Multi Camera Productions

Multi-Camera Production unlike the single camera methods usually used in film, is a production method where 2 or more cameras are used to capture action at one time. The use of this technique is so that a director and/or producer can have the freedom to cover multiple different angles at one time, therefore catching all of the action from an interesting angle. Because of this use having multiple cameras on a set is incredibly useful in creating interesting recordings of live events and is used most prominently in filming in this way.

For Example if a director or producer wanted to record an interview live they would require two or more cameras for this. This is so they could capture at least 2 angles, one of the interviewers face and one of the face of the person being interviewed. Using one camera for an interview would either be too difficult to film, or the camera angle would have to be static, and this would risk losing the interest of the watcher.



If what is being filmed is being broadcasted live as well as recorded live then the cameras will require a Vision Mixer, who will be at a switch board to switch between different camera angles to get suitable shots all while broadcasting these shots to a live audience.  This is a simplified diagram of the usual setup of a multi camera switcher.

Multi-Camera techniques are used in a many different kinds of television shows such as Studio and set based shows such as the news and The Jeremy Kyle Show, Sports events, 3 walls sitcoms such as Friends and reality TV like Big Brother.