Damien Chazelle of La La Land shoots the most recent Apple advert
The movie is meant to showcase the impressive capabilities of the iPhone Pro 11 and begs the question of whether we've been getting movies wrong all along
Chazelle's film is a nine-minute journey through the history of cinema, covering genres from western to noir. The scenes are brought together through the experience of a film stuntman.
It's shot beautifully, but what really sets it apart is the decision to film it vertically – the natural way we hold our phones to film – which opens up a wealth of new angles and effects to explore .
"Part of the fun was just thinking in terms of the vertical aspect ratio," says Chazelle in a making-of video that was released alongside the film. “I just think back to my childhood and play with much less sophisticated technology, small VHS camcorders and things like that, and just try to make my version of Hollywood movies with what I had.
"One of the things that is really fun about playing with vertical aspect ratio is how to play with what the eye sees and when, and how to get an audience used to looking up and down rather than left and right, what is it. I'm used to it, ”he continues. "I definitely think this little piece we're doing is just the first step in terms of experimentation. A lot more can be done."
Chazelle's film follows works by other notable directors, including Michel Gondry and Theodore Melfi, in the series Shot on iPhone.
Credits:
Agency: TBWA Media Arts Lab
Directed by Damien Chazelle
DP: Linus Sandgren
Production Design: Shane Valentino
Result: Lorne Balfe