Apple shares stories of filmmakers shooting with iPhone under Vishal Bharadwaj’s tutelage

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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After shooting his 2023 short film ‘Fursat’ on the iPhone 14 Pro, renowned director Vishal Bhardwaj has now teamed up with fellow industry stalwarts Vikramaditya Motwane and Rohan Sippy, with Bhardwaj heading a mentorship programme for emerging filmmakers selected by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI).

The initiative, dubbed MAMI Select — Filmed on iPhone, aims to empower fresh talent to create short films using the filmmaking capabilities of the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the editing prowess of MacBook Pro with M3, according to tech giant Apple.

Anupama Chopra, film critic and director of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, hails this initiative as a crucial step towards nurturing emerging talent and providing them with a platform to showcase their creativity to a wider audience.

In a press release, Apple said that the selected filmmakers, Saurav Rai, Archana Atul Phadke, Faraz Ali, Saumyananda Sahi, and Prateek Vats, are harnessing the potential of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Saurav Rai, known for his hyperrealistic approach, delves into themes of immigration and identity in his latest work, “Crossing Borders.” His debut film Gudh (Nest), inspired by his childhood memories, was an official selection at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in 2016

“Having used Apple products for a long time, Rai believes the iPhone 15 Pro Max is made for filmmakers. Cinematic mode keeps his richly developed characters in sharp focus while blurring the foreground or background,” Apple wrote about Rai.

Archana Atul Phadke, drawing inspiration from the vast landscapes of Jaisalmer, employs the iPhone’s native cameras to craft evocative visuals that resonate with the audience. Phadke’s keen focus on sound and imagery is said to create an immersive experience, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in her cinematic world.

“With the default 24 mm Main camera, I explore wide shots in the beginning,” she told Apple. “Towards the end, the 120 mm Telephoto camera — which gives amazing depth — makes the boy’s world smaller and smaller.”

Faraz Ali is a writer and advertiser. His debut film “Shoebox” won Best Film at the New York Indian Film Festival in 2022. Influenced by his fascination with world cinema, Ali leverages the iPhone’s ProRes capabilities to infuse his narratives with rich colour palettes and atmospheric textures.

“Óbur is Ali’s latest exploration of milieux, another trademark of his storytelling. He believes that iPhone 15 Pro Max lets him go where filmmakers with bigger cameras simply cannot — like the snowy white peaks of Kashmir, where colour is king,” Apple wrote.

Saumyananda Sahi, the cinematographer behind the BAFTA- and Academy Award-nominated documentary All That Breathes, embraces the iPhone as a versatile tool for capturing intimate moments and intricate emotions.

“I can peg exposure or shoot Log like I usually do on an Arri Alexa cinema camera,” he told Apple. “It’s amazing that iPhone 15 Pro Max can live up to all that.”

Prateek Vats, known for his poignant portrayal of societal dynamics, employs the iPhone’s innovative features to craft character-driven narratives that resonate with authenticity.

“Vats is shooting the film in a 4:3 aspect ratio, which harks back to box television sets from the ’90s. By using the 24 mm Main camera of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he frames character portraits that allow the audience to see them through his eyes,” Apple said.

The culmination of their efforts is available on the MAMI YouTube channel starting on April 19.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow