The Resurgence of Multicam and Why It’s Making a Comeback
Posted on: Jul 16, 2024
Photo Credit: guruXOX // ShutterstockWhen it comes to making TV shows, formats and styles have come and gone. Take the multicamera setup, or “multicam” for short. Once the golden standard for sitcoms, it eventually became outdated and replaced with the single-camera format. Now it’s making a big comeback. Here’s why your next gig just may be on a multicam show.
Multicam Origins, Resurgence and Evolution
Multicamera production involves filming a scene with multiple cameras simultaneously from different angles, capturing performances in real-time single takes. This creates a theatrical feel similar to a stage play. Traditionally, multicam sitcoms are filmed in front of a live audience in large sound stages. Repeat sets are built and transitioned in and out as needed without (or rarely) needing to leave the stage to shoot on-location scenes. Think of the iconic apartments from Friends, the diner from Seinfeld, or the living room from Full House for example.
After dominating TV as the standard format from the 1960s through the 1990s, studios began shifting away from multicam productions in the early 2000s. We saw far fewer sitcoms, save a few big ones such as The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men. As these shows ended, so did the format. Studios, networks, and brand new streaming services changed the landscape by opting for more shows with bigger budgets for more on-location shoots. While this adds production value, it’s also very costly, requires more time, travel, set up, take down, and bigger crews to properly execute.
So what is driving the resurgence of the multicam format? After the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, the industry needed to pivot. A part of that decision was the decision to inspect production budgets and scale back on a number of TV shows as a result. Multicam came back into focus for several reasons that include nostalgia for iconic sitcoms, the lively atmosphere of live audiences, and the cost-effectiveness and quicker production times the format offers.
Technological advancements have improved filming and editing quality while streaming platforms have boosted popularity by investing in new multicam productions. Successful recent sitcoms have shown that multicam formats can attract large audiences with a smaller budget and crew, encouraging networks to produce more.
New Multicams
Many iconic multicam sitcoms are ripe for reboots. Fraser is one example that was recently picked up for a second season by Paramount Plus. Others include Young Sheldon, the spinoff from The Big Bang Theory, and Tim Allen’s Shifting Gears.
“The intimacy of four cameras and an audience sitting, watching it, and people at home know that it’s sort of like a little play that’s going on,” said Nightcourt star John Larroquette at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour at Warner Bros. “I have a feeling that’s something that will always be desired.”
One of multicam’s most successful creators, Chuck Lorre, recently told Variety, “Some of the greatest shows in the history of television have been in front of an audience. Why would that not be true now?” Lorre is the creative driving force behind many multicam hits such as The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Mom, Roseanne and many more. Lorre recently signed on for a new multicam at Netflix, making it his second deal in the format for 2024.
As quoted in Deadline, Gina Yashere, co-creator and co-showrunner of Bob ♥ Abishola says, “I think there’s been a snobbery about multi-cameras. The market moved toward single cams and those seemed to be the shows [that] got all the accolades and awards. I think our show is as well-written as any other show on TV, if not better. We just don’t get the same level of respect.”
Multicam has proven its resilience and continued appeal to audiences, creators and networks alike. You’re likely going to see a lot more of it in 2025 and beyond. Are you or someone you know a multicam director of photography? If so, dust off your camera skills and get your resume ready. Networks are actively seeking individuals like you, and your skillset is becoming more difficult to come by.
Do you have multicam expereince? Get a jump on the trend by adding the credits to your Staff Me Up profile!
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