This document discusses single camera film production techniques compared to multi-camera techniques. Single camera productions use only one camera and allow more creative control over lighting, shots, and storytelling. They provide an intimate feel but take more time and planning than multi-camera productions. Sound is easier to control with a single audio track in single camera productions. Editing happens after filming individual shots rather than live like in multi-camera. Certain genres like horror are well-suited for single camera techniques due to the ability to get close-up shots.

1. Single Camera Techniques
This essay will address single camera productiontechniques such as
camera, lighting, soundand editing. Singlecamera productions are
productionsusing onlyone camera rather thanmultiple. Theuse of
thistypeof productionis gaining popularityand this allows people
with single camera technical skills to gain employment in that area.
This essay will also identify key productionroles and lookat mise-
en-scene as well as cinematography whileusing examples to elaborateon previous points.
Single cameras on productions are mainly used to
create more realism with a scene and get the audience
within the action. This creates an intimate feel to the
film which is why some film directors prefer single
camera such as Sam Peckinpah, an American film
director and screenwriter known for being visually
innovative and his action depiction.1
He is famous for
shooting a scene multiple times, as single cameras
demand, to make sure the shot was correct. Multiple
shot-takes can be time consuming, this is because they
have to set up each shot individually, making it a
disadvantage when working in a single camera
production. Directors tend to go for single camera
productions more as they have more control over the camera and the locations for the
shoots aren’t limited unlike if it was a multi-camera production where placement/room
for the cameras would have to be considered. Along with the production being time
consuming, it can result in it being more expensive including more planning. However,
the production can allow actors to get into character.
Lighting is still important in single camera as it is
used to light the film to create
effects which can impact the
audience. Lighting is far easier to
control and manipulate. You can
shoot each shot differently and the
lighting can add to the tone of the
film. For example, at the start of
Citizen Kane lighting is used to
manipulate the shot of the character
so he is viewed as a collective with
no face association and is said to be watching/revealing the
movie like the audience. There are different types of set up in a single camera
production, unlike multi-camera it allows variety. Instead of the shots looking
studio lit they can be realistic and detailed connotating to different meanings
1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Peckinpah

2. creating a bigger effect on the audience. A basic set up would be a ‘low key
lighting set-up’ which consists of one light pointing towards a subject and a
camera. It is designed to fill in the rooms light at a low level to be able to cast
shadows. These set ups can be easily adjusted, but if needed again they should be
slightly changed to fit the shot and keep consistency.
Sound adds to a film and can sometimes define a film and decide whether it’s a
good or a bad film. In single camera productions, due to the use of shoulder shots,
cutaways and any restricted view shots this allows the film to use a single
dialogue or audio track. This helps
make the track more consistent. Also,
boom microphones are a ‘staple of
single camera productions’ and help
get ‘in the action’ creating a personal
feel to the film. Of course, in post-
production Foley (a reproduction of
everyday sound effects added to a film)
would or could be applied.
A
disadvantage of single camera sound is that not
all takes can be delivered with the same pace of
dialogue so they will add a second camera if there
are certain shots or lots of dialogue. Film-makers
in single camera can invent new ways to hide a
microphone for the best shot which can waste
time but could create very good audio such as
they audio in Citizen Kane where they make a
‘fake ceiling’ just to hide the microphones as they
wanted lots of low shots.
Editing in any film is important and it
can take a long time to sift through.
Single camera productions are edited
after a scene has been filmed as they
cannot be completed live like a multi-
camera production. Shot logs (a list of
shots captured) are taken into consideration when editing lots of footage together
and can state which ones are successful or not. Also, when editing a single camera
you can also create a ‘rough cut’ of a film if an editor is on the set. This technique
is especially useful when on a time limit, an editor will be given the footage as the
shoot is ongoing and will ‘draft’ up a rough version of an edit to help gain an
understanding of the storyline.

3. There are specific genres and formats associated with
either multi-camera productions or single camera
productions. Certain formats ‘lend themselves’ to single
camera as they suit the genre or are easier to do
logistically. For example, period, crime drama and horror
can be very single camera orientated. Horror especially as
to create a very intimate and realistic elemental feel, they
use single camera to ‘get up close’ in shots. This gives the
film-makers more freedom to explore and get creative
with visuals. For example, ‘The Shining’ would be a good
use of having lots of control creatively over a single-cam
production.
In multi-camera productions, comedy and soap operas
are geared towards using multiple cameras as they are
either studios/sets or they need to be filmed quickly as
usually soap operas are airing every week or so. For
example, ‘Mrs Browns Boys’ is a studio set in front of a
live audience and it is filmed in a multi-camera set up.
Formats such as series, serial and single drama may appear similar, but they are
different. Series are episodic programming with the same characters, but a
different storyline such as Sherlock where they have the same character
development, but different cases each episode. Serials are run for a specific
period of time but can appear to be never-ending such as Coronation Street. It can
be periodic like Downton Abbey, this can mean there are
a big ensemble of characters,
but no one is the main
character. They are mainly
associated with multi-camera
productions rather than single
camera productions. Lastly,
single drama utilizes one main story and set of characters in a film like one single
episode. Some single dramas can be longer running on 2-3 episodes, but usually
that is it.

4. Multi-camera techniques differ from single camera productions as it covers all of
the action. This technique is usually most common in ‘live’, time-limited filming
such as Strictly Come Dancing or action films involving stunts and explosions such
as The Avengers. Advantages of using this type of production are they aren’t time-
consuming and continuity errors are less common. However, lighting can be hard
to manage whereas in single camera, lighting can be adjusted and can look the
same in ever shot. In multi-camera it can cause a shot to look flat or fake in one
shot and ‘perfect’ in another. A director has much less control over a shot in
multi-camera productions in
comparison to single camera
production as there is problems
logistically such as room for
the cameras or
manoeuvrability.