The Art of Perspective

Films and tv shows all have their own style of filming that best fits their show. We have the usual film technique where it's a single camera setup, shaky camera, and multiple-camera set up. The single-camera set up, according to tv.com, is just one camera doing all the work, so every shot and camera angle is taken using that one camera. Generally, they'll have to move and reset the camera in order to get a new shot. Shaky camera is used to make it seem real, like we're experiencing what the actor is going through. Lastly multiple-camera set up, according to tv.com, is mostly used in live studio audiences and all the actors perform together and multiple cameras film everything from different angles and perspectives. Now let's see some TV shows and films that used these styles of filming.

• Single-Camera Set Up

The Office, single-camera setup

• Shows like The Office and Modern Family use this style 
• During either of these shows, we can notice that it's a single-camera setup because the person filming usually follows the person talking, to create continuity, rather than cutting to a different scene. 
• The Office in particular, is a perfect example of this. In every episode we see Michael Scott talking in his office, and when he's going to walk out, instead of the scene jumping to Michael already out, the camera follows him. 
• The same with Modern Family, when Phil Dunphy is at home with his children and they're moving to another room, the camera will almost always follow them, rather than cutting to a different scene. 
• Shaky-Camera Set Up
• Movies like The Hunger Games and Saving Private Ryan use this style to enhance the scene. 
• In a scene in The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen is stung by Tracker Jackers. To make the audience go through what Katniss is going through, they create the shaky-camera perspective when she is running. They add this style and now the audience is seeing what Katniss is seeing when she's running. (Skip to 2:19 in the video)

• In Saving Private Ryan, the same technique is used to portray that we're seeing exactly what the actor is seeing, when they're running across a battle scene they use shaky-camera setup to really enhance the audience's visual effects. 

• Multiple-Camera Setup
• If you've seen shows like Saturday Night Live, I Love Lucy, or Seinfeld, then you've experienced multiple-camera film style. 
• Saturday Night Live, or SNL, does this by filming one person, then switching to another camera. They do this in every sketch and skit by focusing on one person, then shifting it's focus to the person they're talking to. 
• In I Love Lucy, we see Ricky constantly telling Lucy not to get into any shenanigans and the camera turns to Lucy and films her reaction. 
• Similarly, in Seinfeld they show Jerry, George, and Elaine talking in Jerry's living room then another camera will cut to Kramer coming in famously through the door. 

I Love Lucy, multiple-camera setup

These are the most popular types of perspectives and techniques we see in film and tv shows. A lot of people really have their preference and don't like a particular one, other people don't even realize it. Some people don't enjoy the shaky-camera because they can't focus, it hurts their head. While others, like me, enjoy it because it's as if we're seeing what the character is seeing. Whatever your preference, there are shows and tv shows that will fit your taste! What're your favorite film perspectives?