Multicam Research

8/3/2019 Multicam Research

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Multicam is a technique of filming that requires the use of 2 or more cameras when filming anevent e.g. live events, sports, concerts, plays and even chat shows and sitcoms inside a studio

Usually the two outer cameras will shot close ups otherwise known as crosses if the two main

people in the event that is being filmed

The two central cameras will have a wider shot known as the master shot and capture the

overall action of what is going on

It is very efficient using this filming technique because it reduces the time spent editing thefootage

It also reduces the complexity of tracking continuity issues that crop up when the scene is

reshot from the different angles


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The BBC routinely started using the multicam technique for live television events from 1936onwards

In the late 70s a man called Garry Marshall was credited for adding a fourth camera to the

multicam technique, it was known as the X camera but is commonly known now as the D camera

Most of the British sitcoms from 1950s to the 1990s used 4 cameras and initially broadcast live

While the multiple-camera format dominated US sit-com production in the 1970s and 1980s, there

has been a recent revival of the single-camera format with programs such as Malcolm in the Middle,Scrubs, My Name Is Earl, Everybody Hates Chris, The Office, 30 Rock and Samantha Who?

Most films also use the single-camera setup. In recent decades larger Hollywood films have begun to

use more than one camera on-set, usually with two cameras simultaneously filming the same scene

Many productions are now having four cameras (A, B, C and X or D) is the norm for multi-camera

situation comedies.


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Cameras

Tripods

Vision mixer

Boom mic

Tally lights

Cables

Walkie talkies


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Floor Manager- in charge of the studio floor

The director is in charge of the entire operationCamera Ops- operates the camera and must know the shots and be ready

Camera assistant- helps move the ped

Assistant Floor Manager

Talent- the presenters, guests, performers

Sound Ops- operates the boom and also makes sure that the sound levels are right on the vision mixer

Audio Control RoomSenior sound ops

Assistant sound ops

DVD ops

Visual Control Room

Vision Mixer

Director- Makes the show

Producer- budgets the show says what got to be in the show, however he is not in the Visual control room when it is

being made

Camera Control Unit Operator

Assistant Director

Lighting operator

Communication An operator will be talking to the cameramen and telling them what to get in shot


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Sitcoms Chat Shows Live Concerts

Live Sports Events TV Dramas The News


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Generally all sports are filmed with the multicam technique. Depending on the sport will

usually depend on how many cameras would be used to film the game. In a large game such as

a football match or rugby match they will probably use roughly 6 or 7 cameras to cover the

game but in smaller sports like snooker or tennis they may only use 4 or 5 . It will be easier to

edit with multicam as you wont have to edit all the footage as you can just switch camera using

the vision mixer so it will also save time.


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- Camera

- Main camera

- Camera on wire

- Camera on

Helicopter


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Multicam is used in live events as it helps get the best coverage of what is happening. There will

usually be 7 cameras to keep track of the events happening, usually with a live concert they will have

a camera on jib to gain height with the camera to get over the crowds, it is a very good shot as it can

swing back and fourth the stage and get good coverage of the event. They will usually have two closeup cameras focusing on the main character(s) of the event e.g. the singer/guitarists and have two

long shot cameras covering the whole stage and will usually be static and not move.


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Stage

- Camera on jib

- Camera

Crowd


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Multicam is used a lot in sitcoms and TV dramas as it largely reduces the editing stage as you dont

have to keep re-filming the same scene from different angles, it also reduces the chance of any

continuity errors made by actors. They would usually use around 4-6 cameras all in different

positions, sometimes the camera will be placed on track, so they can produce a tracking shot, they

have to make sure though that the camera will not be in the line of view of the other cameras.


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TV Set

- Camera

Audience


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Stage

Audience

Judges

Camera

Here is an

example of a

multicam event

and this is thelayout of the

show The X

Factor

AudienceAudience


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The reason why floor plans are so important when

filming a multicam event is to guide all the cameras to

where they should be so theyre not in the wrong place,

also as it is usually filmed live there are no room for

mistakes so the cameramen have to stick to the floor

plans that have been laid out for them to follow. It alsoshows the best viewpoints for each camera and to make

sure that when they are filming that another camera will

be in the shot, this is very important in filming TV

sitcoms and TV dramas but less important when filming

sports or live concerts.


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Advantages Disadvantages

More camera angles used in a live recording No room for error because its being

recorded live

When recording a TV show, you wont have

to re-shoot all the scenes from different

angles

Can be a very complex setup and take a

while to get each scene ready for filming

Will cut down the amount of continuity

errors

None of the shots may be useful to the

audience

It can be quicker to film each scene as it cuts

out some of the errors made by actors

There is a risk of getting the crew and other

cameras in each scene

Smoother transitions between shots Can be more expensive as there is more

equipment to look after

A lot better coverage of the scenes The scenes are usually filmed in a studio and

not in the real location

Takes away pressure from actors as they

dont have to re-shoot each scene to get

different angles, with less pressure it will

also make them perform better

The aesthetic will not be as good as using a

single camera as the editors wont have the

luxury of adjusting the shot to how they

want it to look like


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y When filming a multicam event you have to make sure to

keep the audience interested in what's happening, for

example you cant stay on the same camera for too long

because it can bore the audience and there might be better

action in another shot

y The cameramen have to make sure that when they are filming

that they do not get any other cameras in their shot or any

other piece of filming equipment that shouldnt been in the

set


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y When filming in a studio environment there will be wires all overthe place linking the cameras to the studio live to the vision mixer,it is harder to set up a multicam event inside, generally in smallareas, with a studio a lot of the time cameras wont move simply

to save timey When filming in an outside environment it can be easier but can

take a long time to set up, for example if you were going to film afootball match you would have to set up the day before to get allthe wires and cameras in place, there will be a studio van and all

the wires would have to plug in there and lead to the studio andcameras, most football grounds have underground wiring to savetime and makes it easier to get more cameras around the footballstadium


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y Simultaneous recording is very effective way of cutting out

any continuity errors, an example would be if a scene is

being shot with only a single camera, when they film the

scene from different angles something in the background may

change and wont be a natural scene, with a simultaneous

recording it can cut out these errors to make the scene more

natural and flowing without any continuity errors

Documents

Multicam Research