What is a Single Camera production? -
Single camera production is the process of taking multiple shots of the same scene from different angles with just the one camera. It is used in various forms of media including dramas, sitcoms and music videos. A single-camera production will generally give a director more control over his or her shot, be cheaper, but is also more time consuming than the multi-camera method.
Development
There are multiple stages in the development of a production. In this section I will firstly explain the general development stages before going into further detail of certain aspects of development such as the logline and hero’s journey.
Development of ideas and writing of script
The first stage of any single camera production is the development of ideas.The producer of the piece will have an idea for a production whether it be original or taken from a book, video game, other film etc etc and then begin working with a writer or group of writers depending on the size of the production. Together they will produce a Treatment which is a 30-page description of the story, mood and characters. A storyboard artist is likely to be used at this point in the production too as the treatment will feature little dialogue a lot of the story will be told visually.The next stage is the writing of the screenplay/script. This is often rewritten many times before been shown to anyone not currently involved with the development although in bigger productions scripts are often analyzed and graded. This is called script coverage. Re-writing the screenplay is used to increase the commercial value. It is used to make improvements to the structure, change characters or even change the genre of the film. Rewriting allows the film to evolve over time. Once these stages are covered a pitch is developed and given to potential financiers, actors and directors.
When writing a script it is important to break apart each scene and ask yourself what is accomplished and if there are any other scenes that presenting the same content.
Single camera production is the process of taking multiple shots of the same scene from different angles with just the one camera. It is used in various forms of media including dramas, sitcoms and music videos. A single-camera production will generally give a director more control over his or her shot, be cheaper, but is also more time consuming than the multi-camera method.
Development
There are multiple stages in the development of a production. In this section I will firstly explain the general development stages before going into further detail of certain aspects of development such as the logline and hero’s journey.
Development of ideas and writing of script
The first stage of any single camera production is the development of ideas.The producer of the piece will have an idea for a production whether it be original or taken from a book, video game, other film etc etc and then begin working with a writer or group of writers depending on the size of the production. Together they will produce a Treatment which is a 30-page description of the story, mood and characters. A storyboard artist is likely to be used at this point in the production too as the treatment will feature little dialogue a lot of the story will be told visually.The next stage is the writing of the screenplay/script. This is often rewritten many times before been shown to anyone not currently involved with the development although in bigger productions scripts are often analyzed and graded. This is called script coverage. Re-writing the screenplay is used to increase the commercial value. It is used to make improvements to the structure, change characters or even change the genre of the film. Rewriting allows the film to evolve over time. Once these stages are covered a pitch is developed and given to potential financiers, actors and directors.
When writing a script it is important to break apart each scene and ask yourself what is accomplished and if there are any other scenes that presenting the same content.
Logline -
The Logline, which is basically the pitch for the script of your production. It is usually 25-30 words long and it should detail who the protagonist of the film and what they have to overcome/their goal and the antagonist/antagonist force. It is not to be confused with a tagline which is piece of marketing used for film posters or adverts. A logline is written for industry professionals to show them you can create a viable story for the script. Is it possible that if you can’t make your logline work, chances are the story in your script doesn’t work. Here is an example of a logline for the film for The Shawshank Redemption. (Taken from the IMDB)
The Logline, which is basically the pitch for the script of your production. It is usually 25-30 words long and it should detail who the protagonist of the film and what they have to overcome/their goal and the antagonist/antagonist force. It is not to be confused with a tagline which is piece of marketing used for film posters or adverts. A logline is written for industry professionals to show them you can create a viable story for the script. Is it possible that if you can’t make your logline work, chances are the story in your script doesn’t work. Here is an example of a logline for the film for The Shawshank Redemption. (Taken from the IMDB)
‘Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency’
Character development -
With character development there are generally a minimum of four different archetypes to cover, these are your Protagonist (leading character, doesn’t necessarily have to be a ‘good guy’), Antagonist, (the protagonist’s rival, opponent, competitor, etc) the Stakes character (usually a woman or object that the protagonist is chasing or competing for) and the Mentor (generally someone who teaches or guides the protagonist, more often than not they will be old and wise)
The 3 act structure -
The 3 act structure is a guide to giving a film a clear beginning, middle and end. The first act of the story introduces the characters, the premise and the setting. This will usually occupy one quarter of the running time. In act two, most of the action and conflict takes place with the third act being used to resolve the story. These acts are broken up with inciting incidents, turning points and resolutions. Here is an example of the 3 act structure of the film Star Wars
During these acts there are examples of the other archetypes such as inciting incident where Princess Leia sends a message to Obi-Wan Kenobi for help and turning points where Luke discovers his aunt and uncle dead and his home destroyed at the hands of Stromtroopers searching for C-3P0 and R2-D2 and the meeting of allies in Han Solo and Chewbacca.
The 4 act structure -
The 4 act structure is similar to the 3 act structure only the character's journey and roles are described differently. Acts are split up into moral dilemmas for the protagonist to overcome. The protagonist starts off as a loner, then a wanderer, before becoming a warrior and then a martyr where they sacrifice something important to them.
The Hero’s journey -
There is another more complex narrative structure based on mythology, known as the hero’s journey which come from the myth theories of Joseph Campbell (Monomyth). This form of storytelling breaks down the characters and events into archetypes. Events unfold in a prescribed sequence.
Pre-production -
Pre-production is the planning done after the script is finished. It is preparing the project for production. In this section I will look at the stages and importance of -pre-production.
Storyboards -
Storyboards tell the story in pictures. One of the primary reasons they are used is to convey the ideas to the other members of the production, especially the director of photography. It is also useful for explaining concepts to those who don’t understand the script (such as producers and those involved in funding) even if it does make sense to others. Although it’s not necessary to storyboard every shot, having a detailed storyboard can make a shoot run a lot more smoothly. Storyboards can be as detailed as you like with, as long as your idea is conveyed it doesn’t matter if you can’t draw, stick figures will suffice. Generally the bigger the production the more detailed the storyboards.’The Wachowski Brothers had to get elaborate storyboards drawn because the people who could greenlit the project didn’t understand the script’ noted Hollywood.com 2015
an example of the Matrix’s storyboards
Storyboard aren’t only hand-drawn, in today’s age they can be done digitally using various different software and programmes.
Script breakdown -
A script breakdown details what actors, crew, equipment, props, wardrobe, make-up and location(s) are needed for the production. This is vitally important step and is a good way of reducing the stress involved in the creating a film. Evans states ‘ think of the movie as one big shopping list — composed of clips one after the other. You go and shoot these clips in any order you like, and as long as you know exactly the separate pieces that make up the jigsaw of your movie, you’ll be able to piece them together just as you intended’ 2010’ which is an analogy one can also use when creating their script break
The crew -
The number of crew in a production depends on the size of the production with feature films having a massive amount of crew members, with everything from the obvious ones like the director, director of photography, boom operators and costume and make-up to runners and gaffers. Smaller productions such as student films will often have people filling in for a number of roles and tasks
Clearances -
Clearances for any actor’s performances, music and locations must be sought in pre-production too. Without so you run the risk of legal troubles which depending on the size of the production, could put a halt to everything
The budget -
The production and post-production of the film cost money usually per-day. While it is possible to shoot a film on little-to-no budget providing you’re in the fortunate position of having access to equipment and a crew and a cast that will work for free (likely to be friends), the likelihood is there will be some cost and many things to consider when it comes to the budget. Everything from renting equipment, actors, props, make-up, travel and even post-production things like editing software needs to be factored in.
Risk assessments -
Risk assessments are a vitally important aspect of any production whether it be a feature film with multiple locations, actors, stunts and hazards or a production taking place in one room with two actors, there’s always going to be some potential risks involved so making sure you have acknowledge these and taken the steps to protect your cast and crew will hopefully lead to a safe, risk-free production avoiding any possible lawsuits and unnecessary injuries or worse.
The call sheet -
The call sheet for the production should tell everyone involved where to be and what to bring. It should contain the title of the production, the location, date and weather. The crew and cast’’s details should also be included, with their roles, any equipment and contact numbers clearly noted. Details of the location with any directions needed should also be on the sheet, if your cast and crew can’t find where they’re supposed to be a whole day’s worth of shooting could likely be ruined. Any health and safety details are important too, it is important everyone knows what’s around them and any specific clothing they may need such as footwear or jackets. One of the key points of the call sheet is of course the schedule, this should be short and concise but including what shots and scenes are been shot at what time. Facilities and are expenses are also a thing to consider.
Production (Mise-en-scene)-
The production phase of single camera production is generally the shortest. All the development and planning in first two stages comes together and what’s down on paper and storyboards comes to life as the shooting process begins. In this section I will describe the key points within the production. The mise-en-scene included everything in the framing in which the audience sees and also informs and hopefully fulfills the audience’s expectations of the genre
Lighting -
The Director of photography is not only tasked with operating (or directing) the camera but also the lighting of the shots. Badly lit scenes can ruin films just as much as poor acting or sound. The way scenes are lit will change the mood and perception of what you are trying to express.
The 3 act structure -
The 3 act structure is a guide to giving a film a clear beginning, middle and end. The first act of the story introduces the characters, the premise and the setting. This will usually occupy one quarter of the running time. In act two, most of the action and conflict takes place with the third act being used to resolve the story. These acts are broken up with inciting incidents, turning points and resolutions. Here is an example of the 3 act structure of the film Star Wars
During these acts there are examples of the other archetypes such as inciting incident where Princess Leia sends a message to Obi-Wan Kenobi for help and turning points where Luke discovers his aunt and uncle dead and his home destroyed at the hands of Stromtroopers searching for C-3P0 and R2-D2 and the meeting of allies in Han Solo and Chewbacca.
The 4 act structure -
The 4 act structure is similar to the 3 act structure only the character's journey and roles are described differently. Acts are split up into moral dilemmas for the protagonist to overcome. The protagonist starts off as a loner, then a wanderer, before becoming a warrior and then a martyr where they sacrifice something important to them.
The Hero’s journey -
There is another more complex narrative structure based on mythology, known as the hero’s journey which come from the myth theories of Joseph Campbell (Monomyth). This form of storytelling breaks down the characters and events into archetypes. Events unfold in a prescribed sequence.
Pre-production -
Pre-production is the planning done after the script is finished. It is preparing the project for production. In this section I will look at the stages and importance of -pre-production.
Storyboards -
Storyboards tell the story in pictures. One of the primary reasons they are used is to convey the ideas to the other members of the production, especially the director of photography. It is also useful for explaining concepts to those who don’t understand the script (such as producers and those involved in funding) even if it does make sense to others. Although it’s not necessary to storyboard every shot, having a detailed storyboard can make a shoot run a lot more smoothly. Storyboards can be as detailed as you like with, as long as your idea is conveyed it doesn’t matter if you can’t draw, stick figures will suffice. Generally the bigger the production the more detailed the storyboards.’The Wachowski Brothers had to get elaborate storyboards drawn because the people who could greenlit the project didn’t understand the script’ noted Hollywood.com 2015
an example of the Matrix’s storyboards
Storyboard aren’t only hand-drawn, in today’s age they can be done digitally using various different software and programmes.
Script breakdown -
A script breakdown details what actors, crew, equipment, props, wardrobe, make-up and location(s) are needed for the production. This is vitally important step and is a good way of reducing the stress involved in the creating a film. Evans states ‘ think of the movie as one big shopping list — composed of clips one after the other. You go and shoot these clips in any order you like, and as long as you know exactly the separate pieces that make up the jigsaw of your movie, you’ll be able to piece them together just as you intended’ 2010’ which is an analogy one can also use when creating their script break
The crew -
The number of crew in a production depends on the size of the production with feature films having a massive amount of crew members, with everything from the obvious ones like the director, director of photography, boom operators and costume and make-up to runners and gaffers. Smaller productions such as student films will often have people filling in for a number of roles and tasks
Clearances -
Clearances for any actor’s performances, music and locations must be sought in pre-production too. Without so you run the risk of legal troubles which depending on the size of the production, could put a halt to everything
The budget -
The production and post-production of the film cost money usually per-day. While it is possible to shoot a film on little-to-no budget providing you’re in the fortunate position of having access to equipment and a crew and a cast that will work for free (likely to be friends), the likelihood is there will be some cost and many things to consider when it comes to the budget. Everything from renting equipment, actors, props, make-up, travel and even post-production things like editing software needs to be factored in.
Risk assessments -
Risk assessments are a vitally important aspect of any production whether it be a feature film with multiple locations, actors, stunts and hazards or a production taking place in one room with two actors, there’s always going to be some potential risks involved so making sure you have acknowledge these and taken the steps to protect your cast and crew will hopefully lead to a safe, risk-free production avoiding any possible lawsuits and unnecessary injuries or worse.
The call sheet -
The call sheet for the production should tell everyone involved where to be and what to bring. It should contain the title of the production, the location, date and weather. The crew and cast’’s details should also be included, with their roles, any equipment and contact numbers clearly noted. Details of the location with any directions needed should also be on the sheet, if your cast and crew can’t find where they’re supposed to be a whole day’s worth of shooting could likely be ruined. Any health and safety details are important too, it is important everyone knows what’s around them and any specific clothing they may need such as footwear or jackets. One of the key points of the call sheet is of course the schedule, this should be short and concise but including what shots and scenes are been shot at what time. Facilities and are expenses are also a thing to consider.
Production (Mise-en-scene)-
The production phase of single camera production is generally the shortest. All the development and planning in first two stages comes together and what’s down on paper and storyboards comes to life as the shooting process begins. In this section I will describe the key points within the production. The mise-en-scene included everything in the framing in which the audience sees and also informs and hopefully fulfills the audience’s expectations of the genre
Lighting -
The Director of photography is not only tasked with operating (or directing) the camera but also the lighting of the shots. Badly lit scenes can ruin films just as much as poor acting or sound. The way scenes are lit will change the mood and perception of what you are trying to express.
There are different types of lighting, the most obvious been natural light with techniques and equipment used to soften shadows or diffusing sunlight. Another type of lighting technique is backlight. Stanley Kubrick used this in A Clockwork Orange to create a sense of menace with the the actors being left in silhouette. If the lighting was from behind the actors the mood and tone of the film changes completely.
Natural light cannot be controlled so while shooting in daylight can generate some terrific shots, these will only be possible if your pre-production work is carried out properly and you are aware of the weather and things such as cloud coverage. Lighting in interior sets can manipulated in any way providing you have the resources necessary to create the artificial light.
Shooting -
The two main sizes of film used in single camera production are 16mm and 35mm.with more depending on whether the production is shot on film or video. The focal length used in the production will be dependant on the lens used. A wide-angle lens will will show a lot more foreground with the background seeming father away, whereas the telephoto will bring distant objects closer including the background giving a compressed feeling. Focuses are adjusted in bigger productions by a puller who uses a white ring to mark the focus points so he can make the necessary adjustments without looking through the lens. The cinematographer or camera person will require a shot list which makes up the list of shots to be done on the day (which is done in pre-production) and a shot list which is a list of every shot taken, which is invaluable in the editing process. Shots are also ordered by location rather than order of occurrence
Composition, framing and movements -
Composition is the way elements are placed within the frame and their positioning and relationship with one another. In single camera production where the same shot is taken twice during dialogue, once from over the shoulder of one actor and then again over the same shoulder of the actor opposite, the rules of thirds should still be considered in shots with the facial features remaining in the ‘central’ division. The framing of the shot is either Academy (4:3) or widescreen (16.9) Most productions these days are shot in HD (High-definition)
In single camera productions there are a range of options available to get the desired shots such as a track which allows the camera to be moved horizontally as desired. Using a tripod the camera can also pan horizontally from a fixed position or tilted vertically. Dollys can also be used or built too.
There are of course many different shot types achievable with camera from extreme close ups to extreme long shots.
Stunts and make-up-
A lot of single camera productions will have stunts or make up required. Smaller productions make require the making of one’s own special effects such as blood or smoke machines used to create the illusion of explosions for example. Make up teams can often be recruited from colleges for smaller productions, the results might not be as good but the fee, if any, will be massively cheaper.
Sound -
Sound is arguably the most important aspect of filmmaking. Good sound can save a film with bad photography. When recording for film and shooting with 16 or 35mm film, audio is recorded with a separate recording device. In the other method audio is recorded through a mic. Professional audio mics are very sensitive and will pick up on all manner of ambient sounds. To ensure only the actors voices are picked up the mic needs to be as close to them as possible with mic possibly mounted to a boom. Eliminating ambient sound begins on the set with keeping everyone quiet and making sure any electronical devices not in the actual production are turned off. Other remaining sounds can be eliminated in post-production through editing and the adding of other sounds and effects.
Directing -
The director of the piece should have a lot of different qualities to truly succeed and get his or her vision across. They must be able to effectively communicate with cast and crew in particular and be organised with a clear vision of what they want on screen.
Post-production -
Once everything is shot and finished it is time to start piecing the footage together. Everything shot will be edited into a cohesive whole with sounds, music, special effects, titles and credits added too. Bad editing can ruin a film and make even the best of ideas fall flat and putting waste to all that effort made in the previous stages. This is why if you’re not editing the production yourself, whoever is should know what they’re doing if you want your single camera production to be the best it can be.
In editing the transitions from one scene to the next are created and any colour correction is also adjusted to make the production look the best it possibly can. Also possibly included in this stage are any special effects whether they be top motion puppets or CGI (computer generated imagery)
When titles and credits are added it is important to credit everyone involved in the production, most people not involved in the production won’t stick around until the end of the credits unless there’s an after-credits scene but for those involved in the production seeing their name in the credits in a necessary thank you for the work they did. A production’s title is also important as it can set the mood before the narrative even begins.
the opening title’s for David Fincher’s Se7en.
Foley and music -
Foley is the process of adding sound effects to a production during the post-production stage. They include things like foot-steps, doors opening, glass breaking and the like. These are usually created by foley artists in a specialised studio. Without these effects a film can sound empty and hollow and so they are needed to make a film come alive.
Any music used in the production should only be added if the rights were purchased from the artist or composer or their label. Using their scores or songs without permission will cause all manner of trouble.
Natural light cannot be controlled so while shooting in daylight can generate some terrific shots, these will only be possible if your pre-production work is carried out properly and you are aware of the weather and things such as cloud coverage. Lighting in interior sets can manipulated in any way providing you have the resources necessary to create the artificial light.
Shooting -
The two main sizes of film used in single camera production are 16mm and 35mm.with more depending on whether the production is shot on film or video. The focal length used in the production will be dependant on the lens used. A wide-angle lens will will show a lot more foreground with the background seeming father away, whereas the telephoto will bring distant objects closer including the background giving a compressed feeling. Focuses are adjusted in bigger productions by a puller who uses a white ring to mark the focus points so he can make the necessary adjustments without looking through the lens. The cinematographer or camera person will require a shot list which makes up the list of shots to be done on the day (which is done in pre-production) and a shot list which is a list of every shot taken, which is invaluable in the editing process. Shots are also ordered by location rather than order of occurrence
Composition, framing and movements -
Composition is the way elements are placed within the frame and their positioning and relationship with one another. In single camera production where the same shot is taken twice during dialogue, once from over the shoulder of one actor and then again over the same shoulder of the actor opposite, the rules of thirds should still be considered in shots with the facial features remaining in the ‘central’ division. The framing of the shot is either Academy (4:3) or widescreen (16.9) Most productions these days are shot in HD (High-definition)
In single camera productions there are a range of options available to get the desired shots such as a track which allows the camera to be moved horizontally as desired. Using a tripod the camera can also pan horizontally from a fixed position or tilted vertically. Dollys can also be used or built too.
There are of course many different shot types achievable with camera from extreme close ups to extreme long shots.
Stunts and make-up-
A lot of single camera productions will have stunts or make up required. Smaller productions make require the making of one’s own special effects such as blood or smoke machines used to create the illusion of explosions for example. Make up teams can often be recruited from colleges for smaller productions, the results might not be as good but the fee, if any, will be massively cheaper.
Sound -
Sound is arguably the most important aspect of filmmaking. Good sound can save a film with bad photography. When recording for film and shooting with 16 or 35mm film, audio is recorded with a separate recording device. In the other method audio is recorded through a mic. Professional audio mics are very sensitive and will pick up on all manner of ambient sounds. To ensure only the actors voices are picked up the mic needs to be as close to them as possible with mic possibly mounted to a boom. Eliminating ambient sound begins on the set with keeping everyone quiet and making sure any electronical devices not in the actual production are turned off. Other remaining sounds can be eliminated in post-production through editing and the adding of other sounds and effects.
Directing -
The director of the piece should have a lot of different qualities to truly succeed and get his or her vision across. They must be able to effectively communicate with cast and crew in particular and be organised with a clear vision of what they want on screen.
Post-production -
Once everything is shot and finished it is time to start piecing the footage together. Everything shot will be edited into a cohesive whole with sounds, music, special effects, titles and credits added too. Bad editing can ruin a film and make even the best of ideas fall flat and putting waste to all that effort made in the previous stages. This is why if you’re not editing the production yourself, whoever is should know what they’re doing if you want your single camera production to be the best it can be.
In editing the transitions from one scene to the next are created and any colour correction is also adjusted to make the production look the best it possibly can. Also possibly included in this stage are any special effects whether they be top motion puppets or CGI (computer generated imagery)
When titles and credits are added it is important to credit everyone involved in the production, most people not involved in the production won’t stick around until the end of the credits unless there’s an after-credits scene but for those involved in the production seeing their name in the credits in a necessary thank you for the work they did. A production’s title is also important as it can set the mood before the narrative even begins.
the opening title’s for David Fincher’s Se7en.
Foley and music -
Foley is the process of adding sound effects to a production during the post-production stage. They include things like foot-steps, doors opening, glass breaking and the like. These are usually created by foley artists in a specialised studio. Without these effects a film can sound empty and hollow and so they are needed to make a film come alive.
Any music used in the production should only be added if the rights were purchased from the artist or composer or their label. Using their scores or songs without permission will cause all manner of trouble.
Once all these stages are complete it becomes a case of where the production will be shared, be it the internet on sites such as Vimeo or Youtube, festivals, DVD and the like.
Reference list -
Mastering Film » Why You Need a Script Breakdown. 2015. Mastering Film » Why You Need a Script Breakdown. [ONLINE]
Reference list -
Mastering Film » Why You Need a Script Breakdown. 2015. Mastering Film » Why You Need a Script Breakdown. [ONLINE]
http://masteringfilm.com/why-you-need-a-script-breakdown/. [Accessed 12 March 2015]
The Hero's Journey - Mythic Structure of Joseph Campbell's Monomyth . 2015. [ONLINE]http://www.movieoutline.com/articles/the-hero-journey-mythic-structure-of-joseph-campbell-monomyth.html. [Accessed 19 March 2015].
3-act Structure — Star Wars (original) | William P. Coleman. 2015. 3-act Structure — Star Wars (original) | William P. Coleman. [ONLINE]
https://williampcoleman.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/3-act-structure-star-wars-original/. [Accessed 19 March 2015].
The Hero's Journey - Mythic Structure of Joseph Campbell's Monomyth . 2015. [ONLINE]http://www.movieoutline.com/articles/the-hero-journey-mythic-structure-of-joseph-campbell-monomyth.html. [Accessed 19 March 2015].
3-act Structure — Star Wars (original) | William P. Coleman. 2015. 3-act Structure — Star Wars (original) | William P. Coleman. [ONLINE]
https://williampcoleman.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/3-act-structure-star-wars-original/. [Accessed 19 March 2015].
