While you might think this is a clever product placement deal with Apple, the following behind the scenes from Teton Gravity Research was simply a self-imposed challenge: ditch their expensive and cumbersome traditional camera rigs and scale production all the down to something that can fit in your pocket, an iPhone.
“What started as an experiment quickly became something more. The compact setup opened new creative possibilities, allowing the crew to move faster, access unique angles, and rethink what’s possible in the mountains.” -TGR
They did employ a couple of tricked out doodads like pistol grip handles and fancy tripods to achieve a more professional result but they essentially proved that all it takes is a relatively new iPhone to get ProRes RAW files, the same that the big cameras shoot, and make a movie on par with what used to require pricey professional gear.
Realizing that all the expensive camera equipment that was once required to get cinema level footage is borderline obsolete can be hard pill to swallow if you are invested in it or quite liberating if you are just a beginner filmmaker. Either way these tiny devices ubiquitous in modern society are all you need to capture incredible moments, the hard part remains getting the talent in front of the lens.
Check out the final product below:
For the first time in TGR’s 30-year history, we made a short film shot on iPhone 17 Pro — with Kai Jones and Sammy Carlson, two of the best freeskiers alive, deep in British Columbia’s Valhalla Range.
