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Apple Reveals How 'Scary Fast' Event Was Shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max

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Apple has shared a behind-the-scenes look at the video production of its recent "Scary Fast" M3 MacBook Pro event, which was shot entirely on iPhone 15 Pro Max and edited on Mac.


Titled "Behind the Scenes: An Apple Event" and running two minutes and 16 seconds, the video shared on YouTube reveals how footage was captured using multiple iPhone 15 Pro Max devices, with the production team utilizing integration between iPhone 15 Pro, the Blackmagic Camera app, and Tentacle Sync.

Connected via Bluetooth, Tentacle Sync drives timecode and enables all devices on set — including Macs and preview screens — to be synced throughout the production. Beastgrip accessories, including cages and rigs, were also used during the production, as well as cranes, dollies, gimbals, and drones.

Interview clips with the directors, producers, and editors explain how the capabilities of the iPhone 15 Pro allowed them to work effectively with low light conditions, which is traditionally a bit more challenging for a standard video camera.

The production was advised by Apple's Jon Carr, a Pro Workflow video specialist whose credits include Top Gun: Maverick and Terminator: Dark Fate, and Jeff Wozniak, who has worked on productions including Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Avatar, and Iron Man 2.
"When I first got the footage from iPhone 15 Pro Max, I was immediately pleasantly surprised," said Stefan Sonnenfeld, Company 3's CEO, who colored the presentation and has worked on projects including Stranger Things, The Equalizer 3, and Fast X. "The quality of the image on iPhone 15 Pro Max is incredible, and it's there. And I know because I've done it and I've seen it, and we're doing this project with it."
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The video specialists also espoused the benefits of being able to shoot directly to external storage and use Apple Log to access more dynamic range in post production.

The ‌‌iPhone 15‌ Pro‌ and iPhone 15 Pro Max models feature an improved camera system, including a main camera with a larger sensor, a new coating to reduce lens flare, optical image stabilization, and better low light performance for Portraits and Night mode.

Article Link: Apple Reveals How 'Scary Fast' Event Was Shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/31/apple-video-scary-fast-event-shot-iphone-15-pro/
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Yeah, the moment i saw it i knew something was off. The optics is still not there....and it cannot be, for optics that small. You cannot beat the law of physics... you can just cheat with post processing tricks. And i work in movies so have seen a lot of footage (raw and edited).
 
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Very impressive video last night shot on a small bit of tech that fits in people's pockets.

The odd thing about the whole show in trying to show appreciation for this capability was how FCPX seemed left out of the equation. Adobe got explicit references, Blackmagic, etc but where was FCPX? In the same way one could showcase an impressive video capability of "our" phone hardware, it seems there was equal opportunity to showcase impressive video editing capability of "our" FCPX vs. Adobe and Blackmagic.

I presume the professionals involved in making it were just more accustomed to using Adobe, Blackmagic, etc instead of FCPX. But it still seemed a bit odd to me to not get some FCPX love in there somewhere. Apple Motion could have easily got a few callouts too.
 
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Still looks like video from a small-sensor. The iris is fixed on phones so you have to expose via shutter, ISO, and ND filters which is a cardinal sin in cinematography.

Colors are off, ugly noise in shadows, lots of color clipping, has that mushy AI compression that apple forces on everything, etc.

It's a marketing gimmick, and this is coming from someone who uses the 15 pro on small business video content daily. The Blackmagic Camera app + prores log is great for instagram reels and stuff but id never shoot something substantial on it, especially when a sony fx30 is only $1600 and absolutely destroys the iphone in all video aspects.

IMO Apple should make an "iPhone 16 Studio" that has an APS-C or full frame sensor camera, interchangeable lenses, huge battery, 3/8" tripod mount, 2x USB4 ports and headphone jack, and different accessories like cages, filters, etc. and sell it for $2k and eat Sony/Canon's prosumer lunch

2x USB ports would be so nice. Right now we cant record to external SSD and have our external mic plugged in at the same time, we have to choose one or the other
 
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resonate said:
Yeah, the moment i saw it i knew something was off. The optics is still not there....and it cannot be, for optics that small. You cannot beat the law of physics... you can just cheat with post processing tricks. And i work in movies so have seen a lot of footage (raw and edited).
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Interesting. MKBHD works with very high end cameras (Red) and he was blown away it was shot on an iPhone.
 
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HobeSoundDarryl said:
Very impressive video last night shot on a thing that fits in people's pockets.

The odd thing about the whole show in trying to show appreciation for this capability was how FCPX seemed left out of the equation. Adobe got explicit references, Blackmagic, etc but where was FCPX? In the same way one could showcase an impressive video capability of "our" phone hardware, it seems there was equal opportunity to showcase impressive video editing capability of "our" FCPX vs. Adobe and Blackmagic.

I presume the professionals involved in making it were just more accustomed to using Adobe, Blackmagic, etc instead of FCPX. But it still seemed a bit odd to me to not get some FCPX love in there somewhere. Apple Motion could have easily got a few callouts too.
Click to expand...

FCPX at this point is pretty much only used by Youtubers, and even then most just use Adobe Premiere. If you're actually serious about video production you're gonna be using Blackmagic and Davinci Resolve.
 
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poematik13 said:
Still looks like video from a small-sensor. The iris is fixed on phones so you have to expose via shutter, ISO, and ND filters which is a cardinal sin in cinematography.

Colors are off, ugly noise in shadows, lots of color clipping, has that mushy AI compression that apple forces on everything, etc.

It's a marketing gimmick, and this is coming from someone who uses the 15 pro on small business video content daily. The Blackmagic Camera app + prores log is great for instagram reels and stuff but id never shoot something substantial on it, especially when a sony fx30 is only $1600 and absolutely destroys the iphone in all video aspects.

IMO Apple should make an "iPhone 16 Studio" that has an APS-C or full frame sensor camera, interchangeable lenses, huge battery, 3/8" tripod mount, 2x USB4 ports and headphone jack, and different accessories like cages, filters, etc. and sell it for $2k and eat Sony/Canon's prosumer lunch

2x USB ports would be so nice. Right now we cant record to external SSD and have our external mic plugged in at the same time, we have to choose one or the other
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Honestly, I’d just shoot video on a $5000 Nikon Z9 with lossless 8k 60fps video over an iPhone or any phone for that matter.

honestly I’d choose the Z9 over RED or Arri Alexa.
 
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Spaceboi Scaphandre said:
FCPX at this point is pretty much only used by Youtubers, and even then most just use Adobe Premiere. If you're actually serious about video production you're gonna be using Blackmagic and Davinci Resolve.
Click to expand...

I'm not confused about that- just that it didn't seem like Apple Marketing maximized. That video was not likely intended to woo Hollywood... but to wow Apple fans. I don't consider myself either an extremist fan or extremist anti-fan (I try to be centrist consumer (not shareholder)) but even I noticed that missed opportunity to cross-promote their own "pro video" software vs. the competition.

They did get a bit of Logic Pro in there more than one time. But FCPX? Wherefore art thou?

I saw it as if the message at the end would have proclaimed "Shot Entirely on Google Pixel Phones."
 
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NekoFever said:
Quite a marketing coup for the Blackmagic Camera app to be getting that kind of exposure when it's only been out for a month. Filmic Pro must be regretting that subscription model about now.
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After using both apps, Blackmagic Cam is my pick. And not just because of the price. Filmic crashes way too much to rely upon.
 
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