Unit 22 – Multi Camera Production

By Jodie Lindop

Take me out is a television dating game show hosted by Paddy McGuinness. Four single men have to try and impress thirty single women, in order to get a date. All thirty girls have a light/buzzer in front of them, and when they are not impressed with the man, they have the option to turn their light off, therefore not getting a date with him. The man’s aim is to try and keep as many girls to keep their lights on, so that in the final round he can decide which one he would like to take out on a date.

The show starts with an establishing shot of the stage, from the right, which pans to the left. This then switches to a typical shot of the audience cheering. Paddy McGuinness then makes his way onto the stage to introduce the show. The lighting used in this section is mostly red, which associates with the ‘love’ theme of the show. Once Paddy has made his way to the stage, this switches to blue and purple lighting.

Unit 22 – Multi Camera Production

By Jodie Lindop

Bring On The Girls! After a brief introduction to the show, Paddy welcomes the 30 single women who are all hoping for a chance to win a date with their dream man. Paddy uses his typical line ‘Bring on the girls!’ We can then see a camera shot coming from the left side of stage, which zooms into the steps at the back of the studio, where the single girls begin to walk down the steps. Then there is a quick adjustment in framing as the camera shot switches to a more central shot of the steps, keeping the same framing as the previous camera, however more central. This shot then switches back to the previous camera, which has been zoomed out slightly to reveal the whole stairs, and also to be able to show more of the girls walking down. We can then see a mid shot, which is a birds eye view of the steps, where we can see the tops of the girls’ heads and their shoulders, as they continue to make their way down the steps as the walk to their podiums. This shot then switches back to the camera shooting from the left of the stage to show the whole of the steps. There is then a second long shot from the centre of the stage, of the girls at the top of the steps where all we can see is their necks and above. This shot then switches to a wide shot of the studio where the girls at the front of the line walk up to the camera and strut their stuff, in the form of waving, posing, blowing kisses to the camera etc. This shot switches back and forth with the over the head shot of the girls walking down the steps, however the shot in this section is more of an establishing shot, as apposed to a mid shot. The final shot of the girls walking to their podiums is a mid shot of the last two girls in the line, which zooms out and pans to the right to reveal the two girls who are walking in front of them and also the other girls who are now stood at their podiums. Because of the fast faced movement, how far across the stage that the camera shows, and also how high the camera is when it is fully zoomed out at the end of this shot, I believe that a craning shot is used do make this shot possible. A lot of pink lighting is used in this part of the show, I think this is because the colour pink emphasizes the ‘girly’ side of the show. Once all the girls are stood at

Unit 22 – Multi Camera Production

By Jodie Lindop

their podiums, we can see a series of shots showing the girls clapping along to the music and smiling at the cameras, with the live audience cheering for them in the background. Typical girly music is used throughout this section, for example in previous episodes the songs: Sugababes - About a Girl and Kesha - Tick Toc have been used, which are both songs that relate to more of a female audience.

Talking To The Girls Once all of the girls are stood at their podiums, Paddy has a brief chat with a few of the girls. He will choose from a variety of topics, examples would be: how they came close to a date in the previous week, why they are single, or generally asking them about the man of their dreams. The shots used in this section of the show are mainly Mid Shots and Medium Close Ups. Occasional wide shots and establishing shots are used to show Paddy making his way across the stage to talk to different girls on the show. A mid shot is then shown, as Paddy explains what the girls have to do. This shot then switches to an establishing shot. Single Man… Reveal Yourself! Paddy then introduces the first man to the show with his well-known catchphrase, ‘single man, reveal yourself!’ We can see a central establishing shot from the back of the studio, which zooms into the ‘love lift’ this shot switches to various mid shots of the girls’ expressions, as they await for the man to make his way out of the lift. This shot then switches back to a close up of the ‘love lift’, where we can see the first single man enter the stage, this shot then zooms in so that we can see a medium close up of the man’s shoulders and above. We can then see a mid shot where the camera is situated at the right side, at the back of the studio. This zooms out to an establishing shot so that the audience can see the man strutting down the catwalk to impress the girls. Various shots are shown of the girls reactions to seeing the different men that enter the stage, as well as them

Unit 22 – Multi Camera Production

By Jodie Lindop

cheering for the men. Mainly mid shots and medium close ups are used in this particular section. The single man will then introduce himself by saying his name and where he is from. No Likey No Lighty! As the rounds progress through the show, the man will either have a chance to impress the girls with a special talent, show a short film by his friends or family, who describe his personality and what he does for fun etc. Or instead produce his own video about himself to talk about what he believes are his best qualities. The videos are shown on a big screen, which is situated behind the girls’ podiums, this makes it easier for an establishing shot to be taken of the whole stage to see when the girls turn their lights off. Where as when the men showcase their talents, this is done on the stage, and a variety of different camera shots and positions are used, to capture both the action on the stage and also the girls’ reactions. These cameras are placed both in the back of the studio, and also the front of the studio, where we can see close ups of the men showing their talents. You’re Off To Fernandos! Once all of the rounds are over, the man must decide which two of the remaining girls left with their lights on he would like to take out on a date. Therefore he must go up to each of the girls he doesn’t feel he is attracted to and turn off their lights. Mainly wide shots and establishing shots are used in this section of the show to show the man running up and down the podiums, as he turns off the girls’ lights. Mid shots of the girls reactions are also used to add a more interest to the show. Once the man is down to his two girls, he then gets to ask them a question of his choice and then must make his final decision as to who he wants to take out.