The Apple ‘Scary Fast’ event was captured with an iPhone 15 Pro; but, are the results the same?
Apple quietly revealed at the conclusion of its “Scary Fast” event that the iPhone 15 Pro was used to record some aspects of the event, such as the drone footage and the presenters. On social networking sites like X, pictures of the ornate gear that was used to produce the “professional” look have gone viral.
“All presenters, locations, and drone footage shot on the iPhone 15 Pro Max,” Apple says at the conclusion of the speech. Apple is not hiding from the fact that extra gear and software were required to get the type of results it accomplished. In fact, the company has released a video that goes into depth on what happened behind the scenes when recording the keynote.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a business has filed a product-related lawsuit using a smartphone. The Nothing Phone (1) was used by Nothing to record the keynote address, and Apple has previously commissioned full-length short films such as “Fursat.” Nevertheless, it’s interesting to see how uncommon it is to see a video presentation that expertly edits images from expensive cinema-grade cameras with a phone like the iPhone 15 Pro, making the majority of viewers hardly notice the difference.
This begs the question: Is it possible to film a large-scale project with only an iPhone 15 Pro Max? The quick answer is no, but it’s worth talking about in more detail. There’s no denying that a “good” cinematographer is one who employs more than just a camera. Lighting, camera movement, and framing are examples of factors that significantly affect the result.
The criticism that a single iPhone cannot produce work of a comparable caliber is valid, but it is important to recognize that the iPhone, as a tool, makes it feasible to record excellent video in a very small package. When combined with skill in filming, it becomes a tool for producing meaningful work.
Pacing, editing, and shot variation are further crucial components of any creative work. The editor did a fantastic job of creating a Halloween-like atmosphere in the Apple keynote by beginning the segment with an establishing drone shot. It was a cinematic success because to the combination of skillful drone flying, which allowed Tim Cook to stroll down a foggy path, tense music, cleverly placed transitions, and a fog-filled set.
It’s also unimportant to note that Apple used the BlackMagic Camera software to manually adjust camera settings on its high-end “Pro” phones, as you may have suspected. This gave them more control over the video they shot. Additionally, Apple emphasized that the iPhone 15 Pro can record in ProRes LOG and that it can even record in ProRes LOG at 4K 60 frames per second when an external SSD is connected.
While an iPhone 15 Pro Max by itself isn’t likely to provide the same impact, in the larger scheme of things—regardless of the professional gear used in a production—every tool has a distinct job and is still significant and useful. From this angle, the iPhone functions as a potent instrument that slides easily into your pocket and begs to be used imaginatively with inputs that go beyond simple functionality.
