Dialogue scenes

[Jeff77789]

For dialogue scenes in a movie do they typically use multi-camera setups or single-camera setups?

i would think they use multi-camera because then the dialogue could flow more naturally and it would be faster to film with less editing.

what do you guys do?

 

[cheeseandachallenge]

Multi-camera is a luxury, but most people can't afford multiple cameras and lenses...

Shoot the whole scene from one angle with one set up, and then move to the next angle and reshoot.

 

[ChimpPhobiaFilms]

On bigger budget films, they tend to use multiple cameras. For us indie filmmakers, we usually use one because:

A: Can't get another camera
B: Can't get someone to operate the other camera
C: Don't have time to set up another camera
D: All of the above

Even if I could shoot with multiple cameras, I would only use one. Why? Because I like to be seeing what's going on, and perfect the image I'm shooting, which is hard enough with one camera.

 

[jax_rox]

It really depends. Some Directors and DPs use multi cameras, some simply don't like it.

It is a luxury, and in general tends to slow everything down. It's also much more difficult to light for - you generally end up having a mid and a close as the two shots, as lighting two OTS shots or two reverse shots is very difficult unless you have quite a large budget and large amount of lighting and grip gear.

 

[Sweetie]

I found it really depends on the people who are involved in the project. I've seen multi camera set-ups really make things run quicker, and other multicam set-ups or really slow down. The big determining factor is more the people who are involved than whether it's multicam set up a single cam set up.

 

[Alcove Audio]

You also need to consider how much more difficult production sound becomes when doing multi-cam; booming becomes MUCH harder.

 

[Jeff77789]

well there are a couple reasons as to why i want a multi-cam setup

1. there will be music playing in the background so if i do a single cam setup, there will have to be multiple shots and the music will be hard to edit out
2. the actors are not that experienced and i want them to have a natural conversation

i posted another thread asking about the music because this is a dance scene and people are dancing to music in the background. there is a lot of dialogue during this dancing scene and to remove music would involve people dancing to some silence

 

[mad_hatter]

...there is a lot of dialogue during this dancing scene and to remove music would involve people dancing to some silence

That sounds pretty normal to me. Film the scene without the music, then add it in post.

You're method would also require you to use a single take of the scene. Without the music, you could select different lines from different takes, whichever worked best. Your way, you couldn't do that, the music wont match. It sounds like this is quite a long scene... I think you'll struggle to ever get a completed scene without any cuts in the music.

 

[Alcove Audio]

there is a lot of dialogue during this dancing scene and to remove music would involve people dancing to some silence

This contradicts whet you said in the other thread...

for my short film people won't actually be talking while they're dancing so it should be fine

So my assumption is that you have people dancing in the background, while your characters are conversing off the dance floor.

As I mentioned in the other thread you can use subsonic sound or flashing lights to keep the dancers in sync. You can use multicam to get your b-roll of people dancing, but the dialog becomes problematical; the more cameras you have the harder it is to get the boom in close. You can use lavs, but that will require some serious expense and expertise.

BTW, the actors will have to speak very loudly/firmly. (Check out the club scene in "The Social Network"). Even though the music is not playing on-set in reality they characters would be conversing over pounding music. It sounds very unnatural for the actors to be speaking as if they were in a living room.

 

[Sweetie]

Alcove is right on this one. Don't record the music through the scene, add it in post. Doing anything but this will cause more issues in the long run.

There are simply too many variables that you cannot fix if you record the scene with the music turned on. On top of that, it's probably going to sound really crappy if you do it the way you want to do it.

Actors dance to no music in movies. The suggestion I'd have is to play the music on set and just before you shoot, turn it off. That way your actors can get a feel of the beat they're moving to.

 

[wheatgrinder]

also, people dancing, even without music, is a lot of noise! Have everyone dance in socks when shooting the dialogue. Also, check the dress fabrics, some are VERY noisy and swishy! Though this is probably a minor concern, pay attention to it and maybe move the dancers in loud clothes further into the background. You might take a ballroom dance class or two just to know what your talking about..

You can get shots of dancing with shoes included in the shots where there is no talking. Also, get lots of cut away's. Shots of dresses swirling by, a graceful hand on a shoulder, a tray of drinks being carried by a waiter, etc..

 

[Dreadylocks]

It really depends. Some Directors and DPs use multi cameras, some simply don't like it.

It is a luxury, and in general tends to slow everything down. It's also much more difficult to light for - you generally end up having a mid and a close as the two shots, as lighting two OTS shots or two reverse shots is very difficult unless you have quite a large budget and large amount of lighting and grip gear.

This. Exactly.