UNIT 20- Single Camera Techniques

UNIT 20- Understanding Single-Camera Productions
Jack Willoughby

Introduction
What are single camera productions?

Single-camera productions is a production in media that only employs one camera on set and each shot to make up a scene is taken individually. Each of the various shots and camera angles is taken using the same camera, which is moved and rearranged to get each shot or a new angle. The lighting setup is typically reconfigured for each camera setup. A single camera production gives the director and crew more control over each individual but is more time consuming than multi-camera productions.
But the majority of the time film producers make the decision of using single camera productions because of the creative influence it can have on the production and many television productions for prime time dramas, music videos and commercials often use single camera production techniques.

Formats

SERIES-A series is a television production which has a set number of episodes and is only aired at certain times of the year, typically once a month is the average frequency of new episodes. The story may have an end to it at the last episode of the season but they normally continue to a second season where the story is continued. A few examples of a series dramas:

• Skins
• Desperate Housewives
• Waterloo Road

SERIAL- A serial is more like a soap where the stories are continuous and it doesn't run for a specific amount of episodes and is normally aired all year round.
Examples of Serial shows:

• Doctors
• Coronation Street 
• Eastenders 

There are many advantages to single camera production, one being it means the crew can manage the set up between every shot with more detail as there is only one camera to worry about. In the start many low budget films would use single camera production as it would be cheaper than having multiple cameras, also with every camera, you would have to buy lighting and sound equipment to work with that camera so only using one means you don't have to spend money on other things too. Also in single camera productions, not as much crew will be needed on set as they are only one camera to maintain, this helps with budgeting as you will have a smaller crew. Then there's the issue of seeing another camera, we see it all the times in films where normally a 'shot-reverse shot' or a chase scene and we can see a secondary camera but with single camera productions you don't have to worry about that, unless it's being reflected on  a surface and the camera could see itself. But then if there is only one camera the crew has to work around then it will be easier to rearrange the shot or the set. Also as said in the introduction, the director has a lot more aesthetic control over each shot.

However, There a disadvantages to single camera productions and the first one that anyone will tell you is that it will be more time consuming as between each shot everything on set has to be moved and reconfigured. Less realistic reactions, when filing two characters in conversation you cant get a natural reaction between the two characters as it would've been shot more than once. Editing time is a major concern when it comes to single camera productions because it means they will be a lot of time spent editing because of all the different types of shots that would have been taken. with multiple cameras, you could shoot different angles and have them taken at the same time, using different people for the cameras.

Analysis of single camera productions

FILM

The Shining (1980) will be my first production I will look at and I will be looking at the shot of Danny Torrence (Danny Lloyd) riding his tricycle through the halls of the hotel.
The Shining Tricycle Scene
 Firstly I am going to analyse the type of shot which is used, the shot is a tracking shot which was filmed on a Steadicam, which is a piece of camera equipment where the camera is mounted to a rig that is carried by an operator. It is normally fitted with a weight at the bottom of the rig to keep the camera more level through the moving shot and looks like a very 'steady' handheld shot. Many other productions would use a dolly, which also can give a smooth tracking shot but a dolly has to run along a track and in this particular shot it would have been impossible to have a track running throughout the whole hotel for a dolly because 'Danny' wouldn't have been able to ride the tricycle and most importantly the track would've have been seen in the shots. The framing of the shot is one of my favourite things about this scene we as an audience are put to the level of the character with a medium close up from the back of Danny which conveys a sense of connection between the character and the viewer, making it easier to empathise with him and feel his fear. We also know exactly what the main focus is in these shots which is Danny, and we know this from narrative information and also the way the character is framed throughout this whole shot, he is constantly framed in the centre of the screen so we as an audience know he is the focal point of the scene, this furthermore drives the relationship between him and the viewer which is creating a more tense and fearful experience for both Danny and the audience. The camera is placed at low angle and as we are seeing this shot from a 'child's' point of view we feel this sense of vulnerability isolation for the child, as he rides around the hotel every wall, carpet and hall looks exactly the same which always reminds me of a maze and i always got this sense that this hotel was on and the feeling of being alone in an environment like that always scared me also we see nothing else but Danny and the hotel in these shots so this would also give the idea that he is completely alone, so maybe no one is there to cause him harm but most of us jump to thought that there is really no one to help him at all from the terrors that this hotel brings.

DRAMA

The next production I am going to look at is from the BBC television show LUTHER, the purpose of this show is to entertain and this crime thriller does this by including the common conventions found in this genre and utilizing the use of specific camera techniques to drive the narrative and enforce emotions such as fear, dread, suspense and doing this keeps  the viewer entertained. Luther clip

This clip comes from season 4, episode 1 and it was directed by Jamie Payne who has worked on many other television shows such as:

• The Alienist 
• Call the midwife 
• The Bill 

So it's safe to say he not only knows his way around crime thrillers and dramas but he has a particular interest in Single camera production and judging by his success with the other productions he knows what he is doing, and why particularly this season employed more single camera techniques. It may have also employed these techniques over the artistic success that all the other seasons of the show had received from being nominated and awarded countless awards so the producers did not want to change or mess with the formula they have made that aided the creation of  a show that has received so much praise internationally for its acting and style of the filming, also one main benefit to having this production employ single camera techniques was because of the ease of use, with the fast-paced action that occurs to the claustrophobic environments of which some scenes take place, for example, the interrogation room would be too small to fit more than one camera and multiple pieces of equipment and the small room.
Throughout the course of the scene, we see multiple single camera techniques used and I will analyse and evaluate the effect they have on the viewer but most importantly see if it does succeed in driving a specific emotion towards the audience.
The establishing shot is used to help the audience piece together spacial awareness of where the scene is set, it makes sure the audience takes in vital information such as the location where it takes place and the time of day which helps with creating a visual display of the environment surrounding the characters. We can see a handheld motion that dominates through every shot, this furthermore establishes that the scene is tense and uneasy, this functioning motion that is provided by the handheld look directs these emotions of anxiety which helps build tension throughout the scene. This slight shake increases over the duration of the scene which in turn increases these emotions that the audience will be feeling.

Luther Shot 1

We see that when the character Luther goes to the door of the house there is focus pull on his face which whilst simultaneously changing from a deep focus to shallow and the change in position of the character as he approaches the door (where the camera is positioned most likely with a Steadicam because I don't think  shoulder rig would provide enough room to work around) creates the feeling of  pressure even further since the camera stays put and the character approaches the audience shifting our eyes to focus on him as the shot moves from a wide long shot and is transformed into close up. This sends a message of impacting doom as the audience feel

Luther shot 2

trapped because of the lack of camera movement and there are no cuts so  therefore it makes this shot feel as if something was closing in on them, they can't go anywhere and we see in detail the emotions that the character is feeling due to the close up shot, the audience either fears what he is going to do or they sympathise and connect with the character, feeling the same emotions and sensations as him.

When Luther is greeted by George and the dialogue between the two begins, the two men are positioned in front of one another which sets up the sequence of shot-reverse shots and the crew have drawn the line between the characters and know where and how to follow the 180-degree rule. They are many camera techniques being used in this segment of the scene. This is the first encounter of the series with George and the audience are filled in straight away to determine and make an assumption of what type of character he is. This is through the mise en scene that is associated with the character, his beautiful home and his well-tailored suit makes an incredible impression on the audience, as well as Luther so the filmmakers are making connections between the main character and the audience to help gain the same mindset as him, which in turn makes the audience feel more involved with the story, we see that the character of George is trying to assert his dominance by presenting his wealth.

He and Luther are binary opposites, for example, the differences in their costumes but mainly the most common representational factor within oppositions which is good vs bad ( or in this case police vs criminal) between the characters but both men are positioned in the same spot throughout the sequence which implies to the audience a psychological fight has erupted between the characters as they both want to stand their ground and overpower the other. The camera moves around the characters rather than the character moving around the camera, this further exaggerates the tension by using the handheld shaking and increasing movements throughout their conversation assists in amplifying the emotions surging through the audience.
Also, the audience is made aware of what both the characters are thinking or more importantly how they are locked onto one another, as the shots go back and forth from one to another we can see that both characters are waiting for the other one to do something, intensely investigating the actions of each other and we know this through the type of shot we are shown in the reverse-shots as it changes from over the shoulder of one to another, directly telling each other and the audience who is looking at who and since their faces are in focus we can see how they both react as the dialogue continues.

This helps the audience and viewers establish what is going on and since the crew are following the 180 rule, the audience's idea of the environment they have pieced together in their heads will not be thrown off. The filmmakers could have done this to add a feeling being lost and isolated from reality, which can, in turn, add the ideas of having no control and that instigates fear, we see that Stanley Kubrick does this is the scene we analysed previously because he makes the audience feel lost and isolated by using the same shot throughout the scene and making it hard for the audience to improve on their visual idea of the environment as they feel restricted and pressured by the lack of control they have, this also in addition to the repetitive set design of the hotel delivers fear and anxiety perfectly to the audience. but I believe that the scene is not trying to scare the audience but to only  get them on edge and be anxious, so having the camera movements and claustrophobic angles juxtapositioning with the calm swaying of camera dancing elegantly beside the characters( this also shows how a Steadicam is in use as the camera does not show any evidence of any mechanical movements made by the operator because the Steadicam smoothens out these movements)  disrupts the viewers concept and assumptions as they struggle to make a solid guess on what the outcome of this scene is going to be.
This scene is extremely successful in delivering an incredible build-up of tension, disrupting any rational thoughts the audience may have on the situation. All elements of this production work amazingly well together from the costume design to the cinematography, all complimenting each other and presenting a well-orchestrated single camera production.

TELEVISION ADVERT

An advertisement's purpose is to inform potential consumers about a product or service that can be provided to them, many are humorous and some serious, they can be hard to get out of your head because the product you saw looked good or you struggle to get an annoying jingle out of your head because of one. However, an advert comes to you and effects you is often a product on how it was made and why. The following advertisement I will be looking at is from NIKE and it's their 'Dream Crazy' advert- Dream Crazy- NIKE and I will be looking at the effect it has on the viewer and how the shots used are extremely powerful.
Adverts often trigger a Human need or desire, and often can be found falling into a category from the Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs, as it can be helpful and efficient when promoting a product, this advert I believe gives people a desire of Self-actualization and the inspiration to be there best selves. Nike would link to this human desire as it is one almost everyone has it is a subtle way of saying their product will help them fulfil this need.
This video is packed full of camera techniques and I believe there is a specific reason behind each one and will explain how they're empowering to watch. I also see that using a single camera production would make a lot of sense in this advert because a lot of the shots are close-ups and make the advert emotional and it makes it easier for not only the crew but also the subjects of the shots to work around one camera rather than multiple, especially when they are taking part in a sport.

This is one of the shots I found extremely empowering, for one reason we see a woman in a wheelchair playing basketball which we as a viewer can absorb the levels of confidence and determination this woman has because she is not letting her "disability" get in the way of her. There are factors on a production level as well that help bring these emotions and feelings to the viewer, we see that the shot is at a low angle and this makes us seem like we're looking up to the woman both metaphorically and literally speaking. As this type of angle makes the subject look dominant and powerful but this shot also has the movement of dolly, as we come closer to the woman we get left with an image at the end with a medium shot. As spoken about in the analysation of the Luther clip, we know that the character or subject coming towards the camera from longer and wider shot effects the viewer and gives the impression of power and authority as they are the only person dominating the shot and we focus solely on them. Unlike Luther, this shot does not make us scared of the woman because I believe the reason behind the dolly track towards the woman's face is to furthermore emphasise that 'nothing can stop you' because we are taken away from looking at the wheelchair as the main subject of the shot and we see the woman's determination in her facial expressions as we've been brought closer to notice that. I furthermore believe its a dolly because the track can be hidden from the camera as its a low angle and would never be preventing the woman from doing any movement.

This Shot is also very empowering, we see a recurring pattern in this advert of people who haven't let their disabilities, ethnicities, genders or anything else that can be used a discriminative trait stop them from succeeding. This long shot shows an American football player in the centre of the action, as a dominant figure on the field as he is the only one seen (just like the woman in the previous shot). Using the rule of thirds we see he is positioned at the focal point for the shot so we see him almost instantly and in addition to the emotions carried out by the man screaming with power, transfers this to the viewer in the form of confidence and can result in leaver the viewer a much bigger self esteem. There are no movements fro this camera in this shot as in the others we need to feel the power and authority these people have, good advertising method as it will make the viewer long for the same emotions as the athletes and associate the brand that produced the advert as an asset in pursuing these needs. There is no focus pull on the shot either as the player stays in focus throughout the shot which helps assist the expression of power alongside the other camera techniques used.

I see these techniques as being very effective as they left me with the desire to do more and gave me this rush of energy and confidence. The director obviously knew that the brand was wanting this so I can see how every shot was filmed to capture the emotion and determination of the people seen to help push forward those same exact feelings to the viewer. Also to help the viewers associate these emotions with the brand is done quite well, as the logo and products from the brand are prominent in almost every shot they do not dominate the shots, so this can express to the viewer many things such as that they want to focus on helping people fulfil their dreams and that there brand is not the best thing seen in the shots, its the people.