Formats

There are three main formats used for single camera production they are:

Series
A series is where it has a number of episodse all linking together having something in common.Also a number of events happening one after an another related to each other of some kind.

Single Drama
A single drama is when the story last for a maximum of a couple of hours which you find out the beginning and end of the story line not continuing to a another film.

Serial
A serial is where a story happens more than once committing the same offence, following the characteristics also the predictable behaviour pattern for a example a serial killer would cause an offence in a show which you have to carry on watching to find out the plot. Which never end involving round 1-3 main characters

Narrative Structures

Types of narratives structures:

Linear Narrative

Linear narrative is when a show starts from the beginning right through to the end. It's really simple and easy to follow for the audience, making them able to understand what's happening and what's going to happen next. A linear narrative usually attractive the younger generation because is easy to understand meaning that they find more interest than the older generation so might enjoy watching something more complex.

Non-linear Narrative

Non linear narrative is where the story is not in chronological order meaning that the beginning may be shown at the end or the opposite. It does not follow any type of pattern, where events happen at different times in the show unexpectedly. It may include a narrative of another story inside the main plot line it's been used in thrillers for the main reason of creating mystery and suspense atmosphere for the audience.

Episodic Narrative

Episodic narrative is where the story is told through a series of episode for example ‘Misfits’ is a story that tells through a numerous episodes in which every episode will recap what happen in the last episode this will happen at the beginning of each episode, another example is ‘Hollyoaks. ’ by this will give a rough idea what happen in the last episode and will help the audience understand what is going to happen in the next episode.

Most films use episodic narrative structure, as it tells a story through the films but they do not include the plot in that movie creating at least 2-3 movies to watch in order to find out the ending. For example the Hunger Games and Twilight. By this, it will capture the audience attention therefore more people are incourage to watch the movie. Episodic is good narrative structure when coming to TV programme because they do not give the plot line.

Open Narrative 
Open narrative, involves many characters and has no sense of ending. It's mainly used in soap operas such as Cornation street or Eastenders which never come to an ending, making the story continue to build further on as the audience feel more interested to carry on watching.

Close Narrative
Whereas, close narratives come to an ending and usually last 2 and half hours including all the characters and key events. Such as the thriller film 'About time'. This helps keeping the audience more entertained knowing that they are having to continue watching to find out the plot of the film.

Realist and Anti-realist Narrative 
Realist narrative is the story which relates to real life situations making the audience feel relatable to the topic in the show such as loosing a baby or worse murder also making the audience feel more engaged in the show. Where Anti-realist is the opposite it's not real life events but more supernatural for example the show doctor who none of which is real.

Single Stranded 
Single stranded is the story that evolves around a single character such as a hero acting in a single plot whilst surrounded by a group of characters of who have minior roles in the film. The single character is the only one with importance focusing on he or she more.

Multi Stranded 
Multi-Stranded is where different characters are involved in the show which all have heir own importance and own story line. For example in the show 'Skins' where it focuses on more than one character in each episode leading up to a plot. This makes the audience feel more entertained in each episode asthenosphere find out more things and are introduced to new characters.

To show mystery the director used low key lighting to create a dark, isolated atmosphere. This is so us as an audience feel scared and makes us feel intimidated.

Single camera vs Multi camera technqiues

Single camera

Single camera, is when you film using one camera only in either a film or show its used to show more  dramatic effect of the characters towards the audience including shots such as close up and extreme close ups, shooting at one angle. It's most commonly used in serials and series such as thrillers to create mystery and suspense.

Types of genres that use single camera techniques:

Utopia -Thriller



In the show utopia we notice many single camera techniques have been used shot types such as close ups, mid shots and more. This is used to create suspense as its a thriller as well as mystery by using a single camera the director is able to create an atmosphere and relationship between the characters such as the mother and child and the male. The set up of using a single camera is very simple basically placing the camera in front of the character on a tripod and then filming from the angle you  are at. The scene begins with a master shot where all characters are in shot as well as the location they are at we already know before that they will begin having a conversation sitting at the airport waiting for their plane. By using a one camera you are able to capture detail of the character such as facial expressions and eye contact with the audience.

Come fly with me- Comedy 

In the comedy show 'come fly with me' they use many single camera techniques to relate to reality including shots such as close ups and mid shots to focus on facial expressions also the surroundings, to conclude when we would have to speak to people in ordinary life we would only see from shoulders up. Also is a type documentary show were different people are interviewed who each have different roles in the airport.

Multi camera production

Whereas, multi camera is using more than one camera at different angles making it easier to cut to one camera to the other. It's most commonly used in live shows that are filmed in studios.It gives the director less control than with a single camera but is a faster way of filming and more expensive.Multi camera techniques is mainly used for live shows to ensure that they cover all action going on in the show

Types of genres that use multi camera techniques :

Graham Norton - Talk show


Shows such as Graham Norton , Jermery Kyle etc use multi camera as they are shows which are live on TV meaning that it's easily and quicker to use more than one camera filming different aspects in the show at the same time. They don't have time to be filming with a single camera as that would mean having to move a lot to capture different angles of people in the show talking making it not suitable to watch as it would be very jumpy and rushed not easy to understand what's going on. Whilst watching the show the audience can see a range of different shots and angles used as they can cut into shots easily and quickly with multi cam.

Sport channels -live football 


 Multi camera is mainly used for coverage, coverage means showing all of the action shown at the same time such as filming a live football match. It's impossible to film a live football match with a single camera as you wouldn't be able to achieve filming all action that was happening and all the players at the same time with a single camera as if you missed filming a goal you wouldn't be able to re do that shot as the fact it was live the players couldn't re play that goal again as it's simple a game.

Rule of Thirds

Rule of thirds is  a technique which uses guide lines ensuring that the character is in the focus point of the shot.Its used to help control the placement of images within a scene. The idea of this is to place the subject in either top, bottom or left and right. It is used to drawn the audience eye to the subject as it is on an equal distances from all of the sides.

Depth of field

Master shot is where it captures all the characters in the scene including the location it is used to engage the audience in where the scene is taking place knowing what is already gonna happen.

Depth of field also known as shallow focus involves round a smaller depth showing something in focus smaller showing little background.

Master shots and building a sequence

Master shot is when shooting a scene involving all characters aswell as the location.

High angle shot is where you film the subject aiming downwards, making the character appear dominant and larger than the other character showing authority. 

Low angle is where you capture the actors eyes showing that they appear smaller and the other character more powerful. 

Building and blocking a sequence

Building is when you build a sequence putting shots together to build a moving sequence.

Blocking where you place the characters in particular to show relationship between them, in the shot this is show when they clash and walked straight into one another. 

Lighting

Lighting is important when filming. It gives the audience an understanding of the character or the scene,  focussing them on a specific character.There are three types of lighting they are low or high key and three point:

Low key- is where there are dark tones in the scene it can be used to show that the character is either bad or evil. Creating mystery and suspense whilst watching the scene. 

High key- is the opposite of low key consisting of light tones in the scene such as lights, indicating the characters characteristics of being a hero.

Three point- is where all light focuses on the character making them stand out to the other characters in the  scene.

There was no lighting used whilst we were filming, however we used the natural lighting of day time as it was filmed in our college building it was the perfect brightness for the scene of a realist format.

Movement

-Pan is horizontal camera moving left and right form the central axis
-Tilt movement is vertical camera which points up and down
-Dolly zoom moves closer and further away from the subject

180 Degree Rule

180 degree rule 

When filming you shouldn't cross the line of vision called the axis of action this is a invisible line that has been established in the first shot.This is because it will disorient the viewer a the characters position on the screen will switch. some film makers purposely break the rule to disorient the viewer.

Shot Types

-Close up shows facial expressions also mid close up including top of shoulders
-2 shot shows the relationship between twp characters in a scene
-Wid shot shows the location the scene is set in
-Mid shot shows real life for the audience
-Full shot shows body language of the character
-Over the shoulder shows conversation between characters
-Extreme close up shows intimidation through only the eyes

Single Camera Techniques Practical Assignment

- Rule of 3rds



-180 deg rule



-Building a sequence of shots



-Blocking (intimate,distant)




-Framing (Head room, Lead room)



-Master Shot



-Lighting (High key, Low key, Single and 3-point)



-Match on Action



-Shot/reverse Shot



-Movement (pan, tilt, track, dolly, zoom, contra zoom)
-pan is a horizontal camera moves left to right at the central axis.
-tilt movement is vertical camera which point up or down
-dolly move the camera along and in and out movement i.e closer
- dolly zoom moves closer or further from the subject


-Shot types : Close up, long shot, 2-shot, Mid shot, Over the shoulder, Point of view)


-Establishing


-Angles (High, low, Canted)



-Depth of field (shallow focus, pull focus)

My idea is based on a group of girls whom are all close friends. But they discover some issues in their friendship many of them fall out and loosen their bonds, in one of the episodes we see a girl in the group shockenly goes missing of who no one knows about her where ness they believe someone within in the school knows someone, the show consists of a lot of mystery and suspense as many people are accused of the whereabouts of this girl we see many different characters in the show who all seem to have something to do with it which we don't know for certain til the last episode. We eventually find the body of the missing girl which the audience find out she has been murdered however, the girls who were friends of the girl dead receive texts messages of deaths threats and other horrific things making the genre a teen thriller.
Type of production
The type of my production is goner be a web seekers with a genre of teen drama. Targetin towards teens between the ages of 14-18. It will be multi stranded as the episode continue by introducing a new character meaning that there is further more to watch as more bits are added to the story. Also it will be an open narrative as even though we eventually find out who killed her it still feels like it's not the ending as you want to watch to see what will happen next in the show.It will be non linear as I want to include flash forward of the girls lifestyle as we learn more about her this way this also is a good use of creating mystery and suspense. I've decided to use single camera techniques as this come acros to the audience as a more realistic atmosphere making it more effective and emotive toward the audience engaging them more. Also by using single camera techniques it allows the director to produce footage more easier aswell as quicker and cheaper as you are using less equipment
Time
To help ensure everything is kept on track everything will be given certain deadlines I will try at the best of my ability to kept to these deadlines avoiding following behind. Things such as filming will be given the time limit of a day only which needs to be kept to ensure everything else on time.
Facilities
Kit list includes 
Post production :
iMac
Compressor
Final Cut Pro x
Production 
Cameras
Dollys
Tracks
Tripod
Mics
Lighting
Transport
 Lucky transporting the euip,net will be completely free as I am a teen I'm offered a free bus pass. Other things which will come free to us will be the camera used as hopefully the college will be kind enough to lend us the euipment need also the mc suite to edit the footage and put together. It also will be free for crew members as they will also be of age given a free bus pass travel. 
Crew
As its a web series not many people will be in the show a max of two actors of which are college students. This also helps when keeping to a budget as your not paying too many people for their jobs. There will only be one camera operator as we are using single camera techniques, we will be having a budget of £20 a day on luxuries including food and drink making the crew members happy and more prepared for their day at work. 
Locations 

Whilst scheduling your need to break down the storyboard into locations and scene to work out how many scene you could record at each location by becoming more organised in your setup it makes you job easier to film this will give you an set time your need left to film after your setup. From this, you can find out what the costs of the location will be use to for the amount of time that is needed.Before we begin any shooting we will need to decide a date for the deadline of this production as people will be more up to stead with things rather than doing it just aspect img things to be done when ever. This follows in organising days in which we need to set to shoot certain scenes and for the talents to come and act in the show as they may be busy and not be able to do it at certain times. 

 What ever you choose for your location you must makesure you have permission depending if it's in public or somewhere else as you may never be allowed to shoot again as you went against the laws word. 

items of kit for the editing suite are available for independent hire, including:

• Apple Mac workstations
• Final Cut Studio 3
• Adobe After Effects
• Adobe Creative Suite 5
• Sony DVW-A500P DigiBeta Deck
• Sony M25AE HDV Deck
• Our editing suites can be dry hired from £150  
• half-day or £250 / full day.