Cinematic Phone Footage
Hey folks, I'm Joey Helms, and in this video, I will share with you 10 tips on how you can turn your smartphone footage into engaging and thrilling cinematic videos. I received a lot of questions on my last video, which was entirely shot on the new iPhone 14 Pro. So, let's dissect this cinematic video and reveal the tricks and techniques that, when combined, make your smartphone footage stand out and not look like it was shot on a smartphone. The goal here is to make it resemble footage from a cinema camera. Let's dive in.
Settings
First things first, let's dial in the right settings. The easiest way to do this is to lock your exposure and focus before every shot. On the iPhone, you simply tap and hold the screen on the subject you want to expose for, so when you pan around, the exposure doesn’t change. This is usually a dead giveaway of phone footage. Keep in mind that iPhones tend to overexpose, so use the exposure adjustment and set it to minus 0.7 or minus 1. If you want to take it a step further and dial in a specific shutter speed, you’ll need a third-party app like Filmic Pro. These apps also allow you to shoot in a flat logarithmic color profile, which retains more color information and allows you to adjust the look in post-production. If you want natural motion blur, you’ll need an ND filter. I used a clip-on filter for a skater shot, which allowed me to dial in a 180-degree shutter angle rule exposure time. I shot at 24 frames per second, so 1/50th of a second, which gives a more organic feel to your images. Additionally, shoot at the highest bitrate and resolution possible, as this gives you more flexibility in post-production. Be aware that ProRes files are massive and can take hours to download, even with a lightning cable. When filming in the iPhone Pro cinematic mode, use it in the right conditions—bright light situations with higher contrast and clear edges—so the software can effectively create a depth of field.
Motion
Motion creates emotion. Use the movement of your camera or subject to keep the audience engaged. Almost every shot in this video has a deliberate degree of motion. Tools like a gimbal are popular for creating smooth motion. I used a gimbal in 90% of the shots in my cinematic video. You can also use a tripod with a pan head for smooth pans or a GorillaPod to mount your camera. Even though image stabilization on phones is getting better, aiming for shots like a parallax—where the foreground moves contrary to the background—adds more energy. You can also add motion in post-production, which we will discuss later.
Composition & Lighting
How you compose your shot and the lighting conditions can make or break the cinematic look. Following the golden ratio is an easy way to achieve a nicely composed image. Level your horizon at the top or bottom third of your image and place the focus point at the intersections in the corners. For instance, in a shot of a train leaving the station, the platform is at the lower third, creating the horizon, and the train is positioned in the focus point at the right top corner. Also, shooting during sunset and sunrise, when the light is softer and warmer, gives your footage more atmosphere and depth. A good example is shooting into the sunset to showcase the dynamic range of modern smartphones. Knowing your framing basics and seeking out the best light will quickly elevate your footage.
Coverage
Regardless of the type of video you're shooting, getting coverage is crucial. This gives you more options in post-production and allows you to build sequences. Depending on the project, I use around one to five percent of the footage I shoot. Capture different angles, get low to the ground, experiment with close-ups, and try out new perspectives. Mixing up focal lengths is also important; while wide-angle shots are a strength of phones, relying solely on them can become monotonous. In one shot of a station, I used the zoom camera to get close to the subject. Additionally, you can mix frame rates—capturing slow motion, setting up time-lapses, and more.
Story & Theme
As we transition into editing a cinematic video, you’ll want to create a thread or through-line for the viewers. This can be achieved through a story or a general theme. For example, in my video, I wanted to show the dynamic nature of the Chicago Loop as my main character. However, I also included micro-stories like a skater and a train sequence. These micro-stories are sequences of shots that hold together thematically or tell a small story, helping to ground your audience. A cheat code to creating intrigue is putting humans at the center of your story. We are social creatures, and seeing other humans helps us connect and sympathize with the narrative. In social media, having an intriguing hook is crucial to getting your audience’s attention. Spend extra time crafting your opener, as it sets the promise of what viewers can expect in the video.
Tricks in Post-Production
During editing, you may find a great shot that’s missing something to make it stand out. There are a few post-production hacks to add extra visual interest through subtle motion and effects. For instance, the dolly zoom shot in the video was created entirely in post. I tracked a shot on a gimbal, walking toward the bean sculpture, then in post, I cropped the image so that the bean remains the same size while the background moves. Time-lapses often benefit from adding a subtle zoom or pan effect, even if the footage was shot on a stationary tripod. Adding visual effects like an earthquake shake can intensify motion or cover up minor flaws. When using these effects, adding motion blur in post helps make the footage look more natural and organic, countering the often overly sharp look of smartphone footage.
Transitions
When putting together a compilation, smooth transitions are key to keeping the viewer engaged. Find narrative or visual connections between shots so that your edit flows and doesn’t feel disjointed. For example, having subsequent shots follow the same direction or keeping your subject in the same spot within the frame helps maintain visual continuity. However, be cautious not to overdo it with fancy transitions. In my video, I used the reveal transition twice, choosing shots with a straight line across the screen that could be masked for a natural transition.
Color Grading
Out-of-the-box footage can look vibrant and saturated, especially in cinematic mode. Ideally, shoot in a flat image profile and adjust colors and contrast in post-production to your liking. Shortcuts like lookup tables (LUTs) can instantly give your footage a different look. A pro tip is to use a plugin like Dehancer, which transforms your footage to emulate the look of older film stock. This plugin offers profiles for various film stocks and camera models, including flat profiles from your iPhone footage. Adding film grain, vignetting, halation, and blooming helps introduce imperfections that add character and charm to your smartphone footage.
Creating a Vibe
Music is the most important tool to evoke emotions in your viewers and can dictate the pace of your video. I spend hours finding the right song that reflects the emotion I want to convey and underlines the story. Investing in high-quality music is worth it. I use services like Epidemic Sound and Artlist, which offer a wide selection of tracks that can inspire your creativity.
Ultimate Secret
Sound effects bring your scenes to life. Even when subtle, Foley and sound effects can significantly enhance your videos. For example, a scene without sound effects might fall flat, but adding them can create a more immersive experience. I usually add sound effects at the end of the edit, but there are sequences where I know that adding sound will be crucial to making the scene work. You can either use the sounds your phone records, record them separately, or download effects from libraries like Artlist or Epidemic Sound.
Your Turn!
Now it’s time for you to take your phone, go out, shoot, and edit something. I hope these tips were helpful. I’d love to see what you create—leave a YouTube link in the comments if you’d like to share. If you have any questions or want to learn something more in-depth, let me know. Don’t forget to like this video so YouTube knows it’s cool content, and subscribe if you haven’t already. As always, have a good morning, have a good night, whenever and wherever you are around this beautiful planet.
By Sal Framondi,
CEO/Founder, OPPRIME.tv
Producer, Black Filmmakers Matter
For independent filmmakers, distribution is a key factor in achieving success, and OPPRIME.tv offers a significant opportunity to showcase their films to a worldwide audience. By teaming up with OPPRIME.tv, independent filmmakers benefit from a dedicated distribution platform that emphasizes the promotion and visibility of their films. This partnership helps them reach a larger audience, earn significant revenue, form vital industry connections, enhance their reputation, and engage in social and cultural discourse. OPPRIME.tv supports independent filmmakers by providing the resources to share their unique stories, foster meaningful discussions, and make a lasting mark on the filmmaking landscape. With OPPRIME.tv as a distribution partner, independent filmmakers can navigate distribution challenges and capitalize on growth and success opportunities in the industry.
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