Camera Techniques: A Case Study

My last post focused on the songs I'll be using in my film opening to represent my two protagonists. One of the songs I'm using happens to have a music video, which was recorded on the same phone that I have: an iPhone 14 Pro! I'll be using this exact phone to eventually shoot and produce my film. I thought this would be a great oppurtunity to analyze the filming strategies and elements of cinematography the music video uses it make it look so professional. I have it linked here:

The 2023 music video begins with a note reading "Shot on iPhone 14 Pro," which is shortly followed by a screen of an incoming FaceTime call. The video is about the NewJeans members finding out their friend's boyfriend is cheater, using the smartphone to record him flirting with another girl as evidence. Overall, the MV blends a traditional filming style with a found-footage production technique, making it both visually unique and fun to watch! I can apply the specific iPhone features I learn about during my viewing of this music video when shooting my own film. So, let's get started!

1. Action Mode

One key technique I found the music video uses is action mode; a feature that was introduced with the iPhone 14's launch. This steadies the camera during fast or inconsistent movements, allowing for a cleaner product. The music video includes rapid choreography, so by enabling this setting, the phone camera was able to move smoothly along with NewJeans' fast dance moves without shaking & jerking. This is a very useful quality my phone has, which I didn't even know about prior to watching this video! It could prove especially handy when filming tracking shots, where the camera must physically follow the subject and may be unsteady. This way, my footage looks stable and cohesive instead of chaotic and unprofessional--making it seem more like an actual production. 

2. Cinematic Mode

Cinematic mode is a camera setting that simulates a shallow depth-of-field, keeping a video's subject in high definition while blurring what's behind it--which is known as the bokeh effect. It automatically tracks subjects and shifts the focus adjustment as needed, creating a professional, movie-like appearance that can be edited afterward. This setting was used throughout the music video, which is a major reason behind why it had such strong film-quality! I'll definitely utilize this feature when shooting my own movie, especially when recording mid-shots of my protagonists & scenes where I want the focus to solely be on them. However, in wide shots, I'll likely disable this feature to capture my subject's entire setting.  

3. Handheld Camera

The iPhone 14 Pro itself is a "handheld camera" and was used to film this entirely. But, instead of shying away from the smartphone's style of filming, it is integrated throughout the music video. An example of this is when one of the members of NewJeans physically presses "Record" on her phone and zooms in on her friend's boyfriend flirting with another girl. This is also seen when NewJeans are on Facetime with Eva--the girl whose being cheated on--and are filmed through video call rather than an actual camera. This allows for energetic shots, providing the unique perspective of someone filming on a phone. This not only makes the music video more visually interesting, but adds to the storyline. After seeing NewJeans professionally incorporate this "found-footage" style of filming into their music video, I've been brainstorming ways to do it in my own! I can use the features of my phone--such as the record button and FaceTime feature--to produce some shots. This works well with my film's characters because they are highschool girls who use their phones often. I really like how the music video sometimes recorded the characters through FaceTime, which is something I can maybe replicate in my own movie.

My Final Takeaway

These are all very beneficial features to use on filming day! Each one achieves a different goal. Action mode allows from smooth, steady recording. Cinematic mode creates for a polished final product through blurring the depth-of-field, drawing the audience's eye to the subject in frame. Lastly, using a handheld blurs the line between the "music video camera" and the characters’ phones, giving certain shots that "found-footage" effect. Not only was I able to jam out to this super fun music video, but also learn important things from it!