Smartphone filmmaking has been coming of age recently. Some of the best Primetime TV shows were shot entirely remotely on smartphones. It is an easier creative outlet for filmmaking around and can help cater to mobile-centric digital platforms.
However, if you think you cannot match the cinematography work with the more sophisticated camera equipment, you are wrong! You can overcome all the hurdles and make the cinematography even better, as good as the real thing.
Changing the Frame Rates
If your phone has varying capabilities, you can use different frame rates. You can shoot at 24 fps for the perfect cinematic-looking shots. However, if you are shooting action or sports shots, you can try at 60 fps. You can go for even higher frame rates for some beautiful slow-motion shots. To shoot for different types of videos, you can incorporate a variety of frame rates.
The Importance of Good Lighting
However, it is a combination of several elements that can help realize your vision. With good lighting and your mobile camera, you can create wonderful shots making your images look cinematic. Add to that, blocking, camera movement, blocking, costuming, and set design all put together. You can create the film you always wanted to create.
But perhaps one of the greatest tools in your arsenal is certainly lighting. Catching the golden hour, the time right before sunrise or after sunset can transform your screen. It’s a soft and warm color that can paint the frame with gorgeous lighting. With a good lighting setup, you can make your images look professional.
Invest in a Camera Stabilizer
While smartphones are not as heavy as DSLRs or cinema cameras, they may not be the best option to shoot video because of the continuous shaking of the camera. You can invest in a mobile camera stabilizer to make things better, such as a gimbal or handheld rig. Your shots will look pretty smooth, but you will also be able to nail the tracking, slider, and orbit shots that give a boost to your production value.
Shoot High-Resolution Films
Why shoot you shoot 4K on a smartphone video because it gives you a ton of latitude and freedom when you head into the post. You will crop it and create a tracking shot as shot for various position keyframes. You can downsample if you want to.
Customize the Settings
You can set the custom settings and adjust everything from the shutter speed to aperture and ISO to get the perfect image. You can also fix the depth of field to get that beautiful bokeh that may lack in the smartphone cinematography.
Sometimes your camera may not have the right settings. In that case, you can use several apps that will help you get just what you need. Even they are paid apps. They may not cost you back and give you the finesse you want.
Don’t Underestimate Your Smartphone Camera
First, you need to give your smartphone the importance it deserves filmmaking since there have been instances of great cinematic, pro-level work shot with smartphones. Films such as Tangerine were shot on an iPhone 5, and Steven Soderbergh also shot High Flying Bird on an iPhone 8, so they treated their phones more than just phones and turned out to be just great, elevated the next level.
Get Good Quality Smartphone Lenses
You need good quality smartphone lenses to give your film the right elevation. Moment lenses are something that you can use. There is also Moondog Labs anamorphic lens. These are the perfect options for you to turn your film into a cinematic experience. Browse through the various option of lenses available in the market to find the perfect one. After all, you need to make your film gorgeous and set an example before your peers that filmmaking is very much possible with your smartphone, and you can forgo a lot of fancy equipment and settle for just your phone.
So, have you ever tried shooting a film with your smartphone? If yes, share about your amazing experience, the difficulties you faced, and the advantages of the same. It would certainly help the new breed of filmmakers who want to create a visually stunning and impactful film. It will also make them think that if they have the vision, they can certainly realize it.
