SINGLE
CAMERA ESSAY
In this
essay, I shall attempt to outline single camera formats and the different uses
for them in film. To do this I shall firstly explain which production single
camera Is used, deconstruct a two sequences and cross reference them and also
how different types of cameras can add a certain effect to the film. Finally, I
shall talk about the technical aspects to single camera including why a certain
camera is used for certain production.
Single
camera formats are mainly used in films and high end production, this is because it gives the director more control over everything if this single camera format is used. This format gives the director control over lighting as the establishing shot is already set up and the different angles and close ups the lighting won't change as the settings are ideal for the establishing shot. Also it helps with the mise en scene as having one camera makes the director focus on the specific frame to give the scene its full meaning instead of having multi camera which may miss some things; as single camera takes more time. it helps and enhances the story and gives the director more control of the shots.
In order to further my understanding of single camera techniques I shall deconstruct a sequence from a film that uses a single camera.
Batman: The Dark Knight
Interrogation scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWgyKDfFC_U
This sequence in The Dark Knight was one of the fan favourites. it starts off with James Gorden attempting to interrogate the Joker the lighting is very noticeable throughout the beginning of the sequence differentiating the position of the different characters as the joker is surrounded by darkness which indicates that he is isolated but also in control as the darkness tells that he is a mysterious individual but the full lighting on his face shows that he is not lying. Gorden is shown to be weaker as he is trying to find out where the hostages are situated but the lighting has made half his face in shadow which tells he is hiding something both from the audience and the joker.
Additionally the camera shots show to difference between them as the shots don't show both of them in frame, but instead close ups of each of them throughout the conversation. This all changes when batman appears in the scene, joker loses his control as the lights turn on. as batman beats up the joker the camera moves Aline with the joker to put him in focus of the frame this is effective as it gives the audience a feel of intensity.
Too Add, the camera angles while batman is in the scene beating up the joker shows how powerful they are, in contrast to themselves as the camera is facing down towards the joker as he is powerless and the camera was facing upwards towards batman from jokers point of view to demonstrate batman's physical power. Straight angles are used throughout at the eye level of the audience, allowing them to integrate themselves within the scene.
In addition the sound also enhances the tension of the sequence and also builds up anticipation the filmakers added this sound to keep the audience at the edge of their seats.
Big Bang Theory
Sheldon & Penny funny scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BkNgTnSHA8
In sit-coms such as big bang the producer uses the multi camera technique as it gives a more studio environment, its less time consuming then the single camera technique, it shows the different characters that are involved in the scene, its more about quantity over quality. The lighting is no focused in the shooting; its all flat lighting. Lighting helps a scene become more dramatic and intriguing which was needed in the dark knight interrogation scene to build up tension and add a sinister effect to the characters but in the big bang thing is not needed as it is a completely different genre the cuts are to show what the different characters are doing and doesn't need lighting to show what type of character they are or to add effect, the dialog shows it. The show would not be the same if lighting like in the dark knight was to be used.
In the camera movement big bang used mostly still shots and only moved to follow Penny moving towards or away from Sheldon, as the director wants the audience to focus mainly on what the characters are saying and not what the camera is doing. This is different in the Batman scene because without the camera movements the scene would not be as intense and intriguing. They use camera movements to show actions in an empowering way.In addition sound is used completely different in both examples.
In big bang after a funny line was used there would be an audio input of a crowd laughing;this is to show that the show is surreal as it is made to be in front of a crowd in a studi,o this also shows in the
acting as it is not up to movie standards which the multi camera technique shows but this adds to its comedic effect. Sound was used very differently in the dark knight as it was used for anticipation and tension to lead to the next scene to keep the audience at the edge of their seats.
The camera used in the Dark Knight was a IMAX 70mm film camera this is because the print of film is a higher resolution format and is twice the size of a standard 35 mm print, it can also be used in wide aspect ratios such as 2.20:1 to 2.29:1. The 70mm also has a downside though, it is very expensive to produce a long film off.
The Cameras used in the Big bang theory are the Sony HXR-MC2500E this is because the camera is fairly cheap to have multiple but also that its high quality and digital so the workflow would be vastly quicker then if it was on a print of film and can be transferred straight to the video editor.
In order to further my understanding of single camera techniques I shall deconstruct a sequence from a film that uses a single camera.
Batman: The Dark Knight
Interrogation scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWgyKDfFC_U
This sequence in The Dark Knight was one of the fan favourites. it starts off with James Gorden attempting to interrogate the Joker the lighting is very noticeable throughout the beginning of the sequence differentiating the position of the different characters as the joker is surrounded by darkness which indicates that he is isolated but also in control as the darkness tells that he is a mysterious individual but the full lighting on his face shows that he is not lying. Gorden is shown to be weaker as he is trying to find out where the hostages are situated but the lighting has made half his face in shadow which tells he is hiding something both from the audience and the joker.
Additionally the camera shots show to difference between them as the shots don't show both of them in frame, but instead close ups of each of them throughout the conversation. This all changes when batman appears in the scene, joker loses his control as the lights turn on. as batman beats up the joker the camera moves Aline with the joker to put him in focus of the frame this is effective as it gives the audience a feel of intensity.
Too Add, the camera angles while batman is in the scene beating up the joker shows how powerful they are, in contrast to themselves as the camera is facing down towards the joker as he is powerless and the camera was facing upwards towards batman from jokers point of view to demonstrate batman's physical power. Straight angles are used throughout at the eye level of the audience, allowing them to integrate themselves within the scene.
In addition the sound also enhances the tension of the sequence and also builds up anticipation the filmakers added this sound to keep the audience at the edge of their seats.
Big Bang Theory
Sheldon & Penny funny scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BkNgTnSHA8
In sit-coms such as big bang the producer uses the multi camera technique as it gives a more studio environment, its less time consuming then the single camera technique, it shows the different characters that are involved in the scene, its more about quantity over quality. The lighting is no focused in the shooting; its all flat lighting. Lighting helps a scene become more dramatic and intriguing which was needed in the dark knight interrogation scene to build up tension and add a sinister effect to the characters but in the big bang thing is not needed as it is a completely different genre the cuts are to show what the different characters are doing and doesn't need lighting to show what type of character they are or to add effect, the dialog shows it. The show would not be the same if lighting like in the dark knight was to be used.
In the camera movement big bang used mostly still shots and only moved to follow Penny moving towards or away from Sheldon, as the director wants the audience to focus mainly on what the characters are saying and not what the camera is doing. This is different in the Batman scene because without the camera movements the scene would not be as intense and intriguing. They use camera movements to show actions in an empowering way.In addition sound is used completely different in both examples.
In big bang after a funny line was used there would be an audio input of a crowd laughing;this is to show that the show is surreal as it is made to be in front of a crowd in a studi,o this also shows in the
acting as it is not up to movie standards which the multi camera technique shows but this adds to its comedic effect. Sound was used very differently in the dark knight as it was used for anticipation and tension to lead to the next scene to keep the audience at the edge of their seats.
The camera used in the Dark Knight was a IMAX 70mm film camera this is because the print of film is a higher resolution format and is twice the size of a standard 35 mm print, it can also be used in wide aspect ratios such as 2.20:1 to 2.29:1. The 70mm also has a downside though, it is very expensive to produce a long film off.
The Cameras used in the Big bang theory are the Sony HXR-MC2500E this is because the camera is fairly cheap to have multiple but also that its high quality and digital so the workflow would be vastly quicker then if it was on a print of film and can be transferred straight to the video editor.
