I’m not obsessing over 5K Raw – iPhone filmmaking rig

Most video content is consumed on small screens. My team is working on tools to help visual storytellers in developing countries tell better stories. Big stories. Small screens.

Most video content is consumed on small screens. My team is working on tools to help visual storytellers in developing countries tell better stories. Here’s my first self-portrait with my new DIY iphone rig. We’ll be putting together a how-to video for building this rig out of PVC, (not including the Phocus Accent iPhone lens system or the shotgun mic.)

I am also writing a comprehensive review of iOS cameras and editing apps.

Big stories. Small screens.

The Proper Posture for Mentoring

I try to shift my own thinking and self-perception when I’m in a situation where I’ve been brought in as the ‘expert’, especially if I’m foreigner.

It’s nice to come into a situation where you’re the expert–often treated with honor. It feels good. But I try to shift my own thinking and self-perception when I’m in a situation where I’ve been brought in as the ‘expert’, especially if I’m foreigner.

It may be true that I have special experience and gifting that separates me from the group in a significant way. However, my goal is that, by the end of our time together, we will have bonded together in such a way and I will have shared what I bring in such a way as to have broken down many of the invisible walls.

In the words of John Perkins, pioneer of Christian community development…

Go to the people.

Live among them.

Learn from them.

Love them.

Start with what they know.

Build on what they have.

But of the best leaders,

when their task is accomplished,

when their work is done . . .

the people will remark:

“We have done it ourselves.”

Cell Phone “Portrait” Aspect Video Production

I’ve been pondering the options for a vertical aspect ratio for narrative films if the intended delivery is primarily mobile devices.

I’m preparing to do some teaching in Eurasia this fall to train young filmmakers to work with mobile devices in places where they have phones, but other resources are extremely limited.

And this past week I spent at a debate tournament with my daughter and noticed lots of parents shooting videos of events with their smartphones, held vertically in portrait mode. It got me wondering about the options for a vertical aspect ratio for narrative films if the intended delivery is primarily mobile devices.

Here’s a link to an article that also asks that question, along with a link to a cool little film shot vertically.

The Way We Watch: Cell Phone “Portrait” Aspect Coming To A Video Near You.

This clip works very well embedded on this particular blog site because of the white background field. It’s a bit odd on Vimeo on a laptop or desktop. However, when I view it on my iPad, using the Vimeo app and holding in vertically, it looks great and I like the composition possibilities a lot. When I’m in the story I don’t really notice that it’s vertical. Of course, if the film is viewed everywhere else it will seem odd – talk about letterboxing!

Six lines. Three minutes.

What kind of film story can you tell with the limitations of six lines of random dialogue and a three-minute time limit.

What kind of film story can you tell with the limitations of six lines of random dialogue and a three-minute time limit. This film was recently shared with me, from a contest a couple of years ago. (Ridley Scott chose this winner.)

The contest, which received over 600 entries from around the world, invited aspiring filmmakers to create an original short film using the same six-line dialogue as the Cannes Lions award-winning Parallel Lines short films directed by RSA talents Carl Erik Rinsch, Greg Fay, Johnny Hardstaff, Jake Scott and Hi-Sim.

Commenting on his choice of winner, Sir Ridley Scott said: “I chose Porcelain Unicorn to be the winning film as it had a very strong narrative; a very complete story that was well told and executed.”

Learn to love limitations!