TV studio reflection days 1 and 2

Running OrderTV studio reflection day 1

On the first day we worked in the TV studio for the first time. I was shown how to operate the cameras (focus, zoom and positioning), the light control board, the sound mixing board and the vision mixer. We were also taught about the roles of the floor manager and the director. Once we had been familiarized with the production methods we had a first try at producing something. It was a simple interview between two people that lasted about 3-5 minutes. I had a go operating the camera, using the vision mixer to cut between the shots and directing the program. I like operating the camera and the working on the vision mixer, I liked the camera operating because i could actually set up shots and be creative, I also liked working on the vision mixer because I could control the final video sequence. I didn’t like the directing job, this is because I felt there was too much going on for me to concentrate on, I didn’t like having to think about controlling the shots whilst still trying to keep control of everything else like the sound and timing of the program.

TV studio reflection day 2

On the second day we followed on from the first day. We had a go at all the jobs we didn’t get time to have a go at the day before. I tried being the floor manager and the sound mixer and had another go at being a camera operator on camera 2 because it had more responsibility with having to do more shot movements. I found being the floor manager alright but I didn’t like it as much as a camera operator or a vision mixer because I didn’t like having to be in control of the production floor. I found that that operating the sound mixing board was one of the hardest jobs, this is because you are responsible for all the positioning of the microphones and when people talk there volume changes so you have to constantly adjust all the microphone levels depending on the volume of the persons voice when there talking to stop the sound level peaking and loosing information. I liked having more responsibility with he camera operation because I had more freedom with the shots which meant got to do more interesting shots.

Single Camera Vs Multi-Camera

Single camera

Single camera productions are used more for for than TV, this is because in film, lighting has to be changed for every new camera angle. It involves using one camera to capture all of the action so the action has to be repeated. Its used because a more cinematic look can be achieved due to less standing sets and equipment so theres more versatility. Single camera tents to be more expensive as it takes more time and more expensive equipment tends to be used.

Mult camera

Multi camera productions use several cameras to capture the action. This is a quicker cheaper method of filming so it often used in TV programs where the reactions need to be capture but cant be re-created, for example in comedy. It has its limitations: limited styles (e.g. stand up comedy, sit-com, interviews), more equipment and fixed sets so less flexibility with shot sizes, movement and angles this makes for a less cinematic look.

Crew operation and sound differences

The crews work differently in the two production types. In multi-cam there are the camera operators who set up the shots that the director tells them to via a radio headset from the gallery where the director also communicates with the floor manager who sorts everything on the set out. In the gallery with the director these the vision mixer who changes the live feed shots and graphics when the director tells them too (basically live editing) also these the sound mixer who adjusts the sound levels for all the microphones. In single cam productions theres the camera operator with the assistant camera operator who controls the focus and the director, director of photography, sound technician, lighting technician, boom pole operator and a production manager. The main differences in single cam productions is that all the crew is on the production floor not in a gallery and the editing and other post production is done of site after the filming has been done not live like with multi-cam. The sound in multi-cam productions is edited live like with the video. Wireless radio microphones are used along with microphones on boom poles, the radio microphones are used to pick up the sound from people talking without having larger microphones on sets. In single cam productions the sound is usually picked up with microphones on boom poles, this is so no radio microphones can be seen in shot and they give a clearer sound.

Multi camera is the only way to shoot an event

Filming an event is difficult because action happens once and cant be recreated like you can when filming a narrative. Because of this reason multi cam is the only way to film an event. This is because when filming with multiple cameras the action is more likely to be caught and sometimes from several angles of different shot sizes and movement, also action only has to be performed once and filmed from several angles so the action will cut together nicely in the edit because it will be the same on all the cameras

Persona Career Plan

Personal Career Plan