A single camera production involves filming scenes with one camera, requiring more editing than multi-camera productions. It allows for more creative control over lighting, sound, and actor scheduling, but takes longer and requires repeating shots from different angles. Examples given include sitcoms from the 1960s-70s like Bewitched and Hogan's Heroes, which used single camera techniques. Advantages include lower cost and more flexible shooting, while disadvantages include longer production time and less realistic reactions without other actors present. Doctor Who and Miranda are analyzed as examples using single camera techniques like over-the-shoulder shots and breaking the fourth wall. A shot from The Shining using a Steadicam to follow a child through a house is described as creating

1. Single Camera Production
A single camera production is a piece of media or filmshot with a single camera. These are
usually low budget films or music video and will involve a lot of editing and re shooting
scenes. For example, if two characters are having a conversation and there is only one
camera they will have to have the conversation again because the camera will have only
captured one of the characters. There were many Hollywood films and tv shows that used a
single camera to shoot their scenes. The list could go on and on but here are some of the
famous ones: Bewitched, The Munster’s, Hogan’s Heroes and Family Affair the list could go
on forever. All of these shows were made in the 1960’s and in the 1970’s single camera
comedies were also prevalent. Multi camera is used for a variety of different reasons, for
example multi camera could be used so that less editing is used, because when using multi
camera, it allows you to edit as you go along, whereas if it wasn’t multi camera then an
editor would have to come in and do lots of work and it would take a lot of time. I would
personally prefer to use multi camera use because it saves you a lot of time and it would be
faster, however single camera takes a lot of time and it would take much longer to film a
scene.
Advantages of Single Camera
1. The biggest advantage is that it is a lot cheaper because only one camera is used.
2. You have more control over the lighting and sound for each shot. You will be able to
change lighting and sound to how you want them.
3. It is much more flexible for the actors because they don’t all need to be on set at the
same time, they would just have to come to the set when their scene is happening.
4. It will be much easier to edit and gather all the shots because they will all be on one
camera. You won’t need to get all the footage off each individual camera because it
all on one.
5. It will be much easier travelling to locations because you only have one camera so
you won’t need any trucks or vans to transport your equipment.
The advantages of single camera` production is mainly that scenes don’t have to be shot in
sequence therefore more detail and dramatic effect can be added in editing, and cheaper
and easier to move and set up than multi camera which is more expensive and usually only
allows for one take.
Disadvantages of Single Camera
1. It takes longer to set up because of all the cameras and camera men.
2. You will have less realistic reactions; as one actor gets filmed at a time their
reactions won’t be the same and won’t be as natural.
3. You will also have to repeat the same shot 3 times to get each angle as you can only
get one at a time, however the use of multi cameras your able to capture everything
at once.

2. 4. You will also be spending a lot of time in the editing suit because of all the shots that
have been taken.
5. The equipment is a lot cheaper because you will just need one of everything
however it will take longer to shoot so you will have to pay the camera men and
actors for their time on set.
Probably the most disadvantage thing is shooting with single camera production is that you
only get one angle at a time. You will be spending a lot more time in the editing room,
because all of the film will be from one camera. Also, all of your mistakes and outtakes will
have to be sorted out over time, as opposed to a multi camera approach, where you can
edit certain sequences, angles and scenes based on the camera that was shooting.
Series – Doctor Who?
Doctor Who has shown examples of single camera techniques used when The Doctor is
having a conversation with his sidekick. This shows proof of single camera techniques as
there are edits over the shoulder shots showing the conversation. The sound includes lots of
sound effects to help the scene match the sound, and there are use of sound tracks to
emphasize emotions within the shot. For example, slow music for sad scenes and energetic
music for fast scenes. The lighting included within Doctor Who were natural and background
light for outside frames to help set the scene, but in action scenes there is use of special
lighting, such as colored lights, filler and back lights. The camera angles that were mostly
used in a series using single camera techniques are long shots and high angles shots. This is
so the drama fills the scene and all of the effects and action is shown in the frames.
Comedy – Miranda
Miranda shows use of single camera techniques because when the protagonist is making a
joke, she talks directly at the audience to engage them in the program. The signify that she
is talking to the audience, camera angles shift to show that she is jumping out of context she
is in, to talk to the audience. This effect uses editing and single camera techniques. The
sound effects that are included within a comedy sitcom that uses single camera techniques
are canned laughter when the protagonist does or says something funny. The other sound is
regular voices that are included within the scene. The lighting used are normal background
and key lighting to let the audience know that they are with characters in the program and
the program is not staged. Most of the camera angles included are mid shots, to capture the
motion and emotion of the characters, so they can fully understand what is going on.
The SHINING
This certain shot in The Shining uses a Steadicam as the camera follows the child around the
house. Having the camera floating creates an intense atmosphere and makes the audience
feel on edge. Having the camera floating it creates the perfect feel for a horror film because
the audience is use to the camera being still. Using a Steadicammeans the camera is
handheld which allows the camera man to move more freely around the set because there

3. won’t be any tracks for the camera. This shot would have been impossible if they used a
normal tracking shot, to achieve this shot their only option was a hand-held shot. The
lighting is quite dull in this scene to make the scene fell more eerie and unsettling for the
audience. There wasn’t much sound in this scene because the camera was just following the
child around the house. The only sound the audience could hear was the backing track to
make the scene more intense and to make the audience feel like something is about to
happen.