The document discusses multi-camera film production. It provides an interview with the Head of Multi-Camera Productions (HOMCP) at BBC who explains that multi-camera setups involve two or more cameras filming an event simultaneously from different angles without interruptions. The HOMCP describes how multi-camera productions are used for live broadcasts of events like sports and talk shows to cut between camera angles. He discusses the technical aspects of multi-camera setups and how lighting, camera placement, and quick cutting between shots keeps audiences engaged. The HOMCP also explains how the format is used for reality shows, soap operas and concerts to make audiences feel like they are experiencing the event live.

1. “MULTI-CAMERA”
By
[Lisandra Silva]
[Street Address]
[City, ST ZIP Code]
[phone]
[email]

2. 2
FADE IN:
[SCENE NAME]
Into- STUDIO-EVENING
INTREVIEWER
Good evening ladies and gentleman, have
you ever wonder how your favorite
shows/programs and anything you enjoy to
watch are filmed? Well tonight we will get
to know how the magic works! So here with
us we have the HOMCP to answers all our
questions”
(Audience cheers)
The HOMCP enters the studio waving at the audience before
seating down.
HOMCP
Good evening…thank you so much for
having me! And yeah I’m really excited to
show how the magic works.
(Laughs)
INTREVIWER
So how are you sir? Did you have a safe
journey on your way to the studio? I heard
you are the head of multi camera
productions at BBC which is not an easy
job. That sound like a lot of work, but we
are interested to know more about your
work, is that fine with you? Do you think
you can explain to us how you work the
magic?
(Laughs)

3. 3
HOMCP
Yeah of course, my pleasure. So well…first
of all to be able to use multi-cameras we
need to set them up in the right places.
The multi camera set involves two or more
cameras as the name implies. The cameras
film the event from start to finish with
no interruptions. This set up is used to
records many program formats such as sport
events, talk shows… just like your show.
Can you see those 4 guys?! Well that’s the
multi-camera method.
(Camera shows the 4 man)
INTREVIEWER
oohh I see… well guys I think we learn new
things every day! So I believe multi-
cameras also depend in location, as there
are specific places where the method can
be used?!
HOMCP
Yeah, you are right! This falls into
different camps as we have multi-camera
productions that are based indoors such as
the ones used in studios and the ones that
we use outdoors, where the cameras are
filming in an environment where the action
is occurring. There is another thing that
multi-cameras do. Some of them can
broadcast live events which include
outside events such as football matches or
shows which take place in studios, such as
X-FACTOR but those shows are re-edited to
their broadcast. We also work with formula
1 productions as well as sky does and we
try to cover all of the action that
appears within the races over the season.
Multi-camera production allows us to do
this as we can use more than one camera to
capture the race from different areas and
angles around the track. And if there is
any car crash we can quickly cut to
another camera that has something
interesting going.

4. 4
INTERVIEWER
OH now I see why we can see Simon’s face
from all angles. That guy must think that
he has a flawless face. So sir (HOMCP)!
Why is this multi-camera format often used
and how is it beneficial in trying to
cover the action?
(Audience laughs)
HOMCP
Hahaah poor Simon! Well since we talking
about X-factor, I believe I can give you
guys an example. When recording X-factor
the recording obviously has to be
simultaneous through the whole show as it
is a live recording. What I mean by
simultaneous is when the cameras are
connected to a Multi-cam console and the
person who is in charge of the console
alternates the shots that are meant to be
shown to the audience on the television
broadcast. During this process of multi
camera simultaneous recording shots are
meant to be changed by the person who’s is
in charge of the communication with the
camera operators just by using tally
lights which are usually placed on top of
the camera. In this case we can have 7 or
more than seven cameras. IN X-FACTOR we
actually use 7 cameras. When we record X-
factor we tend to film people’s faces to
show their reactions and we also film
medium shots to show their emotions and
body language. Also ‘winter total
wipeout’’ is a live show, it is important
that all shots are covered from all angles
because if repeated you might not get the
same performance as intended. In this
situation multi cameras are used to make
sure the coverage of action is covered is
especially due to the large location where
the game is set up in. As this is a live
production .Also…we work with those soaps

5. 5
that you really like to watch before going
to bed? Well we use the same method
because it makes it easier to film.
INTERVIWER
OOH you really like to embarrass me don’t’
You? I’m not going lie I don’t miss one.
Picture of the interviewer watching TV carefully with a
hysteric facial expression.
(Audience laughs)
HOMCP
HAHAHA YOU LOOK FABUOLOSE! Well That
method is used because it makes it easier
to film., as I mentioned before two or
more cameras are used in this and If we
go back to the earliest days of TV the
same amount of cameras was used by the BBC
to broadcast the first drama show ’The
queens Messenger’. The method was
successful and then we at BBC never
stopped using multi-cameras.
INTERVIEWER
It is really interesting seeing how
technology has changes and how we still
keep some methods the same, it just shows
that technology it’s getting better every
day! Well let’s proceed with the next
question. So you know you guys from BBC
production?! I believe you try to convey
meaning to the audience! So my question is
how can the set-up that you mentioned
before communicate meaning effectively.

6. 6
HOMCP
Well do you guys know when you go to a concert
and then you watch a live clip of that live
event… like a concert or a show I don’t know lets
just say any live event to make it simpler. Well
when you are watching the clip you suddenly go
’OMG I’ve been there’
(HOMCP says it with a really high pitch
hysteric voice, making the audience laugh)
Well that makes the audience feel some type of
way as they know, they were there that day.
Also we can use one of our BBC shows ’EastEnders’
as an example. Well for those who don’t really
watch EastEnders; EastEnders is a drama soap.
When watching the program, the viewer tends to
feel that they are part of the show as they get
really deep into it and tend to know about
everything that is going on. Well the meaning
here is the understanding of the viewers in
relative with the communication between them and
the actual show.
Interviewer
I can imagine you guys going home and watch the
show and telling all of your friends that you
have been in my show.
So HOMCP how can that affect the visual style of
different show productions?
HOMCP
well the design, the lights, camera are really
important for this process as it helps to create
a powerful image. The visual style of a multi-
camera production helps the audience have the
same feelings as they were present at that time,
watching the program live.
If we talk about ‘strictly come dancing’ we can
tell that it constants attraction performances,
as you can see people performing as the camera
films what is going on and then after and even

7. 7
throughout the performances, they will cut to the
audience and judges to see their reactions.
In ‘strictly come dancing’ the visual effects are
quite magic as the displays are placed overhead
projecting the floor with a high powered DLP that
would provide photo-realistic color with the
ability to edge-blend and tile images.
When talking about the lightning used I believe
the one we use is high key/low key lightning
depending on the theme. These elements help set
the mood of the show during the
broadcast/performances. In strictly come dancing
Pea-Light wrap is seen with a number of
spectacular layers including the LED arches
framing the stage.
INTERVIEWER
That’s really interesting! I personally like to
watch that show and every time I watch it I just
feel like dancing tango.
(LATIN SONG STARTS PLAYING AND QUICLY FADES OUT)
HOMCP
Hahah I believe that happens to everyone!
INTERVIWER
SO IS THERE ANY OTHER PRODUCTION WHERE LIGHTNING
IS ALSO IMPORTANT?
HOMCP
Well actually there are! I will mention some
because if I start with a list of all of them we
will be here all night haha. Well in BBC we have
attended some concerts which were broadcasted by
our teams. We have been to Beyoncé’s concert and
as every concert, stage lights are really
important for this process as they create a
dramatic and exciting environment. we also use
stage lights in strictly came dancing.

8. 8
Interviewer
We also have some of those stage lights here
when we have someone performing definitely agree
with you it completely changes the mood of the
performance as it makes it seem less boring.
Coming back to the set up… tell me… how the multi
camera set up helps to keep the audience
interested?
HOMCP
Well the camera shots are what makes the audience
more interested in what they are watching.
We use multi-cameras to film different angles so
the viewer does not get bored whereas we have
more than one camera picking up different
actions. In BBC we have some programs such as quiz
and chat shows and in order to keep the audience
interested a multi-camera setup is used. For
example in a quiz each panel member is shown
multiple times throughout the production and the
focus isn’t just on one person which some
audience may find boring and lose interest once
watching it. Therefore, quick cuts and varied
shots rather than for example one long durational
close up shot, is better at keeping the audience
interested and so that they don’t lose focus as
they continuously have to be engaged in order to
keep up with what is going on.
INTERVIWER
Yeah sometimes gets really boring staring at the
screen and watch your show from one angle, where
you can only see what is going from that point.
Is there any constraints and disadvantages of
studio and location environments?

9. 9
HOMCP
Yes there are a few! Well when we are filming in
a studio like X-factor we only have a single,
location therefore we need to use something that
will make the audience interested. In X-factor we
have lights, and the lightning can be expensive
sometimes, in terms of the size of the crew to
run multi camera set-ups. When talking about
location environments such as a football match
which happens to be at stadiums, things get a lot
more complex when it comes to set up for a multi-
camera on the location, plus a lot of thing can
go wrong when filming a live action.
The good thing about filming in location
environments is the fact that not everyone is
able to go to a match, but they will still be
able to watch the game as multi-cameras are
broadcasting live.
Interviewer
That is actually true, the tickets are getting
expensive and if there wasn’t any multi-camera
productions filming live I believe loads of
people would get upset for missing what they
really wanted to watch. Even I get upset when a
miss a football match!
Well guys I guess this interview has come to an
end! I hope this interview was helpful for you as
it was for me. And thank you sir for accepting to
share your work with us.
HOMCP
The pleasure is all mine, thank you so much for
having me, and letting me share all this
information with you guys! It means a lot to me
to be able to share this with the all generations
which are interested in the media industry and
even those who like to learn new things!
(HOMCP waves at the audience and shakes the
interviewer’s hand before leaving the studio)

10. 10
Interviewer
So after the break we will have Dwayne Douglas
Johnson to talk to us about his experience on the
new film ‘central of intelligence’!
(Music starts playing and slowly starts to fade)
End