We'll make this video using only your iPhone
What You'll Learn
If you own an iPhone, you have what you need to make your first film!
We’ll go step by step through the making of a mini martial arts action movie, and you can look over my shoulder through the entire process. You’ll learn the basic technical skills you need to get the best image from your phone’s camera. You’ll also learn basic filmmaking skills like framing, directing actors, and designing a scene.
You’ll even get to see how I improvise and adapt when things don’t go according to plan. Then I’ll teach you each step of the editing process, from importing footage to editing, sound fx and music, and finally rendering for the best quality.
If you’ve always wanted to make your own high-quality videos but all you have is a phone and a computer, this video is for you. The best way to start learning is to use the gear you’ve got – and that’s exactly what this course will teach.
THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU IF...
You’ve always wanted to use your phone for filmmaking but didn’t know how to start.
You want to learn camerawork, storytelling and editing but you don’t want to buy a lot of gear.
You’ve seen my videos and you want to get a more complete look at how I put it all together from start to finish.
Imagine if You Could...
Feel confident about being able to shoot a full video with minimal gear anywhere you go.
Know how to tell a story with your videos even without having a full plan beforehand.
Know how to use video editing to express yourself in your own style and voice.
“In the iPhone Filmmaker I’ll teach you how to get started shooting and editing using the same method I use for all of my own videos. This is a unique process I’ve developed over years in my own filmmaking journey, and I’m excited to share it with you.”
BRANDON LI
LESSONS
43
LENGTH
120 minutes
LEVEL
Beginner
SOFTWARE
Final Cut Pro X
iPhone Filmmaking: Basics
Basic Smartphone Video Settings
1:53
Set up your iPhone for filmmaking! Use the default camera app and set the resolution, frame rate and recording format.
Smartphone Lenses
6:59
The iPhone 13 Pro Max has 3 lenses: wide (0.5x), normal (1x), and tele (3x). Learn the basics of how I choose which lens to use for each shot.
Cinematic Mode
4:14
The iPhone 13’s Cinematic Mode creates digital bokeh (out-of-focus blur) to give your shots that large-sensor look. This technology isn’t perfect yet, but you can get good results if you use the techniques I show you here.
Exposure
12:47
Use my simple lock-and-drag technique for perfect manual exposure every time.
The Ninja Walk
3:43
Want to get perfectly stable shots without a gimbal? It’s all in how you walk. Practice this “ninja walk” technique and you’ll have super steady camera moves every time.
Simple Camera Moves
12:55
Now we’ll apply that Ninja walk to some real shots. Even beginners can master these moves with just a little practice.
Advanced Camera Moves
7:37
Ready for a real challenge? Follow along and try these advanced moves with your iPhone. You literally have the power in your hands to do any move you can imagine! Once you get the hang of it, try creating your own camera moves.
iPhone Filmmaking: Filming The Fight Scene
Fight Therapy: Short Film
2:22
Here’s the short film we’re going to learn to make! Enjoy this humorous martial arts action film, then go ahead and watch the tutorials to learn how I created it, it step-by-step!
“The Fight” Introduction + Scene Coverage + Emotion + Cinematic Mode
2:32
Now I’ll take you step-by-step through the making of the “Fight Therapy” short film, using just the iPhone – no additional gear. In this first video you’ll learn the basics of scene coverage. Cinematic Mode is also demonstrated.
Slow Motion
6:59
You can slow down time with your iPhone using the Slow Motion feature. See how I use 120fps slowmo to create a more convincing action movie moment.
Wide Camera + Forcing the Eye
1:53
I use the Wide Lens, and I demonstrate the filmmaking technique Forcing the Eye: making the audience see what you want them to see.
Continuity + Improvisation
4:14
In this video you’ll learn about two important filmmaking skills: continuity and improvisation. “Continuity” is the practice of making sure the little details from each shot match with the surrounding shots in the scene. “Improvisation” is the skill of adjusting your plans when a problem arises, or when a better idea occurs.
In this video you’ll see how I improvise when a prop weapon breaks during shooting. You’ll also see how we adjust the plan to maintain continuity. The show must go on!
Stacking A Hit
12:47
Ever wonder how they shoot brutal fight scenes without actually injuring the actors? The secret is in “Stacking”: choosing a certain angle that hides a fake hit.
Camera Orbit
3:43
I use a camera orbit movement to add energy to the fight. You’ll also learn about Camera Movement Continuity: keeping your camera movements consistent across multiple shots for smoother editing.
Camera Shake
12:55
The iPhone has great image stabilization, but what if you want some shake to add violent energy to your scene? Here I show you how I intentionally shake the camera to create a bit of extra visual excitement.
POV Shot
7:37
Shooting POV (Point-of-View) is an easy way to add variety to your shots. Learn how POV can be used for storytelling purposes.
Shot Reverse Shot
6:21
Almost every film or TV show uses Shot Reverse Shot technique. This basically means you shoot the same action from two opposite angles for more editing options. It’s a skill you should know, no matter what kind of filmmaking you want to do!
Final Fight Sequence
7:13
Watch me shoot the final fight sequence of the day. That’s a wrap on the fight scene!
iPhone Filmmaking: Night Shooting
Setting Exposure
2:32
Let’s learn how to shoot in low light with the iPhone! The first step is to get the exposure right. Watch me set the exposure for a tricky nighttime scene.
Lighting Your Subject
1:53
Is your actor’s face too dark in your low light shots? Try using another phone as a light source! Here I demonstrate this technique to make Jane’s face a bit brighter.
Push In, Pull Back
1:53
A simple camera move can add a lot of drama to your scene. I demonstrate a push-pull movement to complement Jane’s acting performance.
Final Thoughts
6:59
For the final shots of the night sequence, I do a simple tilt-up camera movement as a transition. Then Jane does a final punch using the stacking technique we learned before.
iPhone Filmmaking: Storytelling
Welcome to the storytelling section! This is a brief introduction to the art of storytelling for film.
Storytelling Introduction
2:32
Welcome to the storytelling section! This is a brief introduction to the art of storytelling for film.
Brainstorming
1:53
The first step in any creative project is Brainstorming, where you let your mind wander without rules or limitations, with the goal of generating as many ideas as possible. In this video I teach my step-by-step brainstorming process. Before we do the work of filmmaking, we need to let our minds play a bit!
Story Arc
6:59
A Story Arc is the overall shape of a film’s story, from beginning to end. In this video you’ll learn the basic steps of a story arc from Inciting Incident, Rising Action, Climax, Resolution, and Button.
Character Arc
4:14
Possibly the most important element of narrative filmmaking is Character Arc: the way your character(s) change throughout your film. Without change, there is no story. Learn how I create a character arc for my protagonist in Fight Therapy.
Framing Device
12:47
A Framing Device is a small story that is wrapped around the bigger story to give it more context, or a different meaning. This storytelling technique can come in handy when your main story just doesn’t quite feel complete.
iPhone Filmmaking: Editing
The editing lessons are taught in Final Cut Pro X. You can download Final Cut Pro X and use it for 90 days for free.
Importing
2:32
The first step of editing is to get all your footage off your phone on to your computer. See how I import my footage into my Mac using the app Image Capture. Then I create a Final Cut Pro library and add the clips.
Editing HDR
1:53
When you first import iPhone footage into a Final Cut Pro timeline, you might notice that everything looks way too bright. Don’t worry, this is normal! Learn the quick fix for this using the HDR Tools effect.
Cinematic Mode
6:59
The iPhone’s Cinematic Mode settings can be adjusted in Final Cut Pro, giving you amazing flexibility to change the depth-of-field and focus point in post. However you need to import your clips correctly to access these extra features. Watch this lesson to learn the steps for correct Cinematic Mode import.
Stringout, Scene & Master Project
4:14
Many beginning filmmakers feel overwhelmed by the amount of footage they have shot. With so many clips, how do you sort through everything and keep just the good clips? My answer is a three-step process: stringouts, scenes, and masters. Watch this video to learn this technique and save your sanity.
Cutting on Motion
12:47
Cutting on Motion is a basic editing principle from the beginning of cinema. Basically, you want to cut while your subject is moving. That way, your audience won’t notice the edit as much. Learn this principle to make your edits feel smoother and more invisible. Then your audience can focus on what really matters: the story.
Screen Direction
3:43
“Screen Direction” is the direction that characters are facing in the two-dimensional world of the movie screen. In this lesson I’ll take you through the basics of how screen direction works, and why it’s so easy to mess it up. Screen direction may seem simple, but it’s actually surprisingly tricky in practice!
Eyelines
12:55
“Eyelines” are the directions your characters are facing in each shot. In order for characters to appear to be looking at each other, their eyelines must match. This is another seemingly simple principle that can easily be overlooked while shooting and editing.
Speed Ramp
7:37
Going from fast to slow motion in a single shot is called Speed Ramping. In this video I demonstrate how to create a speed ramp in Final Cut Pro, and I teach the creative reasons why I use speed ramps in my edits.
Screen Replacement
6:21
You can replace the screen of any phone or TV using Final Cut Pro’s built-in tracker effect. I show you here how I added the Fight Therapy title to Jane’s smartphone screen. I also demonstrate how I created an animated title using FCP’s built-in title effects.
Sound FX, Music And Voiceover
7:13
Audio editing is a huge part of filmmaking. In this video I give a brief overview of my process for working with sound effects, music, and voiceover. If you liked this section, please consider upgrading to the full Unscripted Studio, where I teach in much greater depth about my sound editing process using real-world examples from my films.