Multi Camera Set-Up

Multi camera set-ups are very important and useful, especially in news broadcast which is live the majority of the time.

Benefits:

• As it is live you need to act quick upon a mistake. If a mistake or problem occurs (for example a camera battery running out or the camera focussing on the wrong area) the person on the vision mixer can switch to another camera.
• It is quicker to edit with regards to continuity. Everything is captured at once so rather than stopping and filming from a different angle, the continuity will match with the camera from the other angle.
• Scenes can be shot quicker as there is no need to change the light or microphones. This is particularly useful for soaps and series such as Coronation Street or Benidorm.
• Different tones can be conveyed. For example, in Big Brother, you might want to change from a close up to a wide shot to get someone else's reaction in. For the news, you might want to change from a straight on shot to a side angle to get some graphics in.
• Engaging. Different angles would engage the audience, especially in shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Britain's got Talent. This means you can see things from high up, close up and also the judges reaction.
• You can see more. In football matches you would want to see different players and also a birds-eye view of where the players are.

Disadvantages:

• You can't be as flexible. If you have several cameras focussing on one source the cameras might be looking at a wider background so you would need to keep that background clear of camera cables, lights e.t.c.
• Cost. The cost of purchasing more cameras and having more crew is more expensive than using one person to control one camera.
• Confusion. With a variety of different cameras and screens, it could be confusing for the vision mixer to decide which screen should be broadcast.
• Long set up. For a programme such as the news which is done daily, a multi camera set-up can take a long time to prepare. As news shows are pretty much always based in the same studio, this can actually be reduced.

It depends on what you are filming as to which set-up is best however I would say that a multi camera set-up is the best as you can get a scene filmed once from the different angles rather than several times and by moving the camera. For live shows and the news, this is also easier to cover up mistakes and to act as a backup. This I why I decided to use a multi-camera set up for my news programme. We could switch to another camera if a mistake occurred and it prevented us from moving the camera for when our host changed position.

Example:
Below are some screenshots from Britain's got Talent, a show which uses a multi camera set-up. The screenshots show the different camera angles. As BGT is an entertainment show, the different shot types help to keep the audience engaged.

This shot is used to show how scary it might be for the performer and it's reminding us that he is performing in front of the judges

This is a wide shot to show the performer

A medium shot showing us him doing hand expressions

A MCU of the hosts' reaction

A MCU of one of the judge's reaction

MCU.  - This is the common shot of who is performing along with the wide-angle shot

Wide shot showing the audience

CU of him talking to the camera

A wide show of the judges

Example of a TV Series
I chose Benidorm as the TV series, one that is shot in sunny Benidorm (as the name suggests….) A lot of shots are done in the sun so continuity is important. Benidorm is shot on multi camera however there is not as many as BGT. Shots like these are easier to do without getting cameras in the way.

A wide shot

A close up

Another close up

Filming would be in a set-up like this however with 3 cameras rather than 4

Primary and Secondary Research - Re-Submission

Primary research is research gathered directly from the person conducting the research. This would involve the researcher going out and directly obtaining the information. Primary research could be gathered by interviews, observation, surveys, trials and more. Primary research is a good type of research as you are directly getting the information so you know it's reliable. You can also get more of a sense of what you are researching. If you are speaking to an eye-witness of an event, you might be able to prompt them to remember certain details. A down side of this is that you can source the information is less ways. Rather than go online and see possibly hundreds of articles, you will need to go out and find it yourself. This could be inconvenient and it could cost you money.

To see an example of myself conducting primary research, see this link where I asked a rail commuter what they thought of price increases http://50173581.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/rail-fare-vt-updated.html

Secondary research is researched that has been collected by someone other than yourself. This would involve the researcher looking at existing data and sources including magazine and newspaper articles, online articles, letters, statements and more. Secondary research can be hugely beneficial as you can get a variety of information that you might not be able to get. For example CCTV footage. If you are researching on a past event then you would need secondary data for CCTV as you cannot fake it yourself. The cost is also lower. Getting a book out of the library or looking online won't cost you anything whereas travelling to see someone will. Despite this, you can't always say how accurate or reliable the research is. It might be from a source that doesn't seem that reliable or it might not be entirely accurate.

More on research - http://50173581.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/research.html


I have conducted research for several college assignments such as in my single camera drama, when I conducted secondary research to find out about hostage situations. In my news show assignment I conducted primary research by interviewing a man on the sea defences on Canvey Island. I found both of these methods useful as I liked the variety and both ways were more convenient. It would be harder to interview someone on a hostage situation and it might take time getting the procedure from the police.

My Role Week 4 - 28.04.14 - SNN

Group: Becky, Rislene, Sana
Role: Sound

For Becky' group, I had the role of sound technician which I was doing with Nathan. Before we started setting up and doing the rehearsals, I spoke to both Nathan and Sana to talk about the set-up. Nathan had done sound before so he knew what to do and it was Sana's show so I could consult her on what was happening. We decided to use the boom microphones as they were more reliable, rather than risk the clip on mic's. We had a few issues with a buzzing noise however this was quickly sorted out by plugging the XLR cable into a new slot. We did a sound check and adjusted the volume levels and also changed the positioning of the microphones.

During the recordings, I was in charge of the sound levels. I had to turn the off when there was a VT and fade them out at the end. The first recording was stopped half way through however we started a new one in which I resumed this role.

Overall I think that I've performed my roles well. I enjoyed being both in front and behind the camera as I could use different skills and see the production in a different way. 

My Role Week 3 - 31.03.14 The Cloud News

Group: Briana, Nathan, Emily, Alice
Role: Host

For Briana's group, my role was the host. I dressed accordingly and wore a suit and shirt. A blazer wasn't required as I was going for more of the Channel 4 look, with sleeves rolled up. I was presented with the script a few weeks prior however on the day a couple of stories were added including one that I couldn't know until we started recording. To prepare for this, I checked the script before hand and practised saying the lines on an autocue. I also liaised with the main group members.

When we entered the TV studio, I helped the others to set up as well as sitting in the desk so that the camera's can be adjusted (height of the camera, focus, lighting e.t.c) As I was host, there wasn't a lot I could do until rehearsals but I read through the script and made some spelling/grammar changed which were to be tweaked for the autocue. I had my microphone on which was changed after the sound check as it wasn't working well. We had three rehearsals with the last one going better. I thought the whole show went well however the speed of the auto cue at times was off putting. When I had the breaking news for the main story I had to look around in shock. The auto cue went on a bit long whilst it said "host looks around....." and as it was live I couldn't tell them to go faster.

I felt comfortable during the rehearsals and main recording. The main recording went well and I was happy with the final result (although I haven't seen the recorded version).

Practising for my Roles

My roles:
(1)My Group - Producer/Cameraman
(2)Charlie's Group - Co-Host
(3)Briana's Group - Host
(4)Becky's Group - Sound

I am happy with the roles that I am doing as they are quite different. I am happy to be host and co-host however it could be challenging if the auto-cues were to not work as I would have to improvise live and it's myself in front of the camera, not the behind the scenes people.

Preparation:

1. To practise for this I have checked the script for where the host is situated so I know when my camera is live. In rehearsals I have also liaised with the vision mixer to give a count down to when the host is going live. In rehearsals and the main recording, I will have a copy of the script and running order so that I know who is going to be where and when.
2. To practise for this, I have read the script of what I've got to do and I've also spoken with Sana (who I'm co-hosting with) so that we are comfortable with each other and so that we know what to do. I have also practised reading off a Teleprompter. I have also liaised with Charlie about getting changed.
3. For Briana's group, I have made myself familiar with the script as well as tweaking it with her. I have read the script fully several times on a Teleprompter so that I am familiar with it. I'm about unsure about the piece on Southend airport as it's quite long.
4. I have practised with Nathan the setting up of the clip on microphones as well as the boom microphone. This worked well however sometimes the batteries weren't available for the clip on mic's.

News Show

Submission Requirements:

• Research scrapbook from research assignment - with added research on news stories included.
• A Planning Folder per studio group
• Two VT Inserts – shot and edited
• A completed rehearsal show and live show recorded

Task 1 - Due 24th March - INDIVIDUALLY EVIDENCE

• Begin planning news show individually
• 20 mins in length
• At least 3 news stories and at least 2 video inserts
• News stories must be factual
• Scrapbooks must contain mind maps of ideas, list of contacts and locations, schedule for next 5 weeks, secondary research, primary research, target audience research.

Task 2 - Due 9th Feb - DIVIDE BETWEEN GROUP

• Plan the live show and include running order, list of job roles, script, mood board, set designs, costume design and floor plans including camera and lighting positions.

Task 3 - Due 9th Feb - INDIVIDUAL/GROUP

• Shoot and edit at least 2 VT's before the live shows are recorded after half term.

Task 4 - Due 24th March - GROUP/INDIVIDUAL

• Planning completed, VT's recorded and edited. 
• Perform an operational roles

TV Studio - First Term Evaluation

The job roles that I have taken are producer, director, floor manager and camera man. The responsibilities of a producer is to make sure that everything is organised and running smoothly, the responsibility of a director is to make sure that things are looking okay and that people know what they are saying and doing; the floor manager has to make sure that everyone is safe and the camera man has to make sure the camera's are out, set up and are working. My job roles mainly involved me using a camera and also tape, to tape down the wires. I prefer the role of the producer, in which I also felt this was my most effective. I can go to everyone and make sure that they are included and also stay calm where a situation might become stressful. I felt that I was least effective at the floor manager as I was temped to rush the taping down the wires as I didn't really find it interesting.

I participated in a Jeremy Kyle style show and also 3 quiz shows and a talk show. We used the basic conventions of each, a quiz show having question, teams, a scoring system and contestants. For the chat show and also Jeremy Kyle show, we took a more relaxed approach to this and didn't have it as formal. We still stuck to two different panels and a main host. All of these shows would be shot on multi-camera as it would be boring just with one camera shot. We had 3 camera's so normally we would have one on the host and the two others on the teams. It they were on single camera, they would see everything in one which wouldn't be as good. I think all of the shows came out well and that we worked good in a team. Each person stuck to their job role throughout.

Not all of the shows were factual as a lot of things were staged, particularly on the Jeremy Kyle show as our actors weren't in situations like that! The quiz shows were not really stages. Contestants knew the layout before as we had a rehearsal however they didn't know the actual questions until the main recording. If it was an actual recording, I think that the audience would know that the Jeremy Kyle one was staged however I think they would know that the quiz show ones wasn't as the contestants hesitated. The shows kept their contract with the viewer and kept the usual standard that is expected from the production. This is the host being separate from the contestants. 

James Clarke Show - Live TV Broadcast

Our first time in the TV studio consisted of us planning and producing a Jeremy Kyle style show which would be live. Ours was accordingly named after our host, James. We were all assigned roles and mine was the producer and floor manager. The roles consisted of me making sure that people were organised as well as safe. I had to make sure that people knew what they were doing and that the environment was safe, i.e. no loose wires e.t.c

Overall, I think we worked well as a team as the final product came out well with few errors. The batteries didn't have a lot of charge and the cameramen and editors coped well with this. The sound was clear and the actors performed well; they knew what they were doing. I think that I performed well in my role as I spoke to different people and I tried to sort our problems if they arose.