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SINGLE CAMERA DRAMA PRODUCTION

What is a single camera production?

Single camera production is when a camera is used to take multiple shots rather than having more cameras to take each angle. This technique is used a lot within tv dramas now a days and even in short films. This is used because of either the production have a short script or a low budget so the usage of one camera would be cheaper rather than multiple cameras.

For example Hollyoaks and My name is Earl all consist with the usage of single camera production. By using more cameras to take each angle would benefit the editor as it would be easier to edit having everything there for him to work from.  Examples of shows that use multiple camera production are East enders or Coronation street. This is done so that it is easier for the editors to piece together so that they can air them on tv as soon as possible. 

With a single camera their is more work involved for example the editor must piece each scene with camera angels to build up tension or to let the audience know what the character is feeling during that time. This needs to be structure and planned out before hand otherwise it would be a mess. When structuring its planning ahead so that the editor knows what hes doing and can follow a script with each camera angle as a guidance to make everything fit piece by piece.

There are different formats of genres for example a serial, drama and so on. It would be difficult to be able to tell the difference between each genre with how it may be a single camera or multi-camera as it is pieced together very well.

What is format?

Format is a form of program that has been made with a single camera or multi camera production. The format is a type of style that portrayed within a shot. The most important feature about format is how the scene and area of the shoot is set up and the format of what the recording will be in, this can even relate to High key lighting or Low key Lighting.

What is a Narrative structure?

Narrative is a type of frame work that helps structure a story easier for the viewer or reader to understand. It consists of a plot and a summary with different situations. These situations are, the exposition (starting of the story), Complication (the dramatic turn to change the outcome), Climax (After the situation and what will happen after) and the resolution (how everything becomes better or how the situation becomes better).

Here is an example from My Name Is Earl:

The opening shot starts off with a close up of a scratch card and then a straight cut to a close up of Earls reaction which helps viewers understand the emotion he is going through, then a long shot of him running into the road helps the audience establish where he is and the technique of showing how the exposition of the start suddenly turns into a complication as he gets hit by a car. The climax is how he is hit then him in hospital. The resolution is how after learning from his bad mistakes he is going to correct his ways making a list of all the negative actions he has made and to correct each and everyone using this list. 

At the start of this clip a camera pan has been used, this is a technique used because it helps the camera get to points A to B within the same shot. This makes it easier for the editor to edit because of the feature of having the different angles within that one shot. Another shot they used within this clip was a slow zoom in to a close up of the character. This has been done to show the feelings and reactions of the character. This slow zoom technique helps build up tension for the viewers because of the slow pan to zoom. A pan even helps viewers establish the scene for the viewers and where they are within that situation.

The narrative of my name is earl is non linear. This is because of how the story within each episode doesn't relate to the next for example all the situations that are shown in the episodes consists of new characters or flash backs which helps make the structure non linear because of all the different techniques used to help expand the story of My Name Is Earl.

What is the 180 degree rule?

The 180 degree rule is a basic guideline between one character to another or object within that scene. An imaginary line called the axis connects the characters by keeping the camera on one side of the axis for every shot in the scene, the first character will always be in frame left of the first. If the camera passes over the axis, it is called jumping the line or crossing the line of action.

Here are the different uses of camera angles used within My Name Is Earl:

 Here is a close up shot of earl as he wins on the scratch card. This has been used because it shows the expresion of the character. This technique has been used to help get the audience more involved within the characters situation and the feelings he or she is going through. 

 Here a high angle shot has been used of Earl pointing the scratch card in the air, reason for this is to show more of his emotion as he raises it in the air, this suggests to us he is very thrilled to have won. This technique is mainly used to show an object or character and make him seem small or insignificant as if the viewer is looking down on him.

 In this shot after Earl gets hit a long shot is used to show the viewers of were the character is and the scene layout of when the incident happened. This is a good technique to use to help viewers understand and a good usage of variety of shots help with more visualisation for the viewers.

 Over the shoulder shot is used in a lot of dramas and sitcoms to show a conversation of two characters and also shows the emotion of the character. The main purpose is to show the subject from someone else.

This is a medium of of the subject this mainly consists of the subject being head down to his or her torso. This technique has been used in this shot to show the characters face and the way his body position is, to either show reactions or feelings he is going through.

Point of view shot at the beginning of the shot has been used to give the audience a point of view feel meaning it shows what the character sees or helps get the viewers involved like they were doing the scratch card. This helps to interact with the audience and to show the usage of different camera angles.

Low key and High key lighting

The term high key lighting and low key lighting is known through out video and photography  The term High key lighting means an object or character within a video or photo is light up well showing all aspects of that person or object.

Low key lighting means the lighting on the character or object is dark with minimal lighting and rich black tones with a lot of show areas.

For example:

In this shot as Earl is at the air port with his brother, the lighting is bright, this has been done to show full lighting on the main character to make the character stand out more and have more of a dominance within that shot. This is High key lighting.

At the beginning of the Episode called bad Karma, the lighting is rather dark showing shadows and more darker tones to hide some elements of the character. This is done to show less lighting around Earl and a small light upon his face making it more of a focal point for the viewers.

What is a series? 

A series is a programme with a narrative structure consisting of multi or singular camera production. The series carries on programme by programme either being linear or non linear. For example The Office, Malcome in the middle and Come fly with me all consist of singular camera production. Multi camera production series are East Enders, Prison Break and The Big Bang Theory.

The types of genres that different series consists of is:

Costume is a genre in which costume set's are used to help capture the particular year or history event. here is an example from Cranford. 

Crime is a genre based around a suspect and a victim being killed and how he or she died. Simular to CSI or NCIS.

Comedy is a genre that makes people laugh or find funny, something that is light hearted and helps viewers have a laugh over the series, for example Malcome in the middle.

Medical is a genre that is simular to House or Grays anatomy. This is were the subject of the series is about people in hospitals and the different situations that may occur.

Multi strand is when more than one character is used. An example of this isGame of Thrones. Reason for this is because of how each character has their own story and has more than one subject happening. 

Single strand is when the series is based on the character himself or herself and only what he or she is going through for example Arrow is about the different situations the main character faces and the different obstacles he over comes.