera may take longer to setup than the multi-camera setup, it offers more control for the Director and versatility in shot types. Single camera is a method not only used in cinema but also in music videos, commercials, dramas and movies that are made for TV. However, in comparison the multi-camera set up is more frequently used in game shows, talk shows, soap operas, sitcoms and reality television.

One of the main benefits of single camera productions is it costs significantly less than a multi-camera setup. This is mainly due to the significantly less staff and less equipment needed to operate a single camera setup and therefore meaning the cost will be less and this makes it more accessible by smaller production companies and independent filmmakers. Another benefit of single camera productions is it is much more portable and easier to manoeuvre than a multi-camera setup. This is a benefit because it causes filmmakers to become more innovative when filming as they do not have the option using other cameras to capture a specific scene, therefore filmmakers can use different types of shots that multi- camera setups may find hard to do. For example, a POV shot can be used in a single camera setup as the shot requires a portable and a more manoeuvrable camera in order to capture whatever may be happening on screen. Therefore, making the single camera setup a very beneficial option for filmmakers looking for a cheap and opportunistic alternative to the multi-camera setup.

However, there are limitations to single camera that would simply not be present in multi-camera setups. One of the limitations is only angle of sequence can be filmed at any one time, meaning multiple takes have to be planned and shot out of sequence. The downside to this is takes time, time which could have been use more in post-production or other general areas of the production and the other drawback is due to the many shots being filmed, the chances of making recurring mistakes is higher as more shots are being filmed compared to a multi-camera setup. Mistakes during filming can severely alter the flow of film crew and the staff of the entire production causing Director's to fall behind on there deadlines and ultimately may have to make decisions that will draw the Director's idea of what they wanted the media product to be like further away from them.

*I understand that some of the following examples have used a multi-camera setup but the specific sequences chosen have been filmed with the use of one single camera*

Example 1 - Creed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnJ0DwXAjls - Link to Sequence

One of the most outstanding camera shots and angles, in my opinion, came from the same franchise of movies that kickstarted Sylvester Stallone's movie career. The use of camera shots in 'Creed' provided the Audience with not only a pleasant viewing experience but also a great capability to the Viewer to immerse themselves within the film. This was done through the use of iconic tracking/dollying shots, these shots were used throughout the entire first film, from Adonis's first illegal, underground fight to his World Heavyweight Champion Title defence vs Viktor Drago's Son, who killed Adonis's Father, Apollo Creed. This simple yet effective use of this type of shot put the Viewer into the shoes of one Adonis's boxing team, this is because during these shots we almost always follow behind Creed and Rocky while also being at near eye-level with them, creating the illusion of the Viewer being apart of the team. This allows the Viewer too more easily sympathise with Adonis as they know what he has went through to get this far, every training session, every punch and every time he got knocked down the Viewer has been with them thanks to the use of a tracking/dollying shot. This now casual use of tracking shots may very well now be implemented into every sporting movie for the foreseeable future due to it's simple yet effective manner of presenting a feeling of togetherness within movies.

Example 2 - The Office (US)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmb1tqYqyII   - Link to Sequence

In this sequence of, ‘The Office’ the use of single camera is evident. Throughout the sequence the camera remains in a, somewhat, steady position, while still moving slightly, this is there to bring the feeling of someone filming. This use of camera is unique to ‘The Office’ and takes away the feeling of this being a TV show to a sort of documentary on how the business performs. Although the camera does cut from angle to the next, one angle being a high-angle shot looking down the character of Michael and the other being mid-shot focusing on different characters in the room. It is most likely that these shots were shot out of sequence and edited in after once all filming had been completed. During these cuts, the camera zooms in and out, the effect of this on the viewer is it brings a dynamic perspective to the scene and this in turn leads to pleasant viewing experience for the Viewer and has the potential to change the pace of the sequence. For example, when Michael starts to sing, the other Workers start to join in with his singing and as they all get more into it they eventually start dancing. This is when the scene has many more cuts to indicate the fast pace of the scene while also matching the context of the scene, the context being there group singing/dancing session.

Example 3 - Game Night

High Angle Shot - 'Game Night'

Throughout this whole film there have been many instances where a certain camera shot has been used to convey meaning that eventually plays to the overall theme of the movie. The shot type used to convey this meaning is a high angle shot, within this shot it contained many objects that people would generally relate to board-games or even video games. Although there were many instances of this high angle shot used in between scenes I can narrow it down to one meaningful use of the high angle shot. In this specific high angle shot there is a car involved in a chase scene but the angle of the shot is what makes this unique, the angle makes it seem like the Audience is playing a video game, video games we could compare this shot to is GTA and Forza Motorsport which use this exact angle for driving cars within the game, the effect of this on the audience is an affect I have never seen before in my experience. This gives the Audience the illusion of actually playing a game while they are really watching a movie but also simultaneously reminds the Audience about the plot of film. The plot of the film involves a group of adults having a 'Game Night' and the whole idea of it is they do not know what is real and what is fake leading them to think that even the deaths of certain people is merely a dramatisation, therefore this angle plays on the idea that maybe these people are characters of someone else's game and they are being 'controlled' or made to do certain things that have been set up for them to do. Overall, this movie used many more instances of these types of shots and all of them had the same meaning, that these people are playing a game or these people are being made to play this game by someone else while also reminding the Audience the main plot of the movie. 

Overall, single camera does have it's benefits and does hold a higher position of power over a multi-camera setup but multi-camera also has it's benefits over single camera productions. This means that a camera setup must be chosen after considering factors like budget, staff and creative ideas as these are the things that are greatly affected by the type of camera setup a Director chooses.