Lately I have been intrigued by the idea of films being shot strictly on phones. Normally, films shot on phones are shorts or music videos, mostly done for convenience and keeping within a small budget. But with the limitations comes a little bit of different thinking creatively. Then, there are filmmakers who decide from the start to shoot on phone cameras for an aesthetic.

Once upon a time, a many moons ago, director Danny Boyle filmed 28 Days Later on Canon digital cameras instead of the usual film cameras used in movies. Part of the reason for the decision was that bulky traditional cameras would take a lot longer to set up for a particular scene, where the main character running out into the middle a city that’s seemingly abandoned. The amount of time to get their shots was important, because they were only scheduled to film before the city itself woke up; gotta beat the morning rush for work and city life in the real world.

Ultimately, the decision led to a unique aesthetic; one that was copied many times over.

Boyle is known for trying new things. And for 28 Years Later, he again went a route not normal for a film with a good budget; he went with shooting on iPhones, with cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, from 28 Days Later, once again bringing his eye to the shoot. It’s poetic. Mantle is a pioneer of shooting on handheld cameras, and he’s won multiple awards throughout his career, including an Academy Award for Slumdog Millionaire.

Filming on phones has steadily grown with independent filmmakers, with gear made specifically for phone setups. 28 Years Later is a movie that will most likely push it further along.

[Wired]