Apple included Scary Fast event on iPhone 15 Pro Max, showing filmmakers can make feature films using a phone
Apple stunned the world in more ways than one at its recently concluded Scary Fast event. The event, which released the world’s first 3nm SoC for personal computers, also marked a groundbreaking moment for mobile videography and filmmaking.
The Scary Fast event concluded with a special message revealing that the entire event was recorded on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and edited on a Mac.
In a message displayed at the end of the event, Apple announced: “This event was recorded on iPhone and edited on Mac. All presenters, locations and drone footage were shot with iPhone 15 Pro Max.”
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has become the smartphone of choice for creative professionals and filmmakers, led by acclaimed documentary film director Brian Oakes. Oakes, known for his award-winning works “Jim: The James Foley Story” and “Living with Lincoln,” masterfully integrated the iPhone 15 Pro Max into the heart of the action.
One of the standout features of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is its camera system, which offers video quality that rivals professional video cameras. With the ability to capture ProRes video at up to 4K60 fps with Apple Log encoding, the iPhone 15 Pro Max ensures every detail is preserved for post-production color correction. Notably, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are the world’s first smartphones to support the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES), a global standard for color workflows.
Impressed by the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s capabilities, Brian Oakes said: “We were able to capture the same complex photos with iPhone 15 Pro Max. It’s amazing to see that the quality of a device so small and portable can rival a big $20,000 camera.”
The production team received valuable guidance from Apple’s Jon Carr, a Pro Workflow video specialist with credits on major productions such as ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’, and Jeff Wozniak, who contributed to films such as ‘Transformers: Dark’ the moon,” “Avatar” and “Iron Man 2.” Wozniak noted that the iPhone 15 Pro Max received a supercharger this year, allowing ProRes recording to an external drive and supporting Apple Log, a format used by high-end digital cameras.
Highlighting the seamless transition to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Carr said: “It’s pretty amazing how you can put this in the hands of someone who’s a professional director, and they don’t have to change their equipment – they don’t have to. change the things they always do.”
To capture footage, the team used multiple iPhone 15 Pro Max devices in combination with the Blackmagic Camera app and Tentacle Sync for sync, demonstrating the power of the Apple ecosystem. They used Beastgrip accessories such as cages and installations to improve their production.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, with a new USB-C connector, delivered a significant jump in data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps with a compatible USB 3 cable. These advancements enabled new workflows such as ProRes video recording directly to an external SSD drive, with real-time image review and on-the-fly adjustments. During post-production, editors took advantage of Apple Log’s improved dynamic range, providing greater control and flexibility in color correction.
The crew used the Blackmagic Camera app, designed exclusively for iOS users, to access the same tools used in feature films, television shows and documentaries. Available for free on the App Store, the app has added digital film camera controls to the iPhone and supported Apple Log encryption on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Despite using traditional filming techniques and even drones, the crew seamlessly integrated the iPhone 15 Pro Max into their production, creating a vibrant and exciting environment.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has once again shown off its prowess, offering a glimpse into the future of mobile filmmaking and the endless possibilities it offers for creative professionals.
