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The iPhone is a wonderfully handy filmmaking tool. You can use it for obvious things in your day to day, answering emails, watching footage, writing down ideas etc. But you can also use it to enhance your creative offering on set, with hidden features that can sometimes get you out of tricky situations. I've listed my favourite apps below.
Blackmagic Camera: recent iPhone models such as the 15 and 16 Pro Max have insanely sophisticated recording features such as internal Apple ProRes LOG and slow motion. However, to get the most out of your iPhone as a camera, you need an app such as Blackmagic Camera that allows you to control professional features such as ISO, frame rate, White Balance, Shutter Angle and colour profiles. The best part? It's free. I often use my iPhone to capture ultra wide angles when I don't have a wide enough lens, for example. Teleprompter: this is another wonderful free app that allows you to use large iPhones as screens for a small teleprompter system. This means you don't need to carry a separate iPad on solo shoots. One of the strongest features of the app is its compatibility across macOS and iOS, meaning you can write a script on your desktop Mac and it will sync automatically to your iPhone / iPad. DJI Ronin: if you own a DJI gimbal, this free Ronin app will allow you to dial in presets, calibrate your machine and troubleshoot any issues that arise. It syncs via Bluetooth instantly and honestly should always be part of your arsenal of tools, especially if you are using a cheaper gimbal that doesn't have a display to make adjustments. Letterboxd: this isn't just a great app for broadcasting your passion for storytelling, it also allows you to handily make lists and pull out references when talking about specific movies. The sharing functions and social aspect of it are fun to use, and its visual cataloging system is much more appealing than something like IMDb. When paired with a paid service like ShotDeck it can be extremely powerful. Leica Lux: similarly to the Blackmagic version at the top of the list, this Leica app allows you to do the same thing for photography. With lovely colour profiles, manual controls and an intuitive interface, I would recommend using this over the standard iPhone camera app. It isn't as sophisticated as the Blackmagic app but will allow you to get more out of your device. |