multicam presentation

8/3/2019 Multicam Presentation

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The multiple-camera setup, multiple-camera mode of production, or Multicam is a method of shootingfilms and television programs. Several cameraseither film or videoare employed on the set andsimultaneously record or/and broadcast a scene. It is often contrasted with single-camera setup, whichuses one camera.

Generally, the two outer cameras shoot close shots or "crosses" of the two most active characters onthe set at any given time, while the central camera or cameras shoot a wider master shot to capturethe overall action and establish the geography of the room. In this way, multiple shots are obtained ina single take without having to start and stop the action. This is more efficient for programs that are to

be shown a short time after being shot as it reduces the time spent editing the footage. It is also avirtual necessity for regular, high-output shows like daily soap operas. Apart from saving editing time,scenes may be shot far more quickly as there is no need for re-lighting and the set-up of alternatecamera angles for the scene to be shot again from the different angle. It also reduces the complexityof tracking continuity issues that crop up when the scene is reshot from the different angles. It is anessential part of live television. Multicam is used in major television live events and sports.
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The use of multiple video cameras to cover a scene goes back to the earliest days of television; three cameras were used to broadcastThe Queen's Messengerin 1928, the first drama performed for television. The BBC routinely used multiple cameras for their livetelevision shows from 1936 onward.Although it is often claimed that the film version of the multiple-camera setup was pioneered for television by Desi Arnaz andcinematographer Karl Freund on I Love Lucyin 1951, other filmed television shows had already used it, including another comedy onCBS, The Amos 'n Andy Show, which was filmed at the Hal Roach Studios and was on the air four months earlier. The technique wasdeveloped for television by Hollywood short-subject veteran Jerry Fairbanks, assisted by producer-director Frank Telford, and first seenon the anthology series The Silver Theatre, another CBS program, in February 1950. Desilu's innovation was to use 35mm film insteadof 16mm, and to film with a multiple-camera setup before a live studio audience.In the late 1970s Garry Marshall was credited with adding the fourth camera (known then as the "X" Camera, and occasionally todayknown as the "D" Camera) to the multi-camera set-up for his series Mork & Mindy. Actor Robin Williams could not stay on his marksdue to his physically active improvisations during shooting, so Marshall had them add the fourth camera just to stay on Williams so theywould have more than just the master shot of the actor. Soon after many productions followed suit and now having four cameras (A, B,

C and X or D) is the norm for multi-camera situation comedies.The multiple-camera method gives the director less control over each shot, but is faster and less expensive than a single-camera setup.In television, multiple-camera is commonly used for sports programs, news programs, soap operas, talk shows, game shows, and somesitcoms. Before the pre-filmed continuing series became the dominant dramatic form on American television, the earliest anthologyprograms utilised multiple camera methods.Multiple cameras can take different shots of a live situation as the action unfolds chronologically and is suitable for shows which requirea live audience. For this reason multiple camera productions can be filmed or taped much faster than single camera. Single cameraproductions are shot in takes and various setups with components of the action repeated several times and out of sequence; the actionis not enacted chronologically so is unsuitable for viewing by a live audience.The majority of British sitcoms and dramas from the 1950s to the early 1990s were made using four cameras and initially broadcastlive. Unlike the United States, the development of completed filmed programming, using the single camera method, was limited forseveral decades. Instead, a 'hybrid' form emerged using (single camera) filmed inserts, generally location work, mixed with interior

scenes shot in the multi-camera electronic studio. It was the most common type of domestic production screened by the BBC and ITV.As technology developed though, some drama productions were mounted on location using multiple electronic cameras. Meanwhile, themost prestigious productions, like Brideshead Revisited(1981), began to use film alone. By the later 1990s, soap operas were left asthe only TV drama being made in the UK using multiple cameras. Television prime-time dramas are usually shot using a single-camerasetup.While the multiple-camera format dominated US sit-com production in the 1970s and 1980s, there has been a recent revival of thesingle-camera format with programs such as Malcolm in the Middle (20002006), Scrubs (20012010), My Name Is Earl(20052009),Everybody Hates Chris (20052009), The Office (2005-), 30 Rock(2006-) and Samantha Who?(20072009).


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Vision mixersBoom micsCamerasCablesTripods

Walkie talkiesTally lights
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Big concerts and stand up are usually filmed asa multi-cam set up. In concerts they use manydifferent camera angles to show differentviews of the live performance to get the fullexperience of the artist you are seeing. Multi-cam is used in concerts so people can see thewhole band and so they dont miss any of the

action on stage. Multi-cam is important forfestivals like reading so you can get a view ofthe whole audience and the people on stage.

Another type of live event is shows like the xfactors and Britain's got talent. They used

multi-cam sets ups so thats you can captureeverything from the performances to theaudience, the multi-cam makes theprogrammes more of show with differentcamera angles and quick transitions.
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Most sport events are filmed live from football to the Olympics. Infootball they use many cameras and different angles to showeverything in the match. If there is a goal they show it from manydifferent angles and different cameras. They have multi cam so thatthey do not miss anything in a match and they get every anglepossible of a incident in the match. Generally most football and tennisevents are covered on sky sports. When you watch a football matchyou feel you are watching an entertaining live event as whensomething happens e.g. fouls you can see from different


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Advantages Disadvantages

More camera angles can be

used in a live recording

some of the shots may be

useful to the audience

it is easy to create goodlighting

Can be a very complex set up

Multi cam has smoothertransitions

No room for error because itsbeing recorded live

It is a quicker process to film More expensive equipment

cannot be mobilised easilyMulti has the best coverage ofevents as there are Moreshots, angles, footage etc ofthe scene.

It takes longer to set up

Multiple camera productionsalso tend to capture the best

performances from the actorsand actresses.

multicam presentation

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