Monday 17 January 2011

Television Production Research

Multiple camera production is a method of shooting films and television programs. Several cameras, either film or video, are employed on the set and simultaneously record or/and broadcast a scene. It is often contrasted with single-camera setup, which uses one camera. As it’s name suggests, a production using the single-camera setup generally employs just one camera. Additional cameras may be used simultaneously on occasion; usually in order to save time shooting a dialogue scene or to film that would be impractical to stage more than once.

Single camera production:

Pros- A single camera can get a lot closer and personal, which sucks you into the world that the film or program is trying to create.
Although it’s a time consuming and tedious process, at the same time, it provides the opportunity for maximum technical and artistic quality. Plus, all footage is on one camera.

Cons- In typical video dramas actors often have to memorize lines for a complete production, and they may even have to go through the whole production without stopping. Lighting, audio, make-up, etc., have to work for long shots and close-ups, and for variety of different camera angles.

Multiple camera production:

Pros- Generally, the two outer cameras shoot close shots or "crosses" of the two most active characters on the set at any given time, while the central camera or cameras shoot a wider master shot to capture the overall action and establish the geography of the room. In this way, multiple shots are obtained in a single take without having to start and stop the action. This is more efficient for programs that are to be shown a short time after being shot as it reduces the time spent editing the footage.

Cons- Many takes may be necessary before directors feel they have the best possible take. Some film scenes are shot dozens of times before a director is satisfied. Also, you have to edit the shots, which may take weeks or even months.

The different Genres are:

. Comedy
. Horror
. Thriller
. Romance
. Tragedy
. Children’s
. Drama & Soaps
. Entertainment
. Factual
. Films
. Learning
. Learning & Leisure
. News & Current Affairs
. Religion & Ethnics
. Sport
. Documentary

A certain television program that uses single-camera production is “cougar town”.

Serials, series and soaps


‘Soaps’ are an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction that is presented in serial format on television. Soaps are based on real life situations, however extravagant the story line may become. Examples of a Soap are Eastenders and Coronation Street. A ‘Series’ is a string of a number of episodes, usually called miniseries or serial. A series usually consists of 12-26 instalments like Ugly Betty or Desperate Housewives. ‘Serials’ are series that rely on a counting plot that unfolds in a sequential episode-by-episode fashion. Serials are predominantly taken from books, like the Vampire Diaries.

'Contrast' Script

Int. Scene 1 - Introduction Presenter

The camera is pointing at a Mid Shot which slowly zooms in to a Medium close up of the presenter. This will be done in the studio.

Presenter:
Hello and welcome to contrasts this program aims to educate
you as the audience on the differences between an upper and
lower class community, as we consider them to be two very
separate communities, they each have purposely detached
themselves from each other. And this short production will
educate you and show you the contrast of how they each live.

Ext. Scene 2
A wide shot of to friends meeting, use of natural lighting whien filming this scene.

There will be a montage bewteen different shots of the lower classes, going about their buisness, there will be no dialogu just music and colour to represent the mood and feel of this communtities living. No script for the scene, happy wild music in the background.

Ext. Scene 3
Wide shot of a woman boasting about her house at the circus.

The same monatge will occur with the upper class and these will repeat twice. The music and colours being different for each class. No script for the scene, slow classical music for the upper class. Natural light, edited into sepia.

Ext. Scene 4
A wide shot of the traveller standing outside the Hobgoblin.
Natural Lighing, no speech.

Ext. Scene 5
A wide shot of a woman shopping in an upper class shop.

Clip used to contract with the shops with the lower class shops. Natural Lighting edited into sepia, no dialog.

Ext. Scene 6
wise shot of traveller shopping in a market/lower class shop.
Clip use to contrast the shop with a upper class shop in. Natural Lighting, no speech.

Ext. Scene 7
Wide shot of a Upper class citizen in Pultney street.
Natuarl lighting, no speech.

Int. Scene 8
The camera is pointing at a Mid Shot which slowly zooms in to a Medium close up of the presenter. This will be done in the studio.

Presenter:
On interviewing both, we have come to the conclusion that
the upper class are unhappier than the lower class, we have found that
the lower class have not quite given up, but have just decided that there are
more things to life that being stressed about money. They value family and
friendship a lot more than the upper class and when asked, would you choose your family over money? The upper class choose money, while the Lower class choose family,
what does this say to you? I will let you dwell on that for now, thank you
for taking the time to watch this short production, I hope it has educated you. Good bye.

First Single Camera Production; 'Contrast' Treatment

Style and Plot:
Our documentary shows the contrast between the higher class and the lower class community. The documentary will start into a introduction to explain the purpose of this production, at this stage the Studio would be an ideal setting as it's perfect place to highlight the subject, being the presenter and a highlight to create a serious mood for the introduction. As the purpose of the production is to create an contrast between the two communities into a short three minute film, the footage will show lifestyles of each community and we want to show how a life full of riches, large houses and expensive technology is not what life is needed to fulfill happiness.

Technical Considerations:
We thought about colour, we like to keep the colour quite desaturated, with a little colour when showing the film of the higher class community, this way were showing the bleak and dull lives that is shown. Whereas in contrast to the lower class lives, we like to create a colourful scene to outline the happiness of their lives.
The lighting will be artificial when using the studio, during the filming of the production scenes the film will have the natural light as it will be done outdoors.
The transitions would be a range of fades to create a more smoother run of the production rather then harsh cuts which would create it to be difficult to follow. This is going to be a Single Camera production, the camera setting we would like to occur will begin with a Mid Shot which will slowly zoom during the Presenter speech, to a Medium close up. Through out the film the shots would range to close up's, zooms and cutaway shots. Music will show steady classical for the higher class community and some rock for the lower class which can contrast itself with the musical taste.

Characters:
The characters are a presenter to start off the production and finish it off. there is also role play in the production which will be a family of higher class as well as the lower class to show the lives they lead and live. There would also be an interviewer to interview travelers to ask about their lives.

Sunday 21 November 2010

Advantages and disadvantages of Single camera production and multiple camera production

A single camera production is when only one camera is used to shoot a film or television programme. A huge difference between single camera set-ups and multiple camera set-ups is the order that they’re shot in, for example multiple camera set-ups are filmed chronologically whereas single camera set-ups mean that the shots will be shot in the order of flexibility and will be put in order during editing. An advantage of using a single-camera set-up as opposed to a multiple-camera set-up would be that it is cheaper and this is what makes it popular with producers who are working with a low budget; this is the case because you only need one camera as opposed to three or four like a multiple camera set-up. Another advantage of a single camera set-up is that with using one camera you don’t have to worry about other cameras being in shot. However if you use multiple cameras it is less flexible because you have to take into consideration where the other camera are positioned.
Using a single camera set-up means you will spend less time editing because all the footage is on one camera. Programmes like The Office, Ugly Betty and Scrubs all are shot by a single camera set-up. Multiple Camera set-ups are generally used by bigger studios for example Eastenders is shot with multiple camera set-up. There is one big disadvantage to filming with one camera and that is that it takes a lot longer because the cameraman needs to film the same scene over and over again from different aspects, however with a multiple set-up this is not the case. Multiple camera set-ups are usually used in soaps this is because single camera set-ups are much more difficult to film conversations with, this is because it is hard to catch all the character’s reactions.

Monday 8 November 2010

08/11/10- Analysis of single camera production

"friends"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v68RS3sgt_Q



Following the task that was set today, I was able to analyze this single camera production thoroughly, highlighting the main points such as genre, style of narrative etc. The opening scene has a clock with a black background, which is noticeably a typical documentary sign from years ago. A part near the end is to make it an obvious documentary is when the boom man is in the shot, trying to get the man on the microphone to document everything he says. After this disappears, a man, dressed formally in a suit, strolls up a street towards the camera. There is now a voice over, which introduces what is going to be explored in this episode. The 'mocumentary' is about children and there imaginary friends, which branches out to a grown man and his 'friend'. The genre of this production is clearly comedy, and the style of narrative is linear, with devises such as flashbacks. it constantly uses portrait shots, especially in the interview. However, there are also shaky camera shots, which in some way brings out the interviewee's anger when accused of having an imaginary wife.
The lighting is natural, as most of the shots are outside in the garden. There is no backing music or track, which does not necessarily need to be there in a documentary. 

In addition, there are both long and short cuts, with bright white lights splitting some cuts and a test screen when something has obviously gone wrong or violent. The close-ups are effective because it shows the emotions in there faces, which brings out the comedy. As I touched upon before, the shaky camera adds to the offense that the interviewee feels, as he asks them to bow in apology. The only thing that I think I would do to improve this production is to add a funny backing track.