Module 62

Updated: 09/01/2011

Single-Camera

Production

For more than a century, ▲Hollywood has been making a single film camera look like the work of several cameras working simultaneously.

Like many things in Hollywood, it's actually a bit of movie magic.

At first, film directors didn't have a choice; there was no way to synchronize multiple film cameras on a single scene. Although this started out as a seeming limitation, it actually turned out to be a creative advantage, an advantage that most multiple-camera video producers don't share.

The difference is based primarily on how film is shot.  In film-style production each scene and camera angle is setup and rehearsed until the director is satisfied. Actors, lighting directors, makeup artists, audio people, etc., only need to concentrate on one scene at a time.

Although it's a time-consuming and tedious process, at the same time, it provides the opportunity for maximum technical and artistic quality.

In contrast, in typical video dramas actors often have to memorize lines for a complete production, and they may even have to go through the whole production without stopping.

Lighting, audio, make-up, etc., have to work for long shots and close-ups, and for a variety of different camera angles.

You may recall from the lighting modules that the best lighting is limited to one camera angle.

 But when  people have to be lit and shot from three or four angles at the same time, as they normally are in multiple-camera video production, there will invariably have to be some compromises.

In film production many "takes" may be necessary before directors feel they have the best possible take. (Recall that a take is a short, discrete segment of action.) Some film scenes are shot dozens of times before a director is satisfied.

In film, scenes are shot from different angles and at different distances and film editors can  choose from a multitude of takes. It becomes the editor's job to cut the best takes and scenes together, giving the appearance of one continuous action sequence photographed from different camera angles. With film, editing decisions are typically spread out over weeks, if not months -- ample time to reflect, experiment, and reconsider before final decisions are made.

Much in contrast, editing decisions in live or live-on-tape video productions are done in real time on a second-by-second and minute-by-minute basis. There is seldom the opportunity to look back, rethink, and revise. 

This link discusses film vs. videotape and this link takes you to a quick look at the development of motion picture production.

Film-Style Dramatic Production

Although film-style (single-camera) video production has been used in news and documentary work for decades, until recently its use in video dramatic productions has been limited.

Many made-for-TV movies are still shot on film, but in most cases that film is immediately transferred to video after processing and all subsequent postproduction work is done with the video version.

With video projection in theaters for feature-length films emerging, the move to video for all types of dramatic production can't be too far away.  If nothing else, pure economics will drive the transition. Within the last few years numerous feature "films" have been shot with high-definition video equipment.

Advantages of Single Camera

Film-Style Production

One of the advantages of single-camera (film or video) dramatic production is that scenes don't have to be shot in sequence. In fact, seldom does a script's chronological sequence represent the most efficient shooting order. The final sequence of scenes is arranged during editing.

In order of importance, the following should be considered when planning the shooting sequence of a single-camera production:

• all shots involving specific talent/actors (starting with the highest paid) should be shot as close together in time as possible, regardless of script sequence
   
• all shots at a particular location should be shot at the same time
   
• all shots requiring specific production personnel should be shot at the same time
   
• all shots requiring specialized production equipment, such as special cameras, lenses, microphones, and generators should be shot at the same time

As an example let's consider just one dramatic scenario  -- a couple meets, falls in love, gets married, and after 20 years, starts fighting fiercely.

In an effort to start over, they decide to return to the hotel room where they spent their first romantic night. Unfortunately, one of the partners finds out that the other had an affair in the room. They start arguing again, and in a final rage, one partner kills the other. (Granted, not a very pretty scenario, but it'll have to do for this example.)

For scheduling efficiency it's desirable to shoot the scenes of their first shy lovemaking in the same hotel room (and possibly on the same day) as the scenes of their vicious arguing and fighting.

You can already see the challenge for the actors involved. Plus, while you have the lights, sound equipment, etc., set up, you can also get the shots of the affair that took place in the room -- probably to be added in the form of a flashback.

We'll assume that changes in the motel room will be minimal, except for aging of the walls, furnishings, etc. The bigger challenge will be to age the actors appropriately. Not to worry, make-up people are pretty good at this kind of thing.

In the final version of the film these scenes will be separated by other story elements. But, as you can see, it would be much more efficient if all of the motel scenes were shot at the same time. (We'll return to our unhappy couple in a moment.)

The Master Shot

When dramatic video is shot in the single-camera style, many film conventions apply. (We introduced some of these earlier in our discussion of general video production, but here we're concentrating on the steps in single-camera production.)

First, we have the cover shot (normally called the master shot in film), which is a wide shot showing the full scene or acting area.

This shot is useful to show viewers the overall geography of the scene and for bridging jumps in continuity during editing. More specifically, the master shot or cover shot is used to:

In dramatic video and film production many directors start out by shooting a scene, beginning to end, from the master shot perspective.

Once this shot is filmed, the director repositions the camera for the medium shots and close-ups of the various actors. For these the actors once again repeat all their dialogue.

To accommodate the new camera distances and angles these setups often require changes in lights, microphone positions, and sometimes even make-up. Obviously, all this has to involve changes that will (that should) go unnoticed when all of the takes are cut together.

Some directors shoot the scenes in the opposite sequence: close-ups, medium shots, and then master shot.

However you do it, the series of setups associated with a scene is commonly referred to as coverage. (Remember, some terms may have different meanings in film and video, so don't be surprised if you see some of these terms used in different ways.)

As an example of the scenario we've been discussing, let's consider the restaurant scene where the man in the ill-fated marriage originally proposed to the woman.

In single-camera film-style shooting the three camera positions indicated are actually one camera that is moved to each position.

Although directing approaches can vary, let's look at one possibility.

First, we run through the entire dialogue for the scene from camera position #1. We can use this wide shot as a master or establishing shot, and thereafter whenever we need to reestablish the scene, cover bad shots on camera positions #2 or #3, or just to introduce visual variety.

Next, we run through the entire scene again from camera position #2 as the man repeats his lines.

From this position we can get over-the-shoulder shots or close-ups. Finally, we do the same thing all over again from camera position #3.

The actors must be careful to make the same moves in the same way on the same words in their dialogue. Otherwise, the words and actions in different takes will not match and that will make it very difficult to cut between the various takes.

When we finish, we'll have at least three complete versions of the scene to choose from during editing.

The obvious editing approach would be to use a close-up of each person as they speak. But, as we've noted, often a reaction shot is more telling. For example, it might be better to have a close-up of the woman's reaction as the man "pops the question."

We would probably also want to get close-ups of the ring, the wine glasses clinking together in a toast, etc.

Working With Actors and Talent

Film directors in the era of silent films could shout instructions to actors while scenes were being shot. The director's role, especially in television, is quite different today.

Part of the art of directing is bringing out the best on-camera performance in actors.

A good director finds an optimum point between forcing the actors to follow his or her own rigid interpretation and giving them absolute freedom to do as they wish.

The optimum point between the two extremes will depend largely on the experience of the actors and the approach of the director.

During read-throughs or table readings (the informal group sessions where the actors initially read through their lines) directors should carefully observe the character interpretation that actors are developing.

If the actors know the story and have developed a feel for their parts -- which they should if they are good actors -- the director should at least initially allow them the latitude to go with their interpretations.

If the director decides this is clearly at odds with what he has in mind, then he should skillfully and maybe diplomatically suggest another interpretation.  Often, directors will shoot different versions and then decide which they want to use during the editing phase.

Although the director is in charge and is responsible for getting the performance he or she envisions, directors who have limited experience with actors will want to "tread lightly" until they understand the acting process and the personality of specific actors.

Directors who have taken acting classes, or who have acting experience have a definite advantage.

Inventing "Business"

During rehearsals the director along with the actor will decide on the basic actions and business of actors. (Business refers to the secondary action associated with scenes. This would include fixing a drink, paging through a magazine, etc.)

Scripts generally do not describe actor business, but it can influence camera shots, setups, and editing.

Single-Camera vs. Multiple-Camera Production

The single-camera, film-style approach offers many important creative advantages in dramatic production. As we will see in the next section, this approach is also valuable in shooting news and documentary pieces.

But this approach is also time-consuming, and in TV production time is money. When time or budget limitations demand a faster and more efficient approach, the video producer must rely on multiple-camera production, the topic of the next section.

Assigned readings:

The Quintessential Element in video production and

12 Guidelines for Effective Videos. 

In the next section we'll take up news and documentary production. Even if you don't have an interest in news or documentary work, the principles that will be outlined are important to other types of production.