Single Camera Production

Single Camera Production

Single camera production is the production of a film or media product with one camera.

Camera

Single camera productions generally use one camera.  However if the shot is full of heavy dialog or contains a stunt that for budget reasons can only be taken once,

 more than one camera can generally be put in operation.  Single camera productions are generally much easier to shoot as you are able to pack up the equipment set up a shoot much more easily than a multi-camera production.

This has serious advantages and disadvantages. Directors / Auteurs / D.O.P's often prefer the use of a single camera when film making. It gives then the opportunity direct and light the shot however they see fit.

All of the intensity in the overdose scene in Pulp Fiction is caused by the super intense close up in the camera framing.  This is the sort of thing you are only able to do in single camera productions as the other cameras would see the one doing the closeups.

Single camera productions are made by people filming repeated scenes over and over.  This can be more cost effective to shoot rather a multi-cam setup to shoot if you are on film stock. 

Lighting


Lighting in a single camera production is much easier to control than shooting on a multiple camera production where the lighting needs to be set for every camera on set to look ok.

On the left we have a single light camera set up utilizing a reflector. This is a simple technique which is generally used for shooting on location.

However for a more professional look is a three point camera set-up where you take a main light to fill out the majority of your subject, a second to fill in the opposite side of the object and a third to fill in the back of the object which fills in the back of item. The back light ( often referred to as the kick) as a professional touch that makes characters stand out and look really good.

Multi-Camera film making generally needs everything to be lit from above to avoid the shot being lit wrong on certain cameras.

Certain types of lighting are used to imply different moods for example in the film Blade Runner there is a strong emphasis of a neo-noir look that dominates the dirty sci fi aesthetic of the film is is used by low key lighting techniques. In the picture you can see here Sean Young's eyes are picked out by the use of a small kick light behind the camera, this is a reoccurring subtlety with this character as it establishes her hidden android nature. This is an example of high quality single camera lighting that is obviously motivated.

Sound

Sound coverage is very important for making a high quality media product. It is important to get sound right the first time in production as you can cut footage but sound works differently. Whether in a multi-cam or single cam set up its important to get the gear.


Types of Mic

Shotgun / Boom

Boom mics or shotgun mics are great partners with single camera production techniques. There are generally two ways they can be applied  Mounted on  top of an existing camera set-up to record sound and attached to a boom pole. Mounted is often used in lower budget productions and documentary's as it reduces the number of crew on set and the amount of luggage that needs to be carried this relies on the shotgun mics directional capability ( there is appropriately a 2 - 3 metre range where the directional quality in front of the mic will be good). The other option is using a boom pole to hold the camera over shot ( not undershot as it affects the bass) this often requires a specialized member of crew but is required in most professional productions. In single camera production it is really useful as you can get the mic really close to your subject. There is more skill in using a boom and having a designated recordist but at the same time there is more. Here is a typical mistake using a boom mic where its accidentally brought into shot.

Lapel

Lapel mics can be used in single camera productions to greater benefit in documentary and television production. They help as you don't need to rely on the often cumbersome boom mic set up. They are often also used in multi camera set-ups to reduce sound equipment visibility. The draw back is there is often a lot of interference with the wearers clothes and to buy a lapel mic that actually records at a worthy quality is very expensive.

Here you can see how a Lapel mic would be used in a single camera interview set up.

Editing

Editing or post-production is the most important point when constructing your film or TV show. This comes after conventional production has wrapped and can be a long and tedious process  ( hour long interviews can be cut down to 3 minute snips). Its organization is key
Single camera productions are generally very simple to edit, there are few takes per shot and due to budgets attempt to use as little takes as possible  Shot logs are often used to make sure all of the film you have shot is cataloged. Single camera productions are less interesting when it comes to live television, however as there is no alteration of shot without the audience becoming conscious of the camera moving.

Shooting logs however are different from logging, which is a form of log used in interviewing. When you log an interview it is somebody's job in short hand write down the entire conversation (like a a script), so that they can later tear through the log to find interesting points rather than tediously go through the whole interview.

Multi camera productions more film / memory is wasted in a multi camera set up as you always have all your cameras running which may mean a faster turnaround time for filming ( alternating cameras to cover mistakes). Live television, like Big Brother, is often shot on a multi cam set up this means that the production company can edit live on a machine called a vision mixer. Here you can see live edited footage that all took place at the same time.




Coverage

Coverage is a word for the amount of footage shot. Good coverage means there are many combinations for post. not getting enough can be detrimental to the shoot if there is nothing to swap it out with.  

How much coverage you get is generally budget dependent. But it is important to get as much coverage, with different angles and shots as possible to help the movie remain as visually interesting as possible. In single camera productions re shooting a scene multiple times is essential to make sure no errors slip through the post production net.

The master shot is a technique that covers all the action and characters in a scene. It is essential as it gives the editor a starting place to cut from.

Multi-camera productions are generally more difficult for obtaining coverage in terms of performance as it is more expensive to get takes wrong. In single camera productions there is much more room for error providing you can afford re-shoots.


Single camera genres and formats

Horror
You're Next
You're Next is a low budget horror film released initially in 2011.  However has only taken off in the last few months of 2013. It is a perfect example of a low budget horror film using the single camera format being a perfect way for a Director to become a name. On a production level a Director can use a single camera to really get into the face of their actors for showing fear. Single camera productions are often much cheaper than multicamera films this is a trope of the horror genre that the majority of its films are low budget.




Comedy
Dogma
Dogma is a brilliant religious comedy made by indie film-maker Kevin Smith. This film is a great low budget picture that uses single camera production to make the most of its low budget. Comedy doesn't often need complicated camera set ups.  As most of the appeal comes from the actors and their dialog, so single camera productions simplicity is often ideal.


Drama / Period
Frost / Nixon
Although this runs into the territory of period drama, and during the scenes in the interview house, where it is clear they set up a multi-camera system. Frost / Nixon is a fantastic example of a single camera production. This film is applicable to both Period and Drama genres as it follows a fairly accurate ( If slightly romanticized) version of what happened during the Nixon interviews. This could be applied to Drama as well as it is a retelling of a selection of memoirs among other things this still allows the Director to tell emotional scope despite basing the film on historical events.

As comedy there doesn't need to be much complexity of cameras as drama and period are often relying on performance and story rather than spectical.   Now there might be examples like gladiator where there is emphasis on action but these are further and fewer between.




Crime

Single camera is great for crime drama as the ability to play with lighting often improves the look of the film in the way a multi-cam setup can't compete with. Here is a great example the moody Noir thriller Drive. Winding Refn uses lighting to convey artistic suspense.

Soaps

Soaps aren't generally made with single camera techniques.  This is not an economical option due to the time constraints of the 24 hour time frame most shows have to be made in. This means that they are using multiple cameras to make sure the takes are alright and they can get it done quickly.

If there is a familiar cast and sets this will provide solidarity across the series as its more likely cameras will have fixed tracks to work on, this will provide a coherent look to the show.

One of the few examples of a single camera soap is British TV show Brookside. Which is popular for tackling social issues like incest and drug use.



Documentary

Documentary is primarily made by single camera production  This is because of the immediateness of situations the camera needs to record.  It needs to be carried and the production needs to be able to pack up and get around quickly.

An excellent example of a professional single camera documentary would be the work of documentary star Louis Theroux.  He needs to be able to get right into the action with alot of his interviews. I would be surprised if he had more crew with him than a camera man and a sound recordist to make his shorts in production. This wouldn't be feasible to use for a multi camera setup as the hassle of the setup could interfer with the state of the people being filmed.




Multi-Camera techniques

The multi-camera technique is a means of making television series on a much lower budget, it's generally associated with sitcoms where you generally don't leave one specific set. A great example of this is the hit 90's show Friends.



Formats

There are three often used formats in single camera production which get used apart from features

Serial

Serials are one ongoing series that tell one outstretched story. These where often used in the early days of cinema to help sell features. Here is some of the first batman and robin serial shown in the 1940's.

Series

Series are different from serials as they often have their own sub narratives to every story. The Walking Dead is a popular AMC show that uses single camera techniques in its post apocalyptic environment.

Single Drama

Single dramas are one story shown in one full sitting.  These can often be also referred to as TV movies. The Girl is an Alfred Hitchcock drama set during the production of The Birds staring Sienna Miller.

Comparison

Single-camera

Advantages

• Cheaper to shoot
• Easier to setup and crew.
• Better for feature / short filmmaking ( can be relocated )
• Easier and more expressive to light

Disadvantages

• Often less coverage
• More complicated to edit
• Generally longer production period

Multi-Camera

Advantages

• Shorter turnaround time
• More coverage
• Better for soaps and sitcoms

Disadvantages

• Expensive
• Little space for creativity
• Sound either needs to be lapel or hidden microphone

References
http://ansraudio.com/33-86-thickbox/am-10-replacement-lapel-microphone.jpg
http://www.studio1productions.com/images/boommic.jpg
http://contemplatrix.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/rachael2007.jpg