Single camera setup

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c4tnonob A single camera setup is used to shoot some studio-produced television programs. Single-camera television shooting is effectively equivalent to motion picture production, except on a smaller scale. Most television dramas are shot this way, but it's less commonly used for comedies or sitcoms which nearly always use the multi-camera setup.

Unlike multi-camera shoots which use the traditional television setup of 3 or 4 simultaneous video cameras with individual operators, a floor director, and a control room crew (director, switcher, tape operator), etc, the single-camera shooting style is much more akin to how motion pictures are shot. That is, there is just one (film or HDTV) camera, and the camera and lighting is specifically reset for each new shot and camera angle. Frequently the camera will be on a dolly or Steadicam-like device allowing for precise and planned tracking and panning movements. The crew works much like a film crew with the director, director of photography (DP), camera operator, focus puller all on set creating each shot in turn.

While most multi-camera shows are shot "in sequence" -- the shooting progresses chronologically through the script -- single-camera shoots are like film shoots also in that they tend to cluster together the shooting of all the scenes that utilize a certain set and cast.

1 Single camera comedies
2 Shows that use the setup
- 2.1 Half hour shows
- 2.2 Hour-length shows

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Single camera comedies

The single camera setup is generally utilized on comedy series that either require or strive for specific shots and camera angles and visual set-pieces. When the potential of the single camera filming style is fully maximized the camera movement, the way shots are composed and edited, and other directorial flourishes, will be as much a source of comedy as the behavior of the characters. On such single-camera shows as Scrubs and Malcolm in the Middle the creative teams are more likely to include fantasies, daydreams, and surreal, cartoonish gags, occasionally using CGI.

In contrast the multicamera setup, which dates back to the 1950's and I Love Lucy, is used more for traditional style sitcoms that utilize few sets and feature an ensemble of characters performing before a live audience and where specific shots and camera angles are not crucial to the success of the product. Larry David originally lobbied for Seinfeld to be a single-camera show, but NBC felt the traditional multi-camera setup was a safer bet.

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