SMARTPHONE FILMMAKING

Νικόλαος Αλέτρας, Μέλος ΕΕΠ, Τμήμα Κινηματογράφου, ΑΠΘ

“Film will only become an art when its materials are as inexpensive as pencil and paper.”
- Jean Cocteau
 The ARRI ALEXA SXT Studio

Rental Rates:

$2,800/daily
$8,400/weekly

Not including lenses, add-

ons and accessories
Source: Radiant Images

• Super 35mm format; maximum recordable resolution is bigger than traditional 65mm film
• Frame rates up to 120 fps; latitude of 14 stops
• Cinematographers say the tonal range, color space and latitude exceed the capabilities of film
Anamorphic film format – Lawrence of Arabia
Anamorphic film format – Rebel Without a Cause
Anamorphic film format – The Wild Bunch
Anamorphic film format – Manhattan
 Anamorphic Format / Cinemascope
Shooting a widescreen picture on standard 35 mm film or other visual recording media
with a non-widescreen native aspect ratio

The Robe (1953) was the first

feature film released that was
filmed with an anamorphic lens.
How can a student achieve this?

+
Apple iPhone Moondog Labs
Anamorphic Adapter
$175
Tangerine (2015) – shot on iPhone 5s with the Moondog Lab Anamorphic Lens Adapter

Sound was recorded separately and synced in post

The Steadicam Smoothee Stabilizer

Lightweight, compact &

versatile

$149
FILMic Pro – the ‘Gold Standard’ App for filmmaking
• Full manual control over:
• Focus
• Exposure
• ISO
• Shutter
• Speed
• Tint
• Color temperature
• Audio meters
• Stereo Mic Support
• Supports all major aspect
ratios

$14.99
Beat the $5,000 Sony FS100 and tied the $13,000 Canon C300 in blind audience testing
Zoom iQ Professional Stereo Microphone

Compact yet full-featured mid-

side stereo condenser mic

$99.99
Sennheiser KA 600i XLR to Mini Connection Cable

Achieve professional-quality audio for

videos produced with smartphones

$19.95

Use this to record with standard microphones (shotguns, booms, lavs, etc.)
Have access to three iPhones? Perhaps record picture with two and sound with one
Mophie Juice Pack Reserve Smart Battery Case

Compact battery backup

Thin, lightweight design that provides
power, reliability and protection

$59.95
DSLR, Telescope & Microscope Lenses
Underrepresentation in the Film/TV Industry

Source: DGA & UCLA Diversity studies

 The Proliferation of Smartphones

• As of July, 2015, over two-thirds of American

adults (68%) own a smartphone
– Up from 35% from 2011
• 86% of 18-29 year-olds own a smartphone
• 83% of 30-49 year-olds own a smartphone
• 87% of those living in households earning
$75,000 and up annually own a smartphone

• Today on average, children are getting their

first smartphones around age 10
• Down from age 12 in 2012

Source: Pew Research Center, 2015 & Influence Central, 2016

 Increased capabilities of the iPhone 7
• 12-megapixel camera (dual wide-angle and telephoto lenses on the 7 Plus)
• f/1.8 aperture
• 4K video recording (3840 x 2160) at 30 fps
• 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps
• Optical image stabilization
• Optical zoom at 2x; 6x digital zoom (iPhone 7 Plus only)
• Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps and 720p at 240 fps
• Time-lapse video with stabilization
• Cinematic video stabilization (1080p and 720p)
• Continuous autofocus video
• Body and face detection
• Panorama (up to 63 megapixels)
• Improved noise reduction
• Exposure control
• Noise reduction
• Burst mode
• Hybrid IR filter
• Continuous autofocus video
• Photo geotagging
 Smartphone Add-Ons & Accessories
• Cases
• Lenses
• Audio
• Stabilizers
• Steadicam

• Sliders
• Lights
• Remote Controls
• Memory Options
 Movies Shot on Smartphones
• Tangerine (2015) • And Uneasy Lies the Mind (2014)
• Searching for Sugar Man (2012) • Night Fishing (iPhone 4; 2011)
• This is Not a Film (2011) • Framed (short; 2011)
 Apps for Filmmakers: Screenwriting
• Celtx Script
– Work anytime from anywhere; share scripts with your team
• Final Draft Writer
– Brings Final Draft to your smartphone
• Fade In Mobile
– For use with Fade In software; works well with Dropbox
• Index Card
– Organize thoughts using index cards; no more misplacing
• Scripts Pro
– Imports, exports and preserves formatting from any software
• Storyist
– Sketch out a story using index cards
• Weekend Read
– A screenplay reading app with choices of fonts and sizes

Source: Indiewire
Apps for Filmmakers: Preproduction & Production
• FilmTouch
– Keep track of call sheets and search names, jobs, etc.
• MapAPic
– Location scouting, organization and management app; sunrise & sunset times
• Shot Designer
– Create camera diagrams, animate characters, design lighting
• Shotlister
– Update/change shots in real time, storyboard images, tells you if you’re ahead,
behind or on schedule, export projects
• ShotPro
– Pre-visualize scenes with 3D sets, animatable characters, adjust facial features,
add props, multiple cameras, weather effects
• Safety App by ICG
– Report unsafe working conditions on sets anonymously
• Storyboard Composer
– Storyboard shots and add movements (dolly, track, zoom, pan)
Source: Indiewire
 Apps for Filmmakers: Cinematography
• FiLMiC Pro
– Control exposure, focus, zoom, shutter, frame rates, audio
• DSLR Slate
– Allows you to input detailed information (shutter speed, ISO, aperture, etc.)
• Switcher Studio
– A video ‘switching’ tool; sync up to four devices, record final mixed video and
stream a live video feed
• Sun Surveyor
– Know the position of the sun and moon for any given time and place; with 3D
compass, maps and street view
• Cine Meter II
– Acts as a light meter; can set shutter angle & filters
• Cinescope
– Compose and shoot in any aspect ratio
• Artemis
– A director’s viewfinder app

Source: Indiewire
 Apps for Filmmakers: Editing
• iMovie
• PowerDirector
• Pinnacle Studio Pro
• Kinemaster
• Movie Edit Touch
• Replay
• Clips
• Splice
• Adobe’s Premiere Clip
• Magistro

Source: Indiewire
 Distribution

In Addition to:
• Social Media Will traditional studios get involved?
• Live Streaming How will financing sources and models change?
• Film Festivals
 Legal Issues
The same legal issues that affect conventional films also apply to movies shot on smart phones:
– Photo / Appearance Releases
– Location Releases
– Soundtrack
– Stills and Images
– Artwork
– Product / Name / Logo
– Film / Video
– Name & Likeness Release
– Services Agreements for Key Personnel

• Public Domain
– Generally 70 years after the death of the creator
• Fair Use
– News reporting, criticism, comment, research, teaching, parody
• Know Your State’s Hidden Camera & Wiretapping Laws
Thank You!
Smartphone-Filmmaking Part I

A TerreWEB Seminar
by

Guido Tölke (University of Hildesheim),

Duncan McHugh (LFS, UBC) &
Julia Dordel (TerreWEB, UBC)
Smartphone-Filmmaking
Guido Tölke
Lecturer of Cinematography, University of
Hildesheim (Germany) & Shoestring-Budget
Filmmaking Specialist

Duncan McHugh
Digital Media Specialist, Faculty of Land and Food
Systems, UBC & DIY Technology Specialist

Julia Dordel
Coordinator TerreWEB, UBC & Fictional-,
Documentary-, and Smartphone-Film Producer
 Smartphone-Filmmaking

Why making films using a smartphone & Examples - Julia (10)

Special Smartphone Equipment - Guido (20)

Basics of Filmmaking (planning, set up a shot, storytelling, sharing online) –
Duncan (45)

Essential Smartphone Software – Julia (5)

Working with the SP & Hands-on with Filmic Pro - Guido (20)

Exercise: Setting up a shot with Filmic Pro – Guido (15)

Permissions & Copyright, Equipment that you can borrow in the Learning Centre
– Duncan (5)

If time allows: Basics of the Interview
 Why a Smartphone?


High Definition Cameras (HD, 4k,...)


Cheap & Flexible (because you have it)


Small & Flexible
(u never know what u encounter & when...)

Julia
 Why a Smartphone?


Not very intimidating


Useful especially in difficult places

Permission (less noticeable)

Physical (confined spaces, up in trees,...)

© 2015 DayMen Canada

Julia
 Films made with Smartphones
Iphone 4s: Departure (Official Selection Cannes) https://vimeo.com/65464952

Iphone 5s: Tangerine (Official Selection Sundance) https://youtu.be/ALSwWTb88ZU

Iphone 6: The Painter of Jalouzi https://youtu.be/Eyr9NwyszNY

Julia
 Turn your SP into a REAL Camera

Guido
 Smartphone = Real Camera?
YES:

Full HD up to 4k (UHD) resolution (depending on your device)

fps/ frames per second from 24 (cinema standard) to 60fps (or even more for slow
motion)

high quality data rates (depending on your app)

external audio connection is possible (via TRRS adapter)

Guido
 Smartphone = Real Camera?
Well....NOT REALLY:

only one fixed lens, no optical zooming

no interchangeable batteries

no comfortable workflow (no switchable memory card in the iPhone)

no tripod thread

no viewfinder

Guido
 No. 1 Rule

Try to achieve great video- AND audio quality!

means:
no shaky, handheld camera with badly lit protagonists that are out of focus and hard to
understand.

.. but how to do it?

Guido
 Stabilize you Smartphone

Use a cage / rig to make SP less shaky
and use the given tripod thread


Use a tripod whenever possible/ available

if you don't have a cage/rig and/or tripod....

Guido
 ... Be Creative


try to mount your smartphone in any way
you could think of (e.g. use binder clips &
1/4” nut)

for moving "steadycam"- shots you can
use a monopod as counterweight

for a moving "dolly"-shot use a skateboard
(on a table) or a tripod on a plate with
wheels

whatever you do, try to "be steady"

Guido
 Use External Audio for Interviews

internal SP mics are often too far away
from the scene and exposed to wind

use either videomics or lavalier mics, both
with 3,5mm plug

NEVER go outside without using a
windscreen (aka "dead kitten")

external mics will ONLY work on
smartphones, if they have a TRRS plug or
are connected via TRS - TRRS adapter
cable

Guido
 Aperture and Focus
Do NOT use your default SP camera

always control focus and aperture
manually

LOCK focus and aperture to avoid shifting

try to expose your protagonist correctly, if
possible use extra lightsource or
bounceboard (reflector) to lighten shadows
or create an "eyelight" with your
smartphone flashlight

Guido
 Smartphone Accessories...
... you may (or may not) need

Professional App for filming (e.g. "Filmic
Pro")


telephoto lens (direct "clip-on" or 37mm
lens for cage/ rig)


Smartphone powerbank as external
battery


Audio Connector/ Splitter for connecting
microphone AND headphone to the
smartphone headset- connection (for
example: Rode SC6)

Guido
 Smartphone Accessories...
... you may (or may not) need

HDMI adapter to connect an external
monitor to your smartphone

additional LED light (for example iblazr)

rescue blanket (first aid kit) and some
cardboard to make your own bounce
board

raincover (shower cap, plastic bag)

smartphone gloves (for when its cold to
operate the screen)

Steadycam

(http://store.tiffen.com/item/SMOOTHEE-UM-NA/STEADICAM-SMOOTHEE/)

Guido
 Filmmaking Basics still apply...


Planning (Script / Storyboard)

Filming

Editing

Distribution (own channels, Youtube, Smartphone Filmfestivals,...)

Julia &
Duncan
 Software / Apps

Scriptwriting

Celtx (for the desktop and phone): https://www.celtx.com/index.html (choose
Audio-Visual script)

Word.doc with a two - table column also does the trick

Julia
 Software / Apps

Scriptwriting

Julia
 Software / Apps

Scriptwriting

Julia
 Essential Smartphone Apps

Camera (do not use the default smartphone camera!)


Filmic Pro (Iphone): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/filmic-pro/id436577167?
mt=8 (their webpage is also very useful with short tutorials)

Cinema fv-5 (Android): http://www.cinemafv5.com

Julia
 Essential Smartphone Apps

Editing on the go (if you don’t have your laptop)


Pinnacle Studio (Iphone):
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/pinnacle-studio-video-editing/id827186281?mt=8

Kinemaster or Power Director (Android):
http://www.kinemaster.com/kinemaster/main/en/

Recommendable free software for the laptop/computer are iMovie (Mac) and Movie
Maker (Windows)

Julia
 Working with the Smartphone


make sure to have enough memory and that phone is charged

if necessary, delete older photos, videos, apps

go into Airplane Mode (or else you might record interferences on the audio)

shoot horizontally not vertical (think of cinema and your eyes)

Guido
 Hands-on with Filmic Pro

For help tap the info button on top

set your resolution (e.g. 1920x1080 Full HD)

set frames/second (e.g. 24 fps cinema standard)

set camera and framing, zoom in if necessary (careful! might get too blocky/
noisy)

set White Balance and LOCK it

set aperture (best on skin/ face) and LOCK it

set focus (e.g. eyes of protagonist or point of interest) and LOCK it

know your workflow (how to get the footage out)

...now a hands-on Interview exercise (if time)

Guido
 In the Can... What Now?

Editing within smartphone:

only if memory is large enough for all the video

App "Pinnacle Studio"

Editing outside of smartphone:

Freeware on Mac: iMovie

Freeware on PC: Windows Movie Maker (download for free from microsoft),
AVS video editor, VSDC Video Editor

More about post-production (editing) during the next seminar on March 10th.

Guido
 Final Words


Permissions & Copyright


Equipment in the Learning Centre

Duncan
 Smartphone-Filmmaking
Next Seminar (March 10th)


Pitfalls to avoid (recaps of past smartphone filming)

Editing continued

More creative (almost) free DIY equipment solutions

Presentation of (Student) Smartphone Videos
SP-Filmmaking Links & Resources


Four Smartphone Films That Are Actually Good:
http://www.wired.com/2014/07/smartphone-movies/

Professional 4K Videos by an Italian Award-Winning Filmmaker Giacomo
Mantovani https://oneplus.net/blog/2015/02/create-professional-videos-with-your-
smartphone-tips-and-tricks-from-award-winning-filmmaker/

How one of the best films at Sundance was shot using an iPhone 5S
http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/28/7925023/sundance-film-festival-2015-
tangerine-iphone-5s

Flightpath: 4K Samsung Galaxy Note 3 https://vimeo.com/77650370

TSFF2014 Winners: http://www.smartphonefilm.ca/festival/archive/2014-winners

Shooting Movies w iPhone: https://www.lightsfilmschool.com/blog/shooting-
movies-with-iphone/2908/
 SP-Filmmaking Links & Resources
Examples (brands) for the iPhone:

Gorillapod with joby grip tight

Beast grip.com (allows mounting of external microphone & light)

Power bank (SF battery life won't suffice)

Light: iblazer

Rode video microphone

Guido
 SP-Filmmaking Links & Resources
Equipment - creative add-ons


Poor man's tripod with binder clips

Sunshade from a coffee container

Egg-timer makes a 360 degree tim-lapse (e.g. place gorillapod on top)
 SMARTPHONE FILMING GUIDE

Before you start:

● Charge up the battery on your phone and ensure you have enough storage! ! 1
minute of HD footage on a smartphone = approximately 150mb of data.
● Switch your phone to flight mode to avoid calls, messages and alerts mid-filming.
● Consider whether you need to hold your phone horizontally (landscape) or vertical
(portrait). If in doubt, film horizontally
● Don’t use the digital zoom! For most phones, this will result in pixelated footage. If
you want a closer shot, you’ll have to do it old-school and actually just physically get
closer to whatever you’re filming.
● Consider lighting! Smartphones work well with natural daylight. If you’re filming
inside, consider filming in a part of the room where light falls ON the face of whoever
you are filming (rather than filming against it). Otherwise, us a second smartphone as
a soft torch to light up a face!

Top Tips
● WIPE YOUR LENS!
● Try to use a microphone, or your headphones, to capture better sound
● Tap on different parts of the screen to adjust focus, white balance and exposure.
● Small, slow and steady movements are best when working on smartphones!
● Film cutaways/b-roll clips for (at least) 5-10 seconds. Longer if you’d like to share with
media.
● Try out some slo-mo shots (50 or 60 Frames Per Second is great, 120+ is usually
tooo slow!).
● DO NOT SHARE CLIPS VIA SMS/EMAIL. They will be compressed and low-quality.
Consider using SendAnywhere (app), Google Drive, Dropbox, WeTransfer, Airdrop or
Bluetooth, or use Smart Video Compressor app
Gear list
● Your phone - charged up and with enough free storage (around 150mb per minute of
HD footage)
● Grips or tripod - here are some options under $50
○ You be the grip! (Just hold your phone)
○ JOBY Gorilla Grips ​from $25
○ SMISEA​ Selfie sticks with tripod​ $22
● Feiyutech Vimble - for steadicam & tripod $100
● An external microphone
○ Your headphone mic! Cheapest option.
○ RODE Smartlav​ $75 - consider getting extension cable $25
○ Audio-Technica Microphone for smartphones​ $45 - remember to turn off/on
and make sure batteries are full
● Portable power-bank​ if you’re considering doing a lot of filming

Editing Apps
● Kinemaster​: GREAT editing app, available for iOS and Android, free with small
watermark, supports landscape, portrait and square editing, user-friendly, multi-track
editing.
● Quik​: available for iOS and Android, free, great for visual edits (e.g. pictures, footage
with no speaking) and adding music, single-track editing
● Adobe Premiere Rush​: simple to use editing app, available for iOS and Android, free
(but requires sign-in), single-track editing.
● Splice​: simple to use editing app, available for iOS only, free, single-track editing only

Want to learn more?

● Join the ​Stories for Impact Facebook group
● Workshops: ​https://www.digitalstorytellers.com.au/workshops
● Online Course: w ​ ww.digitalstorytellers.com.au/sfionline
● Email ​[email protected]

Bonus Video!
MAKE Your Story: Basics of Smartphone Filmmaking​, with Tash from Stories For Impact
DIY
FILM
SCHOOL

PUBLISH
SHARE
DISCOVER
 Introduction

Smartphones are owned by two thirds of the population in the

UK. A decent camera is an essential attribute of any smartphone
and the ability to record high definition and even 4k footage is
becoming the norm. Broadcasters and video professionals are
increasingly looking to mobile filmmaking as a way of creating
new and exciting content. There are several key advantages to
filming on mobiles:

We almost always carry our mobile devices. Essentially we

have a high quality video camera and a means to record and
broadcast content available at all times. It’s more immediate
and more portable than a traditional camera rig.

Smartphones have overtaken laptops as the preferred device

for accessing the internet. Users who routinely carry out
complicated tasks on mobile devices may be less confident
using an unfamiliar camera. Filming on a smartphone removes
that barrier.

Many apps available for smartphones significantly improve the

manual control of a device’s camera and also enable high
quality film making, editing and post production functions.
Moreover, access to internet enables the video maker to upload
and publish their content easily. Services such as The University
of Edinburgh’s Media Hopper platform (https://media.ed.ac.uk)
allow film makers to create, store, share and publish their media
content easily.

The availability and relatively low cost of mobile devices has

given many more people the opportunity to create professional
media content.

DIY FILM
SCHOOL www.media.ed.ac.uk
 Landscape

Landscape FAST FACT

From television screens, to cinemas audiences are It’s Video

used to watching film in a specific way. Landscape
is the most common orientation for video footage. Videos are almost always presented
Allowing the filmmaker to get as much of a scene in horizontally in landscape.
shot as possible.
It’s Nature
But mobile filming in portrait is a common and
Our vision allows us to see more to the
understandable mistake. After all that is how you
left and right than top and bottom.
hold your phone when answering calls. However, it is
important that you film in landscape orientation.

Everything Is Landscape
Landscape makes your footage generally more
pleasing to the eye and more enjoyable to watch Television, computer and cinema
on other devices. So remember do not hold your screens are all landscape!
phone vertically while shooting unless there is a
specific reason.

DIY FILM
SCHOOL www.media.ed.ac.uk
 Framing

Framing FAST FACT

Now that you know to film your footage in landscape

we can concentrate on framing the shot. By framing we
Be Simple
mean arranging the elements in your scene to create an Keep your composition simple and
effective composition.
allow the audience to focus on your
subject. Be aware of anything in the
How you frame a shot is entirely subjective but there shot that may be distracting and
are some simple rules that can be applied which make frame your shot to accordingly.
footage more interesting. If you are filming an interview
filling the frame with as much of the subject as possible or
placing your them slightly off centre helps create a more Shot types
visually interesting scene.
Close ups, mid shots and wideshots
give the filmmakers options and also
Divide your scene into a grid consisting of 9 sections. help when making cuts.
There are now two equally spaced vertical and horizontal
lines. The main subject should be placed on these lines as
opposed to centred.. This technique is know as the Rule of Different types of shot also lend
Thirds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds .q§ themselves to different narratives and
situations. A close-up is great for an
interview or to add emotional depth,
Horizontal and vertical lines such as lampposts and
while a wide shot is great for action
horizons can be used as guides. It is good practice to
and setting the scene.
ensure they appear as straight and level as possible.

DIY FILM
SCHOOL www.media.ed.ac.uk
 Be stable

Be Stable FAST FACT

Jerky video, although sometimes stylistically Framing

desirable, is often an indication of badly shot
footage. However, it is one of the easiest A tripod is the supreme image-control
device, allowing you to compose the
problems to rectify. The simplest solution is
picture perfectly using its panning,
get a tripod. There are many tripods suitable tilting and center post height
for mobile devices available. Ranging from adjustments.
inexpensive desktop tripods, to broadcast
quality devices and even steady cam rigs. Camera Stabilisation

We don’t always carry a tripod, so if one is Avoid using your phones in built image
stabilisation, this just crops the image
not available use both hands to hold your and reduces image quality. Nothing
smartphone as close as possible to your body beats a tripod!
as you record the video. Or alternatively use
tables, chairs, desks and shelves to give you
added support when filming.

DIY FILM
SCHOOL www.media.ed.ac.uk
 Zoom

Zoom FAST FACT

Smartphones have digital zooms. A digital zoom Digital Zoom

works by essentially focusing on a portion of
the image scaling and cropping it to give the A digital zoom takes a portion of
the image and enlarges it. In other
impression of zooming, however, a considerable
words, the camera crops a portion
amount of image quality is lost. This can result in of the image and then scales it to
pixilation or softness. fill the frame. Subsequently, you lose
image quality. If you’ve been using a
It is better to avoid using your smartphone’s digital zoom and wondered why your
pictures did not look that great, now
zoom. If at all possible just get physically as you know.
close to the subject as possible. This will enable
you to get tight shots and close ups without
Optical Zoom
sacrificing image quality.
Optical zoom changes the
There are several clip on lenses available for magnification of images with the
actual optical glass before the images
mobile devices that allow actual zooming
reach the imaging sensor.
without a loss in picture quality.

DIY FILM
SCHOOL www.media.ed.ac.uk
 Lighting

Lighting FAST FACT

Shooting in bright natural light is ideal Manual control

when using a smartphone. Filming in low
A smartphone will automatically
light often results in grainy, noisy footage. adjust exposure as a reaction
Also avoid pointing your camera at bright to changes in light. This often
light sources. A subject shot in front a results in unwanted effects.
bright window will result in the a darkened Subsequently, It is desirable to
have as much manual control
silhouette and your shot will be ruined. as possible.

Natural light is great but you can use

domestic lights to help illuminate your scene
but a better alternative would be one of
the many inexpensive camera lights on the
market. We have several available that can
be loaned out on request.

DIY FILM
SCHOOL www.media.ed.ac.uk
 Audio

Audio FAST FACT

Audio is potentially the most important and the It is more important!

most over looked aspect of video. The built in
microphones in smartphones are generally of a Several studies have shown that if the
low quality and often in the wrong place resulting audio quality is poor, that no matter
in poor and often unusable audio. When shooting how good the picture is viewers are
video professionally filmmakers often use an external more likely to reacte negatively to the
recording device and sync the audio in the edit. video content as a whole.
However, separate audio recorders can be both
impractical and expensive for DIY video producers.

Your audio can be greatly improved by using an

external microphone. There are a wide range of
mobile microphones available and even the most
inexpensive would result in some improvement in
audio quality. If you don’t have a microphone stay
as close to the audio source as possible.

If possible shoot your video indoors and in a quiet

location avoiding excessive environmental noise
and wind.
DIY FILM
SCHOOL www.media.ed.ac.uk
 Be prepared

Be prepared
Finally the key to a successful shoot is being prepared!
Filmmaking can take many different forms. But whether you are
looking to capture some beautiful scenery, film your favourite
sport, or produce a scripted drama having all of your assets in
place is essential for a successful shoot. Ensure your transport,
script, storyboard, locations, interviewees , actors and gear are
all in place and don’t forget to check the weather!

Shooting video on your smartphone can use up a lot of storage

space, so make sure you have plenty available. Using your
phone for video recording will drain your battery very quickly so
being organized and not wasting time is essential.

DIY FILM
SCHOOL www.media.ed.ac.uk
 Useful links
Creating and using storyboards.

https://www.lynda.com/Word-tutorials/Creating-storyboards/129020/499628-4.
html

https://www.lynda.com/Filmmaking-tutorials/Using-storyboards/397361/456556-4.
html

Phone Photograph and Video shooting on iOS 9 - good way to understand the
built in tools on iPhones, along with fundamentals on new/complex features, etc.

https://www.lynda.com/iOS-tutorials/iPhone-iPad-Photography-iOS-9/419364-2.
html

iPhone Photography, from Shooting to Storytelling - More on photography, but a

nice introduction to understanding how images can tell a story, how you can use
filters to enhance an image, etc.

https://www.lynda.com/Photography-tutorials/iPhone-Photography-from-
Shooting-to-Storytelling/90813-2.html

Boot Camp for Audio Mixing - This course mostly focuses on Pro Tools, but the
foundations about understanding an audio mix are be useful

https://www.lynda.com/Pro-Tools-tutorials/Welcome/87006/93190-4.html

A playlist of courses about shooting video on DSLR’s, which go in depth in to

different topics like lighting, sounds, etc.

https://www.lynda.com/SharedPlaylist/6c2a08cc70994b08a60ea83adf1b2bdc?or
g=ed.ac.uk

Video Post Production for Low-Budget Films - Goes a bit in to the business side of
releasing films, but some good videos here about organisation, selecting takes,
etc.

https://www.lynda.com/Audio-Video-tutorials/Video-Post-Production-Low-
Budget-Films/457873-2.html

Mixing a Short Film with Logic Pro - Using Logic Pro and Final Cut to do a start-to
finish audio mix

https://www.lynda.com/Logic-Pro-tutorials/Mixing-Short-Film-Logic-Pro/111778-2.
html

DIY FILM
SCHOOL www.media.ed.ac.uk
 Mobile
filmmaking kit
Below is some of the kit we will be using in the sessions. It should also be noted that this kit
is also available for loan.

Mobile device rigs

ShoulderPod R1 Pro

ShoulderPod R1 Pro

ShoulderPod S1

iOgrapher iphone6 educational kit

iOgrapher iphone5 educational kit

iOgrapher Go for Android

iOgrapher Filmmaking Case Kit for Apple iPad Mini Retina

iOgrapher Filmmaking Case Kit for Apple iPad Air and iPad

Beastgrip Pro + DOF adapter + wide-angle lens + fisheye lens

Mobile Audio

Rode VideoMic GO

Deadcat Go

Mobile Lighting

Manfrotto LED Mini 24

3 point light kit

Mobile Accessories

Portable Green Screen - Westcott 409 Creation Kit

DJI Osmo

Rode Filmmaker kit

Manfrotto Compact Action Tripod

DIY FILM
SCHOOL www.media.ed.ac.uk
DIY FILM
SCHOOL www.media.ed.ac.uk
DIY FILM
SCHOOL www.media.ed.ac.uk
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