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1. In order to make a detailed comparison between the two techniques and explain the
concept of Single Camera Production, we first need to explain the concept of Multiple
Camera Production. A set utilizing this technique will have multiple cameras filming at once,
covering different actors and capturing the scene from multiple angles simultaneously in
one take. The fast paced nature of this technique makes it popular in the live tv industry,
being used for live sitcoms, tv dramas and sports shows.
Single Camera Production is another style of filming in which each shot is taken manually
with a singular camera, requiring the director/cinematographer to change the setup of the
filming equipment appropriately for each new camera angle and shot type. This technique
was developed in the 1910s along with the rise of Hollywood cinema and has remained the
standard for various media products such as narrative music videos, tv shows and films. It is
important to know that both styles are widely popular, each with advantages/disadvantages
that make them ideal for different sectors within the media.
Advantages of filming in the single camera style are:
 That it requires a much lower budget than MCP, this is a given considering that it
requires less equipment and less staff to man said equipment (which lowers the
amount of money needed to buy/rent tech and pay wages).
 Because there is less staff/equipment required, directors need to source a lot less
money to spend on travel. After all, there are less things they need to be able to
move.
 On the topic of logistics, SCP reduces the concern about cameras accidently catching
each other in the shot, which would be a huge problem in terms of continuity.
 Scheduling for shoots also becomes easier because not all the actors need to be on
set at the same time, if one actor can only be on set for a few days, they can film all
of their lines at once. Letting the editor piece the shots together in post-production
to form complete sequences. Alternatively, MCP requires the actors to do their lines
at the same time, with the editor switching camera.
 Finally, SCP gives the director much more creative freedom. Having only one camera
filming each shot individually allows them to focus on the composition individually
and grade the quality of them.
On the other hand, there are multiple disadvantages to the SCP:
 The fact that this process can often be much lengthier and time consuming than its
counterpart, which is one of the main reasons it isn’t used for live shows.
 Some actors may find it challenging to stay in character while constantly
stopping/starting for each individual shot. Shooting conversations out of order could
lead to less natural reactions depending on the skill of the actors. Whereas MCP
allows them to deliver their lines chronologically all in one take, arguably much
easier for them to give their best performance.
 From a technical standpoint, it is easier to make continuity errors between shots
when filming with a single camera. For example, it’s longer process can lead to issues
with natural lighting changes.
 Another disadvantage is the amount of repetition, filming each shot at least three
times can have a negative impact of the morale of both the actors and filming crew.
 Finally, SCP needs a lot more time and effort in post-production for editing. Having
to piece together each shot from each scene takes longer than in MCP.

2. Clip from the shining: https://youtu.be/2W7uKverqX8
This clip was taken from the film the shining, as a film its main function is to provide
the audience with entertainment and an escape from reality. It’s a convention of
horror films is to take seemingly innocent settings/narratives that lure the audience
into a false sense of security and turn it completely on its head. Take this clip for an
example, the director makes great use of various single camera techniques which
piece together in editing to create one long scene that in theory shouldn’t be scary.
Horror films conventionally start off with pleasant mise-en-scene’s, slow paced
editing and long/extreme long shots to establish the locations. They then
progressively begin to make use of close ups/extreme close ups, fast paced editing
and dark mise-en-scenes (low-key lighting, props such as knives) to combine and
make a much more intense experience intended to scare the audience.
Films use single camera production because they benefit from having a wider
timeframe for production, compared to soaps or live shows films don’t have as much
of a time constraint. Furthermore, the more creative freedom the director has with
the camera, the higher the quality of the cinematography used in the film. Not only
would MCP limit the creative [process, but it would be unreasonable to have all of
the actors present onset for the entire production of the film (which is known to take
months).
The first shot begins with making use of the Steadicam mounting equipment as the
camera tracks the child riding their trike around the set. Within this scene, the use of
single camera techniques creates a floating camera effect, smoothly following the
child at a lower angle for 34 seconds. Using this technique makes the scene more
immersive because instead of spending their time working out the logistics of each
individual camera shot, the audience get to take in the mise en scene, eventually
noticing the child is alone within these maze-like corridors. All the while being at a
lower angle, making the target audience feel just as vulnerable as the character is.
The benefit of the Steadicam is that it gives the cameraman much more freedom,
they aren’t limited to one fixed positon in fear of catching the other cameras in shot.
Instead this technique isolates the operator’s movements mechanically, which
means they can use handheld operation for longer smoother shots.

3. The next section of this clip makes use of a framing technique known as a shot
reverse shot. Beginning with a low angled shot looking up at the door, continuing
with a close up of the child reaction’s and then a shot of the door once again. This
conveys the narrative to the audience without dialogue and allows them to
experience the scene alongside the character. The shot reverse shot is a camera
technique where the cameraman films two shots of what in this setting is the hotel
room door and then films a reaction shot. Piecing it together during editing to ensure
the 1st and 3rd shot line up perfectly, cutting to the character in between. Being able
to film the shots out of sequence is amongst the benefits of SCP, allowing the
operator to line up the positioning of the camera and avoid continuity errors.
The final point in this clip from the shining is use of pull focus techniques to
effectively and subtly guide the audience’s attention to the key parts of each shot.
Using either deep focus (everything in the shot is visible) or a shallow focus (only the
foreground is visible) can naturally draw the audience’s eyes towards the important
parts onscreen. Alongside this, they also make use of the rule of three technique
throughout this sequence, a great example being the reverse shot of the child’s
reaction, 0his eyes clearly line up with the top horizontal line within the imaginary
grid. This technique is based on a composition theory that uses a grid on top of each
shot and suggests the audience’s attention is automatically attracted to either the
four overlapping points or the lines themselves. Applying both of these techniques
conveys information to the audience in a way that doesn’t distract their attention
away from the actor’s performance, instead it enhances what happens onscreen,
allowing the audience to subconsciously pay attention to just the right sections in
each shot. Increasing immersivity and intensity.
This scene wouldn’t be nearly as effective in building suspense or getting an
emotional response without the single camera techniques, overall, they are what
make this scary. Take the Steadicam shot, if there were multiple edits used as the
child rode his bike with little to no movement, the corridors wouldn’t have looked as
intimidating. The audience no longer being able to witness the full effect of the empty
winding corridors.
‘The Underdogs- apple at work’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9TdA8d5aaU
This is a commercial video for the apple company, meaning that its primary goal is to
promote both apple and its products in a way that appeals to the audience. It needs
to be short, precise and most importantly eye-catching. The best way to do this in a
commercial video is to see the products used in various locations and settings,
because the audience like to see that this tech can be used to improve their day to
day life. For example, an apple watch would seem more useful if they show the
character on the move, not just staying in one place.

4. Therefore, SCP was the better choice for Apple’s commercial video, shooting in this
style gives the director more freedom, the camera has infinitely more mobility to
move around. The director can track forwards, sideways following the character on
the move, shoot various camera shots and angles in numerous locations. Piecing
together in post-production to create a faced paced tempo with a chaotic tone in the
video you would struggle to achieve in MCP. This works in the video’s favour
because they come to understand that no matter how busy your life gets; Apple tech
will stick with you and provide some stability.
In the beginning of the clip, the director features the cut-away shot type to flashback
to the character’s earlier experience with her boss in the carpark before entering the
office. This provides the audience with context and extra information at appropriate
moments in the character’s conversation with her colleagues. It’s almost as if the
audience know something the character’s co-workers don’t, we get to see what
happened from her perspective. They get to feel unique and important, when the
audience feel included, they’re more likely to pay attention.
An interesting use of single camera techniques is at 0:35-0:44, where the director
has used a series of slightly below eye level mid shots to create 360 degree turn
effect. This was achieved by mounting the camera onto a tripod and using a
movement known as panning from left to right of each character sat in a circle.
Tripods hold the camera steady/ in a fixed position on the platform and allow for
smooth camera movements that holding it by hand would struggle to achieve. In
post-production the editor would have been able to simply place the shots into the
correct order and the finished product would have been a 360 turn. Filming this shot
in SCP would have made this easier for the director to film because all he’d have to
do was simply rotate the tripod further to the right and start filming again. This has a
disorientating effect on the audience, spinning them in this way at a fast pace makes
them empathize with the characters onscreen, feeling the same amount of confusion
as they do makes the video more immersive. If the audience connect with the

5. character, they’re more likely to pay attention to the video and buy the product.
Finally, the director features a number of close ups/extreme close ups on a range of
Apple Technology products. At every turn there is a character using an apple
product, which is useful because it shows the audience the tech being useful in
various settings. This use of camera shots established the products as the key
feature of the advert, showing the audience this is what they should pay attention to.
Furthermore, the more products they see, the more memorable they become,
making the products stick into the audience’s mind after watching the ad so they feel
more compelled to buy from Apple.
Overall, Apple successfully made use of multiple single camera techniques
strategically to entice the audience to buy their products. Taking full advantage of the
freedom given to directors to show the full extent of how convenient their products
can be to the average working adult.
Thriller music video (analyzing opening only)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA&list=PLHbzX8zcevvu_Se-
CwR4kPYJIZgHoixt8&index=19
This clip is from the Thriller music video by Michael Jackson, the purpose of this
product is not only to promote the artist and their music, but to also entertain the
audience. Providing them with a moment of escapism. Some narrative music videos
have underlying life lessons, topics or ideologies the musician/director want to
convey to the audience, in which case this product would be to inform. Typical
convention for narrative music videos includes repeated use of long shots, mid shots
and close ups to emphasize the locations, characters/celebrities and emotions.
Conventions like these help the audience understand the narrative, considering
music videos are usually shorter in terms of timeframe, using repeated camera shots
and locations help the audience comprehend the narrative without drawing their
attention away from the music completely.
Similar to the film, these projects have a longer production time available to them so
the director can afford to take more time filming each shot individually with their full
attention. Narrative music videos employ single camera techniques because they
want to have versatile videography that can convey the narrative to the audience as
effectively as possible in the short runtime of the video.
The clip opens with a wide establishing shot moving slowly in adjacent to the
character’s car, this shot has been used by the director to establish the location in
which the scene takes place. Regardless of genre, this shot is a convention in
cinematography because knowing where the characters are, allowing the audience
to understand the logistics of the scene instantly. They can focus on enjoying music
video and being immersed without having to spend their time figuring out where the

6. characters are. The camera is most likely mounted to a dolly track, creating a
smooth floating camera effect which makes the shot flow well with the rest of the
scene. Mounting onto a track completely isolates both the operator’s and the
camera’s movements, removing any possible shaking caused by shifting the
camera’s position (in comparison to handheld operation which carries this risk).
The clip then goes on to feature multiple different framing techniques such as over
the shoulder shots and shot reverse shot, used in this setting to follow a
conversation the characters are having in the car. Both techniques aim to place the
audience in the character’s shoes, making them empathize with the character. Likely
filmed with a tripod, which you mount the camera on top of to hold it steady and
manipulate the shot’s angle and positioning. Using these in the clip creates an easy-
going lighthearted feeling as the audience watch the back and forth of the young
couple onscreen. This kind of tone is created very often in the beginning of
horror/thriller pieces in order to lure the audience into a false sense of security (used
to the point it has become a convention of sorts).
Finally, in the next part of the conversation the director follows the 180-degree rule.
This rule draws a hypothetical line onset in front of the two cameras that the operator
must not cross. Much like the establishing shot, this technique avoids confusing the
audience, because if you film all of one character’s lines from the front and then go
on to film the other character’s sections from the back the it isn’t going to match up
well in the finished product. Confusing the audience and interfering with the video’s
purpose of entertainment, they’re not going to be able to follow the narrative in a
narrative music video. Therefore, the director was able to successfully follow the
180-degree rule and film both sections in a way that matches (in terms of camera
positioning and angle) allowing the clip to become an immersive and entertaining
viewing experience