What are single camera techniques? and examples

Introduction

In this blogpost, I am going to explain and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of single camera techniques and provide examples of different formats of media products which use single camera techniques.

What are single camera techniques?

Single camera production is a mode of production where one camera operates at a time and the shots are done in the most economically efficient order. Single camera productions are not live and include a lot of editing and takes.

"The single-camera setup, or single-camera mode of production, is a method of filmmaking and video production. A single camera—either motion picture camera or professional video camera—is employed on the set and each shot to make up a scene is taken individually.

As its name suggests, a production using the single-camera setup generally employs just one camera. Each of the various shots and camera angles is taken using the same camera, which is moved and reset to get each shot or new angle. The lighting setup is typically reconfigured for each camera setup." (1)

The advantages of single camera techniques are;

• the use of single camera techniques look like the creators used different cameras because of the different shots and with the techniques of editing.
• the cost of filming the media product would be cheaper, as many cameras and operators are not needed, so the budget would be cheaper.
• as there is use of only one camera, the director has more control of what is filmed and what happens in the scenes. This is an advantage because the director can choose what is selected and filmed within the scenes.
• the quality of the scenes would be the same, as only one camera is being used, so the quality would not be altered in sound and visual material.
• Also, with the use of only one camera, the mobility of the camera crew and resources is easier, as there not as many materials to carry around.

The disadvantages of single camera techniques are;

• the scenes have to be taken repeatedly, so there are more takes and clips to record
• the use of single camera techniques takes longer to edit, as there are more clips to gather and filter through.
• The camera must keep changing angles when shooting, so they can capture the full scene
• as there is only one camera, there are no back up shots to replace scenes that have gone wrong, so the crew must be more tentative to capture the correct shots.

Different formats and examples:

Series: A Series is one that has a set number of episodes and gives during certain times of the year. Even though a series may have a definate end to it. The story might continue into series two.

A few examples of series dramas are, Skins, Desperate Housewives and Waterloo Road.


Serial: A serial is more like a soap, where stories are continuous and it doesn't run for a set amount of episodes, but continues all year round.

A few examples of serial dramas/soaps are, Neighbours, Eastenders, Coronation Street and Doctors.

Single drama: Single dramas are media products which run in one single time. These types of dramas have a start, middle and ending and dont continue through episodes.

A few examples of single dramas are, Appropriate Adult, The Road To Coronation Street and Toast.

Bibliography

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-camera_setup (18/10/2012)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrative_structure (18/10/2012)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_(radio_and_television (18/10/2012)

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090222072616AA8ovhb (18/10/2012)

http://www.slideshare.net/jontowlson/tv-drama-formats (18/10/2012)

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/about-us/awards/best-single-drama/5037377.article (18/10/2012)