STUDIO PROMPT

What are the creative possibilities and challenges of multi-camera production, and what are the uses and possibilities of multi-camera production within and outside of the traditional studio space?  

KEY QUOTE 

 “In the early days the studio was television. It was a guarantor of distance vision (the literal meaning of ‘tele-vision’), and of the extraordinary fact that those people on that tiny black and white screen were actually speaking these very words at this very moment, from many miles away” (Patricia Holland, The New Television Handbook, Routledge, 2017, p. 136) 

DESCRIPTION  

From classic sit-coms to contemporary talk shows, multi-camera production is a persisting mode of television production today that often extends beyond the traditional three camera set-up. A significant proportion of television, from sports coverage, news, special events, variety/late-night, reality and talk programs continue to make use of the multi-camera production format.  

Through reading, viewing, discussion and practice, this studio will explores the creative possibilities and challenges of multi-camera production in a studio environment. Through a combination of ‘live to tape’ and non-live production exercises, students investigated the different ways in which the multi-camera studio can be used. Students gained an understanding of studio production workflows and technology, developing their skills and experience through project work. They also learned how to work within a large, networked collaborative environment, working in both small teams and large production crews. Drawing on key ideas from within television studies, students also explored the histories of television broadcast and contemplated the future(s) of television (multi-camera and otherwise) in a post-network and post-broadcast era.