How To Do Multi Camera Filmmaking

You're ready to shoot your film, but are you planning to shoot with one camera, two cameras or maybe even ten cameras? Well, if you're not sure if shooting multi-camera is right for you, I've got some great tips on the pros and cons and best practices of doing so.

First up, let's talk about the pros of multicam shooting. The most likely reason you choose to shoot multicam is because it's extremely time efficient. It allows you to get multiple shots all at the same time. Plus it can cut down on the time it might take to relight for each shot, as multicam lighting requires you to light the scene in a way that works for multiple shots. So if you've got a limited amount of time to shoot, then it might be the right fit for you.

Next on the pros list is that it can also help your actors. By shooting multicam your talent doesn't have to do the same performance over and over again as they would in a normal single camera shoot. This is especially helpful when it comes to shooting heavily improvised or stunt related scenes, as the actions and dialogue in the scene, that might not be repeatable. However, this might not necessarily be right for some actors as they might need several takes to really get into the emotional space they need to for the scene. So make sure you know, what's best for them before choosing the shooting method.

Next on the pros list is continuity. By capturing actors blocking and interaction with props, you can ensure consistent continuity in the editing room.

Now let's move on to the cons of multicam shooting. First up, and most importantly, it can be pretty expensive. Because you need more cameras, equipment and crew members, the cost of your shoot could go up pretty dramatically. Also shooting a multicam can affect your lighting. Because you're lighting to accommodate both camera's frames, you might not be able to get your lights as close to your talent as you'd like. Thus, your director of photography might not be able to finesse the lighting as much as they normally would in a single camera shoot.

Okay. So now that you know the pros and cons, let's go over some best practices for shooting multicam. First up, let's talk about planning. Once you've decided to shoot multicam, I highly encourage you to storyboard it out. This way each camera operator knows exactly what shot they should be getting while on set.

Next up, let's talk about them cameras. When shooting multicam, you want to make sure that the cameras you're shooting on match. So for example, if you're shooting on a GH5 for the wide shot, make sure the other cameras are also GH5s or at the very least other Panasonic cameras. This is because different cameras process colors in different ways, so it can be extremely difficult to match a Panasonic camera to let's say a Canon camera when color correcting in post-production. So making sure all your cameras are at the very least the same brand can ensure you don't have an angry color correctionist on your hands.

And speaking of matching, you also want to make sure your camera settings match. For post-production purposes, it's crucial that your ISO, shutter speed, frame rate, picture profiles, and white balance match across the board on all cameras or else you'll have an angry video editor on your hands.

Next communication between the camera operators is key as they need to be working together to make sure they're not shooting the same shot or getting into each other's shots.

And finally, let's talk about slating. When shooting multicam, it's important that you slate for both cameras so that they can sync up properly in post-production. You can either achieve this by having both cameras initially frame up to capture the slate, or if reframing the camera is not possible, you can slate individually for each.

So now that you know the pros and cons of multicam shooting, you'll be shooting efficiently in no time.

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