Single Camera Production Techniques

1. Single Camera Production Techniques
Introduction
This essay is about the prominent features within single camera production (SCP) with examples of
other SCP television and films.
Camera:
As SCP sounds only one camera is used to film the scenes. Multiple types of camera may be used
throughout the production but only one will be in use for the overall scene. For example, a drone
mountedcameramay be usedto establishthe scene/setting.Whilstanothercamerais used for the rest
of the scene thatwill focus onthe characters and eventsof the scene.Byusingonly,asingle camera the
film has a sense of realism and this helps to bring them into the narrative of the scene which can be
more engagingthatmultiple cameraproductions(MCP).Byusingasingle camera in the production less
crew are needed which leads to cheaper budgeting and can also help with a smoother production
processoverall.Also by having a singular camera in use the director can also have freedom about how
to use the camera and where to have it. This is because of a lack of other cameras, boom microphones
etc being presence on the set of the film so essentially all of the cables, crew and equipment can be
behindthe cameraduringthe filming of the scene. However, if the director wants multiple shots used
throughoutthe scene one camerashot will be filmed,followedbyanother,thenanotheruntil the whole
scene hasbeenactedout multiple timestoallow fordiversityin camera angles. This can make the time
and production costs rise in the SCP. An example of a cheaper equipment and crew production is
Outnumbered (BBC, 2007-2014). This program was well scripted to suit the cast of 2 adults and 3
children. The adults were able to learn their dialogue and actions in advance whilst the children were
toldverylittle abouttosay anddo verylast minute whichleadtosmall shotsbeingimprovisedaswellas
some entire scenes.
Lighting:
The lighting for single camera productions is far easier and cheaper than that of most multi-camera
productions.Whenusing natural lighting for single camera productions very few settings may need to
be changed on the camera. However depending on where the cast/subject matter of the shot it other
sourcesof lightmay be required. For example if the cast/subject matter are in the shade of a naturally
dark area a reflector may be ideal to reflect the sunlight back into the shot. However if the shoot is
during night time one lights source could be used to illuminate the cast/subject matter for better
visibility. For a moonlight effect for example a white light with the camera on Tungsten Light WB will
give a goodeffect/look.Howeverlightinginmulti-camera productions are often more complex and co-
ordinate thanthat of a SCP.Quite oftenthere willbe dedicatedcrew members who are there solely for
lighting.Thiscanbe usedto lightconstructedsetsaswell ascreatingadequate lighting ready for special
effects to be added.

2. Sound:
The recording of audio for single camera productions is easier and less restrictive than that of a multi-
camera production.Thisisprimarilydue tothe scale of the production.Forexample aSCPfilmwill often
have a small group of cast to record with some small amounts of background audio whilst a MCP will
oftenhave soundtechnicians,multiplerecordingaudiodevicesaswell asa higher budget that will have
dedicated for audio (if required). MCP will often have lapel based microphones on the cast with
Boom/Shotgun mics being used in addition to this some cameras will have microphones attached to
them (Not the inbuilt ones). With the captured audio for SCP it can often be edited in post to get the
exactdesiredeffectwhilstMCPhave microphoneseverywheresotheycanpull the audiofrom different
sources before editing it in post.
Coverage
Coverage throughout single camera and multi-camera productions is the amount of footage shot that
can be usedforthe final edit/cutof the production. Often in single camera productions a scene will be
shotcompletelywitheveryone inthe shot then redone with the camera on each cast member one at a
time.Thisallowsthe personspeakingtobe incenterof the frame as well as having other cast members
reactions. Thisisrathertime consuminghoweverbutyouare able to get plenty of coverage focused on
each cast memberaswell asa group scene towork with.Withmulti-cameraproductionshoweverthere
ismore overall coverage forthe whole productiondue to the length of the film, TV show etc. But there
are fewer various shots done. These shots however will have more in frame. In addition to this more
advanced filming techniques and equipment are often used. This can involve crane (birds eye view),
aerial shots, camera track and dolly systems.
Editing
Editing in media production is changing, manipulating and sequencing film footage into a video. This
video can be a TV episode, a film, music video etc. The editing process will often work from start to
finishwitharough-cutof the productionbeingmade half-way through. Single Camera Productions will
often take less be easy to compile into a rough-cut when compared to a 2 hour film. However Multi-
Camera Productions can often be cheaper to make as they require less shooting time. There are
exceptionsforthis, for example the animation/post production effects company WETA hired over 900
people at one stage during the production of James Cameron’s Avatar. One minute of fully rendered
footage equaling an approximate of 17.3 Gigabytes of storage.

3. TV Genres + Associated Camera Production Method
PeriodDrama: PeriodDramasare showsthat are setduringa specificerainhistory.There isnospecific
boundaryforan era’s time periodsothere isthe chance for some creative choiceswithinprogramswith
the specificyearsset.Some well-knownperioddramascaninclude DowntonAbbey(1912-1925) as well
as Black Sails(Piratesof the WestInde’s 1715 onwards).PeriodDrama’swill oftenincorporate multiple
camerasfor the filmingtocapture the atmosphere andsettingof the scene withthe mostimportant
feature beingthe charactersandtheircostumes.
Crime Drama: Crime Drama’s oftenfocusonthe law enforcementandsometimesthe criminals.They
are oftenalwaysTV Showsthatuse a singularcamera.Thisallowslow-keylightingtobe usedwith
scenesfollowingthe criminals/villaintocreate suspense andmysterywhenthe audienceisunable to
fullysee whatthe criminal/villainare doing.Thislow-keylightingisoftencomplementedwithslow
musicbut swapsoutfor fast musiconce the criminal/villainare doingstuff toinnocentpeople.Some
Crime Dramas will have multiplecamerassuchas the 8 seasonTV Show Dexterthatfollowsablood
splatteranalystwhoat nightkillscriminalsandothercorrupt/villainouslike people.
Horror: The Horror genre isat it soundsand is there toscare, frightenandmake viewsworryduringan
exhilaratingviewing.The Horrorgenre isprimarilyfilmedusingasingularcamera,whichallowsa
realisticandmore personal feel,asmosthorror genre programswill includefootage shotbythe actors.
These clipsshotbythe cast couldbe done witha phone (withthe use of the built-inflashlight),afilm
camera (the charactersaim maybe to capture the evidence of aghoulishghost) orsometimeseven
CCTV or hiddensurveillance cameras.The use of asingularcameraalsohelpstoisolate characterswhen
theybecome separatedduringthe narrative of the show.Thisallowsthe time topassbetweenthe
separatedcharacterswhichallowsmore opportunitiesforjumpscares,developmentinthe narrative or
a buildupof suspense/tension.
Comedy:Comedygenre showsuse bothSCPandMCP. There are comedyshowsthatare filmedatreal
placesthat were fullyconstructedoralteredtosuitthe programbutthere isno live audience.Then
there are comedyshowsthat have all of the setsbuiltina row whichis layedoutinfrontof a studio
audience forreal life laughterwhichaddstothe comediceffect.These comedyshowsthatare filmedin
studiosare oftenfilmedwithmultiplecameraswithtypically2camerasper ‘room’/scene.The use of
twocameras allowstwo-shotsforconversationsbetweencameras.Anexampleof anSCP productionis
Scrubs or Peep-ShowwhilstaMCP comedyshow couldbe FriendsorMrs Brown’sBoys.
Soap Opera’s: SoapOperasare most commonlymulti-cameraproductionsdue tothe demand,release
frequencyaswell asthe average productiontime perepisode.The settings/locationscanall be very
similarandmultiple scenescouldbe filmedatthe same time providingnocontinuityerrorsare ever
visible. Some SoapOperashave 4x30 minute episodesaweek,52weeksayear witha few extra-long
episodes.Howeverthere are some othersoapoperasthatonlyutilize one camera.FreshMeatisan
example of aSCPthat had a house constructed forthe primaryset.

4. Formats
Series:A seriescanrun forany numberof episodes(normallymore than5).Each episode withinthe
serieswill have itsownindividual narrativefromthe otherepisodesalthoughthisnarrative couldspan
overa two episodes.Acrossall of the episodesof the seriesthere will be anunderlyingnarrative which
will usuallybe prominentmidwaythroughthe seasonandduringthe lastfew episodes.There are
hundredsof programsthat run withthisformatfromDC Superheroshowssuchas The Flash and Arrow
(23 episodesaseason) toSherlockwithonly3episodesaseasonlasting90 minutes(approx.) per
episode.
Serial:A serial seriesiseithermade torun fora setperiodof time e.g.4 weeksor3 months.Orit will be
a neverendingshowthatwill explore awide range of narrativeswithsmall links.Serialsthatare never-
endingtendtobe Soap Operassuchas HollyoaksorEastEnderswhichnormallyhave 4x30minute
episodesaweek,52weeksayear. Quite ofteninSerial programsthere will be multiplenarratives
betweendifferentgroupsof characterswithsome charactersbeinginvolvedwithmultiplenarratives.
These narrativescanlastfor weeksorcouldevenspanacross months.Howeverthere will alwaysbe a
narrative inthe serial showtofollow.
Single Drama: A single dramaisa solo,self-containnarrative thatcanbe seenas shortfilms.Theyare
oftentoldwithinone episode thatcanbe anywhere from5 minutestomore thanan hour.In rare cases
howevertheycouldrunacrossmultiple episodesdependingonthe broadcastingservice used.E.g.A one
hour single dramacouldonlybe airedin3x30 minute slots(E.g.onChannel 4) withapproximately10
minutesof advertisementbreaksduringthe 30 minute slot.Howeverotherbroadcastingservicesmay
be able to show the entire single dramainone gowithoutthe appearance of advertisementssuchas
BritishBroadcastingCo-operation(BBC).