The multiple-camera setup, multiple-camera mode of production, or Multicam is a method of shooting films and television programs.

Several cameraseither film or videoare employed on the set and simultaneously record or/and broadcast a scene. It is often contrasted with single-camera setup, which uses one camera. Generally, the two outer cameras shoot close shots or "crosses" of the two most active characters on the set at any given time, while the central camera or cameras shoot a wider master shot to capture the overall action and establish the geography of the room. In this way, multiple shots are obtained in a single take without having to start and stop the action. This is more efficient for programs that are to be shown a short time after being shot as it reduces the time spent editing the footage. It is also a virtual necessity for regular, high-output shows like daily soap operas. Apart from saving editing time, scenes may be shot far more quickly as there is no need for re-lighting and the set-up of alternate camera angles for the scene to be shot again from the different angle. It also reduces the complexity of tracking continuity issues that crop up when the scene is reshot from the different angles. It is an essential part of live television. Multicam is used in major television live events and sports.

The use of multiple video cameras to cover a scene goes back to the earliest days of television; three cameras were used to broadcast The Queen's Messenger in 1928, the first drama performed for television. The BBC routinely used multiple cameras for their live television shows from 1936 onward. Although it is often claimed that the film version of the multiple-camera setup was pioneered for television by Desi Arnaz and cinematographer Karl Freund on I Love Lucy in 1951, other filmed television shows had already used it, including another comedy on CBS, The Amos 'n Andy Show, which was filmed at the Hal Roach Studios and was on the air four months earlier. The technique was developed for television by Hollywood short-subject veteran Jerry Fairbanks, assisted by producer-director Frank Telford, and first seen on the anthology series The Silver Theatre, another CBS program, in February 1950. Desilu's innovation was to use 35mm film instead of 16mm, and to film with a multiple-camera setup before a live studio audience. In the late 1970s Garry Marshall was credited with adding the fourth camera (known then as the "X" Camera, and occasionally today known as the "D" Camera) to the multi-camera set-up for his series Mork & Mindy. Actor Robin Williams could not stay on his marks due to his physically active improvisations during shooting, so Marshall had them add the fourth camera just to stay on Williams so they would have more than just the master shot of the actor. Soon after many productions followed suit and now having four cameras (A, B, C and X or D) is the norm for multi-camera situation comedies. The multiple-camera method gives the director less control over each shot, but is faster and less expensive than a single-camera setup. In television, multiple-camera is commonly used for sports programs, news programs, soap operas, talk shows, game shows, and some sitcoms. Before the pre-filmed continuing series became the dominant dramatic form on American television, the earliest anthology programs utilised multiple camera methods. Multiple cameras can take different shots of a live situation as the action unfolds chronologically and is suitable for shows which require a live audience. For this reason multiple camera productions can be filmed or taped much faster than single camera. Single camera productions are shot in takes and various setups with components of the action repeated several times and out of sequence; the action is not enacted chronologically so is unsuitable for viewing by a live audience. The majority of British sitcoms and dramas from the 1950s to the early 1990s were made using four cameras and initially broadcast live. Unlike the United States, the development of completed filmed programming, using the single camera method, was limited for several decades. Instead, a 'hybrid' form emerged using (single camera) filmed inserts, generally location work, mixed with interior scenes shot in the multi-camera electronic studio. It was the most common type of domestic production screened by the BBC and ITV. As technology developed though, some drama productions were mounted on location using multiple electronic cameras. Meanwhile, the most prestigious productions, like Brideshead Revisited (1981), began to use film alone. By the later 1990s, soap operas were left as the only TV drama being made in the UK using multiple cameras. Television prime-time dramas are usually shot using a single-camera setup. While the multiple-camera format dominated US sit-com production in the 1970s and 1980s, there has been a recent revival of the single-camera format with programs such as Malcolm in the Middle (20002006), Scrubs (20012010), My Name Is Earl (20052009), Everybody Hates Chris (20052009), The Office (2005-), 30 Rock (2006-) and Samantha Who? (20072009).

Vision mixers Boom mics Cameras Cables Tripods Walkie talkies Tally lights

Big concerts and stand up are usually filmed as a multi-cam set up. In concerts they use many different camera angles to show different views of the live performance to get the full experience of the artist you are seeing. Multicam is used in concerts so people can see the whole band and so they dont miss any of the action on stage. Multi-cam is important for festivals like reading so you can get a view of the whole audience and the people on stage. Another type of live event is shows like the x factors and Britain's got talent. They used multi-cam sets ups so thats you can capture everything from the performances to the audience, the multi-cam makes the programmes more of show with different camera angles and quick transitions.

Most sport events are filmed live from football to the Olympics. In football they use many cameras and different angles to show everything in the match. If there is a goal they show it from many different angles and different cameras. They have multi cam so that they do not miss anything in a match and they get every angle possible of a incident in the match. Generally most football and tennis events are covered on sky sports. When you watch a football match you feel you are watching an entertaining live event as when something happens e.g. fouls you can see from different

Advantages
More camera angles can be used in a live recording it is easy to create good lighting Multi cam has smoother transitions It is a quicker process to film Multi has the best coverage of events as there are More shots, angles, footage etc of the scene. Multiple camera productions also tend to capture the best performances from the actors and actresses.

Disadvantages
some of the shots may be useful to the audience Can be a very complex set up No room for error because its being recorded live More expensive equipment cannot be mobilised easily It takes longer to set up