Multi-Camera Formats

In this post I will be outlining the various reasons to why different genres use multi-camera. I would be looking for Aesthetics and Practical reasons. 
The aesthetics are: 

• Visual style and mode of address
• Maintaining viewer interest
• Communicating meaning to the viewer

The practicals are:

• Coverage of action
• Constraints of studio or location environment
• Multi-camera simultaneous recording coverage of action

These reasons would be described in detail to why it  makes that specific genre and how the multi-camera uses are interpreted to help give it that better feel of the theme.


Aesthetics
This genre is sport and i have chosen show jumping. This is because there is only one focus point which is the horse and rider. The visual style and mode is due to the atmosphere of the show. It is energized through the competitor as they have to focus on getting around as quickly as possible to beat the other peoples times. You can see this clearly by the riders facial expression at 2:32. For this reason, multi-camera has to be used to capture every jump otherwise it would be too fast to catch it on just one. To maintain the viewers interest, there are various camera shots and techniques such as repeats and slow motion. At 4:30 there is an incident where she doesn't quite make the jump then at 5:00 you get to see a repeat of this incident in slow motion so that you can see all the detail in which why she didn't make it. Then at 5:10 you get to see it at a different angle. By slowing the footage down and repeating it means that  communication meaning to the audience will happen as the audience are able to see the mistake again which the majority of the audience would like to see to elaborate on what really happened.
Practical
The coverage of action is shown at 3:50 they start with a close up of the rider which turns into a long shot as they take their first jump. It follows round as a long shot to the next jump but then changes to a different angle which is closer so you get a better view of the jump. By doing this, makes it interesting to the viewer as it changes up the scene to make the view better in total.  The constraints of the environment is a large area due to the horse. This means that there must be multi-camera to get all different angles on the jumping. The reason to this is due to the points. You get penalty points of it knock off a jump etc so there has to be a lot to catch to footage of it to make it fair to all the other participants. Because each rider is riding for a minute maximum, it has to be simultaneous as they wouldn't be able to go back and do the course exactly the same way they done it before. 

Aesthetic

At concerts, the focus point is usual one main artist or at other times, a group of artists. The visual style and mode has to be energized at first to get the audiences attention. Right from the beginning of the video, Ed Sheeran walks on stage 00:02 which gives him the main focal point as it is something to look at instead of going straight into a song. 00:10 He also plugs his amplifier into the guitar which is a source of action which will also get the attention of the audience as they would be intrigued by what he is doing. As he is already the main focus point of the performance, he has already got the full attention of the audience. This also helps as he is the only one on stage. By doing hang movements to the audience, he is cooperating with them. This means that they can get involved with the performance as well as being interested. Some of the lyrics also have a dramatic pause which you can see in the footage. As he pauses, this is showing the tension of a particular part of the song.
Practical
There is various cameras set up around the location so that they can capture different angles of him performing. 1:30 There are also shots of the audiences reaction to give it more of an effect. By having various cameras set up, means that there can be a wider coverage of action. The area is also large as it has to fit a stage as well as a large number of people. 1:32 This is also the reason to why there has to be a multi-camera set up to make sure they capture everything. It is simultaneous as it has to be recorded in the moment straight away as it can be repeated as it is a live event. This means that they have to get it perfect the first time. By having various cameras set up, will allow them to get a wider view of what they can put into the final piece.

Aesthetic Game shows usually have a focus point of one person if it is an individual course such as this example. If it is a group of people, then there are various focus points. 0:13 The visual style is all kept energized in this clip as it is more of a sport course to see how fast someone can complete it. The energized atmosphere means that the audience watching it would get a better understanding to the energy the participant has to put in there them self 3:35 . To maintain the viewers interests, some parts of the footage is repeated in slow motion. This gives the audience a better view on how the participant has taken part in that particular move. Each shot has a communication to the audience as there are close ups of their reactions. This will show the audience the feelings that the participants would be feeling throughout the course.  

Practical 

The coverage of action is shown throughout this clip as there is a lot of action to take cover of. Each different camera is set up so that you can get more than one angle of each action then play back the angle which looks best. There are long shots of wider actions but there are also close ups on their reaction as they are coming up to or the action or whilst they are in the middle of doing it. 5:40 The constraints of the environment is a large restricted area as the course is quite big but it is all in a certain amount of space. Although it is in a set space, there must be multi-camera so that each part of the course is caught as the person taking park cant go back and redo the movement as it is all a on off. By not being able to go back and do the same movement, make this simultaneous as it is a move done once and cannot be copied after 5:42.

Aesthetic Talk shows would have one main focus point 1:00 then would often have other focus points as the show progresses. This is due to the guests which usually appear on the show. To keep a good environment throughout the show, the host usually makes the atmosphere relaxed by using a few joke terms against the guests. This catches the audiences attention as it is meant to be funny so it wuold make them want to continue watching. 1:45 To maintain the viewers interest, there wuold be different shot types such as close ups to the individuals but it there is mroe than one person talking, they would go to a wider shot. This mixes up the style to make it  more interesting. Sometime the shots would create meaning to the audience as it may go to a close up 2:10 of a main part of the show. By going to a close up means that it is either a serious point or a main part that you would find interesting.

Practical

Coverage of action is clearly shown throughout the whole clip as they change the shots type many times 2:14 - 2:16 - 2:19. This is to get a better view on the conversation as this is what a talk show is mainly about. The constraints of the environment is a large area due to the hosting of an audience and a stage for the interviews etc. A multi-camera set up would enable various shot types to happen and would also help as they would be able to catch every reaction from the guests as well as from the audience. Talk shows aren't that simultaneous as they are not recorded live. This means that they can go back and re take a shot if they are not happy with and keep doing so until they perfect it.

Aesthetic

A live event may have various main attractions. This is due to so many things happening at once 00:00 - 00:25. Remembrance day would have a lot of focus points from the marching to the placing of the poppies. This visual style and mode is calm as this even is a major even which is to remember those who have been lost. You cant have an energetic mode as it would defeat the concept of paying respects. To maintain the viewers interest, 2:19 they change the shots around. It may not be often but it does change according to the change in atmosphere during the event. As this even is a serious even, there is a lot of meaning to the viewer not just through the imagery but through the camera shots that are shown 3:10. There are close ups of the queen placing down poppies etc which connects to the audience as it is a main poin of the event.

Practical

Multi-camera must be used as there is a wide coverage of action 3:10 - 3:32 that has to be shot. It is set out over a large area until it gets to the main point which is also the main part of the event. By using multi-camera, will allow a lot more shots to be taken of the actual even and of the others who have come to pay respects close up. By getting the shots of the audience, means that the audience watching the footage would also be able to see others reaction to get another perspective of the event. This event has also been shot simultaneously as it is a contionuous live event which cannot be re recorded until the year after. By being live, means that the cameras would have to pick up all the actions from various angles to get the best shots to place together for the viewers at home. 

Aestchetic
This genre is a magazine show and i have decided to use 106 & park as it is a commonly known show.  This is because there is various focal points which is between the presenters and the guests. The visual style and mode is due to the atmosphere of the show. It is energized through the audience as they have to give atmosphere to the show. You can see this clearly at 0:34. For this reason, multi-camera has to be used to capture every reaction from the audiences reactions. To maintain the viewers interest, there are various camera shots to get close ups on the gust stars on the show 0:50. By showing close ups of the guests actions at 1:21, will have  communication meaning to the audience as they would be able to see them with more expression.

Practical
The coverage of action is shown at 0:45 where you get a full image of the presenters, guests and some of the audience. They do this as the introduction of the guests so you can see all of their expressions. The constraints of the environment is a large area due to the audience as well as the stage. This means that there must be multi-camera to get all different angles of the guests and the audience. It is all simultaneous as it isn't a pre recorded show. This is so that you can get the audiences reactions with out it being staged. 

Aesthetic
A talent show audition is not pre record as they would have one chance to get it right. The visual style and mode is due to the reaction the performer gets from the audience and the judges 2:05. To maintain the viewers interest, there are various camera angles of the audience, judges and performer. The angles are mainly of the performer as it is their part of the show 1:27 - 1:37 - 1:51. The communication meaning to the audience, is when you get footage of the performers family 2:10. This shows their emotions towards the performance.
Practical
The coverage of action is throughout the performance to get the expression from the performer as well as the audience. As it is a larger area, the constraints of the environment have to be covered dramatically to grasp every detail. As the performance is not pre recorded, the whole thing has to be simultaneous. This means by changing the camera angles and styles would have to be done smoothly and effectively to give it a better look overall.