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Location as Foil Character A location’s primary function is to provide the stage for action. But as we see in the remarkable music video “Spaceship,” a location can serve as a foil character. In this image the desolate location reinforces the character’s state of mind when she sings: “How much pain can we bear being human? I’m pretty sure that my mission is done here.” You can see “Spaceship”—directed by @EddieCibrian and featuring singer @LeAnnRimes—at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). #filmlocation #shotoniPhone #foilcharacter https://www.instagram.com/p/CqY00cAPfwq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Backlighting Using the Sun “Spaceship” is a terrific example of minimalist filmmaking: crew of two, little girl, one location. Taking on the roles of director and cinematographer @EddieCibrian used the sun to backlight singer @LeAnnRimes. Shooting toward the sun created the kind of lens flare that’s becoming increasingly popular, especially in the world of mobile moviemaking. You can see this deeply emotional music video at MobileMovieMaking. #backlighting #lensflare #sunflare #shotoniPhone #musicvideo #cinematography https://www.instagram.com/p/CqV9xKOP2IG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Mobile Movie of the Week: “Spaceship” Music videos are often complex affairs. We’re used to seeing stroboscopic effects, drone footage, slow motion, and large casts. In “Spaceship,” director @EddieCibrian takes the opposite, minimalist approach. There’s no tricky lighting or camera angles. It’s all about the phenomenal performance by @LeAnnRimes and her memorable song directed to the “cosmic engineer.” You can see this simple-but-dramatic four-minute movie at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). #musicvideo #shotoniPhone https://www.instagram.com/p/CqTYOHEvBlJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Train on a Diagonal This shot from “Fursat” illustrates a technique employed by many photographers and cinematographers: including a strong diagonal element in a composition. The rationale is that diagonals emphasize perspective and make the image more dynamic. You can see “Fursat”—directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and produced by @Apple—at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). #shotoniPhoe #diagonals #filmcomposition #cinematography https://www.instagram.com/p/CqQow2ULr8S/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Picturing Time Travel Because time travel isn’t a real thing (yet), filmmakers have a lot of leeway in picturing a character moving from the present to the past or to the future. In “Fursat,” director Vishal Bhardwaj captures the transitional moment by dropping his protagonist (or perhaps a stuntperson) into water. The effect gets to show off the iPhone 14’s ability to operate in the deep. You can see “Fursat”—a 30-minute Bollywood fantasy/romance—at MobileMovieMaking. #shotoniPhone #underwater-cinematography #timetravel https://www.instagram.com/p/CqN4YFtrM0Q/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Camels and Motorcycle Artists and philosophers have long discussed the power of contrast. For example, George W. Bush pointed out that “Life really is a series of contrasts.” So we have Mutt & Jeff, the Lady and the Tramp, the hare and the tortoise. In that tradition, Vishal Bhardwaj gives us this ancient vs. modern image in “Fursat,” a Bollywood thriller/romance/time-travel fantasy. You can see this very entertaining 30-minute @Apple production at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). #contrast #shotoniPhone https://www.instagram.com/p/CqLYkSkpA9P/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Framed by Dancers In the Bollywood sci-fi/romance/thriller “Fursat,” there are a number of frame-within-a-frame shots including this one in in a spooky dance scene. Sponsored by Apple and shot on an Apple 14, “Fursat” was written and directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. You can see this cinematic 30-minute production—along with a short making-of video at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). #frame-within-a-frame #shotoniPhone #Bollywood https://www.instagram.com/p/CqI0CQvLG7U/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Time-Travel Gear Of the hundreds of time-travel movies, the earliest was probably the 1921 adaptation of Mark Twain’s “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.” In 1960 George Pal’s version of H.G. Well’s “The Time Machine” was the first in the genre to win an Academy Award—for special effects. Leaping 63 years to the future—aka now— we have Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Fursat,” a 30-minute time-travel romance sponsored by @Apple to show off the iPhone 14. You can see this dazzling Bollywood production at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile) where you’ll also find a short making-of video. #Bollywood #time-travel-movies https://www.instagram.com/p/CqGceV3vG2s/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Two-for-one Image The Bollywood sci-fi thriller “Fursat” opens with an establishing shot that simultaneously introduces a key character. Vishal Bhardwaj wrote and directed this Apple-sponsored 30-minute movie, filled with singing, dancing, fighting, time travel…and romance. You can see “Fursat” (Hindi for “free time”) at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). #shotoniPhone #Bollywood #establishingshots https://www.instagram.com/p/CqDseHZPaVY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Mobile Movie of the Week: “Fursat” In "Fursat," celebrated Indian director Vishal Bhardwaj has created an astonishing genre stew. This 30-minute Bollywood movie includes virtual reality, time travel, dance, martial arts...and love. If you find the plot confusing, you can just enjoy the music, the dazzling locations, and the impressive camera work. You can see “Fursat”—plus a short making-of video—at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). #MobileMovieoftheWeek #Bollywood #virtualreality #timetravel https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBQNx-vu1J/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Mobile Movie of the Week: “Fursat” In "Fursat," celebrated Indian director Vishal Bhardwaj has created an astonishing genre stew. This 30-minute Bollywood movie includes virtual reality, time travel, dance, martial arts...and love. If you find the plot confusing, you can just enjoy the music, the dazzling locations, and the impressive camera work. You can see “Fursat”—plus a short making-of video—at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). #MobileMovieoftheWeek #Bollywood #virtualreality #timetravel https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBPNgyvcAy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Cinematic Frame-within-a-Frame Shot Onscreen frames are used primarily to put the focus on the subject. But as we see in this image from “Misaligned,” a frame-within-a-frame shot can has aesthetic as well as dramatic appeal. You can see “Misaligned—a four-minute drama directed by @sallyanndunn24 and shot on a Xiaomi 12 Pro using a Zhiyun Smooth 5S—at MobileMovieMaking. #frame-within-a-frame #cinematography #filmcomposition #mobilemovie https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp_TIHSvfJt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Body Language Like classic silent movies, “Maligned” is a wordless drama that conveys various emotions and complex ideas using body language. You can see this visually sophisticated four-minute film—directed by @sallyanndunn24 and shot on a Xiaomi 12 Pro using a Zhiyun Smooth 5S—at MobileMovieMaking. #silentmovie #bodylanguage #acting https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp8QQwWvYka/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Emotional Contrast “Misaligned” is a short drama about emotional turmoil. Here, the upbeat attitude of the two women—whose bodies frame the protagonist—contrasts with the protagonist’s dark state of mind. This beautifully filmed, four-minute movie was directed by @sallyanndunn24 and shot on a @Xiaomi 12 Pro using a Zhiyun Smooth 5S. You can see it at MobileMovieMaking. #mobilemovie #emotions #frame-within-a-frame https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp5gButL8Ap/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Toilet Location There was a time when movies would not show a character sitting on a toilet. According to some experts—i.e., bloggers—“Psycho” (1960) was the first American feature film in which a toilet was flushed. Twenty-five years later a toilet stall was a key location in “Witness.” Now, although such locations are a commonplace, inventive camerawork can make such scenes visually interesting. This example is from the short drama “Misaligned,” directed by @sallyanndunn24 and shot. on a Xiaomi 12 Pro using a Zhiyun Smooth 5S. You can see “Misaligned” at MobileMovieMaking. #mobilemovie #toilet-stall #toilet #filmlocations #high-angle-shot https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp23NqQr11a/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Bird’s-eye Shot Indoors Exterior bird’s-eye shots work well with chases and other action sequences. But as we see in this image from “Misaligned,” the high-angle can be used indoors to reveal elements of character, for example, the protagonist’s formal side vs. the informal. Note the clever placement of the shoes below the shirt. This visually gripping four-minute drama was directed by @sallyanndunn and shot on a Xia Xiaomi 12 Pro using a Zhiyun Smooth 5S, You can see “Misaligned” at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). #smartphonemovie #bird’s-eye-view #cinematography #high-angle-shot https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpx5rZivAng/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=