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Do you want to make a short film with your smartphone for Reels, YouTube, or simply to compile a list of memories? You’re in the right place. I created a short film on my smartphone after two recent trips, and I’ll show you how I did it.
The Early Stages
I’m not a huge planner with my creative work, but having an idea of what I wanted to capture prior to my trip helped me bring everything together. My two main ideas were:
For the short film on my smartphone, I went with the first option. I did the second one as well, but I wanted to use the footage from my camera instead. While you canvisualize your ideas with storyboarding apps, I feel like doing that stifles my creativity and therefore avoid doing so. If you’re like me, Notes, Notion, Google Keep, or any other notetaking app is good enough for documenting your thoughts.
Filming the Content for My Short Film Using My Phone
Filming my content was a pretty straightforward experience. I’m a keen photographer, and I use the same protocol for shooting videos:
Point your camera at whatever you like, and organize everything later.
During the week-long trip, I just filmed things as and when they appeared. The reason why I use this protocol is that things often never happen as you want them to and you can shut yourself off from opportunities that might arise.
Sometimes, however, you might need to think more carefully about your process. For example, if you’re filming a music video with friends, you might need more direction. In those situations, you may want to read this complete guide onthe essential ingredients you need to make a movie.
Editing My Short Film on My Phone
Editing a short (or long) video is often more time-consuming than the actual filming process. It’s very easy tocreate short-form videos with CapCut, which is why I used it to edit my smartphone film. You can also use iMovie if you have an iPhone, and Premiere Rush is another option.
Let’s examine the editing process for my film.
1. The Initial Stages
Because I also shoot a lot of vertical videos, I went through each video to ensure that I only picked the horizontal ones. I then changed some of the timeline’s essential details, such as resolution and frame rate, and muted all of my audio because I wanted to use music instead.
It’s also a good idea to trim the content for each clip. In most smartphone video editing apps, you simply need to drag either side of the video to reduce its length. Depending on your app, you may also see a scissors icon to clip specific parts within the content.
2. The Finishing Touches
After making basic adjustments to your film, you’re ready to put together the final touches. I usually start by adding music. One nice thing about CapCut is that you’re able to use various tracks even if you only have a free subscription. The app also breaks down each genre to make it easier to find what you need.
You can usually preview your songs before adding them, and when you find something you like, tap the+button to add it to your movie. Then, you can adjust the volume to fit your preferences.
In addition to any music or audio you include, it’s also worth thinking about whether you’d like to add effects to your clips. You can often choose from a list of free or paid options and adjust the intensity.
Even if you only make edits at a basic level, you’ll still have a much better film than before. Once you get more advanced, you may want to think about making and editing longer-form content. For example, if vlogging sounds interesting to you, check out theseessentials to begin vlogging on your smartphone.
My Biggest Tips for Making Better Short Films With Your Smartphone
As you can see, creating short films on your smartphone is much easier than you might think. However, to ensure that you get the best possible results, I’ll also share my biggest tips for making better content.
If you have an iPad, I’d recommend sharing your smartphone footage and editing on a bigger screen. Another reason I recommend an iPad, in particular, is because you have access to DaVinci Resolve. It’s very easy touse DaVinci Resolve on an iPad, and you have access to a comprehensive suite of editing tools.
2. Use Cinematic Mode
If your smartphone has Cinematic Mode, I’d recommend using this to film. You can control the aperture, which makes a huge difference. If you have an iPhone, check out this guide onhow to use Cinematic Mode on your iPhone.
You can also download third-party apps that offer more control over your camera if your device doesn’t have Cinematic Mode.
3. Use a Variety of Shots
It’s very easy to point your phone right in front of you, but varying your shots will make a huge difference in how engaging your short film is. For example, you can move your hands or body around to create a panoramic effect. One of my favorite methods is to cover my lens with a hand or put it down on a flat surface, before moving it up to reveal the scene in front of me.
You can also put your smartphone closer to the floor to make the subjects in your shot look bigger and try slow-motion footage. Another thing worth tryingusing close-up shots in your films and videos.
4. Change Your Settings if Possible
Many modern smartphones support 4K footage, so it’s worth changing to this setting if you can (see thisguide to change the video quality on an iPhone). Ideally, you should also change your frame rate to 30 frames per second. It’s not a deal-breaker if you can’t adjust these settings, but they can make a difference.
Making smartphone short films is an excellent way to unleash your creativity, and you’re able to use several apps to edit your content. Trying different shot types will also make your footage stand out. Whether you want to share your films with others or keep them to yourself, these tips will help you get started.
