Should You Shoot a Movie with an iPhone?

There's long been a debate about whether or not it's a good for indie filmmakers to shoot a movie with a phone.

But of course in reality there isn't a debate about whether it's possible. It's definitely possible and has been successfully done numerous times.

Including famously by recent Oscar nominated director Sean Baker ("Tangerine") and Oscar winning director Steven Soderbergh ("Unsane" and "High Flying Bird"). And the upcoming Danny Boyle film "28 Years Later" was shot on iPhone 15 Pro using Apple Log.

These are just the high profile films. There are other countless micro-budget iPhone shot projects out there, too.

So for me the debate is really whether or not it's a good idea. And there's valid arguments on both sides to consider.

Check out two videos below where I tackle this topic highlighting some of the pros & cons of each. Here I'm really playing devil's advocate as my ultimate goal is to make you aware of some of the pitfalls so you can prepare, but also show how the positives likely can outweigh the negatives.

And then the other side of the story...

And note, these are just some of the pros & cons. Below are some others to consider if you plan on shooting a movie with a phone.

MORE CONS:

• Finicky controls - everything is on the screen and it's easy to accidentally hit the wrong button or mess up a setting (hardware controls are much better)

• Poor in low light - even the latest greatest iPhone sensors are no match for a traditional camera in low light

• Weird flares - iPhone lenses exhibit odd flaring, especially shooting at night and there's really no workaround for it yet (except for shooting with a DOF adapter)

MORE PROS:

• Incognito - you can more easily "steal" shots without being noticed or hassled by security guards, etc.

• Multiple lenses - you can quickly and easily shoot wide, ultra wide or tele all in one device (but note: I tend to recommend using the main camera as it's the best sensor, especially in low light)

• Easily shoot underwater - Even though Apple doesn't recommend it, you CAN shoot underwater and get great shots without using any housing (I've done this numerous times)

  
  

In the end I actually don't care what kind of camera you use to shoot your movie, I just want you to shoot it. Today there are literally zero excuses. And using an iPhone can be a great way to go as long as you understand the best practices and the various pros & cons.

What pros or cons did I forget? Let me know in the comments below or hit me up on YouTube.

Happy filmmaking!

-BC