Director Ran Out of Money, Finished Shooting his Oscar-Nominated Movie on an iPhone

[MacRumors]

While filming Oscar-nominated documentary "Searching for Sugar Man", director Malik Bendjelloul said, in an interview with CNN Money, that he ran out of money and had to finish filming his movie on his iPhone with the 8mm Vintage Camera app.

I started shooting this on a Super 8 camera, like with film, which is pretty expensive stuff, and completely ran out of money. I really had a very few stuff, it was a very few shots left but I needed those shots. And one day I realized that there was this $1 app here on my iPhone and I tried it and it was basically the same as the real stuff.

In the past there have been other directors, like Oldboy director Park Chan-wook, who've used iPhones to shoot films.*There's even an iPhone Film Festival dedicated to movies shot on the devices, but Bendjelloul's film has since been nominated for an Academy Award.

Nexvio Inc.'s 8mm Vintage Camera app has seen an increase in downloads in the past five or so days, according to a chart from sister-site AppShopper. The app has gone through a couple different price drops over the past year and a half, which is why Bendjelloul refers to the app as a "$1 app," but is currently available for $1.99. [Direct Link]

The 85th annual Academy Awards will air on February 24th, 2013.

Article Link: Director Ran Out of Money, Finished Shooting his Oscar-Nominated Movie on an iPhone

[camnchar]

That is quite possibly the coolest iPhone related story I've ever read.

[12dylan34]

Pretty cool. Hopefully he didn't need any low-light shots, though.

[zorinlynx]

Originally Posted by 12dylan34

Pretty cool. Hopefully he didn't need any low-light shots, though.

iPhone camera actually performs better than 8mm film for low light.

Remember, 8mm film frame is very tiny. If you use film with an ISO high enough for low light shots, the grain becomes unbearable.

Technology has gone a long way.

[12dylan34]

Originally Posted by zorinlynx

iPhone camera actually performs better than 8mm film for low light.

Remember, 8mm film frame is very tiny. If you use film with an ISO high enough for low light shots, the grain becomes unbearable.

Technology has gone a long way.

I guess that I first made this comment being uninformed. Before looking it up, I assumed that it was shot A, digitally, and B, with an expensive camera like a RED Epic or Sony EX-1. Sorry about that. Believe it or not, I actually have used (and had to pay for) 8mm film in a college class and I know that you have to have plenty of light.

I do find it interesting that he shot it with the 8mm app instead of shooting clean video and making it look like 8mm film in post...I guess that would just be another expense, though.

[iapplelove]

Originally Posted by camnchar

That is quite possibly the coolest iPhone related story I've ever read.

i have owned the app for well over a year now,it really does have a pretty nice feel.

[Macrolido]

Hopefully I could do the same with my iPod touch.

[inscrewtable]

Originally Posted by Macrolido

Hopefully I could do the same with my iPod touch.

Even though the iphone has an 8mp camer and the touch a 5mp camera don't they shoot the same 30 fps 1080p video quality?

Just bought the app and it looks very nice well worth $2

[fiddle]

"I realized that there was this $1 app here on my iPhone and I tried it and it was basically the same as the real stuff."

really..... a tiny, 8mp sensor is basically the same as 8mm film...

More amazing than this guy using the iphone to finish the movie, is that he also seems to be blind..

[Mr. Retrofire]

Originally Posted by inscrewtable

Even though the iphone has an 8mp camer and the touch a 5mp camera don't they shoot the same 30 fps 1080p video quality?

30 fps and 1080p do not guarantee “video quality”. You should know that.

[Mr. Retrofire]

Originally Posted by camnchar

That is quite possibly the coolest iPhone related story I've ever read.

Deception at best.

[bjsterilite]

If the movie wins, i can only imagine what that would do for the iPhone and the app.

[HMI]

Producers don't like hearing that their directors "ran out of money."

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by HMI

Producers don't like hearing that their directors "ran out of money."

This was in indie docu so he probably was also the producer

----------

Originally Posted by designs216

The overall effect might work well in the movie and could explain the shaky cam/bad lighting we from many other filmmakers who serve it up without commentary.

No joke. I see such things used so much as an artistic choice and it drives me crazy.

And yet when a choice to 'down grade' would make sense they don't do it. Like a little grain in The Hobbit to make it fit in with the other films. And then there was the issue of the fast forward look of most of the panning shots. I find it hard to believe there was no way to slow those down to a more normal speed. My only hope is that it might be corrected for the home video releases or at least the other two films.

And maybe, for similar screaming by movie goers, the jerky cut, shakes cam crap will be ended.

----------

Originally Posted by marc11

I know, and it was that word "despite" that initially made me think he was nominated for a cinematography category; which if so, is a huge deal.

The category is about how the film looks based on the knowledge and skill of the DP and how that look fits the needs of the story being told

Not the flashiness of the tech being used. So no, that he used an iPhone matters little if it works.

[tekno]

Originally Posted by bjsterilite

If the movie wins, i can only imagine what that would do for the iPhone and the app.

Yes, because clearly the Oscar would have been won squarely on the quality of the iPhone's camera.

[ctdonath]

Originally Posted by tekno

clearly the Oscar would have been won squarely on the quality of the iPhone's camera.

Of course not.
The point is that the iPhone's camera is good enough that, at worst, it doesn't detract from the movie. That is, in fact, a big deal: a $2 app on someone's already-owned pocket phone vs. thousands of dollars in consumables (film) does make a difference.

For perspective, consider that major blockbuster movies are being shot on RED cameras which outperform film for as little as $15,000. Yes, a relatively excellent cell-phone camera can nowadays outperform 8mm film.

[bjsterilite]

Originally Posted by tekno

Yes, because clearly the Oscar would have been won squarely on the quality of the iPhone's camera.

Not what I said but, that's what everyone would probably think which is why I made my original comment.

[kockgunner]

This movie just won an Oscar

[Spetsnazos]

This cannot be serious...with an iPhone app? Lol he couldn't buy a point and shoot that's a million times better than any cellphone camera?

Come on now...this is just...wow bad...

[.Asa]

Originally Posted by Spetsnazos

This cannot be serious...with an iPhone app? Lol he couldn't buy a point and shoot that's a million times better than any cellphone camera?

Come on now...this is just...wow bad...

My iPad 3's camera totally blows away my Panasonic lumix in terms of picture quality, and I assume an iPhone 5 is similar or better.

[Amazing Iceman]

Originally Posted by .Asa

My iPad 3's camera totally blows away my Panasonic lumix in terms of picture quality, and I assume an iPhone 5 is similar or better.

I do notice that the only problem with the iPad 3 camera (and probably other versions) is the glare on the lens when there is a light source nearby in front of the lens. This can be easily solved with anything that would block direct light directly into the lens. Also, if there's not enough light, the image becomes grainy (even with normal indoor light).
Do you use the native camera app or a third-party app?

[mrsir2009]

Originally Posted by .Asa

My iPad 3's camera totally blows away my Panasonic lumix in terms of picture quality, and I assume an iPhone 5 is similar or better.

Wb when low light conditions and zoom come into the picture?

[marc11]

While the story is cool, unless his Oscar relates to the quality of the filming itsn't it a bit pointless to mention it is Oscar nominated? I mean, if the film wins for best screenplay or best supporting actor, it doesn't really matter on what device the film was shot on...does it?

Still a really cool story, wonder if he used FCPX to edit it

[ctdonath]

Originally Posted by marc11

I mean, if the film wins for best screenplay or best supporting actor, it doesn't really matter on what device the film was shot on...does it?

That the device+app is good enough that it didn't detract from whatever it's nominated for is a very good indication of realistic quality.

[Lark.Landon]

Originally Posted by marc11

While the story is cool, unless his Oscar relates to the quality of the filming itsn't it a bit pointless to mention it is Oscar nominated? I mean, if the film wins for best screenplay or best supporting actor, it doesn't really matter on what device the film was shot on...does it?

Still a really cool story, wonder if he used FCPX to edit it

Oscar nominated film despite being filmed partially on an iPhone. It's important.