The chances are good that you've been out on a shoot and found yourself without the right tool. Maybe you forgot something, or the batteries died on something, and you feel stuck. The good news is that there's probably an app for that!
By apps, I mean the applications that you can install on your smart phone or tablet. By adding the right apps, your device can become what a toolbox is to the mechanic. You just might save some time, money or a long, round trip ride back home.
Preproduction
The saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” How true is that for video production? Fortunately, there are some great apps to help you get ready.
Celtx makes a few really good free tools. You can write a script on their Celtx Script app. Their Shots app is for storyboarding but there's also a tool to block out the shots. Celtx Reports helps you keep it all organized.
Kodak is well known for film, of course, but they have a great planning app called Cinema Tools. Among the many tools designed specifically for filming, you'll find a calculator to determine which lens to use. It also includes a sun calculator to determine the best time of day to shoot.
Speaking of outdoor conditions, Weather Underground makes a great weather app that uses the power of a community of weather stations. Anyone with the right kind of station, can be found on a map. The chances are good that you can find real time weather data near where you are shooting. It's 10-day forecast gives you hour-by-hour detail like wind and cloud cover.
Audio
There are a number of great audio recording apps for your device but, for the most part, your phone's mic is not all that sensitive. For under $25 you can get a lavaliere with a mini plug that will do a better job. So if you can't receive a clear channel on your wireless, or the boom mic's batteries are dead, just plug-in and go. Find a sound recording app and you now have a portable, digital recorder.
One of my favorite apps for audio recording is Voice Recorder Pro. It records directly in MP3, MP4 and WAV formats and will export to Dropbox, Google Drive, One Drive and more. You can also send via email, FTP or directly to your computer via wifi. The sound quality is very good when you add an external microphone.
Camera
Phone cameras get better and better all the time. Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge boasts a 12-megapixel camera and puts it in the range of a DSLR. Many phones will even shoot in 4K. The drawback is that a phone's lens isn't as good and a phone doesn't have the same kind of controls that you'll find on a video camera. But if you get stuck, your phone can help finish your shoot with a good app. Most will do an excellent job with daytime B-roll.
One of the standout apps for video production is Filmic Pro. It gives you more control than you'll find on your device's native app. It will shoot at a range of frame rates from 1-240 fps. It uses separate focus and exposure “hot spots” that can be changed on the fly. It even has a variable speed zoom. Filmic's web site boasts that their app has been used by filmmakers in award-winning productions.
There are also apps to give you special effects like super slow motion or that old film look. But how do you get the video out of your camera and into your computer for editing? If the app itself doesn't give you an option, WeTransfer makes a great app that will you allow you to send up to 10Gb.
Editing
Maybe you've got a tight deadline to finish your video, and you wish you could get started right away on the editing process. There are several great apps that let you get started on the long drive home --- assuming that you aren't the one driving. There are a number of ways to get your video from your camera to your device. Apple has an SD card reader (sold separately) or some Android phones have a USB port or a microSD slot.
Once you've imported the video, you can get started with an editing app like Apple's iMovie or KineMaster for Android. There are a number of options that will work seamlessly with your computer-based editing software. Like if you use Corel's Pinnacle, they make a real-deal app for your iPad or iPhone called Pinnacle Studio. It uses many of the same tools that you're used to and even has templates to give your work that professional look.
If you've jumped on board with the Adobe Creative Cloud, there is not yet an Adobe Premiere app but Adobe has released Premiere Clip. It works with both iOS and Android phones. You can select videos or images that are on your phone, drop them into a timeline and even trim them up. You can even add music and effects, them send them to your Creative Cloud and they are ready for use on Premier Pro right away.
Don't Leave Home Without...
You never know which app might come in handy on your next shoot. It might be a slate that will help you keep track of shots. Maybe it's a light app that will help you deliver a punch of color. You can find apps to shoot or edit your video and post it to YouTube or Facebook directly from the field. Perhaps, all you need is a check list to keep you on track. Spend a little time searching your app market and see what may work for you. It seems like the tools never stop coming.
