Multi-camera directors Nikki Parsons and Liz Clare discuss their careers and share some practical advice on multi-camera shooting techniques.
Nikki Parsons describes how she navigates moving scenery on Strictly Come Dancing, using Steadicams and cranes to craft a seamless live show. She says: “Sometimes on Strictly we have a massive piece of scenery that we start with in the foreground and then magically that piece of scenery has to disappear – so then we’ll push past that piece of scenery on the Steadicam or the crane and then underneath during the performance, while we’re looking at something else, we have to give the cue for the prop team to go in and strike the set."
She also explains how she transforms simple rehearsal footage into dynamic, multi-camera performances.
Liz Clare speaks about how she trusts the camera team to capture the magic in the moment and recounts an extraordinary episode of The Voice that she felt privileged to direct.
About Nikki Parsons
Nikki Parsons is a BAFTA and RTS award-winning multi-camera director specialising in live entertainment shows and events. The director of Strictly Come Dancing since 2006, Nikki’s last couple of years have been busy with shows such as Britain’s Got Talent and Dancing on Ice for ITV, the BAFTA TV Awards and So You Think You Can Dance for Fox.
About Liz Clare
Liz Clare is a BAFTA-nominated multi-camera director working across large scale entertainment, music, live events and award shows. She has directed The Voice UK, The Voice Kids, The Brit Awards, All Together Now for BBC1 and X Factor: The Band.
About this event
This is a video of an event that took place on 18 May 2020, created by ScreenSkills and Directors UK. Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It's a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 7,500 members – the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK. The event was also supported by the ScreenSkills Television Skills Fund which invests in training for the freelance television workforce thanks to contributions from the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
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