‘Hooked Up’: The first-ever feature shot entirely with an iPhone
We live in an age of rapid technological innovation, something that we’ve been warned of in many sci-fi movies over the years, like Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, with its AI computer that gains sentience. Many technological developments have ended up having a significant impact on cinema as an art form – some great, some absolutely terrible, and some that still divide movie lovers.
With advancements in technologies like AI, there is the terrifying risk of creatives losing their jobs in favour of lifeless software that can seemingly replace them, which is something we’ve already seen within the industry. Meanwhile, developments in CGI have allowed cinema to expand its ability to create mind-blowing special effects, aiding countless blockbuster hits.
Then, there are the advancements in the equipment available to filmmakers, with cameras becoming increasingly more accessible due to the continuous development of smartphones. So, while not everyone can use the latest CGI software to make Hollywood-looking productions, most people have access to a camera that can fit into their pocket and be used to create films.
The most popular brand of smartphone is, of course, Apple’s iPhone, which is constantly evolving to feature an even greater quality camera than its previous model. Thus, users can easily capture high-definition videos, resulting in many student films and amateur films. The development of the iPhone has subsequently altered the course of cinema, allowing the medium to become much more accessible for beginners or independent directors with smaller budgets.
The power of using your iPhone camera to make a high-quality film is reflected in the fact that many acclaimed movies from established filmmakers, including Sean Baker, Steven Soderbergh, and, most recently, Danny Boyle, have been made using iPhones.
So, what was the first movie shot on an iPhone?
Park Chan-wook was the first filmmaker to dip his toes into the world of iPhone filming when he made his 2011 short film Night Fishing. Using an iPhone 4, the film looks surprisingly good considering that Apple has significantly developed their lenses since then. However, the first feature shot entirely on an iPhone—in this case, an iPhone 4S—was the Spanish horror movie Hooked Up.
Using a found-footage style in the vein of The Blair Witch Project, the movie, directed by Pablo Larcuen, isn’t exactly a masterpiece, but regardless, its use of unusual filming techniques was a rather bold move. The director’s choice of filming device was down to his inability to afford shooting on film, and he didn’t want this to prevent him from bringing his idea to life.
Talking to Empire, the filmmaker explained: “Well, it was because we had no money to rent any other type of cameras, and I don’t like cheap digital cameras. What I found with the iPhone was that when you shoot in low light, it resembles film more than cheap digital cameras. So when we made that decision, it was great because we then knew we could design the story around it and have the characters interact with it.”
What is Apple’s ‘no villain’ clause?
If you’ve ever seen a character use an iPhone within a film, chances are they’re one of the good guys. The ‘no villain clause’ is a phenomenon that relates back to Apple’s Guidelines for Using Apple Trademarks and Copyrights. The company states, “You may not use an Apple trademark or any other Apple-owned graphic symbol, logo, or icon in a disparaging manner.” Thus, it is widely acknowledged that filmmakers cannot show characters who commit criminal acts as iPhone users.
If you pay close attention, this might help you work out who the killer is in a mystery movie, although there have been some instances where filmmakers have seemingly bent the rules. In general, however, if a character doesn’t have an iPhone, there’s a perfect chance they’re up to no good.
