Unit 23: Multi Camera Analysis (Task 1)

I have chosen to look at BBC One's studio based football analysis show Match of the Day (MOTD) as part of our multi camera techniques unit.




The show is set in a small studio featuring three presenters (1 hosts and 2 guests) sat around a table talking about football. As it is a relatively small set you would think that there wouldn't be many cameras required to produce the show however I think that there are at least 4 cameras being used to film the show. Multiple cameras are used to speed up filming or if the programme is filmed live used so that the viewer seamlessly transitions between different angles without seeing any camera movement. On live shows the director tells the camera operators what shot to get or who to be focused on and the vision mixer cuts to the desired camera so the programme is edited live.

Match of the day opens with a shot sweeping in from the left. The shot captures the whole set and all guests and is done using a crane. This shot is also sometimes cut back to in-between close ups of the various presenters.

The next camera I noticed was the camera that is fixed on the guests. This camera is used to get a shot of both the guests and also used to get a close up of the guests individually. I believe that these two shots are done by the same camera as it never cuts from the shot of the 2 guests to a close up of just 1 guest. So that the viewer doesn't see any camera movement a cutaway to one of the crane shots is used between going from both guests to 1 guest.

Another fixed camera now and this time it is the camera that is focused on the Host, Gary Linker. This camera doesn't move and is mainly used when Gary is talking directly to the audience.

Finally the last camera is another crane shot, this shot often sweeps across the set whilst the guests are talking. It is used as a cutaway to get from close ups between the various guests. It is also used whilst Gary is talking to the audience however he doesn't look directly into this camera as it moves. He looks at the camera that is fixed on him.

This show uses multi camera techniques in order to speed up filming and increase viewer interest. The fact that there is multiple cameras means that the show can flow and no cameras have to be repositioned saving time during filming. It increases viewer interest as the fact that there are constant camera angle changes and cuts keeps the viewer engaged in the programme as it is constantly moving.  



Fish out of Water

I have finally finished editing my documentary and I am very happy with how it has turned out. In terms of both production and post production this has definitely been one of the most challenging things I have made so far but it is definitely one of the most rewarding. I think that I have managed to portray a story and even convey some emotion towards the end of the piece via the use of music and editing. Initially when I had the idea I was worried that the final piece would be boring however due to the pace and the way I have told the story I think that the documentary is actually very interesting and conveys a compelling narrative about a young boy, isolated from his family and friends, trying to get by on his own. During the edit I couldn't decide whether or not my documentary needed a voice over or not, so I wrote one anyway and by the end of the edit I discovered that it flowed perfectly with out one. The piece is just over 6 minutes long and whilst I've left a lot of footage out I feel like it is just the right length due to the pace of the peace. I tried to end on an emotional part of the story in order to pull the heart strings of the audience as I feel like this will help the piece be more memorable. To conclude I am very happy with how this piece of work has turned out 'Fish out of Water' Is a documentary I am proud to call my own.

Taylor Nikola Henderson -Filmmaker-

I want to thank Jess Bramfitt for letting me use her Mac to edit my amazing showreel showing off my amazing talents as a director, camera operator, boom operator and most importantly editor! I don't know what I'd do without her! Even though going from Windows to Mac wasn't easy and we suffered numerous problems at the start and trying to export we accomplished it!!

I should also remember to log out of my gmail account and not click the 'keep me signed in'