A new short film has been released on YouTube, shot entirely on an iPhone, giving it a cinematic look reminiscent of big-budget movies. Titled “Big Man,” the film features R&B icon Stormzy and follows the story of Tenzman, a weary musician, and two lively children who unexpectedly enter his life.
The film, directed by Academy Award-winner Aneil Karia, utilized the iPhone 16 Pro’s triple-lens camera to capture the scenes instead of traditional high-end filming equipment. Karia expressed the exhilarating experience of shooting a narrative film entirely on an iPhone, highlighting the device’s compact size and flexibility, allowing for intimate character portrayals in smaller spaces.
“Big Man” is now accessible for viewing on YouTube, showcasing impressive quality despite being filmed on a mobile phone, credited in part to the enhanced features of Apple’s latest models. The iPhone 16 Pro boasts capabilities like capturing cinematic slow-motion footage at 4K 120 fps, a Cinematic mode for blurred background effects, and improved low-light performance.
Moreover, the film is available on Amazon Prime for viewing. Stuart Bentley, the Director of Photography, emphasized the democratization of filmmaking with easily accessible camera technology, affirming that anyone with a passion for cinema can create remarkable films using a smartphone like the iPhone.
Utilizing the iPhone’s diverse tools, including the Cinematic mode for depth-of-field effects and high frame rate shooting, the film’s production team pushed the device to its limits with impressive results. This innovative approach to filmmaking on a smartphone echoes Apple’s previous achievement of shooting an entire keynote presentation on an iPhone 15 Pro in 2023.
