Unit 35: Multi- Camera

Techniques
By Paris Beszant
Reasons for multi-cam use.
A production may decide to use multi-camera when recording a live event, sports event or television show. The
production may choose to use multi-camera to make sure to get full coverage of the action taking place, this is so
when it comes to editing and putting clips from different angles/ shots together they are much smoother and
flow better using multi-camera. Multi-camera is also used for maintaining the viewer’s interest, this is used to
keep the viewer watching the show want to be entertained and if the whole clip is on one shot then the show will
start to become dull and boring. So multi-camera is a big help as you get to see the show from different shots
such as close up, long shot, extreme close up and medium shot. A production may also use multi-camera for
simultaneous recording, communicating meaning, visual style and constraints of studio or location.

● Reasons For Multi-camera

● Coverage Of Action
● Simultaneous Recording
● Communicating Meaning
● Visual Style
● Maintaining Viewer Interest
● Constraints Of Studio Or Location
Multi-camera example 1: Live Music/ Concert.
I have decided to look at a live bastille concert for my live music multi-camera
example. I would say there are over 10 different camera shots in this live video.
This example is over an hour long from a live music festival. Many different
shot types are used such as long shot, mid shot, close up, panning from left to
right and an establishing shot is used at the beginning. A variety of these shots
are used to keep the online viewer entertained and get a feel of the concert and
all the different types of angles and shots available. This is also used for editing
purposes for the different shots when edited together all the shots flow together
better. And it needs to flow from one shot to the other because you don’t want
the audience to realise the shot changed from a long shot to a close up so if the
cut flows nicely then the audience won’t notice if the shot has changed if it
flows. As this is live music at a festival it is not set up at a studio or indoors, it is
an outside event. Many cameras would have been set up around the event and
on stage and in the crowd. Some cameras will be panning over the crowd were
others are just staying still and focusing on one particular person or thing.
Where as panning shots get a whole shot of the crowd or the location. This is so
the audience gets a feel of what the concert is like and what the mood would
have been like. The shot of the keyboard is used to show what one person is
doing and i think this shot is effective because not only can you see the band
member who plays the keyboard but you can also see the crowd in the
background. You can see the accuracy of what the band is doing but also all the
different colours in the background and the scenery.
The live music example i have decided to look at is a live Bastille concert, this
uses multi-camera throughout and has a variety of different shots involved such
as close ups, mid shots, long shots and panning. The panning from left to right
shots are used when showing the crowd at the concert, this shot is also quite
close up. Multi-cam is not only show to show the performers but to show the
audience who is watching in the crowd and show their facial expressions, you
also get a sense of the vibe of the concert and the feel of the vibe.
Using multi-camera also shows the different members of the band and what
they are doing throughout the concert. Close ups are used a lot during this
concert to show the different body language the band members use. The lead
singer is shown a lot in this video but they also show what the other band
members are doing and what instruments they are using. You can see close ups
of one member playing the keyboard and one playing the drums. This being a
multi-camera video rather than just showing a full long shot of all of them is to
keep the viewer entertained by showing you different shots of this concert. If
only one shot was shown of the festival for the whole hour long video then the
viewer may get bored very easily and not want to continue watching the video.
The use of different shots isn’t only for coverage of action but for the viewers
pleasure as well, it is important for the viewer to be interested whilst watching
and if you are a big fan of the band or singer you are watching and you
personally couldn’t see it live, you would want to see all angles to feel as if you
are there.
Multi Camera Example 2: Game/Quiz Show.
The example i am going to be using for a game/quiz show that uses multi
camera is celebrity juice, Celebrity juice is a comedy game/ quiz show. In
this there are 3 different panels, two of these have the two different panels of
celebrities and one with the host, who is Keith Lemon. The camera switches
back and forth from these 3 different panels and as some points will show all
3 of them at once. A whole episode is roughly 45 minutes to an hour and
roughly will show over 1o different camera angles throughout the show.
There are a total of 7 people that appear on screen, 3 on each panel and then
one who is the host, the camera bounces back and forth from each person.
Most of the panel shows filmed at Elstree studios are a seven camera
configuration, 6 pedestal cameras and one jib are used. These are all in place
to capture all the laughs in front of a 350 person audience. These 6 cameras
are used to get all the different people and shots used in the show, they use
various close ups to show each part of the casts face and if the host is
speaking to them a shot reverse shot will be used and to go from the host to
the panel.
 Multi Camera Example 3: Fictional Show.
This multi camera example is from a disney channel fictional show, this uses various different camera angles,
this would most likely be filmed in a studio in . The shots that are used the most are medium and close ups
and various different cameras go from one cast member to another. There are many people in these shots
meaning that the crew really need to focus on what the main characters who are meant to be speaking in this
shot. Multi-camera is used to catch every angle in these shots and is used in this as the three different
characters are having a conversation and they would need to capture everything everyone is saying and get
the different points of view from the three different people in this shot. This show will be a studio recording
show and is mainly used for maintaining viewer interest, changing the shots around and getting a different
aspect of the scene really keeps the viewer involved and keeps their attention. I feel that if the shots had been
kept the same throughout the whole show then the viewer would start to get very bored and possibly lose
interest and stop watching. By keeping these shots moving around helps the viewer to stay involved and keep
interest in what is going on.
Multi Camera Example 4: Sports Event.
Then next multi-camera example i am looking at is a sports event which is an England game, this is an outside
event and isn’t filmed in a studio setting like a game show would be but it is outside location based. There are
many many different shots throughout this game and i would say there are over 10 different shot types in this clip.
The first image is a very wide shot and shows the player celebrating his goal it then cuts to him closer up when he
is on the ground still celebrating. Multi-camera is used in football games to show all the different aspects of the
game, coverage is crucial so that the viewers at home feel as if they are there and involved. Many long shots are
used in football games so that the audience can see both aspects of the teams and see the 2 different perspectives.
However, close ups are used when capturing a players facial expressions or a key moment in that game. I felt that
this sports event really captures the different shots used in an event like this, all sports events will use
multi-camera to capture all coverage of this game.
What roles are required for a multi-camera production?
● Camera Operator- is responsible for physically operating the camera and maintaining composition and camera
angles throughout a given scene or shot. They will collaborate with the director, actors and other crew members.
● Sound Mixer- is responsible for all sound recording on set during the filmmaking or television production using
the professional audio equipment.
● Vision Mixer- is to create a master output for a real-time video recording or broadcast. They can also be used to
create visual effects.
● Director- controls a films artistic and dramatic aspects and will visualise the screenplay whilst also guiding the
crew and actors in that vision they have created. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members,
production design and filmmaking.
● Set designer- is in charge of designing and creating the sets that appear in films, tv programmes as well as
theatre. This role involves working with directors and communicating with them and the producers for clear
design ideas.
● Lighting desk- electronic device used in theatrical lighting design to control multiple lights at once.
● Floor Manager- is a member of the crew of a television show, responsible for giving the director information in
the control room to the crew on the studio floor and then back to the director.
● VT Operator- work in post production which provide complete end to end services for offline, online and
non-linear editing .
Overhead diagram This is an overhead diagram of a quiz show, QI. There are 2
camera operators on each side filming the people on the panel.
There are 4 contestants and 1 host all filmed by 4 different
cameras and the main camera which also provides a script for
the main host. There are also two backlights which focus on the
contestants and the panel, As there are 4 different contestants, 4
cameras are needed to focus on each one when needed. The main
camera will be used to mostly film the host and allow them to
read the script off of it. This example shows how most of game/
quiz shows cameras are set up and how they film and capture
each of the different people on the panel and what lights they use
in order to make sure everyone is visible. The audience, if there
is one will be behind the cameras and are not visible to viewers
at home, if you are a viewer at home then you can only hear the
audience's applause etc.