An introduction to single camera production techniques

An introduction to single camera production techniques

Single Camera Techniques were introduced in the 1910s, taking on a single camera in order to achieve a shot from many different angles and positions. It was one of the first techniques used in film and is still seen in some classic movies and tv shows to this day. The way the camera is set up is through moving the camera after one shot is taken to place it in another angle you want to capture. In order to make this effective, it's important to remember continuity. When cutting a shot to then move the camera in another angle, it is easy to make errors from passing vehicles, empty bottles. Moving people in different places, each of these errors can create a sense of detachment from the show, so it is important to take care when resetting scenes and re shooting as it is extremely easy to make these errors only using one camera. 

Camera techniques are used in the filmmaking world in order to help move forward with the context and narrative of what story they are trying to present. It helps convey to the audience the overall mood, narrative and theme of the film. It is the job of the directors to make sure all the shots are to the standard of presentation, especially in movies, directors make the final cut in production to strive to convey the overall message of their film from overlooking each other's roll. Cinematographers are an important part of the production in the development and capture of the film in a style which should fit the overall theme and style of what is being shot. Cinematographers usually make a conscious choice to how each scene is shot, compared to directors who take into account the whole scene and not just single shots. Cinematographers take each individual frame and make sure each camera angle is fluid and takes into importance the narrative in these shots. This can be anything from basic to advanced camera shots.

Using single camera techniques, these productions are used filming one camera. Through this it is important to note how key it is to create an atmosphere for the viewer to be immersed in by making up the multiple cameras by just using one. Through using one camera it is a great way to create more intimate feelings for the viewer. It allows more control for directors on a shoot due to the set up of a one-shot dynamic, it gives a more involved feel as well as being able to let the actors connect more with the characters due to the repeat of many scenes which can also be seen as a negative side to single cameras, that even though they are easier to focus upon, it can result in some scenes looking off. Due to the constant retake it has the possibility for any things to go wrong e.g. continuity errors. 

Lighting is an extremely important part of single camera productions due to its practicality. It's easy to take a shot and be able to alter that to your liking through the thoroughness of the shot and focus which can be put upon the type. It's also important to take into account that if lighting looks off, it can result in the overall shot looking fake with the incorrect lighting. The lighting is something that needs to be of top priority as harsh, low light can also alter how fake it looks. If the shot looks fake it's easy for the viewer to be pulled out of that world which then would create a film without engagement. In order to carry out the right lighting it needs to be thought out which, if done correctly, can create a tone and style which complements the film and is consistent throughout each shot. An example of lighting in a single camera production can be seen in the image example. The key light needs to be lit individually to match the desired tone of the production so it's important to set up the lighting to match where the camera is shooting, in order to gain focus and not down any important information or characters.

Sound can determine how pleasing your film is to listen to for many people. The quality of the microphone will have a massive impact on how high, or low quality your sound is captured. If you use a microphone which is embedded into the camera, it can make the sound grainy and not as clear as it would be with a hand-held boom. If a well made video and high production looking film is displayed with static sound, the value of the film will drop due to the viewers being pulled out of the fantasy of the film and back into reality which is something that no filmmaker aims for. Filming with a single camera, it can be easy to mess up and overlook many things, but with sound planning it comes as a priority. The shots always require a certain amount of overlay which means that the production runs the risk of running over schedule if not planned correctly. This helps prevent continuity errors when in post production. Dialogue doesn't always have to be from that clip too. It's important to note that a lot of audio is added through post production which can fix mistakes and use that sound to overlay over the shoulder speaking.

Many movies use clever ways in order to hide mics and cover their presence in single camera shots due to the constant movement of characters on screen. An example of this is through the ceiling mics in Citizen Kane. the whole movie being mainly single camera shoots, allowed creativity to happen through the shots and the mics being hidden in the ceiling to pick up movement of the characters as they move around the set which allows a single camera to capture the shot without any boom mics or errors due to some mistakes when shooting and even picking up sound which would become an issue in scenes like this. It would be impossible to direct or hear this scene without a mic, so in order for no one to have to hide behind screen and use a boom, they hid them around the room which picks up their voices which works hand in hand to the single camera production.

Editing in post production can take a long time, especially if what you are needing to edit requires effects and voice overs along with the much needed time to sort and piece together the film's clips. Because in single camera productions you are only using one camera, the cost of shooting the film will be less than with multiple cameras, because you are only in charge of one. You film all the scenes together which makes it easier in order to piece together in the editing process and because you are only filming on one, the time it takes to order and arrange each clip can save a lot of time. It's important to have got all the shots you need because it is very difficult to go back and refilm scenes, so to make sure that all shots are captured must be first on the criteria as you are not filming with multi cameras, just one so all shots must be considered. When planning on filming a piece, having a shot log will come important as this is essential paperwork, laying out the essential shots you need in order of shooting. It's how many people who work with a single camera work efficiently. 

We can use the example of Horror in single camera productions. Single cameras are used in horror to build suspense and draw out that time it takes for the character to realise, to the jump scare that will follow after. We can use the Blair Witch project as a prime example of a movie that involves mostly single camera movements. Because the film is based from one camera throughout the film, we get the feeling we are there with the characters, which is what single camera productions can do well, submerge you into that world sometimes in first person. Near the end as the suspense builds, we follow the character with the camera which makes the whole thing ‘personal’ and builds up to that final ‘scare’ which is done in a suspenseful and deliberate manner. 

We can also link this to specific genres and this can be associated with various formats in single camera productions. An example we can use in this can be a series. A series runs along many different episodes all together following the same characters (usually) following a story which links the episodes together in some format. We can use Buzzfeed Unsolved as an example of a series which primarily used a single camera in order to capture shots. Especially during the first seasons when production value wasn't as high, Shane and Ryan used a single camera to explore haunted locations by alternating it between each other. Throughout the show it follows them with different stories and locations being explored. This format of continuity follows through each episode and stayed active for many seasons after the first season gained so much popularity, which also gave them access to more equipment and multi camera productions.

Advantages of single camera production

• Because of the multiple run throughs and shots being taken, it allows the actors to constantly be in their characters role, which can help them feel more submerged in the role, overall helping their performance.
• If you want to shoot something low budget, single camera productions are perfect because all you have is one camera to worry about which can look just as effective if you were filming with multi camera productions.
• The director will have more control over what is happening with the camera and will be able to work shot by shot in detail.
• new camera angles can be explored.
• because of the little equipment needed on set, it is east to change location and move if needed which makes production faster and allows you to focus your money on that instead of multi cameras.

Disadvantages of single camera production

• If you are restricted to one camera, it can be lengthy and time consuming.
• Due to the length of the time you will be filming with one camera, it can cost a lot of money to keep that in order which can cause it to be more expensive than using  multi-camera productions.
• continuity errors are common
• it can look jarring to the viewer if shots keep start and stopping because of the camera change, which can be frustrating
• Not many people go for single camera use because of the amount of effort and high risk of errors.

As an alternative, Multi-camera techniques are used in productions in order to capture one or more shots in a setting, this can be identified in many TV shows and film to capture many shots at the same time. its a method of filming which can cost more but gain more shots which are high in reliability and continuity. we can use the example of action films. when filming a high speed chase scene, many cameras will be set up throughout the shot in order to capture the action from different angles. this can also include stunt doubles and props which could only be captured in multi-camera settings. sports uses muti-camera production to also split between takes and movement on course, through this you can go from close ups to long shots with a single change of camera which is not as achievable with single camera productions.