A Pocket Film is a film made using a smartphone or any mobile device, you can also use a camera or a pocket camera. The core idea of Pocket Film is to get rid of technique and material to focus on the creative process
But making a Pocket Film is not the same as recording a video to keep a memory and show it to your friends, making a Pocket Film requires to respect the codes of cinema and video so that your production will look like a real movie.
But making a Pocket Film is not the same as recording a video to keep a memory and show it to your friends, making a Pocket Film requires to respect the codes of cinema and video so that your production will look like a real movie.
What is a movie for real?
At the beginning there is the black screen, the title in large characters, the first image that tells me where I am, characters who talk, actors who play, music that freezes my blood, it's an odd light, it's also a story to be told…
And at the end there is the writing saying THE END and the names scrolling.
But where is the Pocket Film in that?
Well, Pocket Film is all that, but with little equipment and lots of ideas!
In order to make a Pocket Film, you will have to find the right balance between complying with cinematic language and dealing with the technical limits of the tool. Always keep this in mind: Pocket Film is a constraint format, and it is thanks to these technical, narrative and stylistic constraints that we will develop staging and directing tips that will enhance creation and production.
What if we try? Here is a simple exercise: you’ll have to make a film about the quarantine in your city, an anecdote, a testimony, an atmosphere, a fiction… everything is possible.
Easy, we will add some constraints:
- everything must be filmed in 1 single sequence shot to avoid the editing phase;
- this sequence must contain at least one wide panoramic shot and one close-up;
- the film must be less than 3 minutes;
- we want a black fade at the beginning and at the end of the film, a title and the credits with those who take part in the film and where it was shot;
- we want the film to contain audio elements (music and/or voice-over and/or soundscape)
Take at least 15 minutes to prepare your film, start with a simple idea.
If you are using a voiceover, write the text or find at least the key elements that will compose the speech. If you are using music, you'll have to find a trick to record it live while shooting of this Pocket Film.
Think about the sequence plan. How do I start? Where should I go? Where does my plan end? Think of the plan meanings, the wide shot allows to locate the action, while the close-up shows the character's feelings. Think about the light and remember that your phone's microphone should be close the sound source...
Use a trick for black fades, find the title of your movie. Also think about the ending credits.
When you think you're ready, go on and shoot! Watch it back on your mobile and film again...
It’s often necessary to re-shoot the sequence plan up to 4 or 5 times to get a satisfactory result.
It works!
