What Programme Formats Use Multi-Camera Production?

There are six main genres of tv programming for using multi-camera;

Live 

Sports

Concerts

Public Events

Studio

Game shows

Chat shows

Magazine shows.

Multi-Camera

Multi-camera is used for both practicle and aesthetic reasons. People use multi-cameras as it is easier and quicker to film as there are more then one cameras in use. They are usually fixed cameras, used inside sets with two or more cameras which are cut between live and 'as live' to cover an event.

Advantages

- There is more then one view so there is multi choice within the editing.

- It is good for replaying in slow motion with live sports from a range of different angles.

- For spontaneity, if something were to happen unexpectedly, you would have it on camera.

- For speed, you can film more than one scene if a sitcom... and it gets done quicker as you will be most likely to film once.

- For continuity, all the shots are filmed at once so nothing will be out of place or change. You see everything.

Disadvantages

- For certain shots, i.e. Over the shoulder in, for example, Eastenders, you would have to use single camera as you could see the other camera in the background over the other persons shoulder which would ruin the effect fo the scene.

- When filmed in location you would need to carry alot of equiptment and it takes longer to set up that single camera would.

I am going to present to you some exaples of why multi-camera are used, both practicle and aesthetic.

LIVE SPORTS

Roger Federer vs Robin Soderling Wimbledon 2009 (live tennis)

This is a clip from the 2009 Wimbledon tennis match between Roger Federer and Robin Soderling. As you can see there is about 5 cameras present. These are used for two main reasons;

Practicle Reasons;

- To show both of the players as they are facing different directions, full body language as well as facial expressions.

- To capture everything that is going on as well as the audience reactions.

- Because this is an 'as live' show, it would of had to have been filmed only once so the use of multi-camera would capture everything that is going so it is continuous and edited as if it were live.

Aesthetic Reasons;

- It covers evrything thjat goes on as well as the players reactions. For example, they show close ups on the players faces as they are about to serve as well as showing their reaction when they lose or win. (the image below)

CONCERTS

Eurovision SC Finals 2007 - Ukraine

This is the Eurovision clip from the Ukraine entry. As you can see from this clip there is alot of camera movement which makes it entertaining and fun to watch.

- From the start of the video as they show the graphics titles, they do a fast zoom into the singers face, then do a slower pan/zoom showing how the audience is reacting to the song. This is a good way to lead the viewers emotions, for example if the audience is enjoying it and waving their hands up then the viewers should show interest and enjoy it too.

Practicle Reasons;

- This was filmed live, which means there would of had to be alot of camera to capture anything and evrything that happend.

- Eurovision is filmed in a very large space area. It would have been very difficult to film everything we see in this video, with just one camera.

- Most of the cameras that pan across the audience are on a crane, and this is a very good practicle reason to capture not only the main singer on stage but also the dancers in the background.

Aesthetic Reasons;

- Using multi-cameras in a concert like this is a good way to bring across the mood of the scene.

- For example, As this song is very pbeat and wild, the movement of the cameras as well as the speed of the cuts goes with the speed and mood of the song. There is a lot of circling of the stage and zooms and just like the song it is crazy as if the room is spinning.

- This use of multi-camera has been very successful, for both aesthetic and practicle reasons. The number of shots that have been used as well as the number of times the camera moves is alot which I feel is good compared with the type of song this is.

PUBLIC EVENTS

Princess Diana's Funeral

This was a public event which thousands saw live as it happened.

Practicle Reasons;

- This was shot for a longt ime so there would of had to have been many cameras to keep swapping to keep it live.

- The funeral as you can see was filmed from inside a cathedral where the reception was as well as being outside where the cameras follwed the coffin through London. So there had to be at least two cameras, one for inside and one for outide, not forgetting the fact that there were various outside locations.

- This was filmed live as mentioned above so the use of multi-camera would of captured anything spontaneous.

Aesthetic Reasons;

- There were hundreds of people on the streets of London, so using multi-camera filming, would show just how many people came to see Diana's funeral. This is also a reason to communicate meaning with the viewer as we see just how important this day was, as well as how sad an special it was too.

- The camera movement and cuts, unlike the Eurovision example, were slow and less exciting. This also shows the viewers the mood of the day, and as it was quiet and very organised, it shows importance.

- I feel that the use of multi-cameras for this specific event was very succssful; the audience at home would not have had the same emotion as if this were to be filmed with a single camera.

- The fact that this was a public event, filming with multi-camera also makes this day rememberable as you have multiple copies from many angles showing family and friends as well as the coffin itself.


GAME SHOWS
Takeshi's Castle

This is a game show filmed before it was put on television. 

Practicle Reasons;

- This is filmed in a large location, so there would have to be multiple to cameras to capture all of the action from every angle possible.

- There are a lot of people to get on screen, so if anything spontaneous happens they will catch it. 
- Just like live events, they cant re-film what goes on so they have to film it as live. 

Aesthetic Reasons;

- The players are more or less likely to fall, so there are replays shown, there for to keep it interesting for the audience, they show them in a lot of different angles.
- Using multi-camera shows facial expressions as well as body language as well as showing the audience angles of the course to come. 


CHAT SHOWS
Alan Carr

This is a chat show from Alan Carr Chatty Man. 

Practical Reasons; 

- There are people facing different directions so there would have to be more then one camera to show the audience at home the presenter, the guests and sometimes the audience reactions. 

- As, in this case, three guests, they each would have different reactions, so they would use multi camera to show each and every facial expression.

- It makes filming it as live easier and neater, without a lot of camera movements. 

Aesthetic Reasons;

- It makes it look good for the audience if all of the cuts are on time and not moving all over the place.

- Having the audience reaction helps the viewers at home to feel how the audience on set feels, it pushes them to how they should react. 

MAGAZINE SHOWS

BBC1 Breakfast

Breakfast is a live magazine show, filmed in many locations. 

Practical Reasons;

- As this is live, there would have to be multi cameras on set, to film all the people.

- There are many rooms in the studio, so there would have to at least be as many cameras as there are rooms, as well as the fact they do live interviews in outside studio locations. 

Aesthetic Reasons;

- It makes it interesting for the viewers to see each person as they talk as well as seeing the on location.

- As they are filming in a big location, the viewer feels more involved with what's being said on the show as the camera moves about more and shows more expressions and movement from different angles.