Multi Camera Essay

A multi camera show is a show which used a variety a cameras in different

locations across one area so for example a stage at a concert. As the event takes
places at times the footage recorded jumps from camera location to camera
location in real time, this can make an event seem immersive and interesting for
viewers who are not present at the event.
My four examples that I will be using are coverage of a concert (The XX at
Glastonbury) a sporting event (Tennis) A game show (Mock the Week) and a chat
show (Jeremy Kyle). All though all of these productions follow the same basic
values they are all different in their delivery and recording.
Live Concert
This recording of The XX performing in Glastonbury covers the action in a variety
of ways. One of the ways it does is by having a moving camera operator roam
across the stage following the band members as they perform (See Screenshot
1) this shot creates an intimate feel and makes the viewers feel that they are
within close proximity with the band, this also gives an atmosphere of exclusivity
as the people in attendance at the event would not be allowed to get that close.
This shot is also important as it follows one member of the band as he moves
from his station to the vibraphone (2) this allows the audience to see the finer
detail of the live performance as well as more of the talent from the band
members.
The second important shot of this live event is the back of crowd establishing
shot. This shot pans across the crowd and enables the viewer to see all the
audience members and elements of the stage set up such as their lighting and
projection work. It makes the audience feel that they are in the crowd
themselves or watching from a balcony, this shot reminds the viewer that they
are watching a concert and enables them to see the crowds reactions to the
music as seen in the waving of flags and hand clapping, this shot if seen
constantly would appear boring to the audience but this tied in with all of the
other shots which provide more up close detail together create an immersive and
comprehensive overview of the event. (3)
The third shot utilised by this live event is the crane mounted camera. This is the
most versatile camera of the event and is constantly moving around throughout
the performance in most cases it sits at a low angle looking up at the performers
giving the feel of being embedded in the front row and at other times it rises
high above the crowd and allows the viewer to see the size of the venue and the
sheer scale of the crowd the XX were able to attract. This is important for
communicating meaning to the viewer as it creates more of an atmosphere to
the event having a moving camera that pans over the crowd and fluidly moves
around the stage means that the viewer remains interested and it provides an
exciting and different angle unseen by the crowd members themselves, cutting
between the static shots and this moving camera creates an immersive and
interesting event.
Olympic Swimming
In Comparison to the music event this recording seems considerably more
complicated. I counted 6 cameras most them fulfilling the same purpose and

shot type, however in this event there are an enormous amount of live cameras,
most of them seen unused in this recording, an example of this is that there is a
camera placed in every swimming lane which can be cut between if required.
One angle utilised briefly but to effect is the use of a crane mounted camera
suspended high above the grandstand, it enables the viewer to see the whole
swimming arena and communicates to the viewer how enormous the Olympics
are. Although this camera is not used during the event it is used when the event
is being introduced, this angle produces a good introduction to the event as the
whole swimming arena can be seen.
Another angle used in this event which follows on from the crane mounted angle
is the handheld camera used to follow the athletes as they emerge from the
tunnel, this is an important angle as it allows viewers to see who is competing
and means that the global viewers can support their team without being in the
arena, this also provides an angle unseen by the stadium goers an can help to
produce a more immersive atmosphere for the viewer. I believe that because
tickets were in relatively shot supply for the main events, that the BBC decided
to use a large variety of camera in order to make the Olympics for all as opposed
to it only being enjoyable for the ticket holders and as it was being globally
broadcast, It is important that everyone watching worldwide gets the most from
the broadcast.
Another angle used in this production is the use of underwater cameras. They
placed a camera at the beginning and end of each lane which provides a point of
view angle of the athletes as they approach, this is an exciting coverage of the
action especially as when they dive beneath the water there is nothing to see
above water, but for the viewers they can see the speed at which the athletes
approach and can get down their level. Alongside this static angle there are two
cameras that run alongside the pool itself on a track one which runs along under
the water and one which runs across the edge of the pool, this creates a very
exciting atmosphere as the viewer moves with the swimmers as they battle
against each other it feels like you are almost swimming with them, this helps to
communicate the immense speed that the athletes are travelling at, something
that would be difficult to communicate through a constant static shot.
Crowd shots are used during the opening of the event, particularly when the
athletes are being introduced, it shows people who have travelled from afar to
support their athletes and their reactions towards them. It helps to communicate
a feeling of world diversity as the whole world is represented in these shots as
they wave their flags, this again links back to the global broadcast of the event
and although it was broadcast and held in the UK it has to showcase the world
aspect of the Olympics as opposed to holding a biased towards Britain.
The interest of the viewer is maintained through the rapid and constant cutting
between various angles. If only one angle was used for the whole event it would
soon become boring, however by cutting between a variety of different angles
and showing sides of the action stadium lookers dont get to see it means that
the interest is maintained as new visual information is shared.
Studio Productions
With studio productions a smaller amount of cameras are used in comparison to
large scale sport events where potentially 100 cameras can be used, around 3 or

4 cameras often in a fixed point or mounted on a tripod, this can bring a problem
due to the constraints caused by space.
Mock the Week
This panel quiz show uses 6 cameras in fixed points and cuts between them in
order to maintain viewer interest, this is a challenge as all the members on the
show are permanently seated throughout so their angles are limited to wide
shots, close ups and a wide establishing shot.
The most used shot of the show are the close ups, whenever a member of the
panel is talking it cuts to a mid-shot, this allows the viewer to focus more closely
on the person talking, and can provide more detail behind their jokes as a facial
expression could be used. The studio space size means that a huge array of
cameras cannot be used and as the studio could be multipurpose the fixed
position cameras need to be versatile for all shows filmed in the space.
One angle used in this show is the crane mounted camera that also functions as
the central camera. At the beginning of the show it moves over the audience and
rests in the centre of the ring of participants and slowly zooms in to its fixed
position on the host (). This camera having to fulfil multiple purposes will be due
to studio constraints the show uses 6 cameras (1 crane mounted, 2 on either
side of the tables and 3 in the performance area) so in order to use the space
effectively this camera is used for two purposes.
The most used set of angles across this show are the cameras placed around the
table which snap zoom towards the speaker. This is often used for comedic
emphasis as comedy is often helped by facial expression, it is also doubles up as
a visual cue to laugh if the other members of the panel are laughing along it can
indicate the joke was a funny and encourage the viewer to laugh. This show in its
set up can appear quite boring as it essentially people talking nonstop for the
whole episode, so in order to maintain audience interest the show is broken up
by jumping between various angles on a regular basis so new visual information
is being absorbed.
This show has to maintain slick multi camera simultaneous recording, as cuts are
regularly made and the audio has to be kept in perfect sync, this is maintained
by keeping the audio on a separate loop recorded through microphones as
opposed to running the sound from microphones built in to the cameras,
simultaneous recording is less important however in comparison to live events
like the Olympics in which a second can delete important information however
with mock the week as who talks is untimed and spontaneous sometimes the
camera lags behind.
Russell Howards Good News
This how although part of the same genre as mock the week struggles further
with studio constraints and maintaining viewer interest. Whereas mock the week
is multiple people talking Russell Howards Good News is a one man comedy
setup. In order to maintain viewer interest this show extensively uses cutaways
to news footage over which the host comments and utilises two angles cutting
between the two heavily.

The first and most commonly used angle is a mid-shot which captures the host
from the waist up this allows the viewer to see the hosts facial expressions and
hand gestures which can often add to the comedy of what he is saying which
furthermore can communicate meaning to the viewer as his hand gestures and
facial expressions of ten provide more detail behind his impersonations for
example. When he is standing still however the camera sometimes cuts to a full
body shot which allows some of the front rows audience members heads to be
seen which can help maintain the interest of the viewer as new visual
information is being provided to break periods in which one continuous shot is
used. The studio space used for this production is very small with the majority of
the space being taken up by audience members this means that the camera
equipment is fixed above the audience and controlled remotely. The only other
angle used throughout this show is a side on camera angle which allows the
width of the stage to be seen this helps to communicate the space and introduce
the mystery guest portion of the show.