Format and narrative Report
script
A single camera is when there is only one camera
that’s being used unlike multi cameras is when a variety of cameras are being
used at the same time. An example of a single camera is this clip from Doctor
Who https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-fFyrxbSes
This T.V series uses
single cameras because they are having and one to one conversation. If they were
using multi cameras at this scene, you will see other cameras in the shot.
There is a 180 degree rule where there is a line of action which is also known
as continuity. The single camera can only go on each side of the continuity
(right or left) if the camera passes that line it wouldn’t look like two people
are having a one to one conversation because their eyes would look like their
looking at something else besides the person that they are talking to.
Therefore if it was multi cameras other cameras would be captured in the
footage.
The advantages to a single
camera is that it’s cheaper, unlike multi cameras where you would have to spend
more money on buying a multiple of
cameras, when doing single camera you only need to buy one camera. The single
camera techniques allow you to create suspense and comedy timing; therefore it
gives you that opportunity to create mystery and comedy at a good time. It also
allows us to plan shots in advance, this means that you will have more time to
put in a lot of effort in the detail within the shots by adding dramatic effects
whilst editing. Single cameras allow you to keep to a story path that is why
single cameras are mainly used for films. It’s also easier to move around when
you shooting because if you have multiple of cameras you wouldn’t be able to
move therefore you wouldn’t really get a good effect of a shot.
However the disadvantages
of using single camera techniques is that it takes a lot more planning the
multiple cameras, because you can only capture on shot at a time therefore if
you make any mistakes for instance take a shot at a wrong angle then you decide
that you prefer that angle you would have to re-do everything at that angle.
Also you would spend a lot more time in the editing rooms because you would
have to edit each shot that you’ve taken which means that there is a lot more
footage.
Single camera techniques
have become more useful and more serials use it to get an older crowd.
Formats
A serial is part of a format. Serial is when a show or
a programme or ‘series’ start the next episode where they left off from the
last episode. An example of this would be ‘Freak. Episode one ends on all four
of them playing a video game, then the beginning of episode 2 its starts off
with them playing video games. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRrdgQ2ER8Q
A series is when a
programme is focused on different people’s story and each episode is on a
different story. For instance skins season three episode one, there are four
main characters at the moment and this episode will focus on the guy in the
hat, but the next episode will be a different story about someone else. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq0Taq2bcfg
A single drama is mainly
used in movies. It focuses on one character and their story throughout the
whole drama; it also is based on real life issues and can be a documentary single
drama and period drams. An example of this is Harry Potter, the movies is based
on him and only him and his story, with other associates in the in his story
but the main focus is him.
There are different types of narratives that serial,
series and single drama could be.
You have linear and
non-linear. Linear is when an event is portrayed in a chronological order and it
also uses 3 act structure when everything happens in order and you can clearly seeing
that this happens. The purpose of this is to create an emotion from the audience,
such as sympathy or suspense. An example that uses linear is the movie ‘Up’. This
movie uses the 3 act structure when it’s showing his life from one he was you
in the past to the present. They show this through a flashback. The reason
being why it was only one flashback is because they wanted to build up emotion
from the audience in one time and to show us what happened in his life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PD7qi8VK_o
In Non-linear is when an event is not in chronological
order which means they have flashbacks or flash-forwards at any point in the
event. This is mainly preceded in
thrillers to create mystery. The purpose of this is to show the audience what happened
in the past to make the character how they are in the present, or what could
happen to the character in the future because what they did in the past or
present.
Episodic narrative is used by having a cliff hanger at
the end of each episode. This gives the show a new story or problem to deal
with in the next episode. The purpose of
this is that it creates a wider audience and with the use of cliff hangers it
leaves the audience in suspense and wanting to know what happens next therefore
they would watch the next episode.
You have open and closed narratives. Open narratives
usually have several characters with known certain ending. The purpose of this
is to show the audience this is in real time so you could be watching it live. An
example of this would be soap operas such as EastEnders. Closed narratives are
usually in films and have a tight reading; they’re usually 2 hours and have ‘the
end’ to complete the movie. The purpose of this is that the audience won’t get
lost throughout the movie; they will always know the story. Also it shows that
the movie is finished and there is not another one after.
You have realist and
anti-realist narratives. Realist narrative is a believable story that maybe
based on a true story. It displays believable scenarios for an example a middle
season or a man living in the city. The purpose of this is that it can cause
the audience to feel the same emotions towards the movie as they would feel if
the event happened in real life. Anti-realist
is on adverts that aren’t real, so it can have anything in the advert such as
cartoon characters. The purpose of this to make the audience laugh so more people
will remember it and talk about the advert to others. An example for this is hide and seeks the
natural confectionary because sweets are talking in the advert. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlIL_vIjXOQ
We have single and multi-stranded narratives. Single stranded
narrative is a story that has one central character or hero acting a single
plot while surrounded by a group of minor characters. The purpose of this is
that it will always keep the focus on the protagonist and highlight his story
for instance superman, it focuses on one plot and the story is all about him. Multi-stranded
is when there are several narrative running at the same time, such as hollyoaks.
It focuses on one family and so does everyone in the episode on each scene. It can
also be used for documentaries. The plot constructs a puzzle that the audience is
asked to solve while the characters act out the story.
