R.A.G. Rating
Understanding of single camera productions including relevant techniques, benefits and weaknesses.
Definition
What I Think: A single camera production is a film piece created with only one camera.
What it is: Simply a media or film piece created with a single camera.
Pros
Cons
Shot Framing/Common Camera Shot Types
Extreme Close Up (ECU)
A shot which is very close to the subject and shows extreme detail
Close Up (CU)
A certain part or feature of the subject takes up the whole frame
Mid Shot (MS)
Focuses on a part of the subject while still giving a good impression on their entirety
Medium Close Up (MCU)
Midway between a Close Up and a Mid Shot
Wide Shot (WS) a.k.a Long Shot or Full Shot
The subject takes up the full frame, or as much as comfortably possible
Two-Shot
A frame of two people shot in a similar way to the mid shot
Noddy Shot
Normally a reference to an interviewer listening and reacting to a subject
Continuity
The consistent existence of an event or happening over a period of time.
Continuity Errors
Errors that don't match with the previous shot or moment in a media piece. These errors can be caused by multiple things, for example an actor/actresses availability, an editing error or something that the actor did once but failed to repeat in another scene.
Released - Single Camera Production
Brief
For our single camera productions, we were put into two groups of around 6 people to which we were to design a piece with the title Released. The piece has to be 5 minutes long. We were given the title 'Released' and had to use that name to plan a story, the characters we need and the entire theme based around the title and the given genre, which in this case was drama.
Our idea is:
Set in various locations (bedroom, park, other busy places).
Two main characters to whom one gets killed by an old bully. The one who is still alive thinks the one who got killed is still alive but in real life he isn't.
Locked in a bedroom. One of the characters still thinks the other one is alive.
The character who dies disappears at the end of the film in front of the other characters eyes.
Storyline
The story of our drama follows the life of two best friends called Hugo and Stevie. Their friendship is tested when an old school bully known as Trevor comes between them and murders Hugo, leaving Stevie with the blame. Stevie's sanity and trust are put to the test when he becomes locked in what he thinks is his bedroom with the ghost of his now dead best friend. He must come to terms with the death of his friend and prove to a detective investigating his case that he is sane and innocent.
Locations/Environment
Park (LeAF Academy Field) - Surely we can't use somewhere else? -F
Interrogation Room (LeAF Studio School)
Stevie's bedroom (Lewis' House)
Equipment/Assets
The unit is supposed to be a single camera production so we are not going to need much equipment at all. We may need a tripod for still shots but that should be the only thing required. Aside from that, possible audio equipment should be used when filming outside.
Characters
Hugo (Lewis Hall) - One that gets killed
Stevie (Bailey Cooke) - One that gets accused
Trevor Fowler (Lee Howarth) - The murderer
Detective Lance (Brandon Frost) - The person who is investigating the murder
Props
Watch
Knife
Files and Folder
Pens and Paper
Food and Tray
Computer
Phone
Evidence Tray
The video above is one of the very first versions of the opening scene, which utilises a simple, straightforward camera shot focusing on the main characters and nothing else. All in all it's very basic, with nothing going on in the background and no other angles present.
This is one of the later drafts of the opening scene, and you can already see the difference. Instead of just focusing on the main characters, there are shots showing their environment as a whole, and more dynamic movement and shots from the camera itself, resulting in a less dull scene.
A wild track is audio in a film that was recorded separately. A scene could be filmed say, with someone walking down a gravel path. Perhaps the audio wasn't loud enough or it was all recorded in silence. Later on, someone records someone else walking on a gravel path, making the noise of footsteps. This audio is then edited into the previous scene and synced up ,producing a seamless merge of audio and visual effects in the scene.