Deadline: ? 2017
Unit: 22 - Single Camera Techniques
Scenario: You have been asked as a researcher on a new TV project about making TV productions. You will look at the format, narrative and technical aspects of three single camera productions.
TASK 1 - FORMAT
What is meant by the format of a TV show? Analyze 3 single camera TV productions and explain:
- What is the format? Series, serial or single drama?
- What is the genre? Period, docudrama, crime, soap opera, comedy?
- What makes you identify it? Costumes, locations, music?
What is meant by the narrative structure of a TV show? Analyze 3 single camera TV productions and explain:
- Narrative structure of the production; is it linear, non-linear, flashback, realist or anti-realist?
- Does it have an open/closed ending? Explain why.
Looking at the technical aspects of production:
- Compare multi-cam techniques to single cam techniques. Give pros and cons.
- Examine the technical aspect of the use of the camera, lighting, sound, editing, scripting, building a scene and story.
- How do producers disguise the fact that they are using only the one camera? Consider camera and editing techniques.
- Give examples and explain comprehensively -
TASK 1
Everybody Hates Chris
Format: series. The narrative follows the character of Chris and his family, who are based-off of comedian Chris Rock's family and his childhood upbringing. Starting off as a social pariah, Chris' fortune seems to get better as the serious progresses, but not without him being chided along the way.
Genre: period sitcom. Set in a predominately black neighborhood filled with bullies, gangster and thieves, this ghetto of what is presumably New York is home to characters that represent the past of Rock's childhood.
Identification: a humorous narrator (voiced by Chris Rock himself) accompanies the story along much like The Wonder Years had done. The over exaggerated childhood yet humor brings in the comedic effect, yet never really fails to teach us though-provoking lessons. Chris, our protagonist, is an ambitious, normal, responsible, kindhearted, but unlucky, unpopular, untalented, nonathletic, nonacademic, hapless, awkward, nerdy, vulnerable and mischievous child. his youngest brother is more handsome and popular than him and he is constantly stressed by his parents. However, through it all, his luck gets better and the characters retain an almost self-aware and over-the-top humor to themselves, at the extent of Chris' suffering and punishment.
Single camera in Everybody Hates Chris sees a lot of close-ups on the individual characters in the show, mostly that of Chris himself or his family. This is usually accompanied by narration by Rock that offers some sort of context or background. In addition, you get to see the character's expressions and get a feel as to what they are feeling or going through.
Single camera in Everybody Hates Chris sees a lot of close-ups on the individual characters in the show, mostly that of Chris himself or his family. This is usually accompanied by narration by Rock that offers some sort of context or background. In addition, you get to see the character's expressions and get a feel as to what they are feeling or going through.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Format: series. It follows a team of detectives and police officers within a New York police department. Antics ensure as the group of detectives fool around and complete crimes.
Genre: police sitcom. The show is set in a police department and follows several characters portraying police officers. Hilarity ensures down the road.
Identification: the setting is that of the NYPD which follows numerous, zany and often times wacky characters. Most are in appropriated uniform and hold a badge indicating their allegiance as detectives. The stern Captain of the team is a serious, stone-faced homosexual African-American who does not understand humor. The lead is a good yet smart ass detective accompanied by an equally naive yet enthusiastic female partner, with supporting roles being offered by the leads clumsy and nerdy best friend as well as an exercise freak detective and humorless, hard ass, Latino woman.
Single camera in Brooklyn Nine-Nine mostly has the camera pan between the characters in order to see their individual reaction to the ongoing events. It makes sure to differentiate the characters and see how they feel about the events around them, often resulting in comedic moments for those watching, which also helps to ground the characters in bizarre fashion. These shots are predominately taken from the same angle and only change when panning between two corners of the scene. They always remain mostly at mid-close up and contain themselves within the scene.
Single camera in Brooklyn Nine-Nine mostly has the camera pan between the characters in order to see their individual reaction to the ongoing events. It makes sure to differentiate the characters and see how they feel about the events around them, often resulting in comedic moments for those watching, which also helps to ground the characters in bizarre fashion. These shots are predominately taken from the same angle and only change when panning between two corners of the scene. They always remain mostly at mid-close up and contain themselves within the scene.
My Name Is Earl
Format: series. Earl Hickey attempts to make amends with the past and ensure he does good by the people he did bad beforehand. Each episode follows his journey towards becoming a better person.
Genre: sitcom. Earl is accompanied by his not-so-bright brother Randy in a effort towards becoming a better person and making amends with those he did bad by in the past.
Identification: the main lead is a well intent yet dimwitted individual, accompanied by his even more dimwitted brother. A lot of what occurs can sometimes baffle the viewer and may even escape reality, like the episode where a man builds a space ship to leave Earth after coming to the conclusion that human beings are mean people. Something this ridiculous is triggered by the theft of his car by the main character in the past.
Single camera in My Name Is Earl focuses on not only characters but the establishment of the surrounding setting, long enough to know that you know where you are in the world of the story, and that the narrative is comfortable with letting you know that. However, the camera, as with mostly any TV show or film, is character-oriented and focuses on their expressions and mannerisms, as well as motivations and goals moving forward with the story.
Single camera in My Name Is Earl focuses on not only characters but the establishment of the surrounding setting, long enough to know that you know where you are in the world of the story, and that the narrative is comfortable with letting you know that. However, the camera, as with mostly any TV show or film, is character-oriented and focuses on their expressions and mannerisms, as well as motivations and goals moving forward with the story.
TASK 2
Everybody Hates Chris
What is the narrative structure?
The structure appears linear yet switches to different shenanigans either in the present or back to the past, mostly for comedic effect. Single camera ensures the scenes often remain the same with a focus on mid-close ups and and a tendency to switch back and forth comedic fantasy moments. The show does continue to progress with expository flashbacks being given to the audience, in order to given explanation to things when moving forward with the linear narrative.
The structure appears linear yet switches to different shenanigans either in the present or back to the past, mostly for comedic effect. Single camera ensures the scenes often remain the same with a focus on mid-close ups and and a tendency to switch back and forth comedic fantasy moments. The show does continue to progress with expository flashbacks being given to the audience, in order to given explanation to things when moving forward with the linear narrative.
Does it have an open or closed ending?
The show has somewhat a closed ending, with season four ending with Chris dropping out of high school in order to become a comedian, which paralleled the real life situation of Chris Rock dropping out in order to pursue his career. This makes it a somewhat satisfactory ending as the audience is aware things worked out well for Chris in the end.
The show has somewhat a closed ending, with season four ending with Chris dropping out of high school in order to become a comedian, which paralleled the real life situation of Chris Rock dropping out in order to pursue his career. This makes it a somewhat satisfactory ending as the audience is aware things worked out well for Chris in the end.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
What is the narrative structure?
The story appears linear, with episodes appearing to follow a day-by-day routine at the department and the investigations carried out by the characters out in the big, bad world. Often times the story cuts to random, hysterical scenes that may or may not have occurred in the past, usually to add visual shenanigans for jokes made by the characters that reference something that has already happened.
The story appears linear, with episodes appearing to follow a day-by-day routine at the department and the investigations carried out by the characters out in the big, bad world. Often times the story cuts to random, hysterical scenes that may or may not have occurred in the past, usually to add visual shenanigans for jokes made by the characters that reference something that has already happened.
Does it have an open or closed ending?
The show is ongoing; however, each season at least ends in a somewhat open way, usually left to the imagination for comedic purposes and leave the audience with a smile. The series has been renewed for a fourth season.
The show is ongoing; however, each season at least ends in a somewhat open way, usually left to the imagination for comedic purposes and leave the audience with a smile. The series has been renewed for a fourth season.
My Name Is Earl
What is the narrative structure?
The narrative is linear with parts of the story given exposition flashbacks for the characters of Earl's past. However, the story is almost entirely linear, with a specific goal being traveled towards. Earl wants to finish his 'karma list' and follows through on numerous efforts; however, he and his brother and friends also face numerous challenges and obstacles along the way.
The narrative is linear with parts of the story given exposition flashbacks for the characters of Earl's past. However, the story is almost entirely linear, with a specific goal being traveled towards. Earl wants to finish his 'karma list' and follows through on numerous efforts; however, he and his brother and friends also face numerous challenges and obstacles along the way.
Does it have an open or closed ending?
The series abruptly ended after having ran four seasons. Show creator Greg Garcia commented on an AMA the following, concerning the desired ending of the show:
We never really got the chance to fully figure it out but the talk in the writers room was that Earl Jr’s Dad was going to be someone famous. Like Dave Chappelle or Lil John. Someone that came to town on tour and Joy slept with. But when we got canceled we never got the chance to figure it out. I was worried about doing a cliffhanger but I asked NBC if it was safe to do one at the end of the season and they told me it was. I guess it wasn’t.
I had always had an ending to Earl and I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to see it happen. You’ve got a show about a guy with a list so not seeing him finish it is a bummer. But the truth is, he wasn’t ever going to finish the list. The basic idea of the ending was that while he was stuck on a really hard list item he was going to start to get frustrated that he was never going to finish it. Then he runs into someone who had a list of their own and Earl was on it. They needed to make up for something bad they had done to Earl. He asks them where they got the idea of making a list and they tell him that someone came to them with a list and that person got the idea from someone else. Earl eventually realizes that his list started a chain reaction of people with list and that he’s finally put more good into the world than bad. So at that point he was going to tear up his list and go live his life. Walk into the sunset a free man. With good karma.
It seems that the ending was designed to be a closed one, offering fans and audiences of the show a happy conclusion to Earl's story. Unfortunately, the cancellation of the show came when the creators could not come to the terms of their creative liberties being limited by 20th Century Fox Television. Thus, it ended with a 'To be continued' caption.
The series abruptly ended after having ran four seasons. Show creator Greg Garcia commented on an AMA the following, concerning the desired ending of the show:
We never really got the chance to fully figure it out but the talk in the writers room was that Earl Jr’s Dad was going to be someone famous. Like Dave Chappelle or Lil John. Someone that came to town on tour and Joy slept with. But when we got canceled we never got the chance to figure it out. I was worried about doing a cliffhanger but I asked NBC if it was safe to do one at the end of the season and they told me it was. I guess it wasn’t.
I had always had an ending to Earl and I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to see it happen. You’ve got a show about a guy with a list so not seeing him finish it is a bummer. But the truth is, he wasn’t ever going to finish the list. The basic idea of the ending was that while he was stuck on a really hard list item he was going to start to get frustrated that he was never going to finish it. Then he runs into someone who had a list of their own and Earl was on it. They needed to make up for something bad they had done to Earl. He asks them where they got the idea of making a list and they tell him that someone came to them with a list and that person got the idea from someone else. Earl eventually realizes that his list started a chain reaction of people with list and that he’s finally put more good into the world than bad. So at that point he was going to tear up his list and go live his life. Walk into the sunset a free man. With good karma.
It seems that the ending was designed to be a closed one, offering fans and audiences of the show a happy conclusion to Earl's story. Unfortunately, the cancellation of the show came when the creators could not come to the terms of their creative liberties being limited by 20th Century Fox Television. Thus, it ended with a 'To be continued' caption.
TASK 3
Multi-Camera Productions: Pros & Cons
- reduces risks of continuity errors
- multiple shots can be incorporated without the movement of the camera
- higher production values
- two cameras mean that if one breaks then at least you have the other
- reduces the time of shooting and may not require multiple start and stop re-shoots
- could prove expensive
- bigger crew may be necessary
- two cameras could increase risk of catching one another in a shot
- two cameramen or more required
- small scale settings could prove cumbersome
Single Camera Productions: Pros & Cons
- cheaper to make
- simpler to film
- small-scale setting need only apply
- only a small crew is needed
- with only one camera, it reduces the risk of catching other cameras in a shot
- only one cameraman required
- continuity errors may occur
- possibly low production values
- requires a change of angles and space between scenes
- it is a long process and movement of camera between shots is necessary
- one camera means that if it breaks then it requires another
- can put a strain on actors as well as the rest of the cast and crew
- Camera - use of a camera when filming ensures footage is stored safely and securely. As for its importance to story and purpose, it helps use catch shots that the human eye may not be capable of doing or even storing. These moments in time, acted out or not, are captured like lightning in a jar. This makes films and TV something else, something far more different then any other entertainment medium. It can notice things that we don't and make them just as important as all else going on around us.
- Lighting - be it light or dark, lighting can affect the mood of a scene, change the atmosphere and switch tones for the environment, characters or story being told. Darkness is often associated with evil or fear, a sense of this shroud blanketing you in its fog. Light tends to be used as a motif of good. Light shines where there is shadow and brings hope. Often times they can be used to contrast one another, but lighting can also simply used for the technical importance of making show a room on set is not too bright or dimly-lit.
- Sound - this is the diegetic (what the characters hear i.e. radio or voice) or non-diegetic (the sound that only the viewer hears i.e. soundtrack) sound a viewer hears when watching a TV show or film.
- Editing - the art form of putting together or even ripping apart pieces of footage and placing the pieces back together, in order to unlock the desired direction of a scene and movie. Editing involves the snipping of different scenes together and the appropriate time in which scenes cut back and forth. Whether it is a change in scenery or the cut in camera angles, this is all done with the magic of editing. It serves as the true back bone when finalizing a production for release.
- Scripting - when it comes to scripting, it must always follow and outline, keep the audience in mind, remember past story details and, ultimately, reward the viewer for their participation, be it though entertainment or information. A good script often contains dialogue that develops characters you can invest in emotionally and gradually build them along the way with the story. This makes it so that obstacles become more challenging and you feel like this could be it for the characters.
- Building a scene - stagecraft is often the definition used to describe 'building a scene'. It includes constructing and rigging scenery; hanging and focusing of lighting; design and procurement of costumes; make-up; stage management; audio engineering; and procurement of props. All these pieces are meant to come together in order to make a functioning, appropriate scene desired by director.
- Building a story - a story requires purpose first and foremost. Why tell this story? What does it mean to you? What will it mean to others? How are you going to tell it? When are you going to tell it? Who will tell it? Second after this should come the world-building and then the characters involved in your story. Building a story requires an over-arching sense of purpose and fulfillment by the end, so that there is at least a conclusion for the characters and the audience.
A producer can use multiple techniques in order to disguise the fact they have just the one camera in production. Most of the time, cuts between characters when using only the one character can be both cumbersome and troubling, as continuity errors are a constant fear. As such, actors must maintain their pose and posture while wearing the same clothes and maintain the same mannerisms. In addition, props must be appropriated and made to ensure they are in the same position as they were when cutting back and forth.
Because of single camera and the potential errors that could occur, some scenes being shot during production could take multiple re-shoots in order to perfect, which may span for days, weeks or even months. Single camera also means a director can take his time in constructing a scene suitable for the film's direction, tone or atmosphere.
Single camera production is ideal for short movies or cheap productions, which usually have shorter scripts and less expensive casts and crew, due to a minimum of people needed. A small budget would be the only appropriate approach.
When it comes to editing and cutting down footage, an editor can choose which scenes that wish to include and not to include, as well as snip out certain parts from a scene and put together others in order to successfully construct a scene. Any bloops and errors can also been cut out.
Because of single camera and the potential errors that could occur, some scenes being shot during production could take multiple re-shoots in order to perfect, which may span for days, weeks or even months. Single camera also means a director can take his time in constructing a scene suitable for the film's direction, tone or atmosphere.
Single camera production is ideal for short movies or cheap productions, which usually have shorter scripts and less expensive casts and crew, due to a minimum of people needed. A small budget would be the only appropriate approach.
When it comes to editing and cutting down footage, an editor can choose which scenes that wish to include and not to include, as well as snip out certain parts from a scene and put together others in order to successfully construct a scene. Any bloops and errors can also been cut out.
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