Workshop 2: Conflict

We took the skills and knowledge we learned from the Conversation workshop and created another short film that had to include conflict or a 'fight' scene. Armando asked about the groups and whether they should stay the same as they were; Most of the group said 'yes' to save people falling out and we worked well together in the groups that we were in; Lauren enjoyed working with Shanice and with her group, however Ben wanted to change the groups so he complained to Armando. I didn't hear or see him do this but I think it was because he wanted to work with everyone and not just stick with one group. I didn't mind who I worked with; it's good to work with a variety of people as everyone has their own different skills and interests. Armando decided to 'split the groups up' and swapped Ben with Jack and Lauren and I; the new groups haven't really changed and Lauren is negative about the change because she wants to be with Shanice; Shanice's group agreed that they worked well together which made me feel uncomfortable as I was the one that 'replaced' her. 

Armando just told us to get on with it and stop whinging about the group change so the new groups just got on with it because moaning about it wasn't going to get them anywhere. Shanice and Saffie suggested filming someone spying on 'their victim' and eventually that person gets chased. I liked this idea because we didn't have to actually fight one another; proper punches, kicking or anything, just to film tension, however we had to include some sort of conflict. When they were explaining their idea, they used Myself as an example of the person being spyed on and themselves as the people spying. I felt a little pressured into acting in the video because they didn't ask me whether I wanted to, however I should be enthusiastic about acting on film as I am studying Performing Arts.

We were asked to plan a storyboard and script for our short film in the first 2 hour lesson and in the afternoon session that we have with Armando, he wanted us to film it. We were all really excited about this until Harvey came in and asked the Performing Arts students to attend a meeting with the Media students and Martin Tucker. We were all really confused because we had already had a meeting with Martin Tucker and recorded the answers via video and Gemz is taking minutes for everyone. This took up the last half an hour of the morning session which means that we hadn't created a storyboard or anything.

We came back from our break and Shanice and the rest of my group had already started drawing the storyboard. Saffie, Shanice and I didn't really know what we could do to help apart from pitch ideas for the storyboard, however Ben had taken over and did it himself. Armando started getting annoyed with this because Saffie, Shanice and I wasn't doing any paperwork which contributes to the short film and we started having our own chats about Finding Nemo. This fed everyone up and we just got a camera from Ian and just got on with it. 

We started to film in the corridor on the first floor, outside the Mac suite; I was the person who was being followed and Dylan told me to walk down the corridor, pretending to be on the phone whilst Shanice and Saffie were spying on me, standing behind the door of the Editing Suite. Ben and Dylan recorded me walking down the corridor twice; one from behind me and one from Shanice's point of view. The next shot was Myself walking to the top of the stairs and looking down, still on the phone. This was difficult to shoot more than once because I had to walk to the exact same place on the stair railing because when they edit the film, it will flow together (continuity). The next shot was Myself, speaking on the phone and slying glancing over my right shoulder and noticing that I'm being followed; however I couldn't glance too much because I had to pretend that I seen them from the camera's point of view but not make it obvious to them (if that makes any sense) so I pretended to the be on the phone for a few seconds, see the spyers and run down the stairs. At this point, Shanice and Saffie follow me, picking up their pace as I do. Ben and Dylan wanted to film Myself running down the stairs until the Ground Floor level and looking up at Shanice and Saffie; a shot from my point of view and Shanice's point of view was taken. Ben wanted to capture my feet running down the stairs, along with Shanice's annd Saffie's feet. Ben also filmed a close-up of my eyes looking scared; this was hard because I couldn't make my eyes look scared without my face expressing the emotion, however we didn't have enough time to faff around as I just got on with it. 

The last couple of shots was Myself trying to escape via the doors on the Lower Ground Floor but they were 'locked' and I tried to escape the alarmed fire exit doors, whilst Shanice and Saffie were on my tail and reached the bottom of the stairs. I was surprised how quickly we'd filmed the short scene; we finished at 4pm and got to go home early.

Workshop 1 - Conversation

We split into groups of 6 and filmed a short scene between a detective and a prisoner;

• Ben - Director
• Lauren - Cameraman
• Ryan - Prisoner
• Sam - Detective
• Jodie - Cameraman
• Ellie-Mae - Clapperwoman

Armando roughly created a script that was over 1 minute long which we used to film our short scene. We decided as a group that Sam was the Detective and Ryan was the Prisoner; none of the Performing Arts students were enthusiastic about filming. Ellie-Mae and I wanted to use the camera and learn about how to use it because we're always performing so it was nice to learn about both sides of the camera. Jodie said that she wanted to be a prisoner for the first time as we were recording the short scene twice, then she decided to work the camera so that left Sam and Ryan doing nothing and they volunteered to be the actors. Sam wasn't confident being in front of the camera so we all tried to help him 'get into character' and to calm down as he was nervous. Before we started recording, Sam and Ryan read through their lines together and Ben directed them as he'd created a storyboard so he wanted it to reflect that. This gave everyone to get to grips of what their role was; I learnt how to use the camera and what positions Ben wanted them to be in and Ellie-Mae learnt how to use the Clapper and what she should say and write.

Using the camera today instead of acting was really interesting because I got a taster of what it's like to work with a camera and how continuity is very important; Gemz pointed out some minor mistakes when filming such as Sam's reflection in the window or Ryan's hand, when raised, wasn't clear. Perfection is the key! Everything has to be clear and nothing can be in the way as it will interrupt the shot and when editing the shots and putting them together, it won't make sense because it won't look right. I was the first one to use the camera; Jodie and I took it in turns to use it. I filmed the first few shots of the conversation and Jodie filmed the rest. Our first shot was infront of Ryan and having the door in the shot so that Sam is seen entering the Interrogation room and it shows that Ryan is the stronger character because he's sat in the chair, looking up at the ceiling and acting quite relaxed about the situation. We adjusted the cameras height so that it was just above the table and used the tripod. I was nervous to begin with because I thought I was going to mess up the shot or something but as I got used to it, I was fine; Ben was helping me and standing close by as he was Director. I have benefited from this exercise because I've learnt how to successfully turn on a camera, put it on a tripod, how to set up a tripod and how to record! I've had a lot of fun recording because I'm an actor so I'll be needed in front of the camera a lot of the time so it's good to do something different and learn about the other side and how to use it.

As none of the actors wanted to take part in the short film, Sam volunteered to be the Detective which was a relief for the people that didn't want to act but also a chance for Sam to be on the other side of the camera. He was nervous about the acting and he took some time to "get into character"; we all laughed at him say this because the actors normally just get on with it, however I was proud of him for trying to do it and everyone laughing at him probably decreased his self-esteem and confidence. We only had an hour to film this bad boy so we got right to it; Sam was trying so hard (bless him) to 'be the Detective' and he kept rehearsing his lines and creating a pathway in his mind of where he wanted to walk which was good because he was getting prepared, however this wasted a lot of recording time so we just hurried him but wasn't mean about it.

Above is my group's Interrogation Scene; We watched our films back and made notes on what was good and what wasn't so good;

• Our use of the camera angles (composition) were good as we included blocking - in our first shot, Ryan was sat at the table, both hands spread faced down and the camera was in line with the table but at a tilt so that Ryan looks a little higher. Sam walks in and says his line, however the focus is still on Ryan.
• Ben and Ryan both edited the film and made it black and white which looked really good because of the mood that the film creates. However, the film included a fade transitions which represents a passage of time and we didn't have that so it didn't look as effective as what it would if it was used in the right way.
• Although they'd both rehearsed before we recorded, some of the actors' lines weren't very clear; Sam rushed his lines; I think it was due to nerves and Ryan mumbled some of his lines.
• We couldn't help the silly little things like the sun reflecting off the windows or people walking past to their lessons because of the location.
• We broke the 180 degree rule!

Above is Saffie's group and their Interrogation Scene;

Saffie: Detective

Shanice: Prisoner

Jack: Cameraman

Lauren and Dylan: Clapper people

Bi: Editing

• Broke the 180 degree line also!
• 'Point of view' shot; The short film starts with ShaniceShanice's point of view.
• Shanice was supposed to be the higher character because her characteristics were laid back and not really bothered, however Saffie was on screen more than Shanice which took away the power of the Prisoner. They are aware of their mistake which is good for future recordings.
• Continuity; Shanice gestures a clock ticking and has to raise her hand; in the shot that was filmed, her hand is in exactly the same place ready for the tick-tock gesture.
• Jack filmed Shanice placing her hand on the table after the clock gesture; this was effective as it emphasises Shanice's power as the Prisoner (covered action).
• During the editing stage, Bi forgot to add a shot into the scene which was clear as when Saffie and Shanice are talking, they had filmed both of them from different angles and only Saffie was added. They realised their mistake after the final editing was finished.
• Saffie used the table in the scene which was good, however she leaned over it too much.
• The camera shots need to be closer to the eye line.
• Overall, both of their acting was well portrayed.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Single and Multiple Camera Production

Advantages of Single Camera Production:

• Cheaper; if more cameras were used, each camera man would cost money and lighting and sound units. With multiple cameras running, the costs increase.
• More aesthetic control; lighting and sound for each shot, enhances the detail and excitement.
• Don't need both actors on set at the same time; film the shots for one whilst the other is in their trailer and vice versa.
• Practicality; you aren't limited in how much space you need to set up your shot. 

Disadvantages for Single Camera Production:

• It takes longer to set up because of all the cameras and camera men.
• Less realistic reactions; as one actor gets filmed at a time, the reactions aren't as natural.
• Repetition; repeat the same shot 3 times to get each angle as you can only get one at a time, however use of multiple cameras you're able to capture everything at once.
• Editing time; you'll be spending a lot of time in the editing suit because of all the shots that have been taken. With multiple cameras, you could shoot different angles and takes at the same time, using different people for the cameras.

 Single Camera TV Programmes/Films 

• The Pacific
• X Files
• True Blood
• Sex and the City
• Peep Show
• Shutter Island
• The Beach
• Spaced
• The Tourist
• Run Fatboy Run
• Skins
• C.S.I
• Lost

Advantages of Multiple Camera Production

• It doesn't take as long to shoot a production because of all the cameras that are recording.
• The reactions are more realistic because you're doing the scene with the other actor so the emotion that you create; therefore enhancing the reactions.
• Using lighting and sound is a lot easier because you don't have to keep packing the equipment to move to the next location like single camera production.
• You get a lot of the scenes covered in a shorter amount of time compared to single camera as you capture various angles and shots within 1 day.

Disadvantages of Multiple Camera Production

• It takes longer to set up due to the large amount of equipment unlike single camera production.
• It's definitely more expensive; the camera-men you need to hire and the additional cameras are going to cost a little more than single camera production!
• The locations that the director uses are mostly sets and not real places which, in some cases, you can see through windows or mirrors the cameraman filming or a piece of their equipment.

Multiple Camera Production:

• Hollyoaks
• Friends
• Bad Boys 2
• Scrubs
• Lost: Episode One
• Britain's Got Talent / X Factor
• Jonathan Ross
• Babylon A.D
• C.S.I
• The Pacific

What is Single Camera Production?

Single Camera Production is where one camera is used to film each individual shot which will then be edited to create a scene. Each of the shots and camera angles is taken with the same camera which will then be moved and reset, ready to take new shots and angles. 

In single camera production, if there is a scene which cuts back and forth between actors A and B, the director will first use the actor A and shoot the shots that they are in and then do the same for actor B. In the editing process, the shots will be put into their final order. In contrast, multiple camera setup would include more than one camera and will record a variety of angles simultaneously; the director will then choose the shots that he likes, from all angles and they will be put in their final order in the editing process. Although the single camera setup enables the director to have more power and control over the shots, it is more expensive and time consuming compared to multiple camera production.  The single camera setup originated from the classical Hollywood cinema in the 1910s and has remained the standard mode of production. In television, however, the multiple camera setup is more likely to be used and just as common.

I found the information from:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-camera_setup  and put it into my own words.