Cellphone Spielberg: Filmmaking from your smartphone
Speaking to a peer recently, who filmed a music festival on her phone for the event organizers — much to their surprise when she showed up with “no” equipment — I realized that most people underestimate the power of a cellphone put to good use.
Additionally, I know many of you are eager to share your impact- and revenue-generating stories with the world, so I gathered my tips and techniques from working as a creative director for global brands, when equipment budget or fair warning is limited.
Cinematography: The perfect shot for your brand
Captivating filmmaking of course hinges on visually stunning shots that draw the audience in. While a video camera is better, your smartphone is a powerful tool and you can absolutely create professional-looking footage if you know how to use it. Here are a few tips that cost nothing or very little:
Composition: Pay attention to the framing of your shots. I suggest experimenting with different angles and perspectives to add visual interest.
Stability: Invest in a smartphone tripod or stabilization rig to ensure steady footage, especially for moving shots.
Timing: Unless you’re adapt at using all your cellphone camera’s settings, daytime filming is your best friend. Midday sun can be harsh but is often better than shooting indoors. Shoot during the golden hour (early morning or late afternoon) for soft, flattering light.
Lighting: Set the mood
Good lighting can make or break your video content. Even with limited resources, you can achieve impressive lighting effects using just your smartphone. Here's how:
Use the available light: Make the most of natural light sources like windows or outdoor settings.
DIY lighting: Get creative with household items like moody LED lights to enhance your lighting setup and raid your CEO’s office for lamps!
Experiment with shadows: Play with light and shadow, perhaps using furniture and people out of shot, to create dramatic effects and add depth to your shots.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Sound design: Audio to enhance the experience
Clear and crisp audio is essential these days. Considering how many videos become background sound or are converted into podcasts or other content formats, you can’t get away without at least a clip-on microphone for your subject. You can further improve your sound quality with these tips:
Podcasting microphones: Invest in an external microphone for better audio capture, especially if you know you’ll be recording in noisy environments.
Reduce background noise: With the above said, quiet locations for filming are preferable, then you can use apps or software like VEED or Movavi to reduce background noise during editing.
Add music: Enhance your videos with music tracks that match the mood you aim to evoke, and sound effects to capture attention. You can be extremely creative with the latter using something as simple as Capcut and Envato.
Editing: Recordings come to life
Post-production is where your raw footage transforms into a polished masterpiece. You likely already have editing apps on your smartphone, but check your app store for the latest versions to add professional touches to your videos:
Match the app to your skill: Not to double-mention CapCut, but it’s super easy to get started on. Later, you might advance to something like Wondershare.
Cutting and transitions: Use cuts and transitions sparingly, they can effectively move the audience between scenes but when done poorly, they’re the first signal of amateur filmmaking.
Add text and graphics: You’re not limited to your raw video. Text overlays, graphics, and animations are normalized even in corporate videos to enhance the storytelling.
Directing actors: Manage with courage
If your videos involve subject matter experts (SMEs), actors, or other talent, effective direction is crucial for bringing your vision to life. Now, if you rock up with a cellphone, there will be people who underestimate you, like the peer I mentioned at the beginning of this article. Puff out your chest and follow these tips:
Communicate clearly: Communicate your vision and expectations to the talent with a calm and slow tone, then provide feedback and guidance throughout the filming process while also asking for theirs.
Encourage them: Verbally encourage talent when they tap into their emotions and bring authenticity to their performances. You can also prompt them to think about how they felt at the time of any story they’re telling.
Multiple takes: Never settle for the first take. Experiment with different approaches and takes to capture the perfect performance from the actors. This also covers you in case of any tech snafus!
I hope it’s clear how easy your creative expression can be, even with a cellphone.
Add the right techniques to a dash of imagination and plenty of practice, and you’ll be producing compelling videos that captivate, inspire, and sell for your company.
Prefer to hire someone to do all this for you? I’d love to hear from you.
