Working In The Creative Media - Learning Aim D

Working in the Creative Media Industry – Networking Techniques

I have had a few networking opportunities throughout the past two years. These are the opportunities that I've had during my time studying at Sunderland College.

Tyneside Pop-Up Cinema

I have had the opportunity to experience Tyneside Pop-Up Cinema in Newcastle. During this time, I was able to act and be a part of the crew, learning a lot about the industry. Firstly, I auditioned for the role of the narrator in the short film that we were making. I unfortunately did not get the role but I did play an extra which can be noticed near the end of the project. I also got the chance to be part of the crew. I had to control lighting in a scene which required the brightness to be turned down. I got to experience being a part of the sound crew. During this, I held the boom over the actors so their voices could be heard better.

Spark FM

At Spark FM in Sunderland, I was shown the basics of how to work in radio production. I also got the opportunity to work as a team to play a Virtual Reality game, showing the importance of teamwork. After this, we sat in the lecture hall and listened to a famous Youtuber named Hannah as she explain what life is like in the public eye.

Channel 4 Pop-Up Sunderland

I was selected to take part in the Channel 4 Pop-Up in Sunderland. I met some new people and was given a task to pitch a new factual tv show. We were put into groups and wrote out what are show would be about. We then had to stand up in front of the other people who were in our position and the people who work for Channel 4 and present our idea. I learned from this experience how to create something under pressure as we were also given allotted times to complete each task.

The Northern School of Art

At the Northern School of Art I learned about the art of foly sound. After receiving a tour of the university and a brief explanation of what the courses entail, we went to the stage to learn how to make some foly sounds. We used bird whistles, pieces of metal and much more. We also learned how to create our own microphone.

Blogger

To help give me a bigger presence online I have been using Blogger to make a showcase of all the work I’ve done during my time at college. I’ve compiled all the media that I’ve created into one blog. This allows perspective employers to be able to find all my work in one place. A link to my showcase can be found here: MY MEDIA SHOWCASE

Working In Creative Media - Specifics of Job Roles

Specific Job Roles in the Media Industry

The sector of media that I have always had a love for is the film and television industry. I like the idea of creating this form of art and being able to perform it. I am interested in four different job roles within this sector.

Director

Directing is something I have found interest in fairly recently with my short film “The Feeling of Love” being my first and only taste of it. However, I have a lot of projects and ideas in mind and some that I have already began to write which I will hopefully be directing in the future.

Actor

Acting and performing are something I have been passionate about from a young age. During my childhood, I was in a lot of performing arts clubs and talent shows. The performance that I remember the most is my role as The Baroness (Lady Tremaine) in a school production of Cinderella. For a while after that I didn’t do much acting as a way to improve my writing skills until I performed off camera reading the lines for the role of Sam during the production of my short film titled “The Feeling of Love”. Very soon I will be working with a good friend of mine as she has cast me in the role of Cassidy in her new television show “High Society”.

Writer

Writing is one of my favourite things to do. Short stories and pieces are very fun for me to write and I would love to be able to take my ideas to the screen. I come up with ideas and inspiration from personal experiences, listening to other’s stories and from music. My writing is usually very descriptive however I have some ideas which I have written down to later be turned into scripts.

Scriptwriter

Scriptwriting is also something I have found interest in quite recently. After writing “The Feeling of Love” I decided I wanted to write more scripts for short films. I began writing many different scripts for the ideas I had came up with. I am hoping I can turn them into those movies someday.

Working In Creative Media - CV

Curriculum Vitae

Dawn Thompson

40 White Rocks Grove, Whitburn, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR6 7LL

Mobile: 07551466809      Email: dawnthompson1999@gmail.com

Personal Statement

A responsible, imaginative, determined and ambitious creator searching for opportunities in the film and television industry where I can express my creativity and enhance my existing abilities. I am very dedicated to my work and I always put one hundred percent effort into everything I do. I am always working on or thinking about new projects to improve my skills in language and performance and to push myself out of my comfort zone.

Achievements

·         Landed my first TV acting role

·         Achieved Level 2 in gymnastics

Education

2018 – Present                 BTEC Level 3 Media Studies                        Sunderland College Bede Campus

2010 – 2015                        Whitburn Church of England Academy

·         6 GCSEs at grades B - D

Employment

May - June 2018                Retail Assistant (Work Experience)         The Range Sunderland

·         Pricing Stock

·         Stock Check

·         Unpacking Deliveries

·         Facing Up

·         Cleaning

·         Stock Rotation

·         Writing Off Damaged Stock

March 2014                        Office Intern (Work Experience)               Thompson Insurance Consultants

·         Writing, Addressing and Mailing Letters

·         Filing

·         Making Coffee

Skills

·         Editing Skills

·         Photoshop Skills

·         Language Skills

·         Written Communication Skills

·         Camera Skills

·         Organisational Skills

Hobbies and Interests

I enjoy writing short stories, scripts and poetry, performing, playing table tennis, walking the dog and spending time with friends and family.

References

Mr  Ben Cooper	Mr Alan Hardie
Department Manager	Principal
The Range Sunderland	Whitburn Church of England Academy
Address: Silksworth Lane, Tunstall,                          Sunderland, SR3 1PD	Address: Rackly Way, Whitburn, Sunderland, SR6 7EF
Tel: 0191 522 6958	Tel: 0191 529 3712
	Email: office@whitburncofeacademy.org

Some Of My Work

MY SHOW REEL

Showreel

SHOWREEL

Sunderland College Promotional Video

This is a short promo video for Sunderland College,

The Feeling Of Love - Outtakes

These are the outtakes for a short I created.

The Feeling Of Love - Directors Commentary

This is my directors commentary for my short.

Box Clever Events Promotional Video

A short promo for a local boxing group.

The Feeling Of Love

 My final cut of my short film.

Magazine Double Page Spread

A spread I made for my magazine.

Magazine Front Cover

 The front page of my magazine.

Box Clever Events Promotional Poster

A poster I made for the local boxing group.

Working In Creative Media - Job Roles in the Industry

Working in creative media

The media industries

There are many different types of media industries. All of these will be consumed by different types of people. You have the likes of TV and film. These have such a wide range of areas they cover. From drama and horror to comedy and romance. They’ll appeal to many different people depending on the type. You also have animation. A form that can take a long time to produce. The biggest type of animations are children’s programmes. However, there are also older focused ones for older audiences. Interactive media is another form. The big one for this is the internet and it can take the form of the likes of quizzes and is used in everyday technology. Then we also have publishing which is responsible for things like flyers and posters that can be consumed by many people. A good example of this would be a billboard advert on the side of a road. The biggest form of media that lots of people see everyday is the press. This is responsible for getting the news out to people and can be done in many ways like, TV, newspapers and social media. The press is an industry that also relies on lots of other industries within media. There are also computer games which make lots of money and are produced worldwide. A good example of this would be right on our own doorstep as we have offices for Ubisoft in Newcastle. They’re used by people of all ages and backgrounds as a way of disconnecting and forgetting about their problems and entering a virtual world. Then we have advertising. A huge industry responsible for letting people know about products and offers all over. They can also rely on many other industries as you can find advertisements in TV, film, newspapers and even videogames. Marketing is like advertising but more on the side of looking into how this certain product will be perceived by people and how to get it too them and get people interested.

The film and television industry

The film and television industry create movies and programmes for people to watch and enjoy from the cinema to the comfort of a home. Movies and some television shows can be consumed on DVDs or on video. Other shows such as talent shows, or soap operas can usually be found on television channels such as BBC or ITV. Work from this industry can also be watched on streaming services such as Netflix or Disney+ always with a target audience in mind. The products that are created in this side of the media industry range in genres as well as the age groups, genders, interests and emotions of the audience, meaning there is always something for everyone.

Job roles in the film and television industry

There are many job roles in the film and television industry, and all are equally important. From directors to designers every role is worked together to create the art that we watch at home or in the cinema, on our TVs or mobile phones.

Director

The director is responsible for all the creative elements of a production. Its their job to make sure the vision is met. Essentially the job is as it says on the tin. They direct the actors and crew in the manner they best see fit to get the outcome they want from the production. They also direct the editors during post production so that the final product matches their vision and standards. They make sure people are in the places that they need to be.

Producer

A producer is essentially the boss of a production. They will be the person who initiates the production. They’ll oversee and manage the production of movies, TV series and more. They are with the production from start until after the finish. They help with initial development and writing. Producers will try to sell scripts while also offering their directors and actors to get deals. During pre-production the producer tries to keep it as cheap as possible trying to come in under budget and make sure nothing gets in the way. During production the producer oversees literally everything. From on the fly script edits, directors, actors and crew losing their cool to managing people’s egos and expectations. During postproduction the producers help the editors, providing notes on anything that is needed. They’ll also keep track of the budget and if needed do reshoots or use visual effects to get the best finish. And finally, even after release the producer can never relax. They’ll have to watch how much the film is making to hopefully turn a profit. They make sure marketing are doing their job and watch the publics perception of the production.

Actor

An actor is a person you see on screen. Their job role is to tell the story through the lines written by the scriptwriters and through their movements and body language such as walking or running, hand gestures or facial expressions. Their body language as well as what they speak helps give an indicator to the genre of the movie or television show that that they are appearing in. for example, in a comedy their gestures and facial expressions have to match the dialogue in order to get a laugh out of the audience. Just saying the lines may not get the reaction the writers and director may be hoping for. They must perform them with meaning. Actors can sometimes relate to the character they are playing, depending on what is written or how they are dressed. This can be a good thing as the actor can then perform the role in a more real way.

Writer

The writer is responsible for having a vision. They’ll have a story that they want to make into a final product. However, they might not have the dialogue they want so will have to rely on scriptwriters to help them write the final product that they want. They can help with locations and sets. They can help set the mood for what is expected of the shoot.

Scriptwriter

The scriptwriter plays a very important role in the production. They’ll be responsible for all the dialogue and directions that the actors and crew will need to follow. Its important that they make all of this as fluid as possible to make it seem real. They don’t want it to sound as if they actors are literally reading from a sheet of paper. It needs to sound like something people would say. This means they need to write as if the conversations where being had by real people.

Set designer

The set designer makes the sets in which the actors perform in. Different sets will take different amounts of time. The designer will have a whole host of people working for them to make sure that set is perfectly the way the director envisioned it. They can go from designing anything from the inside of a car, a street and even to a massive grand hall.

Costume designer

The costume designer makes and finds the costumes that the actors wear when playing their characters. This requires a lot of work and detail depending on the type of show or movie that is being filmed. For example, a movie set during the Victorian era would require a lot of more in-depth research and design that something set in the current day.

Makeup artist

The makeup artist plays a part in making all the actors look like their characters. This can range from just a little bit of makeup for a more natural look to full prosthetics to alter the shape of the actor’s face depending on their role. This job role also applies makeup to the actor’s bodies if the role requires it. This can include cuts, bruises or scars for the injured characters and body paint for superheroes, mythical characters and even tattoos. The makeup artist may also have to real tattoos on an actor if their character does not have any.

Hair stylist

The hair stylists, like the makeup artists, help make the actors look like their characters. They style the actor’s hair to make the actor’s look fitting to the time period the story is set in and style wigs if it what the character requires.

Camera crew

The camera crew are very important as they get the footage for the television show or film. They record the actors performing as well as get establishing shots of landscapes and buildings. They are usually given a shot list from the director, however that those shots may change during production as some may not work when it comes down to filming it. Depending on the production, this job role requires the use of either single or multi camera techniques.

Lighting crew

The lighting crew are a team of people who are responsible for the way a set is lit. They help creating shadows or for allowing more light into the set. A good example of this would be that a scene shot within an apartment would have lighting used to make it look like it was shot within the apartment and not just in a studio. This could include having lights and lamps set up around the apartment to having studio lights and soft boxes outside the window to make the light look more naturally like sunlight. Or on a night shot it could mean making it look darker.

Sound crew

The sound crew are there to make the quality of the audio on the video sound as best as it possibly could. Their job is very important and takes lots of time. Typically, a sound crew will have three people. A boom operator who is responsible for dealing with microphones to make sure they aren’t in shot and still recording clear audio. A production sound mixer who will be responsible for making sure all the audio is how it should be and that no unwanted sounds are picked up. Many will regard this role as the most important. Finally, you have the sound assistant who is the stock person. They make sure that batteries are charged and working, mics are ready and generally assisting the rest of the sound crew where needed.

Editor

The editor is the person who will be making the final product. They’d work directly with the director to get their exact vision. They’ll take all the footage that was recorded during the filming process and make it into a final cut. This means they’ll spend a lot of their time going through multiple camera angles from the same shot and fitting it all together to make the final product. This is a vital role to make sure that everything looks flawless and runs with the director’s vision. And that the audience don’t lose track of what is happening.

Researcher

The researcher is a very important job role. They are needed for any television show or movie to help the writers gain more of an understanding of how they want stories to go or characters to feel. Researchers are also very necessary when it comes to historical genres or documentaries. They find information to make sure the product will be historically, factually or culturally correct before it is fully written. This job role can also help the actors tap into the characters they have a more dramatic or hard-hitting storyline.  

Location scout

A location scout finds locations to fit the television show or movie when a location that cannot be made on a stage is needed. A location scout can spend a lot of their time both in the office and out on location. They can find locations and do research on them before going to the location themselves. Usually a location scout will take some form of document with them and make all the required notes on that location. These notes can be very detailed. They’ll include things relating to shots, how much space there is and things in the background that could affect the shot to name a few. They’ll also look at safety concerns to make sure that the environment the actors and crew will be in wont cause them harm. This can include looking at potential trip hazards, people in the area and even the traffic passing by. They’ll also need to cover the weather too as different locations will have different types of weather.

Recruitment in the film and television industry

A big way of getting actors for film and TV would be through auditions. These will be posted up on social media sites like Facebook, or even on job boards like Indeed. They would be overseen by the casting director and is the best way of seeing if someone is fit for the job. For the likes of the crew advertisement could be put up on social media and job boards. Usually a copy of a CV and/or portfolio would be submitted. This allows the hiring team to eliminate and refine the people who applied to create a shortlist for interviewing. Interviewing allows the recruiter to meet the person and see what they’re like face to face.

Contracts of employment

Most employees for all companies (not just media) will have contracts. Within the film and TV industry these contracts may be more in-depth due to nature of the job. Contracts will include things like, pay, hours and entitlements. There are different types of employment, full time, part time, temporary, permanent. Different types of jobs will use different types of contracts. For example, on a permanent full-time contract you’re more likely to have more rights within the company than if you were part time temp. TV and film may also include an NDA (No Disclosure Agreement) in their contract. This means that you can’t talk about the project until the NDA is lifted.

Finding employment opportunities

For people looking to find employment within the TV and film industry jobs can be found in various places. Social media sites like Facebook has groups people can join to be notified about job opportunities near them but also all over the world. This allows them to see if the job is something they’d like and if its worth applying for. It also means you can potentially speak to people who’ve worked on similar projects before to get some hints and tips to help them during the hiring process. Some production companies may also post adverts up on job boards. This means it’ll be directed at people looking for that specific role. The advert can include all the information about the job. From hours and pay to weather its temporary or permanent.

Interview techniques

Interviewers will use a wide range of techniques to make sure the person is fit for the role they’re applying for. One of the main techniques that will be used is questions. The questions will be specific to the job role with a few oddballs to see how the applicant handles with a random question. A big one that companies like is “If you were a brand which brand would you be.” They may also make you do a roleplay scenario to see how you would handle being put in a specific position and potentially under pressure. For the likes of actors, they may also make you read lines from a predefined script to see if you are fit for the role.

Increasing job opportunities

There are many ways an applicant can increase their job opportunities. They could get involved in a local drama group. This could be acting, filming or any other area that helps them get experience. Anything that can go on a portfolio. You could also build your own portfolio and make videos to post to websites like YouTube. YouTube is a very big one as it allows you to take on most of the roles. It also helps increase your opportunities as when applying for jobs it gives you something to link to so people can see what you’ve worked on in the past.

Professional behaviour

For anyone working in the media industry (Not just TV and film) professionalism is a most. This means that when turning up to things. Whether that be a shoot, an interview or a press event you must be punctual, smartly dressed and well mannered to help maintain the company image as well as your own and you must be reliable. Not only will that make you look professional, but it will help increase job opportunities in the future. Its also important to be well structured. This can mean keeping a diary of your activities, keeping your accounts in order and marketing all if any freelance work you do. Finally, you should make sure to maintain and improve your skills. This is important because it means that in the future you can go to better and bigger projects and jobs because you’ll have the technical skills and knowledge to do it.

The structure of the film and television industry

The TV and film industry both have structures to them. Within the TV industry there are many. TV has public service media. This includes the like the BBC (News outlet) who provide news to the public and report on local and national issues. The BBC is government funded meaning the public pay for it. This means they don’t play advertisements for money. A good example of a commercial outlet would be the ITV. Unlike the BBC they aren’t funded by the government so rely on advertisers to keep them going. Independent media is media which is free of government influence. This could fall under a TV show that reports on government goings on without sugar coating it because they’re independent and for the people. Media uses vertical integration a lot. This is when a company owns different business in the same industry. The best example of this is 20^th Century Fox. They own the studios in Hollywood. As well as cinemas, TV channels and DVD stores. Horizontal integration is when a company buys out other business that would be competitors too them. A good example of this would again be Disney. They buy out lots of companies. Like Pixar and Marvel to then have them owned by Disney means that they aren’t competitors but instead Disney makes money from them. Cross media is media that is shared across multiple platforms. An example of this could be a news story that is published on TV then gets posted to social media and search engines. Meaning it reaches a wide range of people. This also falls under multiplatform as again it can be watched on the TV, or on a mobile phone, tablet or computer. Multinational media is a form of media that is worldwide and seen by people all over the globe. A prime example for this would be a Spanish TV show called La Casa De Papel or in English Money Heist. The show aired in Spain and didn’t really make it big. However, after being picked up by multinational media company Netflix the show soon became a worldwide hit. It went so popular that it was dubbed in most languages so everyone could enjoy the show.

Career opportunities in the film and television industry

TV and film are huge industries worth billions of pounds. There are many companies that produce many films and shows a year. Most of the companies are owned by very few people. A big investor who now owns many companies is Walt Disney. A company that has expanded over many years and taken over lots of smaller companies and licences and franchises like Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, Fox and National Geographic to name a few. To use Disney as an example, if another company licences and uses their characters they’ll get money for it as well as royalties for every time their assets are used. Companies will have structures in place for the management of their organisation. They’ll have departments that deal with finance, sound, copyright and many more. All of which will over plentiful career opportunities for the right candidates.

Ethical issues in the film and television industry

There are quite a few ethical issues to consider within the TV and film industry. You need to consider the representation of groups and/or individuals. For example, how German people should be represented in a film set in World War 2. Religious beliefs also an area to be considered. You want the information on the religion to be perfect and 100% factual. Otherwise you may cause big offense or upset within that religion. Language should also be taken into consideration. If you’re a company who prides themselves on being polite and well mannered on screen, then that should be mirrored off screen too. It should also be that everyone has equal access to the media you produce. A perfect example of this is that some soaps have afternoon screenings of the show with an interpreter for deaf people. Companies usually also have a code of conduct that will include the company’s ethics and values that employees will be expected to adhere to during their time working for that company.

Legal issues in the film and television industry

The biggest issue within the film and TV is copyright. You need to get all the correct permissions for songs or clips for other productions before you use them, if these permissions aren’t in place you could be liable to legal action because of it. You also need permissions for actors and locations that without could lead to legal action. Another issue for this would be that people in the back of shots who don’t consent to being in that shot could also take legal action against the production. You also need to see how things will be interpreted by different audiences. Something that you may see as perfectly fine would be racist to someone else. This can cause big issues for the production. Especially if legal action should be taken.

Unit 21 – Editing Techniques Learning Aim A

Unit 21 – Editing Techniques Learning Aim A 

The purposes of editing 

The editing or post production is the process in which the scripts become visual art. The main purpose of editing is to piece together the project, turning it into a movie, television show, music video, advert and many more. Editing is something that can help define the different genres due to the pace of each transition, the music and sound that can be added and the techniques that are often used. The purpose of editing is to keep viewers' attention. Without editing there would be no room for mistakes. TV, movies and others would just be one continuous clip with no editing. Sound would also be a big issue meaning that types such as music videos would be completed in one take with the artist trying to do everything as well as sing. 

An example of editing techniques is the use of parallel editing. Parallel editing (also known as cross cutting) is a technique that is used to show two different events happening in different locations but at the same time. The use of this technique began in !903 with Edwin S. Porter’s movie The Great Train Robbery which simply shows two things happening in two different places. Since then, the use of cross cutting has continued into the present day. In 1911, this editing technique was used in the film The Lonedale Operator by D. W Griffith, and in 1920, Griffith used the technique again in his movie Way Down East. This 1920’s film is about an abandoned, unwed mother who is set on ice floes in a blizzard. The parallel editing in this film shows the danger that the female character is in. Parallel editing has been used in this clip to show the two different points of view from the male and female character. The clip shows the female character floating down towards what looks to be a water fall on a chunk of ice. The clip also swaps to shots of the male character desperately hoping between the ice to save the lady. This is parallel editing because it swaps between the two characters viewpoints meaning the audience aren’t stuck watching a single clip of a lady floating on ice or just a man running to save someone. The purpose of this is to keep the viewer intrigued at the man's conquest to save the lady. It also gives the viewer a perception of space by reminding them how far the man has gone and must go to save the lady before she reaches the waterfall. It also is used to keep reminding the audience of the fate that lies before the lady should the man not be able to rescue her in time. 

Another example of parallel editing is in the 1991 film Silence of the Lambs by Jonathan Demme. The use of this technique in the movie shows the actions of the criminal and the FBI. The criminal is inside the house and the FBI are outside. This has been done to mislead the viewer into thinking that the FBI are correct when in reality it is the female character name Clarice who is. This editing technique is continuously used throughout the scene, showing that Clarice is in danger once she faces the criminal. It is also used to show the realisation the FBI and Clarice’s boss have when they discover that they are wrong. The purpose of cross cutting in Silence of The Lambs is to keep the viewer guessing as to what will happen next and to surprise them with the outcome. 

Another example of an editing technique is the use of montage. A montage in an example of non-continuity editing and it is the use of small shots compressed together to save time and space whilst still giving a lot of information about what is happening in the scene. An example of this editing technique used in film and television is in the movie Rocky III by Sylvester Stallone. The montage used in this movie shows two characters training. This will have been used to show how much training in being done in such a short space of time. This shows the audience how dedicated the characters are to their training. 

The use of montage editing is also used in in the film Team America by Trey Parker. Similarly, to Rocky III, Team America uses this editing technique to show training. However, it has been done slightly differently using split screen in the montage. The purpose of this will also be to show how much work the characters are doing within a short space of time but by splitting the scree it is showing the intensity of the training in the close ups. 

Unit 20 - Single Camera Techniques Learning Aim A

Unit 20 – Single Camera Techniques Learning Aim A 

Introduction 

A single camera technique is the use of one camera during the production process. Multiple takes are recorded in this way of filming due to there being only one camera involved as different angles are needed. The use of single camera techniques began in the 1910’s and this has continued to be used throughout the years in film and television.  

The History of Single Camera Production 

Single camera production came to light in Hollywood cinema in the 1910’s and has remained a very common way of filming in the industry. Comedies and sitcoms were usually filmed using multi camera techniques until the early 1970’s when the television show M*A*S*H was created. Following this, Happy Days was shot suing single camera in 1974 before making the switch to multi camera. After this, single camera was used more for dramas.  

Advantages of Single Camera Techniques 

A big advantage of single camera production is that it is cheaper. Using more than one camera is more expensive due to having to pay for more cameras and for extra cameramen to help out. Creating a film using single camera means less people need to be paid and less equipment needs to be used, resulting in it costing less. Another advantage of this production process is that the actors that are in the scene don’t necessarily need to be on set at the same time. For close ups of characters only one actor is needed. This means that if two characters are meant to be conversing on screen, the parts can be recorded on different days and edited together, adhering to the actors’ schedules. The next advantage is that the scenes do not have to be recorded in chronological order. This is a good thing because it also adheres to the actor’s schedules as some may not be available to film a certain scene at a certain time. It also means that if different scenes are set in the same location, they can all be shot on the same day depending on which actors are involved. There is also more control when recording using single camera. Each shot can be set up perfectly, with the lighting and sound controlled to enhance any details in the scene. Another advantage is the practicality of filming this way means the scenes can be shot in smaller spaces. With the use of only one camera there isn’t a limit on how much space can be used. 

Disadvantages of Single Camera Techniques 

One disadvantage of single camera techniques is that it takes a lot longer to record the project. Every scene requires multiple takes from different angles which also have to be set up, taking a while to get everything done. Another disadvantage is the risk of less real reactions from the actors. If they are not on set at the same time and are just speaking to the camera, they are not getting the reaction to their lines from their costar, making the scene less genuine. The repetition in single camera production is also a big disadvantage due to the scenes having to be recorded over again to get the perfect shot with the different actors, possibly on different days. Editing a single camera project can also be long and tiring. This is because there is a lot of footage that has to be selected and put together in the correct order so that the project flows. 

Examples of Single Camera Techniques 

Film 

The Tourist (2010) is a film that uses single camera techniques. The genre of this film is a romantic thriller, made to entertain and excite an audience. In a clip from the movie titled “Burn This Letter”, This way of filming is used to make the scene look more dramatic. The clip begins with a close up of the character with a focused look in her face as she reads a letter. There is a voice over of her reading the letter aloud in this scene and the next shot is an over the shoulder shot of what is written. The focused look on the character’s face is then shown again in another close up but this time it is slowly panning around her. These shots are used to enhance the drama and intensity of what is in the letter. In this part of the scene she also appears to be very calm. The camera clearly showing her facial expressions adds suspense to the scene as it looks like she is not phased by the contents of the letter. Another over the shoulder shot takes place, this time showing the female character on a security camera. This shot allows the audience to know that she is being watched by someone, continuing to add to the thrilling impact the other shots have already displayed. This shot then pans around to a close up, revealing the character who is watching her. He looks very cautious and concerned, implying that the female character he is watching is either hiding or is up to something. These shots add some mystery to the scene as the male character seems curious to know what is in the letter. The camera then cuts back to the close up of the female character as she finishes reading. She has been told to burn the letter and by her facial expression she understands why. This part adds more suspense to the scene. The camera then cuts to another close up of the male character, looking more concerned. In this shot he mutters the line “it’s from him”, showing that he could know whats going on. The close ups to this point of the female character's face lead the male character to realise a part of what is happening. The next part that is shown is an over the shoulder shot of the female character burning the letter as she was told to in the contents of it. This highlights the importance of what is written and could possibly show the trust she has in the sender of it. Close ups of the security camera footage and the people watching her quickly follow behind. This shows the outcome of the female character reading and burning the letter, creating a thrilling impact. 

Television Drama 

True Blood (2008 – 2014) is a television show that uses single camera techniques. It is a drama series that similarly to the The Tourist, uses a lot of close ups to excite the audience. A clip from an episode in season 7 begins with a two shot of characters sitting in a car. The male character begins by talking about a plan, saying “if we’re going to go through with this plan, you’re going to have to take my blood”. During this line, the camera cuts to a close up of the female character so that her reaction can be seen. She looks concerned in this shot, creating a sense that she is thinking about what has been said before agreeing with him. The Next shot is a medium shot of the male character biting his wrist so that the female can take his blood. This shot doesn’t show the aftermath of his wrist after it has been bitten, adding a small element of mystery to the scene. The shots that follow go back and forth between a medium shot of the girl drinking his blood and an over the shoulder shot of the male. Quickly changing between these shots shows the importance of what the characters are doing. After this a close up of the male character is shown, allowing the audience to see his expression as she finishes taking his blood. It appears that he may be in pain but it also shows a sinister expression on his face. This can be interpreted as him as a scheming villain. 

Sitcom 

Modern Family (2009 – present) is an example of single camera production in a sitcom. In a clip titled “Lily’s Musical Taste”, the opening shot is a medium shot of Lily in a car, beginning to open up about her music taste to her fathers. This shot centres the character and the point she is trying to make, showing that the topic in discussion is important to her. The camera then cuts to a close up of one of her fathers, gaining a reaction to what she is saying. The close up shows the father’s reaction more clearly. The camera then goes back to a medium shot of Lily so that she can explain further. She goes on to say that she “[doesn’t] like Beyonce”. This immediately changes to a close up of the other father to gather his reaction as well. The camera is positioned in the way it is due to the car being a tight space. Due to this the camera can be set in a way to position all cameras within the shot. It can then be moved for close ups eliminating the other characters from the shot to help add to the scene. At the end of this scene, all three characters are in the frame. This will have been done to add the comedic effect due to the reactions of the fathers as Lily plays her music.