We are in what many have dubbed is a visual content revolution. The amount of video material we digest as individuals is on a scale that is unparalleled when compared with any other time in recent history.
We are glued to our screens and devices for any amount of hours in the day; the coronavirus pandemic certainly increased that a great deal, and whether it’s the short-form videos we scroll through on our smartphones or the great films and tv shows we watch on any number of streaming services, we are watching a lot of content.
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If you are an aspiring filmmaker looking to put together a memorable film or show, the costs of doing so are far lower than ever before. The technology available to use, even with just the use of a basic smartphone, is strong enough to put together a visual product that can look very professional indeed.
Here are some essential tips to creating a masterpiece with your smartphone, one assumption being that you have a decent modern one that you will use for this purpose.
Practice Makes Perfect
Before you start to film your project, get out your smartphone and play around with it and see just what it is capable of. Film as much as you can so that you can get a sense of the limitations and possibilities that your specific smartphone, along with the boundaries of your imagination, is capable of.
Good Lighting
However good your smartphone is, lighting is likely to be your biggest issue. It’s an area that suffers when compared with a video camera, so with that in mind, try to have as much light as possible when shooting. That might mean shooting as much as possible in natural light or setting up an interior accordingly. Avoid shooting at night as you may struggle to keep the quality at a high enough level.
Planning
Assuming you have a script and a shot list, you should be very aware of the needs that are peculiar to shooting with your phone. Yes, you get more freedom as you can shoot just about anything you like, but you will have to take into account other factors.
For instance, you’ll need to keep your smartphone as still as possible. If you don’t have a tripod of some kind, then this means you need to plan your shot to fit these limitations. For example, you may struggle to keep a handheld shot steady for any prolonged length of time, so record in bursts and then cut at the relevant point.
When setting out a shot list, take into account the smartphone aspects. I.e., if you have a desired wide-shot, then consider how you’d frame that and zoom in and out with your phone. Similarly, if your shot list requires a close-up, practice how you’d get this set up correctly.
Sound
If you don’t have a separate sound recording device, then you will have to make sure you are in easy reach of any relevant dialog, and you may struggle to keep out peripheral sound, which on the one hand adds ambiance to your film but can also get in the way of the narrative and storytelling.
Be sure to re-check and see how things sound once you’ve recorded, and if not, record again. This is another advantage over using a video camera, you’ll be using less data, and you can record as much as your device can store.
Consider Using Effects
If your smartphone offers video effects like slow-motion or timelapse, consider using them but only do so if the situation demands it, there’s no need to show off just for the sake of it.
Be sure to record ahead of takes and delete what is not worthy of a second viewing.
Editing
Now, while you can look to edit your film on your smartphone, it will be easier to do so via your desktop or mac computer because the best video editing software for beginners is via these means and not on your mobile device.
For those with a little more experience in editing techniques, we’d suggest opting for FXHome Hitfilm as it is a professional-grade editing tool that offers excellent VFX options and other additional extras that can make a handheld filmed production look incredibly polished and is an intuitive bit of kit that is highly adaptable.
Promote It On Social Media Channels
Once you are happy with your finished product, you’ll want to consider how to get your creation out there. Consider setting up a dedicated channel, page, or identity for your film, that way, you help focus all the attention on the film and not your personal pages.
Try to make connections with relevant accounts (don’t aim too high), consider film festival pages, for instance, and release teaser clips. Tag everyone who’s been involved in the production and push as much as you can organically and avoid paid promotions.
You might choose to release an entire film via social media if you are not planning on showing it in a theatre or cinema (which may be pushing aspiring filmmakers), in which case it’s best to use YouTube for this purpose.
If you prefer to promote in small forms, then that’s where great editing comes in. Put together a snappy edit of up to a minute, making the trailer as enticing as possible (without giving away the entire plot), and tweet it out often, with relevant hashtags.
Each social network has different rules when it comes to film length and file type, so check those out before you edit it down. Instagram offers the broadest form of approach, from ‘stories’ to ‘posts’ and even using longer form clips via IGTV reels.
Good luck, and remember, try and try again; there is no substitute for experience.
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