Jim Krause | Classes | C228 Multi-Cam TV Studio Production 1
C228 (at home) Virtual 3-Camera Blocking Exercise (10 points)
Overview – In this exercise, you will establish a location in your home where you could shoot a scene with multiple cameras. You’ll create a floor plan. Using your personal camera or phone, you’ll capture overlapping action from each camera angle. After editing the shots together, you’ll review your work and write a critique. Before the due date, you’ll turn in your floor plan, media file, and critique.
Instructions
Step 1- Secure a Location. Think about the set for a multi-camera TV scene. It could be for a magazine or talk show, or for a scene in a dramedy, like the Big Bang Theory or Seinfeld.
Now look around your home. Find a location that could function as the setting for a scene. Likely places include the kitchen, the living room, the dining room, or the game room/den. Determine where your talent would be situated. Imagine you had three cameras. Find three different locations that would work to ensure proper coverage. Be sure you could capture a wide (establishing) shot, medium shots, and close-ups.
Step 2 – Draw a floor plan. It should show the outline of the room, significant set pieces (E.g., table, couch,) the location of the three cameras, and the location of your talent.
Step 3 – Capture footage. Capture footage of overlapping action from all three camera positions. For example, Camera 1 might have a wide shot. Record the talent walking in and sitting down. Camera 2 might have a medium shot. Record the talent doing the same action (walking in and sitting down), but from this second camera position with a tighter shot. Finally, be sure to get a close-up (MCU or CU). Maybe the talent says something to a friend or to someone off set.
Step 4 – Edit. Import your footage into your editing software and edit the three shots together. Export a media file to turn in.
Step 5 - Review and critique your work. Did the shots cut together well? If not, how could it be better? Outside of framing and exposure consider the primary line of action (the 180° line) and the talent’s blocking. Did it have proper continuity?
Step 6 – Submit your work. You should turn the following items into Canvas:
- Floor plan (4 points)
- Media file (3 points)
- Critique (3 points)
