Eric Coughlin
Veteran
How many cameras do you typically like to use when filming a narrative film?
Number of Cameras for Narrative Filmmaking
- Thread starter Eric Coughlin
- Start date
abreu-canedo
Well-known member
Hi Eric,
As you can imagine, you might get a wide range of answers. Not only will it vary from person to person, but in my opinion, it will also vary from project to project.
In a general sense, I often like to have two cameras. The reason being, is that in the world I'm in (low-budget indie), I never have as much time as I need. So if I can double up on coverage in a way that lighting set-ups still work for both angles without compromising the quality of the image, then I will generally try to do so. This is how I often approach it:
--Master wide & tighter double simultaneously
--Singles dirty & clean simultaneously
---Or, if the lighting works, do both actor's singles simultaneously (dependent on if lighting works)
--One camera stays on steadicam while the other goes from handheld to tripod to jib.
This for me allow us to save time and money on set (two of the things I have the least of), but also allows me to edit for pace and emotion...as opposed to a single camera shoot where sometimes you have to compromise emotion and/or pace for continuity.
All that said, there are also many good reasons to have a single camera shoot as well.
As you can imagine, you might get a wide range of answers. Not only will it vary from person to person, but in my opinion, it will also vary from project to project.
In a general sense, I often like to have two cameras. The reason being, is that in the world I'm in (low-budget indie), I never have as much time as I need. So if I can double up on coverage in a way that lighting set-ups still work for both angles without compromising the quality of the image, then I will generally try to do so. This is how I often approach it:
--Master wide & tighter double simultaneously
--Singles dirty & clean simultaneously
---Or, if the lighting works, do both actor's singles simultaneously (dependent on if lighting works)
--One camera stays on steadicam while the other goes from handheld to tripod to jib.
This for me allow us to save time and money on set (two of the things I have the least of), but also allows me to edit for pace and emotion...as opposed to a single camera shoot where sometimes you have to compromise emotion and/or pace for continuity.
All that said, there are also many good reasons to have a single camera shoot as well.
combatentropy
Veteran
1
David W. Jones
Veteran
Even when shooting single camera I find it assuring to have a backup body on set if money is on the line.
A typical Latin soap would use three - one master shot wide, and one each as a closeup aimed diagonally (i.e., the right side camera shoots the closeup of the actor on the far left). Without much movement from the actors, one can shoot this sort of a set up almost live.
The US soaps would often use three, one for a wide shot, then two side cameras moving closer and closer toward the dramatic cliffhanger in each scene with the wide camera used as insurance but rarely cut to.
Traditional approach for narrative is one camera, which is why sitcoms are often separated by the four camera "live" studio shows ("Cheers", "Seinfeld", "Friends", "Everyone loves Raymond") and single camera ("The Office", "Malcolm in the Middle", "My Name is Earl")
The US soaps would often use three, one for a wide shot, then two side cameras moving closer and closer toward the dramatic cliffhanger in each scene with the wide camera used as insurance but rarely cut to.
Traditional approach for narrative is one camera, which is why sitcoms are often separated by the four camera "live" studio shows ("Cheers", "Seinfeld", "Friends", "Everyone loves Raymond") and single camera ("The Office", "Malcolm in the Middle", "My Name is Earl")
Patryk_Rebisz
Veteran
2.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
I think it important to have confidence in the b cam and operator.
when I've Dp d and had a student on b on a gh4 I just ended up shooting that angle again - thus thinking about b just wasted time
With a great b operator and matching cam I'd use two where possible
when I've Dp d and had a student on b on a gh4 I just ended up shooting that angle again - thus thinking about b just wasted time
With a great b operator and matching cam I'd use two where possible