Single Camera Techniques

Single Camera Production Techniques

Nowadays single camera production has become very popular especially in drama genre with the broadcaster and audiences. This mean that there is likely to be more work for people who have single camera production  techniques and skills.

Camera
Of course single camera production means that they films using only one camera. The techniques that usually match up with single camera are usually close up or extremely close up as these techniques can bring the audiences into the scene and action. This mean the scene can create more of an intimate feel, also the great way to do this is when having a camera right in front of the actor's face or objects, which is very limited for a multi-camera production because the other cameras will see the camera that's in front of the objects in the scene. Single camera production can work on the wider shot as good as a close up for the same reason; there is only one camera, so you don't need to worry about others technical equipment being in the shot, such as second, third camera, mic, etc.
A single camera works well on certain occasions for example in a small space; tracking shot or in the drama scene.This is because smaller spaces means that the more equipment that is use to films will be less space for action, furthermore sometime there is no room for another camera as they will get in the scene.The reason that the single camera production is suitable for tracking shots is because when filming the moving object, you wouldn't want another camera coming into the frame.
It is well known that the multi-camera production is better when all the cameras stay still. However, when it comes to a difficult scene, when they use a stunt,  for example, blowing up a car, they are likely to use more then one camera because the director will want different angles and types of shots with out having to blow a car up 5-6 times and waste the budget.
As a single camera production, you will need to shoot footage that you think you may need for example if there any mistake or an unclear shot you could use that to cover the mistake (master shot), unlike muti-camera production because you will have more than enough footage from different cameras.
Source:(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-camera_setup)
Source:(http://cybercollege.com/tvp062.htm)
Source:(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple-camera_setup)

The audience will be more involved when using single camera and close up shot

A single camera can also move their position by sliding a camera across using dolly

On this case they are only need one camera 

Small space ;suitable for a single camera production

Close up scene, bring the audience to the emotion of the scene.

Source:(http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-single-camera-versus-multiple-camera-filmmaking)

Lighting
The lighting on Single camera production is easier to control as you can press the reflector on the certain point and angle without having to worry about if picture in other camera going to look balancing as if the light isn't adapted well, it's can cause the context being flat and unvaried, in the worse situation the scene can looks like it's being filmed in studio which is the main process that the professional try avoiding the audience noticing when watching it. Also when it come to the position and place of the key light, the choice is more open as you will only be focusing on one camera for example if you press the light right next to the character you could just have it out of flame but when it come to the multi-camera production which will have many different position and angle of the camera, meaning that you have to hide the key light or reflector out of the scene. On another object like chats TV or interviews show it's ok to see the light bolt or microphone.
Source :(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighting)
Source:(http://www.slideshare.net/andywallis/film-lighting-intro)
Source:(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighting_designer)

"Eastanders" Tv program, light setting above the scene as have to hide from the frame.  

Single camera; lighting just by the side of the charter

Sound
Sounding is very important in the video as it's can make a great scene and action or a poor piece of junk like a damage DVD. As a single camera production, the individual shot always required certain amount of overlay. This mean the camera team will have to start working on the microphone and run it over to check to ensure that all of the audio is capture well before start to films. This is because in certain place the wind or background noise are very different e.g. the wind when filming near the sea side, the traffic noise when filming near by the road and the working noise when filming near by building area.  One of the greatest equipment of collect a great audio of dialogue is a boom microphone , it's easily used when working with a single camera production as they could just press it above the character's head. On another side the shot and camera angle have to be well plane when using a muti-camera production which certain shot that will be a great matches the scene will have to change.
Source:(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boom_operator_(media))

    Single camera film production; the microphone id right above the character's head which will catch     more sound.

Muti-camera film production; the microphone raise out of scene.
Editing
The editing part for every production can take a very long time as there is many footage to looks through, including single camera production . When it come to the editing stage of single camera the hard part is looking for the specific footage as when it come to a full production like a 90 minutes or 2 and half hours film, when some of the short last for 15 second. As these problem while editing "shot log" become very useful techniques. Shot log are in the process while editing lots of footage, shot log is a list and description for each shots captured. This way you may have bin/folder for successful shots or shots that may be problematic.

Single camera and formats
When it's come to genre it's necessary that they will have to based their film on on whether a single or multi-camera production. As certain shot will look better and easier to do when using one or another.
For example "horror" will often used a single camera to created a personal feeling and make the audiences feel more involved in the scene to created an emotion and expectation in the audience head and make the audiences scare. Same with the "crime drama genre" as this type of genre often used loe key lighting which will be easier to film withing only have to focus on one camera.
Comedy usually used a muti-camera production, for example when the joke has been show it's look more natural just to switch camera instead of do a different take, this will also take longer. However there is some successful of the comedy like that filmed using a single camera for example My Name is Earl, Scrubs and Spaced. This really depending on where the filming is taking place and what is the story line of the show or movie.
When it's come down to Soap opera,series or serial it's could be either single or muti-camera production it's really based on where you are, when it come to filming in the studio, it's usually used multiple camera set up but if it's on the street house etc it's more popular to used a single camera set up.
Source:(http://www.slideshare.net/kim2612/presentation-on-single-camera)

Horror comedy "Shaun of the Death" only working with one single camera

filming in the small area.

Lowe budge film.

Personal feeling; to survive  .

Fantacy "Harry potter" muti-camera set up.
Filming in larger area.
Extremely large budget film.
Feeling involved only for certain part of the scene when using single  camera.

Actor/actress large payment which is better of doing one act and able to get different areas or angle of the scene.

Differ between Single camera and muti-camera production
In both single or muti-camera production have the advantages and disadvantages, certain shot or film genre will be more suit able for each of them. The advantages of single camera production is that the director will have more control over the camera as he will only need to focus on one,the production will looks more personal less film used and wasted footage ,the variety of location could not work with many camera, it's low budge, there is more control over the lighting for each individual shot and it'a able created a master shots. However there is also disadvantages which is it's could take longer to set up and completed the film, continuity errors are more frequent, when muti-camera production have solved these problem. As much as advantages there is also disadvantages which is the opposite of single camera production for example the directer have very little control over the shot, lighting can be extremely difficult to set, Location can be limited as numerous camera would take too much space and also will cost more on the budget.

Source: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinematic_techniques)

Good side of muti-camera (filming shows on the stage-real life action)

This video include everything to need to know about single camera production before deciding on whether it's suitable for the projects you are going to be doing.