IPHONE FILMMAKING BACK TO THE BEGINNING

 

IPHONE FILMMAKING BACK TO THE BEGINNING

A few years ago I started this blog as a sister blog to my digital film making blog. I thought at the time that there was a possibility that the smartphone would become a part of the film makers tool kit. Well four years later I am ready to offer an updated view of the situation. I believe that the iphone will become the primary tool of the micro budget film maker. Perhaps not in America, but in countries where DSLR cameras are priced out of reach of the average filmmaker. Every single iPhone from the 4s through the X are capable of shooting quality footage. If you are thinking seriously about shooting a feature film then I would strongly recommend the 4K abilities of the iPhone 8 or X. This recommendation if for those who have actual movie theater dreams. That is how good the cameras on these phone's are. If you want to shoot a feature film for direct to VOD or one of the online streaming services then you can start with the 5C.

Time to get back to the very basics before we finish up with a film shot by one of Hollywood's more inventive directors.

This is a brief walk through of what you will need to think about as a iphone filmmaker.

This is a long short film shot with the iphone 6.

I believe that this film was shot using an iPhone 7. It was shot by Zack Snyder, the director of The 300.

IPHONE FILM MAKERS MEET MAVIS

IPHONE FILM MAKERS MEET MAVIS

There would come a day when an app that suited the smart phone film maker perfectly would come along. The Mavis app may not be perfect, but it is close enough for what we are going to use it for. Let’s begin with the fact that this app is not cheap. You are going to be spending at least 16 dollars, but hey you are making a movie. A professional film. If you are looking to produce something that will be seen by others, not only online, but in a movie theater someday then you are going to spend money somewhere and we are saving money by using our iphone rather than buying a costly DSLR camera.

Today we are going to look at a comparison between the three major apps used by smartphone film makers and this look will conclude with the Mavis app.

I found this short film shoot with the app.

This is a brand new year. We are entering an age of film making that I had doubts about when I started this blog over three years ago. I doubt if a Star Wars episode will ever be shot using a smart phone, but films like La La Land and Split are becoming a possibility. The future of iphone film making is in your hands. You will determine the shape of that future. To help you guys along the path I am going to share with you, during the next few post, quick tutorials about film making. There is a great deal more that goes into film making than just recording images and editing them together. You will have to learn how to how stories are told visually.

Thank you for visiting my blog and please take a moment to share this post.

IPHONE FILMMAKING UPDATE

IPHONE FILMMAKING UPDATE

 The popularity of the iphone as a film making tool has grown well beyond my wildest dreams when I began this blog a few years ago. Not only is it being used in the US, but because of the low priceof the iphone 4s it has become the primary film making camera of low budget film makers the world over. The reasons for this are obvious. 

The iphone in its many different types from the 4s on through the 7 and soon beyond that all have amazing built in cameras. These cameras rival the abilities of most of the high end Dslr cameras. 

The iphone can record in 24p thanks to apps like filmic pro. 

The iphone can record quality native sound and with add ons like the Zoom or external mics it can record motion picture quality sound. 

The iphone can be used, thanks to a few apps, as an editing station. You can record and edit your film inside your smart phone. Welcome to the world of iphone film making. Let’s look at some of the new devices that we can use with our iphone. 

First up is a smartmixer (audio mixer) for your iphone. This is a great little device that I hope to own one day. 

 

Saramonic Smartmixer Audio Mic for iphone and Android from Smartphone Film Pro on Vimeo.

Next up is the Helium Core, this is going to become the go to all purpose support system for the iphone film maker. I am going to offer you two video demos of this product.

Behind the Scenes shoot with the Helium Core from Helium on Vimeo.

Second video.

Helium Core in action - www.heliumcine.com for more information from Helium on Vimeo.

Vimble. Yes I said Vimble. This is an awesome camera stablizer.

 
The Best iPhone Stabilizer from Ria Chen on Vimeo.

Thank you for visiting my blog, now please take a moment to share this post with everyone. Sharing encourages me to post more often and helps to make those out there with iphone footage aware of the fact that this blog exist. 

And for those of you who use Pinterest please take a moment to pin the cover of my new ebook. The book is about the true story behind the haunting portraited in the film The Conjuring 2. Book cover and line to itunes below. 

The Iphone 6 Feature Film Crowdfunding Campaign

You have a few days to add your voice, via social media, and or your money by donating to this crowdfunding campaign. Scratch is a horror comedy being shot entirely with the Iphone 6. For a while the camera provided by the iPhone starting with the 4s has been every bit as good as those of its Dslr rivals. Today I would like to introduce you to the this Indiegogo campaign. the Plot is:

Set in Los Angeles's abandoned Old Zoo, SCRATCH tells the story of two would-be filmmakers who decide to shoot a music video for a local nu metal band on an iPhone in LA's Old Zoo. It's meta-theater. And you, as the audience, will be inside the phones that are strapped to the foreheads of the protagonists while they're shooting.



   


I understand that this film was shot over 8 days for a budget of about ten thousand dollars. This project looks so interesting that I hope to follow this post up with an interview with the film maker.







Good luck with your film making projects and remember to bookmark this site and to share this post on your google plus.


  

Iphone 6 Short Films and Filmmaking

Iphone 6 Short Films, 2015

 Today I would like to share with you a few short films that were shot using an iPhone 6. Like the previous versions of this product the iphone 6 is an amazing digital film making tool. Many film makers are now using the iphone in one model or another to record at least some footage for their films. The first film that I would like to share with you is a comedy. I suggest that you stick around for the punchline.



 Next is a trailer for an iphone 6 short film. I believe that it was edited with the iphone as well.

 

 You may notice that some films look different from others. The quality of the film is in large part due to the skill of the film maker and how much time has been spent preparing for the shoot. Iphone film making is like any other kind of film making. The more work that you put in before you start shooting the better your film will look in the end. There is no secret to great film making. Write a good screenplay, find good actors and light it well. Here are two great tutorials on iphone 6 film making.



 

 Thank you for visiting my site and please take a moment to share this post and good luck with your film making. Here is a bonus film shot using the iphone 6 plus. 


  

Iphone Film Making, A Feature Film

Iphone Film Making, A Feature Film

 The iphone feature film, once believed to be a dream of those who used these smart phone to record short little films, has been a reality for over two years. Not only are micro budget film makers using the iphone as the main recording device of their feature film, but mainstream film makers are taking a serious second look at the device. The trailer that I would like to show you today is for a feature length iphone film. The title of the film is And Uneasy Lies the Mind. It was shot using an iphone 5.

 
And Uneasy Lies the Mind - Trailer from Ricky Fosheim on Vimeo.


 

 
And Uneasy Lies the Mind - Shot Entirely on the iPhone from Ricky Fosheim on Vimeo.


Here are two scenes from the finished film.

 
And Uneasy Lies the Mind: Selected Scene 1 from Ricky Fosheim on Vimeo.

 

 
And Uneasy Lies the Mind: Selected Scene 2 from Ricky Fosheim on Vimeo.


Thanks for visiting my blog and please take a moment to share this post with a friend and to like this post on stumble upon.




 

Iphone Film Making, Departure

        Iphone film making is now a growing sub culture in the indie film making world. This sub culture has reached around the world. There are film makers in Europe, Asia and South America using these smart phones to make movies. In many third world countries the iphone is being looked upon as the best option for young film makers to chase their cinematic dreams.

    Every few weeks a whole batch of new films are being released to the public. I spend a few hours each week going over footage from iPhone film makers. Like with all types of film making there are different levels of quality. The quality of the film usually equates to the skill and experience of the film maker.

    The film that I would like to highlight today is the ambition iphone project named Departure. This film was shot in three countries USA, France & Belarus.  Also this iphone film was directed by three different directors. The long term plans with this project it to expand it into something like a series that follows events in each country.

Okay here is a look at the film.


Departure from iPhone Film Festival on Vimeo.




Here is a look at the Q & A with the film makers.
Departure from iPhone Film Festival on Vimeo.



Thank you for visiting my blog. If you would like to become a better film maker it begins with the screenplay. Read as many quality scripts and you can online. Study the craft and if you would like a book recommendation then you can check out my book on writing a low budget film script by clicking the image on the right side of the page. Good luck with your future projects and have a nice day.

Iphone Short Films and New Equipment

 Today I would like to show you guys a few award nominated short films that were shot using the iphone 4s and/or iphone 5. During the past year this style of film making is steadily growing in popularity. As always keep in mind that to become a good iphone or smartphone film maker you must first learn the basics of film making. You must spend time learning about lighting and how to capture quality sound. Okay lets look at some footage shot with an iphone 5. This is test footage that has been nominated for awards.

  
iPhone 5 + PentaEye = Awesome! from Shana: HAPPYSHIVER on Vimeo.

 Next up is a short film that was shot using the iphone 4s. This short is from Japan, I would love to get more footage from Japan since some of the best feature length films are made there each year. The title is A Class Re-union.

   

 The next short is titled A Little More Drama, and it was shot using an Iphone 5.

 
a Little More Drama - shot on iPhone 5 (Award Winning) from Johan Dijkstra on Vimeo.

 Next is a little short film that I like a lot. Maybe because I like sci fi that is idea rather than effect oriented, The Dark Side of The Earth.




 

 The last thing I want you to look at is a new piece of equipment that can be used while film making with the iphone.

     

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please take a moment to share this post with a friend and to stumble it on Stumble upon.

Iphone 5 Short and The Iphone as Film making Support

Today I have an iphone 5 short film for you that comes along with a BTS video as well. I wish more film makers who shoot with the iphone would do behind the scene videos because this style of film making is still new and there is not much other there about the subject.


Iphone film makers should look at themselves in the same way that other low budget film makers do. This is a real industry. This is a growing industry and over the next few years will become part of the mainstream film industry. Of course this can only happen if those who are out there in the trenches shooting films are willing to record their experiences. To also write and talk about the tricks and short cuts that they have learned along the way.

I believe that this short film was shot in South Africa. It was shot on the iPhone 5. Following the film will be the behind the scene’s footage.



Next I would like to talk to you about using the iPhone as a way of supporting your overall film. You may shoot your film using a Dslr or a camcorder, but there are scenes where these devices are not the best ones for the job. Your iphone can capture the footage that you need. The film that I am going to show you is a found footage film that was shot using a web cam, iphone and a Gopro. I did a full length interview with the film maker, and you can read that interview by clicking here.. There are problems with shooting a film with the use of multiple devices, but if you do your research before hand, you will be able to overcome the editing and footage problems.

The title of the film is Encounter.



Thank you for visiting my blog. If you would like to learn more about what it takes to be a full time filmmaker then I would suggest checking out my book of interviews with film makers. The book contains a ton of hands on information about low budget film making. You can find it on Amazon by clicking here.

Iphone Filmmaking, Equipment Notes

I know that it has been a while since the last post. I have been busy with my new ebook. You will find a link to it at the end of this post.

Today I would live to show you two iphone shorts and a great tutorial on some equipment you may want to add to your iphone film makers kit.

First up is a new iphone 4s short I would like to show to you guys. I understand that it is the film makers first attempt at an iphone film and it is very well do.


    



  Next up is a short thriller shot on the iphone 4s. Sometimes the best think about film making is just going out and shooting some footage. There is nothing new where the plot of this film is concerned, but it looked like it was fun to shoot and the iphone can give you that kind of freedom. You know to go out and shoot a short slasher film.

    

 Next up are two tutorials from Aron J. Anderson. A film maker I interviewed recently. He has done a great short film titled Clandestine. I can not show it here, because it was not done with the iphone, but here is a link to the interview which features the film click here.     .

First up is a tutorial on DIY iphone lenses.




DIY iPhone Lenses TFX tv # 1 from Aron J Anderson on Vimeo.

 This is part two of the tutorial.
   
iPhone Lens Mount Tutorial TFX tv # 2 from Aron J Anderson on Vimeo.


 Again thank you for visiting my site. Please take a moment to share this post or even Pin it. All social media is good media. Now the last note for today is about my new ebook. It is a book of interviews that I have done during the last year. I have learned as much about film making from conducting interviews with this film makers as I did no a set. The interviews not only function as Q&A sessions, but mini tutorials on a number of subjects from dealing with cast and crew, to writing, to raising money for your film. I put together the book that I wanted to find ten years ago when I was starting out. If your next question is about a book on iphone film making, then the answer is that it is coming soon. Understand that many of the lessons found in this book can be applied to iphone film making.

Buy at Amazon

Good luck with your projects and have a nice day.

Iphone filmmaking, Rode Gear

Iphone filmmaking, Rode Gear

When film makers hear the name Rode they think microphones and the gear that is used to support them. This company is one of the best friends of indie filmmakers everywhere. Now it seems that they have turned their eyes toward the iphone and the gear they have come up with is impressive. The video tutorial you will be viewing is a basic overview of what they have developed for the iphone film maker.  
Introducing the RØDEGrip and RØDEGrip+ from RØDE Microphones on Vimeo.
One of the best uses for this device is to use your iphone in support of a Dslr as a recording device. Most of us know that the one great weakness of using a dslr camera to shoot a film is that they record terrible sound. You have to use a secondary piece of equipment to record sound and the Iphone can be used in this regard.

 
   

      

   
     

   Thank you for visiting my blog. Take a moment to share this post with a friend and to bookmark this blog. Good luck with your film making and have a great day.

   

Iphone 5 Shorts and Comments

Iphone 5 Shorts and Comments

I am sorry that it has been a few weeks since the last iphone post. I have been busy at work at other blogs, but I am back and would like to show you guys some great new iPhone 5 short films. The first film was shot entirely using the iphone 5 and the music is ringtones from the  phone.

   
Matt Morris - iPhone 5s adventure from Dave Altizer on Vimeo.

The next film is a combination of iphone 5 footage and the black Magic camera. This goes to show that the iphone can be used to support other film making equipment. Sometimes an expensive camera cannot be used in ever single situation. Sometimes a device like the iphone is the perfect film making tool. Think about this when you are planning your film shoot.
    

 The last film I want to look at today was shot using an iPhone 4s. Keep in mind that just because the iphone 5 exist this does not mean the 4s is still not a great film making tool. I love the phone and with the next version of the iPhone due out soon the price point of the 4s continues to drop. A lower price makes it even a better film making option. Also, most of the film making tools out there for smart phones were designed for the 4s.
   

 Okay that will be it for today. If you like this post you could take a moment to share it to your facebook or pinterest or on twitter. Sharing is everything to a blog. A blog only grows because readers are willing to share. This week I am asking you to share this blog with anyone who has an iphone. Thank you for visiting and if you have an iphone project that you wished to be spotlighted let me know by leaving a comment.  

The iPhone 5 Experimental Short

The iPhone 5 Experimental Short

There is going out and just shooting some footage with your iphone and then there is deciding to go out an do something ground breaking. So far the production of the iPhone short film The Other Side looks to be ground breaking.
    

 What Conrad Mess is attempting to do is change the conversation that we are having about this device when used as a film making tool. Looking at the early footage from the project makes me wonder why someone has not attempted this sooner. The iphone has come a long way during the last eighteen months as being considered one of the devices that we can shoot a movie with. Being a digital film maker is about taking risk and experimenting. If you can not take risk with your smartphone, then when can you take risk.

 If you want to be a film maker you need to shoot as much footage as possible and you need to post it and get feedback. Do not be afraid to be criticized. You will learn from it. Okay I have a few iPhone films I would like you to look at today.

First up are 2 shorts shoot with the iPhone 4s.

   
Pure Light [iPhone Short Film] from Ben-Christopher David on Vimeo.
Next up is a little behind the scenes of a iphone film shoot.
Making of Apple short film . Behind the scene . VFX Breakdown from D21pictures on Vimeo.


 Okay that is it. Please take a moment to share this post and look into posting your work online. Between Vimeo and Youtube you can not go wrong. I would post at both sites. The video quality seems to be slightly better though at Vimeo. Check it out and tell me what do you think.

You can visit the crowd funding campaign of The Other side by clicking here.

iPhone 5, The Other Side - An iPhone 5 short

I would like to introduce you guys to the most ambitious iPhone project that I have heard about. At the moment this project is at the beginning of it’s crowdfunding campaign, you can visit the page by clicking here .

          

Conrad Mess is perhaps the most innovated voice in the world of iPhone film making. With his new project he is attempting to shoot entirely in chroma with an iPhone5, victorian aesthetics and 3D backgrounds in a horror comic style. The first look at what he is attempting look amazing. I strongly suggest that you check out the project and the film maker behind it.
    

 Conrad Mess is an award winning film maker who may turn out to be the most important visionary in the world of iPhone film making. I look forward to interviewing him about this project and ones to come. Right now I have to find a way to over come our language barrier. Thank you for visiting my blog. Please take a moment to share this post and to like us on stumbleupon.

   

The iPhone 5 Feature, The Affair

I recently received news of a crowdfunding campaign for an iPhone 5 feature film being shot. There are more than just this one being attempted, but so far they have not reach the stage where the film makers believe that they need to do crowdfunding or to release footage.

The digital feature film world is going to go through many changes over the next year or so as more and more hand held devices are used to shoot films.

Those of you already shooting and editing your work using the iPhone may be ahead of the game. There will be many more iphone film makers. The movie that we are going to look at is being shot by a Hollywood power couple. Craig Ross Jr. and his wife Caryn Ward Ross. The movie is titled The Affair.

   
   

  

 You can visit their crowdfunding campaign at this link, http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/633012328/the-affair-the-movie?ref=category

That will be it for today. I would like to suggest sharing your footage and short films on Vimeo. I love youtube, but the video quality is slightly better on Vimeo and there are less restrictions on content at Vimeo.

If you have a kickstarter or indiegogo campaign and would like to share it, just leave me a comment about it or contact me through Google plus and I will check it out.


     

A Look At iPhone 5 Short Films

A Look At iPhone 5 Films

I have been busy working on finishing up an eBook so I have not posted as often as I would have liked to. Today we are going to look at some shorts that have been shoot using the iPhone 5.

So far the iPhone 5 looks like a great addition to the digital film makers tool kit. I still like the iPhone 4s as a film making tool because at the moment there are so many addons and accessories that are available to use with the 4s that have to be redo to fit the iPhone 5 due to the different dimensions.

I would again like to remind you all that it still comes down to basic film making technique.

If you want to make a quality film, then you should start with a quality script. A good script for a short film and a great one for a movie. If you wish to learn the basics of writing a good screenplay then (shameless plug alert) check out a copy of my screenwriting good by clicking the banner on the right side of this post.

Next you will need to learn about basic lighting.

Here is a quick video on the subject. Not how to light, but what kind of lights that you should look into.
    

 Next is a video on better lighting.
    

 Now we will look at a few iphone 5 short films.
   
(David Lynch's Louboutins) Belafonte Neo-Noir Digital Surreal Short Move Along from SSBELAFONTE on Vimeo.

Crevice, 틈 from dong-hyuck kim on Vimeo.

Goodbye from Keaton Tucker on Vimeo.

I would like to thank Vimeo for today's short films. I have to say that the video quality is slightly better than at youtube. If you are just a film maker I would strongly suggest trying them out to display your videos. You can use both youtube and vimeo if you wish, but watching movies of vimeo I sometimes get that Imax theater feeling.

Okay that will be it for today. Please take a moment to share this post with a friend and add us to your  google plus.

   

iPhone Shorts

  iPhone Shorts

Every few weeks I like to show you guys some of the newer iPhone short films being made. We will still focus mostly on the iphone 4s as a digital film making tool, but we will when they present themselves look at iphone 5 short films as well.  
Never Trust a Gypsy from kelly fancher on Vimeo.
The following footage is from an award winning film maker. He has not only shot a great iphone short film, but has also shot a behind the scenes video. It is not in English, but many of the world’s best digital film makers are from other countries. This is where I should include films shot with the iphone 5, but there is not a great deal of footage out there yet. It is a great device, but with the exception of the apps that are available for film makers we are still catching up in the other areas. The needed attachments are just hitting the market. With the design of the iphone 5 being different from the iphone 4s it has meant that most of the lenses and supports used by film makers do not translate to the iPhone 5. There is also the fact that the iphone 4s is a great little device and why put it away as a film making tool unless you have to. I am going to do a post of nothing, but iPhone 5 short films. If you have one that you believe should be included, drop me a message by leaving a comment here or you could add me to your google plus and send me a message that way. Thank you for visiting. Please take a moment to share this post and to stumble it on stumbleupon.