Unit 23: Multi-Camera Techniques

October 13 th 2016

Task One. Watch and analyse a studio set sequence from a TV soap (2 minute studio scene).

Give a brief programme outline including scheduling and audience information.

Describe the shot sizes, angles and camera movement for the sequence. Use a

series of screen grabs to help describe the sequence. Write a description and

analysis of the overall shooting style of this particular programme and how it

relates to others of the same format in terms of content, audience expectations,

programme genre and TV scheduling. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of

shooting multi-camera compared to single camera shooting techniques. Why were

multi-camera techniques used?

Undertake 3 similar procedures on different examples of multi-camera TV

programmes. One of your examples must be from an outside broadcast. Choose

from: chat show, quiz show, magazine programme, music concert and sporting

events.

1. Eastenders – Soap – (22:30 – 24:30 minutes) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07zdnhc/eastenders-13102016

2. Strictly Come Dancing – Light entertainment – (9 – 11 minutes) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0807yyj/strictly-come-dancing-series-14-week-4

3. Graham Norton Show – Chat Show – (30 minutes – 32 minutes) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07zj35w/the-graham-norton-show-series-20-episode-3

4. Elton John Live in Hyde Park – Concert - (34 – 36 minutes) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07ws9xc/elton-john-live-at-hyde-park

Multi-camera is a method of filmmaking that uses several cameras to

simultaneously record or broadcast a scene. Filmmakers favor this method as it

gives them more freedom and choice over the shots used, which is instrumental

for creating a linear storyline. Multi-camera productions do not take as long to

By Chelsie Brandrick Page 1

shoot because the desired shots are recorded faster due to the extra cameras

being used.

Multi-camera techniques are most frequently used for live events such as

concerts or sporting events, game shows, chat shows, soap operas, magazine

shows and situation comedies. The following four television programmes that I

shall be anaylsing all use multi-camera techniques.

The first television show I shall be analysing is Eastenders, a British soap opera

set in east London. Approximately 7 million people watch the show, making

Eastenders one of the most watched soaps in Britain. It is broadcasted on

Monday and Fridays at 8pm, and Tuesday and Thursdays at 7:30pm, on popular

British television channel BBC one. As a significant amount of people watch the

soap, it has a primetime scheduling slot; this is in the hopes that viewers will

watch Eastenders and stay watching the channel for the rest of the night.

A similar show to Eastenders is Coronation Street. They are both soaps about a

street in a city, contain similar storylines, a pub and a cast of a variety of

professions and ages and receive alike viewing figures (Coronation Street 6

million). The two shows have been battling it out over the last decade to be the

most popular and in recent years Eastenders has finally overtook Coronation

Street in terms of viewing figures. I believe this is because Eastenders developed

a fairly complex and intriguing storyline about one of their main characters being

murdered that lingered on for almost a year before the killer was revealed

dramatically. This storyline gained more viewers for the show, and at the time

Coronation Street’s storyline was drab and boring so viewers lost interest in

Coronation Street and started to watch Eastenders.

Eastenders is filmed using multiple steadicams and is aimed at people from all

ages from a lower middle class to working class background as the cast contains

actors of various ages. The audience can expect storylines that are relevant and

appealing to all age groups that cover important life issues such as teenage

pregnancy, debt and social interactions.

The scene I have chosen to analyse was first shown on 13th October 2016 at

7:30pm (22 minutes 30 seconds – 24 minutes 30 seconds By Chelsie Brandrick Page 2

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07zdnhc/eastenders-13102016). In the

scene I chose to analyse, Denise Fox, portrayed by Diane Parish, is working in

the shop and has just finished reading a book. Tameka Empson’s character Kim

Fox enters the shop and tries to persuade Denise to spend time with her that

evening to which Denise refuses.

The scene opens with a mid shot that slowly zooms in to a close up of Denise

finishing her book.

This slow zoom creates a relaxed atmosphere, which perfectly sets up the

following shot of Kim barging in on Denise’s quiet moment.

The next shot is an over the shoulder close up shot of Kim entering the shop.

Denise and Kim’s conversation is filmed in a series of over the shoulder shots

By Chelsie Brandrick Page 3

and shot reverse shot. During the end of their talk the shots change from mid

shots to close ups and then back to mid shots and as their scene ends the mid

shot turns to a close up again. As the scene is simple and not filled with many

characters or interesting dialogue the shot variation keeps the viewer engaged.

The multi-camera set up that Eastenders use is a key part of reducing the time of

the filming and editing process, which is essential as the show is shown almost

daily so time spent on filming and editing needs to be at a minimum.

Apart from saving time, scenes will be recorded far more quickly with a multi-

camera set up as there is no need for re-lighting and the set-up of alternative

camera angles for the scene to be shot again from a different angle. Additionally,

as the scene won’t have to be re-shot a significant number of times the shots

used will contain genuine reactions of the cast, which adds to the authenticity of

the programme and it’s storyline and results in the project being cheaper to film.

However, the disadvantages of Eastenders being a multi-camera production is

that the process of setting up the equipment takes longer and a larger production

team is needed. Occasionally the viewer can see another camera in the shot,

which ruins the scene as it’s distracting but may not be avoidable due to the setup

used. Lastly, the lighting is less optimised as it needs to provide a compromise for

all of the camera angles being used. Having said that, the advantages of the

multi-camera setup outweigh the disadvantages, so it makes sense for multi-cam

techniques to be use to reduce time spent on the filming, editing and setup

process.

The second programme I have chosen to analyse is Strictly Come Dancing, a

light entertainment and reality show that features celebrities who pair up with

professional dancers to compete in a ballroom and Latin dance competition.

Around 11 million people watch strictly every Saturday and Sunday night when it

is broadcasted on BBC one. Both airings of the show have primetime scheduling

slots with the hopes that the large viewership will continue to watch programmes

on the channel all night. The show starts at 6:30pm on Saturday and 7:15pm on

Sunday. The show is primarily aimed at 35+ from a middle class background due

to the dances being performed. As the judges share the same age and

background as the viewers it will make the show feel more relatable for the

viewer. However, with new younger additions to the professional dancing cast the By Chelsie Brandrick Page 4

show is trying to reach a younger target audience. The viewers can expect a

dramatised talent show with celebrities showcasing their dancing abilities. Strictly

is shot using multiple steadicams and gimbals as these best capture shots in the

fast pace environment.

The X-Factor is similar to Strictly Come Dancing in the sense that they are both

talent shows that contain a judging panel, contestants and an audience. However,

Strictly Come Dancing is increasingly more popular and its viewing figures

surpassed the X-Factor some time ago (X-Factor 6.5 million compared to Strictly

Come Dancing’s 11 million). I believe this is because strictly appeals to not only

the working class bracket but the middle class too, as its content is much more

classy. Whereas the X-Factor only appeals to the working class as those who are

middle class find it unentertaining, fake and boring. The lack of appeal to this

group of people clearly has had an impact on the X-Factor because its viewing

figures are substantially less than strictly’s. Plus I think that as Strictly Come

Dancing is aired on an earlier broadcasting slot this attracts more viewers as

some of the population will have plans at 8pm on a Saturday night which they

would rather do than watch the X-Factor.

The scene I have chosen to analyse is from a Saturday night show that first aired

October 15th 2016 at 6:30pm (9 minutes 30 seconds – 11 minutes 30 seconds –

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0807yyj/strictly-come-dancing-series-14-

week-4).

In the scene, Greg Rutherford and Natalie Lowe have just finished their salsa so

they approach the judge’s desk to hear their feedback.

The clip starts with a zooming establishing shot of the judges, contestants and

presenters, which prepares the audience for the judges comments that shortly

follow.By Chelsie Brandrick Page 5

Next, the presenter, Tess Daly, quickly talks to Greg about his injured wrist and

praises him on the salsa dance he performed. The shots used to show this are

firstly a mid shot of the

contestants and the presenter,

then a close up of Greg, followed

by a close up of Greg and

Natalie and the sequence ends

with a mid shot, before the

cameras go on to show the

band.

Then the camera pans from left to right in a mid shot to introduce the live band to

the viewer.

By Chelsie Brandrick Page 6

After the band has been introduced the judges begin to give their comments. A

variety of shots are used to show the viewer not only the judge’s comments but

also the contestants and audience reactions. The first shot is a wide shot of all of

the judges to give the viewer an idea of the placement and order of the judges.

That shot is followed by a series of close ups of each judge giving their

comments, the contestants and the audiences reactions as well as wide shots of

the judging panel.

As Strictly Come Dancing uses a multi-camera set up, the time spent on filming

and editing is reduced, which is vital as Strictly needs a fast turnover as they air

two new live episodes a week.

By Chelsie Brandrick Page 7

As the show is recorded live, the show could not be filmed with a single camera

set up as there is far too much happening that a single camera could not show

the viewer in time. Plus the multi-camera set up gives the producers and editors

more variations of shots when it comes to choosing which to use.

Typically, a disadvantage with a multi-camera production is poor lighting.

However, as Strictly Come Dancing is filmed in an extremely well lit studio,

lighting is not an issue.

The third programme I chose is The Graham Norton Show, a British comedy chat

show that is presented by Graham Norton. It is now in it’s 20th season, has a

running time of 45 minutes and is aired on BBC one every Friday Night at

10:35pm. The Graham Norton Show doesn’t have a primetime television slot

because not enough people watch it (approximately 4 million compared to Strictly

Come Dancing’s 11 million) and it’s frequent use of adult humour. The show is

aimed at middle class; under 35’s as the majority of the audience members and

its guests reflect these demographics. The viewers can expect Graham, the

hosts, to conduct interviews with various celebrities and offer his comedic input

throughout the shows, as well as a musical performance and Grahams iconic

‘stories from the red chair’ segment.

A similar show to The Graham Norton Show is the Jonathon Ross show. Both

shows have a similar structure and line up, guests and the style and humour of

the hosting is very alike. Despite the two shows originally being alike The Graham

Norton Show has increased in popularity whilst The Jonathan Ross show has

decreased. An explanation for this is Jonathon, the host of The Ross Show, sent

inappropriate messages to someone, which caused an outrage. Since then his

shows ratings have been at an all time low (2 million) allowing Norton to surpass

him.

The Graham Norton show is filmed using a variety of steadicams and cameras

mounted onto tripods. As the show does not contain much editing and busy

guests cannot come back to re-shoot their interview if the desired shots were not

obtained, the variety of cameras is needed. The cameras mounted onto tripods

will capture the presenter and guests so shall record majority of the show. The

steadicams will be used for musical performances when the artists require more

By Chelsie Brandrick Page 8

space and wish to move around. These cameras will also record the audience

reactions or any impromptu segments proposed by the guests or presenter.

The scene I have chosen to analyse was first shown on 13th October 2016 at

7:30pm (30 minutes – 32 minutes -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07zj35w/the-graham-norton-show-series-

20-episode-3). In the scene I chose to analyse Niall Horan has just joined the

couch and begins to talk about his travels whilst the other guests and the

presenter offer witty remarks.

The opening shot is a wide shot of all the guests on the couch, which really gives

the viewer perspective on the guests locations. This is followed by a series of

close ups of Graham, the presenter, and Niall as Graham is asking him about his

travels that includes an occasional wide shot from either a front on or right angle,

a two shot and a close up of another guest as they speak. These additional shots

keep the viewer engaged and involves the other guests, despite the topic being

about Niall.

As The Graham Norton Show releases a new episode every week and they film

the episode the same week it airs, a fast turnover is needed when it comes to

editing and filming, so it being a multi-camera production is vital for the show.

Plus as the show has various segments that need to be recorded alongside the

original show, like the red chair and when guests wish to act out certain things, so

multiple cameras will always be needed. The lighting is not a draw back as the

show is filmed in a well lit studio, but it is more expensive for the show to be

filmed with multiple cameras. Also the show would take too long to be recorded

and edited if one camera was used, so it is not an option for The Graham Norton

Show to be a single camera production.

The final multi-camera production I chose to analyse is Elton John Live in Hyde

Park. BBC Radio 2 is a popular radio station in Britain and every year they host a

live music event called ‘Festival in a Day’ at Hyde Park, London. The

performances are filmed and aired on BBC two. This year Elton John sung to

over 50,000 people and the episode featuring his show was broadcasted on By Chelsie Brandrick Page 9

September 18th 2016 at 9pm. The episode was watched by 940,000 people,

which is significantly less than what would be expected for a show that had a

primetime television slot as well as featuring a successful artist. The broadcasts

of Glastonbury are similar to the Hyde Park series. Every year Glastonbury is

aired on BBC two and receives approximately 2.5 million viewers. I believe

Glastonbury gets more viewers as it is a bigger show and has an audience of

135,000 compared to Hyde Parks 50,000, it’s advertised a lot better and contains

a variety of popular acts which each attract a substantial amount of viewers.

Therefore, if the Elton John Live in Hyde Park broadcast was advertised better

and contained more than one artists, the viewing figures may be higher.

Elton John Live in Hyde Park is aimed at people from 16 upwards as the show

was on at 9pm and was aired on BBC two rather than one, as BBC two is aimed

at older people. Elton has gained fans since the 1970’s, first with his upbeat

music and now with his songs on Disney movies, so his fan base varies in age,

sexuality and social economic status. Thus the Elton John Live in Hyde Park

broadcast would have been aimed at a similar mixed target audience. The

audience shall expect Elton John to perform his most famous songs live in Hyde

Park.

The show was recorded using a selection of gimbals and steadicams as these

cameras are best suited to the fast pace environment and can capture the large

variety of shots that are needed to make the show enjoyable and entertaining for

the viewer.

The clip I have chosen to analyse was first aired September 18th 2016 at 9pm (34

– 36 minutes – http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07ws9xc/elton-john-live-at-

hyde-park?suggid=b07ws9xc).

The clip features Elton John singing his popular ballad ‘Your Song’. It opens with

a wide shot of the stage and audience, which enables the viewer to feel apart of

the atmosphere from their sitting rooms. The wide shot is followed by a series of

close ups of Elton singing, wide zooming shots of the audience to show how large

the crowd is, which adds emphasis on Elton’s popularity. There are also mid

shots of Elton to show the viewer that he is playing the piano and zooming wide

shots of the band and stage from multiple angles. The transitions between the By Chelsie Brandrick Page 10

shots are quick fades and as the majority of the shots are either pans or zooms

they blend together nicely and fit the timings of the song.

As Elton John Live in Hyde Park was filmed and broadcasted live multiple

cameras were needed as a multi-cam setup reduces filming and editing time and

makes it easier for the directors to choose which shots will be used, both of these

things are vital for a live broadcast. Plus as it’s a concert the shots will not be

affected by the lighting as the stage is heavily lit which compensates for the multi-

cam setup.

Wide shot

Zooming wide shot Zooming wide shot

Wide shot

Wide shot

Wide shot

Zooming establishing wide

By Chelsie Brandrick Page 11

On the other hand, a larger production team would be needed to operate the

additional cameras, which will be more expensive, and the setting up and taking

down of the equipment will take longer but that won’t affect the show itself.

Overall, as the Elton John Live in Hyde Park broadcast was big live production it

needed to be recorded using multiple cameras, as a single camera setup would

not be able to capture all of the action which would be incredibly boring for the

viewer to watch.

In conclusion, many popular television shows use a multi-camera set up as it

saves time during the filming and editing process, plus it gives the editor and

director more choice of shots when putting the show together. Both of these

things are vital for television shows such as soaps, live performances and chat

shows as they all need to be broadcasted fairly quickly after the show has been

recorded. Additionally, a multi-camera setup can ensure shows are recorded far

more quickly as there is no need for re-lighting and the set-up of alternative

camera angles for the scene to be shot again from a different angle. Plus as a

scene won’t have to be re-shot a significant number of times the shots used will

contain genuine reactions of the cast or guests, which adds to the authenticity of

the programme and it’s storyline, if it has one.

Multi-camera productions do have disadvantages such as the process of setting

up the equipment takes longer and due to needing a larger production team

shows can be more expensive than if they were to be shot using a single camera.

Occasionally the viewer can see another camera in the shot, which ruins the

scene as it’s distracting but may not be avoidable due to the setup used and the

lighting is less optimised as it needs to provide a compromise for all of the

camera angles being used.

Overall, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages for many television

productions and that is why a lot of shows use a multi-camera set ups.

By Chelsie Brandrick Page 12